Untreated Sleep Apnea a Life Threatening Disorder, Says Livonia Dentist

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Sleep Apnea: The Silent Thief

Do you drag through your day? Do you feel listless and sluggish even though you got plenty of sleep the night before? Do you sometimes wake up with a raw throat and an extreme thirst? Has your sleeping partner mentioned that you snore loudly or even make choking sounds during the night? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may suffer from a sleeping disorder called sleep apnea. Apnea refers to a period during sleep where the airway becomes blocked and you stop breathing for a few seconds up to a few minutes. When you stop breathing, your brain awakens, causing multiple sleep disturbances during the night. So even though you may have been in bed for eight hours, you were not getting restful sleep.

Common Causes of Sleep Apnea

The most common type of sleep apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), occurs when the muscles in your throat — which usually hold the airway rigid and allow air to flow freely – relax during sleep to the point that they obstruct the flow of air. When your brain senses that the intake of oxygen has stopped, it forces you to wake up which, in turn, causes the throat muscles to tighten up and the breath to flow. This awakening is generally accompanied (more…)

filed under: About Sleep, Dr. Stewart, Healthy Living

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Livonia Dentist Discusses How Chocolate Prevents Cavities

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Cocoa Beans and PowderChocolate comes from the cocoa bean, the name of which is derived from the Greek for “food of the gods.” Few people would disagree that chocolate really is a heavenly treat. A common misconception is that chocolate causes cavities. The reality is eating chocolate may actually prevent them. Researchers recently discovered the cocoa bean husk contains an anti-bacterial agent that kills cavity-causing bacteria.

How Chocolate Prevents Cavities

Cavities form when harmful bacteria called Streptococcus mutans secrete acid that erodes enamel. This hard, outer-layer of your teeth protects the inner layer from bacteria that cause tooth decay. S. mutans compromises this protective layer, and leaves your teeth vulnerable to forming cavities. Because the antibacterial agent in the cocoa bean husk kills S. mutans, you are less likely to develop cavities when eating chocolate than other sweets. This is not to say you should eat chocolate on a regular basis, but eating a delicious piece from time to time is acceptable. (more…)

filed under: Nutrition, Oral Health

Common Brushing Mistakes and How to Fix Them

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Proper dental hygiene and professional dental care are the cornerstones of quality oral health. Even if you have a top-notch dental care team, you can’t achieve a truly healthy smile without a top-notch at-home dental hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing your teeth are the cornerstones of dental hygiene and, today, Livonia, MI dentist Dr. James Stewart wants to discuss the most common brushing mistakes and how to remedy them.

Top 10 Toothbrushing Mistakes

  1. Choosing the wrong toothbrush: Of course, the “right” toothbrush is all relative, but the best way to choose the right toothbrush for you is to consider the size of your mouth and your unique dental needs. Don’t choose a brush that causes you to strain your mouth while brushing. Also, make sure the handle is comfortable in your hand and that you follow your personal preference when deciding between a manual and an electric toothbrush.
  2. Choosing the wrong bristles: Although the cleanliness of your teeth is more related to your brushing technique than the type of bristles on your toothbrush, choosing a brush with the right bristles is important to your overall oral health. A brush with stiff or coarse bristles, for example, can aggravate gum tissue. In most cases, the American Dental Association recommends soft-bristled brushes. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry

Livonia Dentist Describes Mouth Anatomy

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Mouth AnatomyDental literature tends to focus primarily on the teeth and gums. Proper oral hygiene rests primarily on maintaining the health of these two important parts of your mouth. Most oral health issues reflect most dramatically in your teeth and gums. There is more to your mouth than these two elements, however. In the spirit of patient education, we think understanding the total anatomy of your oral cavity is important. The mouth works as a whole, and certain parts are especially important in preserving the health of your teeth and gums.

General Anatomy of the Mouth

While some parts do not affect your teeth and gums as much as others, certain parts are essential to preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Other parts often display symptoms of diseases such as oral cancer, providing important diagnostic clues for dentists. The general anatomy of your mouth includes the teeth, gums, hard palate, soft palate, uvula, salivary glands, tongue, and lips. (more…)

filed under: General, Oral Health

Tooth-Colored Fillings Offered by Your Livonia Dentist

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Does the misalignment of your teeth keep you from smiling as much as you would like? Dr. James R. Stewart, Jr. is a restorative dentist who understands the importance of having a beautiful, healthy smile, and he wants his patients to feel confident while engaging in their daily activities. That is why Dr. Stewart offers tooth-colored fillings, as opposed to unsightly metal amalgam fillings.

What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?

Tooth-colored fillings are dental fillings that rebuild the natural appearance of tooth structure. Restoration of fractured or decayed teeth is the main purpose of these fillings, but they are also used for cosmetic purposes to change the size, color, and shape of your natural teeth.  These fillings are also useful in closing gaps and repairing chipped teeth for a flawless smile.

Why Should You Choose Tooth-Colored Fillings?

Along with making your smile strong and healthy, tooth-colored fillings come with many advantages:

  • They closely match your natural tooth color and appearance.
  • They bond to your own tooth structure, so there is no need for grooves or pins to place them.
  • They restore 85%-95% of the original tooth’s strength.
  • The recovery period is quick and painless.
  • Tooth sensitivity is minimal.
  • They may be used on the front and back of the teeth.
  • They can be easily repaired if they are damaged.
  • While there has been no conclusive proof that metal fillings cause mercury poisoning, patients with metal sensitivity have reported negative reactions to metal fillings. Tooth-colored fillings are metal-free.

Dr. Stewart has many years of experience in tooth restoration. If you have any questions or concerns, he can inform you about which restoration options are right for you. To learn more about tooth-colored fillings or any other restorative procedures, contact our Livonia, MI dentist office at (734) 425-4400 or visit us online at jamesstewartdds.com.

filed under: Restorative Dentistry

Technology Gives Livonia Dentist an Edge

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Person SmilingAs part of his mission to meet patient needs, Dr. James Stewart uses advanced dental technology. The tools he uses during regular check-ups and dental procedures help patients feel comfortable during their visit to the dentist. These tools also allow him to meet patient expectations for accurate diagnostics and precision treatment. The following is a list of some of the technologies Dr. Stewart incorporates.

DIAGNOdent

Going to the dentist can be stressful for some. Those with dental anxiety often dislike the techniques and tools used during check-ups. Dr. Stewart uses advanced cavity detection to eliminate patient discomfort. DIAGNOdent is a tool that allows Dr. Stewart to check for tooth decay without the use of metal dental probes. The device uses a laser to detect tooth decay or demineralization, which is the early phase of tooth decay. Those who fear or are uncomfortable with traditional methods of cavity detection can now relax in peace while Dr. Stewart gently waves the wand over their teeth. The device also shows the extent of decay with a digital readout. (more…)

filed under: Dental Technology, Family Dentistry

Livonia Dentist Discusses The Comforts Of Oral Appliance Therapy

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious medical condition affecting about 4% of middle-aged men and 2% of middle-aged women in America. This condition is characterized by loud snoring, restless nights, and high blood pressure in its sufferers. OSA occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep, blocking the airway to the lungs.

For many years, the gold standard in sleep apnea treatment has been the continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machine. This large, noisy machine can be particularly uncomfortable for some of its users, and disruptive to their partners. In honor of National Relaxation Day, Dr. James Stewart would like to shed some light on a more comfortable alternative.

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Dental Stem Cells: Powerful Medical Reserves

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Scientific ResearcherExciting medical advancements followed the discovery of stem cells. While research progresses, scientists discover more applications for these incredible cellular reserves. While stem cells exist in your body, they were historically difficult to harvest. Things have changed. The discovery of dental stem cells makes capitalizing on the powerful abilities of these cells easier, promising exciting new applications in medicine.

Flexible Cellular Reproduction

Stem cells are master cells with the incredible ability to replicate cells other than their own. While normal cells can only reproduce cells of the same type, stem cells can reproduce cells of many different types. For example, normal blood cell can only make new blood cells, but a stem cell may reproduce blood, kidney, heart, or bone cells. Scientists can use stem cells to regenerate skin, bone, and entire organs.

There are two types of stem cells: embryonic and adult. Embryonic stem cells come loaded with controversy and public outcry. Adult stem cells, on the other hand, are free from these ethical concerns, and scientists use them in current medical research. Dental stem cells hold exciting promise for scientists, because of their easy access and high potency. (more…)

filed under: Dental Advancements

How to Care for Your Smile at Bedtime

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Throughout each and every day, your show your mouth the most love at two times: when you wake up in the morning and when you go to bed at night. Because your oral and overall health are connected, it’s important to make the most of these dental hygiene times to keep your teeth and gums healthy and working properly. Today, Livonia, MI dentist Dr. James Stewart wants to discuss how to up the ante with your bedtime dental hygiene routine.

Brushing

There are three steps to proper dental hygiene: brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an oral rinse. Let’s start with brushing.

To help protect your teeth from plaque buildup and tooth decay, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste to brush your teeth. The American Dental Association recommends holding the brush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth and brushing back and forth in short, gentle strokes. Be sure to brush the inner, outer, and biting surfaces of your teeth.

As long as you brush your teeth before you go to bed for the night, it doesn’t matter if you brush right after dinner or right before going to bed. Once you brush for the night, however, make sure that you don’t eat or drink anything other than water.

Flossing

Flossing is essential to remove plaque and debris that your toothbrush can’t reach. The ADA recommends flossing at least once a day, so before bed is a good time.

To properly floss your teeth, use an 18-inch piece of floss to gently clean between each of your teeth, taking care to floss all the way up to the gum line and behind all of your back molars. As you move from tooth to tooth, use a clean section of the floss.

Rinsing

In addition to brushing and flossing, rinsing with an ADA-approved oral rinse or mouthwash can help your smile stay plaque, cavity, and gingivitis free. Ask Dr. Stewart for mouthwash recommendations at your next appointment.

For more tips and tricks for a healthy smile, call our Livonia, MI dentist office at (734) 425-4400 to reserve a dental checkup and cleaning appointment with Dr. Stewart.

filed under: Uncategorized

Livonia Dentist Explains How Tooth Decay Forms

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What Causes Cavities?

Cavities begin with one particular species of bacteria, called S. mutans. These spiral-shaped pathogens metabolize sugar when it is introduced into the mouth from eating sweets or fermentable carbohydrates like white bread. Acid formation is the result of the combination of S. mutans and sugar. This acid attacks tooth enamel, wearing away at your tooth’s defenses against bacteria. As cavities form, the infection spreads inward toward the inner structures of the tooth. Travelling through the microscopic tubes of the soft layer of dentin, the bacteria infect the tooth pulp.

The Dangers of Tooth Decay

The pulp center is a vital part of the tooth. Connected to the tooth roots through root canals, the pulp holds the tooth’s nerves, living tissues, and blood vessels. When infected, the damaged tooth’s nerves send pain signals to the brain. An internally infected tooth can produce toothache with chewing pressure as well as temperature sensitivity. While this is a common symptom of an infected root canal, not all tooth decay has noticeable signs.

Detecting Dental Caries Early

Because tooth decay does not guarantee warning signs, dental checkups are imperative for detecting cavities before they lead to much larger dental health issues like an abscessed tooth, or jawbone deterioration. Our Livonia dentist, Dr. James Stewart, employs innovative technology for seeking out even the smallest amounts of tooth decay present. DIAGNOdent, a cavity detection device, measures the wavelengths of healthy teeth against a tooth with suspected dental caries. This exposes even the earliest signs of cavities, so that Dr. Stewart can address tooth decay with the most conservative fillings possible and prevent further oral health problems. (more…)

filed under: Preventive Dentistry