Oral Cancer’s Surprising Cause

HPV and Oral CancerIt used to be that oral cancer was mainly caused by a lifetime of smoking, drinking, or both. While these habits will still certainly increase your likelihood of contracting oral cancer, they are unfortunately no longer the leading cause.

The presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) is now found in up to 50% of new cases of oral cancer, and brings this devastating disease to a new part of the population. Quirt Dentistry wants to give you all the information and tools you need to get your mouth and overall systems as healthy as possible.
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Guarding Against Oral Cancer

oral cancerEach and every day, more than 16 people will die from oral cancer. That’s more than 5,000 people who will die this year, which is 5,000 too many. Quirt Family Dentistry and doctors around the country are banding together this April for Oral Cancer Awareness Month in an effort to increase recognition of this disease and decrease its prevalence.

Mouth cancer, tongue cancer, tonsil cancer, throat cancer, and others [Read more...]

Brush Your Teeth to Save Your Heart

Heart Health, Gum DiseaseDid you know that untreated bacteria in your mouth can escape into your bloodstream and cause issues in your heart? Big issues too, like increasing your risk of heart attack!

This February, our Quirt Family dentists are working with doctors and dentists around the country to celebrate American Heart Month, hoping raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Our office wants everyone in Wisconsin to have both a healthy heart and a healthy mouth. [Read more...]

Dry Mouth and Valentine’s Day Don’t Mix

bad breath dry mouthAlthough it may seem strange, saliva actually helps prevent bad breath because it contains chemicals that kill odor-causing bacteria. If you have dry mouth this Valentine’s Day, your breath may not be as fresh as you want it to be.

Not to worry! Quirt Family Dentistry is here to explain dry mouth, its causes and how to fix it. We want all Wisconsin residents to have a perfect Valentine’s Day, however they choose to spend it, and a great way to start is with fresh, healthy breath!

Dry Mouth = Bad Breath

There are many things that could contribute to a dry mouth, such as how long it has been since you’ve eaten or drank, what you last ate or drank, the amount of physical activity you’ve participated in, or even what time of day it is. Other factors can include medication, systemic diseases, body chemistry, and overall health. [Read more...]

Dry Mouth and Prescriptions

Dry Mouth and Prescriptions

If you have started taking a new medication recently, chances are your doctor told you that a side-effect would be dry mouth. This side-effect is common with many prescriptions, and it now affects nearly half of everyone over the age of 65. This week, Quirt Family Dentistry wants to  educate patients and their loved ones about this condition and the importance it has on a healthy life.

What is dry mouth?

The technical term for dry mouth is xerostomia, [Read more...]

Ten Gum Disease Facts for Diabetics

Ten Gum Disease Facts for DiabeticsMost diabetics have some degree of periodontal disease (gum disease) in their mouth, and many do not get any sort of treatment. To continue our celebration of National Diabetes Awareness Month, Quirt Family Dentistry wants to end this cycle by teaching Wisconsin residents about the seriousness of gum disease.

1. Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss.

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Diabetes and Your Mouth

Diabetes and Your MouthEvery 17 seconds someone new is diagnosed with diabetes, a disease that is now one of the leading causes of death and disability in this country. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and Quirt Family Dentistry wants to educate all Wisconsin residents on what they can do to prevent and treat this debilitating disease.

What is diabetes?

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body’s ability to produce and/or use insulin. There are two main kinds of diabetes: [Read more...]