Oral Cancer Screenings Can Save Your Life

Posted June 20, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

The best way to protect yourself from serious and debilitating oral and overall health problems is to have dental checkups every six months.

These visits allow Dr. James Stewart and his team to prevent dental issues or, if caught in the early stages, treat them in the most conservative way possible. Gum disease, dental decay, bite problems, as well as other dental problems will not heal naturally, but will continue to worsen over time.

Ultimately, without regular, routine, dental checkups and cleanings, you will experience more pain and expenses, and suffer from more dental health problems.

An important part of every checkup you have with Dr. Stewart is your oral cancer screening. Oral cancer is one of the most dangerous and fatal forms of cancer, yet it is one of the least known forms for the disease. To screen your mouth, Dr. Stewart will use laser technology to look for changes in color, consistency, and any abnormalities in the tissue of your oral cavity.

If you are due for a dental cleaning and checkup, or if you think something has changed with your teeth, gums, or tongue, don’t hesitate to call Dr. Stewart’s dental office in Livonia, Michigan at (734) 425-4400.

Breathe Fresh, Livonia

Posted June 16, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Bad breath can be detrimental to your professional, social, and romantic pursuits, not to mention embarrassing. Fortunately, Dr. James Stewart has the solution.

BreathRx is a specially formulated, professional breath treatment system that conquers bad breath at the source. Each of the unique BreathRx products contains Zytex, an exclusive ingredient with zinc, eucalyptus oil, and thymol. This mixture neutralizes volatile sulpher compounds, which are the main cause of oral malodor.

The BreathRx mouth rinse and breath spray take this step one step further by eliminating bacteria. This makes it harder for plaque to accumulate, preventing your chances of developing gum disease and tooth decay.

In addition to the power of the product itself, BreathRx is the only anti-bacterial mouth rinse that is 100 percent alcohol-free, which makes it safe for long term use.

If you suffer from bad breath and want a solution that works, contact Dr. Stewart at his dental office in Livonia, Michigan by calling (734) 425-4400.

Dental Care for Kids

Posted June 13, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Children are special people that have special needs, including special dental needs. With a young patient, Dr. Stewart and his team have the opportunity to lay the foundation for lifelong dental health. We teach our children patients about the importance of taking care of their teeth, gums, and entire mouth.

Most of all, we try to make our children’s appointments fun, so that your child will want to come to the dentist and will see the value of having a healthy smile.

The American Dental Association recommends that children attend a first dental visit by the age of one, and Dr. Stewart agrees. Your child’s first visit can simply be coming along for a parent’s checkup. Be sure to let us know if you plan to bring your little one to a checkup, and we’ll set aside time to take a quick peak inside your child’s mouth. Dr. Stewart will check to make sure that everything looks normal and will ask you if you have any questions about your child’s oral health or development.

Once your child’s first teeth start to come in, regular six-month checkups become a necessity. At these short visits, we try to get your child used to being in the dental chair, teach them about the dental tools, and introduce them to the team members so they begin to recognize and trust them. Dr. Stewart will check your child’s mouth, explain how you should care for your child’s teeth at home, and answer any questions you may have at each and every one of your child’s dental checkups.

As your child grows, he or she will have different dental needs at every stage. Regular six-month dental cleanings should begin anytime between ages 3 to 5. Dr. Stewart suggests dental sealants and fluoride treatments to protect your child’s teeth from tooth decay.

Whether you’re expecting your first child or have a houseful, Dr. Stewart and his team at his dental office in Livonia, Michigan want to see you and your kiddos in our office. To find out more about family dentistry or to schedule an appointment, please call (735) 425-4400.

Livonia Dentist Offers Compassionate and Complete Care for Aging Patients

Posted June 9, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Aging impacts every aspect of a person’s physical being. Sometimes, these changes can create challenges that were not there in younger years.

As a dentist, Dr. James Stewart understands these challenges and provides compassionate and complete dental care for aging patients. No two patients are the same, so Dr. Stewart and his dental team take the time to get to know all patients so that we understand and can effectively treat their needs and concerns.

A patient with arthritis, for example, may struggle with daily at-home dental hygiene, namely brushing and flossing, due to movement problems. Additionally, many senior patients take medications that can cause side effects, such as dry mouth, which can lead to tooth decay. Some patients may have not seen a dentist in years simply because getting to the dentist’s office is a task in itself.

Dr. Stewart and his team have been treating aging patients for years, so he understands the challenges commonly associated with senior dental health. These include:

Inability to brush and floss properly: Medical conditions that affect movement, such as arthritis, can make daily brushing and flossing difficult. It’s essential that patients who have difficulty practicing quality at-home dental hygiene habits see their dentist regularly for thorough cleanings and exams.
Dry mouth: Medications, cancer treatments, and certain diseases can contribute to dry mouth, which increases a person’s risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Dr. Stewart will provide thorough exams to detect early signs of dry mouth, offer hygiene tips, and diet counseling that will help to restore moisture.
Dentures: Dr. Stewart is a denture expert. At dental appointments, he will check to make sure dentures fit properly, are comfortable, and check for signs of wear and tear. Aside from general discomfort, ill-fitting dentures can lead to more serious oral health concerns.
Implants: Dr. Stewart is trained in the placement of dental implants and mini-implants, which can help, stabilize and secure loose dentures.

Call our dental office in Livonia, Michigan at (734) 425-4400 to schedule an appointment.

Regular Checkups with Your Livonia Dentist Can Protect You from Serious Oral and Overall Health Problems

Posted May 26, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

You’ve seen how periodontal disease can lead to arthritis, but this oral condition can also lead to other serious health problems, including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, birth complications, heart problems, osteoporosis, certain cancers, and strokes.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and, therefore, the perfect time to explore just why gum disease can lead to an increased chance of strokes.

A stroke occurs for two reasons: when a ruptured blood vessel or impaired blood flow causes brain hemorrhaging, or when a clot blocks a blood vessel. Dr. Wu, a stroke expert from the State University of New York at Buffalo says that bacteria are to blame. Harmful bacteria enter the bloodstream through the mouth, stimulating blood clotting, damaging the lining of blood vessels, and increasing the risk of stroke.

Additionally, gum disease is twice as likely to cause strokes as it is to cause diabetes, and it is equally as likely to cause strokes as it is to cause high blood pressure.

Gum disease is present in the mouths of approximately 80 percent of American adults, yet many don’t even know they have it. It’s imperative that you have regular dental checkups and cleanings every 6 months so that I can screen for early signs of this disease and other oral health conditions.

I’m Dr. James Stewart, and I invite you to call my dental office in Livonia, Michigan, at (734) 425-4400 to schedule an appointment. My team and I look forward to keeping your smile healthy for years to come.

Be Like Shaq and Give Sleep Apnea the Attack

Posted May 23, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Even celebrities and athletes aren’t perfect. People in the spotlight get sick, go grocery shopping, and walk their dogs just like us. Some even snore, and Shaquille O’Neal is one of those snorers.

If you, like Shaq, snore, or if you sleep with someone who does, you know how annoying and frustrating the habit can be. Whether you’re the one fighting to keep your airways open or fighting to get some shut-eye, snoring can be a disturbance. Then, it can turn into a life-threatening problem.

Snoring is one of the tell tale signs of sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing while sleeping becomes difficult because your airways are slightly or severely obstructed. Often, breathing can stop completely, sometimes for as many as 10 seconds. In addition to not breathing several times throughout the night, you’re not getting the sleep you need because your body wakes you every time your breathing stops.

Attack sleep apnea and reclaim your life and a good night’s sleep. That’s what Shaq did! After years of snoring and freight-train-turned-silent nights, the basketball star decided to take part in a sleep apnea study sponsored by Harvard University. Hear about Shaq’s experience here.

I’m Dr. James Stewart, and I urge you to make an appointment at my Livonia, Michigan, dental office at (734) 425-4400 to find out more about sleep studies and sleep apnea treatments. I’ve helped countless patients stop snoring, sleep comfortably, and achieve a higher quality of life. I want to help you do the same.

Livonia Dentist Discusses Link Between Periodontal Disease and Arthritis

Posted May 20, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and University Hospitals of Cleveland reported that patients reduced arthritic pain and the number of swollen joints after treating their dental problems.

“It was exciting to find that if we eliminated the infection and inflammation in the gums, then patients with a severe kind of active rheumatoid arthritis reported improvement on the signs and symptoms of that disease.” Stated Dr. Nabil Bissada, chair of the school’s Department of Periodontics.

This study was not the first to link gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatologists and other clinicians have studied the how gum disease may lead to systematic disease. Dr. Ali Askari, chair of the department of rheumatology at University Hospitals, states that historically, arthritic patients felt better when teeth were pulled or received antibiotics used to treat periodontal disease.

Askari and Bissada worked together, studying 40 patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease and severe rheumatoid arthritis. These inflammatory diseases share similarities in the progression of the disease over time. In both diseases, inflammation caused by toxins from bacterial infection destroys hard and soft tissue. One common toxin revealed in the study, called, tumor necrosis factor-alpha , can initiate new infections or aggravate sites where inflammation already exists. (more…)

Proper Oral Care for Dementia Patients

Posted May 17, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Caring for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s can prove challenging. Patients often resist care oral health because they feel threatened. Caring for their oral health can be easier thanks to a group of nurses at Penn State School of Nursing. The nurses developed a plan, Managing Oral Hygiene Using Threat Reduction, to assist caregivers in providing oral hygiene to patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

The nurses created the plan to reduce threat perception among these patients. They suggest that caregivers smile while they interact with the patients, approach them at eye level, pantomime, and gently hold the patient’s hand while brushing teeth.

The number of patients in nursing homes who still have natural teeth is rising, due to proper oral hygiene. By using the threat reduction plan, caregivers can provide oral hygiene assistance in a more effective and friendly manner.

Several studies show a connection between periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s disease. With proper oral hygiene, brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, rinsing after meals, and visiting the dentist every six months for deep cleaning and checkup, the risk of periodontal disease decreases.

Dr. James Stewart, a Livonia dentist, has experience caring for elderly patients and knows the challenges commonly associated with senior dental health. If you are a caregiver for a patient with Alzheimer’s or dementia, contact Dr. Stewart at (734)425.4400 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Stewart cares for patients from Livonia, Farmington, Farmington Hills, and surrounding areas.

Interesting Dental Facts From Livonia Dentist

Posted May 13, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

With proper oral hygiene, teeth can last a lifetime. Today, more than ever before, people are keeing their natural teeth throughout life. When it comes to care and maintenance of teeth, here are some interesting dental health facts to keep in mind:

50 percent of people polled state they notice a smile before any other feature .
80 percent of men and women feel guilty when they forget to brush their teeth. However over 75 percent of American adults have some level of gum disease.
Three out of four people admit, they don’t change their toothbrushes as often as they should. Toothbrushes should be replaced every six to eight weeks or immediately after an illness.
While brushing your teeth, maintain a six-foot distance from the commode. Airborne particles from flushing can travel up to six feet.
The average woman smiles approximately 62 times a day, while a man generally smiles only eight times a day.
Children laugh 400 times a day, and adults only laugh about 15 times a day.
Adults lose more than 164 million hours of work annually due to dental visits and oral health problems.
44 percent of dental expenses are paid out-of-pocket.
The most popular color of toothbrush is blue.
The average toothbrush contains 2,500 bristles.

To maintain teeth for a lifetime, brush twice a day, floss once a day, rinse after meals, and visit your dentist every six months for a thorough cleaning and checkup. Contact Dr. James Stewart at (734)425-4400 to schedule your semi-annual dental visit. Dr. Stewart maintains healthy teeth for residents of Livonia, Farmington, Farmington Hills, and surrounding areas.

The Trouble with Halitosis

Posted May 9, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Halitosis, or bad breath can occur after eating odorous foods, or because of poor oral hygiene, taking certain medicines, or using tobacco products. However, halitosis also can be a symptom of an underlying health issue, such as periodontal disease, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease, liver or kidney disease, chronic sinusitis, or chronic bronchitis.

Through proper oral healthcare — brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, rinsing after meals, and visiting the dentist every six-months for a thorough cleaning and checkup — you will decrease your risk for halitosis and periodontal disease. If your bad breath continues, consult Dr. James Stewart first to determine if the halitosis is related to your mouth.

Dr. Stewart will conduct a complete medical and dental history. First, your diet, tobacco use, medications, medical conditions, and family history will be reviewed. He will then examine your mouth, take x-rays, and measure your gums for indications of periodontal disease. If Dr. Stewart determines the halitosis is not of oral origin, you should contact your physician. (more…)

Oral Cancer Screenings Can Save Your Life

Breathe Fresh, Livonia

Dental Care for Kids

Livonia Dentist Offers Compassionate and Complete Care for Aging Patients

Regular Checkups with Your Livonia Dentist Can Protect You from Serious Oral and Overall Health Problems

Be Like Shaq and Give Sleep Apnea the Attack

Livonia Dentist Discusses Link Between Periodontal Disease and Arthritis

Proper Oral Care for Dementia Patients

Interesting Dental Facts From Livonia Dentist

The Trouble with Halitosis

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