Each year, nearly 20 million men, women and children in the United States fail to see a family physician or similar health care professional, but they do pay at least one visit to the dentist, according to a new study in the American Journal of Public Health. For this segment of the population, dentists may be the only doctors in a position to spot the warning signs of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, and provide referrals or advice to prevent serious complications, says Shiela M. Strauss, Ph.D., the lead author of the study and an associate professor at New York University's Colleges of Dentistry and Nursing. Oral or dental abnormalities can signal a broad range of body-wide health problems, including HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, eating disorders, and substance abuse, in addition to diabetes. In a previous study, for instance, Strauss and her colleagues found that 93% of patients with gum disease (such as gingivitis) also met the criteria that should trigger blood-sugar screening under American Diabetes Association guidelines. Health.com: Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes "I'm not advocating for dentists to become general health care providers," Strauss says. But, she adds, dentists can easily measure blood pressure and administer simple screening questionnaires – both of which could potentially make a big difference to the health of someone at risk for diabetes who hasn't seen a doctor recently. In the new study, Strauss and her team analyzed data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a nationally representative government-sponsored survey of health care use. In 2008, the researchers found, roughly one-quarter of adults did not see a physician, nurse practitioner, or other general health care provider – but of that group, 23% did see a dentist. The pattern was similar among children. It's not clear what's leading these people to see a dentist but skip medical care. Most of the adults – and nearly all of the kids – had health insurance, so lack of coverage can't fully explain it. In fact, the authors note, the dentist-only group was "quite diverse" ethnically, socioeconomically and geographically. Health.com: 20 things that can ruin your smile It could be that dental problems – unlike some chronic diseases – are often too painful to ignore, Strauss says, or it could be that dentists are simply better than doctors at reminding patients when it's time for a checkup. Getting dentists in the habit of screening for health conditions will probably require changes to dental-school curricula, the researchers say. However, dentists and dental hygienists are typically already trained to check blood pressure and conduct other types of general medical screening. Health.com: Natural ways to lower blood pressure And while they might be hesitant to take on more patient responsibilities, Strauss says, doing so may have unexpected benefits. She points to the experience of some Swedish dentists who participated in an insurance plan that required them to implement diabetes screening for their patients. "The reputation got out there that these were dentists that really cared about the patients," she says. "It was an initial investment of a bit more time on the part of the dentist, but it reaped great rewards for them in terms of growing their practice." Filed under: Dental health , Health.com Tagged: Anne Harding – Health.com

Lisa Shives, M.D., is the founder of Northshore Sleep Medicine in Evanston, Illinois. She blogs regularly on The Chart . Read more from her at Dr. Lisa Shives’ Sleep Better Blog . Zach was a life-long teeth grinder. “It seemed that as soon as his teeth came in, he started grinding," his mother told me. It was so loud and frequent that Zach was given his own room because his little brother couldn't get any sleep when they shared. For years he had slept at the end of the hall far from his parents’ and his brother’s room, so one suspected that the grinding was getting worse. When a dentist noticed a progressive worsening of wear on his patient's teeth, he discussed his concerns about a possible underlying sleep disorder with both Zach and his mother. They then came to me. Sleep-related bruxism is the official term for grinding your teeth during sleep. It occurs in approximately 14% to 17% of children, although these rates decrease with age. Bruxism does show a familial pattern but no genes have been identified. It affects both sexes equally. Nocturnal grinding can cause not only extensive wear on your teeth, but also jaw and facial pain, headaches, and when it is severe, it can cause sleep disruption that results in daytime drowsiness. There are two types of bruxism. If there's no clear cause, bruxism is termed "primary." Secondary sleep-related bruxism has been associated with various other disorders, as well as the use of psychoactive medications and recreational drugs. An overnight sleep test is not always necessary. However, a careful evaluation by a sleep specialist is warranted if, as in this case, the grinding is becoming worse rather than better with age. Bruxism must be distinguished from partial complex seizure, facio-mandibular myoclonus and sleep disordered breathing. Often, grinding can be an accompanying feature of obstructive sleep apnea and confusional arousals, and it can improve with treatment of the underlying sleep disturbance. Even in the absence of a clear psychiatric or medical cause, sleep specialists often note heightened stress and anxiety as a predisposing factor. Some specialists have found an association with a Type A personality or someone who is hyper-vigilant and easily aroused from sleep. In Zach’s case, we figured out that he did have a lot if increased stress due to his busy academic and extra-curricular schedule. He was also worried about getting into a good college and was working around the clock to assure his success. He was stressed in the daytime and it carried over into his sleep. We ruled out any other sleep or medical problems. His dentist made him a bite guard to protect his teeth at night. He and his parents worked on simplifying his schedule, ensuring adequate time for sleep. They also talked a lot more about his college application process which, Zach admitted, really made him feel less alone and less anxious about the outcome. Filed under: Dental health , Lisa Shives M.D. – sleep expert , Sleep Tagged: Lisa Shives M.D. – sleep expert

Happy Halloween, everyone! For parents, this holiday may seem especially spooky when it comes to kids' teeth and weight. But here are some tips to keep your little treat-or-treaters in good health: 1. Chocolate is the best option for kids' teeth. It melts quickly, it's swallowed easily, and it contains tannins, compounds that don't allow bacteria to grow. And, at least it has some nutritional value. The worst options are candies that are very hard or chewy. The longer it takes to eat a candy, the more opportunity there is for sugar to coat teeth. Kids with braces should especially avoid candies that are hard and crunch, or soft and chewy. Sanjay wants candy 2. Twice a day, and particularly at night, your child should get into this teeth cleaning routine: (a) floss, (b) brush, (c) use a fluoride rinse. That's because flossing loosens debris from in between teeth, and the toothbrush gets the excess on the surface. The rinse gets back in the crevices and fights decay. 3. Don't let kids snack on candy in between meals. Instead, bundle it together with healthy meals – for example, at the end of dinner. This prevents kids from eating too much at once. 4. When it comes to monitoring your children's eating habits, Halloween isn't that special. You should make sure they have nutritious, balanced meals and stay active throughout the year.

Television commercials advertising chewing gum tend to focus on superficial reasons to use their products. Often times, flavor is the central selling point. Fresher breath is frequently cited as part of the sales pitch as well. Lately, other novel marketing strategies such as multiple flavors per pack and unexpected flavors such as apple pie, mint-chip Related posts: Xylitol for Dental Health Chewing Gum for Stress Relief Erythritol and Xylitol News Green Tea and Periodontal Disease Best Of Aromatherapy News

It’s easy to pass judgments on healthy products since so many of them seem gimmicky, ineffective, or totally ridiculous. I would never use ear candles, not only because they don’t remove ear wax, but also because flames near my hair scare the bejesus out of me. But not all bizarre-looking products are useless. Here are six products that seem a little “out there,” but I can assure you from experience that they’ve really helped alleviate health issues and benefited my well-being. View Slideshow ›

Yogurt is a historically revered food that I recommend to virtually all of my clients, family and friends. The primary reason is that the scientific literature consistently reveals varied health benefits associated with the use of this cultured, probiotic-rich product. In the past several months alone, peer-reviewed studies report that the regular use of yogurt Related posts: Yogurt Shopping Yogurt for Fresh Breath Avocado Frozen Yogurt Recipe Antibiotics and Kefir E. Coli Outbreak News

This year’s U.S. Open was marked by an unexpected medical headline. Venus Williams, a top ranked singles and doubles tennis player, announced that she was dropping out of the prestigious tournament because of debilitating symptoms relating to Sjogren’s syndrome. This autoimmune condition can manifest itself in a number of ways including musculoskeletal pain, persistent fatigue Related posts: Medical Problems and Solutions Natural Dry Eye Remedies Emotional Eating Solutions Chronic Health Conditions and Solutions

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard doctors or other health authorities recommend that patients switch from white rice to brown rice. The idea is that brown rice has more nutrients and a lower impact on blood sugar than its paler counterpart. According to recent publications in the scientific literature, making such a Related posts: Red Yeast Rice and Cholesterol Better Baby Food Dental Health Matters Exercise Matters The Secret Lives of Dates

We don’t typically consider oral health as part of overall health, and that’s a mistake, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine . Because the diseases of the mouth are inextricably linked to overall health, “the unmet oral health needs of millions of Americans cannot be neglected,” the report says. “Almost one third of the population reports some difficulty in accessing dental care,” Caswell Evans, Jr., an author of the report and associate dean of prevention and public health sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, tells the Health Blog. Some people lack dental insurance even though they have private health insurance.  (The CDC reported last year that of the 172 million Americans under age 65 with private health insurance, about 27% don’t have dental coverage.) Others who lack coverage are retired — Medicare doesn’t cover dental care , with some exceptions when it’s in connection with covered procedures, like a jaw reconstruction. Some are poor; states aren’t required to provide dental coverage to adults under Medicaid. And while kids are covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, payment rates are so low many have trouble finding a dentist who will treat them. The report calls for a host of systemic changes intended to improve access to care, including training non-dental health pros such as pediatricians and nurses to play a bigger role in oral care, a reassessment of state practice laws to be sure they promote access to care, establishing CMS-funded state demonstration projects to include essential health benefits in adult Medicaid coverage and increasing Medicaid and CHIP reimbursement rates. (A study appearing in this week’s edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that higher Medicaid reimbursement rates were associated with more kids and teens getting dental care.) In a statement, the American Dental Association praises the focus on oral health access but reaffirms its opposition to allowing non-dentists to perform functions like extractions. “Everyone deserves a dentist,” the ADA says. State laws vary greatly in what they permit non-dentists to do without supervision — seven states require a dentist to be present when a hygienist applies sealants, the report says. Specially-trained dental therapists in Alaska, meantime, can drill and fill cavities — but only in Alaska Natives. The authors said they were cognizant of the financial pressures facing the federal and state governments. Evans says marginal increases in Medicaid reimbursement rates wouldn’t be terribly burdensome, though. And the authors said they hope that providing access to basic care might save money in the long run by preventing patients from showing up in the ER with more advanced complaints. More than a decade ago, a U.S. Surgeon General’s report also called for a “national effort to improve oral health among all Americans.” Image: iStockphoto

Diseased gums and decaying teeth spell trouble far beyond the quality of a smile. Within the oral cavity lies the potential to influence everything from cardiovascular disease and diabetes to the risk of potentially life threatening infections. Good to remember if you ever wonder whether it’s truly necessary to brush and floss twice daily. In Related posts: Xylitol for Dental Health Natural Dental Care Exercise Matters Green Tea and Periodontal Disease