Dental Checkups This Fall

Fall is around the corner, and if you haven’t scheduled dental checkups with the family, it’s time to make those appointments.

School and extracurricular activities can get in the way of dental appointments, and before you know it, the holidays will be here.

Neglecting dental checkups can cause all sorts of problems even if you and your family are meticulous about oral hygiene. Below are just a few of the issues that can occur if you skip those regular dental checkups.

Tooth Decay

You and your family may be proud of your twice-daily brushing habits, but unless you throw dental appointments into the mix, you could be asking for cavities. Your dentist explains that professional cleanings should be conducted during your regular dental checkups to remove the sticky plaque and tartar. Bacteria, plaque, and acid can erode the enamel on your teeth making you more susceptible to tooth decay and cavities.

Gum Disease

Neglecting much needed dental appointments can cause gum disease. You and your family may floss every day, but you still need checkups for professional dental cleanings. Gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, is reversible, but only if you catch it in time. Unfortunately, some patients are not even aware that they have gum disease until it progresses to the more serious periodontal disease. Periodontal disease occurs when pockets form between your teeth and gums. Those pockets are full of plaque and tartar that will eat away your gums. If you have swollen, red, or bleeding gums, see your dentist as quickly as possible.

Other Health Issues

Poor oral hygiene has been linked to several other health problems including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and congenital heart failure and although studies are still being conducted it appears that bacteria enters the blood stream through the gums. People who have hardening of the arteries have a higher percentage of periodontal disease as do people who suffer from diabetes.

If you and your family have been neglecting your dental appointments, schedule one today. Your health really does depend on it. 

Can Gum Disease affect Cognitive Function?

Bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease. Gingivitis, and the more severe periodontal disease should be taken care of immediately, otherwise you may eventually lose your teeth. However, what is even more shocking is that gum disease and tooth loss could also cause a decline in thinking skills, especially among people over the age of 50.  

Researchers are investigating whether people who have poor dental health also suffer from poor cognitive functions, which technically mean people who have gum disease also have problems with managing numbers, words, and memory.

Recent research indicates that that every person, whether male or female, who had a tooth removed or had lost a tooth, saw a loss in cognitive function. In fact, people who had lost all of their teeth had quite poor cognition compared with those who had more. The study also found poor cognitive behaviors in people who suffered from severe gum disease, or periodontitis.

Conducted in 1996 and lasting until 1998, the study consisted of data that was gathered from people who took part in memory and thinking skills tests. The 6,000 participants were both men and women between the ages of 45 and 64. Thirteen percent of those who took part in the study had lost their natural teeth with about a fifth of the participants having less than 20 teeth remaining. About 12 percent of the participants had deep gum pockets and serious bleeding gum issues.

What the researchers discovered was that the scores on thinking and memory tests, including number skills, word fluency and word recall, was lower in people who didn’t have teeth. People who had better oral health and more teeth had better test scores than those with severe gum disease as well.

Some researchers believe that poor dental health may reflect poor eating habits. People with tooth and gum problems may not be able to eat certain, “Brain foods,” which could contribute to poor cognitive functions. Researchers agree that it could be a contributing factor, but so could inflammation from gum disease. Inflammation, regardless of where it is located in the system can affect cognition.

So what’s the bottom line? Good oral health habits just may help you think better and remember where you put your keys.

If you would like more information regarding oral hygiene, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. 

Oral Health Problems in Women

Women are more apt to have oral health problems than men thanks to the hormonal changes that occur during puberty, menstruation, birth control use, menopause, and post menopause.

Hormones not only affect the blood supply in your gum tissue, but according to the American Dental Association can also be responsible for an increase in toxins and plaque buildup. Because of hormonal changes throughout a woman’s life gingivitis and periodontal disease is more likely to develop.

When puberty begins, the production progesterone and estrogen will increase the supply of blood to the gums. This changes the way your gum tissue will react to bacteria and plaque. During puberty, gums will most likely bleed while brushing and flossing and become tender, red, and swollen.

During menstruation, your progesterone will increase causing oral changes in some women that can include swollen salivary glands, bright red and swollen gums, bleeding gums, and canker sores. Some women can also develop menstruation gingivitis a day or so before the beginning of a period. This will usually clear up shortly after menstruation has begun.

If you take birth control pills with progesterone, the hormone levels in your body will increase causing enflamed gum tissue. This occurs because of your body’s reaction to the toxins and bacteria that is produced from plaque. Make sure that you tell your dentist if you are taking oral contraceptives.

During puberty, you will have an increased level of progesterone and estrogen. The development of sex hormones can cause an increase of blood circulation to your gums. This may result in gum sensitivity increasing your chances of gum irritation from plaque and food particles. During puberty, your gums may feel tender, turn red or become swollen.

If you become pregnant, your hormone levels will alter considerably. Again, an increased level of progesterone, along with other hormonal changes can make you more susceptible to gingivitis and periodontal disease. Known as pregnancy gingivitis, it can occur from the second to the eighth month of pregnancy. If you are expected, it is recommended that you schedule additional professional cleanings with your dentist during the second or early third trimester of your pregnancy in order to help reduce your chances of gum disease.

If you are going through menopause or post menopause, you may experience mouth discomfort. These mouth changes may also include pain and burning in your gum tissue and dry mouth. Menopause and post menopause can also alter the taste in your mouth making things taste especially sour, peppery, or salty.

For more information regarding women’s oral health, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. 

Gum Disease Can Be Reversed with Good Oral Hygiene

If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

According to Web MD, gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss and affects billions of people all over the United States and around the world.

Gingivitis is the least severe form of gum disease. Gingivitis will cause your gums to bleed, swell, and become red. During this stage, you will have little if any discomfort. Gingivitis is usually caused by poor oral hygiene and is reversible with a deep cleaning, such as Root Planing and Scaling along with good oral hygiene.

Some contributing factors when it comes to gingivitis include smoking, diabetes, genetic predisposition, aging, systemic diseases, poor nutrition and stress. Hormonal fluctuations, certain medications, puberty, HIV infection, substance abuse, and pregnancy can also contribute to Gingivitis.

If left untreated, Gingivitis can advance to the more serious periodontal disease. Also known as periodontitis, it is caused by plaque spreading below your gum line. The toxins that are produced by bacteria will irritate your gums causing the bone and tissues that support your teeth to break down. When the gums become separated from your teeth, pockets will begin to form allowing for infection. According to your dentist, once the disease begins to progress those spaces, or pockets, will get deeper eventually destroying bone and gum tissue.

Your dentist explains that there are several types of periodontal disease with the most common being Aggressive Periodontal Disease, Chronic Periodontitis, Periodontitis manifested by systemic disease and Necrotizing Periodontitis caused by an infection of the periodontal ligament, the alveolar bone and gingival tissues.

Aggressive Periodontal Disease occurs when you are clinically healthy, but have not been practicing good oral hygiene habits including a healthy diet and regular checkups with your dentist.

Chronic Periodontitis is characterized by gap recession of the gingival tissue. Although it can happen at any age, Chronic Periodontitis is most prevalent in adults.

Periodontitis manifested by systemic disease usually starts at an early age. Systemic conditions such as diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart disease have all been associated with Periodontitis manifested by systemic disease.

Lesions that appear because of Necrotizing Periodontitis are usually observed in people who suffer from malnutrition, have an HIV infection or an immunosuppressant.

If you have Gingivitis or Periodontal Disease symptoms, schedule an appointment with your dentist as quickly as possible. Remember, it’s never too late. Gum disease can be reversed as long as you seek professional help.