Healthy gum appears pink and firm. Brushing and flossing in the healthy stages of gum tissue will be a pleasant experience and there will be no bleeding. This is the phase that all gum tissue should be in if it is healthy and clean. Once gingivitis sets in (the beginning stages of gum disease), gums will take on a red and puffy look, and bleed easily upon brushing and flossing. Once gum disease progresses, the chances of returning to a healthy condition deceases drastically – once gum tissue has reached the advanced level, it is likely past of the point of no return and will result in tooth loss. Periodontal disease is the #1 reason of tooth loss.
Healthy gums and teeth
Gingivitis, which is the early stage of gum disease, if treated professionally (with an implemented solid home care program), gum can return to be healthy again without further consequences. So how do we categorize the stages of gum disease (besides the clinical characteristics)? A bleeding index and dental radiographs help, along with periodontal probing depths, which are universally used as guide to diagnose and monitor the progress of the treatment and condition of gum disease. The periodontal probing depths are obtained with a read-out, by lightly inserting a needle (thin and finely marked instrument) sliding between the space between the gum and tooth.
The stage of gingivitis.
Gingivitis, could have a normal pocket reading of 0 to 3 mm. Gum will be red, puffy, and tender, it will bleed easily and possibly exhibit bad breath and bad taste.
Early (mild) periodontitis will show a pocket reading range from 3 t o 5 mm. At this stage, gum gets more tender, bleeds more easily, and there is always looming bad breath and bad taste. At this stage of gum disease, immediate attention and treatment is required if there is any chance of reversing the condition to an easily-manageable and healthy state.
Mild Periodontitis
Moderate Periodontitis is characterized by a periodontal pocket depth of 5-7mm. Gum tissue may become even redder and puffier, it will bleed easily, and bad breath and bad mouth taste are constant.Often times teeth may begin to look longer as gum tissue recedes, and gum boils or abscesses may develop. Front teeth may begin to drift apart showing space or becoming loose.
Moderate Periodontitis
Advanced Periodotitis gets a pocket measurement of more than 7 millimeters, and may progress to 11 or 12 mm, indicating that bone and connective tissues have been continuously destroyed. This is the terminal stage of gum disease. If a patient has just been diagnosed with advanced periodontitis and the teeth are still firm (pockets are less than 9mm, with longer roots, and more localized condition), then there is possibility that with gum surgery and graft, bone regeneration still is possible. Keep in mind however, that the prognosis is guarded. In most situations, advanced periodontitis will result in tooth loss. Replacement implant therapy or other restorative options will be advised.
Advanced Periodontitis
Remember that prevention is the best treatment, especially for gum disease. You are the person who can best take care of yourself, be disciplined with your home care program (including hygiene) and schedule regular check-ups with both your dentist and dental hygienist who can help you stay away of big problems.
Do you have a hard time swallowing? Do you ever get cotton mouth (when your throat is dry and uncomfortable)? Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is a serious issue that many people suffer from, though most are unaware a problem exists (or do not know how to care for it).
Xerostomia is a condition in which the salivary glands of the mouth do not function as they should, and provide a less-than-adequate supply of saliva into the mouth. This is not only uncomfortable, but it also weakens natural defense system for your teeth. Saliva rinses food particles away from your teeth, neutralizing acids which can harm your teeth, providing enzymes to help digest food (which also keep oral tissues healthy).
In order to actually understand how to prevent dry mouth, it is important to understand what causes it. Often times, dry mouth can be brought on with emotional and physical stress. Aging, radiative therapy, chemotherapy, medication and physical illness (such as AIDS, diabetes, strokes or Alzheimer’s disease) can cause dry mouth. Various pharmaceutical studies have proven that over 400 prescription and OTC medications can cause xerostomia, such as: anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives, tranquilizers, analgesics, diuretics and antihistamines. Speak with your physician if you are experiencing dry mouth while taking any of these medications.
The consequences of dry mouth can effect one’s quality of life tremendously. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing or speaking, frequent ulcers or sores of the mouth, a frequently altered sense of taste, extensive tooth decay or gum diseases and bad breath. Speak with your physician or dental care professional about what you can do to prevent dry mouth. General rules to ease the discomfort of dry mouth include brushing and flossing twice daily and after meals! Drink plenty of water, work on a healthier diet, chew sugarless gum. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, avoid salty or dry foods (like chips, toast and crackers) and use over-the-counter oral moisture replacement products to lessen the displeasing effects of dry mouth. Visit your dental professional regularly for preventative care and to have additional preventive treaments (like sealant or home fluoride treatment) as needed to preserve your oral health.
We all know that brushing and flossing is not the only key to preventing dental disease (tooth decay and gum disease) – you probably also know that a healthy smile and fresh breath can actually reduce risk of a heart attack and stroke. What may surprise you, however, is this: researchers at West Virginia University have discovered that a clean mouth may also help preserve memory!
Thanks to a grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health, West Virginia University has found an obscure link between periodontitis (gum disease) and memory loss. A test sample (of over 270 seniors) was chosen to be part of the university study, during which School of Dentistry researchers checked the oral and cognitive health of patients every day over a period of roughly two years. Initial conclusions showed that 23% of the group who suffered from mild to moderate memory loss also had relatively poor oral hygiene habits.
Dr. Crout of the WVU School of Dentistry explains that although the specific genetic link between periodontitis and memory loss has not yet been defined, the team hopes to have more details soon. “If you have a gum infection, you’ll have an increased level of inflammatory byproducts,” Crout explained. “We’re looking for markers in the blood that show inflammation to see if there is a link to memory problems. We’d like to go full circle and do an intervention — to clean up some of the problems in the mouth and then see if the inflammatory markers go down.”
We’re not quite sure about whether bacteria or the body’s inflammatory response is the contributing factor of observed memory loss; it may be a combination of both, or a result of other environmental and physiological factors. What we do know, however, is that the rate of Alzheimer’s cases is skyrocketing. Imagine the benefits of knowing that keeping the mouth free of infection could cut down cases of dementia – it could be revolutionary!
Keep brushing and flossing to keep the mind sharp – or maybe we need a sharp mind to keep brushing and flossing? As a clinician, when I see a patient who can’t keep their oral hygiene in reasonable condition, I become concerned. The risk of heart attack and stroke are heightened in patients who suffer from poor oral hygiene. Knowing that memory loss is somewhat associated with inflammatory factors in the mouth, we should all improve our oral health in order to keep our mind sharp!
It’s no shocking headline – bad breath is the #1 complaint (and reason of visit) in dental offices across America! 85% of people who suffer from bad breath actually have a medical condition known as halitosis, which is usually caused as a result of bacteria in the mouth. The recent 4th of July holiday is a joyous occasion for BBQers across the country, but it could be a nightmare if you suffer from halitosis! If you think you have chronic bad breath, and nothing seems to be helping, read on for a bit of assistance.
Ancient Japanese scroll painting of a woman with Halitosis, 12th century.
Apart from being severely embarrassing, bad breath can actually impact your personal and professional relationships. No employer wants a smelly employee (especially one that interacts with customers on a regular basis, like salespeople), and no partner or date wants a stinky kisser. Bad breath can even instill psychosis into patients with halitophobia, or a fear of bad breath. We know halitosis can seriously impact lives, and not in a positive way – so what can we do about it?
Certain foods with strong aromas – like onions, garlic, sea foods and refined carbohydrates (pastas, dairy products and cheese) – can cause bad breath, but bad habits like drinking and smoking can as well. Dental conditions like dental caries, periodontal disease and dry mouth can create halitosis. Physical conditions like indigestion, GERD (GastroEsopageal Reflux Disease), Asthma and Diabetes can also lead to haliatosis. Treatment for halitosis on the physical end is getting to the root of the problem: eliminating the food debris and bacterial factors in the oral cavity (managing the physical illness). Regarding diet and habits, my professional recommendation would be (of course) to stop smoking and drinking! Control the intake of foods / herbs that can cause smelly breath. Consume greens like celery and parsley, drink plenty water and (at the very least) brush and floss your teeth after every meal. If you eat a lot of garlic or fish, even after brushing and flossing a bad smell can linger in the mouth for a long period of time. Over-the-counter mouth washes and breath fresheners can only temporarily mask over halitosis – they will often times not rid the mouth of foul odors.
Bad breath is a social embarrassment, and is also a sign of having poor hygiene or health problems. We must all be aware of the condition our body is in. Maintaining the self is infinitely beneficial, and health professionals are always ready to provide advice to assist you in reaching our goal: healthy and happy living.
One day the word “dentures” could become a historical term, once all preventive medicine has been practiced! At the present time, however, someone you are caring for may still need to rely on wearing dentures to get by with their dental health. For this reason, it should be nice to learn some facts about dentures. Usually, wearing dentures is a difficult new experience that is often hard to get used to. Time and practive will allow cheeks and tongue get used to the sensation of holding your dentures in place, if there is adequate dental ridge and muscle tone. A dental adhesive might be needed for the beginner or for someone with insufficient bone ridge or muscle tone.
Upper full denture
When first starting to wear dentures, eating even the most simple foods may seem difficult. The foreign sensation of wearing a plastic appliance over a portion of the mouth shouldn’t feel painful – be grateful that this treatment option is available to restore your oral function and health back the best it can be! After first receiving the dentures, eat simple, non-sticky foods like yogurts, steamed vegetables and eggs. Raw vegetables and nuts should be avoided as these items tend to require rigorous use of teeth. When chewing, place food on both rear sides of your dentures to keep your mouth balanced. This is something that will become easier with time.
As a general rule of thumb, denture wearers tend to have a poorer diet than non-denture wearers, so getting a healthy balanced diet is key. If you find difficulty eating with your dentures, check with dentist as adjustments are routine to keep everything functioning and feeling as it should. Dentures should be a supplementary device intended to add to a person’s quality of life, not detract from it. Speech may also be affected by dentures, and although it may seem difficult or cumbersome in the beginning, after about a month, speech should improve. If not, speak with your dentist about the situation.
Remember, keeping your dentures clean is just as important as keeping your mouth clean. Dentures should be cleaned after each meal, during which the mouth should be cleaned with rinse or lightly scrubbed with a soft bristle toothbrush, to prevent food from sitting beneath the dentures and irritating the gum (which can lead to a fungus infection). Remember, do not sleep with dentures in – the gums need a chance to rest!
It is possible to have a fruitful, fulfilling life with dentures , if the dentures after multiple adjustments or even new sets still have problem to stay in or hurts, there are other options , maybe selections or set up of different denture teeth,ridge augmentation or dental impalnts, Be sure to find out what will be the best restorative options to regain abilit to eat healthy and feeling healthy. every 6 months with your dental professional to prevent any unexpected problems.
Being able to smile is a beautiful thing – we all deserve a beautiful one! Some of us might need some work to obtain a dazzling smile, and cosmetic dentistry has been very popular and reaching that dazzle. Just don’t let your dream turn into a nightmare while pursuing your smile make over!
If you are planning on having any elective cosmetic work done, make sure your physician is familiar with different cosmetic options and has a good training background. The most common cosmetic dentistry problems can be prevented if you do your homework, including unsatisfactory cosmetic outcomes or clinical and technical shortcomings! These problems can lead to a not so happy nor healthy smile, altered speech, gum irritation, increased tooth sensitivity , chipping, loose teeth and even breakage of porcelain (from insufficient bonds between natural teeth and porcelain veneers from an overly trimmed tooth structure or bite issue). These errors end up needing additional work (like crowns, root canals or gum surgery) and can be painful and infuriating.
It is important when considering any kind of cosmetic work – dentistry or otherwise – that you evaluate your own needs, and knowing your own health as a foundation for your own future. The consequences of only looking at cosmetic dental procedures without the health side can put your long term oral health at risk. If you have a fairly healthy mouth with well-aligned teeth, it may be easier to get satisfactory cosmetic results with the average cosmetic dentist . If you have seriously mis-aligned teeth, gum disease or lots of dental work / TMJ problems (or are prone to cavities), you have a much more sensitive oral cavity and must be very careful with who you choose to be your cosmetic dentist. Also, you may require multiple steps in order to attain a healthy, long lasting result.
It is also important to have a well thought-out plan before the procedures starts as good communication with your cosmetic dentist and technician is key. Not only is it necessary to be able to convey your desires clearly, but it is also best to go through the proper diagnostic steps to analyze the problem, plan the treatment scientifically with a mock-up or wax-up procedure and set up the detailed 3-D blueprint of your smile makeover before proceeding with dental reconstruction work. Make sure your dentist and ceramist are well experienced by asking other patients what kind of work you can expect and by checking into his or her credentials, education and training background (www.aacd.com is a good reference site). Look at pictures of past cases the dentist has worked on, and get a feel of what kind of sincerity and caring attitude the dental team will be able to provide you, in order to help make your important decision. Make sure you ask questions about what will make the procedure a long term success before proceeding the work.
It is a wonderful thing to have a great smile, but maintaining it will be just important. Proper home care and regular professional check-ups are musts – proper diet and healthy habits will keep your smile beautiful for a long time! Finally, wear a night guard if you are prone to bruxism as they can help maintain the structure of your oral system.
Do you enjoy scuba diving? Deep sea exploration is certainly a fun and exciting sport, especially in an exotic location! Before any big diving trip, most enthusiasts gear up on wetsuits, goggles, oxygen tanks and other equipment, but have you ever thought that mouth piece you’re wearing to get your oxygen can cause you dental problems?
This person was properly fitted for her mouthpiece!
Scuba diving is a sport enjoyed by over 4 million people a year, and if you dive, get yourself a proper fitting mouth piece to prevent jaw, teeth and gum problem! If you have a mouthpiece that is not fitting right for you plus the pressure changes from diving, you could suffer from what’s known as “diver’s mouth syndrome,” a painful condition caused by a ill-fitting mouthpiece that irritate your mouth, or you have been clenching your jaw very hard combined with the drop in air pressure as you explore beneath the ocean’s surface.
The mouthpiece that regulates oxygen flow from your oxygen tank to your lungs not only delivers fresh air, but it protects your teeth while diving. The tendency to clench your teeth while diving is very common, and because most standard scuba-diving mouthpieces will not really fit your mouth perfectly, the mouthpiece tends to put unnecessary pressure on the gum and jawbone. So biting hard into the mouthpiece, your gum could be full of lacerations and you could suffer from jaw joint pain or toothache as well after your trip is finished. If the pain lasts for over several days, you could even have a TMJ problem, which will take time to recover.
The best prevention is to make sure you are in good dental health before the trip, and to visit your dental professional who can evaluate how well your mouthpiece fits. Also, if you have recently undergone orthodontic treatment or have an extracted tooth (or temporary fillings), you must be extra careful and see your dentist before diving! Enjoy the under water world and be safe!
There is no way around it: smoking and drinking have a detrimental effect on your dental health, in addition to the rest of your body’s health. There could be arguments about the benefits of a glass of red wine or the medical use of marijuana, but as your health provider, my message is to encourage a clean , healthy drug-free way of living! When you smoke tobacco or drink alcohol, the harmful substances introduced to your body have adverse effects on your organs, and are both addictive and linked to cancers. As far as to your dental health, they can lead to tooth staining and discoloration, tooth decay, gum inflammation and disease, bone loss even tooth loss, as well as an increased risk of developing oral cancer.
Smoking and drinking directly passes foreign material through the oral cavity, generating adverse effects on your oral cavity. Alcohol is a desiccant (drying things up); heavy drinking dramatically decreases moisture needed to maintain a healthy oral cavity. A dry mouth increases one’s likelihood of developing tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, fungal infection, burning sensations or soreness of the mouth. Alcohol’s acidic nature can also erode the enamel coating on a drinker’s teeth, leading to an increased chance of sensitivity and decay. Long-term contact with alcohol in the oral cavity has also been found to be possibly carcinogenic. Frequent drinking will dramatically increase the ability of cancer-causing substances present in alcoholic beverages to penetrate the lining of your mouth, such as Acetaldehyde – which forms in a person’s mouth after using alcoholic mouthwash (suspected to be carcinogenic).
Smoking is equally detrimental to your oral health. Bad breath (halitosis), sinusitis and tooth discoloration will be the first signs of oral stress of a smoker, as nicotine and tar present in cigarette smoke stains the teeth. Smoking can also result in gum disease, leading to bone loss and tooth loss from decreases in blood flow and oxygen level, and increased plaque and tartar build-up. Smoking also raises the temperature of your mouth to 140-160º F, causing constant irritation and inflammation. An increased risk of developing oral cancer is also a consequence which should not to be over looked – there are 4000 different chemicals in tobacco smoke and 50 are known carcinogens. Nearly 90% of all oral cancer patients are smokers!
In all, smoking and drinking equally wreak havoc on your teeth, gums and oral environment. Avoid smoking and drinking at all costs, and keep your oral hygiene in tip-top condition by brushing , flossing , fluoridation, proper nutrition, and increasing the intake of supplements of vitamin Bs and C. Antioxidants are essential as well.
Laser Gum treatment is an exciting treatment modality for treating and managing gum disease. Laser dentistry has been around for two decades, it is very useful in many applications on soft or hard tissues: the focused energy allows for precision treatment while minimizing pain and recovery time. Although only 6 to 7% of dental practices utilize laser technology so far, you may benefit greatly from laser dentistry.
Periodontal disease in particular is a fantastic candidate for laser treatment. The nature of periodontitis (gum disease) involves bacterial growth which affects the supporting structures of the teeth, destroying attachment tissues which create deep periodontal pockets that are not easily cleanable (causing the gum disease to progress). Gum tissue responds very well to laser energy, which removes diseased linings in the periodontal pocket and also kills the bacteria. The laser-tissue interaction is thermal, controlled energy from the selected tip of the laser fiber will evaporate the inflamed unhealthy lining tissue ; its rising temperature will also kill any pathogen present in the tissue. The clean and less traumatic site becomes more efficient and comfortable for your healing. Other benefits of laser treatment include biostimulation (photo-biomodulation) on the cellular level , which energizes damaged cells through light receptors , allowing tissue to heal promptly!
The laser gum treatment is usually administered in conjunction with traditional scaling and root planning (SRP) services, performed with ultrasonic or hand instruments that remove toxic calculus from the root surface. Unlike more traditional methods which use a scaler to scrape away diseased tissue, the laser approach treats the diseased tissues with electromagnetic energy to ablate diseased tissues non-evasively, followed by irrigation with antiseptic solution (chlorhexidine) to flush away and clean the periodontal pockets. For more severe cases, localized placement of certain antibiotic agents (like Arestin minocycline hydrochloride) inside the treated periodontal pocket can assure a complication-free healing process without systemic effects. Low level laser therapy can also be applied to decrease post-operative discomfort and promote healing through photo-biomodulation.
Laser gum treatment has provided tremendous patient benefits as I have witnessed since it has been incorporated into my practice since 1997, but this treatment modality has raised some eyebrows in the periodontal community. It is difficult to establish a parameter with energy and expect to have consistent result on different subjects; there are too many variables from the color, texture, composition and condition of the tissues, whether the origin of the cause has been managed and how the different laser energy is handled by various operators. There are studies which have proven different results, and over-promising commercials also exist which have discouraged development of laser gum treatment.
When properly conducted, laser gum treatment provides a cleaner and more comfortable site for healing. The predictability of tissue regeneration, however, is too complicated for a blog discussion! I do recommend you go to a reliable, non-biased source like The Academy of Laser Dentistry to learn more about the benefits of laser treatment or referrals of certified laser dentists.
These two analogies went through my mind while I was writing my last blog on gum disease, feeling the overwhelming impact of our falling economy!
It might seem like common sense that stress can take a toll on our health, but often we don’t think about what specific implications stress can have. Only weeks ago, Mahesh Verma, principal of the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences said “Growing economic stress among people has a deep damaging impact on teeth and heart. Recent studies have found that financial stress is one of the major cause of increasing dental problems.”
The damage begins when chemical triggers block your immune function, inhibiting your body’s natural defense mechanisms and deplete your teeth supporting bones of calcium and other necessities in order to maintain blood mineral levels. These triggers, brought on by stress (such as an economic recession), can worsen over time and indeed cause gum disease, in addition to a host of other medical maladies! The stress can also lead to poor diet and lifestyle habits (smoking, drinking), further damaging your health.
let’s hope today’s economical crunch has less impact on tomorrow’s public health!
Take home message: besides stress management, take charge of your own dental health, spend the full (read: required!) two minutes on oral hygiene brushing and flossing your teeth. Eat healthy, think positive and get ready for a better tomorrow.
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sets in (the beginning stages of gum disease), gums will take on a red and puffy look, and bleed easily upon brushing and flossing. Once gum disease progresses, the chances of returning to a healthy condition deceases drastically – once gum tissue has reached the advanced level, it is likely past of the point of no return and will result in tooth loss. Periodontal disease is the #1 reason of tooth loss.
