Gum Disease/Periodontal Disease

Some form of gum and bone disease is present in most adult mouths.

Periodontal disease is unrecognized because the condition is generally painless and slow in progression. Symptoms include red, inflamed gums, which bleed easily with brushing and flossing, bad breath and teeth becoming loose as condition worsens.

The supporting structures of the teeth including the gums and bone are termed Periodontium.

Gum and bone breakdown begins at the gum line with gingivitis and progresses to the more severe periodontitis. When oral hygiene is neglected and poor over all health is encountered, gum disease begins.

Gingivitis is a mild inflammation of the gum tissue when food deposits, dental plaque or the more calcified calculus are allowed to remain on the teeth.

Periodontitis is when food deposits, plaque and calculus continue to remain on the teeth, over time the bone begins to degenerate. This condition is termed Periodontitis.

As bone surrounding the root degenerates, teeth loosen, drift, migrate eventually leading to the loss of tooth. Proper treatment can still save most teeth.

Gum Disease Treatment Alternatives:

The success of conservative gum disease treatments rests on significant coordination and cooperation between the patient and the dental professional. Periodontal health can be stabilized with conservative treatment alone but in some cases the more invasive conventional therapy is required.

Conventional Periodontal Therapy is usually surgical. It involves gently lifting away the gum tissue from the affected teeth, removing and root planing the calcified calculus, re contouring the irregularities on the root and bone surfaces and carefully placing back and securing the reflected tissue. After a healing period and maintenance of good oral hygiene, the periodontal condition can be improved or stabilized.

Prevention of gingival and periodontal disease only requires optimal oral hygiene practices, healthy diet and a restriction on tobacco and alcohol use.

Maintenance of periodontal health may require more frequent dental hygiene visits and adherence to individual hygiene recommendations made to you by the dental professional.

Oral Health is Important to Overall Health Maintenance. Let Smile Artistry, a trusted dentist in Chino, help you achieve your best smile yet!

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Dry Mouth or Xerostomia

Dry Mouth is a symptom rather than a specific disorder. Saliva cleanses the mouth and begins the digestive process as foods are chewed. Adequate saliva flow coats and lubricates the mouth. When dry mouth or xerostomia occurs, soft tissues get irritated and inflamed and are more susceptible to oral infections. Without the cleansing and shielding effects of adequate salivary flow, tooth decay and periodontal disease become more prevalent.   Constant dryness and lack of protection provided by saliva contribute to bad breath.  In denture wearers, dentures feel less comfortable without the thin film of saliva to help them adhere properly to the mouth.

Causes of Dry Mouth

Prescribed and over the counter medications have emerged as the most common cause of dry mouth.

Medications including  antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers, diuretics, anti hypertensives and anti depressants are among 400 other medications that have side effects of dry mouth.

Aging does minimally reduce the salivary flow.

Radiation of head and neck

Emotional stress 

Autoimmune disease like Sjogren’s  syndrome and diabetes

.

Hormonal alterations associated with  pregnancy and menopause have been associated with dry mouth.

Symptom Relief

Chewing sugar free gum or candy to stimulate salivation

 Drinking frequent sips of water

Use of alcohol free oral rinses

Restricted use of caffeine, alcohol and carbonated beverages

Regular check- ups and teeth cleaning are more important in mouths experiencing  xerostomia  to minimize decay and periodontal disease.  Additional fluoride products may be recommended to safeguard your dental health.

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Diabetes: Dental Tips

Diabetes can cause serious problems in your mouth.

People with diabetes are at risk for mouth infections, especially periodontal (gum) disease. Periodontal disease can damage the gum and bone that hold your teeth in place and may lead to painful chewing problems. Some people with serious gum disease lose their teeth. Periodontal disease may also make it hard to control your blood glucose (blood sugar).

Other problems diabetes can cause are dry mouth and a fungal infection called thrush. Dry mouth happens when you do not have enough saliva—the fluid that keeps your mouth wet. Diabetes may also cause the glucose level in your saliva to increase. Together, these problems may lead to thrush, which causes painful white patches in your mouth.

Take steps to keep your mouth healthy.

If you have diabetes, follow these steps:

• Control your blood glucose.
• Brush and floss every day.
• Visit dentist regularly. Be sure to tell the dentist that you have diabetes.
• Tell the dentist if your dentures (false teeth) do not fit right, or if your gums are sore.
• Quit smoking. Smoking makes gum disease worse. There are smoking cessation programs that can help quit smoking.

Visit www.mydentistchino.com or Call 909 627 6699 for additional information.

Why Floss!

Tooth Relationships

Mouth- Body Conection

Love Flossing!

Pregnancy and Gum Infections

If you are pregnant, please call your dental office today and schedule to have your teeth cleaned as soon as possible.

Oral Health: A Window to Your Overall Health

 Oral health is more important than most people realize. The mouth is an indicator of overall health just as the smile is an expression of the personality.
 

What is the connection between Oral Health and Overall Health?

Mouth is teeming with bacteria, most of which are harmless.  Under normal body’s natural defenses and good oral hygiene, these bacteria can be under control.  However, without proper oral hygiene; bacteria can reach levels that lead to oral as well as systemic infections.

Medications used to manage medical conditions like antihistamines, diuretics, pain killers, decongestants can reduce salivary flow, increasing the potential for dental disease.

Below is an excerpt from the Mayo Clinic-

What conditions may be linked to oral health?

Your oral health might affect, be affected by, or contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:

• Endocarditis. Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium). Endocarditis typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart.
• Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.
• Pregnancy and birth. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
• Diabetes. Diabetes reduces the body's resistance to infection — putting the gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes. Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels.
• HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
• Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis — which causes bones to become weak and brittle — might be linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss.
• Alzheimer's disease. Tooth loss before age 35 might be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
• Other conditions. Other conditions that might be linked to oral health include Sjogren's syndrome — an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth — and eating disorders.

Because of these potential links, be sure to tell your dentist if you're taking any medications or have had any changes in your overall health — especially if you've had any recent illnesses or you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes. 

How can I protect my oral health?

To protect your oral health, practice good oral hygiene every day. For example:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
• Floss daily.
• Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks.
• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed.
• Schedule regular dental checkups.

Also, contact your dentist as soon as an oral health problem arises. Remember, taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health.

Mount Brushmore

Women and Osteoporosis

"A woman’s mouth can say a lot about osteoporosis"

If you’re a woman, particularly age 50 or above, your dentist may be the first health professional to suspect you have osteoporosis — and refer you to a physician before the disease advances. Osteoporosis weakens bones by reducing their density. Although the disease may strike any gender at any age, the vast majority of sufferers are women over age 50. Osteoporosis is difficult to detect, and most patients are not diagnosed until their bone density has decreased to the point that a fracture occurs. However, symptoms of tooth loss or gum (periodontal) disease could indicate early stages of osteoporosis. Your dentist may detect the onset of the disease based on oral symptoms, your medical history (including risk factors) and results of a clinical and x-ray examination. This is why it’s important to visit your dentist regularly and to provide him or her with your complete medical history, even if you don’t think it relates to oral health.

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Signs of osteoporosis

There are several signs that alert dentists to the possibility of osteoporosis:

1. Bone loss in the jaw. This may be a sign of bone loss in other parts of the body.
2. Tooth loss. Studies suggest that women with low bone mineral density tend to lose more teeth.
3. Ill-fitting dentures in post-menopausal woman. Studies show that post-menopausal women with osteoporosis need new dentures three times more often after age 50 than women without osteoporosis. Bone loss may become so severe that it may be impossible to create functional dentures. Without the aid of dentures to chew many types of food, older patients may suffer severe nutritional deficiencies.

If your dentist suspects you have osteoporosis, he or she can refer you to a physician for medical assessment and subsequent treatment. In addition to scheduling regular dentist visits, you can help prevent osteoporosis by:

1. Getting enough calcium each day, through diet or supplements (women/1,200mg; men/800mg; anyone over age 65/1,500mg)
2. Adding vitamin D to your diet
3. Exercising
4. Quitting smoking
5. Decreasing caffeine and alcohol intake. 

Periodontal Disease

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