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Archive for the ‘Dental Care’ Category

PostHeaderIcon Pregnancy and Periodontitis Treatment: The Best Thing To Do

Considering the possible hazards of periodontitis on pregnancy, seeking immediate periodontitis treatment may reduce the risks of preterm births or low birth weight as well as other pregnacy related complications.  According to studies, the bacteria found in the gum infection can enter the blood stream and reach the placental membrane, thus causing inflammation and inducing labor.  The antibodies which are triggered can also cause low birth weight and premature birth.  That is why it is important to seek treatment right away, at the first sign of gum infection.  Usually, the first stages of periodontal diseases are characterized by red, swollen and inflamed gums which occassionally bleed when you brush your teeth.  It may be subtle, but it’s hard to miss.

But pregnancy may require a different and more delicate approach to periodontal disease treatment.  While in some cases, the standard operation which include planing and scaling may be administered, certain pregnancy conditions may not allow such intrusive procedures.   Antibiotics, too, must also not be used to treat gum infection as this could have adverse effects to one’s baby.  The dentist may be able to determine the severity of the gum disease as well as the right treatment, depending on the pregnant mother’s age as well as when the baby is due.  Until then, you must refrain from self medicating to avoid any complications.

Alternative healing can also help alleviate the inflammation as well as sooth any discomfort caused by the periodontal disease.  However, not all herbs may be safe for pregnant women.  It is still important to consult your doctor before administering herbs as alternatives to commercial antibiotics to alleviate infection.  Two of the herbs you need to avoid are aloe vera and clove oil.  On the other hand, rosehips and chamomiles are known to be relatively safe for pregnancy.  These herbs can alleviate pain and discomfort caused by gum inflammation as well as help fight off the bacterial infection.  But moderation is still the key when it comes to taking herbs to heal or at least control the gum infection.

In addition, maintaining a good oral health hygiene can help reverse the early signs of periodontal disease as well as prevent gum infection which could lead to periodontal diseases.  For pregnant women, it is best to floss and brush one’s teeth more frequently as the elevated hormones and increased blood volume heightens the sensitivitiy of the gums, thus making it more prone to gum infection.  Gargling with an alcohol-free mouthwash may be able to eliminate bad bacteria from the mouth.  Apart from that, cutting back on sweets could lessen the chances of periodontal diseases as bacteria loves to eat sugar and carbohydrates, thus making it secrete more acid which demineralizes teeth and infects the gum tissues.

PostHeaderIcon Preventing gum disease and receding gums

As adults, we’re entitled to several things in life like having a job, our own place to stay, control of our time and one that you won’t see coming: gum diseases. Sure, kids get it too but according to surveys, gum disease is one thing that is more prevalent to adults compared to children. Therefore it is necessary that as we age, we become more extra careful and conscious about our dental health. But where do we start? Having dental disease is one thing nobody likes – it’s painful, looks gross and may stink. On top of that, you won’t be so proud of your smile when your gums look awful which would affect certain aspects of our lives. So here are a few tips I can give you on how to fix receding gums and how to prevent them as well:

Exercise proper dental care – probably the most important part of dental care is to keep your teeth clean, period. But it’s not that easy especially if you’re not used to it – a proper dental care routine involves brushing your teeth and flossing every after meal; and doing it properly. To give you a short summary on this, get a soft bristle toothbrush and a dentist recommended toothpaste and brush your teeth in a smooth, circular motion making sure to cover all surfaces. Floss your teeth to clean the back portion as well as the gaps between your teeth to ensure there is no food debris left.

Gum disease and receding gums can also come from an improper diet so your next step would be to implement a proper diet. Eat healthy food: make sure you eat less starch, less sugar and more natural food. Fruits can be a good alternative to sweets so make sure you buy them regularly.

Speaking of going natural, if you’re looking for a good natural cure for receding gums, you have several options to go with starting from fruits rich in vitamin C, a good source of vitamin D, oil pulling, to cranberry and natural mouthwashes. Although the effects receding gums are irreversible, these are good ways to stop the symptoms and great prevention methods as well.

Finally, when you talk about dental health, a dentist should play a big role in maintaining your teeth and gums. For that matter, ensure you visit your dentist every 6 months to get regular teeth cleaning or even detect early signs of gum disease to help you effectively start fighting the symptoms as early as possible.

PostHeaderIcon Untangling Yourself from the Web of Swollen Gums – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments for Swollen Gums

Experiencing swollen gums, or in this case, any kind of health problem can be very stressful.  This does not only limit to the individual level but to the people around you as well.  On an individual level, since you are the one directly inflicted with the disease, a lot if your regular activities will be much disrupted.  In the case of swollen gums, one may find it difficult to perform activities that involve his or her mouth such as eating, drinking, swallowing, talking, and even breathing.  On the other hand, the people around you would also be affected because of your health problem.  Your co-workers might have to do the assigned tasks to you since you are unable to present yourself at the workplace.  You might not even get to have sufficient bonding time with your friends because you are sick.  Overall, any health problem is something that is very unfortunate.  In this case, we will put our focus on swollen gums.

Once you have been tangled in the web of the dental health problem that we commonly refer to as swollen gums, you would immediately find ways to get out of it.  Treating the disease in the fastest way that you can is very essential.  There are many different ways to cure swollen gums.  The best method there is though is to know the nature of the disease.  You cannot just use any medication with the hopes that the swollen gums would disappear in thin air.  You have to get into the core of the disease to know what causes it and what can you do to alleviate that cause.

Swollen gums is a condition wherein the gum tissue is inflamed due to the infestation of bacteria.  Sometimes, it is also referred to as gingivitis.  This is a form of a periodontal disease but it is frequently disregarded.  This is due to the fact that the said condition is quite discrete in nature – the victim may not be able to totally feel its impact when it is still in its earlier stages.  The good thing though is that swollen gums is not that destructive or even fatal.  Leaving it untreated though may cause other forms of problems that could possibly be lethal such as trench mouth or mouth disease.

There are a lot of swollen gums causes that can be tracked down.  However, the simplest and the most common cause would have something to do with oral hygiene.  It is with poor oral hygiene that gingivitis propagates.  As mentioned earlier, bacteria (or in the case of the oral cavity, plaque) are the key factors in the existence of gingivitis.  Plaque will propagate inside your mouth if you do not practice proper oral hygiene activities.  Some other causes may have to involve pregnancy, senescence or aging, or hormonal activity.

With poor oral hygiene being pointed as the main cause of gingivitis, the ultimate solution to this condition would have to do with the said cause as well.  Be committed in practicing better oral hygiene activities – brush your teeth every meals, use dental floss if tooth brush is not available, eat healthy, and consult your dentist regularly.  These are some simple yet very effective strategies that you can partake to finally get rid of this cumbersome disease.

PostHeaderIcon Easy Home Remedies for Treatment of Gum Sores

Nowadays, more and more people are resorting to the use of home remedies that are easily available to cure common body ailments such as muscle aches and body pains, including gum sores. Sometimes, sore gums can be very painful and makes it difficult for you to chew or speak. However, a visit to the dentist can be expensive and many people cannot afford paying their high professional fees. That is why; people now find affordable home remedies instead, as these are also proven effective to cure sore gums.
• Tea bags are easily available wherever you are, cheap and very easy to use. The warm tea bag is applied against your sore gums to relieve the pain.
• Gargling with salt water that is a little lukewarm can help ease both the throat and gum pain. This is gargled throughout the day as needed and the mouth is rinsed with fresh water when you are done.
• Calendula is a form of marigold that grows in Egypt; and was first used during the Civil War which helped in packing the wounds, and stopped its bleeding. This plant carries with it anti-inflammatory agents and helps create blood clots. Believed to be a mild antiseptic, it can be drank as a tea as a gum sores remedy.
• Ice is applied on your gums to ease the pain. The crunching of hard chunks of ice with your teeth must be avoided though; because this can lead to cracked or broken teeth. The ice can be used by drinking a flavored slushy since the cold from the ice or slush will aid in numbing the pain.

After making use of all these home remedies, find out which one works best for you and enhance your dental health by following good oral hygiene and dental practices. Buy soft-bristled toothbrush and high quality natural toothpaste for brushing. This can be done after every meal, most especially before going to bed. Purchase floss with the proper thickness and apply to remove food particles left after brushing. Use a natural mouthwash and rinse the mouth at least once daily making sure that the product is free from alcohol content. Mouthwashes that contain alcohol promotes bacterial growth and will only make matters worse as this will result to more sensitive gums and gum sores.

To maintain dental health, eat vitamin-rich foods and eliminate fat-rich and sugar-rich foods from the diet. Have a regular schedule with your dentist for check-up and cleaning to avoid further gum problems. This will enhance oral hygiene and overall dental health.

PostHeaderIcon Sjogren’s Syndrome: Facts About the Disease

Sjogren’s syndrome is a chronic disease wherein the body’s white blood cells attack glands that are moisture-producing. Primary and secondary Sjogren’s are two of the distinct forms of this syndrome characterized by the abnormal production of extra blood antibodies directed against various body tissues.

This syndrome is also related with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. Dry mouth and dry eyes are considered the major symptoms of this disorder. For individuals with no other rheumatologic diseases seen, primary Sjogren’s syndrome can occur in them. But for those people who have another rheumatologic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, the secondary Sjogren’s can occur. Sjogren’s syndrome also results to damage in the different organs of the body such as the liver, lungs, and kidneys. Though it is a relatively common disease, most often; it is clearly under-diagnosed.

In Sjogren’s syndrome, healthy tissues are being attacked by the immune system. In about 50% of the time, the syndrome occurs alone, and the rest of the 50%, this occurs in the presence of another disease involving the connective tissues. As of the present time, there is no known cure but the goal is for Sjogren’s syndrome treatment so that the disorder is prevented or limited from spreading the symptoms, involving damage to the organs, controlling the symptoms, and aids the victims in improving their lives.

The syndrome is considered one of the most widespread of the autoimmune disorders striking as many Americans of about 4 million in number. It is believed that women are 9 times more likely to have contacted the disorder than men. It can also affect other glands like those in the intestines, pancreas, and stomach, and can also cause dryness in other body areas needing moisture, such as the skin, nose, airways, and the throat. Complications of the syndrome happen because of the decreased production of saliva and tears. Patients with dry eyes are at greater risk for infections involving the eyes and will render corneal damage.

Sjögren’s occurs in all age groups and in both sexes, and is also found to be common in families whose members have other autoimmune illnesses. The symptoms vary such as pain, dryness, neck and head complaints, fatigue, hearing loss, and hoarseness; which can also occur as a result of medication use. Anxiety, depression, or normal aging are also risk factors. Patients usually complain of difficulty in the consumption of dry food, oral soreness, inability to speak continuously, oral soreness, fissures in the tongue and lips, and changes in tasting and smelling, so that the patients are advised to practice improve their dental health.

PostHeaderIcon Effective Solutions to Loose Teeth

Tooth loss is not a new problem in the dental health world. In fact, millions of people suffer from it each year. It can be categorized among the most undesirable health problems but unfortunately, there are people who just cannot get rid of it. There are many causes of this dental problem. It may result from other dental problems like tooth decay and plaque. Various injuries and other medical conditions can be a culprit, too. As an old problem that it is, only dentures have been the sole alternative to replace lost teeth. But that is the case not until now.

Many advances in the dental technology have led to the discovery of breakthroughs in oral hygiene and loose teeth. The newest edge which have been helping a lot of people who have this problem is cosmetic dentistry. Long gone are the days when you have no other choice but to wear ill-fitting dentures. Now, you can have as many options to solve your loose teeth in no time. All you need to do is seek help from a cosmetic dentist.

There are ways to permanently replace your missing tooth through the health of dental advancements these days. The procedure can achieve a real-like replacement for your missing tooth. You may even feel as if you never lost a tooth at all. The replacement can feel like a real tooth that you might never even notice the difference. However, the procedure must and only can be accomplished by an experienced implant dentist. This is to avoid any complications and infections from happening. If done in an appropriate manner, your smile and self-confidence will be restored in full.

You must take not that a thorough examination and assessment must be performed first before you can undergo this procedure. This is also to avoid unnecessary side effects. You must be placed under general anesthesia since sedation is required before the operation commences. All other remaining parts of your broken or missing tooth must be removed first before the implant begins.

Keep in mind that the better your oral hygiene is, the less likely you will undergo this kind of treatments. Make sure you maintain a bi-annual checkup with your dentist. Simple things like brushing your teeth at least twice a day can do wonders. Not to mention the healthy diet that you must adapt. Your teeth speak of the type of person you are so you better care for it in the best way possible.

PostHeaderIcon LANAP: Safe Treatment for Gum Disease

Gum disease has been known to be linked to serious health complications. Recent studies have been made that relate periodontal disease to serious health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even some forms of cancer. It is even linked to pregnancy complications because most researchers believe that the bacteria coming from the mouth enters the bloodstream. And once in the bloodstream, bacteria wreak havoc throughout the systems of the body.

Like any disease, gum diseases come with specified set of symptoms. The common symptoms for periodontal disease include inflamed, reddish, swollen, tender and bleeding gums; bad breath, and loose teeth. Anybody experiencing any of the symptoms should immediately contact your dental specialist. With regular check-ups, your dentist can diagnose your condition before this can develop into a more serious disease. When this is not done, the disease will only get worse.

Your first line of defense against any form of gum disease is regular dental care. The proper maintenance of the dental structures is the key to help prevent the occurrence of gum disease. This will include daily brushing of the teeth at least twice daily after meals and before bedtime. Proper flossing should be done once daily preferably after brushing. Nothing can compare in the practice of good oral hygiene.

In addition, dental professionals recommend professional cleaning at least twice per year. It is also vital to practice proper diet with the intake of anti-oxidant rich foods that has been proven beneficial to dental health. For heavy smokers, it is advised that you should quit smoking because tobacco is one factor that can cause gum disease and believed to cause mouth cancer, thus eliminating the need to look for treatment for loose teeth.

Before, treatment of periodontal disease requires oral surgery. The procedure is done by surgical cutting and scaling back of the gums. When the procedure is done, surgical stitches are used to close the incisions which are proven to be very painful for the patient. This also necessitates longer periods of recovery. Currently, the treatment of gum disease has become much more patient-friendly with the utilization of Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure or LANAP. This is an FDA-approved treatment that does not require surgical cutting or stitches. The dental professional utilizes an FDA-cleared laser, specifically Periolase MVP-7, produced by Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc. The procedure involves careful removal of periodontal disease while reducing patient pain and discomfort considerably. After the procedure, the patients can immediately report to their daily activities on the same day of the procedure.

PostHeaderIcon Taking Care of the Teeth to Prevent Loose Teeth Condition

Dental decay is common at any age. This is caused by bacteria that feeds on the sugar particles inside the mouth and will lodge in the tooth’s enamel. These will later on form acids which penetrates the enamel leading to porosity. This condition is not as common as before but tartar and plaque are still usually observed. Here are some oral hygiene tips to prevent tartar and plaque from forming on the enamel.

  • The teeth should be brushed with a soft or medium-bristle brush. A soft brush is preferable as it is more effective than the hard one in massaging the gums gently and gets in the crevices more efficiently. Brush for at least three full minutes vertically in short strokes 4 or 5 times while holding the toothbrush against the gums in a 45° angle, cleaning all the outer, inner parts and the hewing surfaces. This is done at least twice a day usually after mealtime. Although brushing at bedtime has been an age-old ritual, it is more effective when brushing is done right after eating. It should be emphasized that the habit should get rid of the sugar leading to tartar and plaque formation resulting to loose teeth. Therefore, brushing right after meals will eliminate the sugar and it is best to do it right after dessert.
  • It has been proven in studies that brushing will only remove 80% of the fresh plaque formed in the teeth that is why flossing is also necessitated. Use about eighteen inches of either waxed or unwaxed floss and wind it around the middle finger of one hand and the rest in the middle finger of the other hand. Hold it tight between the thumb and forefinger and move it between the teeth spaces, up around the gum going down along the tooth. Unwind some clean floss from time to time off one finger and off with the other finger.
  • A visit to the dentist or periodontist for teeth cleaning allows the teeth to be scaled from the plaque and tartar and planed for the root surfaces. This must be done at least twice a year but more often when plaques form frequently.
  • Confer with your dentist on what mouth rinses are best to use. Chlorhexidine is an anti-bacterial agent that reduces plaque by 55 percent, but for some people, it is known to discolor the teeth when used full-strength or not diluted. Listerine antiseptic is less effective but it cuts plaque by 28 percent, doesn’t require a prescription and will not stain the teeth.
  • Look for toothpaste containing fluoride, chloride and triclosan. Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that works to reduce tartar and plaque from accumulating and aids in the prevention of gum infection.

These are some ways of taking care of the teeth and preventing loose teeth condition that may happen when plaque and tartar is allowed to form excessively on the teeth.

PostHeaderIcon The Ultimate Gum Infection Remedy

When you feel an intense pain in your mouth – a kind of pain that cannot be tolerated by any means, or  a kind of pain that makes it hard for you to perform your mouth’s basic tasks like eating, talking or at the most extreme situation even controlling your breathing, then the possibility is that there is something sore or swelling inside your mouth.  It could be already a tooth abscess, or even a gum infection.  However, the inflammation would most likely start from the gums since it is more sensitive in comparison to the teeth.

What triggers such dental problem?  The answer to that query would be something we would like to refer as plaque.  The formation of plaque, believe it or not, begins when you forget to even brush your teeth.  The aim of brushing is to remove all the food particles or substances that may have been stuck on your oral cavity.  This is because if these are not removed, they tend to build up and form into plaque.  The plaque penetrates the most sensitive areas of your teeth, including your gums.  When your gums are wounded or infiltrated by the plaque, they become swollen until it grows amass.  They will then start infecting other vital parts like your teeth.

The swelling of the gums is particularly referred top as gingivitis while the latter one which refers to tooth pain is referred to as periodontis.  Most of the time, gingivitis occurs first and is more evident with the swelling.  How do you actually Prevent Gum Infection?  As for worse cases like tooth abscess (given the fact that swollen gums that are not well attended lead to abscess), you may need to drink some antibiotics and if it cannot be handled by medication, one has to undergo dental operations like extraction and root canal.

As the gum infection is the less serious one, you can actually bank on home-made remedies to at least reduce the pain felt.  You may go for a saltwater based gargle which is effective in relieving pain.  Mixing water with hydrogen peroxide powder also works.  There are also organic remedies like chewing garlic, using lemon juice mixed with salt as ointment, and Aloe Vera oil to massage the infected part are a few of the many natural ways of treating gum infection.

But among all those remedies, it is simply through proper oral hygiene that you can prevent infection.  More than curing it, a much better solution is to prevent it.  This means doing anything you can from being closer to catching gum infection.  Do this and guaranteed, you’ll beam the biggest smile ever! (gums included, if you like)

PostHeaderIcon How to achieve whiter teeth?

Society today are so consumed with looks and beauty which causes a person to want to achieve perfection. Because of obsession, people have been looking for ways to achieve it. A white smile can help a person in that area.  This paved the way for the teeth whitening business to become hugely popular. Despite the fact that teeth whitening is mostly cosmetic, people who have whiter teeth also have healthier teeth.

There are a lot of ways on how to achieve whiter teeth. There are a popular teeth whitening systems available in the market, but these varies from the person using it.  There are some whitening kits that contain peroxide, a teeth whitener that bleaches the teeth to achieve that white smile.  Another effective treatment for whitening the teeth is using the Tooth whitening strips. These strips are placed on the teeth for about 30 minutes. Toothpastes also help in teeth whitening because it removes surface stains. Whitening toothpastes contain special chemicals which provides an effective stain removal and polishes the teeth without altering the essential color of the teeth.

Laser tooth whitening is another way to achieve whiter teeth. A bleaching solution is placed on the teeth and laser or light is used to make the solution produce oxygen. This in turn would enter the enamel making the color of the tooth lighter. A rubber dam is used on the teeth to protect the gums. This is a powerful treatment that usually takes place for about one hour and results are seen immediately after the treatment.

Auro Ear Drops can also be an effective teeth whitener which uses 6 1/2% carbamide peroxide. Even if the percentage of the carbamide peroxide is slightly lower than that of the normal concentration used in whitening systems, it still works great in achieving whiter teeth.

There are also whitening rinses available on the market that are considered effective in teeth whitening. These rinses not only freshens breath and help reduce dental plaque and gum disease, but also whitens the teeth because it contains hydrogen peroxide. Manufacturers of these products would say that it would take 12 weeks to achieve results. Some experts say that these are not as effective as other whitening products because the rinse is only in contact with the teeth for such a short time which may be of lesser effect.

Choosing the most effective way to whiten teeth varies from one individual to another. To achieve whiter teeth, one must consider the condition of the teeth, the type of whitening system used and how often it is used.