What Your Gums Are Trying To Tell You?

Your gums can communicate a lot. They can tell your periodontist whether you floss and brush regularly. They can tell your periodontist whether you are struggling with oral cancer or whether your diet is a healthy one, or if it is full of carbohydrates and fast food. Spending time with your periodontist can help you to figure out what healthy choices you want to put in place for your life. So, stop and listen to what your periodontist is saying your gums are telling him or her. Here are the signs your periodontist sees that tell them your gums and your body are crying for help.

If your gums are receding and they bleed when you brush and floss it means you have the early signs of periodontal disease. If this problem is left untreated, your gums will continue to pull away, potentially causing serious problems for you and your smile. Your gums are a pocket that should fit around your teeth tight, but when they are not taken care of it causes them to begin to pull away.

Do you enjoy pizza, bread, and chips? Diets high in carbohydrates tend to cause problems for your smile because those foods stick to your teeth and mix with the bacteria, that is already in your mouth. By not brushing and flossing properly it can cause decay and periodontal disease. Individuals who have periodontal disease are more likely to be impacted by heart disease then individuals who do not have periodontal disease.

For more information on what your gums are telling you and cosmetic ways to improve your smile, contact Dr. Denine Rice and her team.

Skip The Candy This Halloween Season and Keep Your Gums Healthy

With Halloween and the holidays right around the corner you may be tempted to reach into those candy bags, but stop yourself. The more candy you consume the more damage you could potentially be causing to your healthy smile. Sugar mixes with bacteria that is in your mouth, which then causes decay and cavities. Decay and cavities that are not taken care of can eventually cause problems for your gums as well.

When food stays on your teeth for two or more days the plaque hardens and becomes tartar. This tartar sits on the gum and is a hard substance that is difficult to get off of your teeth with normal brushing and flossing. You may scrub and scrub but it will not come off. Tartar on your teeth can then lead to gingivitis. Once your gums are impacted with gingivitis, if it is not taken care of, it can lead to periodontal disease. Dr.Denine Rice and her team, can help put together a plan that will get your smile back on track.

For more information on the impact of sugar on your gums, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

5 Ways To Create Healthy Looking Gums

Your gums protect your teeth from more than just sensitivity to hot and cold. Without your gums your teeth would not be able to stay in your mouth. As time goes on they may begin to break down or recede. Without proper brushing and flossing routines, they may be puffy, swollen and bleed when you brush and floss. This is not normal and can be reversed with these 6 habits.

1.     Brush regularly.

2.     Visit the dentist for a routine cleaning. Once you have this completed they can let you know if you have periodontal disease or gingivitis and need to consult with a periodontist.

3.     Eat healthy foods. This cannot be stressed enough when it comes to your oral health. Fresh fruits and vegetables with a high concentration of water and low concentration of natural sugar helps to keep food from sticking to your teeth. The longer food is on your teeth the more at risk you are for bacteria to run rampant damaging your gums.

4.     Floss at least 1x a day. While recent reports have suggested that flossing may just be a great idea, there is no other solution that removes food from between the teeth and keeps your gums free from food.

5.     Do not put off seeing the periodontist. Once it has been recommended that you visit a periodontist the sooner you get an appointment the sooner you can be on your way to healthy gums.

For more information on how to keep your gums healthy contact Dr. Rice and her team.

Be Proud & Flash Your Pearly Whites

Your gums are the foundation to a healthy smile. When your gums are happy and healthy, your smile is happy and healthy. Periodontal disease can attack the gums, causing them to recede or look puffy, red and swollen. Not only does periodontal disease have a negative impact on your smile and body, it can have a negative impact on your self-esteem. So, treat yourself to a Laser Periodontal treatment and start enjoying your smile again.

Some say that a smile is more important than any other characteristic in creating a warm and likeable personality. It invites people to communicate with you. It shows you are interested in the story your friend is telling, and from across the room your smile lets someone know that you would like to talk to them further. Our smile can communicate what our words fail to say.

But not smiling because you are embarrassed by your smile can communicate the wrong message. People may think you are unfriendly, angry or sad when you are not. Pursing your lips too tight in order to avoid showing off your teeth can cause wrinkle lines around your mouth, which in turn can cause you to look older than you are.

If you are feeling uncomfortable with smiling due to periodontal disease or other gum problems, contact Dr. Rice and her team today!

Come on in for a sunny smile at Rice Laser Periodontics and Implant Surgery!

As the summer winds down and you head back to work your lunches may be filled with carbs and you may not have brushed the way you are supposed to. This year give yourself the gift of a beautiful, healthy smile. There is no time like the present to get the smile you deserve. There are multiple cosmetic options that Dr. Denine Rice and her team can help with.

If you are faced with uneven gums or receding gums, gum graft surgery can even out your gums. It is important for you to have self-confidence and a healthy smile can improve your self-confidence as you head back to work. If you have been to the periodontist and they have recommended gum graft surgery, it will be okay. Take a deep breath. With the latest technology and options this procedure has become more routine and requires less downtime.

Receding gums may be a problem you didn’t even notice you were facing. This usually occurs over time and isn’t always noticeable right away. Often times, you spend money on back to school clothes for your children, spend time on getting your nails done or fixing your hair. Now is the time to spend time on your smile.

For more information on improving your smile, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

Why Laser Procedures for Periodontal Disease May Be a Great Fit for You

If you have visited your dentist lately and they are concerned about periodontal disease, Dr.Denine Rice recommends taking time to look at whether dental laser surgery is right for you. Not only does laser dental surgery help decrease your overall dental pain, you have a shorter recovery time as well.  Traditional periodontal surgery would require your gums to be cut, areas scraped and then tissue sutured. Usually you could expect to be out of work for a day to several and some patients struggled to complete daily activities due to pain.

But now there is an awesome alternative to this problem. Laser periodontal procedures use thin lasers to remove bacteria from below the gum line. Once the laser has removed the plaque and the decay, Dr. Denine Rice will move to the next quadrant. No need for sutures because there is nothing to cut. No need for longer recovery time because using lasers allows for very little swelling and problems. In fact, most people go back to work the very next day if not a few hours later.

While laser surgery may not be the right fit for everyone, enjoy a consultation today with Dr. Rice & her team in order to determine if this is the right fit for you.

Do You Love Your Gums?

Your gums and you may have a love hate relationship. You may wake up in the morning with a desire to treat them better. But as the day goes on, you might forget that you have to treat them with love. Dr. Rice recommends, “The more love you show them, the better they will treat you.” Unfortunately, left to themselves, your gums may make a nasty turn for the worse.  If continued to be left untreated, this problem can begin to attack your liver, heart and the rest of your body. Periodontal disease can negatively impact your smile, your gums and your body.

By committing to flossing 1x a day, you can turn this relationship around. Recommit to loving your gums and show them the interest they deserve. There is no other way to remove food from between the teeth and no other act of love you can show them that is greater than flossing.

While flossing is the top activity you can complete to save your gums and your body, drinking plenty of water can rinse food from your teeth in between brushing and flossing. Food that is left on your teeth can destroy your smile. But drinking plenty of water can help to keep your smile healthy for a lifetime.

For more information on how to prevent Periodontal disease contact, Dr. Rice and her team today.

Show Your Gums Some Love

It is never too late to change your dental practices. If you are not a regular flosser you can go to the store right now and pick up floss that is going to change the course of your smile. On the other hand, you can run out and purchase a different brand of toothpaste that encourages you to brush 2x a day. No matter where your habits are at, don’t wait. Your gums deserve better. 

Our gums have the important job of protecting the roots of our teeth and holding them in place. Dr. Rice explains, “Gums ensure we are able to enjoy the foods  we consume.” Without our gums, there would be no way for our teeth to stay where they need to. Don’t let your gums do all the work. We promise, when you take care of them they’ll love you back.

This Valentine's Day, recommit to loving your gums and preventing gingivitis and periodontal disease. Your gums will thank you. 

For more information on how to protect your gums, contact Dr. Rice & her team today. 

How To Avoid Gum Damage

Don't take chances with your gum health. Brushing and flossing are critical to the health of your smile, and vigorous brushing can cause unrepairable damage to your gums. Your gums do the difficult job of holding your teeth in place. Without them, your teeth would wobble and eventually fall out. Here are 3 steps from Dr. Rice on how to brush correctly.

1. Get a soft bristle toothbrush. The soft bristles can easily move around your gums to remove food from your teeth. This is the safest choice to make when chosing a new toothbrush because it can help protect your gums when brushing food debris away.

2. Brush your teeth in small circles. It is critical to brush the fronts and back of your teeth. This will remove any food that is stuck on your teeth.  Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice says, "Do not move the brush back and forth. This increases the opportunity for the bristles of the brush to meet the soft tissue of your gums causing damage to the tissue."

3. Don't brush the gums. Brushing the gums will cause the tissue to break down. You want to position your tooth brush to remove food from the enamel on your teeth. This will decrease the opportunity for debris to go below the gumline.

                      For me information on how to brush properly contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

3 Reasons To Get A Periodontal Cosmetic Procedure

There is still time for you to get the healthy gums you want. While the countdown to the Holidays is occurring, and you may be in the full swing of shopping, don't forget to give yourself the gift of a healthy smile. Dr. Denine Rice says, "it can be easy when you're shopping for everyone around you to forget to take care of you." Don't put off your dental needs any longer. As the year comes to a close you could lose out on dental insurance benefits you have already paid for. This is the perfect time to get the smile you have always wanted. 

During this season, you can take advantage of laser surgery to decrease symptoms of periodontal disease. The longer you put off this necessary procedure the worse the long-term impact can be. While disease starts in your gums, left on its own it can enter your blood stream and impact your heart, liver and overall health.
 

Current research suggests that only 13.5% of people get help with their periodontal disease, (Perio.org). Now there is no reason to wait because once the new year begins dental insurance benefits you've already paid for are gone. Today you can take charge and make the choice to love your gums & achieve a lifetime of smiles. Millions of Americans are negatively impacted by gingivitis and periodontal disease. You don't have to be one of the millions.  

Contact Dr. Rice & her team today for more information.

Say, “I Do!”

This insurance year, say “I do to your smile,” and complete a thirty-day flossing challenge to enhance your smile,” recommends Dr. Rice. Periodontal disease in most Americans is caused by not flossing. The only way to reduce your chance of periodontal disease is to floss your teeth and remove the food that builds up on the sides of your teeth. This season, before your insurance runs out get in to your periodontal specialist if you are out of care and then agree to floss everyday for thirty-days and see if this makes a difference in the overall health of your smile.

While you are changing and committing to have a healthier you, it is important to get any recommended periodontal procedure done to remove bacteria from your gums that is causing your periodontal disease to be worse. You only have one set of gums, it is important to keep them in healthy, working condition. Prior to your insurance benefits running out for the year take advantage of this awesome opportunity to improve your gum health.

There is no reason to wait until you lose a tooth or until your periodontal disease impacts your smile before committing to gum health. Not only does decay impact your smile when left untreated, but it can impact your entire body as well.

This year take advantage of your dental benefits and say yes to your smile.

For more information contact, Dr. Denine Rice & her team today.

It’s Not Too Late

While the holidays are fast approaching it is not too late to visit periodontist Dr. Denine Rice and her team to get the right periodontal care you need. Do you have missing? Research shows that once you lose one tooth it is likely you are going to lose another. Don’t let your smile be hidden, in another holiday family photo, because you are embarrassed.

When the holidays end, many times so do your insurance benefits for the year, but there are procedures that can be completed to give you the smile you’ve always wanted.

 

Implants look and act like real teeth. They are placed into the jawbone in order to provide stability to the tooth. It is important, if you receive implants, to brush and floss daily in order to keep from developing problems again in the future.

A fixed bridge is an alternative option as long as the teeth, jawbone and gum tissue on either side of the missing tooth are strong enough to hold the bridge. Since this does require that the gums are healthy – you wouldn’t want to build a house on a poor foundaton – it is in your best interest to visit your periodontist and determine if your gums are healthy and the bone strong enough to support your bridge..

It is important to have a consultation in order to determine which option is the best option for you to replace your missing teeth, and either way, it’s a good idea to speak to a specialist. While there are several options available due to the health of your gums and other teeth, one option may work better than other.

Contact Dr. DenineRice & her team today for options.

Laser Surgery Can Do More Than Save Your Gums

Have you been looking in the mirror and wondering if a laser can change your smile? Are you unhappy with the color of your gums? Or want to improve the overall health of your gums back to their natural, healthy pink color? Laser surgery can improve the overall look and health of your smile.

Periodontal disease used to have to be controlled using in a painful process of scrapping and cutting the gums in order to get deep below the gum line. This procedure allowed bacteria that caused periodontal disease to be taken care of and to get your gum health back on track. Now there is no reason to go through this process because lasers can do the job and without the need to cut or sew.

The tiny lasers on the LANAP laser are also able to impact the color of the gums. If you are unhappy for any reason with the pigment color, in a few short sessions, Periodontist Dr. Rice, can help you achieve the result you are happy with. Ensuring confidence and pride in your smile.

Periodontal disease, trauma or smoking can cause damage to the gums. They may bleed, be swollen or change color, and laser surgery, can help remove the bacteria below the gum line. Once the bacteria are gone, your gums can begin the process of healing and reattaching correctly to the teeth. Healthy, pink gums help hold your teeth in the right place and ensure your smile is the smile you want to enjoy for a lifetime.

For more information, contact Dr. Denine Rice & her team toda

3 Positives To Your Dental Insurance Calendar Year Running Out

The dental year is quickly winding down. You may have insurance benefits you have not used. Whether you were holding onto them because you didn’t want to waste them in the event of a dental emergency, or you just haven’t thought about the fantastic benefit of having dental insurance lately, “You have now come upon a great opportunity,” says Periodontist Dr.Rice.

During this time, you may now be able to take advantage of getting laser surgery for periodontal disease and the insurance benefits can be spread out over two insurance years. Periodontal disease can impact not only your gums and teeth, but it can also negatively impact your entire body.

Dental insurance can also be used to fix and restore your smile. If your gums have receded due to periodontal disease, gum-contouring procedures can many times reshape your gums to allow your teeth to be more even and to enhance your smile. While this procedure may sound cosmetic in nature, lower gums can increase the risk of teeth becoming loose and it may eventually lead to tooth loss.

Fixing missing teeth can improve the overall look of your smile and make a huge difference in the first impression you present. While periodontists work with your gums Dr. Denine Rice is able to also help improve your smile by working on improving the strength of your jawbone to ensure it can hold any dental implants needed to fix missing teeth.

For more information on procedures to improve your smile, contact Dr. Rice & her team today!

One Stop Shop

A periodontist is not just a periodontist, they are a one-stop shop to restoring your gums back to their healthy state. Periodontal disease can impact your smile in dramatic ways. It can increase bleeding, tooth loss, and gum recession. But with a little help from your periodontist, all of that can be changed.

“Gum graft surgery allows for the gums to be evened out if needed,” says Dr. Denine Rice. Sometimes due to trauma, accidents or dental neglect, the gums in the front begin to recede. In order to apply the amount of gums to properly cover the teeth, a smooth piece of skin may be removed from the roof of the mouth, and placed at the gum area.

Missing teeth can be restored by dental implants. This procedure may take a few months to complete, due to the importance of getting a good fit, and the help that the jawbone may need, in order to support the new tooth. A periodontist is a great choice for this procedure, because of their expertise on the jawbone and gum tissue.  

Your smile deserves the love and care you provide to the rest of your body. Take time and find out your possible solutions for a restored smile.

Visit or call Dr.Rice today!

Periodontal Disease & How It Can Impact You

It is unfortunate but women, during a variety of times in their lives, can be at a higher risk for periodontal disease. As your body and hormones change, your teeth can be at greater risk.  While cosmetic surgery can help improve your smile, it’s important to take care of the foundation, which are your gums to reduce the risks to your teeth. Dr. Denine Rice, states, “There are four critical hormonal times that may decrease the health of your smile if you do not brush, floss and visit the dentist regularly.“

Puberty is the first burst of hormones that can impact your gums. There tends to be a rush of blood to the gums, which can cause an increase in irritation.

During menstruation some women can experience menstruation gingivitis. Right before your period begins you may notice your gums are bleeding, swollen and puffy. Usually this clears up after your period has stopped.

During pregnancy the hormones in your system can increase, leaving you at risk for periodontal disease. If this is not taken care of it can impact the health of your baby. “Visit the periodontist if you find your gums are swollen, bleeding and you are not able to reduce the symptoms with regular flossing and brushing,” says Dr. Rice.

Menopause and Post Menopause. Along with a variety of other symptoms, some women can have dry mouth or experience burning of the gums along with bleeding, swollen and sensitive tissue.

These factors, while they increase your chances of having periodontal disease, don’t mean you need to let it get that far. Visit the dentist if you are experiencing any of these symptoms and they do not go away with a regular dental routine. 

Never To Late To Love You’re Gums

Your gums are a precious commodity to your mouth. Dr. Denine Rice suggests, "you have only one natural set of tissue and it is critical to keeping your smile in the best shape of its life." Don’t take advantage of your gums because you believe they will always be there for you. If you continue to not brush, floss or visit the dentist, you’ll soon find that your mouth is riddled with problems that create twice the challenges and cost many more dollars to fix.

Recommit to loving your gums by picking up the floss and using it. Hundreds of adults lie to their dentist about whether they floss and how often.  But there is no reason to lie, because one look at your gums tells the whole story.  As you continue, day after day, to not floss, the pocket in between your gums and teeth will begin to expand. “Once this process begins,” Dr. Rice says, “it is more difficult to heal and many times requires periodontal treatment.

Flossing is the perfect thing to your dental routine, but brushing and visiting the dentist are just as important. Brushing can help remove any food that remains on your teeth. The longer food stays on and in between your teeth the sooner decay begins to set in.

If your gums bleed or are swollen and red, visit a periodontist for a cleaning and a plan in order to decrease the opportunity for your gums to be negatively impacted.

Periodontist and Cosmetic Dentistry

While you may not think of cosmetic dentistry and a periodontist in the same sentence, both have the ability to save your smile after the negative effects of periodontal disease has impacted it, or to increase the beauty in a natural smile. There are multiple options to support your smile or get it back to normal.

 If your gums have receded due to periodontal disease, placing gum tissue into that area of the gums can help restore your smile to a beautiful radiant look. Many times, gum tissue can be grafted using excess tissue from your other teeth.  If there is not enough tissue, Dr. Rice may be able to use tissue from the roof of the mouth to help even out the gums in the front.

Bone loss can cause a smile you are not proud of. While you may have fixed the periodontal disease, you may now be left with missing teeth and bone loss. , To restore your natural look, a bone grafting procedure may be needed  prior to implant surgery. Once your implant restoration is completed, you’ll once again have the smile you’ve always loved.

Periodontist, Dr. Denine Rice can also help change your smile by completing depigmentation of the gums using a laser. This process can remove the color of the gums or to even out the color. By utilizing a laser, this safe and effective procedure that can give you the look you’ve always wanted.

If you are faced with any of these and are looking to restore your smile, contact Dr. Rice and her team.

Don’t Dry Out Your Gums-They Love Water!

Are you drinking enough water? Why does it matter you ask? Dehydration is caused by medications, disease and lack of water. As you go about your day, you may forget to drink anything at all because you are busy working, taking care of the kids, and juggling that new client. Nevertheless, you don’t want to miss opportunities to drink a little water. “It's detrimental to your gums to be dehydrated,” says Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice. 
Dry mouth means saliva isn't produced and cannot cleanse the mouth of bacteria that live below the gum tissue. While you're moving through your day, dry mouth is allowing all kinds of nasty bacteria to live and breed. This increased level of decay can cause recession, swollen and bleeding gums. If you have less saliva it can also compromise your mouth’s ability to naturally wash away any food you have consumed throughout the day. The longer food is on your teeth and gums the better opportunity it has to cause cavities.  
Your gums are sensitive and can be damaged easily. Without a natural moisturizer to keep them healthy, your gums can lose their pretty pink color. Dr. Rice suggests, “Drink water today for a healthier smile tomorrow.”