LATEST NEWS from Dr. Labell

Jan
21st

5 Tips to Help Look and Feel Better for the New Year

Perio BLOG

5 tips on reducing your 'real age' and improving your health

Dr. Michael Roizen has introduced the RealAge concept which involves taking a self test, answering questions about your life and daily habits, and evaluating your “RealAge” by adding or subtracting years to your life based on your style of living. The concept is followed by several book variations which provide advice for people looking to reduce their age as well as to look and feel younger. Among the top 5 things you can do to reduce your RealAge, along with taking vitamins, and reducing stress, is brushing and flossing your teeth. The doctor suggests that by brushing and flossing regularly, you can actually add 6.4 years to your life expectancy as well as avoid a trip to a periodontist to seek treatment for periodontal disease.

Maintaining healthy teeth and gums by practicing positive oral hygiene habits can have long lasting effects on your appearance, self confidence and social interactions, as well as the health of your entire body. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection in the mouth, generally caused by poor oral hygiene habits. Symptoms include chronic inflammation of the infected area in the mouth and surrounding tissue that can cause red, swollen and bleeding gums as well as detachment of the teeth from the gums and eventually tooth loss. As the infection progresses and the mouth begins to show signs of disease and deterioration, many individuals begin to suffer lower self confidence and shy away from smiling, as well as social interactions whereby the patient attempts to hide physical symptoms from others. More recently, researchers have discovered a connection between gum disease and other very serious health complications including diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Dental professionals believe this connection may be caused by the bacterial infection associated with gum disease, traveling to the rest of the body through the blood stream and adversely affecting other organs.

The American Dental Association Makes the Following Recommendations to Practice Positive Oral Hygiene Habits:

1. Brush your teeth twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride. Discard your toothbrush after three to four months of use or if it begins to show signs of wear and replace with a new toothbrush.

2. Floss daily to clean hard to reach areas between your teeth to help remove plaque and food particles around the gums.

3. Eat a balanced diet with sufficient amounts of calcium and Vitamin D for strong development of oral bones.

4. Schedule regular visits with your periodontist or dental professional for cleanings and oral evaluations.

5. Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse after brushing to help stop bacteria development in the mouth.

In addition to the recommendations listed above, be on the lookout for early signs of periodontal disease and contact Woodinville / Bothell periodontist Dr. Terry LaBell for information on treatment options if symptoms occur. You should know there are often alternatives available to old cut and stitch surgery methods to treating gum disease. Dr. LaBell uses state of the art technology to treat gum disease for less discomfort and faster healing. If you would like more information on the life changing benefit of periodontal procedures contact Dr. LaBell at 425.402.1246.

What is Periodontics?

Periodontics is a branch of dentistry in its own right, and is founded on the basis of research into the parts of the body that surround and support the teeth. These regions include the gums, the jaw bone, various ligaments and other supporting tissues – known collectively as ‘periodontium.’ The primary function of periodontics is to discover and then develop treatments for the various periodontal diseases that can and do occur within the mouth.

Why Chose Woodinville Periodontist Dr. LaBell?

Dr. Terry LaBell runs a periodontal clinic that combines knowledge, education and skill while providing exceptional customer service. His office was established in 1995 to fill the need for a local periodontal office in the Bothell and Woodinville areas. Over the years we have grown to service many of the surrounding communities even as far out as Sultan and Goldbar. Dr. LaBell and his team believe that while most of the treatments in the health care industry appear complex and confusing, treatment for gum disease and implant tooth replacement should be logical and simple. Our periodontal team helps our clients understand their periodontal condition and offers the most up to date periodontal and implant procedures, delivered with exceptional old fashioned customer service.

Click here to see our frequently asked periodontal questions, or use the following links to learn more about our primary periodontal services: