Healthy Teeth and Gums and Overall Health

Healthy teeth and gums begin with good oral hygiene, and if you are a bit lazy when it comes to brushing, flossing, and dental checkups, you could be doing more harm than you realize. According to Gentle Touch Family Dental, plaque can cause serious problems for the rest of your body.

The American Dental Association explains that there is a real connection when it comes to the health of your mouth and the health of your body.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss; however, periodontal disease can also cause heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Gentle Touch Family Dental explains that sticky film that accumulates on your teeth when you sleep, eat, and drink can get into your bloodstream. That unhealthy bacterium will attach itself to the arteries in your heart causing blockages. Your mouth is loaded with healthy bacteria, but without good oral hygiene, it will become overrun with the unhealthy stuff.

Diabetes

If your teeth and gums are unhealthy and you suffer from periodontal disease, the inflammation will weaken your ability to control your blood sugar. Gum disease complicates diabetes as the inflammation impairs insulin utilization. The high blood sugar in diabetics is ideal for gum and other infections. Thankfully, by scheduling regular dental appointments with Gentle Touch Family Dental and practicing good oral hygiene, you can manage the problem.

Heart Disease

Although it is not fully understood why, heart disease and gum disease seem to go hand in hand with as many as 91 percent of patients with heart problems suffering from periodontal disease. Scientists believe that the mouth inflammation causes blood vessel inflammation increasing your risk of a heart attack in several ways.

Blood vessels that are inflamed allow less blood flow between the body and the heart Not only does this raise your blood pressure, but it can also put you at risk for a stroke or heart attack if that fatty plaque breaks off a blood vessel and travels to your heart.

If you would like more information regarding the mouth and body connection for healthy teeth and gums, call or click and schedule an appointment with Gentle Touch Family Dental today. 

Dental Emergencies Can Happen Anywhere

Just imagine being all dressed up for your work Christmas party only to experience a Dental Emergency. Spending a couple of hours to get ready only to be rewarded with a broken tooth, lost filling or chipped veneer is the last thing you need, but accidents happen, and a Dental Emergency is something that should be taken care of as quickly as possible.

Losing a filling or crown, which covers large fillings, root canals, Dental Implants and other dental restorations can be hiding new dental caries. That tooth decay will destroy the restorations causing them to become loose or fall out completely.

Although the loss of a filling or crown isn’t as noteworthy as a knocked out tooth it can still be described as a Dental Emergency. Colgate explains that losing a crown or filling can hurt, as the exposed tissue on the tooth will become sensitive to hot and cold, air or pressure. If you can, save the crown and the filling, keep it in a safe place, and schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

You can still attend that long awaited Christmas party, but don’t leave it too long. The tooth under your crown is not as strong and is susceptible to damage until you have it repaired. Your dentist also explains that missing crowns could cause your teeth to move in order to fill the space where the crown used to be. If this occurs, you will have to have a new crown made, as your old crown will not fit. If you lose a crown, apply clove oil to the area using a Q-Tip. This will relieve some of the pain before your dental appointment. Clove oil is available at your pharmacy or the grocery store in the spices aisle.

If your crown is still intact, try slipping it back over your tooth. Make sure that you clean the inside of the crown before cementing with tooth cement, available from your pharmacist. If you are unable to find tooth cement, you can use Vaseline or a denture adhesive. Keep in mind that these are not permanent solutions and are only temporary fixes. Never use Super Glue. Not only is it unsafe if ingested, household adhesives can also damage the crown and the tooth.

Place dental cement or one of the other suggestions above directly on to the tooth if you have lost the crown or the filling as this helps to seal the tooth. Call your dentist immediately as bacteria and food particles can easily seep into the damaged area.

Remember, your dentist may have to prepare your tooth as the shape may have changed because of tooth decay. Without proper preparation, your crown will not fit. If this occurs, it will eventually come off and have to be replaced again.

If you have lost a filling, your dentist will remove the tooth decay that may have developed between your tooth and the old filling before placing a new resin or amalgam restoration.