Lord of the Floss
by Monica J. Lakatos, D.D.S., Northshore Dental Associates
Flossing is an annoying little habit that is so easy to do but so hard to do regularly.
Most people would not think of going without brushing twice daily but those same people typically do not floss at all. Ever. Your mother was right. You should floss your teeth every day!
Picture this - if you think about the shape of a tooth as a box, you can see that brushing only touches three sides of the box, the top and two of the sides. Flossing is the only way to clean the sides of the box that touch other boxes. Flossing is the only way to clean in between your teeth. Period. You can brush perfectly and use mouthwash and special toothpaste, it doesn't matter. You will still have plaque and bacteria between your teeth.
And between the teeth is where all the problems begin.
Without flossing the gums get red and inflamed, the condition dental personnel call gingivitis. This low grade inflammation causes levels of CRP (C-reactive protein) to increase in the bloodstream. CRP is a marker for inflammation in the body. High levels of this protein are associated with increased risks of premature birth, heart disease, strokes, and, most recently, Alzheimer's disease. The higher the CRP levels, the higher the risk. Of course, gingivitis isn't the only cause of increased CRP levels. Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and infections all contribute to raising CRP levels. Flossing is just one easy way for anyone to decrease the level of inflammation in the body.
Although the above is scary, most children and teens aren't concerned with their CRP levels. But this does not mean that flossing isn't important for them. The bacteria between the teeth can also cause cavities. Although decay is found most commonly on the pits and fissures on the biting surfaces of the back teeth, the second most common place for decay is in between the teeth, where the teeth contact each other. This decay doesn't hurt and isn't visible to the eye in the initial stages. It can only be seen on x-rays. Without flossing, the contact points between the teeth are never cleaned. Add a little sugar to that bacteria sitting in the tooth and you have the recipe for decay.
When flossing, the floss shouldn't "snap" between the teeth. Most people just snap the floss between and think the job is done. There is a little more to flossing properly.
Wrap floss around your fingers and, while moving the floss up, down, back, and forth, wipe the side of each tooth in the contact. Angle the floss so it wraps around the tooth in a "C" shape and go below the gumline. Don't forget to wrap the "C" around the other tooth, too, to make sure you floss both teeth that are touching. If you have the floss positioned properly, this will not hurt. Wind the floss so a fresh piece of floss can be used for each contact. Floss behind the last tooth too, this is an area that is difficult to reach with brushing.
Once you get the hang of it, flossing is easy to do, even without looking in a mirror. Flossing should be a part of your regular hygiene, just like brushing.
Monica J. Lakatos, D.D.S., at Northshore Dental Associates, 1179 Whitehall Road in North Muskegon, can be reached at (231) 744-6100. More information is available online at northshoredentalassociates.com, facebook.com/northshoredentalassociates and twitter.com/monicalakatos.
80% of Breast Biopsies are Benign, the Procedure Should Be, Also
from Muskegon Surgical Associates, P.L.C.
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in women. In America, one in nine will have the disease in their lifetime. A strong family history of breast cancer makes the chances of developing the disease much greater.
Early detection of a breast mass or lesion affords the best chance for a cure if it is cancer. Although the incidence of breast cancer is relatively low in women under the age of 40, all women who have started menses should adopt the practice of monthly self-examination, and this should continue throughout the rest of their lives. In addition to self-exam and yearly physician performed physical exam, all women over the age of 40 should undergo routine yearly mammography. Women with a strong family history of breast cancer should start having mammography sooner. Mammography is a very useful screening tool since some breast lesions can be readily seen on x-ray even though they cannot be felt on exam.
Once a suspicious mass has been identified, a biopsy of the tissue will need to be obtained. Almost all such biopsies can be done in a doctor office setting by a general surgeon, with some performed as outpatient surgery at the hospital. Since some lesions can only be seen by x-ray, there are several techniques available for biopsy that uses mammogram or ultrasound guidance.
A breast biopsy using the Mammotome system can help a doctor make a highly accurate diagnosis without the need for open surgery. Through the use of computer imaging, a breast abnormality can be clearly identified, even in its earliest stages. Digital imaging enables a physician to use the computer-guided Mammotome probe to gently collect tissue samples through one small quarter inch incision.
With the Mammotome system, a breast biopsy can be performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia. A doctor can make a precise analysis with minimal pain, scarring and recovery time. The procedure takes less than an hour, and patients can return to their normal daily activities immediately.
If the biopsy of a mass shows that it is cancer, or may become cancer, then that mass will need to be removed surgically. Sometimes this will involve removal of the entire breast in a procedure called a mastectomy. Increasingly, however, surgeons are able to remove small or medium sized masses with a partial mastectomy or lumpectomy. Often this will necessitate irradiation of the breast afterwards to decrease the chance of recurrence. In cases of breast cancer, the surgeon will usually sample or remove the lymph nodes under the arm to assess for possible spread of the tumor cells. If a cancer is large or has spread, the patient will usually need to have chemotherapy as additional treatment. In all cases, the possibility of long-term survival of breast cancer is greatest with early detection and timely, appropriate therapy.
Since 1972, our experience as a surgical group has demonstrated that continuity of care for breast problems can be achieved effectively and efficiently.
To learn more, call Dick L. Kamps, M.D., James J. Rice, M.D., Veronica R. Petty, M.D. Gregory A. Myers, M.D. and Eric T. Sevensma, D.O. at Muskegon Surgical Associates, P.C., (231) 739-9461 or toll free at 1-888-874-5892.
Physicians at Muskegon Surgical Associates, P.L.C. provide quality health services through state-of-the art surgical care at 1316 Mercy Drive, Muskegon. For more information, call (231) 739-9461 or go to msapc.com.
Incontinence Sufferers Encouraged to Explore Their Options
by Gary Scott Beatty, Editor, On the Shore Magazine
Urinary incontinence is just a natural drawback of growing old, right? Not according to West Shore Urology's Ann Welbes, CURN, BSN. Through her Continence Clinic, she uses behavioral therapy, diet modification and neuromuscular electrical stimulation to help customers regain control without surgery or medication.
People improve at varying rates, said Ann, but improvement is possible and even likely with treatment. "The main kinds of incontinence we treat are stress incontinence, which happens when you cough, laugh, sneeze or exercise, and urge incontinence, when a person has a hard time making it to the bathroom," she said. "They may feel the urge to go, or it just happens and all of the sudden they're wet."
Very common, as well, is a mixture of these type of symptoms. That is where West Shore Urology's comprehensive testing comes in. "We test the muscles for their strength and endurance as well as how soon they start to fatigue. We do a pelvic muscle EMG which looks at the tension in the muscle and the endurance and other testing to determine the muscle strength.
"It used to be that stress incontinence was mainly treated with surgery, and that is effective, but this is very effective as well." Ann explained. "Many people want to avoid having surgery if they can."
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation therapy is easy to do, said Ann. Her treatments are individualized and visits taper off as patients improve. "It's very much based on their symptoms. Usually I see patients for a series of four visits and then follow up later. 80% of my patients improve 80% in that time. They can always come back if they need to have more help. After two or three months of exercise we put them on a maintenance plan. It's like anything else, when you get your muscles in shape you have to keep them there."
Ann is concerned sufferers aren't talking to their family physicians or these doctors aren't asking, and when the problem is addressed, it's usually treated with medications that may work, but have many side effects. Medication "may not help the problem and it can cause other problems, especially if the person is elderly."
Embarrassed patients come to feel comfortable in Ann's care. She can relate to her patients with firsthand knowledge - she was born with a birth defect and spent a lifetime dealing with incontinence. "My experience when I was a child led to me becoming an RN. Then as I worked in the hospital I saw that people with urologic problems needed to be helped."
When Ann became a Certified Urology Nurse she saw what new things were happening in the field and how newer techniques were leading to improved results. Ann's therapy is different than the decades-old Kegels exercises. "We've really refined this technique," she said. "It is so different now, I refer to it as pelvic muscle exercise."
Ann has found her career path to be very rewarding. "Everyone progresses at a different rate. But we always have options that we can help them along with. And that's what I'm there for, to give them hope that they can do something about it, that they can be in control and that they have someone that understands them, because I deal with these problems myself."
West Shore Urology's Continence Clinic is run by Nurse Specialist Ann Welbes, CURN, BSN, a certified Urology Nurse specially trained in continence care. For more information, call (231) 739-9492 or visit westshoreurology.com.
After All the Parties, Start the New Year with a Body Cleanse
by Erik Johnson, Manager, Health Hutt
Although Modern times have made our lives more convenient, modern living has increased the many toxic chemicals we are in contact with every day, with harsh pollutants and pesticides in our environment and food.
Our bodies are constantly creating their own toxic byproducts as a result of the many toxins attacking us at a cellular level. When these build up in the body over time, these toxins can have an impact on our overall health.
So to rid ourselves of toxic burden, the lungs, liver, lymphatic system, kidneys, skin, blood and bowel (or colon) work together to filter and eliminate toxin substances and waste, but because of the increasing number of both internal and external toxins to which our bodies are exposed, the cleansing organs can be overloaded. By addressing the seven channels of elimination this can help support the body's natural detox and cleansing process.
Keep these general guidelines in mind to help you when choosing from the many products at our three Health Hutt locations.
Step One: General Total-Body Cleanse - Includes all channels.
Step Two: Enhanced Specific Cleanse - Such as just the liver, lymph system, kidneys, etc.
Step Three: Microbial Cleanse - Intestine, parasites, colon, etc.
If this will be your first time cleansing or have already, Health Hutt recommends starting with a basic program that can be done with a general total-body cleanse formula that is designed to support the body's natural detox process and promote healthy digestive function.
With ongoing maintenance after each cleanse, Health Hutt suggests you use beneficial oils, enzymes and probiotic supplements. Increase your fiber intake as this will support in the cleansing process. Fiber works in the digestive tract to bind with toxins and help eliminate them via the stool.
Although exposure to harmful chemicals may be unavoidable in today's toxic world, there are simple things you can do every day to help you take back control of your body and your health. The right internal cleansing program, combined with a healthy lifestyle, can be the first step toward a lifetime of good health. Stop in today at one of the three Health Hutt locations!