NC Dentists Vaping Increases Risk of Tooth Gum Problems / Public News Service

North Carolina dentists are noticing an uptick in problems with teeth and gums among people who vape. Experts say vaping can cause as much damage to oral health as traditional cigarettes.

In addition to sore gums, grinding the teeth and tooth decay, said dentist Dr. Anbec DeShield-Mayes, owner of BestSmile Dental in Greensboro, dry mouth and cavities are especially common among people who use vape products.

“We try to give them things to help rehydrate their teeth,” she said. “We tell them to drink plenty of water, brushing twice a day, flossing. These are things that I’m seeing with my patients that I’m finding out now are new ‘vapers,’ or have switched from smoking to vaping.”

Studies have shown that heavy vaping among young people potentially could increase risk for periodontal disease later in life, and also can cause mouth and tongue ulcers. The American Dental Association has adopted an interim policy calling for a total ban on vape products that aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration for tobacco cessation purposes.

Deshield-Mayes, immediate past president of the North Carolina Dental Society Third District, said seemingly minor issues can lead to more serious oral health problems if not treated. She said it’s important that people see a dentist about every six months, and potentially more frequently if they’re heavy smokers or e-cigarette users.

“The signs of recession are receding gums. Receding gums are sometimes a side effect of dry mouth, causing your gums shrink or pull away from your teeth which may result in a cavity.”

Last year, the American Dental Association called for best practices aimed at screening more patients for vaping and marijuana use. More than 60% of dentists nationwide say they already ask their patients about the use of vape products.

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A new network of COVID-19 vaccine clinics is now open – located in Latino churches in nine cities across the country, including one in Nevada.

The clinics are part of a collaboration between the Hispanic Access Foundation and a federal agency called the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Andres Almanza Cañas is the associate director of the vaccine program at the Centro de Adoracion Familiar in Henderson, which is holding its next clinic on Tuesday, June 14.

“Many in the BIPOC community aren’t getting vaccinated because of lack of transportation,” said Almanza Cañas, “as well as a lack of access to education and proper knowledge that doesn’t come from erroneous social media posts.”

Almanza Cañas blames false social media memes for spreading misinformation about the vaccine’s cost, safety, efficacy and side effects.

A recent survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that 47% of Latinos have received at least one vaccination shot, and that quite a few people – particularly from families with mixed immigration status – fear having to give their personal information to health authorities.

David Armijo, chief of programs with the Hispanic Access Foundation, said many people feel more comfortable getting the shot at the church – somewhere they know and trust.

“Many of them had not come because they had a fear that they wouldn’t have material in Spanish,” said Armijo. “They’d have to fill out information, they wouldn’t have a translator. So being able to provide these clinics in heavy Latino areas has been a big success.”

The clinics in this program will run through August. The other eight clinics are in Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey and Texas.

Locations and times are listed on the Hispanic Access Foundation website.

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Health care workers at an Oregon hospital are calling for more support as short staffing takes its toll.

More than 100 members of SEIU Local 49 at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital on the central Oregon coast are at a standstill in union contract negotiations with the hospital. The workers include emergency-room technicians, respiratory care practitioners and radiologic technologists.

Rachel Eggleton, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at the hospital, explains the pressure workers have been under.

“Being alone as a CNA at night having nine patients, it’s too much,” Eggleton contended. “Everybody is important but of course some of them, they need more time, but it’s almost impossible.”

Over Memorial Day weekend, Eggleton and other SEIU Local 49 members rallied for negotiations to continue. Their biggest concerns are pay, staff retention and access to a union education fund to further their careers. In a statement, Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital said its wages and benefits package are competitive with other hospitals across the state and that it’s proposed across-the-board wage increases over workers’ three-year contract.

Starting pay for a CNA at the North Lincoln branch of Samaritan is just under $16 an hour. Eggleton pointed out her youngest daughter is making nearly as much as her at a fast-food restaurant without any training, adding it has been hard to keep up with the increasing cost of living in the area.

“We need a hospital that will attract quality employees that would want to stay,” Eggleton emphasized. “Because right now a lot of our employees are leaving because they just can’t afford to stay in Samaritan hospital anymore.”

Eggleton noted starting pay at other Samaritan hospitals for a CNA is more than $3 higher. She wants North Lincoln to align itself and negotiate with the other Samaritan care centers.

“We’re all held to the same standards, we’re all doing the same jobs, we’re all hardworking people,” Eggleton asserted. “So why does North Lincoln hospital have to be paid less?”

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The pandemic prompted employers large and small across the state to focus on worker’s health, and advocates are drawing attention to a new push for small businesses to offer more onsite fitness and wellness options for employees.

Merle Green, executive director of the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health and owner of HEATED Seminars Health Education Consultants, pointed to studies showing boosting employees’ physical activity can create a healthier workforce, increase productivity, and decrease employees’ risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

“And we’re here now with actually ten worksite wellness centers at small companies throughout the Triad,” Green explained.

Green recently received funding through the American Heart Association and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s community mini-grant program to help small employers build onsite wellness centers.

According to the American Heart Association, at least 150 minutes a week of physical activity can maintain a robust heart, but experts say any amount of movement or physical activity is good for health.

Rainbow 66 is a Greensboro-based social services agency focusing on home care, vocational rehabilitation and mental health. It recently worked with HEATED Seminars to set up a wellness center onsite.

Vanessa Roddy, the company’s medical billing and coding coordinator, said exercising at work was a game-changer after a recent injury.

“I actually just had surgery on my knee,” Roddy noted. “I had torn my ACL and ruptured my meniscus. And being able to have this facility was actually a blessing for me, because it was hard for me to leave work to try to go to the gym.”

Green added during the pandemic, North Carolinians realized they could exercise regularly and be productive while working from home, and many want the option to continue healthy habits back at the office.

“It created an opportunity for them to realize that focusing on their health, along with their work, actually can occur,” Green emphasized. “We really can do both things.”

Research from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health has found workers who get at least 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week are less likely to call out sick or miss work.

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