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Edmond Dentist Dr. Damon R. Johnson, DDS Explains the Link between Oral Health and Overall Health

January 7, 2016 By

Edmond DentistGum infections can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions, according to Dr. Damon R. Johnson. Here, the Edmond dentist opens up about why cavities aren’t the only issue that can arise from poor oral hygiene.

Interviewing Experts: Before we begin we wanted to thank you, Dr. Johnson, for taking your valuable time to chat with us today.

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: It’s not a problem at all. I’m glad to have the opportunity.

Interviewing Experts: We would like to start a series on health. We understand that the mouth is regarded among dental professionals as the portal to the rest of the body. Is that true?

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: It is. Germs that build up in the mouth can enter the body…

Interviewing Experts: Is there a link between infections of the mouth and diseases of the body?

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: There is. A long-term mouth infection may increase a person’s risk to contract a number of illnesses. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and pregnancy complications included.

Interviewing Experts: How much more likely are people with gum disease to suffer with heart problems?

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: Studies have found that coronary heart disease occurs twice as often in people with periodontitis.

Interviewing Experts: Does bone loss of the mouth increase the risk of stroke?

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: Yes, it can. Gum disease can trigger atherosclerotic plaques, a risk factor in stroke and heart attack.

Interviewing Experts: How is periodontal disease related to diabetes?

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: It’s unclear how, but researchers have found evidence that gum disease has a negative effect on metabolism which can lead to pre-diabetes.

Interviewing Experts: And if it’s treated…?

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: Type II diabetics that seek dental treatment for periodontal disease have fewer instances of a condition known as oxidative stress.

Interviewing Experts: What is that?

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: Oxidative stress is when the body has a lower than normal level of antioxidants – molecules that inhibit the oxidation of damage to the body’s other cells.

Interviewing Experts: Aside from the telltale swollen, bleeding gums… I understand that periodontal disease is no joke…

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: Not at all. Some studies have even linked gum disease to depression, stress, and a host of other mental health concerns.

Interviewing Experts: I get the feeling that’s not the worst of it.

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: I wish it was. Untreated early-onset periodontal disease may quadruple a person’s chances of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists are still working to find the conclusive link, but the research is promising enough that gum disease might just be a preventable risk factor for this debilitating brain disease.

Interviewing Experts: You mentioned pregnancy complications…?

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: One of the most concerning things I can tell my expecting patients is that their babies may be at-risk of low birth weight and even prematurity if they have gum disease. That’s why it’s so important for pregnant women to maintain a relationship with their dentist.

Interviewing Experts: What other major organs can poor oral health affect?

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: If you want the short answer: all of them.

Interviewing Experts: Even the kidneys?

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: Yes, unfortunately. Failure to care for teeth properly may actually lead to kidney disease and even worse, if left unchecked, renal failure.

Interviewing Experts: All of this sounds like we need to go brush our teeth right now!

Edmond Dentist, Dr. Damon R. Johnson: I’d say that’s not such a bad idea.

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Q & A with Dentist Professionals: Your Mouth’s First Line of Defense

October 14, 2015 By

Dental sealants are a hybrid plastic material used to protect the back teeth from the effects of decay. Here, a panel of dentist professionals answer questions regarding dental sealants and offers information on how to avoid decay in the first place.

Q: Can you explain why dental sealants are important? Isn’t brushing and flossing enough to protect my teeth?

A: While proper dental hygiene – including brushing twice a day and flossing regularly – are absolutely vital in the battle against tooth decay, these actions alone may not quite do the trick. Toothbrushes are not designed in a way that allow them to efficiently reach into the grooves of our back molars to remove food particles and plaque buildup.

Q: How difficult is it to apply dental sealants?

A: When you find a dentist who is experienced in routine and preventative care, it is an extremely easy procedure. Sealants are applied with a small paint brush-like tool and allowed to harden on the surface. The plastic resin seeps into each tooth’s unique topography where it works to prevent food from entering these crevices when you eat or drink.

Q: How often are sealants applied?

A: Sealants are typically applied every few years. They hold up well against everyday use. Once you find a dentist to apply your initial sealant, he or she will follow up at each visit to ensure that the surface is intact.

Q: Who is typically a good candidate for dental sealants?

A: While adults can benefit from the protection that sealants offer, children and teenagers are more likely to need this line of defense.

Q: How can I avoid tooth decay?

A: You will first want to find a dentist approved fluoride toothpaste. These products carry the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal Of Approval. Visit your dentist regularly and make sure to eat a well-balanced diet that includes limited access to sugary (and especially sticky) snacks. Keep in mind that your overall health and well-being depends largely on your daily oral hygiene.

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Q & A with Dennis Wong, YOR Health: Chief Athletic Advisor Tim Brown Introduced to Hall of Fame

August 11, 2015 By

Dennis Wong YOR HealthTim Brown, Heisman Trophy winner and former Los Angeles Raider, was enshrined at the Football Hall of Fame in January 2015. Here, Dennis Wong, YOR Health co-founder, answers questions about the career of YOR Health’s Chief Athletic Advisor.

Q: What are some notable career highlights for Brown?

Dennis Wong, YOR Health: Tim’s whole career is notable! He is known for his astounding 1,094 career receptions, for reaching 100 touchdowns, and being selected nine times to the Pro Bowl.

Q: How does a player get inducted into the Football Hall of Fame?

Dennis Wong, YOR Health: It’s a tough process that must make its way through a 49-member Board of Selectors. Only a few players each year are nominated.

Q: Where did Tim play in college?

Dennis Wong, YOR Health: Tim went to Notre Dame and was an All American in 1986 and ’87.

Q: What makes Tim’s Heisman Trophy win unique?

Dennis Wong, YOR Health: He is the only Wide Receiver in NFL history to receive the award. It’s a huge achievement and one that was most deserved.

Q: How long has Brown been with YOR Health?

Dennis Wong, YOR Health: Tim has been our Chief Athletic Advisor for over six years.

Q: What does this advisement position entail?

Dennis Wong, YOR Health: Tim helps us counsel new advisors, speaks with YOR Health Promoters at conferences and, more importantly, works with our other boards to ensure that YOR Health products meet the needs of athletes across the globe.

Q: What does Tim say about YOR Health?

Dennis Wong, YOR Health: Tim has gone on record saying that, while he had an awesome career, he wishes he’d have found YOR Health in his younger years. He uses YOR Health products regularly and has had nothing but praise for everything he’s tried.

Q: I understand that Tim has also started a foundation. How does it tie into his role at YOR Health?

Dennis Wong, YOR Health: Tim founded Fundraising Solutions. It’s an organization that helps sports groups raise money through alternates to the traditional candy and cookie dough routes. At YOR Health, Tim is all about good nutrition, so with his foundation he wanted to teach that using candy as a financial tool wasn’t promoting positive eating habits in players.

Q: What other athletes join Tim on the board?

Dennis Wong, YOR Health: Ben Hansdaker, Hattie Boydle, Jerome Le Banner, Terry and Kim Hairston, Sid Taberlay, and Daniel Jacobs.

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Cavities and You | A One on One with Damon R. Johnson, DDS

August 4, 2015 By

Damon R. Johnson, DDS Dental Excellence is a leading provider of general and cosmetic dental services in the Edmond, Oklahoma, area. Today, we speak with founder and namesake Damon R. Johnson, DDS.

Q: Dr. Johnson, we are so pleased you could be here today.

Edmond Dentist Damon R. Johnson, DDS: It’s my pleasure, any time.

Q: We want to talk about what is seemingly the most common dental issue out there – cavities.

Edmond, OK, Dentist Damon R. Johnson: If it’s not the most, it certainly ranks up there.

Q: What are cavities?

Edmond Dentist Damon R. Johnson, DDS: Simply stated, cavities are tooth decay.

Q: Cavities affect the enamel of the teeth, correct?

Edmond, OK, Dentist Damon R. Johnson: Yes, along with the soft tissue underneath, dentin.

Q: What causes tooth decay?

Edmond Dentist Damon R. Johnson, DDS: Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth eroding enamel. When the enamel dissolves, it leaves tiny little holes. These holes are what we call cavities.

Q: Who gets cavities?

Edmond, OK, Dentist Damon R. Johnson: While cavities are considered a common problem for children, adults get them too. This is especially true of adults who don’t engage in proper dental hygiene practices.

Q: What is the most prevalent cause of cavities in senior adults?

Edmond Dentist Damon R. Johnson, DDS: Older adults may not have been exposed to a proper amount of fluoride in childhood. Many seniors have extensive dental work because of it. Decay can form around broken or weakened fillings, bridges, or crowns.

Q: Do cavities have any symptoms?

Edmond, OK, Dentist Damon R. Johnson: In the beginning, no. Most cavities are caught during a regular dental exam.

Q: What about those that are not?

Edmond Dentist Damon R. Johnson, DDS: A cavity that’s been around for a while may cause a toothache. Often, it’s only noticeable after drinking something hot or cold or consuming sweet foods.

Q: Are cavities treatable?

Edmond, OK, Dentist Damon R. Johnson: Most cavities can be filled. At Damon R. Johnson, DDS Dental Excellence, we use composite material for this.

Q: That is the tooth-colored filling material, right?

Edmond Dentist Damon R. Johnson, DDS: It is. We prefer it to mercury, gold, or silver amalgam.

Q: What can I do if the cavity is beyond being filled?

Edmond, OK, Dentist Damon R. Johnson: This is when crowns become an option. A crown is essentially a cap that goes over a severely damaged tooth.

Q: When is a root canal needed?

Edmond Dentist Damon R. Johnson, DDS: A root canal is used only when the pulp of the tooth is no longer viable. A dentist will remove the decayed tooth segments along with the nerves and blood vessels surrounding. The roots are then filled with a sealing material and the rest of the tooth is crowned.

Q: That sounds painful. We are going to go out on a limb and say that prevention is best in this case.

Edmond, OK, Dentist Damon R. Johnson: I won’t argue that.

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Garrett Hoelscher Advises Whole Food is Best

April 20, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Garrett Hoelscher

Garrett Hoelscher

Stick with non-processed foods and feel better. Breads, cereals, and crackers, says Garrett Hoelscher, should be limited or removed from the human diet. Here, the fitness enthusiast and financial analyst explains how whole foods are better for the body.

Interviewing Experts: Good morning, Garrett Hoelscher, and thank you for speaking with us today.

Garrett Hoelscher: My pleasure.

Interviewing Experts: You believe that whole foods are superior to processed foods. Can you explain why?

Garrett Hoelscher: Sure. During the refining process, many of the basic nutrients are removed from the original food product. Also, processed foods may contain additives that we humans just don’t need and that our digestive systems often cannot process.

Interviewing Experts: Can you give us an example?

Garrett Hoelscher: Salt and sugar are two of the main culprits here. 75% of our salt intake tends to come from boxed, cured, and prepackaged food. Sugar is added to just about every cereal on the market. Too much sugar can add to a person’s risk of diabetes and obesity. Also, many preservatives are difficult to near impossible to digest, and often the chemicals used to provide color cause allergic reactions, especially in children.

Interviewing Experts: That’s a very troubling piece of information.

Garrett Hoelscher: Yes, it is. Considering that Americans especially are accustomed to buying food for convenience and many foods that are marketed as healthy are actually bad for your digestive system.

Interviewing Experts: Can you give us an example?

Garrett Hoelscher: One story in the news recently points to a mom who fed her daughter the hazelnut spread Nutella based on the product’s insinuation that it was part of a healthy diet. Long story short, it’s not and is more or less a candy bar in a jar. This just illustrates how consumers are misled by advertising and are always looking for a way to cut corners.

Interviewing Experts: So, what kinds of foods should we be eating?

Garrett Hoelscher: Lean protein, like chicken and fish, raw nuts, fruit  and vegetables.

Interviewing Experts: What about carbohydrates and starches; should those items be avoided?

Garrett Hoelscher: Carbohydrates found in whole foods, like bananas and potatoes, are much better for you than white bread or boxed pasta. Carbs shouldn’t make up a large percentage of diet, although low glycemic carbs are not off limits.

Interviewing Experts: Before we go – what is your advice on how much one should eat?

Garrett Hoelscher: Keep in mind that there is an equation of “energy in = energy out” that will keep you from gaining weight. Regardless of what foods you eat, the best rule of thumb is to take in as much or less than you expend in energy. Ben Franklin once said, “One should eat to live, not live to eat.” Today’s society seems to have reversed that way of thinking. Eat right and exercise for a healthy life – it’s that simple.

Interviewing Experts: Well, we are out of time for today but look forward to speaking with you again in the near future.

Garrett Hoelscher: I appreciate the opportunity. Thank you for spotlighting this health epidemic in the United States. We need more media to get on board.

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Stephen Samuelian: Skilled Nursing More Than Just Day-To-Day Care

March 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Stephen SamuelianSkilled nursing care and assisted living are often confused with one another. However, according to today’s guest, Stephen Samuelian, the two are very different.

Interviewing Experts: Good morning and thank you for taking the time to chat with us today.

Stephen Samuelian: I’m glad to do it.

Interviewing Experts: So, tell us, what is the difference between a skilled nursing care facility and an assisted living community?

Stephen Samuelian: While both provide care to senior adults, a skilled nursing facility is different in that these facilities are geared more toward seniors who cannot care for themselves. [Read more…]

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Marla Ahlgrimm on the Health Benefits of Turmeric

November 14, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Marla AhlgrimmIf you’ve been paying attention to cooking shows and lifestyle magazines as of late, you may have noticed an unfamiliar name in many recipes, points out women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm. Turmeric is a popular ingredient in several Indian dishes, but its uses are many and varied. Marla Ahlgrimm explains how turmeric can be a major health benefit while making dishes taste great.

Interviewing Experts: Thanks so much for joining us this afternoon.

Marla Ahlgrimm: It’s wonderful to chat with you. I appreciate this invitation.

Interviewing Experts: As many people have learned over the years, spices can often be used to treat ailments and boost wellness.

Marla Ahlgrimm: Yes – that’s exactly right. [Read more…]

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Berni Fried Identifies the Signs of Isolation in Addicts and Alcoholics

September 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

As a longtime therapist, Berni Fried knows that people who are socially isolated may be more prone to drug addiction and alcoholism. Here, Berni Fried tells the staff at Interviewing Experts how the therapy community is trying to overcome these troubling inclinations.

Interviewing Experts: Thank you for calling in to talk about this sensitive topic.

Berni Fried: It’s my pleasure.

Interviewing Experts: In your experience, what’s the most common signal that an addict is suffering from relapse?

Berni Fried: One of the most common behaviors of addicts is the desire to be isolated from the rest of the world. [Read more…]

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Sophia Wong of YOR Health Tackles Her Role as a Nutritional Products Guru

July 31, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Sophia Wong YOR HealthA health products leader and innovator, Sophia Wong of YOR Health embraces the responsibility of helping people live out their wildest dreams. At the forefront of of an eat-healthy,  positive movement, Sophia Wong and YOR Health believe that community is the foundation of all the company’s efforts. In this conversation with Interviewing Experts, Sophia Wong of YOR Health explains the role of her organization in shaping lives.

Interviewing Experts: Hi, Sophia! We’ve been looking forward to our chat all week. Thank you for coming.

Sophia Wong, YOR Health: It’s such an honor. Thanks so much for the invitation.

Interviewing Experts: Why are nutrition and diet such important values for you and your company?

Sophia Wong, YOR Health: With healthier living, people are more empowered to make good decisions in their personal and professional worlds. [Read more…]

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Glendora Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Viviane Haber Talks Popular Dental Terms

June 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Glendora Cosmetic DentistOne thing about a routine dental visit that can make people uncomfortable is a lack of understanding the terminology used by dentists. It’s almost like a foreign language. In a recent interview, Glendora cosmetic dentist, Dr. Viviane Haber explained why patients should familiarize themselves with the most common dental terms.

Interviewing Experts: Thanks for joining us today.

Glendora cosmetic dentist, Dr. Viviane Haber: Thanks for the invitation.

Interviewing Experts: Why is it important to know basic dental terminology?

Glendora cosmetic, dentist, Dr. Viviane Haber: The better informed you are, the easier it will be to take control of your dental condition. You want to know what’s happening with your teeth. [Read more…]

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