Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

When it's time for New Year’s resolutions, many people resolve to be healthy. Well what about committing to your dental health? Dental health is directly related to your physical health and well being. Oral Health (teeth, gums and mouth) has a Direct Relationship to Your Overall Health

Taking care of your teeth and gums, allows your body to keep the naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth under control. However, oral infections like tooth decay and gum disease can be caused by harmful bacteria in your mouth when your dental health is neglected. This bacteria can enter your bloodstream.

Gum Disease or Periodontal Disease does not just affect your teeth. A correlation has been shown between oral diseases and conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and pre-term labor. There is no cure for periodontal disease, but Dream Smile Dental can help you maintain your current condition and provide therapy to help it from getting worse.

Resolve to maintain your dental health, contact Dream Smile Dental to jump start your health in the New Year.

Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, is a form of periodontal disease. Three out of four Americans have periodontal disease which is the biggest reason why adults lose their permanent teeth.

Periodontal disease is inflammation and infection that destroys the gums, the periodontal ligaments, and the tooth sockets that support the teeth. It is caused by the effects of long term plaque build-up. When plaque is not removed, it is turned into tartar. Plaque and tartar irritate and inflame the gums.

The longer periodontal disease goes undetected, the greater the risk of tooth loss. Often there are symptoms of bleeding gums, or gum tenderness, but sometimes there are no symptoms at all. Being diagnosed with Periodontal Disease can lead to a loss of bone or attachment surrounding your teeth which could ultimately lead to tooth loss.

Periodontal Disease does not just affect your teeth. There are correlations between periodontal disease and heart disease, diabetes, and even pre-term labor.
 
While there is no cure, Dream Smile Dental can help you maintain your current condition with individualized therapies to prevent it from getting worse. Contact us for more information on Periodontal Disease.

Gum health is the foundation of good oral health. For healthy teeth and gums it is important to brush regularly every day.
 
But believe it or not, some toothbrushes do a better job of cleaning and taking care of teeth and gums better than others.

Most dentists recommend Sonicare electric toothbrushes for kids and adults. Try the Sonicare FlexCare toothbrush to experience healthier gums.

Take care of your gums for life

Gum health means good oral health, yet most adults suffer from gum disease at some point in their lives. When left unattended, it can even lead to tooth loss in adults!

Sonicare FlexCare can improve your gum health in just two weeks.
FlexCare cleans along the gum line, removing plaque while stimulating gums. And less gum pain and bleeding will allow you to enjoy the brushing experience more while developing better brushing habits.

Gentle cleaning to reduce inflammation

FlexCare+ Gum Care mode provides two minutes of complete whole mouth cleaning, with one additional minute of gentle cleaning for problem areas and along the gum line. Brushing in this mode, along with proper dental professional care, improves gum health by reducing gum inflammation, recession and bleeding, in just two weeks. And Massage mode uses patented technology to drive fluids to stimulate gums, resulting in healthier gums.

Oral Health is a general topic that concerns taking care of your teeth, mouth and gums. As kids we learned that we should brush our teeth and floss regularly, but did you know that oral health has a correlation to your overall health?

You mouth is full of bacteria. Usually, taking care of your teeth and gums, and your body’s natural defense systems can keep these bacteria under control. Occasionally however, harmful bacteria can sometimes grow and cause oral infections, like tooth decay and gum disease. Also, medications or situations that reduce your saliva disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth which can make it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream.

Here at Dream Smile, we recommend the Sonicare Flexcare toothbrush. Its clinical studies show it to be far superior to manual toothbrushes.  Its motion creates a "high velocity dynamic fluid cleaning action" that is able to dislodge plaque under the gum line when used properly.

Also, antimicrobial mouth rinses and toothpastes reduce the bacterial count and stop bacterial activity in dental plaque, which can cause gingivitis. Gingivitis is an early, reversible form of gum disease.

Gum Disease or Periodontal Disease does not just affect your teeth. Research has shown the disease to be correlated with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and even pre-term labor.  There is no cure for periodontal disease, however at Dream Smile we can help you maintain your current condition and provide therapy to help it from getting worse.

Additionally, your gums are at risk if you have diabetes because this disease reduces the body's resistance to infection. People who have problems controlling blood sugar may develop more-frequent and severe gum infections, and they may lose more teeth than do people who have good blood sugar control.

Approximately 3 out of 4 Americans have periodontal disease. This is the biggest cause of adult tooth loss. Regular brushing and flossing is important to maintain oral health along with your bodies overall health. Using the right tools and being conscientious about tooth and mouth care is the first step in maintaining the bacteria levels in your mouth.

If you suffer from or suspect you may have periodontal disease or gingivitis, contact Dream Smile Dental.

Halitosis is the technical name for bad breath. Halitosis is the third-most-frequent reason for going to the dentist, behind tooth decay and periodontal disease. The intensity of bad breath changes during the day, because of eating certain foods, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Bad breath may be transient or persistent. Transient bad breath disappears after eating, brushing, flossing, or rinsing with mouthwash.

Persistent or chronic bad breath is a more serious condition, affecting 25% of the population in varying degrees. At Dream Smile Dental, we have some tips for you to rid yourself of bad breath.

Tongue scraping- Bacteria collects on the tissue of your tongue and causes a bad odor. To avoid this, brush your tongue while brushing your teeth with your tooth brush or a tongue scraper.

Regular flossing- Bacteria can colonize in the gums between the teeth and if not removed at least once per day, an unpleasant odor can result. The solution: Floss at least once per day!

Regular hygiene visits- The hygienist uses special instruments to remove plaque and calculus leaving your teeth biologically sound. A toothbrush and floss alone, no matter how frequently used, cannot reach areas that the dental hygienist can. It’s important to attend regular hygiene visits to stop periodontal disease from developing.
 
Regular Dental Exams- Tooth decay is also a form of disease. Bacteria cause the tooth to erode which releases a foul odor. To detect any untreated decay it’s important to come in for a dental exam at least twice per year.

Regular use of alcohol-free mouthwash- Mouthwash helps lower the level of bacteria that causes bad breath. We recommend using alcohol-free mouthwash to prevent from dry-mouth.

Chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol- Chewing gum helps loosen soft depositing that may accumulate on your teeth after eating and in between brushing.

The right toothbrush- An electric toothbrush is far superior in removing the bacterial layer than a manual toothbrush. Use an electric toothbrush and make sure to replace the head every 3 months.
 

Of course, not every case of bleeding gums is directly related to gum disease. In less common circumstances, certain medications, or hormonal changes can cause the gums to become more sensitive to stimulation and may bleed.  However a common reason that gums bleed is due to  gum disease.  Also known as gingivitis or periodontal disease, gum disease is an infection of the gums, teeth and in advanced cases, the bones and ligaments that support the jaw. This infection is estimated to affect nearly 80% of Americans at some point during their lifetime.

With better brushing techniques and more regular flossing, along with regular cleanings and evaluation by a dental professional, the majority of cases of gum disease can be minimized and managed easily. The cause of gum disease is simple; bacteria. Full of warmth, moisture and an environment full of food to thrive upon, bacteria inside the mouth can reproduce rapidly. Food particles and residue that are left inside our mouths after meals provides optimum opportunity for bacteria to grow out of control. As they grow they release toxins that irritate and inflame the gum line. A bacteria's preferred food source is in the form of plaque.

Plaque residue forms a sticky and sometimes hard substance on the teeth and around the gum line. Bacteria feed on the plaque and work deep into gum tissues causing irritation, swelling and bleeding gums. This irritation may be painless but where there is bleeding there is most likely an infection that will need to be treated.

It is very important to see a dentist regularly and get your routine check-ups. Be sure to contact us today to set up your next appointment to avoid any major cases of oral problems.