Periodontal Disease & 4 Ways It Impacts The Body

Most people think that periodontal disease just causes mouth issues – bleeding, swelling, pain, and eventually tooth loss - and that isn’t true. Periodontal disease affects your whole body. How else can it impact your health?

Periodontal disease is inflammation in the gums, but that is not all, it can also cause inflammation that impacts the heart. While a direct link is difficult to establish between heart disease and periodontal disease, research has found that individuals who have periodontal disease are more likely to have heart disease.

Dr. Denine Rice warns patients, “Periodontal disease increases the risk of nutritional deficits.” While the pockets around the teeth begin to deepen, the gums pull away from the teeth. This can cause you to lose teeth or have them break. Once the teeth are gone, it can make it very difficult to consume certain foods, thus decreasing your overall health.

Periodontal disease can increase your risk of having a stroke. A research study conducted by perio.org found that individuals who had strokes were more likely to have had periodontal disease then a control group.

The good news is, that it can be taken care of with laser surgery. The laser that is used is a fine-haired instrument that goes below the gum line and cleans out the bacteria. Dr. Denine Rice says, “Laser surgery helps clear out the bacteria, reducing swelling and bleeding – and best of all there is no cutting, so also no sutures.” Remember, if you leave periodontal disease alone, it can wreak havoc on your entire body, not just your mouth.

If your gums bleed when you brush or floss it is recommended you visit the dentist or periodontist in order to get the problem take care of.

3 Tips Your Periodontist Can Recommend To Save Your Smile

 Your smile is critical, as within seven seconds you make a first impression. The health and look of your smile could be the difference between a promotion and not getting a job at all. Or it may cause you to miss out on meeting that special someone. If your gums have receded and bleed when you brush and floss, you’ll want to visit the periodontist today for a consultation. Here are three ways she can help.

Dr. Rice states, "laser surgery is a fantastic alternative to traditional periodontal surgery." A laser can be utilized in order to go below the gum line and clean out the bacteria. This procedure takes less time then traditional periodontal surgery, and does not require sutures. Once the treatment has occurred it will decrease bleeding and inflammation.

Gum graft surgery can help restore the look of your smile if your gums are uneven and receding. Tissue can be taken from the pallet of your mouth and placed in the locations around the mouth where your gums have receded. This surgery does require some time to heal, but once completed it can restore your smile to a beautiful and healthy look. Then you only need to incorporate a regular brushing and flossing routine for after the procedure.

Dental implants can be a great way of replacing missing or badly cracked teeth. Implants are artificial posts placed into the jawbone, but once restored will look and feel like real teeth. Implants allow you to regain the natural looking smile of your youth. They also require a brushing and flossing routine, and should last a lifetime if they are taken care of.

Call Dr. Rice & her team today for a healthy smile tomorrow.

Don’t Lie-Just Floss

Thousands of adults each day climb into their dentist's chair and reportedly lie to them about flossing. While the lie is intended to prevent them from getting caught by dentists and periodontists for not taking care of their smile, this lie can be causing serious damage. So, Dr. Denine Rice suggests, “Instead of feeling a need to lie, incorporate healthy flossing habits and save your smile.”

Flossing can be painful and difficult at first, especially if you have gingivitis or the start of periodontal disease. Your gums may be very sensitive or bleed when you floss. Over time, if the gingivitis is not severe, you should be able to toughen up the gums and decrease their sensitivity.

The alternative option to flossing is losing your teeth. Flossing is the single act that can save your smile for a lifetime. There is no other way to remove food from in between the teeth. Once you have eaten, food that stays between the teeth converts to sugar, which can increase bacteria levels and cause decay. Periodontist Dr. Rice says, "the bacteria can go below the gum line, eat away at healthy bone, which then causes your gums to recede."

Flossing can be done when you wake up, in between meals and when you go to bed at night. Or you can floss one time a day, just pick a routine and stick to it. When you are first beginning to floss again, you’ll want to pick floss that you like and is comfortable and then establish your healthy routine.

Next time you are at the store, don’t forget the floss! Your gums will thank you.

4 Warning Signs Of Gum Disease

You don’t wake up one day and all of a sudden be plagued with periodontal disease.  There are multiple warning signs that lead up to the problem. The first sign you may run in to is in your bathroom. There is no floss anywhere in it. Dr. Rice suggests, “If you do not have dental floss in your home, you will eventually develop periodontal disease.”  It is impossible to maintain a healthy smile if you are not reaching for the floss at least one time a day.

Redness is caused when food stays below the gum line and begins to irritate it. Your gum’s natural healthy color should be pink.

Swollen gums are a warning sign you have gingivitis. Gingivitis is the beginning stages of periodontal disease. If your gums are swollen, begin to floss at least one time a day on a regular basis and your gums should quickly return to a healthy state. If they do not and the problem persists you will want to schedule an appointment with your dentist to ensure the problem is not more severe than you originally thought.

Do your gums bleed when you brush and floss? You may believe if you only see a little bit of blood that you do not have a problem. Healthy gums do not bleed at all when brushing or flossing.

Gingivitis does not usually coincide with pain in the mouth. You may believe you do not have a serious problem until it is too late. If you develop any of the signs above, visiting your general dentist, beginning a regular floss problem and brushing regularly can get your smile back to a healthy state.

Promise To Love, Honor & Floss Your Gums

We beat up and take advantage of our gums everyday. We even forget to say thank you to them by not flossing.  Reclaim your promise to your gums during this dental season help restore their health. You only have one set of teeth and they can last a lifetime if you take care of them. Not taking care of them causes seriously dental consequences.

 

Show your teeth and gums your love by flossing just one time a day. Go to the store and find a floss that is easy to use, with the right flavor that is going to get you motivated to floss. Some individuals prefer to have flossers instead of regular dental floss or unwaxed floss. Your periodontist Dr. Denine Rice, does not care what kind of floss you use, it is just important to use it.

Dr. Rice suggests, “Start by flossing at the same time every day. It takes twenty-one days to create a habit.” It will create consistency if you floss everyday at the same time. Habits are created, by completing an action repetitively and flossing at the same time will help keep this important task at the forefront of your brain.

 Put the floss out on the counter where you can see it. It’s harder to ignore something you are supposed to do if it is staring you in the face. Brushing is unable to remove food from below the gum line and between the teeth, while flossing is the only activity that saves your gums from gingivitis and periodontal disease. It can also save you from a lifetime of overall decline in your health.

Recommit To Your Gums

Sitting in the dental chair, your dentist may ask you how often you brush and floss. Before you think about it, out pops the answer, “I brush and floss everyday.” But is that true? Studies show that a large number of adults fib about how often they brush and floss.

Now is a great time to recommit to your gums, and floss one time a day. In order to get excited about flossing, start by finding a floss you like. There are multiple kinds that can be used, in different flavors and thicknesses. Determine if you want to use a flosser or if you like the mint flavored floss versus peppermint.

Commit to flossing everyday around the same time, either in the morning or in the evening or after lunch. Pick one time you can be committed to as this will make it easier to complete the task.  It takes twenty-one days to days to create a new habit.  Floss for twenty-one days so it no longer feels like a chore, but a habit.  Flossing one time a day will help strengthen your gums and decrease inflammation, pain or bleeding.

Dr. Denine Rice recommends, “Recommit to your smile and create a healthy, positive habit.

6 Ways To Improve Your Oral Health

While there are millions of bacteria that live in your mouth on any given day, you don’t have to stand by and allow them to take your beautiful healthy smile away. It’s time to begin a strategic attack in order to battle decay and disease to get your smile back to a natural and healthy state. Optimal oral health is about more than cosmetic dentistry or seeing your periodontist, it’s about replacing old habits with new ones that will allow you to have a beautiful smile.

1.     Drink water. Drinking water is the easiest way to help decrease disease and decay and get your smile back to healthy. Water helps remove food from the teeth and keeps your mouth from getting dry.

2.     Eat fruit. Not only does fruit have a high concentration of water already in it, it’s low in sugar,“ says One of Inland Empire’s Top Dentists, Dr. Denine Rice. Foods with a high concentration of water increase the chance of sugar causing cavities and decay and increase bacteria counts in the mouth.

3.     Decrease the consumption of all other foods with sugar in them. The summer time provides an increased opportunity for spending time with loved ones enjoying cakes and other treats. Avoid large quantities of the goodies and make sure to brush as soon as you can.

4.     Avoid soda. Soda has a large amount of sugar and acid that attacks the enamel on your teeth. 

5.     Floss your teeth at least once a day. There is no reason to lie to your dentist because if you are not brushing it will show up during your routine cleaning. Floss is critical to keeping your smile healthy; it is the only option for removing food between the teeth.

     Visit your periodontist and have any procedures completed that need to be done to help keep your smile at its brightest and healthiest.

Talk to Dr. Rice & her team for more options.

How Often Do You Floss?

A National survey found, more than a quarter of adults admit to lying to their dentist about how often they floss. (Perio.org). While flossing is one of the most important tasks you can do to ensure a healthy, white smile, many adults admit they don’t want to get caught by their dentist not taking care of their smile.  Flossing is recommended by periodontist Dr. Denine Rice, because, “It is the single most important activity for removing food between the teeth and ensuring periodontal disease doesn’t impact your gums.”

 

Brushing allows you to remove food from the tops of your teeth, but no matter how great your toothbrush is, the bristles do not reach down far enough and remove food from between the teeth.  Brushing is great for your teeth, flossing ensures your gums stay healthy.

Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice recommends, “Floss at least one time a day.” If you eat foods that are sticky, or high in carbohydrates, you might want to floss immediately after eating as these foods have a tendency to stay on your teeth longer, allowing unwanted bacteria to begin the process of decay. While saliva will rinse some foods from between your teeth, carbohydrates tend to stay stuck to your teeth until you brush and floss.

4 Of July Foods That Improve Your Smile!

Backyard BBQ’s, friends and family are a great way to celebrate your Fourth of July.  Here are some recommended foods that can save your smile this holiday. Instead of partaking in foods high in sugar and fat, try switching out the chips with a vegetable plate instead.

Vegetables high in water concentration such as carrots and cucumbers allow food to be washed from your teeth. This helps to prevent bacteria from attacking the enamel in between brushing. It also helps hydrate your mouth during the hot, outdoor festivities. Moisture in the mouth helps to control bacteria in the mouth from attacking the teeth.

Watermelon is a fantastic fruit for this Fourth of July. Not only is it a great source of vitamins, it’s easy to pack up and take to your family’s house for the festivities or bring back along with you to the fireworks. Watermelon has a high concentration of water and keeps your smile shining bright.

Drink water that is naturally flavored with strawberries, kiwi or cucumber. All of these foods are naturally high in water concentration. You’ll want to keep away from the soda and other high acidic drinks to keep your smile in great shape.  “Flavoring your water naturally gives you the great taste of fruits and vegetables without the negative effects of powders on the market today,” says Dr. Denine Rice.