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.

5 Pieces Of Advice Your Gums Would Give You

If your gums could talk they may be saying all kinds of things to you. They may begin to sound like a broken record of nagging and advice.

Here are five pieces of advice we are sure your gums would give you.

1.     Brush regularly.

                  Food easily sticks to the surface of your teeth and gums allowing bacteria to cause trouble for the health of your gums.

2.     Floss on a regular basis.

                  Your gums should be a nice pink color without puffiness or swelling. Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice states, “Your gums should be firm to the touch and cover the tooth about a quarter of the way up.” Without flossing bacteria can lie below the surface of your gums causing bleeding, gingivitis and periodontal disease. If left untreated for long periods of time, your gums may eventually lose their ability to do their job effectively and bone may be lost.

3.     Visit the dentist regularly.

                  “The dentist can find any problems you may have brewing before they become a problem for your mouth,” says Dr. Rice. 

4.     Eat Healthy Foods.

                  Fruits and vegetables help wash any food away from the gums. While chips, and other foods high in starch, can cause food to stay stuck to your teeth and gums which then turns into sugar.

5.     Don’t let problems go.

                  If you notice bleeding, lesions or other problems in your mouth or with your gums don’t wait until the pain becomes unbearable. Visit the dentist and solve the problem before things get worse and cost more.

Healthy gums leads to a smile that lasts a lifetime. For further questions contact Dr. Rice & her team.

My Gums Are Bleeding-Now What?

Have you noticed some red in the sink when you finish brushing or flossing? This is not a good sign. This is the beginning stage of periodontal disease. Depending on how long this has been going on will depend on what you need to do next. Periodontal disease if left untreated can be a very negative instrument in reeking havoc in your body.

If you have only begun to see the bleeding and it is minor, begin flossing and brushing on a regular basis immediately. It is recommended by Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice to schedule an appointment with your dentist right away to determine if damage has occurred. Your dentist may recommend some mouthwash that could also help clean bacteria out of the mouth. This is especially helpful if this is the beginning of gingivitis.

 

If you have had bleeding for a while and it does not stop with brushing, flossing and mouthwash, then the next step would be to visit a periodontist.  Share with them that your gums are bleeding. At this visit your dentist may recommend non-surgical treatment to remove plaque and calculus that has built up over time and may be causing the problem.

For any other questions contact Dr. Denine Rice & her team.

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.

Is Laser Surgery A Good Option For Me

            Laser surgery is a viable option for most individuals who have periodontal disease. While some periodontists may use traditional methods for treating periodontal disease, laser treatment is the newest technology that can ensure the health of your mouth. Laser surgery is no cut and no sew - this is an advantage for those who fear the knife. Dr. Denine Rice says, “If you want fast healing then laser surgery is the way to go.”

            Laser surgery allows you can get back to your life quickly. When using a laser instead of traditional surgery, the laser penetrates the gums without doing damage to the soft tissue. This also means that patients do not typically experience swelling and pain after laser surgery. 

            Periodontal disease leads to bone loss, which leads to tooth loss. Laser surgery can treat the disease and get you back to being healthy quickly.  The worse part of periodontal disease is that it can impact your overall health, as the disease spreads to your other organs. By cleaning the debris from under your gums and taking care of the disease you can get back to your lifestyle.

            There are a variety of options for getting your gums back to a healthy state. Talk to Dr. Denine Rice and her team today to make sure you have all the facts. Laser surgery can be the option you’ve been waiting for.

Oral Cancer - What You Should Know

 

 Oral cancer is a serious situation that can impact your life quickly. The sooner you get diagnosed the sooner you are on your way to treatment. Your periodontist is able to assess your gums and complete an extensive oral cancer exam to ensure you do not have any suspicious spots. In the event you have been diagnosed, here are four tips from periodontist Dr. Denine Rice.

1.     Stop smoking or using tobacco

           Smoking increases your chances of having oral cancer but once you have been diagnosed it is just as important you quit.  The tobacco and other chemicals in cigarettes decrease your chance of successfully healing after cancer surgery.  

 

2.     Add veggies and fruits to your diet

           Vegetables and fruits help keep your body strong while you are fighting this disease. You want to be as healthy as possible. Fruits and vegetables can give your body the nutrients depleted during chemotherapy and other cancer fighting treatments.

3.     Drink plenty of fluids

           Water is essential to keeping you as healthy as possible. There are multiple negative effects of dehydration, and during a time when your body is being depleted, you want to make sure you stay hydrated.

4.     Continue to see your dentist annually for an oral cancer exam - even if you have no teeth

           Visiting your dentist on a regular basis can make sure the cancer is not spreading to other parts of your mouth.

If you have any spots you are not sure about, or if you haven’t had an exam in the last six months contact Dr. Denine Rice today for an appointment.