Dr. Samaha’s Dental Blog

It’s an often-forgotten fact that the mouth is connected to the rest of the body.

When this simple little truth is forgotten, it skips your attention that it’s part of the whole.

You use it to smile, to laugh, to speak and communicate with someone else. It’s a place to put on your lipstick!

It is a place to kiss your lover, or blow out the candles on your child’s birthday cake.

If you have a serious health issue, your mouth knows it (even if you can’t see it).

Your mouth and its well-being, is related to your overall health. It is, for sure, a part of your body, and if staying healthy is important to you,

It CANNOT, and should not, be ignored.

You don’t really need a new year to start getting healthy; you can start each DAY with that in mind–a walk, or wholesome not-stuffed-with-sugar food, meditation, by throwing that cigarette away.

You can also start each day with a deep breath . . . . and a bright smile!

Life is short. Smile more.

What You Need to Know About Oral Cancer:

It’s an important public service when high-profile people like actor Michael Douglas turn the spotlight on oral cancer. Yet still many people remain unaware of this potentially lethal disease. Oral cancer is not rare and it’s occurring more frequently and to a younger group with every passing year.

At one time, oral cancer was associated almost exclusively with ageing and with tobacco and alcohol consumption. The dramatic increase of the past few years  is believed to be caused by exposure to the HPV-16 virus, responsible for most cervical cancers. In fact, HPV-related oral cancers rose 28% between 1999-2007, and they continue to rise by about 3 % every year. Alarmingly, the fastest growing portion of the population that has oral cancer are 14 -18 year olds due to prevalence of oral sexual acts. Also, know that periodontal disease increases your risk of all forms of oral cancer.

Please know that this is an ugly disease. It can be disfiguring and painful, unless caught in its earliest stages. This is one cancer that cannot be hidden from view.

If you experience any of these common warning signs, please give our Newport News cosmetic dental office a call at 757-223-9270.

• Red or white patch in the mouth that lasts more than two weeks
• Change in voice or hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks
• Sore throat that does not subside
• Pain, swelling, ulcer or a lump in the mouth or neck that does not subside
• Ulcer in the mouth that does not heal within two weeks

When have found that at early stages, oral cancers have an 80-90% survival rate, yet someone dies from oral cancer every hour, every day. This is why we utilize our advanced oral cancer screening technology to aid us in the early detection of areas of concern. You can always expect that our cosmetic and restorative dentistry practice will guide you towards safer, more effective and proactive oral health care.

For some time, gum disease, or periodontal disease has been linked to complications of pregnancy including infertility, premature birth, low birth-weight, toxemia, eclampsia and gestational diabetes. Research has strengthened this association by showing that gestational diabetes appears in women with gum disease – even if they don’t smoke or drink. Gestational diabetes usually disappears once the baby is born, but it places you at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later on.

So how to prevent gum disease? The best prevention is great nutrition, regular dental care, and thorough daily brushing and flossing to remove the buildup of plaque, the natural biofilm (like the scum that forms on an aquarium or a vase of old flowers) that is always forming on your teeth.

Pregnancy is a time of hormonal fluctuations that can alter the bacterial and acidic balance in your mouth and leave you more susceptible to gum disease. That’s why, during your pregnancy, we may suggest more frequent follow-up than you’re used to. Yet everyone at every age needs to maintain their oral health because gum disease has also been linked to cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, kidney disease, respiratory diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and many cancers in the general population.

Another time gum disease rears its head is when women near menopause, and definitely afterwards. No matter what your stage of life, don’t wait until you see the symptoms of inflammation including redness, puffiness, or bleeding gums. Even if you think you are problem-free, don’t skip your preventative visits. Call our Hampton cosmetic dental office today at 757-223-9270. And remember, this is a silent disease until its middle to late stages. A very sneaky disease! We screen for gum disease at every visit… because we like to know your gums are healthy, stable and NOT poisoning your body.

What you choose to place a high value on says quite a bit about you. For example, if you treasure your health and well-being and that of your family, that tells the world that quality of life really matters to you. An improved quality of life brings each of us a greater sense of self-confidence and mastery of our environment. And nothing says self-confidence and mastery like a healthy and beautiful smile.

Here are some smile concerns asked about by lots of our Newport News cosmetic dental patients. Many of the popular solutions we’ve suggested take only one or two visits without surgery and without anesthetic.

Chipped or cracked teeth? Tooth-like materials can be bonded to your enamel so no one will ever notice.

Discolored teeth? Supervised professional teeth whitening can brighten your teeth. Versatile bonding and veneers can camouflage and whiten. In 2010, we discovered the new world of KOR Whitening- considered by professionals to be the safest, deepest, brightest whitening technology developed.

Gaps in your teeth? Bonding or porcelain veneers can reduce unwanted spaces, without braces. We are experts at matching shades!

Crooked, crowded, or protruding teeth? Teeth with very wide gaps? Our 6 month braces or Invisalign clear orthodontic trays for adults can bring them back in line – in no time!

Worn-down teeth and aging restorations? Beautiful natural-looking inlays and onlays, dental crowns, bonding, and veneers can whiten, re-contour, strengthen, and restore symmetry to your smiling face! With our Cerec technology, we can design them while you wait!

Some things are too precious not to value. A healthy, great looking smile speaks volumes about how you value the precious gift of good health. Please contact us today at 757-223-9270 or visit our website at http://www.pwdentalarts.com/ to make a positive change in your life.

Nobody wants to lose teeth, but let’s face it – it can happen to anyone, even here in Hampton. Maybe even you? Thanks to dental implants though, you can avoid further damage that would otherwise add insult to injury, like the inevitable shifting and tilting of surrounding teeth and the loss of bone in the jaw that can create a sunken, prematurely aged appearance.

As if safeguarding your oral health and appearance weren’t astonishing enough…

1. Implants require only normal brushing and flossing, just like natural teeth- no special home-care routines.
2. There is no need to remove healthy enamel from adjacent teeth to accommodate implants.
3. There is no metal visible beyond your gumline.
4. Implants can be used for a single tooth replacement, as part of a major makeover, or as anchors for all kinds of dentures.

Ask us about astounding, amazing, adaptable implants! Call our cosmetic dentistry office today at 757-223-9270 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lisa Marie Samaha.

For millennia, Tibetan monks have laughed out loud on awakening- no joke!

Seriously, though, even faking a laugh cues your body and your mind to stay calmer and more focused. How? By shutting off stress hormones and triggering the release of feel-good endorphins. What else? We can show you how to laugh out loud enthusiastically, vigorously, and confidently day or night- with or without an audience. And if you really want to feel invigorated, follow the links below.  http://laughter-yoga.meetup.com/cities/us/va/alexandria/

http://www.laughteryoga.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5266:laughter-yoga-helped-me-with-chronic-pain-and-reflex-sympathetic-dystropy-syndrome-rsds&catid=202:testimonials&Itemid=405

You can EVEN sign up to become a laughter yoga instructor!

You probably associate mint with toothpaste or breath freshener, but it has been used as an herbal remedy and a spa soother in face packs, foot rubs, and bath soaks. Both peppermint and spearmint are very popular, especially for cooking, and if you’re not a gardener, you can easily find commercially dried leaves.

7 Mint Hints For Your Kitchen:

1. Steam vegetables with mint in the water.
2. Mix chopped mint with butter for boiled new potatoes.
3. Mix chopped dried mint with mashed potatoes, olive oil and lemon juice for a healthy Mediterranean flair.
4. Toss whole mint leaves in cooked rice before serving.
5. Freeze whole mint leaves in ice cubes for tea or lemonade.
6. Make salad dressing with mint, lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil.
7. Garnish desserts, vegetables, or roasts with a couple of sprigs of mint.
8. Chew some fresh mint to cleanse your palate and your breath!

Female long-tailed macaque monkeys in Thailand have been observed teaching their young how to use strands of hair to clean between their teeth. If monkeys can floss, so can you!

If you’re not flossing, you’re missing about a third of your tooth surfaces. Even if you were fasting, you’d still need to brush and floss –  the best way to prevent the buildup of the naturally and constantly occurring bacterial plaque and calculus that can cause gum disease.

There’s definitely a perfect technique for you. You might prefer waxed floss to unwaxed. Floss holders and threaders are handy. Wider floss and dental tape are excellent if you have gum recession and bone loss.

To hone your technique, don’t go to the zoo… come see the cosmetic dental team at Port Warwick Dental Arts near Hampton for a demo! And if you just can’t get the hang of it, tooth picking will do. Just remember to ask us how, so damage doesn’t occur!

To make an appointment with cosmetic and restorative dentist Dr. Lisa Marie Samaha, please call us today at 757-223-9270.

It’s estimated that an alarming 33% of people who used to keep regular cosmetic dental checkups have not seen a dentist in two years! We know there are many reasons for this, from dental phobia to financial restrictions, to simply not seeing the urgency of maintaining oral health. Whatever the cause, it could prove to be very costly.

Of course, letting small dental problems become bigger ones can lead to greater expense, pain and loss of school or work time. Yet the links between neglected oral health and potentially life-threatening diseases, including diabetes and cancers, can prove costlier.

If you know people in the Newport News area who avoid dental care or who are looking for a restorative dentist, please don’t keep us a secret! Whether they need a regular checkup, periodontal treatment or cosmetic dentistry, we are always grateful for your referrals and we’d love to welcome them! Have them call 757-223-9270  or check out our website at http://www.pwdentalarts.com/ for more information.