News with tag periodontitis

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.

Did you know that most types of tooth loss can be avoided? Of course, there will always be exceptions here and there, but when it comes to the most common situations we see in our Carnegie dentist office, there are steps you can take to prevent tooth loss from happening before it’s too late.
Here are a few tips:

Wear a Protective Mouthguard During Athletic Activities

Dental injuries occur every day, especially to athletes (no matter their age.) Wearing a custom fitted mouthguard offers the best protection against knocked out teeth and concussions.

Floss Every Day

The leading cause of tooth loss in adults is gum disease. Even if your brushing is great, it won’t clean between the teeth and under the gumlines where periodontitis starts. Clean these areas daily. If you hate flossing that much, consider investing in a water flosser.

Drink a Lot of Water

Staying hydrated rinses your mouth to neutralize bacteria levels, acids, and prevent xerostomia (a risk factor of tooth decay.) Tap water also contains fluoride, to make your teeth stronger.

Don’t Ignore that “Twinge” Feeling

Do one of your teeth feel “off” from the rest? Your body could be trying to tell you something. If a small cavity is starting to develop, it’s best to treat it while it’s still small. Large decay can spread quickly, to the point that the only option left to treat it is to remove the tooth.

Schedule Routine Dental Checkups

At North Road Dental Clinic, our Carnegie dentists recommend seeing patients for a checkup at least every six months. These frequent intervals help us to screen for problems earlier on (when treatment is easier) and work with patients to form good habits to intercept issues as they arise.

Call our Carnegie dentist today to schedule.

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.