Chemotherapy And The Blood Cells

If you are having chemotherapy, you will know that it affects your blood counts. Chemotherapy often kills cells that are actively multiplying.

The developing blood cells are multiplying all the time as they mature. So they are also killed by the chemotherapy drugs. The white cell counts are affected first because many white cells in the circulation naturally die off within a few days at most. Normally these are replaced by newly developed white cells. But the developing white cells have been killed by chemotherapy. So there will be a short wait before more can be made. About a week or two in fact. Just in time for your next course of chemotherapy!

The mature red blood cells live for about three months. So you often don't get anaemic or low in red cells until further into your chemotherapy course (if at all). Your doctor may want you to have a transfusion of red cells or a drug called erythropoietin until you are producing red cells normally again.

Chemotherapy can also make you become very short of platelets. If you do, you may get nose bleeds, or notice a red rash on your skin like tiny bruises. Your doctor may then want you to have a platelet transfusion. After high dose chemotherapy it can take longer for the platelet count to get back to normal than any other blood cell count.

Taking Care Of Your Teeth

When you get your picture taken, everyone says, "Say cheese! Smile!" So you do - you open your mouth and show your teeth. When you see the picture, you see a happy person looking back at you. The healthier those teeth are, the happier you look. Why is that?

It's because your teeth are important in many ways. If you take care of them, they'll help take care of you. Strong, healthy teeth help you chew the right foods to help you grow. They help you speak clearly. And yes, they help you look your best.
Why Healthy Teeth Are Important
How does taking care of your teeth help with all those things? Taking care of your teeth helps prevent plaque (say: plak), which is a clear film that sticks to your teeth. The film itself might not sound so bad, but it's very sticky, and it acts like a magnet for bacteria (say: bak-teer-ee-uh) and sugar.

Like ants at a picnic, bacteria go crazy over the sugar on your teeth, breaking it down into acids that eat away tooth enamel, causing holes called cavities. Plaque also causes gingivitis (say: jin-juh-vi-tis), which is gum disease that can make your gums red, swollen, and sore. Your gums are those soft pink tissues in your mouth that hold your teeth in place.

If you don't take care of your teeth, it won't be long before cavities and unhealthy gums make your mouth very, very sore. Eating meals will be difficult. And you won't feel like smiling so much.
Before Toothpaste Was Invented

We're lucky that we know so much now about taking care of our teeth. Long ago, as people got older, their teeth would rot away and be very painful. To get rid of a toothache, they had their teeth pulled out. Finally people learned that cleaning their teeth was important, but they didn't have toothpaste right away. While you're swishing that minty-fresh paste around your mouth, think about what people used long ago to clean teeth:

• ground-up chalk or charcoal
• lemon juice
• ashes (you know, the stuff that's left over after a fire)
• tobacco and honey mixed together

Give Thanks For Healthy Teeth

Fall is upon us and Thanksgiving is here. As you gather with friends and family for your magnificent feast this year, it’s important to remember oral health because what you eat can reflect on your mouth and teeth.

Proper nutrition is essential to maintaining good oral health. Many times, improving your diet can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It's also important to brush and floss after eating those yummy Thanksgiving desserts!

Gum (Periodontal) Disease
Studies have shown that periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is linked to heart attacks and strokes. Gum disease is an infection in the gums surrounding the teeth. Gum disease is also one of the main causes of tooth loss among adults. There are two major stages of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. Regular dental check ups along with brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily play an important role in preventing gum disease.

Mouth Sores
There are several different types of mouth sores and they can be pesky and bothersome. Unless a mouth sore lasts more than two weeks, it is usually nothing to worry about and will disappear on its own. Common mouth sores are canker sores, fever blisters, cold sores, ulcers and thrush.

Gum (Periodontal) Disease

Periodontal disease (infection of the gum tissue and bones surrounding teeth) is an increasing health risk which will not go away by itself, but requires professional treatment.

Our Periodontal specialists are dedicated to saving teeth. Please call the Department of Periodontics clinic for information or for an appointment (319-335-7233).

What Is It?
Gum (periodontal) disease is an infection that is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless and develops slowly, a person may not be aware that the infection exists.

Gum disease is caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria (germs) that constantly forms on the teeth. These bacteria create toxins that can eventually damage the gums and the bone surrounding the teeth.

Bleeding Gums Are Not Normal!
In the early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, the gums become red, swell, and bleed easily. The disease is still reversible at this stage, and can usually be eliminated by careful daily brushing and flossing. In the more advanced stages of gum disease, called periodontitis, the gums and bone that support the teeth become seriously damaged. If the disease is left untreated, it can eventually lead to loss of teeth.

What are the signs of gum disease? Any of the following conditions may indicate the presence of gum disease, and a dentist or dental specialist called a periodontist should be consulted. If the gums:

• bleed when brushing teeth
• are red, swollen or tender

• have pulled away from the teeth

Or if one of the following conditions is present:

• bad breath that doesn't go away
• pus between teeth and gums
• loose teeth
• a change in the way the teeth fit together when biting
• a change in the fit of partial dentures

Remember that pain usually is not present in the early stages of gum disease.

Fighting Gum Disease: How to Keep Your Teeth

More than 75 percent of Americans over 35 have some form of gum disease. In its earliest stage, your gums might swell and bleed easily. At its worst, you might lose your teeth. The bottom line? If you want to keep your teeth, you must take care of your gums.

The mouth is a busy place, with millions of bacteria constantly on the move. While some bacteria are harmless, others can attack the teeth and gums. Harmful bacteria are contained in a colorless sticky film called plaque, the cause of gum disease. If not removed, plaque builds up on the teeth and ultimately irritates the gums and causes bleeding. Left unchecked, bone and connective tissue are destroyed, and teeth often become loose and may have to be removed.

A recent poll of 1,000 people over 35 done by Harris Interactive Inc. found that 60 percent of adults surveyed knew little, if anything, about gum disease, the symptoms, available treatments, and--most importantly--the consequences. And 39 percent do not visit a dentist regularly. Yet, gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Moreover, a Surgeon General's report issued in May 2000 labeled Americans' bad oral health a "silent epidemic" and called for a national effort to improve oral health among all Americans.

The good news is that in most people gum disease is preventable. Attention to everyday oral hygiene (brushing and flossing), coupled with professional cleanings twice a year, could be all that's needed to prevent gum disease--and actually reverse the early stage--and help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.

In addition, several products have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically to diagnose and treat gum disease, and even regenerate lost bone. These products may help improve the effectiveness of the professional care you receive. (See "FDA-Approved Products for Gum Disease".)
What Is Gum Disease?

In the broadest sense, the term gum disease--or periodontal disease--describes bacterial growth and production of factors that gradually destroy the tissue surrounding and supporting the teeth. "Periodontal" means "around the tooth."

Signs And Symptoms

Periodontal disease may progress painlessly, producing few obvious signs, even in the late stages of the disease. Then one day, on a visit to your dentist, you might be told that you have chronic gum disease and that you may be at increased risk of losing your teeth.

Although the symptoms of periodontal disease often are subtle, the condition is not entirely without warning signs. Certain symptoms may point to some form of the disease. They include:

• gums that bleed during and after toothbrushing
• red, swollen or tender gums
• persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth

• receding gums
• formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums
• loose or shifting teeth
• changes in the way teeth fit together on biting, or in the fit of partial dentures.

Even if you don't notice any symptoms, you may still have some degree of gum disease. Some people have gum disease only around certain teeth, such as those in the back of the mouth, which they cannot see. Only a dentist or a periodontist--a dentist who specializes in gum disease--can recognize and determine the progression of gum disease.

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) says that up to 30 percent of the U.S. population may be genetically susceptible to gum disease. And, despite aggressive oral care habits, people who are genetically predisposed may be up to six times more likely to develop some form of gum disease. Genetic testing to identify these people can help by encouraging early treatment that may help them keep their teeth for a lifetime.