What Your Tongue Says About Your Health

Your tongue is one of the most informative muscles in your body.  It is an incredibly important muscle that helps you chew and swallow your food, taste and speak.  And when it's healthy, your tongue should be pink in color, moist, and fairly smooth.  A change in the appearance or feeling of your tongue may be your body trying to tell you something. Meanwhile, some tongue changes are harmless.  Here are some helpful tongue scenarios.

Enlarged/Swollen Tongue:  An enlarged, swollen tongue could be caused by a number of conditions, including strep throat, Down's Syndrome, leukemia, cancer and hypothyroidism.. It can also be a mild side effect of a hangover or an allergic reaction to medication or food.

Red Tongue:  When a tongue's healthy pink color changes to bright or dark red, it could be a sign of nutritional deficiencies, particularly that you may not be getting enough folic acid, vitamin B-12 or B3. But a temporary redness and pain is most likely caused by something you ate or drank.  Sensitivity to certain flavors of toothpastes or mouthwashes are common culprits, as well as acidic foods.

Turning Yellow:  A yellowish tint on the tongue can be a sign of a bacterial or fungal infection in the mouth.  It can also be related to gastric reflux.

Smooth, Pale Tongue:  When people are suffering from iron-deficiency anemia, the tongue will appear abnormally pale and smooth.  This can also indicate a sign of nutritional deficiencies, particularly vitamin B-12.

Fissured Tongue:  This is a harmless condition in which deep grooves form on the tongue's surfaces.  It is usually an inherited trait that occurs in 10% of the population.

White Tongue:  A white coating on the tongue can be a sign of dehydration.  It can also be caused by smoking or drinking.  And it can also be a sign of thrush, which is an infection of the mouth caused by a particular yeast.

Geographic Tongue:  This condition is characterized by smooth, red patches on the top of the tongue. The patches can change in size and color from day to day (and have a map-like, or geographic, appearance).  It is a harmless condition and can sometimes be triggered by stress, hormones, or allergies.

It is important to keep your tongue clean and healthy.  In fact, it is the number one reason for bad breath.  Brushing and scraping your tongue with a tongue scraper should be a routine part of your oral health care.  Tongue scrapers are inexpensive and it only takes 10 to 15 seconds to do:  just slide the scraper gently over your tongue and repeat three or four times to reach the entire surface.

Make sure your dentist does a thorough exam of your tongue at your dental visit.  Oral cancer is common on the side of the tongue and is usually painless.

For any questions visit us at www.KLFamilyDental.com

Tricks for Dealing with Halloween Treats

Every child loves to collect lots of candy on Halloween.  But it can be a parent's worst nightmare!
But we look at it as a time to teach your children good oral health habits for life, without depriving them.  It's all about moderation.

Although we have some professional conflict with Halloween, we know that it a a fact of life.  Don't deny
your children treats.  Deprivation can send the wrong message and make candy even more irresistible. Kids may end up sneaking sweets or eating too much candy once they are on their own.

We suggest going through their bags of Halloween candy together and choosing what they like.  Get the unpicked treats out of sight and then donate the extra candy to a food bank.

Set a time of day to eat Halloween candy.  The ritual "sweet time" can help make children less inclined to think about eating sweets at other times of the day.

Some candy is easier on kid's teeth than others.  When it comes to teeth and sugar, it's really a matter of time. The goal to to eat candy that dissolves in the mouth quickly and can be eaten easily, which decreases the amount of time sugar stays in contact with teeth.  Tooth decay happens when the sugar from the candy mix with bacteria in the sticky plaque and produces acid, which then destroys the tooth enamel .

The absolute worst candy for teeth is anything sticky, like taffy or hard candy.  Not only are they high in sugar, but they spend a prolonged amount of time stuck to the teeth. It is also more difficult for saliva to break down thicker, harder candy.  Kids also tend to suck on hard candy at a leisurely pace for an extended period of time.

Chocolate is a good choice because it generally does not stick to teeth.  It also dissolves quickly in the mouth
and can be eaten easily, which decreases the amount of time sugar stays in contact with the teeth.

So don't let zombies and goblins be scarier then candy on Halloween.  And no matter when treat time is, it's
crucial to brush soon after.  If you have any questions please call us at K&L Family Dental or visit our website at klfamilydental.com  to learn how we can keep your smile healthy.

Laser Treatment for Cold Sores and Canker Sores

Do you suffer form cold sores and canker sores? Catch one in time with laser treatment and the sore will not break out!

You will find laser therapy to be the best cold sore treatment you've tried. It outperforms over-the-counter remedies and even anti-viral medications.  Treatment is accomplished very quickly and comfortably, without the need for anesthetic. In fact, the only sensation that may be experienced is a warm feeling on the lip.

Once you feel that tell-tale tingling sensation, it's only a matter of time before a full-blown sore appears. Most patients who are treated when the lip starts tingling never develop a sore. If the sore has already developed, the laser treatment will at least stop it from progressing further. The sore will disappear in just a few days, instead of the two weeks it usually takes without laser treatment.

The Best Canker Sore Treatment is Done with a Laser

• There is virtually no discomfort
• The laser destroys the virus responsible for the sore
• It's high tech, affordable, and often covered by insurance
• Most patients who are treated when the lip first starts tingling never develop a sore
• Pain relief is immediate
• Treatment takes just a few minutes
• After treatment, sores at that location reoccur with less frequency and less intensity

                Where to Go for Laser Treatment:

                Dr. Karyn Swade and Dr. Lora Riccolo
                         KL Family Dental, LLC

                  1N121 County Farm Rd  Suite 130
                         Winfield, Illinois 60190
                               630-653-7700

                          www.klfamilydental.com