Dental Injuries: What to Do

by Monica J. Lakatos, D.D.S., Northshore Dental Associates

With fall sports practices already under way, it is important to know what to do in the event of a dental injury.

Dental injuries fall into several categories with different treatment for each. Teeth can be cracked, broken, displaced or knocked out. Fractures can occur to the jaw bone itself in a hard hit or fall.

Cracked teeth are sometimes hard to diagnose. Teeth get cracks in them with time. If you look at teeth under very bright light, it would be evident that most adults have cracks in their teeth. Most cracks aren't particularly harmful, just a reflection of a previous trauma or stress. When teeth become painful, sensitive, or a dentist can see the potential for future problems, they must be treated. Treatment can involve fillings, root canals or crowns.

Some broken teeth can be repaired with bonding (a tooth colored filling material called composite). Severe breaks involving the pulp result in more serious treatment. If a break is severe, a dentist should be consulted immediately. The dentist will take a radiograph to assess the damage and see if the root or bone is fractured along with the tooth. Treatment will involve a root canal if the nerve is damaged and possibly a crown to restore the tooth.

If a tooth is displaced, i.e. pushed backward or forward, an attempt should be made to put the tooth in the right position immediately. This should be done by a dentist right away if possible. The dentist will probably take a radiograph to see if the root or bone is fractured. Sometimes temporary wires will be bonded to the teeth to splint them in the proper position.

If a tooth is totally knocked out (avulsed), an attempt should be made to put it back into the socket immediately. Do NOT clean the tooth of the attached gum tissue. If it is dirty, just rinse with water. The attached tissue is instrumental in the tooth's ability to reattach itself to the bone. Call your dentist for further advice. If the tooth cannot be put back in, consult a dentist immediately. Keep the tooth in milk on the way to the dental office.

All of the above injuries require treatment by a dentist. If a jaw is fractured or thought to be, a trip to the emergency room is warranted. CAT scans are ordered to assess the damage to the head and/or jaws. If a fracture is present, an oral surgeon most likely will be called in to treat the patient.

The most important piece of equipment to prevent dental injuries is a mouth guard. Many contact sports require them to be worn. Mouth guards should be worn in any sport that could result in injury to the face, whether or not they are required. Basketball and soccer are two sports that result in many injuries to teeth, but are considered "non-contact" therefore no mouth guard is required. Wear a mouth guard, please - and hopefully you won't have any of the above problems!

Monica J. Lakatos, D.D.S., at Northshore Dental Associates, 1179 Whitehall Road in North Muskegon, can be reached at (231) 744-6100.

Get a Fresh Start with a Whole Body Cleanse

by Erik Johnson, Manager, Health Hutt

Giving yourself a whole body cleanse four times a year is ideal for a healthy lifestyle.

As the seasons change, so does our bodies and their need increases to cleanse the body and help rid it of toxins, unwanted chemicals, and other problems that may be rising in the different areas of the body from ingesting pesticides, fertilizers, hormones (from meats) and processed foods. Once this is done a whole new energy and a vibrant feeling can possibly take place.

At the Health Hutt, we have a Whole Body Cleanse Kit by Enzymatic Therapy that is designed to have available to you all the products together that can help in this cleanse. This includes three products to cover a safe, gentle two week cleanse. What's unique is that fiber is included to sweep out the insides.

Whole Body Cleanse Kit includes:

- Super Milk Thistle to help stimulate bile flow and also to support the liver function.

- Fiber Fusion for safe effective cleansing of the bowels, binding to toxins so that they may not get reabsorbed into the bloodstream.

- The Laxative Formula can gently purge the inside of the intestines helping release built up toxins, in turn, carrying them out of the body.

Oops! Occasionally a slip in the diet occurs, this will not ruin your efforts, just get yourself back on course ASAP! Dust yourself off and feel good about the effects of cleansing a new you! Do your best and soon the results will speak for themselves.

Stop in today at one of the four locations of the Health Hutt for more information on cleansing and other healthy suggestions.

To ask about natural remedies or other vitamin supplements phone the Health Hutt closest to you. In Muskegon call (231) 739-1568. Be sure to watch "Forever Young" Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 3:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Comcast Cable 97.

Americans Suffer from a Whole Food Deficiency

by Laurie Semlow, Semlow Chiropractic

We all want a longer, healthier, more quality life. But where do we find it?

Putting the right foods into our bodies is a daily struggle. Fast food drive-throughs and all-you-can-eat buffets lurk on every corner. Fat, salt and sugar have been added to almost every package on the shelf at the grocery store. Grabbing a bag of chips or a can of soda at the convenience store is certainly a lot easier than peeling an orange or tossing a salad.

You've heard it all your life: "Eat more fruits and vegetables." Now, medical science is telling you, too. But knowing is easy. It's doing it that's hard.

People often turn to vitamins and other nutritional supplements to improve their diets. Unfortunately, vitamins alone can't begin to replicate the thousands of different nutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables. You see, Americans don't suffer from a vitamin deficiency; we suffer from a whole food deficiency. And this deficiency is creating health problems of epic proportions for young and old alike.

Experts agree: the best way to reduce your risk of disease is to eat healthier. Almost every day, another piece of research or another news story touts the disease-fighting power of our dietary choices - especially the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables.

Whether it's a new vitamin, an antioxidant, or some other phytonutrient not yet "discovered" by science, fruits and vegetables contain an unparalleled array of nutritional elements that offer protection for our bodies - nutrition that we simply can't get from vitamin pills. And, the thousands of nutrients found in fruits and vegetables work together in ways that science is just beginning to explore.

The message is clear: we need more of the healthful whole food nutrition of fruits and vegetables in our diets, every day. It's the one thing everyone agrees we can do to improve our health and reduce our risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Laurie and Scott Semlow help patients live a healthier lifestyle through the Creating Wellness Center at Semlow Chiropractic, 5353 Grand Haven Road in Norton Shores. For more information on how you can get the whole food nutrients of 17 different fruits, vegetables and grains that your body needs, visit www.semlowjuiceplus.com or call (231) 798-WELL.