News with category OralHealth

Periodontitis – Gum Disease

Periodontitis (gum disease) has been linked with an increase in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (thickening of the blood vessels). This can cause heart attacks and strokes. Periodontal disease is also linked with diabetes, low birth weight and rheumatoid arthiritis. Bleeding gums is often the first sign of gum disease. Call North Road Dental Clinic if you have bleeding gums to be assessed. It is important to establish a good regime at home to prevent oral disease and maintain oral health. Firstly, avoid simple sugars as much as you can. If you are going to have sugary food or drinks (we’re all human!) then try and keep it to a mealtime (when saliva flow is increased to wash away the sugars) or follow the sugar with either water or milk. The people who have the most dental decay may not eat the most sugar, but they do have it more frequently!

About Flouride & Cleaning

Get some fluoride on your teeth! This helps to repair your teeth and keep them more resistant to dental decay. The most common way to do this is to use toothpaste (remember NOT to rinse your mouth with water after for the best result, the longer the contact time, the better it will work). You can supplement this by using a fluoride containing mouthwash – make sure it does contain fluoride as some don’t and stick to alcohol free. Clean your teeth – ideally at least twice a day for 2+ minutes with a brush. Electric ones are proven to be more efficient. You also need to clean the parts the brush can’t reach between teeth, with either dental floss or an interdental brush (Pikster, Tepe brands are common). If you don’t do this regularly you may notice your gums bleed. Don’t let this put you off, persevere and they will stop bleeding when cleaned, usually in a couple of weeks once they are healthy. If the bleeding persists that may be a sign you have more severe gum issues so it is best to make an appointment. Make an appointment at North Road Dental Clinic so we can check your oral health which is so important to your overall health.

Wisdom teeth are the third molars in the far back of the mouth.  There are four of them; two on each side, one on the top and one on the bottom. Some people don’t develop wisdom teeth.  Others develop them, but they stay impacted in the bone, never to be seen.  In more cases than not, people will have to get their wisdom teeth extracted for various reasons. If you experience any of the following, it may be a sign that you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed.  North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie will gladly give you a recommendation on how to deal with yours. Pain/Swelling/Fever: As your wisdom teeth start to protrude through the bone, you may experience pain.  Swelling and a fever is also common.  If this isn’t something that goes away quickly, we may recommend a consultation to get your wisdom teeth extracted. Bad Taste and/or Smell in Mouth: Wisdom teeth erupting through the tissues can cause gum infections, creating a bad taste and/or smell in your mouth.  Another cause of this could be because the wisdom teeth are so far back in your mouth that they are very difficult to clean.  Removal is usually the best course of action here and will help you maintain a better dental hygiene regimen. Braces: If your teeth are crooked, crowded, or your bite is positioned incorrectly you may have to undergo orthodontic treatment with braces.  Many orthodontists recommend that you have your wisdom teeth extracted before properly aligning your teeth.  If not, they can cause more problems in the future.  If you think you need braces you may have to get your wisdom teeth removed first. Coming in Sideways: If you start experiencing a lot of pressure around your mouth, it could be caused by your wisdom teeth.  Sometimes wisdom teeth are embedded sideways in the bone, but they still try coming through the surface.  Feeling pressure is a sign that this is occurring.  A radiograph and consultation with North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie will confirm if they are sideways and they will recommend how to proceed. Crowding/Teeth Are Shifting: Some people have more teeth than they have room for in their mouth.  Lack of space can cause your straight teeth to shift and become crowded.  If your wisdom teeth start to come through the gum and you think they might be affecting your other teeth you should consider getting them extracted to prevent further shifting. Schedule a consultation today to find out if you or your teen need their wisdom teeth removed.

Did you know that if you’re not brushing and flossing thoroughly, you could be impacting your overall level of health? Although there are dozens of known medical conditions now linked with gum disease, here are some of the few that most commonly impact our Carnegie patients: Diabetes A diabetic is extremely susceptible to uncontrolled glucose levels if they are also suffering from gum disease. The severity of one often goes hand-in-hand with the other. Unfortunately, it’s extremely challenging (if not impossible) to regulate blood sugar if there’s an active oral infection co-existing. The easiest way to get both under control is to treat the periodontal infection and practice good oral hygiene, to see a reduced strain to the body overall. Preterm Labour Plaque biofilm can spread from the mother, through the placenta, to the baby. When a pregnant woman has active gum disease, she’s significantly more likely to experience:

• Premature labour
• Preeclampsia
• A baby with a low birth weight

Like smoking, periodontitis is a significant risk factor for pregnant women and their babies. Treating gum disease before or during pregnancy can reduce the risks to your child. Cardiovascular Disease Inflammation of the gums in gingivitis and periodontal disease causes an increase in the total inflammatory burden in your body. This has been linked to atherosclerosis, or thickening of the blood vessels which is directly responsible for an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes. Removing plaque and calculus will reduce the amount of inflammation, and hence the risk of heart attack and stroke. Gum Disease Therapy in Carnegie North Road Dental Clinic offers non-surgical and therapeutic periodontal care to help you eliminate active gum infections and boost your immune system’s response to other health problems. If you’re experiencing symptoms such as swollen or bleeding gums, or notice gum recession and tooth mobility, it’s time to give our Carnegie dentist a call.

You might be thinking, “I’m too old to get braces,” or “I’ll look silly if I see an orthodontist at my age.” But did you know that there are dozens of reasons why getting orthodontic treatment as an adult is one of the best things you can do for yourself? Here are just a few to consider: Help Your Teeth Function More Efficiently Are you starting to see your teeth wear down? Sharp, uneven edges or broken dental restorations may be due to uneven biting pressure in key areas of your mouth. Our Carnegie dentists can check your occlusion (bite) to see where these pressure points are, and discuss whether or not braces can help. Lower Your Chances of Tooth Decay Crowded and crooked teeth are more likely to develop cavities than their straight counterparts are. Even if you brush routinely, these areas can be skipped over with your toothbrush bristles and tend to harbor more bacteria, which leads us to the next point… Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease Like tooth decay, misaligned teeth are usually the first ones to succumb to gum disease (periodontitis.) Some dentists and periodontists consider orthodontic therapy to be a valuable tool in periodontal treatment plans. At North Road Dental Clinic, we offer orthodontic consultations for adults and children alike. If you’re thinking about getting braces and live in the Carnegie area, we invite you to schedule a visit today!

Gum disease is a generalized term that encompasses everything from mild gingivitis to complex periodontitis. Sadly, it’s also the main cause of tooth loss in adults. But fortunately enough, if you identify the condition early it can be reversed. Waiting too long to treat it could wreak havoc on your smile for years to come. Do you have gum disease? Watch for these common symptoms: Bleeding gums It’s not normal for gums to bleed. When your toothbrush or floss turns pink, it may mean you need to clean your teeth more regularly. Let your dentist know if symptoms don’t improve within 14 days. Swelling along the gum lines Inflammation is always a sign that your body is fighting off an infection. If you had another area on your body that was swollen, you would likely keep it clean and treat it until the swelling went away. Your mouth deserves the same! Bad breath Halitosis can be caused by more than just an onion on your sandwich or forgetting to brush off your tongue. Periodontal bacteria are often very odorous and difficult to remove if gum disease is moderate to severe. Visible tartar build-up Heavy tartar (calculus) deposits tend to accumulate in areas like behind the lower front teeth and on the outside of the upper back teeth. This calcified buildup is hardened plaque and harbors bacteria; it cannot be removed without special instruments. As long as it’s in place, the gums in that area will continue to be infected. “Long” Teeth Gum recession is one of the more prominent symptoms of advanced gum disease. As the gingiva become infected, they pull away from the tooth and cause “pockets” under the gums, or exposed root surfaces. The teeth may begin to feel loose at this point as well. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms of periodontitis, contact North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie to schedule a check-up right away.

Sensitive teeth may sound very insignificant but it’s one of the most serious dental issues after dental decay seen by dentists worldwide. A recent survey done in Australia revealed that at least 45% of families have at least one member that’s affected with tooth sensitivity So what is sensitivity of teeth? Sensitivity can be described as a sharp and short sensation of pain experienced while consuming anything hot, cold or acidic in nature. Some people may also experience sensitivity even while having something sweet. How does sensitivity occur? Sensitivity is primarily caused with the exposure of dentine. Our teeth has an outer hard coating called enamel. Lying beneath enamel is dentine which provides the bulk of the tooth. Dentine houses extremely thin tubules, in which rest the nerve endings of the tooth. When the tooth loses its first layer of enamel, dentine is exposed. Hence, the food and drinks we consume gain an easy access to the nerve endings of the tooth, stimulating them and eliciting the response in the form of sensitivity. What are the four most common reasons of sensitivity? Let’s explore the four most common reasons of tooth sensitivity-

1. Vigorous brushing of teeth- some people believe that, the harder you brush your teeth the whiter it becomes. Brushing your teeth is used to remove food particles and eliminate the building of plaque and bacteria in your mouth. Rough and vigorous brushing will damage your enamel, exposing the dentine which then causes tooth sensitivity.
2. Heavy consumption of acidic beverages or foods- Frequent consumption of carbonated drinks, citrus, pickles or anything acidic can erode the enamel thereby, exposing the underlying dentine. It is recommended to abstain from eating or drinking anything that’s acidic in nature or at least reduce the frequency and quantity of consumption.
3. Clenching or grinding of teeth- Those who have the habit of clenching or grinding their teeth unintentionally in sleep or otherwise, may have tooth sensitivity. Night guards can help the problem of clenching and grinding to some extent. It’s advisable to always speak to your dentist first before using a night guard.
4. Gum problems like gum recession- Receding gum line is secondary to inflammation of gums. Gum recession expose the root surfaces of a tooth where the enamel layer is absent. This results in tooth sensitivity.

Dental hypersensitivity requires specialized help and may not work through home remedies. If you have sensitivity and are looking for relief, book an appointment to see our friendly dentists at North Road Dental Clinic today.

The Link between Heartburn and Oral Health Heartburn, also known as acid indigestion is a burning sensation in the chest. It is triggered by the regurgitation of gastric acid from the stomach into the oesaphagus and is something that is common.At times, you might suffer after overeating. However, in most instances it is an indication of a bigger problem, for instance gastroesophageal reflux disease also known as GORD. While heartburn may easily be dismissed as a minor problem, it is one of the few serious complications that can have a negative effect on oral health. There is actually a relationship between heartburn and oral health. This is something that many people may not be aware of. So How Can Heartburn Damage Your Teeth? People don’t usually get surprised to learn that the frequent existence of gastric acid in their oesaphagus may cause harm to those tissues where they feel pain. However, many may be surprised to realize that stray gastric acid is capable of even travelling up to the mouth, significantly increasing the pH of the saliva. Dental enamel is not created to be resistant to highly acidic stomach fluids. As such, the moment saliva becomes too acidic, tooth enamel can start to dissolve, and this can lead to dental erosion. In the early stages, dental erosion can be detected by increased sensitivity to tempreture or sugary foods. It becomes noticeable in the form of staining, dents and cracks on the tooth surface. The worst thing is that there are some people who tend to experience acid indigestion even without the tell-tale feeling of heartburn, which is at times referred to as “silent reflux.” In this case, the oesaphagus and teeth might be possibly suffering the impact of the increased pH without a person’s knowledge. In such cases, the dentist is usually the first person to guess that a person is suffering from GORD. What Should Be Done About It The enamel is the teeth’s protective coating and although it is strong, once it is damaged it cannot grow back. The moment gastric acid exposes the tooth by removing this protective covering, the teeth become more susceptible to decay. This may call for reconstructive dentistry so as to protect teeth from additional damage as well as future cavities. It is easy to disregard oral health from the overall health of your body. But did you know that your oral health has as much impact on your health just as any other part of your body? This is the reason why it is recommended to see a dentist who really considers oral health to be part of overall health. If you are experiencing GORD symptoms, it is important that you speak to our dentists at North Road Dental Clinic about it for effective treatment. This will prevent additional damage to your tooth enamel and save you from the costly and inconvenient ordeal of dental rehabilitation or restoration. Do not hesitate to call or contact us online today to schedule an appointment.