Mouth and Body

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A bacteria commonly found in the oral cavity, Fusobacterium nucleatum, kicks in the door for infection in blood vessels and leads the charge for other bacteria like Escherichia coli to infect the blood, allowing infections to colonize and infect other areas of the body, particularly with immunocompromised patients. The colony of bacteria induces an inflammatory reaction that has a range of consequences from necrosis of tissue to fetal death.

This is just one of many ways that your oral health is significant to your overall health. At Burgess and Mason Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, we want all of our patients to understand that dental hygiene is about so much more than just protecting your teeth. As the gateway to ingestion, your mouth is subjected to a great deal of infectious agents, regardless of how well you clean and/or cook the food you eat. Staying healthy is a never-ending battle, but we can help! Call us today at (817) 481-4717.

Flexible Spending Dollars: Use ‘em or Lose ‘em!

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A flexible spending account is a spending account for your health needs that the government does not tax. You can only use this money for certain medical expenses. This is a good way to save on medical services and products.

For most plans, any balance left in your flexible spending account will disappear at the end of the calendar year. Don’t forget your flex dollars! You may use flex dollars for many health expenses, including dental work.

If you haven’t used your flex dollars, then feel free to call Burgess and Mason Cosmetic and Family Dentistry today at (817) 481-4717.

Turkey-itis?

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A lot of people believe that eating turkey makes you tired because it contains something called tryptophan. But, what is tryptophan? Does it really make you sleepy? Is that why we get tired near Thanksgiving? Here’s the lowdown:

All meat is made of protein, and protein is made of amino acids. One of these amino acids, tryptophan, is used as a natural sleep aid by some people. The popular belief is that turkey meat consists of a high amount of tryptophan in its meat, which makes people tired on Thanksgiving. However, this is not true – turkey contains about the same amount of tryptophan as all poultry.

Why, then, do we get tired on Thanksgiving? It’s simple – most people overeat on Thanksgiving, and blood in your body must divert towards the digestive organs to supply the oxygen needed to mechanically and chemically process food. Diverting blood in limited quantities away from the brain and muscles causes sleepiness and fatigue.

So don’t get that turkey-itis this Thanksgiving! Take your time while eating, and enjoy the company of your family and friends.

As Hard As Diamonds?

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There’s a fairly common misconception that our teeth are “as hard as diamonds”. Actually, tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body, and it is quite tenacious. However, poor dental hygiene and certain bad habits (grinding teeth, chewing on objects) will eventually cause people to have chipped or broken teeth. Eating hard foods, bad oral habits, and having had cavities or tooth decay in the past all make you susceptible to broken teeth. Broken teeth may lead to deep infections that can require root canal therapy or extraction(s). Fortunately, if you think you might have a broken tooth, then you can save your tooth with early repair.

Did You Know…

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The first toothbrush with bristles was manufactured in China in 1498. This was long before the use of plastics, so whiskers and coarse hairs from badgers, hogs and horses were used as bristles. The first commercial toothbrush was manufactured in 1938. Early toothbrushes, nasty as they may sound, were the prototypes for the brushes and tools we use in and on our mouths today. Dr. Burgess and Dr. Mason believe that dentistry, like all branches of science, has evolved greatly over time. As our understanding of chemistry and our own bodies improves, we expect dentistry to continue evolving.

Don’t Give Oral Cancer a Fighting Chance!

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An estimated 37,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. 66% of these cases are not diagnosed until the disease has reached the dangerous late stages of the disease, and for this reason oral cancer will claim around 8,000 lives each year.

This form of cancer is made partly so dangerous by low public awareness. Oral cancer isn’t given attention comparable to lung cancer (from anti-smoking campaigns) or breast cancer (with many supporting foundations and events).

There is hope though. This cancer, like many cancers, is treatable and survivable with early detection. Even better, oral cancer screenings take only a few minutes of non-invasive evaluation by a practicing dentist, oral surgeon, or another certified practitioner.

Don’t give oral cancer a fighting chance. We’re happy to give you an oral cancer screening at Burgess and Mason Cosmetic and Family Dentistry.

What’s Your Most Noticeable Feature?

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It’s your smile! According to a recent study of over 1,000 American adults, 47% noticed a person’s smile before anything else – even before eyes, clothes, hair, and smell. Make your first impression a great impression with a complete smile makeover at Burgess and Mason Cosmetic and Family Dentistry! We have crowns, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, and even sedation dentistry to get your smile exactly where you want it to be.

Don’t Neglect Broken Teeth!

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Teeth occasionally break, sometimes from eating hard foods like jawbreakers, chewing ice, from injury or trauma in or around the mouth, or because a cavity has compromised the structure of a tooth. If this happens to you and you cannot get to the dentist immediately, then avoid chewing on the side of your mouth that has the broken tooth and avoid hot and cold beverages/food. Broken teeth are extremely susceptible to cavities and infections that may need root canal therapy or possibly extraction if treatment is delayed for long. You should prioritize allowing your dentist to repair broken teeth, regardless of whether the break is painful or not, to prevent further injury or complications. Ask Burgess and Mason for more information!