Are Your Gums Swollen

It may seem like no big deal on a day-to-day basis to have swollen gums, but leaving this problem unsolved and up to nature can cause major problems later on. Swollen gums may be the beginning of periodontal disease and other gum problems. Here are six problems you may encounter if your gums are swollen due to improper or absent flossing routines in your day to day life. 

The most important thing is to not wait. If you notice your gums are swollen do not assume it is nothing and make sure to make an appointment with your periodontist, Dr. Rice and her team. It is critical for your smile to be analyzed and the problem to be taken care of. In the meantime, if you are not brushing or flossing regularly. You will want to begin with these healthy oral hygiene routines. 

Eat more fruits and vegetables and decrease your carbohydrate intake. Fruits and vegetables can remove food from the surface of the teeth and get your gum health back on track. In between consuming meals, chew sugar free gum or brush and floss. Discontinue using tobacco or smoking. Both of these substances can irritate your gums further and cause more severe problems for your gums. 

For more information on swollen gums, contact Dr. Denine Rice and her team.

3 Myths About Periodontal Disease

There are tons of information floating out there on the web about periodontal disease and the dangers of it. It can be overwhelming and difficult to distinguish between the facts and the myths. Dr. Denine Rice recommends everyone should be well informed about periodontal disease in order to combat the negative impact of the disease. Here are 3 myths about periodontal disease and what you can do to save your gums for a lifetime. 

1.     Bleeding gums are not a big deal.

a.     Your gums may have bled since before you can remember. This does not mean they are healthy and it is a big deal. If your gums bleed even a little bit it is the number one sign there is a concern with your dental health. 

2.     Visiting the periodontist is unnecessary and scary.

a.     Visiting a periodontist is similar to visiting your regular dentist. They will consult with you, evaluate your x-rays, and complete a check-up to see the health of your gums. Then they will let you know on a course of treatment. Nothing scary about it. But it is necessary and can be the difference between paying more for dental problems later on since periodontal disease strikes at the foundation of your teeth.

3.     You don’t need to floss.

a.     Flossing is critical to the success of your gums. There is only one way to keep your gums in shape and that requires flossing.

For more information on periodontal disease, contact Dr. Rice and her team today!

5 Things To Expect When You Visit The Periodontist

It can be a bit scary and overwhelming when you have been referred to a periodontist. Your gums may be bleeding or you may have lost a tooth or two. A referral is usually made when your dentist is recommending you receive a laser periodontal evaluation or  perio therapy in order to get the periodontal disease under control. But there is no reason to be nervous, here are five things to expect from your visit.

The periodontist will review your health history. This is easy enough. They want to make sure you have not had any hospitalizations or are taking any medications they are not aware of. They may spend some time going over your medical history with you if there is anything you have marked.

Dr. Denine Rice and her team will review the x-rays that were sent over from your dentist. By evaluating the x-rays that already have been taken it will allow them to evaluate what your current needs are.

After this is done there will be an exam. An exam is simply a look at your gums in order for the periodontist to get a really good idea of what type of treatment you are going to need and whether you really need to have laser surgery or whether something else can be done instead.

Once your exam is over, there will be time for a consultation. During this time, the doctor will outline the plan for you. You’ll talk about whether you’re a candidate for laser surgery, what to expect if you have laser surgery and healing time after the procedure.

Finally, you’ll get an estimate of the cost and schedule your next appointment. Then you will be on your way and ready to get the healthy gums you deserve. For more information on laser periodontal procedures, contact Dr. Denine Rice and her team today.

Being Healthy Is Awesome

Bacteria in periodontal disease can impact your smile and your health. You could wake up every day, brush, floss, visit the dentist, eat healthy and exercise, but if you do not floss and take care of your gums some of these efforts will be wasted energy. Being healthy and having healthy gums is the new sexy. Get your sexy on today by loving your gums.

You spend time completing all kinds of activities throughout your day. Make sure you are completing the right ones. "Once you have periodontal disease," says Dr. Rice, "you, unfortunately, are never able to get rid of it.” Laser treatment can help manage the health of your gums and drastically decrease your symptoms of bleeding, swollen gums and other problems you may encounter.

          Controlling inflammation in the mouth is the key to decreasing the negative impact of

periodontal disease. Do this by having laser procedure and you can reclaim your

healthy smile. Stroke, heart disease and diabetes are a few diseases that are higher in individuals who are impacted by periodontal disease.

For more information on how to, “Love your Gums,” contact Dr. Rice and here team

today!

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. 

Recommit To Change Your Smile Today!

Your smile is your finest asset or your greatest liability. With a positive, white smile you can share with the world, opportunities may pop up that you didn’t believe you had a chance at. Promotions may be possible when you are able to smile and enjoy life. While it may seem impossible to get your smile back to a healthy state, you can achieve it by implementing these three easy steps. 
 
Visit the periodontist if you have bleeding, swollen gums or have missing teeth due to periodontal disease. This will be the best decision you make. When you have periodontal disease, while brushing and flossing is critical, you’ll need to first get the periodontal disease under control. Once you have visited the periodontist the two of you can come up with a game plan for not only treating the disease, but also how you may be able to cosmetically enhance your smile. 
 Brush 2x a day. This is not a negotiable. Brushing is the critical step to removing food from your teeth. Periodontist, Dr. Rice states, “The longer food is on the surface of your teeth the more opportunity there is for the food to turn into bacteria that begins to damage the enamel of your teeth.”  
As the enamel is worn down, this can lead to cavities, decay and a need for more expensive dental procedures to fix. The bacteria then have the opportunity to go below the gum tissue creating havoc on the bone supporting your teeth.
Floss at least one time a day. Flossing removes the food from between the teeth and below the gum-line. Periodontal disease occurs when you do not floss. Bleeding, swollen and red gums are signs of gum disease. “If you have gingivitis,” Dr. Denine Rice says, “it can be taken care of by regular flossing.”   

I changed it to three as I only found three steps.  

Gum Disease & You

Women’s bodies are different at different points throughout their life, and some of these very important points in their life can create different gum problems. For example, young teens going through puberty are more susceptible to gum disease as hormones increase blood to the gums, which increases the gum’s sensitivity.

 

Menstruation can also be another time when your gums are susceptible to problems with gum disease. You may experience red, swollen gums during this time of the month. If you are feeling an increase in sensitivity, and have swollen gums, you may want to brush and floss more often than normal. If you experience sensitivity beyond menstruation then it’s probably time to visit the dentist. There are also mouthwashes that may help with increasing the health of your gums. 

Pregnancy is another joyous occasion where you look forward to the beauty of having a child, but it can come with an increased opportunity for gum disease and gingivitis due to increased hormones.  “If you are a women experiencing problems with your gums during this time make sure to discuss the issue with your dentist,” suggests Dr. Denine Rice.

Menopause and post-menopause cause changes in the body and in the mouth as well. These chances can lead to increased sensitivity in the mouth, bleeding and swollen gums. You may also experience dry mouth, which increases the risk of bacteria staying in the mouth and attacking the teeth.

If you’re experiencing any of these, increased mouth sensitivity or trouble, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

4 Reasons Why Laser Treatment Is Better!

1.     Laser treatment is comparable in price to traditional therapies. "Some individuals believe that laser treatment will cost them more, but the truth is not really, and some insurance companies will cover this type of treatment reducing the upfront cost to patients," states Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice.

2.     Recovery time is less.   Usually patients can return to work the same day as the procedure. Regular periodontal surgery requires downtime after the procedure has been conducted, as you will likely be swollen for a few days after the procedure.

 

3.     Laser treatment is faster. Traditional surgery takes up to four visits (one for each quadrant) to be completed and the appointment is anywhere from an hour to an hour and half. Dr. Rice says, "laser treatment can be conducted in two appointments because the periodontist does not need to take time to suture."

4.     Laser treatment allows for less pain after treatment. When a laser is used, the laser is going below the gum line without major damage to the gums. There is no scraping and no sutures afterwards, which reduces the amount of pain a patient experiences. With traditional therapy you may also be impacted by infection as suturesd tissue have to heal. With laser surgery you are less likely to have this occur because your gums are not cut. 

Figure out a tie in line for the end please.

Periodontal Surgery the LANAP Way, After-care Instructions

 

Laser Periodontal Therapy is a laser-based technique used for treating periodontal disease many times without using a scalpel or sutures.

“Previously for patients suffering with periodontal disease many times the treatment was almost as frightening as the disease. Now with advanced technology we can not only remove diseased tissue easily and effectively, we can also do it virtually painlessly,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Riverside California Periodontal and Implant Surgery Practice.

If you choose or have chosen to have LANAP treatment, here is what you should know post-surgery:

1.     Do not be alarmed with any color changes or appearance of gum tissue. Gum tissue can turn gray, yellow, red, blue, or purple following the laser treatment.

2.     Do not apply excessive tongue or cheek pressure to the treated area.

3.     Do not be alarmed if you should experience light bleeding, slight swelling, soreness, tenderness or tooth sensitivity.

4.     If swelling does occur, gently place an ice pack on the outside of the face for 20 minutes each hour until you retire for the night the first day.

5.     Some oozing of blood may occur. Rinse your mouth gently with iced water and apply a wet tea bag to the general area.

6.     Call your surgeon’s office is you have prolonged or severe pain, excessive bleeding or an elevated or persistent temperature.

7.     Take any medication as directed.

8.     Reduce physical activity for several hours after surgery to maximize healing.

9.     Keep your mouth clean. This will help the healing process. Brush and floss ONLY untreated areas of your mouth. After 7-10 days you can brush and floss in the treated areas.

    10. Do not rinse your mouth the day of treatment. The day after you may spit and gently rinse using either Peridex, Perioguard or warm salt water.

Remember, it is critical for your periodontal success that you keep all follow-up appointments with your surgeon.