Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~MOVEMENT AND EXERCISE by: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Movement and exercise, or physical activity, is a healthy lifestyle component that we all know about and are often not consistent with in our day-to-day life. We all hear about it, read …
Aged Garlic Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Garlic is a nutrient that as a supplement or even spicy food enhancer can be found everywhere. The benefits of using garlic as either a supplement or even just as a spice to add to our food are numerous. …
Dental Abscess and Cavities
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Everyone has heard of cavities. What you may not have heard of is a dental abscess. What is a dental abscess? How is dental abscess related to a cavity? And what can you do if you are told you have a dental abscess? Let us get into it, shall we?
Basically a tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that’s caused by a bacterial infection. These can occur in different locations in the tooth. If the abscess occurs at the tip of the root, it is called a periapical abscess. If it occurs in the gums at the sides of the tooth root it is called a periodontal abscess. (1)
A periodontal abscess is associated with pre-existing gum disease such as periodontitis. This means that the bacteria that cause the infection originates from the gums and supporting tissues. (2) In contrast in a periapical tooth abscess the origin of the bacteria is usually an untreated dental cavity, tooth injury or prior dental work. (2) Please see the picture below for what a dental abscess may look like. (1)
Simply put an untreated cavity allows bacteria to enter the tooth and this bacteria leads to infection and inflammation that results in a dental abscess. (1) If your curious as to what a cavity is do not worry, I’m going to tell you! A cavity damages the enamel of the tooth caused by bacteria. Once the enamel wears away the bacteria reaches the next layer, called dentin. As the damage continues eventually the bacteria will get to the root or inner pulp. (3) Please see the above picture which includes a cavity in addition to the abscess.
Moving on what are the main risk factors for a dental abscess? Well as I previously said, having an untreated cavity can lead to a dental abscess. Having poor dental hygiene for any reason can increase the risk of dental problems. (1) I would like to point out that poor dental hygiene can be a result of poor mental health. For example, there is a well-known connection between oral health and dementia. (4) Another risk factor for a dental abscess is dry mouth. Having a nutrient lacking diet is also a risk factor. For example, a diet that is too high in sugar can increase the risk of cavities which in turn can increase the risk of dental abscess. (1) Other risk factors can include pre-existing gum disease, any bacterial infection or trauma to the gums. (2) Anything that can lead to a cavity can eventually result in dental abscess. For example, heartburn, eating disorders, diet and even hygiene can all increase your risk of cavity. (3)
Having a dental abscess can have symptoms such as a severe constant, throbbing toothache. This pain can spread to your jawbone, neck, ear and the corresponding lymph nodes may be swollen and tender. There may be pain with chewing or biting and even extremely hot/cold. There may be swelling in your face, check or neck. You may develop a fever. Lastly there may be a foul odor in your mouth. If the abscess ruptures, you may notice a sudden rush of foul smelling and tasting fluid. However, when the abscess ruptures there is usually a reduction in the level of pain. (1)
Having a dental abscess can lead to dangerous complications. For example, if the abscess does not drain then the infection may spread and can even lead to sepsis which is life threating. (1)
What can you do to help fight bad bacteria?
Aged Garlic is our next topic!
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PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~LEARNING: A NUTRITIONIST’S PERSPECTIVE By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Learning can be a valuable tool but often not thought about when putting together a wellness plan. We often think of learning as our education, whether its formal education …
Bromelain- The Power of Pineapple Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Bromelain is an enzyme that has been written about many times in the past. In fact, there are even a few blogs on the Invite website itself! Yet, despite this, people still have a few unanswered …
Sinus Infections or Sinusitis Part 2
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
In my last blog on sinusitis I started with a description of what the sinuses are, where they are and even what they do. I then talked about what the symptoms of sinusitis are. (1,2,3) In this blog I will be expanding upon how sinusitis is diagnosed, how it is possible to tell the difference between sinusitis and other dental concerns/ having a cold and we will even talk about some natural ways of addressing the symptoms. It’s a lot to talk about so let’s get into it, shall we?
Sinusitis is usually diagnosed based on your symptoms and health history. Just a small PSA it is always important to be as accurate as you can when talking to your doctor about the symptoms you have. This ensures a correct diagnosis and allows for proper treatment to begin ASAP. In addition to medical history and symptoms your doctor will also check your ears, nose and throat for any swelling, draining or blockage. There are certain tests that can help your doctor to diagnose sinusitis. These include nasal swabs, nasal endoscopy and even in some cases a CT scan. If you experience chronic sinusitis our doctor may recommend allergy testing to determine the root cause. (1)
Now just what dental concerns most closely resemble sinusitis and how can you tell the difference between the 2 conditions? As I said in my last blog sinusitis can cause a toothache therefore any condition that leads to a toothache can be mistaken for sinusitis or vice versa. These can include gum disease (periodontal disease or gingivitis), cavities and even dental abscesses. If you grind our teeth this can also lead to a toothache. The best way to determine if the pain is coming from the tooth itself or sinusitis is to see a dentist. They can help rule out a dental cause for the toothache. The toothache may also have a dental origin if it seems to last longer than you would expect, if it doesn’t go away even after the sinus infection is gone or lastly it doesn’t improve with treatment for your sinusitis. Simply put if the toothache or facial pain is associated with sinusitis it should clear up with proper sinus infection treatment. If it doesn’t a checkup with your dentist can help. (10) Pleas e see the attached chart for a side by side comparison of the symptoms. (11)
| Sinusitis symptoms | Toothache caused by a dental concern |
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As I said sinusitis can have very similar symptoms to the common cold. If you’re curious about the common cold I’d refer you to my blog on that topic. Anyhow how can you distinguish between a cold and sinusitis? The easiest way is to look at certain symptoms. So I’ve included a hand chart for you to look at. (3) Remember you can always see your doctor for a confirmation on what is causing you symptoms!
What can you do to help with the symptoms of sinusitis?
Our product highlight will be Bromelain!
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