Gum Disease And The Link To Heart Disease

Did you know that taking good care of your teeth can give you more than a healthy and beautiful smile? Healthy oral care habits can save your life by reducing your risk of developing some potentially fatal heart diseases.

What’s The Connection?

The connection between specific dental problems and heart disease is a subject of concern and interest among many researchers. In fact, there are over 120 published research papers and medical studies related to this.

While there are no strong results to completely link or pinpoint gum disease as a direct cause for heart problems, most studies show us these surprising details:

• Gum disease is a risk factor for coronary artery disease

• Gum disease is also a risk factor for problems related to blood vessels and arteries

• Individuals who had gum disease and had fewer teeth had a higher risk of getting a stroke.

• Bacteria found in blood vessels that undergo artherosclerosis is the same as the bacteria found in inflamed gums

Experts agree on plausible reasons for the link between heart health and dental health. One reason for this connection is inflammation, which is a common occurrence for both heart and dental problems. Artherosclerosis, which is also known as the narrowing of arteries, is associated with inflammation. Buildup of fatty deposits in the artery is also a result of this inflammatory process. Inflammation is also associated with gum disease, specifically gingivitis.

Speaking of inflammation, researchers also speculate that gum disease causing bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause swelling of blood cells, leading to arterial clogging.

So even though bad oral health does not directly cause heart disease, scientists and experts agree that there is a very close connection between both. Until researchers are completely sure, the best defense is still to adopt good oral health habits and be mindful of potential problems that might develop with your teeth and gums. Visit your dentist regularly – especially when you notice any changes in the state of your oral health.

A Family Dental Care Center
2030 W. Main St.
Jeffersonville, PA 19403

Preparing Your Little One For Their First Dental Appointment

Most children meet dental visits with fear and anxiety, but there are many things we can do as parents to help make our child’s first visit a pleasant experience for them. With adequate preparation, kids will less likely be scared, anxious or agitated about their first dental appointment.

Maintaining oral hygiene. Even before your child’s first visit to the dentist, start the habit of keeping his or her mouth clean using a hygienic washcloth and running this gently over gums. Do this even if baby teeth have not yet appeared. Once their baby teeth break out, you can then use an infant toothbrush with a dot of baby-safe toothpaste to cleanse any emerging teeth.

You may also use your clean finger with a spot of toothpaste instead of a baby toothbrush as well. It is recommended that your child is taken to the dentist, preferably a pediatric dentist before his or her first birthday. The earlier the visit, the better the chances you have of delaying and preventing any tooth problems.

Cheery talk about teeth. Keep a happy and cheery conversation about teeth and gums with your child.  Respond to your child’s questions positively and always make sure you do not use scary words. Be on alert of scary stories about dentists from your child’s playmates or siblings so that you can instantly reassure your child that this is not so. After all, a first visit to the dentist, as long as it's done at a time where your child does not have any pains and aches, does not have to be associated with a “hurt.”

If you can find a good story about a child that had a pleasant visit to the dentist, read this to your child in an animated and lively way.

Set a good example. Share as much knowledge and help your child understand the importance of keeping teeth healthy by setting a good example yourself. Our children learn from what they see us do. Brush and floss together, let your child count your teeth, and smile into the mirror together. If they see you taking care of your own teeth, then it will be easy to explain to them they should take care of their own teeth as well. Show him or her some child-appropriate illustrations (cartoons will greatly help) that show how in-between teeth spaces or between tooth and gums can be lodged with food particles after eating and these can be the start of tooth decay.

Role play at  home. Role playing in the house with your child and his or her toys is a fun way to prepare for the first visit to the dentist. You can start by being the dentist and the toys as the patient and your little one as the “parent” of the toy.

Use toothbrushes, flashlights, and small cups as props. Afterwards shift roles. You can be the patient and your child as the dentist, or the stuffed toy as the patient, your child the dentist and you as the chaperone. After the role play, try to visit the dentist before the appointment and let your child become comfortable with the clinic’s waiting room where you can show him or her some toys and games. This will greatly put her at ease on the scheduled visit since the  place is now familiar to her.

After a child's visit in our office, they get to check out our treasure chest that's filled with tons of different prizes!

A Family Dental Care Center
2030 W. Main. St.
Jeffersonville, PA 19403

Comparing Lumineers To Traditional Veneers

Crooked, chipped, discolored, or worn down teeth are often viewed as unattractive, but they are a common occurrence among many. If you suffer from these problems, you no longer need to worry – there are ways to treat them! Two of the ways to treat these problems are lumineers and traditional veneers. 

Here is a look at both treatments:

1. Both are suited to people on the go because under the hands of a qualified dentist, these can be finished in as little as two visits. Both are made from thin and porous porcelain, are stain proof, natural in appearance, durable and resilient. They are also designed to last for years if coupled with proper home care, cleansing and regular visits to the dentists.

1. Since there is no removal of sensitive tooth structure, no injections are required in this procedure, making this comfortable even for sensitive patients. It can be placed directly over the whole front of the tooth and requires no temporaries to be worn. In most cases, this can be reversed in case you do not like the results. Also, Lumineers give the appearance of straighter teeth.

However, these are recommended only for minor cosmetic adjustments and not for serious dental makeovers or orthodontic work. They are best for minor tooth imperfections like covering visible portions of the teeth, straightening and lengthening teeth and concealing stained or discolored fillings.

Traditional Veneers

Traditional veneers, also called “dental porcelain laminates” are custom-shaped thin shells that permanently bond to teeth. Tracing its first use in Hollywood in the 1930’s, it has since grown in use and deemed an ideal replacement for your teeth and less bulky and more natural looking than lumineers.

Advantages: Its primary advantages range from providing relief from severe crowding of the teeth by straightening these, giving your teeth a more symmetrical and balanced look, and filling a gap or space of a cavity. Since it uses thin porcelain, it should not feel bulky nor cause additional extra thickness.

Disadvantages: It is a non reversible procedure. The preparations for this include drilling of the tooth and removal of some structure, thus requiring the use of an anesthetic. In some rare instances especially if a deep cavity is present and needs to be cleaned, nerves could be exposed despite the restoration. Before the procedure is fully completed, you might need to wear temporaries.

Lumineers

Lumineers are really custom designed veneers that require lesser preparation with very little or virtually no removal of tooth structure. It is ultra thin and considered a pleasant way to restore whiteness of your tooth to add to your beautiful smile. Strict guidelines govern the placement of cement to warranty the product and resolution is quick and permanent with very few complaints.

Disadvantages: Most complaints stem from it detaching soon after the procedure is done which may require additional visits to the dentists. Since these are ultra thin and quite translucent, it may not adequately cover the natural tooth color. If your tooth if is a bit darker than usual, another layer may be needed to “block” the darker tint from showing through. Patients also complain of a “toothier” or a more prominent look of their teeth.

Veneers and lumineers have similarities and differences, which are mentioned above. Combined with your dentist’s professional advice, we hope you will have an easy time deciding which treatment best suits you.

A Family Dental Care Center
2030 W. Main St.
Jeffersonville, PA 19403

When Should I Take My Child To Their First Dental Appointment

Every child is a parent’s delight. We dote over them, worry when they are sick and celebrate every developmental milestone of their young life. Thus, for their health and general well-being, we have their pediatricians to go to for regular check-ups and for the occasional cold or fever. But one question every parent asks is how early should my child see the dentist? When the best time and what is the ideal age for that first visit?

Dental Visits: How Soon Is Too Soon?

Ideally, your child’s first visit to the dentist should take place before they reach their first birthday or within six months from the time their first tooth erupts. Remember, tooth decay can happen anytime as soon as your child begins to grow his or her tooth or teeth. However, it is generally acceptable to do this between the ages of two to three but bringing them earlier comes with certain advantages.

But It’s Only Milk Teeth!

Oftentimes, parents harbor the mistaken notion that since baby teeth are not yet permanent and since your child will eventually lose them in due time, there isn’t much that can be done about them. Please realize, however, that even if we can’t see them, your child's permanent teeth are already developing under their baby teeth. This is why it is very important for the dentist to see at the soonest if the development of your child’s teeth is taking place in the normal way.

Getting Baby Used To The Dentist

First visits are usually about getting your child used to and being comfortable in sitting in a dentist's chair. Thus, if your child’s first visit to the dentist is done early enough, is not associated with any pains or aches and is relatively stress-free, then it will turn out to be a positive experience for your child, free from anxiety and fear. This is especially crucial so that any trauma associated with visits to the dentist can be avoided.

Should the time come for you to go to the dentist for real teeth problems, your child will now have developed an understanding and appreciation that the dentist is his or her friend.

To help in this, it is best to bring your child for his or her first dental visit to a pediatric or family dentist. These types of dentist have received additional training in treating children and understanding their psychological make-up and needs. Their clinics are also designed with children in mind and are filled with child-friendly amenities and stuff like toys and games, play areas, and prizes to make children look forward to their next visits.

Bringing your child to the dentist before any dental problem has taken place helps you take better care of your child’s teeth. You can learn, at the earliest possible time, the proper way to clean their teeth, to know their fluoride needs, prevent plaque from building-up and avoid the formation of cavities.  It is this type of positive experience with you and with their dentist at an early age that helps your child form and develop proper dental care habits as he or she grows older.

A Family Dental Care Center
2030 W. Main St.
Jeffersonville, PA 19403

How Often Should I Brush and Floss?

Brushing and flossing are two major elements of dental hygiene. Both actions can help to keep plaque levels down to a minimum and reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth. Mouth bacteria are harsh invaders that can spread fast if you do not constantly fight them with dental products. If you brush and floss on an acceptable schedule, then you can avoid requiring extensive work when you visit your local dentist for a checkup. You should never go without brushing or flossing, and you should be mindful of the amount of time you spend performing either activity. The following are some tips pertaining to brushing and flossing:

Brushing

Brushing at least twice per day is imperative. A first morning brush is necessary to remove the buildup of plaque and bacteria that forms a layer over your teeth while you are sleeping. Brushing once at night can help to add some protection to the inside of your mouth when you go to bed. You should brush your teeth for approximately two minutes and make sure that you touch all surfaces. A two-minute brushing session will ensure that the fluoride penetrates your tooth enamel and does its job. A wide range of fortified toothpastes is available to add to your level of protection. Additionally, brushing extra times throughout the course of the day cannot hurt you at all. The more you brush, the more you eliminate bacteria. 

Flossing

Flossing has a great deal of benefits that come with it. One of the greatest benefits of flossing is that it eliminates bad breath that is caused by plaque and food particles in between the teeth. The recommended number of times you should floss per day is once. However, flossing can help you in between meals and before you retire for the night. Mint-coated antiseptic floss is the best kind to use because of its anti-bacterial properties. Therefore, you will want to search for a brand that offers layers of protection against the harsh elements that invade your mouth.

Additional Tips

Gentle antiseptic mouthwashes can help to keep your breath smelling fresh, and they can add moisture and hydration to the mouth by stimulating the glands. You can use them once or twice per day in addition to vigorous flossing and brushing. If you have any problems such as tooth pain, bad breath or bleeding gums, you should schedule an appointment with an emergency facility.

A Family Dental Care Center
2030 W. Main St.
Jeffersonville, PA 19403

What is Fluoride and Why Should I Use It?

When we think of fluoride we think of children between the ages of 6 and 15 when permanent teeth begin to come in. At those ages, fluoride is important for dental development, particularly with all of the sugars kids consume. Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel by replacing nutrients that are lost over time. It can even repair small holes in your teeth caused by loss of those nutrients. It aids in dental development prior to age 6 making teeth more resistent to decay. Fluoride is found in many fruits, vegetables and juices, water and of course in toothpastes and mouthwashes. A dentist can also treat teeth with fluoride using foam, gel or varnish. These treatments are very fluoride rich as opposed to toothpastes or mouthwashes. Fluoride supplements can also be prescribed.

Many dentists also recommend fluoride treatments for adults, because believe it or not, adults get cavities too. If you drink bottled water exclusively, you may need fluoride treatment. Extra fluoride protection is warranted in conjunction with medications that cause dry mouth because reduction of saliva increases the risk of cavities. Radiation patients also experience loss of saliva. The process of aging often results in gum recession, exposing part of the root of the tooth and increasing the risk of decay. Even people with braces are exposed to a higher risk of tooth decay from the braces trapping in bacteria.

You can even buy certain fluoride gels over the counter for home use. You need only apply a little in the mouth, let it sit for awhile and rinse. The usual fluoride treatment at the dentist's office involves the dentist filling a mouthguard with flavored fluoride and putting it in your mouth for a few short minutes. The guard is then removed and your rinse your mouth.

Studies have conclusively shown that when used correctly, fluoride treatments significantly reduce the risk of tooth decay in both children and adults. Each patient is different so if you're worried about not getting enough fluoride, just talk with your dentist and he or she will be happy to let you know if fluoride supplements are recommended.

A Family Dental Care Center
2030 West Main. St.
Jeffersonville, PA 19403

What is root planing, and why is it done?

Pain, inflammation, and swelling of the gums are the most telling signs of gingivitis and periodontitis, and if left untreated these conditions can lead to a receding gum line, loose teeth, mouth sores, and the eventual loss of teeth rooted in the affected areas. Research also suggests that poor gum health leads to additional health complications, and can affect an individual’s overall well-being. Although several treatment options are available, many patients are reluctant to seek out the proper methods for coping with gum disease that has progressed to the point of pain. Misinformation concerning treatment and recovery may be one cause for such reluctance, but there is good news for those who are hesitant to begin looking for relief.

Root planing and scaling is a comfortable, non-surgical procedure offered to patients suffering from gum disease, and is often the first option for treatment when a diagnosis is issued. The procedure involves the use of scraping instruments, an ultrasonic tool or both to deep clean and remove dental plaque and calculus that promote bacterial growth along the gum line and at the root level. A local anesthetic is generally offered to minimize any discomfort, and most patients will feel only the pressure of the instruments being used during their visit.

The risks involved with the procedure are minimal, with the possibility for infection being the primary cause for concern. For this reason, patients may have antibiotic fibers or gels inserted during the planing and scaling session, which will usually be removed about one week after the first visit. For patients who run a higher risk of infection, antibiotics after the procedure may be prescribed.

Immediately after the procedure the gums may be more sensitive than usual, and certain precautions will be advised until normal sensitivity levels are regained. For this reason, some patients may have small areas of the gum line treated over several visits to ensure minimal inconvenience and shorter recovery times. Patients may also be advised to take over-the-counter pain relief medication immediately after their visits, and to brush and floss more gently until any discomfort or pain subsides.

Root planing and scaling is highly effective, and most patients can expect to see the return of healthy pink gums after treatments have been completed. The procedure is an excellent option for patients struggling with gum pain, bleeding, and other signs of disease seeking a minimally invasive treatment option.

A Family Dental Care Center

2030 W. Main St.

Jeffersonville, PA 19403