Love Your Gums!

It be easy to blow off the care that your gums need. You may think, "what’s one day of not flossing or brushing? How bad can it be?" You may even think, "no biggie I’ll catch them up tomorrow by flossing twice." Unfortunately, while your gums and your periodontist appreciate you flossing and brushing the next day when you forget, regular habits is the way to show your gums you love them and keep them for a lifetime.

Your gums are more sensitive than you think. Food left on the gums and teeth can cause damage, decay and even bleeding. Left for too long without the love they need in order to be healthy, and they begin to recede, become puffy and eventually you may lose teeth due to the neglect of your gums. While one day or night may not show you the wear and tear on your gums that is going to do permanent damage, not engaging in this critical routine can create the long lasting damage that is difficult to repair.

If you struggle to floss because you cannot find a time of the day, try doing it right after you eat lunch or dinner. Put floss in various locations around your house, in order to alleviate the excuse that you have to walk up the stairs.

Your Gums are designed to last a lifetime, for more information on your gum health, contact Dr. Rice and her team.

Do You Love Your Gums?

February was the month of love, and perio.org and Dr. Rice were there to remind you to love your gums. But did you? Did you floss more? Or did you commit to brushing 2x a day? Did you visit your periodontist or have a laser periodontal procedure completed? Well, it is not too late. Just because February was the month of love doesn’t mean that March can’t be a month of change.

Millions of adults continue to fib to their periodontist about flossing, but unfortunately this is not something you can hide. Once you forget to floss for long periods of time your gums become red, swollen and may even bleed. As soon as you smile your gums tell Dr. Denine Rice and her team the truth, even before you have time to speak.

You only have one set of natural gums and while technology has come along way and you certainly can be given gum graft procedures to reconstruct your smile, why go through this when you can simply, “Love Your Gums,” and keep them healthy for a lifetime.

Make March your month of change. Find floss you love or a water pic you can’t live without. Take advantage of a sale on floss and stock up. Don’t let one more day go by without sharing your healthy gums with the world.

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. 

Gum Assessment

What Do Your Gums Say About You?

Our gums are the roadmap to our health. If they are unhealthy it can mean problems for your entire body. Once periodontal disease takes hold, it can impact your heart, liver, and other body systems. So, how do you know when your gums are unhealthy and when they are fine and just need a good cleaning. “Take this short five question quiz for more information,” suggests Dr. Denine Rice.

1.     Do your gums bleed when you floss?

2.     When you brush do your gums bleed?

3.     Do you have sensitivity when brushing?

4.     Are there are black or dark spots on your gums?

5.     Do your teeth wiggle?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions you are in need of at least a visit to Dr. Rice and her team. They can help complete an oral exam to determine what support your smile needs today.  Don’t wait too long for your consultation. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to lose your teeth. And once you have lost one tooth, you are more likely to lose more.  Schedule your appointment with a periodontist for a comprehensive exam to determine what level of support you need.

Love Your Gums with Cosmetic Procedures

Cosmetic dentistry may be something you have been considering for a long time. Are you unsure how your cosmetic periodontist can help? Here are three tips that Dr. Rice recommends for patients who are unhappy with their smile. 

1. Evaluate the overall health of your gums. Do they bleed when you floss or brush? Are there signs of decay? Are gums uneven when you smile? Do they appear puffy, swollen and/or have lost their healthy pink color? These are all signs that you may have periodontal disease. Prior to any other cosmetic procedures, it is important to get your gum health back to normal.
2. Are you missing any teeth? This can be embarrassing when you go for a job interview. You may have become accustomed to lip smiling, however employers report that a smile is one of the first things they evaluate when interviewing a new employee. If you have missing or broken teeth, there are a variety of options to replace the missing teeth.
3. A gum graft procedure is a fantastic cosmetic procedure that can even out the appearance of your gums. If they are uneven in the front due to trauma or periodontal disease, using the skin from the roof of your mouth can allow your smile to be beautiful again.

Your smile is important, don’t wait for cosmetic dentistry to regain the health and beauty of your smile. 

It’s Never Too Late

Don’t give up on your smile and your gums! It is never too late to restore your smile back to its mint and youthful condition. Brushing and flossing regularly can decrease the negative effects of food, decay and bleeding gums. You do not have to wait until your teeth fall out to make positive changes.

If you have gingivitis and your gums bleed when you floss, or you have pockets that are 3 or 4’s, flossing two times a day can stop the long lasting impact of your old flossing habits. Dr. Rice says, “Your gums do not hold a grudge so put down the excuses and pick up the floss.”

If you have periodontal disease, you may need to visit a periodontist to get your smile back on track, but once laser surgery has occurred and the decay is under control, it can increase your overall health and that of your smile, while reducing your swelling, bleeding, and receding gums. You will still need to be seen on a regular basis, for maintenance, as deeper pockets need additional help to be kept clean.

Dr. Denine Rice states, “Flossing regularly can stop any future tooth loss.” One hundred and seventy-eight million people are missing a tooth.  Once you loose one tooth, typically other ones will also fall out because of the lack of stimulation to the jawbone. Flossing removes food from between the teeth that causes decay to seep into the gum line producing problems with the health of your smile.

Don’t wait. Make changes today!

Can Dental Implants Help You?

Dental implants can be a phenomenal opportunity for you to fix your smile if you have broken, cracked or missing teeth. By placing implants where you have missing teeth, your smile can look brand new.  Individuals report that their smile is one of the greatest attributes that impact them, positive or negative.

           

While implants are not the only option available to you if you have teeth that are broken, they may be the best option to replace teeth after extraction.  Implants can be fused into the jawbone, and once they are integrated, you are able to treat them as you would your real teeth.  Which means, you will need to continue to implement a brushing and flossing routine that will help keep your implants in tip top shape and provide you the smile you deserve.

If you are considering implants, Dr. Denine Rice can conduct a thorough examination in order to determine if there is any periodontal disease or other problems that need to be take care of first. It is important to clear up any periodontal disease prior to placing an implant as the disease can impact the foundation of your smile – your bone.

Your smile is the only curve that sets everything straight; don’t waste time with a smile you can’t show off to the world. Contact Dr. Rice today.

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.

3 Secrets From Your Periodontist

           

Do you spend time chatting with your periodontist? Well, we did. We sat down with periodontist Dr. Rice in order to see what advice she gives to patients.

Your gums are a precious commodity that can help keep your smile looking fantastic. Don’t take for granted you’ll always have healthy gums.  

1. "Brush in circles - not back and forth", says periodontist Dr. Denine Rice. It is critical in taking care of your gums. Back and forth may cause recession. You have to be gentle with the tissue, they are not made of hard enamel like your teeth. 

2. Bacteria is normal in the mouth - but bacteria can grow out of control if not held in check. There are more bacteria in your mouth than there are people in the entire world. If you don’t keep brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist, this bacteria can take over in your mouth, causing you major problems down the line. 

3. Flossing can add years to your life. While flossing not only ensures the health of your gums, it allows you to keep your teeth. Flossing ensures you keep your gums healthy and in the best shape of your life. Bacteria and food can build up between your teeth causing periodontal disease.   

7 Ways To Recommit To Your Gums

If you take advantage of your gums, they will eventually begin to break down. Your gums are sensitive and require you to take special care of them in order to keep them in tip-top shape. Here are seven tips to keep your gums healthy.

1.     Brush 2x a day

           While this is not new advice, this is certainly the most critical. "If you’re not brushing, you’re inviting bacteria to attack the enamel of your teeth, says Dr. Denine Rice.

2.     Floss daily

           Flossing allows you to remove any bacteria or food left over between your teeth. While brushing is your first line of defense, in order to get between the teeth you have to floss. Find floss you love to make this an easier process.

 3. Drink water

            Water isn’t only for your body, it’s super important to your teeth as well. Water helps keep your mouth moist to remove food particles stuck on your teeth between brushing.

4. Eat veggies containing water – like celery

            Veggies high in water help provide a clean white look to your teeth. “Veggies not only help keep your body healthy, but they ensure your smile is staying as healthy as you want it as well,” says Dr. Rice.

 5. Eat fruit

            Fruit, like the vegetables, help rinse food away from the teeth and gums.

6. Avoid tobacco products

            Tobacco creates multiple problems for your gums. Not only does it carry dangerous carcinogens that cause cancer, it also dries out your mouth. The dryer your mouth is the more opportunity for bacteria to grow, attacking your gums.

 7. See your dentist as recommended.

            Visiting your dentist on a regular basis allows any problems to be detected early and allows for any problems to be taken care of.  

3 Secrets From Your Periodontist

           

Do you spend time chatting with your periodontist? Well, we did. We sat down with periodontist Dr. Rice in order to see what advice she gives to patients.