Tag Archives: Heart of the City Health Center

Dental Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

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By Nicole Kooiker, DDS, Dentist at Heart of the City Health Center

Q: One of my teeth hurts when I drink ice tea. Do I need to see a dentist?

 

A: As a dentist practicing in Grand Rapids, I can tell you that pain in your mouth is not a feeling to ignore. While it doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem, you should contact your dental office if you are experiencing any of the following five symptoms:

  1. Mouth pain could be caused by a cavity, gum disease, an abscess or impacted tooth. If not treated by a dentist, your tooth could die, causing an even bigger problem.
  2. Experiencing pain in your teeth when you drink hot or cold beverages could indicate tooth decay, fractured teeth, worn fillings, gum disease, worn tooth enamel, or an exposed tooth root due to gum recession. Treatment options depend on the source of the sensitivity as determined by your dentist.
  3. Bleeding or sore gums could simply be caused by brushing too hard or overzealous flossing; however, this could also be a sign of gum disease that only an oral health professional can address.
  4. Mouth sores could indicate an infection, virus, fungus, or simply an irritation from dentures or a sharp edge of a broken tooth or filling. Consult your dentist if you’ve had a mouth sore for longer than one week.
  5. Bad breath can indicate poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, gum disease, or a medication’s side effects. If you brush your teeth and tongue twice a day and floss daily, but still experience bad breath, consult your dentist to rule out an underlying medical condition.

If you’re experiencing any of these issues or have other concerns, please contact us today. We’re here to help!

 

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.

Top 5 Ways to Keep Your Child’s Teeth Healthy

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By Dr. Meghan Condit, Dentist at Heart of the City Health Center

 

1. Eat healthy snacks: Fruits, vegetables, yogurt and cheese are good choices. Stay away from sweet foods that can stick to teeth, like fruit snacks, raisins and candy.

 

2. Avoid sweet drinks: Pop, sports drinks (like Gatorade), Kool-Aid, juice and even milk have sugar that can cause cavities! Make sure your child has only 4-6 ounces of juice per day and only during meal times. It is especially important to avoid milk and juice before bed, and your child should never sleep with a bottle or cup!

 

3. Drink lots of tap water: It has fluoride added to it, which protects teeth from cavities, and washes away all the food your child eats during the day.

 

4. Brush your child’s teeth: At least 2 times per day as soon as you see a tooth! Children should always be supervised, and an adult should brush until children turn about 8 years old. Use fluoride toothpaste or one that says “cavity protection.” Children 0-2 should use a “grain of rice-size” amount of toothpaste, and children 3-6 should use a “pea-sized” amount of toothpaste.

 

5. Take your child to a dentist: The first dental visit should be before their first birthday. A dental home will provide information about what to expect as your child grows. A fun and caring dental experience early in your child’s life will help them to feel comfortable and enjoy going to the dentist.

 

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.

Diabetes and your mouth

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By Nicole Kooiker, DDS, Heart of the City Health Center

 

Q: Does diabetes really affect my teeth?

 

A: If you are one of the nearly 30 million people living in the U.S. with diabetes, you have special oral health needs. As a dentist practicing in Grand Rapids, I see first-hand how diabetes affects the mouth. It can lead to gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease, and it can cause periodontitis, the most severe and common dental disease affecting those with diabetes. If left untreated, periodontitis may cause you to lose your teeth or have them pulled. It also reduces your body’s ability to regulate the level of sugar in the blood. High blood sugar can make diabetes harder to control and contribute to worsening gum disease.

 

Below are tips for keeping your mouth healthy while living with diabetes.

  • Control your blood sugar level.
  • Brush and floss daily.
  • If you wear dentures, remove and clean them daily.
  • Visit your dentist regularly; in fact, deep cleanings can help lower your HbA1c.
  • Watch for signs of gum disease, including red, swollen, tender, and /or bleeding gums when you brush or floss; bad breath; permanent teeth that are loose or moving away from each other; and gums that have pulled away from teeth.
  • Avoid smoking.
  • Tell your dentist and hygienist any time there is a change in your medication or the severity of your diabetes.
  • Postpone any non-emergency dental procedures if your blood sugar is not in control.

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.

The Truth About Computer Vision Syndrome

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Courtesy of Cherry Health

By Joy Fountain, Vision Technician Supervisor at Heart of the City Health Center

 

Do you use a computer, cell phone or tablet at work, school or home? You may have noticed symptoms related to excessive use of these digital devices. Computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eye strain, is the combination of vision and eye problems associated with the use of any device with an electronic display.

 

Some of the most common complaints reported with computer vision syndrome include:

  • Eyestrain
  • Tired eyes
  • Glare
  • Irritation
  • Redness
  • Blurry vision

The good news is an eye exam can help make your eyes more comfortable while using these devices. Anti-glare lens coatings are available for glasses. This will significantly decrease the computer screen glare (as well as glare from headlights). Often times, a person experiences blurry vision, because the eyes do not focus well. In this case, making the text larger on your device or using glasses would help.

 

If you experience any of these uncomfortable side effects with use of a digital device, please schedule an appointment to get your eyes checked today.

 

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.

Healthy Aging

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Courtesy Cherry Health

By Rebecca Pavlock, AmeriCorps Member at Heart of the City Health Center

 

As we age, our bodies go through many changes. It is important to discuss these changes with our medical providers as we observe them, as some changes may be normal and healthy symptoms of an aging body and mind while other changes may be symptoms of conditions that would require additional support from your team here at Cherry Health.

 

Below are some things to think about before your next appointment with your medical provider:

 

Do you understand your prescription medications and how to take them? The average senior patient takes five or more prescription medications to manage their health. With so many different prescriptions, it can be difficult to remember what medications are treating and how often each should be taken. If you are struggling to manage your medications, please consult your medical team.

 

Are you feeling more forgetful than usual? Many individuals face increased memory loss as they age in a normal process referred to as age-associated memory impairment. However, if you or family members are concerned about your memory, please discuss your concerns with your provider.

 

Are you having a difficult time seeing or hearing? Many older adults require glasses or hearing aids in order to see or hear properly, so do not hesitate to discuss any changes to your vision or hearing with your medical provider.

 

Have you noticed any changes in your energy levels or sleep habits? As we age we often experience changes to our normal sleeping patterns such as becoming sleepy earlier in the day, waking earlier, or not sleeping as deeply as we used to. These are all healthy, normal changes. However, if you are experiencing disturbed sleep, insomnia, or are waking up tired every day, this may not be a normal part of aging.

 

Does fear of falling keep you from your usual daily activities? It is important to keep an active lifestyle as we age in order to maintain independence. Your provider may have recommendations for how to overcome your mobility concerns.

 

Do you often feel sad, anxious, or worthless? About 15% of older adults struggle with mental health conditions. If you find yourself frequently feeling depressed or anxious, bring this up in your next medical appointment. You may benefit from meeting with a counselor or strengthening your support system.

 

Our team here at Cherry Health is eager to support you!

 

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.

What is the 340B Discount Drug Program?

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Photo courtesy Cherry Health

By Brett Gingrich, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy Services at Cherry Health

 

Cherry Health’s Pharmacy is located in Heart of the City Health Center and provides prescription services for all Cherry Health patients, as well as the general public. The pharmacy also provides a 340B discounted pricing program for Cherry Health patients who qualify for the program. The 340B program is funded by manufacturers of medications and is not federally funded. This means the pharmacy can buy medications from these manufacturers at a discounted price vs. other retail pharmacies. The savings are then used in many ways including these below:

  • We give the savings back to the patient through our pharmacy sliding fee program. Patients without insurance or even under-insured patients can buy medications at a more affordable price. This is one way we keep medication costs down, so that our patients can take the medications they need, and therefore increasing access.
  • We also use the 340B savings to increase access to more services. The 340B savings we receive contribute to services such as: patient education, translation, and transportation services along with many others which otherwise may be limited. The 340B program helps make these services sustainable.

The 340B program’s original intent may need clarification, but for Health Centers in Michigan like Cherry Health the program is vital to our patients and the services we provide. The program increases access to affordable medications and furthers Cherry Health’s mission to improve the health and wellness of our patients while encouraging access. So, whether you are insured or not — I encourage you to talk to your Cherry Health primary care physician to see if our Heart of the City Pharmacy is the right fit for you! Delivery services to other select Health Centers are also available.

 

In need of a refill on your prescription? Check out Heart of the City Pharmacy’s Health Mart page here!