Lung infections and periodontal diease

The news is in and the American Academy of Periodontology found that individuals who have periodontal disease have a higher increase in respiratory infections. Yep, that’s right says Dr. Rice and her team at Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery, “the healthier the gums, the less likely you are to have a lung infection.” If you have periodontal disease you are unfortunately at a higher risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung diseases.

COPD, as it is called, effects your airways. You may have trouble breathing, need oxygen and/or have coughing fits where you feel you are unable to catch your breath. When you breathe in, air enters your airway and then when you breath out, it leaves the airway. “When an individual has COPD the lungs are impacted by either the elasticity in the airways with the air sacs being decreased, or when the walls in the air sacs are destroyed. When this happens, the walls of the airways can become thick with mucus,” says Dr. Denine Rice. All of these factors decrease your success of breathing.

The study, conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology, found that patients with lung diseases had a decrease in overall periodontal health. By taking care of your oral health, you also improve your overall health in general. 

See Dr. Rice and her team today for an appointment. 

What foods are good for your gums and teeth?

It is important to keep your appointments with your periodontist,  is critical for the health of your gums. But certain foods also contain health benefits for your gums and teeth.

Consuming foods high in calcium are great for overall bone strength. Not only does it help with the bone strength in your hips, it is great for the strength of your teeth. Some studies have found foods high in dietary calcium may contribute (this doesn’t sound right – please check. Demineralization isn’t a good thing. Does it prevent it?) to demineralization.

“Something else that’s great for gums is green tea,” says Dr. Denine Rice of Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery in Riverside, CA.  Recent research has found that green tea is great for keeping the bacteria in the mouth reduced.  Further research has found that there is a lower incidence of periodontal disease in men who drink green tea. Also both women and men had a lower incidence of tooth loss when they chose green tea as their beverage of choice. So, sit back and relax and enjoy a great cup of green tea. Skip the sugar though; you don’t want to add that to your teeth - it increases bacteria in the mouth.

Shitakes mushrooms are another healthy choice for your gums. They contain what is called, “lentinan.” This is a natural sugar that is better for your gums and teeth than regular sugar. This substance supports healthy gums and may reduce bleeding, swelling and redness on the gums.

Vitamin C is very important to your gum tissue, too. Although, orange juice is high in vitamin C it also contains a high amount of sugar. So instead of drinking juice, Dr. Rice and her team suggest you stick to healthy fresh fruits such as kiwis and strawberries which are great sources of vitamin C and help to protect the softer gum tissue from breaking down.

“Vegetables that have a higher concentration of water are better for the gums,” adds Dr. Denine Rice. The higher the concentration of water will help remove food from the teeth after eating, especially if you are not able to brush your teeth right away. 

For more information or a consultation on the health of your gums, call Dr. Rice and her team today. 

Why flossing is critical to gum health

“Brushing is a great way to prevent dental disease however, it’s not enough,” suggests Denine Rice, periodontist atRice Periodontics and Implant Surgery. Flossing is critical to keep your gums healthy because it removes food particles between the teeth that flossing cannot reach.

There are five surfaces on the teeth. Two of them are between other teeth. If you do not floss your teeth then you are leaving two surfaces without any defense against bacteria or plaque.  Plaque is a sticky substance that attaches to the surfaces of your teeth. If you eat a lot of sugar or foods with carbohydrates the amount of food that sticks to your enamel is even larger.

When plaque builds up, the gums become inflamed and there is potential for bone loss. As bone loss happens and you become older it attacks the lower third of your face causing you too look older than you are.  While we live in a society that is always looking for the fountain of youth, Dr. Rice suggests, “that flossing from a young age will improve your looks and its is significantly cheaper than replacing your teeth later on in life.”

When you first begin to floss your gums may bleed a little. Do not let this stop you from developing and staying with your flossing routine. However, if bleeding continues you may want to make an appointment with your dentist, as this unfortunately could be the start to periodontal disease.   

I have pocket depths of three and my gums bleed. What does that mean?

During a visit to your regular dentist they take an instrument called a, “probe” and begin to call out numbers. The probe is measuring healthy pocket depth. If you are free of gum disease you should have numbers that are between one and three. However, if you hear pocket depths of four and five this is an indication of periodontal disease. The gum depth is measured in millimeters. And it is possible to have healthy gums on one side of your mouth, while having deep pockets and bleeding in another quadrant.

When you have pocket depths that are higher than three the gums are inflamed. As periodontal disease progresses the pocket get’s bigger and bacteria and pus fill the pocket. This progression of disease then moves from gingivitis to periodontitis.  When this occurs, “the gums are probably bleeding,” according to Dr. Rice, “and you may have moderate bone loss.”

When Dr.Denine Rice at Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery is checking pocket depths and your gums begin to bleed it means you have the beginning signs of periodontal disease. This will not go away on it’s own and it can lead to more serious problems. For example, periodontal disease that is not taken care of can lead to bone loss and you may end up loosing your teeth.  

Although, this may seem like a minor situation this is very serious and requires an appointment with the periodontitis in order to determine which treatment is necessary. 

What should I expect at my first visit

Seeing a new dentist can be stressful and scary. You maybe filled with anxiety. Dr. Rice and her team however, work hard to put your mind at ease. They provide you with a comfortable, private suite in order to help reduce your anxiety. 

Another way they work to reduce your anxiety is to let you know what to expect on your first visit. After the warm and caring staff at Rice Periodontics and Implant Care welcomes you they will walk you back to your private room.  Once seated in the chair a team member will go over your medical and dental history. Medications that you are taking can impact your treatment so, make sure you provide the team with any information on current medications.

Dr. Denine Rice, will then complete an exam. This will be comprehensive in order for Dr. Rice to know exactly what your level of periodontal disease is. The pocket depths will be taken and x-rays may be utilized in order to determine the bone levels between your teeth. Once your comprehensive exam is completed, she will discuss with you treatment options, fees and your next appointment will be scheduled.  

Dr. Rice and her team specialize in building strong relationships with patients and providing a stress free zone so you don’t have to worry. 

Call today for your first appointment!

Why should I see a Periodontist?

      

       

A periodontist is a dentist who has specialized training in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease. They also specialize in implants and gum inflammation. While a general dentist focuses on the whole mouth, cavities and ongoing treatment of your oral health care.  Periodontal disease affects eighty percent of Americans. Although, fluoride in the water has helped, individuals not brushing and flossing along with high sugar and high processed diets continue to contribute to this epidemic.

"Your general dentist may refer you to a periodontist says," Dr. Denine Rice, "if you have gum disease or bone loss."  Periodontist are equipped to handle more severe cases of gum disease. They also have more options for treatments based on your needs. For example, Denine Rice, D.D.S. suggests using LANAP in order to support patient needs. Patients who have received the LANAP laser treatment have seen fantastic results.

You may need implants due to bone loss if your periodontal disease is severe and has caused your teeth to become loose. Bacteria attacks the root of the teeth as the disease increases in severity and as the space in between your gums and teeth increase allowing more food particles to attack the bone. It is best to see someone who understands how to place, design and fit implants for the best look and feel. Although, research suggests that more and more general dentists are performing implant surgery you want to find someone that has the most experience with this type of surgery.  

Contact Dr. Rice and her team for an appointment today!

                 

LANAP – Results To Be Proud Of!

 LANAP, the only FDA approved laser therapy to control periodontal disease is highly effective.  LANAP therapy’s history began back in the 1990’s. Drs. Gregg and McCarthy found success regenerating bone growth and creating new tissue attachments with even the toughest patients.

The LANAP process begins with the patients being given local anesthetic. Once the patient’s periodontal pockets are measured, the laser is placed into the pocket and a pass is made to destroy the bacteria causing disease. The laser allows for diseased

areas to be treated while leaving healthy tissue intact. Any tenacious plaque or calculus will be removed at this time with a scaler. Finally the laser is reintroduced into the pocket and a clot is produced. This means that no cutting or sewing is necessary for the technique.

“The treatment protocol lasts one year, but the results are something to talk about,” says Dr. Denine Rice of Rice Periodontal and ImplantSurgery. “We are seeing patient’s with deep pockets – 8mm or example, being reduced to 4mm. And all without the recession that is normally associated with periodontal treatment!”

As one of the Inland Empire’s Top Dentists, Dr. Rice is proud of the results her patients have achieved. If you are interested, contact the office for more information on how you can treat your periodontal disease the painless way.

The Results Are In!

        

There are even more reasons to be pleased you have chosen laser periodontal therapy.

“People who are thinking of laser periodontal therapy may be excited to learn that the laser therapy requires no cutting or sewing, so recovery time is greatly reduced,” says Dr. Denine Rice of Rice Periodontal and Implant Surgery in Riverside, California. “Then there is the benefit that surrounding tissue is not damaged when the treatment is performed. For these two reasons, healing tends to start faster and tissues begin regenerating almost immediately. Yes, this can mean the saving of your teeth, but the best part of laser periodontal treatment is the benefit to your general health.”

Periodontal disease is caused when bacteria in the mouth gets out of control. The bacteria then can enter small blood vessels and be carried to other parts of the body. Bacteria moving this way can release toxins that will then potentially trigger inflammatory chemicals that can hurt arteries and organs.

Choosing periodontal therapy can reduce your susceptibility to:

Heart attack

Stroke

Respiratory disease

Diabetes

Osteoporosis

Having a low birth weight baby

Digestive disorders

Needless to say, keeping bacteria in check means feeling better overall. Remember, the mouth is the mirror of the body, when the mouth is fighting disease, so is your body.