Tag: gum disease

6 of the Most Common Mouth & Dental Issues

Posted on by drbalog

According to the CDC, more than 40% of adults have felt some kind of mouth pain in the last year and roughly 80% will have at least one cavity by the time they are 34 years old. While in some cases unavoidable, most of the common dental health issues are preventable.

When it comes to your oral health, your hygiene is of utmost importance. Being consistent with your at home care and scheduling regular dental checkups are critical in preventing major dental issues. Still, there are other factors that can impact your dental health such as genetics, medications, diet and other factors.

Here’s a list of six of the most common mouth and dental health issues we see. 

Gum Disease

Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is an infection that damages gums and can destroy your jaw bone. Those with gum disease likely don’t floss enough or at all, causing buildup of plaque-causing bacteria. Periodontal disease can be treated by deep teeth cleanings performed by your dentist.

Tooth Decay

Failure to brush after large amounts of sugar or acidic foods and beverages can cause tooth decay and cavities. Cavities are treated by drilling away bacteria from the tooth and filling it with a composite material that matches the tooth’s appearance.

Oral Cancer

Usually presenting itself as a swollen or tingly red or white sore, oral cancer can target multiple places in the mouth, including your tongue, throat, lips or cheeks. Oral cancer is treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. 

Cleft Lip or Palate

Not a disease, but a developmental issue, cleft lip occurs when tissues in the upper lip don’t form completely at 6-9 weeks’ gestation. Surgery is performed within 18 months of birth to prevent future health issues. If it’s a severe case, a child may need to do speech therapy as well. 

Oral Thrush

A fungal infection that occurs in infants and those with reduced immunity, oral thrush presents itself as milky white lesions on the tongue and cheeks. A dentist treats oral thrush with antibiotics to kill the fungal spores, but oral thrush can be prevented with routine brushing and flossing. 

Bad Breath

A side effect of gingivitis or periodontitis, but can also be caused by smoking, bad dental hygiene and respiratory tract infections, bad breath can be treated by a strict dental hygiene routine and going to the dentist regularly.

The most important way to manage your dental health is to prevent issues before they happen. This is a combination of diet, oral hygiene and regular visits to a dentist. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us; we’re here to help. 

Bleeding Gums? Here’s What Might Be Causing It & What You Can Do About It

Posted on by drbalog

Given that roughly 20% of Americans never floss and only about 4 in 10 floss every day, bleeding gums during flossing is a common occurrence for many Americans. While this might happen to you, it doesn’t mean it should. In fact, bleed gums of any kind can be a sign of a gum disease and other dental issues.

In order to diagnose why your gums might be bleeding, you should schedule an appointment with a dentist who can assess your overall dental health. If you have bleeding gums it is most likely the result of plaque build up around the teeth. This is why dental cleanings and great dental hygiene is so important.

Here’s a look at what can cause bleeding gums as well as some tips on what you can do about it.

Gingivitis – Early Signs of Gum Disease

If plaque build-up occurs, gums can inflame and become irritated which might result in bleeding during brushing or flossing. In many cases this is diagnosed as gingivitis and is an early stage of gum disease. Gingivitis is usually painless and bleeding gums may be the only symptom. However, gingivitis can cause tender and red gums, bad breath, loose teeth and misalignment. The sooner you are able to spot gingivitis the better chance you have to reverse it.

Periodontitis

When gingivitis or early stages of gum disease go unaddressed, the gums often separate and reced from the teeth. When gums recede like this, they leave behind pockets or gaps between the teeth and gums opening them up to bacteria and germs that become trapped in these pockets. Bleeding from brushing or flossing is common in these situations.

Periodontitis is the next phases of gum disease and can cause tooth and bone loss if the issue remains untreated. In addition to tooth and bone loss, abscesses, misalignment of teeth and aesthetic changes can also occur as a result of periodontitis. Finally, gum disease has also been linked to diabetes and heart disease as well as pregnancy complications.

Other Causes of Bleeding Gums

Some additional, less common causes of bleeding gums can be related to nutritional deficiencies like a lack of Vitamin C and K. Also, pregnancy can cause inflamed gums as well which may result in bleeding during brushing or flossing.

How to Stop & Prevent Bleeding Gums

The first step to treating bleeding gums is to see your dentist in order to understand what exactly is causing the bleeding gums and if gum disease is present. From there, your dentist will guide you in an approach to restore the health of your gums, most likely including the following tactics:

  • Increase in the daily brushing recommendation – after each meal and before bedtime
  • Use of a toothpaste that is gentle on the teeth/gums, has fluoride and doesn’t have Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
  • Floss twice a day
  • Rinse with a suggested mouth wash after you brush
  • Schedule a follow up after a set period of time to see how your gums are progressing 

The reality is that the best way to treat bleeding gums is to prevent them in the first place. That means following dental standards as they relate to dental hygiene and seeing your dentist at least every 6-months. With strong hygiene and a good diet, you minimize your chance of dealing with bleeding gums and can prevent gum disease.

If you are dealing with bleeding gums, make an appointment today.