Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Are you “zinc-ing” too much?

Zinc, an essential mineral for our body, plays a role in mineral balance, immunity and cell growth. It occurs naturally in foods such as beef, eggs and yogurt, but it may also be found in denture adhesives. According to Dr. von Fraunhofer, MSc, PhD, co-author an article published in the current issue of General Dentistry, overusing denture adhesives can lead to “toxic levels of zinc, with adverse neurologic effects.”  How do you know if you are using too much?  You should apply only a thin film or a series of dots to the denture, according to the manufacturer’s directions, and one tube should last 1-2 months.

 Regarding denture adhesives, More Is Not Better…

If you are using larger amounts of denture adhesive, trying to keep an ill-fitting denture in place, it is time to see your dentist. Denture-wearers should continue to see their dentist every six months, for an oral examination and assessment of the fit of their denture.  The tissues of your mouth shrink over time, leading to gaps and loose dentures. Adjustments can be made in many cases, so that your denture can still fit without irritation or embarassing slips. In general, a new denture is required every five or six years.

Over-consumption of zinc, whether from denture adhesive, mineral zinc supplements or other sources, can cause irritation of your gums and nausea.  It is difficult to produce high zinc levels in your body from your diet alone. High zinc levels can lead to numbness or tingling in your hands and feet, disturbances of taste, and muscle cramps. Zinc and copper, another essential mineral, are in balance.  If your zinc levels go up, your copper levels go down. High levels of zinc can cause secondary copper deficiency. Disturbances in copper levels can produce nerve damage and and anemia (low blood count).

If you are using both zinc supplements and denture adhesives, discuss this with your doctor or nutritionist. We advise our patients to use denture adhesive sparingly, in accordance with the manufacturers’ directions, and to see us regularly for a thorough oral examination.

If you are seeking gentle, quality dental care, and you are in the greater Philadelphia, Delaware County, Wilmington Delaware or Media PA area, please visit Media PA dentist or call Dr. Bodak’s office at (610) 565-2868.  I care about your oral health.

Dr. Bodak, your Media PA dentist

Research indicates that 40 million Americans suffer from migraines or tension headaches and one of the reported causes of headache is teeth grinding and clenching. It has also been reported that one out of four women suffer from migraine headaches, and half of all migraine sufferers are undiagnosed. The pain and frustration leads many to seek migraine relief beyond medicine prescriptions.

Your Dentist Be Able to Help With Migraine Relief

Did you know that your dentist may be able to help you address your need for migraine relief with a simple device know as NTI? This simple device has been reported to offer migraine relief in some patients. Now you can prevent constant migraine pain, eliminate teeth grinding and suppress uncomfortable clenching with the NTI Tension Suppression System.

What is NTI and How Could it Help with Migraine Relief?

NTI-tss is a small acrylic guard that is custom made for your teeth and is an option for migraine relief worth exploring with your dentist. The device is quite simple to make and adjust so that it is comfortable and stable. The device works by reducing jaw clenching during sleep. It fits over the central teeth on the bottom arch of the mouth and keeps the rear teeth from touching. Many patients unconsciously clench and grind their teeth at night. For some, clenching serves as a catalyst for migraine inducing strain on the muscles in the head and face.

Who Can You Contact for More Information on Options for Migraine Relief

If you or someone you know suffers from migraines and would like more information on how NTI-tss may help with migraine relief, call Dr. Bodak and schedule an appointment to discuss your situation. We serve the greater Philadelphia, Delaware County, Wilmington Delaware and Media PA area, so please visit Media PA dentist or call Dr. Bodak’s office at (610) 565-2868.

It’s a New Year.  Is Your Smile Ready for 2011?  

Your smile is the first feature that everyone notices. We all want to make that great first impression, with a smile that reflects our inner self. But if you are not proud of your smile, or if you have discolored or damaged teeth, you may avoid smiling, or cover your mouth when you laugh. Take a few moments to honestly evaluate your teeth, gums, breath and smile.  Are you truly satisfied?  If your smile is not ready for the New Year, a Smile Makeover can be the difference.  Our patient on the left rarely smiled or laughed because he felt  uncomfortable. Then he decided it was time for a new smile.

If it has been a while since you have visited the dentist, make an appointment to have your teeth examined and professionally cleaned. Yellowish tartar buildup is not healthy or attractive.

• After your dental cleaning, ask for an enamel shade analysis. If you want brighter whiter teeth, consider professional cosmetic whitening. It is affordable and many patients in our Media PA dental office are candidates for this service.
• Some minor problems may be addressed by simple cosmetic dental procedures, such as contouring or cosmetic bonding, during a regular dental visit.
• For those with more extensive cosmetic dental issues, a Smile Makeover may be the answer for you.

A Smile Makeover is custom-designed for your face and bone structure.

In our Media Pa dental office, we see many new patients who have always dreamed of a beautiful attractive smile. Now, with Zirconia crowns or porcelain veneers, a youthful and attractive smile can be yours in 2-3 weeks, just as we did for this patient.  Our patient reported no pain or discomfort, and  he is now ready to relax and Smile for Success!  He says it has changed his life.  What do you think? 

At Media PA dentist, we suggest that you choose a cosmetic dentist with experience, a true dental artist and craftsman, who can design a natural-appearing, healthy smile for a lifetime of enjoyment.  You deserve a wonderful smile!  If you would like to address your dental concerns with an expert in Delaware County, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia, call our friendly office at (610) 565-2868 to schedule your apppointment. You will feel comfortable and welcome here because I care about your comfort and dental health, and your comfort is our first concern!  We offer a number of affordable discount programs and special offers. Together, we can restore your healthy, confident smile with gentle, personalized care by Dr. Bodak, a Media PA Dentist.

Wishing you success and a lifetime of beautiful, healthy smiles!

New Study in Journal of the American Dietetic Association Indicates Link

Healthy teeth and gums improve your smile and oral health. Most adults will have gum disease at some time in their lives. You may have it right now and not know it!  Can a diet rich in foods like peanut better and salmon help? A recent study says yes!

In my Media PA dental office, I see otherwise vigorous adults with an unhappy smile due to gum disease.  Gum disease not only leads to tooth loss and premature facial aging, but it has also been implicated in diabetes, heart disease and even dementia! 

In a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Volume 110, Issue 11 (November 2010), Harvard researchers found that eating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), like those found in fish oil and nuts, may help prevent gum disease.  PUFAs have anti-inflammatory properties that benefit some types of heart disease and arthritis.  This study provides more evidence that these same good foods may also lower the risk of gum disease, such as  inflammation and infection of the gums (periodontitis).  For good oral health, I recommend foods like salmon and nuts to my Media PA dental patients.

Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease in which sensitive gum tissue shrinks away from teeth, creating open pockets. These pockets accumulate infectious bacteria that cannot be removed by simple tooth brushing.  The trapped bacteria produce toxins that lead to bleeding gums, disappearing bone and eventually, tooth loss.  In my Media PA dental office, I see patients with advanced gum disease and weakened bone. They did not realize they had periodontitis because they felt no pain until their teeth started to comes loose.  These researchers studied the effect of diet on oral health among 9,000 American adults who participated in this study.  People with low PUFA diets had three times more periodontal disease. People with high fatty acid intake, especially DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) had the lowest incidence of periodontitis.

Polyunsaturated fats are found in fish oil, fatty fish like salmon, peanut butter, certain margarines, and all types of nuts. Modest portions were enough to lower the incidence of gum disease in the study participants. As a Media PA dentist, I recommend these foods for a healthier smile.

If you are concerned about gum disease, see your dentist soon. If you live near Philadelphia or Wilmington and would like to consult with an expert, gentle Delaware County dentist to discuss all your options, please call our office so we may assist you – (610) 565-2868.

Your oral health and dental care is important to me. Life is better with a healthy smile!

Dr. L. Z. Bodak-G
Media PA Dentist

You and Your Family Are Eating a  Healthy Diet for life, right?

We all know the importance of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables for the health of our digestive and cardiac systems.  These essentials provide fiber, water, minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients that help protect our cells.  Dentists also recommend firm and crunchy foods, such as apples and vegetables, to stimulate the flow of saliva that helps to clean and protect our teeth.

The best food choices for the health of your mouth include cheeses, chicken or other animal protein, nuts, and milk. We believe these foods protect tooth enamel by providing the calcium and phosphorus to remineralize tooth enamel.  These minerals are removed  by acids, but can be restored by our diet.

But Here’s the Problem…

Your healthy food choices may be contaminated with tasteless, odorless chemicals like antibiotics, fungicides, pesticides, hormones and other agents that may be far from healthy.   These chemicals can run off the crops and enter our water supply, persisting for years.  Some of these compounds in higher concentrations have been linked to childhood diseases, reproductive disorders in men, and breast cancer in women.  How much is safe? We really don’t know for sure.  But we should be especially cautious regarding the diets of children and pregnant women.

So What Can We Do? 

For one thing, avoid the foods that usually test as the most heavily contaminated, the “Dirty Dozen”,  and choose the foods with the lowest tested residue, the “Clean Fifteen” .  (More to come in the next blog post about those!)  Organic foods are a great choice, because they are produced without the use of antibiotics, fungicides, pesticides, hormones and other chemicals, and have a much lower chemical residue.  Organic foods are available at local farmers’ markets; they are increasing found in supermarkets as well.  Ask where you shop and let them know you want a selection of organic foods.  

Try growing your own organic berries and vegetables.  In our backyard, we grew these tomatoes organically, along with organic peppers, lettuce, cucumber, and zucchini.  It takes about the same effort as a non-organic garden, the food is fresh and delectable, and you will be doing your body and our planet a huge favor.  Doesn’t that sound delicious?