We all cringe at the thought of having bad breath. It can be embarrassing and unhealthy. You may do what you can to avoid it , but how do you know if you actually suffer from halitosis? Cupping your hands and breathing into them is an old trick, but it doesnt really work. The bad odor of your breath hides in the back of your mouth and comes out when you speak. Try these tricks to give you a hint of how your breath smells.

• Wipe the back of your tongue with a clean cotton swab for about 15 minutes. Wait a few seconds and sniff the cotton swab. This sample is what your breath may smell like.
• Floss a few of your back teeth with a piece of unflavored dental floss. Wait a few seconds and smell the floss. Since the back of your mouth is the source of halitosis, this is a good preview of what your breath smells like.
• Lick your wrist. Wait a few seconds for the saliva to dry a little, and then smell it.
• Ask a trusted friend or family member for the truth. It can be embarrassing, but then youll know for sure how your breath smells when talking to other people.
• If you notice a frequent bad taste in your mouth, you could have bad breath. In addition, if your mouth is dry, you dont have enough saliva to help clean the bacteria from your mouth, and it could cause a bad odor. (more)

With summer coming to a close, the first day of school is just a few weeks away. For any family with school-age children - whether theyre a first grader or a freshman in high school- this can be an exciting and busy time.

What has to be done before school starts:

• New clothes and shoes for the kiddos
• New lunchboxes and backpacks
• Keeping up with everyones schedules (soccer, carpool, band practice- you name it!)
• Getting everyones schools supplies
• Getting the kids to the doctor for general checkups, shots, and physicals

The list goes on and on, but is dental care on your back-to-school checklist?

If not, it should be. Regular six-month dental cleanings and checkups should begin as soon as your childs first tooth appears. While this milestone happens at a different age for everyone, your dentist will recommend the proper time to start coming in regularly. These checkups are just another way to make sure that your kids are practicing quality at-home dental hygiene habits and that their smiles are happy and healthy.

By having their teeth thoroughly cleaned every six months , your child is protected from developing serious oral conditions, such as cavities , tooth decay, and gum disease . Also, with regular bi-annual checkups , your dentist can keep an eye on your childs development and suggest the right time to see an orthodontist if braces are needed, as well as keep an eye on your childs mouth and scan for anything that could become a problem in the future. After all, prevention is key to healthy living.

Dr. James Stewart is a family dentist in Livonia, Michigan , and he encourages you to bring your entire family in for regular checkups and cleanings before the kiddos go back to school. call Dr. Stewarts dental office at (734) 425-4400 to reserve an appointment for your kids in the next few weeks so they can go back to school with a sparkling smile. Also, by calling now, your child wont have to miss school later in the school year to go to the dentist. Unless Dr. Stewart says otherwise, checkups and cleanings every six months are all it takes to have a healthy smile.

We look forward to seeing you and starting your semester off with a smile.

Dr. James Stewart has many years of experience helping patients overcome sleep apnea and sleeping disorders, but how exactly does he do it? How do dentists treat patients with sleep apnea?

Theoretically, you should visit your dentist every six months for routine checkups and cleanings . This means that you may see your dentist more frequently than you see your general physician. Dentists are often the first medical professionals to become aware of a potential problem, like sleep apnea, simply because they see their patients more often than doctors in other medical fields.

Snoring is a common indicator of sleep apnea , but not all symptoms are as obvious. Dr. Stewart is trained in dental sleep medicine, and he can detect the less evident symptoms of sleep apnea through a conversation with you about your sleeping habits and daytime behavior. If you complain about lethargy, morning headaches, dry mouth , daytime fatigue, or a number of other factors, Dr. Stewart may send you to a sleep lab or recommend a home sleep study. If you are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), an oral appliance might be needed to treat the condition.

Dr. Stewart and his team have undergone special training for the treatment of sleep apnea and are skilled in recommending appropriate treatment , like behavior modification or an oral sleep appliance. He may suggest altering your sleep position, losing weight, or quitting smoking as conservative treatment options. Additionally, you may need to wear an oral appliance, such as a CPAP device , while you sleep to reposition your jaw and tongue to improve your airflow.

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, Dr. James Stewart invites you to schedule an appointment at his dental office in Livonia, Michigan by calling (734) 425-4400.

Aging impacts every aspect of a persons physical being. Sometimes, these changes can create challenges that were not there in younger years.

As a dentist, Dr. James Stewart understands these challenges and provides compassionate and complete dental care for aging patients. No two patients are the same, so Dr. Stewart and his dental team take the time to get to know all patients so that we understand and can effectively treat their needs and concerns.

A patient with arthritis, for example, may struggle with daily at-home dental hygiene, namely brushing and flossing, due to movement problems. Additionally, many senior patients take medications that can cause side effects, such as dry mouth, which can lead to tooth decay. Some patients may have not seen a dentist in years simply because getting to the dentists office is a task in itself.

Dr. Stewart and his team have been treating aging patients for years, so he understands the challenges commonly associated with senior dental health . These include:

• Inability to brush and floss properly: Medical conditions that affect movement, such as arthritis, can make daily brushing and flossing difficult. Its essential that patients who have difficulty practicing quality at-home dental hygiene habits see their dentist regularly for thorough cleanings and exams.
• Dry mouth: Medications, cancer treatments, and certain diseases can contribute to dry mouth, which increases a persons risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Dr. Stewart will provide thorough exams to detect early signs of dry mouth, offer hygiene tips, and diet counseling that will help to restore moisture.
• Dentures: Dr. Stewart is a denture expert. At dental appointments, he will check to make sure dentures fit properly, are comfortable, and check for signs of wear and tear. Aside from general discomfort, ill-fitting dentures can lead to more serious oral health concerns.
• Implants: Dr. Stewart is trained in the placement of dental implants and mini-implants , which can help, stabilize and secure loose dentures.

Call our dental office in Livonia, Michigan at (734) 425-4400 to schedule an appointment.

Youve seen how periodontal disease can lead to arthritis , but this oral condition can also lead to other serious health problems, including Alzheimers disease, diabetes, birth complications, heart problems, osteoporosis, certain cancers, and strokes.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and, therefore, the perfect time to explore just why gum disease can lead to an increased chance of strokes.

A stroke occurs for two reasons: when a ruptured blood vessel or impaired blood flow causes brain hemorrhaging, or when a clot blocks a blood vessel. Dr. Wu, a stroke expert from the State University of New York at Buffalo says that bacteria are to blame. Harmful bacteria enter the bloodstream through the mouth, stimulating blood clotting, damaging the lining of blood vessels, and increasing the risk of stroke.

Additionally, gum disease is twice as likely to cause strokes as it is to cause diabetes, and it is equally as likely to cause strokes as it is to cause high blood pressure.

Gum disease is present in the mouths of approximately 80 percent of American adults, yet many dont even know they have it. Its imperative that you have regular dental checkups and cleanings every 6 months so that I can screen for early signs of this disease and other oral health conditions.

Im Dr. James Stewart , and I invite you to call my dental office in Livonia, Michigan, at (734) 425-4400 to schedule an appointment. My team and I look forward to keeping your smile healthy for years to come.

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and University Hospitals of Cleveland reported that patients reduced arthritic pain and the number of swollen joints after treating their dental problems.

It was exciting to find that if we eliminated the infection and inflammation in the gums, then patients with a severe kind of active rheumatoid arthritis reported improvement on the signs and symptoms of that disease. Stated Dr. Nabil Bissada, chair of the schools Department of Periodontics.

This study was not the first to link gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatologists and other clinicians have studied the how gum disease may lead to systematic disease. Dr. Ali Askari, chair of the department of rheumatology at University Hospitals, states that historically, arthritic patients felt better when teeth were pulled or received antibiotics used to treat periodontal disease.

Askari and Bissada worked together, studying 40 patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease and severe rheumatoid arthritis. These inflammatory diseases share similarities in the progression of the disease over time. In both diseases, inflammation caused by toxins from bacterial infection destroys hard and soft tissue. One common toxin revealed in the study, called, tumor necrosis factor-alpha , can initiate new infections or aggravate sites where inflammation already exists. (more)

Caring for patients with dementia or Alzheimers can prove challenging. Patients often resist care oral health because they feel threatened. Caring for their oral health can be easier thanks to a group of nurses at Penn State School of Nursing. The nurses developed a plan, Managing Oral Hygiene Using Threat Reduction, to assist caregivers in providing oral hygiene to patients with Alzheimers or dementia.

The nurses created the plan to reduce threat perception among these patients. They suggest that caregivers smile while they interact with the patients, approach them at eye level, pantomime, and gently hold the patients hand while brushing teeth.

The number of patients in nursing homes who still have natural teeth is rising, due to proper oral hygiene. By using the threat reduction plan, caregivers can provide oral hygiene assistance in a more effective and friendly manner.

Several studies show a connection between periodontal disease and Alzheimers disease. With proper oral hygiene, brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, rinsing after meals, and visiting the dentist every six months for deep cleaning and checkup, the risk of periodontal disease decreases.

Dr. James Stewart , a Livonia dentist, has experience caring for elderly patients and knows the challenges commonly associated with senior dental health . If you are a caregiver for a patient with Alzheimers or dementia, contact Dr. Stewart at (734)425.4400 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Stewart cares for patients from Livonia, Farmington, Farmington Hills, and surrounding areas.

With proper oral hygiene, teeth can last a lifetime. Today, more than ever before, people are keeing their natural teeth throughout life. When it comes to care and maintenance of teeth, here are some interesting dental health facts to keep in mind:

• 50 percent of people polled state they notice a smile before any other feature .
• 80 percent of men and women feel guilty when they forget to brush their teeth. However over 75 percent of American adults have some level of gum disease.
• Three out of four people admit, they dont change their toothbrushes as often as they should. Toothbrushes should be replaced every six to eight weeks or immediately after an illness.
• While brushing your teeth, maintain a six-foot distance from the commode. Airborne particles from flushing can travel up to six feet.
• The average woman smiles approximately 62 times a day, while a man generally smiles only eight times a day.
• Children laugh 400 times a day, and adults only laugh about 15 times a day.
• Adults lose more than 164 million hours of work annually due to dental visits and oral health problems.
• 44 percent of dental expenses are paid out-of-pocket.
• The most popular color of toothbrush is blue.
• The average toothbrush contains 2,500 bristles.

To maintain teeth for a lifetime, brush twice a day, floss once a day, rinse after meals, and visit your dentist every six months for a thorough cleaning and checkup . Contact Dr. James Stewart at (734)425-4400 to schedule your semi-annual dental visit. Dr. Stewart maintains healthy teeth for residents of Livonia, Farmington, Farmington Hills, and surrounding areas.

Halitosis, or bad breath can occur after eating odorous foods, or because of poor oral hygiene, taking certain medicines, or using tobacco products. However, halitosis also can be a symptom of an underlying health issue, such as periodontal disease, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease, liver or kidney disease, chronic sinusitis, or chronic bronchitis.

Through proper oral healthcare brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, rinsing after meals, and visiting the dentist every six-months for a thorough cleaning and checkup you will decrease your risk for halitosis and periodontal disease. If your bad breath continues, consult Dr. James Stewart first to determine if the halitosis is related to your mouth.

Dr. Stewart will conduct a complete medical and dental history. First, your diet, tobacco use, medications, medical conditions, and family history will be reviewed. He will then examine your mouth, take x-rays, and measure your gums for indications of periodontal disease. If Dr. Stewart determines the halitosis is not of oral origin, you should contact your physician. (more)

Saliva plays an important role in maintaining good oral health. It washes away food particles, cleans teeth, and neutralizes harmful acids. Without saliva, the risk of tooth decay and gum disease increases. When your mouth doesnt produce enough saliva, you suffer from xerostomia or dry mouth.

To determine the cause of dry mouth, your dentist will review your health, habits and medication list. Certain prescription and nonprescription medications can dry out your mouth. Some mouth-drying medications are: anti-depressants, antihistamines, decongestants, diet pills, bronchodilators, and muscle relaxers.

Infections, different diseases, and medical treatments can also lead to dry mouth. People who suffer from diabetes, anemia, HIV, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis may exhibit signs of dry mouth, as well. Chemotherapy and radiation have also been known to damage salivary glands and cause dry mouth. (more)