Periodontal Diseases and Bone Grafting

Periodontal diseases are basically serious diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, that attack the gums. If left untreated, these gum diseases can spread around other areas of the mouth and lead to the loss of tooth or teeth. A periodontal disease is bacterial infection that is chronic and affects both the gums and the bone that supports the tooth. It first begins with the presence of bacteria in the plaque, which is that colorless film that forms on your teeth from time to time, cause the gum to experience some amount of inflammation.

Periodontal diseases vary in degree of seriousness. The mildest form of periodontal disease, at least as far as the beginnings are concerned, is gingivitis. Gingivitis is a common problem caused by poor or inadequate oral hygiene, and it is characterized by gums that appear red and swollen. People suffering from gingivitis generally have bad breath and experience bleeding when their gums come in contact with any invading substance, including toothbrush bristles. With professional treatment accompanied with good oral care done at home, there's no reason why gingivitis cannot be reversed. But if gingivitis is left ignored and treatment for it is delayed, the disease can advance and take the form of periodontitis, another periodontal disease.

Periodontitis develops when plaque starts to spread below the gum line and the toxins produced by the plaque bacteria infect the gums. These toxins work to stimulate a chronic inflammatory response and eventually, the tissues and the bone supporting the teeth are destroyed. Pockets, the spaces found between the teeth and the gums, are then formed and deepen as periodontitis rapidly progresses. People with periodontitis experience mild symptoms but pretty soon, pain sets in and tooth or teeth loss takes place. There are different forms of periodontitis. The common ones include aggressive periodontitis, chronic periodontitis, necrotizing periodontitis, and periodontitis as a symptom of a systemic disease. Any and all of these forms of periodontitis need the immediate attention of a dentist.

Sometimes, treatment for a periodontal disease comes too late. When tooth or teeth loss has already occurred, the typical concern of patients is to get replacements. Dental implants are usually recommended. In this regard, bone grafting is often resorted to. Bone grafting is a dental surgical procedure that involves the replacement of missing bone with material from the body of the patient. Dental implants require as support the presence of bones underneath them. Bones also work to integrate implants properly and conveniently into the mouth. There are people who have lived without teeth for the longest time. These people are the ones that can benefit most from bone grafting because they are the ones that normally do not have enough bone in the right places.

Bone grafts for dental implants are usually taken from the chin or from the implants' pilot holes. Sometimes, they are taken right from the iliac crest of the pelvis and reshaped in order to fit into the mouth underneath another implant. Generally, bone grafts are either particulated or used en block, whichever is necessary for correcting a defect and for easy adaptation. Either way, tooth or teeth loss caused by a highly progressed periodontal disease can be fixed by bone grafting.

How to Cure Gallstones Naturally

The Natural Gallstone Cure

Gallstones, sometimes referred to as "gallbladder attacks", are more than a painful nuisance. Untreated, gallstones can cause jaundice or pancreatitis, and can even require surgery with complete removal of the gallbladder. Don't wait for what might otherwise be inevitable. Cure gallstones with natural and simple adjustments.

Your Gallbladder and You

The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver. It releases bile, which is needed to break down fats, chemicals, and toxins, so that they can be flushed out of the body. If the liver becomes overworked with extra fats and poisons, the bile can crystallize and form gallstones.

Risk factors for gallstones include...

    o    body weight

    o    elevated cholesterol level

    o    high-fat/low-fiber/starchy diet or fewer, larger meals

    o    rapid weight loss

    o    some medications, hormone therapy, pregnancy

Symptoms of Gallstones

Gallstones can be asymptomatic until they reach a certain size. Then the condition is characterized by severe abdominal pain (described as similar to kidney stones), nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal bloating and indigestion. Attacks are most common after large, fatty meals, especially in the evening before bed.

Medical Treatment

Gallstones are sometimes treated with an orally-administered acid, but recurrence is common when treatment is stopped. Surgery is a more common option.

Complete removal of the gallbladder, or "open" surgery, requires a week's hospital stay and an additional month of recuperation. Nearly 40% of patients experience persistent pain and gastrointestinal distress, and 20% develop chronic diarrhea. Risks of serious complications include vascular injury and bowel perforation.

The second surgical option is laparoscopic, or non-invasive. This requires a week of bed rest and another month of light activity. Many patients report residual pain and a decreased energy level up to a few months following the procedure.

It seems a bleak prognosis, doesn't it? It doesn't have to be.

Cure Gallstones Naturally

Cure and prevention of gallstones is quite simple. If you're having a gallbladder attack now, drink a full glass of water, followed with magnesium. This may help regulate bile flow. Similarly, drink a "gallbladder flush" - apple juice mixed with raw garlic and raw ginger root.

To prevent gallstones naturally...

    o    Take a high quality organic herbal supplement. (see below)

    o    Change your diet to high-fiber/low-fat, with lots of raw, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains. Eliminate saturated fats, starches, and fried foods.

    o    Limit dairy and cholesterol intake (milk, eggs, butter, meat)

    o    Increase your intake of Vitamin C, folate, calcium, and magnesium, all of which are indicated in liver and gallbladder health.

    o    Eat frequent light meals throughout the day.

    o    Avoid eating before bedtime.

What kind of herbal supplement should I take?

Therapeutic Action: You want a powerful, stimulating formula that is cleansing, healing, and strengthening to the both the liver and gallbladder. The organic herbs in the formula should work synergistically to help heal and detoxify these vital organs. The formula should work by stimulating the liver to produce more bile through the gallbladder and bile ducts. The increased bile flow allows the liver and gallbladder to flush out thousands of toxins, chemicals, antibiotics, pollutants, drugs, and cholesterol safely from the body. The formula should also dramatically reduces inflammation, pain, and even removes gallstones safely from the body.

Bell's Palsy - Virus or Stress?

Now I am no doctor, medical researcher or pollster but when I hear from over 540 people who have either had or presently suffer from the illness of Bell's Palsy and every single one of them tells me that their illness occurred during or immediately after a serious bout of stress, I would have to be seriously dim not to suggest that there is a connection.

Bell's Palsy is a condition that can strike 1 in 60 of us at any time of life. In 93% of those 1 in 60, it will only ever happen once. In the unfortunate 7% it can recur at an average frequency of around 10 years.

It is usually a temporary facial palsy condition, causing paralysis of one side of the face. In around 1% of cases, including my own, it can strike both sides of the face at the same time (bilateral bell's palsy) leaving a person with no facial expression whatsoever and in no uncertain terms, truly "wiping the smile off your face".

In 50% of cases all of the facial paralysis will disappear within 3 months. In 20% this will take up to 6 months and in another 10% it may take up to a year to achieve a complete recovery.."And what becomes of the other 20%?" I hear you shout...

The healing of the seventh cranial nerve, also known as the facial nerve, can continue at the rate of about 0.5 - 1mm per day for up to around 18 months and some consultants would say up to 2 years.

After this time, it may be necessary to employ the services of a professional facial muscle trainer to "retrain" your facial muscles to work in their originally intended way. This training can take the form of manual Bell's Palsy facial exercises or in some cases the use of an electrical stimulator, both of which can produce major improvements many years after the facial paralysis.

There are other treatments such as Botox injections and decompression surgery, that some suggest can alleviate long term symptoms such as synkenisis. Synkenisis is best described as remnants of facial paralysis or incorrect rejuvenation of the facial nerve, resulting in movements that are contrary to what was intended. In practical terms this may show as the corners of your mouth raising upon the closing of your eyelids; this being just one of a great many possible scenarios.

A number of medical consultants hold the belief that Bell's Palsy is an illness with no known cause. In fact there are over 50 different illnesses that can cause facial paralysis and it is only when these have been ruled out that a diagnosis of Bell's Palsy is comfortably arrived at. Thus it is known as an idiopathic facial palsy, meaning "of unknown cause".

The most prevalent medical belief however, is that it is the reactivation of the herpes simplex virus (HSV 1) that is the cause of the illness. This is not the sexually transmitted herpes, this is the one that gives you the odd cold sore.

It must also be said here that just because you get cold sores, that does not in any way whatsoever, mean that you will get Bell's Palsy. On the contrary, I have still never had a cold sore in my life and yet had bilateral Bell's Palsy. So, there is no more reason to worry about getting suddenly being stricken with Bell's palsy, than there is about losing another pound, dollar or euro on the weekly lottery.

The herpes simplex virus is seldom of any medical importance and as stated, is most commonly associated with cold sores. Your immune system usually cures it extremely well if ever it tries to show up.

Most of us do actually carry this virus around with us throughout our lives. 25% of people will never know they have it and never show any symptoms. 50% of people will have very mild symptoms at some point in life (not of Bell's Palsy) and 25% may be diagnosed with it upon showing some noticeable symptoms (but again, not Bell's Palsy).

When we initially contracted the virus through normal human contact as a child we may have shown no significant symptoms at all. However, once contracted, the virus remains with us in a dormant state until it can be reactivated by some future event or when we are particularly run down and our immune system has been weakened.

Without going into all of the medical terms, the resultant reactivation of the virus to cause Bell's Palsy, means that the virus has been dormantly awaiting its moment of glory on our seventh cranial nerve and upon reactivation, causes it to inflame.

The seventh cranial nerve, on its way to the facial muscles, passes through the fallopian canal, a thin bony conduit in the ear area. Because of the inflammation to the nerve, when it is in the fallopian canal it can only inflame so much before it is in effect, crushing itself.

It is when this happens that the "crushing" effect stifles its ability to transmit the impulses that are required to activate the facial muscles and achieve facial expression and therefore, a paralysis of the facial expressions on the affected side are apparent.

Now, that being the most prevalent theory, the herpes simplex virus has been noticed as present in 60-70% of those who are diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. As early as 1970, a study by researcher Shingo Murakami identified HSV-1 as the primary cause of Bell's palsy and several subsequent studies have consistently verified Murakami's research.

So, if we accept all of the above theory as being correct (and I would like to ask the obvious question about the other 30 - 40% who did not have HSV-1 present) then it is the virus that has caused the actual inflammation but surely, to be able to reactivate in the first place it must have taken advantage of our physical state.

If our immune system has been perfectly capable of keeping this virus at bay since we were a child, then what has and could, allow this virus to manifest its reactivation within us, in such a way as to cause an outbreak of this fashion.

It is therefore, to our immune system that we must look for the answers.

A perfectly healthy immune system would quite happily take care of this virus' control and restraint. Therefore it must follow that for it to break out of its cell (excuse the pun) and wreak havoc with our facial nerve, the alarm bells must draw us to the conclusion of a weak immune system at the time of the breakout.

So what depletes the strength of our immune system?

Our immune system is fuelled by the good foods and drink with which we nourish ourselves. It is aided by the sunshine and fresh air in which we bathe and breath and it is also strengthened by keeping our physical health in good order, our weight reasonable and by trying to keep a positive, calm and unworried mental outlook.

Conversely, it is compromised by a lack of the aforementioned good fuels, by illness, stress, sugar (I kid you not) and by being generally run down.

I myself, although not suffering from any illness prior to having bilateral Bell's Palsy, would definitely agree with the other components to making my immune system extremely low, stress being the main cause of each.

I was working too hard in a thankless job whilst not looking after myself properly in the food department, due either a lack of self esteem, extreme tiredness, or a feeling that there was not enough time to devote to this eating pastime. All of which are symptomatic of being very stressed.

The doctor who first diagnosed me, when I had only one side of my face paralysed, gave me a prescription which, on top of the medicinal components, advised total rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.

Having the condition for over 4 years, I have spoken to a great deal of fellow sufferers. Every single one of them truly believes that it was a build up of severe stress or in some cases a severely stressful event, that preceded their Bell's Palsy.

Most of these people, including myself, have taken a philosophical view of the entire event and had a really good look at our lives. I mean, if you cannot even count on your own smile, then one must search for some truths that you can indeed count upon. It is most certainly an experience that will change you entire life, and for the better, if you want it to.

Although it can be said with total conviction that stress reduces our immune systems and that a positive and calm mental outlook can actually boost our immune system's health and responsiveness, it is always a reactive and medicinal solution that is prescribed.

More importance should be placed on the preventative skills needed to live our lives with the awareness of stress and its early symptoms, rather than to try to correct the resultant illnesses that it will nearly always produce.

It is a known fact that between 80 - 90% of attendees at doctors' surgeries are there with a condition or problem that has its foundations firmly rooted in a build up of stress.

Is it therefore the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) or for that matter, any other virus, infection or malady, that has caused the resultant complaint, or is it the tightening grip of the tentacles of stress upon our lives and therefore our physical immunity, that has forced the condition?

There apparently is no proven cure or protection from Bell's Palsy. Time, rest and relaxation are the only widely accepted cures.

I suggest that the instructions "To lead a life with a positive, calm and unworried mental outlook, focussed upon hope, derived from a truth that can be counted upon" should be folded into a bottle and sold as the preventative medicine for all ailments, in chemists, churches, hospitals, schools and even the workplace vending machine.

I hope that you will always have a special smile and that it will always be special, to all who have the pleasure of seeing it.

Acid Reflux Signs and Symptoms - Escort to Reprieve

The most commonly sign and symptom for Acid Reflux is Heartburn. This frequently occurs after consumption of a meal or drinking a drink which has an acid content. This is one of the Acid Reflux Sign and Symptoms which is usually worse for the first two hours after a meal. Many people misinterpreted it for upper body pain when they first experience it. It is essential to note that not all people with it experience this sign.

Anyone who is suffering from the signs and symptoms needs to take care and try to take steps to evade them. For many people a small change of habits will solve the problem. When you eat, our stomach produces acid to help in the digestion of the food. Try to avoid eating just before bedtime. You should allow your body two to three hours to digest the food before lying down.

Additional Signs and Symptoms:

Other Acid Reflux Signs and Symptoms are having a dry cough that lingers, getting up in the morning with croakiness, and the sensation that food is not going all the way down. Often these signs and symptoms will get severe enough to cause one to vomit. For many people, when the esophagus stays aggravated long enough, it will cause esophageal spasms which are often mistaken for heart related chest pain.

If left untreated, they can keep you wakeful at night and cause harsh smash up to the esophagus. Recommended medication for this disease is usually very pricey but there are medications out there that claim they will heal the damage which the esophagus has sustained.

Intimate Medical Hints

There are few more Sign and Symptoms than the bumpy feelings and most who suffer from it will take many steps to eliminate the feeling. Indigestion is commonly referred to as heartburn because a lot of the discomfort is positioned in the chest feeling as though the heart is on fire. This allows many to confuse the signs and symptoms with a heart attack. These feelings should immediately confirmed by a physician to rule out a heart attack as it is better to be in the emergency room with indigestion than at home with a heart attack.

When one requires the time or even inspiration to take care of ourselves as we need to, we run the risk of emergent diseases like Acid Reflux. The corrosion of your esophagus is what turns it into a painful and injurious disease and can be caused by eating too many spicy foods, not exercising properly and not leasing ourselves digest healthy foods as we should. But, this is good news to companies and doctors who produce and promote the use of medications to help Acid Reflux Signs and Symptoms.

Legs Feel Heavy? Why This is a Serious Silent Killer

For those whose legs feel heavy many doctors reveal that this is one of the most serious silent killers. The reason is that when you have heavy legs the heart can seriously be failing. This is due to a circulation problem and it sneaks up and causes heart attacks often in those over 40. If you are over 50 years old the legs feel heavy feeling can signal a heart attack. Often people who feel they are in good health have no idea that they are in danger.

Heavy legs can be cause by an artery in the legs that are blocked by plaque and this is where your troubles come in. Others have this condition due to weak veins that cause the blood to not circulate correctly and this can lead to varicose veins which can signal a heart problem. One out of five with the legs feel heavy symptom will have a heart attack within the next 5 years. If you are reading this and this is you it should scare you because it is real and silent.

Only a diet specializing in reversing this condition can help you. A typical diet will not stop this condition. Ask those who have tried to remove bad veins and you will see it has never worked. Surgery is expensive to clear the artery. Never wait or play around with the feeling of heavy legs. The warning is real and it is very serious. This is called a silent killer for a very real reason. There is a diet that has been reversing heavy legs without surgery. Get a specialized diet that can reverse this immediately. Legs feel heavy may be your only warning your heart gives you.

Low Thyroid - Common Low Thyroid Symptoms Seen in Women

Low thyroid issues can particularly affect women in specific ways. Because the thyroid gland assists with hormone distribution throughout the body, a low thyroid function in women can impact menstrual cycles, fertility, mood, and energy levels and have many other health impacts on the body.

Women who have below normal function of their thyroid often can have problems conceiving. It is not impossible however, and hypothyroid in pregnancy is a difficult but new area of diagnosis. Because the pregnancy and childbearing process is so reliant on proper hormone distribution, an unhealthy thyroid can be particularly dangerous for both mother and baby. Undiagnosed hypothyroid in a pregnant mother can lead to issues as serious as stillbirth or fetus growth retardation. It can also lead to complications in the birthing process. Problems in diagnosing hypothyroidism in pregnancy occur, because many of the symptoms of low thyroid mirror regular symptoms of being pregnant, such as: fatigue, numbness in hands and feet, and weight gain.

Often times, however, women who experience low thyroid during pregnancy have had symptoms prior to conception. In many cases where the mother is prescribed medications for her thyroid before her pregnancy, these prescription medications can lead to many of the complications. It is important, if on thyroid drugs going into the pregnancy, that the mother has weekly hormone level checks with her thyroid doctor, so that the medicine levels can be adjusted.

Because the thyroid plays such an integral part in the balance of hormones throughout the body, it is not uncommon for women to develop thyroid disorders during certain stages of life such as: perimenopause, puberty, as well as pregnancy. Due to the thyroid's interaction with estrogen and progesterone, women are particularly at risk when it comes to thyroid issues.

Women with low thyroid may experience many typical low thyroid symptoms such as: depression, weight gain, fatigue, insomnia, itchy skin, and constipation. Other symptoms may include the inability to concentrate, jaundice, loss of appetite, and intolerance for extreme hot or cold temperatures. In addition, certain menstrual issues may arise, particularly irregular menstrual periods or lack or menstrual periods altogether.

Because many of the symptoms of low thyroid function can mirror symptoms common to different stages of life, it is important to be tested for low thyroid and to see a doctor specializing in low thyroid issues. Hormone levels can be examined through simple blood tests and various treatments can be set up. There are many alternative treatments if prescription medications are not desired, either by choice or by necessity of certain situations such as pregnancy. Working with a knowledgeable, accommodating doctor is the secret to restoring healthy thyroid function.

A healthy thyroid is the key to a healthy life. Because the thyroid is so imperative to many functions of the body, particularly hormonal balance unique to women, it is important to address possible thyroid issues as soon as possible. Speak with a thyroid expert and find a suitable, personalized treatment plan to restore healthy function should it be discovered that your thyroid is not functioning normally.

Chronic Heartburn - Causes, Symptoms and Top 3 Natural Remedies and Treatments to Cure Acid Reflux

If you have been having episodes of reflux of acid occurring frequently for a long period of time, and becomes associated with various complications (like weight loss, food sticking, low blood count) then you might already be having a chronic heartburn or in medical term, a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. This disease can be painful at times and can even disrupt one's life if left untreated and lead to even more serious problems.

Chronic heartburn is basically caused by the weakening of the ring of muscles at the end of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This acts as valve that opens and closes to allow food and liquids to swept through the stomach. When this valve weakens, its defense mechanism to prevent the back flowing of acid also fails which leads to heartburn.

The good news is chronic heartburn can generally be cured through controlled lifestyle changes and natural remedies that can bring almost instant relief. Here are some of them.

Eating Habits

Prevention is better than cure so do not eat foods that will trigger its attacks. The most common culprits are acidic fruits like citrus and tomatoes, fried fatty foods such as French fries, spicy kinds like Mexican and Indian as well as chocolates and peppermint. Drinks that can increase the acid content of the stomach such as coffee, soda and alcohols should also be avoided.

Lifestyle Changes

This is always recommended as it is a low cost and simple way to help improve the symptoms and reduce the risk of relapse. Changes like stop smoking and drinking top the list. Maintaining an ideal weight can also help. This means eating the right type of foods and doing light exercises to alleviate its attacks.

Home Remedies

Just recently, FDA warns the public of the side effects of common heartburn medications like Nexium and Prilosec. They were found to increase the risk of bone fractures if taken for a long period of time. If you are dependent on these so called proton pump inhibitors, then you should explore your other options as they might not be good for you in the long run. Instead of popping one of those pills, try home remedies like baking soda, apple cider vinegar, raw honey and aloe vera extract to see if they can relieve you of your heartburn pain.

If you are determined about putting an end to this suffering, then you should start acting now. Its never too late to take charge of your body as its all in your discipline and self determination to improve your over-all sense of well-being.