December 2016 - The Dental Place

December 19, 2016

Even if you are away from home, you should not neglect your oral health. Our practice understands that our patients live very busy lives and sometimes our schedules get in the way of making good choices for our oral health. Fortunately, maintaining proper oral hygiene and a healthy diet is possible even when you are on the go or traveling. If you encounter oral health issues while away from home, be sure to have the number to our practice handy in case you need to speak with our dentist. Following is some helpful information for keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.

Brushing and Flossing

Even if you are away from home with an endless list of errands and events or out of town, you can still keep your gums and teeth clean. We recommend keeping an oral hygiene kit with you at all times. Consider packing travel-sized toothbrushes, toothpastes, and dental floss in your desk at work, your purse, your vehicle, or in your luggage. With a travel kit, you can brush and floss your teeth from anywhere.

Choosing Healthy Foods

Sometimes being busy and traveling can make eating unhealthy foods very tempting. Although indulging in processed snack food or desserts is ok from time to time, it is important not to make a habit out of it. Be sure to eat foods low in sugar and acid whenever possible. Sugar and acid are very dangerous to your oral health. Acid weakens tooth enamel by stripping down its mineral content while sugar feeds harmful oral bacteria.

Staying Hydrated

Most people know that drinking plenty of water is essential to keeping organs healthy and rejuvenated. Many folks might not know that water is beneficial to oral health, too. Drinking water throughout the day will keep oral tissue moist while also diluting acid and rinsing away debris from food. People should drink a minimum of eight, eight-ounce glasses of water each day.

Call The Dental Place at 972-264-5795 for more oral health tips or to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled dentists.

December 5, 2016

Gum disease can ravage your oral health. When left untreated, it can manifest into a progressive oral condition that destroys soft and hard oral tissues. As the number one cause of tooth loss among adults, gum disease requires professional treatment and constant maintenance to slow down its effects on the oral health system. After receiving treatment for gum disease, patients should commit to keeping regularly scheduled dental
appointments and practicing thorough oral hygiene at home.

The Dangers of Unmanaged Gum Disease

Unmanaged gum (periodontal) disease is incredibly dangerous to your oral health and general wellbeing. Without treatment and maintenance with professional cleanings and home care, periodontal disease will destroy the supportive bond between teeth and gums and the roots of teeth and bone. The effects of tooth loss are devastating. Patients with missing teeth will endure daily difficulties with self-esteem and oral function along with long-term oral health issues. Moreover, the infection associated with gum disease is systemic and capable of entering the bloodstream where it may contribute to complications with the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and immune systems.

Cleanings and Checkups After Gum Disease

After being diagnosed and treated for gum disease, it is important to keep bi-annual cleanings and checkups. Cleanings will help keep the irritants that contribute to periodontal disease away from above and below the gum line while checkups will help ensure that the gums appear healthy. Regular appointments also mean that the reemergence of periodontal disease can be detected as early as possible.

Oral Hygiene and Gum Health

In addition to receiving regular cleanings and checkups, practicing good oral hygiene is very important to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Daily flossing will help prevent the accumulation of tartar by disrupting colonies of bacteria from forming along the gums and removing debris stuck between teeth. Twice daily brushing keeps plaque buildup under control and removes a large portion of the day’s debris from food.

We provide thorough and effective oral care for gum disease and tooth decay. To schedule a dental checkup with our dentist, call our office at your convenience.