Monthly Archives: August 2007

Dental Care Experts Stress that Healthy Eating Improves their Dental Health Patients

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Beverly Hills dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, found overall health greatly affects the dental health of his patients.

“When the body is in strong health and the patient is physically doing well, their immune system does its job and fights off different bacteria and viruses.”, explains Beverly Hills dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi. “Additionally, I have found, over and over, that when a person feels ill and tired, he is likely to put aside his dental health routines and then when feeling better, these vital oral care routines are more difficult to break back in.”

”That is why I stress healthy eating.”, he continues. “I have several pages on my website listing the most important foods to eat for overall health.” His first suggestion is to simply avoid foods with labels on them. He warns that you’ll discover foods with labels have some type of additive, preservative, chemical or sweetener that offers absolutely on nutritional value for the body. He tells his patients to stick to fresh, natural, raw, whole foods and they are likely to become a much healthier person in the long run.

Of course, fruits and vegetables on first on his list. Any that are frozen, (or dried fruit) are great, as there are usually no preservatives, additives or sweeteners added. Dried beans, peas, lentils, canned legumes that are prepared without animal products or chemical additives are fine. Grains should be whole grain products, free of sugar, chemical additives and preservatives. Whole grains include amaranth, barley, brown basmati rice, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, millet, oats and oatmeal, quinoa, rye, wheat, wild rice. Whole grain products include bread, muffins and tortillas.

Dr. Maddahi advises eating raw nuts including almonds, filberts, pine nuts and cashews (sparingly). Raw seeds include sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds. For daily protein he suggests eggs from chickens that are hormone free, antibiotic free and fed all natural feed. The meat and poultry portions should be only 1 – 4 ounces per serving from animals that are organically grain fed, chemical free and antibiotic free. Poultry choices are chicken, turkey and wild game. Once a week or less lean beef or lamb may be eaten.

It is best to avoid dairy products. They can be replaced with soy yogurt, and non-dairy beverages and including rice, oat, soy and almond milk products. He has found it to be smart to eat deep ocean fish which include salmon, sardines, mackerel, sea trout, red snapper, halibut, ocean perch, sole, albacore tuna, cod, flounder, swordfish, haddock, and white tuna packed in water, with no oil, broth and no chemical additives.

Baked goods made with whole grain flours and no hydrogenated fats, may be snacked on. Baked potato chips or whole grain rice crackers can be infrequently eaten. You want to avoid caffeine, of course and sodas, sticking to juices with no added sugar, natural teas, and lots of water.

The best oils to use are extra virgin olive oil, raw organic flax seed oil, cold pressed or expeller pressed oils that include – canola oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil. If you need a sweetener, use a natural sugar, all which are listed on Dr. Maddahi’s website. The article can be found in the white pages that he offers on his website, articles that will help patients with oral health and dental care.

Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, specializes in creating beautiful, natural smiles and can be found on the world wide web at www.DrMaddahi.com. He is located in Beverly Hills at 436 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 202 and can be reached at 310-888-7797. He can be contacted via email at info@DrMaddahi.com.

The Most Serious Damage To Overall Health Results From The More Advanced Forms Of Gum Disease

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Keeping dental health in check greatly improves overall physical health and can even help patients to avoid serious health conditions. Gum disease and long-lasting dental infections can diminish overall systemic health. The body is negatively affected by infection of any kind, regardless of where it is located. Of course, the more serious the infection, and the longer it is present, the greater its potential.

Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, Beverly Hills dentist, stresses that infection can also seriously traumatize the immune system. Failure to handle dental infection can also diminish the body’s ability to deal with other infections and diseases. Its effect on the immune system is directly related to the extent, type, and duration of the infection.

Of course, there are troubles with abscesses near the root that create the need for root canals and times when the disease is such to create cavitations (cavities) of the jaw. But the most severe issue is the damage that can occur to overall health from advanced stages of gum disease. If unhandled, then the underlying bone structure can become a target for bacteria and it will continue to destroy more bone and soft tissue.

The result is that the circulatory system will then be constantly exposed to numerous strains of virulent bacteria and their toxins. The extent of infection in a common form of gum disease is such that if it were in any other area of the body, a medical doctor would handle this as a serious infection and insist on immediate treatment. Clearly gum infection is often left untreated, and if patients really understood the extent of the disease they would most likely feel differently.

Dr. Maddahi explains, “I have read that the infected area in a mild form of gum disease, if laid out flat, would cover an area the size of a postcard. In the case of moderate-to-severe gum disease, the total infected area could cover an area the size of a standard sheet of paper. Yet, this condition is present, and left untreated, in tens of millions of people in the U.S. alone. The extent and severity of an infection is, of course, important, but so is its duration. In the aforementioned example, such an infection is now chronic and would be active 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, for as long as the periodontal disease was present. Remember that it is a progressive disease, increasing in severity over time. It is easy to imagine the stress this type of infection places on the immune system.”

The most serious harm to overall health results from the most advanced gum disease. Gum disease and long-lasting dental infections can diminish overall systemic health. This is why bi-annual checkups and vigilant dental hygiene is vital to overall health.

dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, has been specializing in creating beautiful, natural smiles for 20 years and can be found on the world wide web at www.DrMaddahi.com.

He is located in

Beverly Hills at 436 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 202 and can be reached at 310-888-7797. He can be contacted via email atinfo@DrMaddahi.com.

Can What’s in Your Mouth Really Make You Sick?

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Beverly Hills dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, explains, in depth, the relationship between illness and periodontal conditions.

The news lately has been filled with frightening stories that link oral bacteria and oral disease to a variety of serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. The subject isn’t really new. Dentists have long known that there is a strong relationship between oral health and general health. For example, tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs not only affect overall health but oral health as well.

“Persons who suffer with dry mouth a lack of saliva whether from age, disease or medications, are at increased risk for tooth decay.”, explains Dr. Maddahi. “And if you have oral pain or can’t eat properly, you won’t get the nutrition your body needs to stay healthy. It’s not news that the mouth is connected to the body. The mouth often times is the location used to diagnose, make a prognosis, treat and intervene on a host of diseases.”

For example, some researchers have found that periodontitis (the advanced form of gum disease that can cause tooth loss) is associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke and bacterial pneumonia. Other research has found that pregnant women with periodontitis may be at increased risk for delivering babies that are pre-term, have low birth weight or both.

Dr. Maddahi further explains, “Although reports suggest that periodontitis may contribute to these conditions, you should know that just because two conditions occur at the same time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one causes the other. These conditions and diseases are complex. Oral health must be considered an important part of overall health but scientists are still studying how closely the two are connected.”

To make sense of all this, scientists are examining what happens when periodontitis is treated in persons who have other health problems. There’s evidence that diabetics are more likely to develop periodontitis (and more severe cases) than non-diabetics. Two conditions that occur together may be caused by a third factor. People who smoke or use alcohol are at increased risk for periodontitis and other conditions, such as oral cancer.

“If there were a cause-and-effect relationship, we’d expect that improvements to periodontal health would also improve other health conditions.”, says Dr. Maddahi. “The results from initial studies are intriguing. Some studies suggest that treating periodontitis in people with diabetes can improve their blood sugar control, but other studies have not found this connection. The ADA supports and encourages further research into what remains a promising but inconclusive question as to the effects of periodontal disease on specific systemic conditions and diseases.”

What does this mean for you? Given the potential link between periodontitis and systemic health problems, preventing periodontitis may turn out to be an important step in maintaining overall health. In most cases, that can be done with good daily oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and regular professional care.

Make sure to tell your dentist about changes in your oral health, including any recent illnesses or chronic conditions. Provide an updated health history including medication use, both prescription and over-the-counter products. And if you smoke, talk to your dentist about options for quitting smoking.

Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, specializes in creating beautiful, natural smiles and can be found on the world wide web at www.DrMaddahi.com.He is located in Beverly Hills at 436 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 202 and can be reached at 310-888-7797. He can be contacted via email at info@DrMaddahi.com.