Treating Bad Breath in Livonia

Posted July 4, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

No one is safe from the occasional bout of bad breath caused by onions or garlic, but what if you have bad breath all the time? Also known as halitosis, foul breath can prevent you from fully enjoying life if you’re constantly worried about offending friends and coworkers every time you open your mouth. Livonia dentist Dr. James Stewart explains the causes of bad breath and the treatments he offers to knock out your offensive breath for good.

What causes bad breath?

Most cases of bad breath are due to a proliferation of bacteria in the mouth. When these bacteria, which naturally cling to the teeth, gums, and tongue, are not regularly cleaned away with good oral hygiene, they grow and produce foul odors. Some oral health problems can make bad breath even worse, including gum disease, tooth decay, and xerostomia (dry mouth). (more…)

Foods to Avoid at Your Fourth of July Picnic

Posted July 3, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

The Fourth of July in the US has become synonymous with picnics, barbecues, and pool parties with lots of soda and potato chips. While it’s become an American tradition, the foods popular at Independence Day gatherings can wreak havoc on your teeth. Livonia dentist Dr. James Stewart has some helpful advice about what to avoid at this year’s party.

How Does my Diet Affect my Teeth?

Your mouth responds almost instantly when certain foods or beverages are introduced. Bacteria in your mouth convert the sugars in the foods you eat to acids. Those acids in turn attack the enamel on your teeth, which is the hard protective coating. Every time you eat, you are exposing yourself to acids and increasing your risk of tooth decay, but some foods are worse than others.

Worst Foods for Fourth of July

Sodas and other carbonated beverages–Soda is terrible for teeth. Sodas are loaded with sugar and form a perfect storm when mixed with the acids in carbonation. While diet sodas don’t contain the massive amounts of sugar found in regular sodas, the acids in the carbonation still eat enamel.
Starchy foods–You might want to forego the potato salad this year. While potatoes, pasta, and potato chips don’t necessarily taste sweet, the starches in these popular summertime foods are rapidly converted into sugars by saliva and bacteria in the mouth.
Ice—It’s hot, we know. But even though it might be tempting to chew on the ice after finishing your glass of water—because you wouldn’t be drinking soda or carbonated beverages after we cautioned against it, would you?—chewing ice is like playing with fire. Really cold fire. Our teeth are strong, but they’re not designed to chew substances as hard as ice. Chewing ice can cause tiny cracks in the teeth that can lead to problems later. (more…)

Oral Cancer Causes and Symptoms

Posted June 29, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Every year, more than 21,000 men and 9,000 women are diagnosed with oral cancer. If found early, oral cancer has a nearly 90 percent cure rate, but by the time the disease is found, often it has already spread to the neck and throat. One in four people will die of oral cancer due to late diagnosis and treatment. Livonia dentist Dr. James R. Stewart Jr. wants you to know the symptoms of oral cancer and some of the risk factors for developing the disease.

Oral cancer most commonly develops on the lips and tongue, but the disease can also found on the cheek lining, floor of the mouth, gums, and roof of the mouth. Oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas and typically spread quickly. Some forms start as a visible white or red patch called leukoplakia. (more…)

Livonia Dentist Offers Oral Health Trivia Quiz

Posted June 26, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Patient education is an important part of our dental practice philosophy. We believe that informed patients make wiser and healthier decisions than uniformed patients. Because we place such a high priority on patient education, Dr. James Stewart, your Livonia cosmetic and family dentist, offers a short oral health quiz to test your knowledge about dentistry. Feel free to take our quiz to see if you’re an oral health and dental genius.

Oral Health Quiz for Novi, Plymouth, and Dearborn Residents

Q1. What makes up teeth?

Bone
Minerals
Layers of tissues and minerals

Q2. What is tooth enamel?

A protective barrier that coats the outside of teeth.
The interior structure of teeth where the nerve endings are housed
None of the above

Q3. What is the main cause of tooth loss in adulthood?

Cavities
Gum disease
Dental injuries

Q4. What are dental implants?

Permanent tooth replacements
Dental restorations
Metal crowns

Q5. What is tartar?

Hardened plaque
Tooth decay
Minerals (more…)

Common Dental Concerns for Seniors in Livonia

Posted June 20, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

While tooth decay and gum disease are worldwide concerns that affect people of all ages, some dental conditions are more likely to occur as we age. Gum recession, gum disease, and jawbone degeneration are common oral conditions associated with maturity. Let’s look at these senior dental care issues one at a time.

Gum Recession

Periodontal tissue (or gum tissue), combined with bone, provide support for teeth. Years of vigorous teeth brushing, smoking, or gum disease can cause gums to recede from teeth. Gum recession is more common in people over 40 years of age. The crowns of our teeth are covered with enamel, the hardest tissue in the body. The roots of teeth, however, are not coated with enamel. Receding gums can expose teeth roots and cause sensitivity to temperature and pressure. (more…)

Livonia Dentist and Team Attended Advanced Sleep Medicine Training

Posted June 19, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Dr. Stewart and team in Columbus, Ohio.

Livonia dentist, Dr. James Stewart, recently attended a course in Advanced Sleep Medicine Training with his dental team. This course, held in Columbus, Ohio provides comprehensive training in serving patients with sleep apnea. In addition to providing excellent general and cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Stewart and our team are proud to serve and treat patients with sleep apnea.

Lisa, Claudia, Windy, and Dr. Stewart attended this course in April so that we can better serve our patients with advanced training. After completing the course, Windy, our dental assistant, is now our Sleep Patient Coordinator. Our team is committed to giving our patient’s the treatment they need and deserve for sleep apnea while also improving our patients’ quality of life.

Treating Sleep Apnea in Livonia and Farmington Hills

Working closely with a team of trusted physicians and sleep laboratories, Dr. Stewart offers comfortable and effective solutions for patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and chronic snoring. Depending on your particular needs, Dr. Stewart may prescribe a comfortable oral appliance that will properly position your lower jaw while you sleep. Oral appliances help keep air passageways open while you rest. Some patients may need a CPAP mask that releases a stream of air into the mouth which prevents soft oral tissues from collapsing and blocking airways. In some cases, Dr. Stewart may recommend a combination of both types of sleep apnea treatments. (more…)

Treating Gum Disease in Livonia

Posted June 15, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Dr. James Stewart is passionate about helping patients keep their natural teeth for life. Preventing or promptly treating tooth decay is one way to ensure good oral health, but did you know that the structures that support your teeth need just as much attention? Gum disease, also called periodontitis or periodontal disease, is the number one cause of adult tooth loss in the US, and your Livonia general dentist can help you avoid becoming part of this grim statistic.

What causes gum disease?

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. Regular brushing and flossing can remove this substance before it causes harm to the teeth and gums. However, patients who do not clean their teeth frequently or thoroughly enough leave plaque behind, which eventually hardens into a substance called tartar. Once this hard calculus forms, it cannot be removed with a toothbrush. Tartar along the gum line irritates the gum tissue, causing its connection to the teeth to loosen. When this happens, periodontal pockets form, and these spaces collect oral bacteria that irritate and inflame the gums. If periodontal disease goes untreated, the gums and underlying bone tissue will break down, causing teeth to loosen and fall out. (more…)

Crowns, Inlays, and Onlays Explained by Your Livonia Dentist

Posted June 13, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Dr. James Stewart holds years of experience with restorative dentistry. He strives to save decayed or damaged teeth with restorations such as crowns, inlays, and onlays. In many cases, our patients that receive restorations enjoy fully functioning teeth without sacrificing the appearance of their smile. Restorative dentistry is perfect for patients who have experienced extensive decay or have suffered from traumatic dental injuries.

Crowns

Crowns are custom-made restorations that cover the entire visible portion of a tooth. Made from porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or zirconia, crowns are caps that are placed over an existing tooth that is damaged or decayed. For patients with worn down teeth, crowns restore the size and appearance of a healthy tooth. Patients with crowns enjoy restored tooth function for many years to come. (more…)

Livonia Dentist Explains Simple, Yet Effective Cosmetic Procedures

Posted June 8, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Vampires are becoming very popular in today’s culture through books, television shows, and movies. And while some fans are jealous of their immortality and super-human capabilities, no one seems particularly envious of a vampire’s pointy canines. Those fangs can be fixed, however, with tooth recontouring, one of the many cosmetic dental procedures offered by Dr. James Stewart.

Reshape Your Teeth

Besides smoothing sharp, jagged “vampire teeth,” recontouring can also correct dental problems such as small chips and uneven teeth. For this procedure, a very minimal amount of tooth enamel is removed as the teeth are reshaped the ideal shape and size. The results? A softer, more balanced smile, and no more vampire jokes at your expense. (more…)

Livonia Dentist Explains Sleep Cycles and Sleep Apnea

Posted June 6, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Obstructive sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that affects millions of Americans. Unfortunately, many people do not realize that they suffer from sleep apnea and thus do not seek the treatment they need. Dr. Stewart has studied sleep apnea and dental sleep medicine. He feels that his patients need to first have a basic understanding of the sleep cycle before they can properly grasp the disruptive nature of sleep apnea.

Sleep Cycles

The sleep cycle divides into two distinct categories: REM sleep and non-REM sleep. The abbreviation REM stands for rapid eye movement, and it is the stage in when dreams occur.

Non-REM Sleep

Stage One: During this stage, which lasts between five and ten minutes, people can be awoken easily. The dream-like sensation of falling and the resulting muscle contraction often occur in this initial sleep state.

Stage Two: Light sleep happens in this stage, accompanied by a slowing of heart rate and a decrease in body temperature.

Stages Three and Four: By these phases, people are experiencing deep sleep, also known as slow-wave or delta sleep. When disrupted during these late stages, people feel disoriented.

REM Sleep

REM sleep, or dream sleep, transpires after you have been asleep for approximately 70–90 minutes. As the name suggests, your eyes move rapidly during this phase and dreaming sometimes takes place. Other factors of REM sleep include shallow breathing, an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and stiffening of the arm and leg muscles. (more…)