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Posts Tagged ‘gum disease’

Are Your Kids Flossing?

Besides the obvious of brushing your children’s teeth twice a day, it is so important that you or them are properly flossing. Just like with adults, flossing is essential in keeping a child’s teeth and gums healthy.

Flossing has many positive benefits including, preventing tooth decay, gum disease, bath breath and tarter build-up to name a few. But unfortunately, many children don’t have the motivation or discipline that flossing takes to be doing it properly on a regular basis. Here are a few ways to work around that conflict:

DenTek Fun Flossers makes flossing fun for kids. This type of floss comes equipped with a wild-berry flavor to make flossing tasty and comes pre-strung with wide textured handles specifically made for small fingers. All they have to do is hold the flosser firmly between the thumb and index finger. Using a gentle back-and-forth motion, slide floss between teeth. Move up & down against tooth to clean above & below the gum line. Repeat steps for each tooth. Discard after use.

For kids over the age of 6, an alternative to typical, manual floss is the Waterpik WP-260 Water Flosser for kids. It features a simple waterpiksmall design that makes flossing with an oral irrigator way easy. Other benefits of the machine include a very safe, shock-proof electrical design, easy fingertip controls on the On/Off switch and the Pressure Control System. Additionally, it comes with a reservoir that can be used as a cover to keep the unit clean and includes one Orthodontic Tip for braces and one Classic Jet Tip for general cleaning. Lastly, it comes with 20 innovative and cute removable cling decals that are a fun way to personalize the flossing machine.

No matter which type of method you use, it is extremely essential and important that children are including flossing into their daily routines. To learn more about which method is the right one for your family, contact your local Gentle Dental dentist at 1-888-513-7436 and visit our Facebook page to play our Pediatric Dentistry Trivia Game Contest where you can win a $10 Publix Gift Card!

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How To Get Rid Of That Annoying Plaque!

Plaque, the annoying word everyone hates when they think of their teeth and constantly having to maintain it. Plaque is the major culprit for gum disease, which later on can lead to permanent tooth loss. Besides visiting your Gentle Dental dentist twice a year for cleanings,  plaque can become like pesky fly and almost never go away. Here are a few ways to fight back and destroy plaque on your teeth that can cause so many problems:

Use a Good Toothpaste – and make sure to use it every day, twice! Certain toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients which can help scrubbing away plaque deposits from the teeth. plaque

Use Dental Floss – Plaque is not sticking only on the back or front side of your teeth, but plaque forms easily in between the teeth. Make sure to use the floss after brushing your teeth, in order to eliminate the harmful formations.

Use Xylitol – This antibacterial sugar – alcohol sweetener is a common ingredient in many chewing gums and mouthwashes. Xylitol is a very powerful ingredient that is able to fight plaque.

Use An Electric or Sonic Toothbrush – These toothbrushes are much more powerful and can get in areas manual toothbrushes can’t when it comes to removing plaque.

Using one or more of these methods will definitely help in defeating the annoying “plaque attack” that is constantly occurring in our mouths everyday after we eat. If we follow these methods, we should be able to keep and save our pearly whites for years to come. For more information on plaque formation, other techniques to try and to make an appointment for a checkup or cleaning call your local Gentle Dental office at 1-888-513-7436.

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Oral Bacteria Can Cause Hip & Knee Joint Failures

New research has found that hip and knee joint failures can be caused from bacteria that reside in the mouth. In the study researchers have found that DNA in the bacteria that was found in the lubricating fluid of the joints is the same type of DNA that is existent in the plaque formed on the teeth. The interesting connection between the two is that the examined dental plaque was coming from patients diagnosed with a certain form of gum disease, and most of these patients were waiting for joint replacement. It seems when dental/oral bacteria enter the bloodstream, they start causing different general health complications including issues in the hips and knee joints.

knee painThe study involved 36 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, and the participants had both artificial joints and natural joints. Synovial fluid has been extracted from the joints, and since most of the patients were struggling with periodontal disease, the researchers also took dental plaque for further tests and evaluation.

The bacteria that cause the plaque buildup actually start breaking down the pocket walls (soft tissue) around the teeth. This is how the bacteria enter directly the bloodstream and start causing inflammation in other parts of the body including the hip and knees.

In 14% of the patients in the study, there was a direct link between the bacteria was found in the synovial fluid and the oral bacteria from the plaque. The researchers will continue developing this study, mainly because they will learn that  if by treating properly and in time periodontal disease, they can actually save the patient from a painful and costly joint replacement.

For more information on periodontal disease and how to properly treat it contact your local Gentle Dental office at 1-888-513-7436.

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Dental Tips For Diabetics

If you live with diabetes you need to give extra special attention to your oral health. Periodontal disease is the number one risk for patients with diabetes. Periodontal or Gum Disease destroys the gums and bones that keep teeth in place. If those gums and teeth aren’t healthy there is a good possibility that tooth loss could occur.

Other oral health complications and side effects that diabetics might develop include infections in the mouth, dry mouth syndrome, and elevated levels of glucose in the saliva.

If  you are a diabetic you should follow typical dental hygiene practices including controlling your blood glucose regularly, floss & brush your teeth every day, and of course visit the dentist regularly. All these practices should help in preventing gum disease complications. diabetes

If you are a diabetic and experience an oral health problem, you should contact your Gentle Dental dentist immediately and inform them about the complication. You should also contact your Gentle Dental dentist if you experience sore gums or if your dentures begin to not fit properly.

Additionally when you brush your teeth, and if you notice that your gums are bleeding, that might be a first sign of gingivitis. If left untreated, a relatively common condition might turn into a severe gum disease complication.

To make an appointment with your local Gentle Dental dentist call 1-888-513-7436.

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The Effect of Vegetarianism on Oral Health

Being a vegetarian has its advantages on many aspects of the human body including the cardiac and digestive system. It has also helped many Cancer patients revert to good health. But does vegetarianism have the same positive effect on oral health as it does in other areas of the body? Remember by being a vegetarian you aren’t getting nutrients that animal products provide.

The fact is Vegans, who generally do not consume any kind of beverage or food that is of animal origin will experience quite a few deficiencies. Their system lacks important amount of vitamins such as vitamin D or B12, calcium or riboflavin.

All these nutrients are necessary for the good functioning of the organs, for the development of the bones, the nervous system and last but not least for proper oral health which includes strong teeth & healthy gums. Vegetarianism

One of the biggest threats people who consume too many fruits and vegetables are exposed to, is dental erosion. People may experience quite often acid reflux or vomiting, and then the stomach acid returns into the mouth. This acid is the one that can cause dental erosion. Lack of Vitamin D can lead to both Periodontal Disease and burning mouth syndrome accompanied by symptoms such as dry mouth.

When there is not enough calcium in your system, you might be exposed to the risk of both tooth decay and gum disease since your teeth are predominantly made of calcium.

Red meat contains iron and when you have an iron deficiency you may struggle with inflammation of the tongue. Lack of Vitamin B12 could cause mouth sores.

As you can see your diet can have a very direct effect on your oral health. Before making a drastic diet change it is recommended that you speak with your local physician or Gentle Dental dentist for a complete consultation. To make an appointment call 1-888-513-7436.

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The Benefits of Green Tea on Your Oral Health

We all know that we need to brush and floss our teeth regularly if we want to keep them healthy, but did you know that green tea can also help to improve your dental health?

green teaGreen tea has numerous qualities, but the fact that it also exhibits antibacterial qualities makes it particularly useful in the realm of tooth decay, gum disease and general dental health. Most dental problems involve bacteria. Green tea helps stop bacteria in its tracks! There have been many studies on green tea and dental health with many concluding that green tea extract significantly inhibited the growth and subsequent effects of several related bacteria, showing its antibacterial qualities.

Green tea contains raised levels of antioxidants which not only enhance our immune system but can also be used to fight bacteria in our mouth and even help in preventing oral cancer. With all this being said it is very important to include green tea in your diet for a variety of positive health reasons including your oral health. Just make sure not to include sugar in the tea as that will counter in its positive attributes.

To learn more about the benefits of green tea on your oral health contact your local Gentle Dental office at 1-888-513-7436.

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Yes There Is An App For That!

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Apple’s  iPhone is one of the most popular smart phones on the planet and has millions of applications or apps that help all kinds of people in various aspects of their lives, even apps for your teeth and mouth. Below are few popular ones that may help with your oral health:

iphoneMouth & Teeth is a dental app which covers various topics of various dental problems including overall dental health, gum disease, oral cancer, snoring, tonsils and various other topics. It is a very informative app which covers various aspects of these issues.

Brushy Time is an app which helps you maintain the amount of time for which you brush your teeth and rinse your mouth. It has an  animated look that will be very helpful to teach children easily.

iBraces Help is a great app with useful information for patients who are currently using braces or patients who want to undergo orthodontic treatment. It includes pictures and videos with descriptions.

As you can see with technology, times are changing for all aspects of our life including our oral health. If you have an iphone or ipod touch try downloading a few of these great dental apps and to make an appointment with your local Gentle Dental office call 1-888-513-7436.

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Gum Disease Can Cause Breast Cancer

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A recent study conducted at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, found that women with gum disease which had advanced to the stage of losing teeth had a much higher chance of  being diagnosed with breast cancer. In this prospective clinical research study, 3,273 women between the ages of 30 and 40 years were evaluated between 85 and 2001.  Young women in this study who had documented chronic gum disease, or who had lost one or more molars due to gum disease, were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer when compared to women without periodontal disease. gingivitis

The exact mechanism whereby chronic gum disease increases cancer risk is unknown at this time but some experts have proposed that bacteria from chronically inflamed gums may enter into the bloodstream, and induce an inflammatory response that, in turn, causes cancer formation.

The good news is that daily flossing, along with regular professional cleanings can protect your health and prevent gum disease. If you experience red, swollen, sore, or bleeding gums, or premature tooth loss you may have periodonal (gum) disease and should see your Gentle Dental dentist immediately.  To make an appointment for a checkup or cleaning call 1-888-513-7436.

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Food That Keep Your Teeth Healthy

With yesterday being the “the big game”, there was a good possibly you probably ate a lot of junk food and didn’t really think about your health during your Super Sunday parties. Now that you probably feel a little guilty we at Gentle Dental thought we would give you a few ideas of healthy foods that are good and beneficial to your teeth and will help in keeping that great smile of yours in tact. These foods naturally fight bacteria, remove plaque, strengthen enamel, and freshen breath is a good way to preserve your pearly whites.celery

Celery protects your teeth in two ways. The extra chewing it requires produces plenty of saliva, which neutralizes the bacteria Streptococcus mutans that causes cavities. Additionally, chomping on naturally abrasive foods massages gums and cleans between teeth. Just don’t add the fattening dressing to that celery as it may defeat the purpose of eating healthy.

Cheese, with its low carbohydrate and high calcium and phosphate content, provides several benefits for your teeth. It helps balance your mouth’s pH (an acidic pH encourages the growth of cavity-causing bacteria). Cheese also preserves and rebuilds tooth enamel and produces saliva, which kills the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.

These are just two of the many foods that have positive benefits to both your smile and your teeth. To learn more about the right diet for your teeth and to make an appointment with  your local Gentle Dental office call 1-888-513-7436.

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Importance of Dental Checkups & Cleanings

Good oral hygiene is important, not only for looks, but for general health as well. Poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of dental and medical problems. Regular check ups and cleanings can prevent these problems as well as provide you with good oral hygiene. Here are a few good reasons why you should make regular appointments for checkups with your local Gentle Dental office. routine cleaning

When you have a dental cleaning, your Gentle Dental dentist can also screen for oral cancer, which is highly curable if diagnosed early.

Recent studies have linked heart attacks and strokes to gum disease, resulting from poor oral hygiene. A dental cleaning every 6 months helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy and could possibly reduce your risk of heart disease and strokes.

Regular dental check ups and cleanings along with brushing and flossing are vital in preventing tooth decay. Keeping your teeth means better chewing function and ultimately, better health.

These are just a few of the obvious reasons why checkups and cleanings are so very important to maintain great oral health and memorable smiles. To make an appointment with your local Gentle Dental office call 1-888-513-7436.

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