10 Things You Should Know About Your Gums

Your gums are an important part of your mouth and require you to take extra special care of them. Here are ten things you should know to protect your gums.

1.     Gums are soft tissue that can be impacted by bacteria from food and certain drinks.

2.     Your gums can last a lifetime if you take care of them. As long as your brush, floss and visit the dentist on a regular basis you can avoid most major dental problems.

3.     Brushing and flossing removes bacteria from the mouth that can damage the gums. Bacteria is found in the mouth in mass quantities. By brushing and flossing regularly you are not going to remove all of the bacteria, but you will be able to manage it.

4.     Fruits and vegetables with a high concentration of water can remove leftover food from your gums.

5.     Gums help protect your teeth from damage.

6.     Decay can go beneath the gum line to cause additional damage.

7.     If your gums begin to recede due to bacteria, it can cause problems with your teeth, as most likely the bone is being lost as well.

8.     Unhealthy gums can cause sensitivity for teeth.

9.     Healthy gums do not bleed and are not red or swollen.

10.  When unhealthy bacteria taken care of, your gum health can improve.

3 Ways to Ward Off Gum Disease During Menopause

During menopause there is sometimes an increase of gum disease due to the hormonal changes in the body. This increase in hormones can bring a host of trouble including inflamed gums, gum recession, swollen and bleeding gums. How do you protect your gums during this time? Dr. Denine Rice suggests three simple rules to live by:

 

1.     Brush and floss on a regular basis. Brushing and flossing is important all the time, but it is even more critical during menopause. Simply by brushing 2x a day and flossing 1x a day you drastically decrease your risk of dental disease.

2.     Visit the dentist on a regular basis. Not only can a cleaning help protect your teeth and remove any hard plaque that may be below the gum line, your dental professional can also detect any major problems that may be brewing. Dr. Denine Rice recommends, “Discuss any problems you may be experiencing immediately with your dentist.”

3.      Treat hormonal imbalance. The imbalance of hormones in your body can contribute to the increase in risk of periodontal disease. “Brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist can help decrease the risk of periodontal disease, but unless you treat the imbalance you’re at a greater risk for developing long term periodontal problems,” says Dr. Rice.

How Do I Prevent Bone Loss?

Bone loss occurs when bacteria, over time, continue to attack the gum tissue and the pocket between your tooth and gums becomes deeper. The gums in a healthy mouth are like a tight sleeve that fit around your teeth.  “When you have advanced periodontal disease your gums pull away from the teeth,” says Dr. Denine Rice, the  periodontist at Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery in Riverside, CA. “Once this occurs, your tissue will not fit tightly and you may begin to loose some of your teeth.”

Your jaw is a bone that’s growth is stimulated by chewing movement. According to one of Inland Empire’s top dentists, Dr. Rice, “Once you have lost some of the teeth the amount of stimulation that your jaw has also begins to decrease.” On average an individual loses more than one tooth at a time due to advanced periodontal disease, this causes even less stimulation for the jaw. This decreased stimulation leads to bone loss in the jaw, which not only means tooth loss, but may also impact you ability to comfortably wear dentures or be a candidate for implants.  

To prevent this from occurring begins with proper oral care. Brushing your teeth twice a day is critical to the prevention of bone loss. As bacteria build up on the teeth it hardens and becomes tarter. Tarter that stays on the teeth attacks the enamel. By brushing your teeth twice a day, food is removed from the surface of the teeth preventing this build-up.

Flossing is the second most important habit. While at first when you are flossing your gums may bleed, over time your gums will become tougher. As they toughen up and you fight early signs of gingivitis, they will stop bleeding and become healthy again.

Dr. Denine Rice says, “You want to make sure to keep your six-month cleaning appointments.” At these visits your dentist can check for more serious conditions however, they also are able to provide a more thorough cleaning to scrape off any tarter build-up you may have missed.

Prevention is the key to preventing bone loss~

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!

                 

Electric Versus Manual Toothbrushes

Which brush is best? The answer to that question is: “The one you will use best,” says Dr. Denine Rice of RicePeriodontics and Implant Surgery in Riverside, California.

For some patients the manual toothbrush works well. When looking for a brush be sure you choose one with soft bristles and a handle that is comfortable. Brushing should be done using a circular motion that removes food particles from the teeth and also gently stimulates the gum tissue surrounding each tooth.

“Most often I recommend an electric toothbrush when a patient has dexterity challenges,” Dr. Rice adds. “An electric toothbrush allows for ease of use, especially for those who’ve had a stroke or who for other reasons have difficulty moving the brush a certain way.”

Even the best of brushers need to remember to floss. “The adage of floss the ones you wish to keep is true,” says Dr. Rice. Flossing disrupts bacteria between the teeth in areas that are inaccessible to your brush.

And don’t forget your routine visit to the hygienist. “Brushing and flossing is important, but only your dental professional can remove disease from pockets that surround your teeth.” Be sure to keep your recommended frequency as your dentist is working to keep your gums and bone, as well as your teeth in tip-top shape.

To learn more visit us at RicePeriodontics.com