Why do Gums Suffer with Age?

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Periodontitis, or gum disease, causes excessive gum bleeding and bone loss, which eventually leads to tooth loss. In fact, periodontitis is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the US. The swelling and bleeding associated with gum disease is caused by an over-active immune response to the bacteria in your mouth. As we grow older, we become more susceptible to inflammatory diseases, including gum disease. Your Corona dentists explore new research from Queen Mary, University of London that may explain why gum disease is more common with old age.

The Immune System Controller

When your body detects infection, your immune system immediately reacts to combat the infection. White blood cells are your immune system’s agents in this battle and a common sign that your body is fighting infection is inflammation. When harmful bacteria colonies increase in number in your mouth, your body responds by sending white blood cells in response to the threat, and your gums often become inflamed while your immune system goes to work. The University of London study revealed that gum health deterioration is associated with a drop in the levels of a chemical called Del-1. The purpose of this protein is to restrain the immune system by preventing white blood cells from attacking the mouth (thus reducing inflammation). (more…)

Get to Know Your Gum Disease Terminology

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What is periodontal disease?

is another word for gum disease. This involves an infection of the gums that wreaks havoc on many aspects of your health. Typically a result of incomplete oral hygiene, bacteria and plaque builds up along the gum line, allowing for the gum tissue to become infected and inflamed. Without treatment, periodontal disease will progress to devastating side effects for your dental health including tooth loss and jawbone deterioration.

What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis is the early form of gum disease. It presents its symptoms with gum bleeding during brushing, puffy, deep red-looking gums, and sometimes . Gingivitis is usually the first sign of gum disease, so periodontal treatment at this stage is absolutely necessary to prevent further complications. Usually a thorough dental cleaning and continued meticulous oral hygiene will keep gingivitis at bay.

What is a periodontal pocket?

A periodontal pocket is the space of separation between your gum tissue and teeth when gum disease is present. As the gingival infection grows, the gum tissue detaches from the tooth from the crown to the root. This allows plaque and bacteria to create a cesspool of infection. Our can measure the depth of these pockets to determine the severity of your gum disease and implement an effective treatment plan.

What is scaling and root planing?

One of the most successful , this non-surgical therapy removes infection in periodontal pockets from around the tooth and below the gum line. This process is called scaling. For the root planing, your Riverside dental hygienist will use special tools to smooth the tooth root and make it less hospitable to bacteria and periodontal pockets. Sometimes scaling and root planing will be accompanied by antibiotics to expedite healing. (more…)

Dental Exams in Temecula

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You might think that if your teeth are straight and white, your smile is in perfect shape. This may very well be true, but looks can be deceiving. It doesn’t take tooth pain or a visible problem to necessitate a visit to the dentist. You should visit your dentist every six months for dental cleanings and checkups for the maintenance of your healthy smile, if nothing else. Today, our Temecula dentists would like to share with you what you can expect at a dental exam.

Now or Later

One of the benefits of visiting your dentist every six months is that he or she can closely monitor your oral health for signs of changes. In fact, because dentists recommend semi-annual visits, they are often the first to notice symptoms of diseases or problems that can either progress or cause other problems if left untreated. Many people are hesitant to get a dental exam because they don’t want the dentist telling them the things they need to have treated; but preventive dentistry and early treatment are almost always less costly than treating ailments in their later stages. Sometimes waiting could cost you your life.

Oral Cancer

A dental checkup allows your dentist to check your mouth for signs of oral cancer. Malignancies in the mouth, lips, and throat affect more than 40,000 new patients each year. One fifth as many will die. But early detection and treatment can dramatically improve the chances of successful treatment.

Gum Disease

During a dental checkup, your dentist can check for signs of gum disease. If detected and treated in its earliest stage, gingivitis, gum disease can be reversed. If gum disease progresses, it can eventually lead to tooth loss. Also, a hygienist will remove plaque from between teeth and under the gum line. This will help prevent gum disease.

Shine Your Smile

Brushing, flossing, and even over-the-counter tooth-whitening products can’t produce the results that a dental hygienist can. He or she will remove unsightly plaque and tartar from your teeth and polish away stains from coffee, tobacco, and aging. (more…)

The Importance of Oral Hygiene

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Nobody wants to have receding gums, bad breath, or yellow teeth. But there’s more to oral hygiene than appearances. Yes, we all want pretty white smiles; but maintaining proper oral health is also essential to our overall health. The health of our mouths is closely connected to the health of our bodies, and our Temecula dentists would like to impart the importance of oral hygiene.

Mouth and Body, Together as One

Research has shown that gum disease can lead to more serious problems than tooth loss and a less-than-esthetically-pleasing smile. People with gum disease, also called periodontal disease, are more likely to suffer from other inflammatory conditions, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Poor oral hygiene also puts you at risk for the following complications:

  • Stroke—bacteria in the mouth may bind with plaques in the arteries of the brain and form clots, causing a stroke.
  • Heart attack—much like with stroke, oral bacteria may bind with plaques in the arteries leading to the heart and cause a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Oral Health Problems

Failure to maintain proper oral hygiene can cause several oral problems, including gum disease and tooth decay.

Gum disease—Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, can be reversed if it is caught early. If allowed to progress, however, gingivitis can develop into full-blown periodontitis. This more serious form of gum disease can lead to loss of gum tissue and teeth.

Tooth decay—Tooth decay occurs when bacteria form a sticky film on the teeth and gums called plaque and reacts with the sugars in the foods we eat to create acids. These acids eat away at the protective enamel on teeth and cause tooth decay.

At-home Oral Care

Proper oral hygiene starts at home. It only takes a few minutes each day to safeguard yourself against a host of oral health problems and more serious total health complications.

  • Brush your teeth twice a day
  • Floss once a day
  • Use an antibacterial mouth rinse to help fight plaque (more…)

Dental Hygiene Quiz from Riverside Dentists

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. Check to see which questions you got right by clicking “Read More.”

Q1. How many times a day should you floss?

A. At least twice

B. Once a day

C. Flossing is unnecessary

D. Every hour

 

Q2. What type of toothbrush bristles should I use?

A. Hard

B. Medium

C. Soft

D. It doesn’t matter

 

Q3. True or False: can alleviate tooth sensitivity?

 

Q4. How often should I change toothbrushes?

A. Annually

B. Every three months

C. Daily

D. There’s no need to change toothbrushes (more…)

Choosing a General Dentist in Riverside County

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Your total health starts with your mouth, and oral care starts with your general dentist. A general dentist is the dental professional who evaluates your oral health, ensures your teeth and gums are healthy, and refers you to a specialist if need be. Today, our Riverside County dentists explain what a general dentist does and offer some at-home oral hygiene tips.

What’s a General Dentist?

A general dentist offers a wide range of services. He or she can refer you to a specialist, if necessary, but has expertise in a multitude of fields, including:

  • Orthodontics
  • Cosmetic dentistry
  • Restorative dentistry
  • Teeth cleanings
  • Endodontics (root canal treatment)
  • Dental surgery

To become a general dentist, one must complete at least three years of undergraduate coursework, often with an emphasis in science, before completing four years of dental school. A prospective dentist must then pass a licensure exam in the state in which he or she wants to practice dentistry.

The Front Line

Your general dentist can identify small problems in your oral health and treat them before they get out of hand. He or she can closely monitor changes in your oral health because you should be scheduling visits every six months. General dentists watch closely for signs of tooth decay, which can eventually cause tooth loss; gum disease, which can also cause tooth loss; and oral cancer, which can be fatal. Early diagnosis and treatment improves the prognosis of an oral cancer sufferer.

Your general dentist’s office is also where you get your teeth cleaned. Twice-yearly cleanings allow a hygienist to remove plaque and tartar that builds up over six months, and he or she can polish away six months of coffee and/or tobacco stains. (more…)

Osteoporosis and Oral Health

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In the United States today, there are approximately 10 million people living with osteoporosis, a medical condition in which bones become fragile and brittle. An additional 34 million Americans have low bone density, increasing their risk for osteoporosis and broken bones. Studies have suggested that osteoporosis could be linked with oral health. Today, our dentists from Riverside Dental Group explain the connection between gum disease and osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis primarily affects women. Eighty percent of people suffering from the disease are female. Osteoporosis causes the bones to weaken. Unfortunately, people can’t feel their bones weakening. They might have osteoporosis and never know it until they break a bone. The disease can lead to broken bones from minor falls, or something as simple as a sneeze, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Some people are more at risk for developing osteoporosis. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, low sex hormones, inactivity, and being naturally thin are all risk factors for the disease.

Low Bone Density and Gum Disease

A study published in the Journal of Periodontology followed 1,256 postmenopausal women, looking for a connection between gum disease, also called periodontal disease, and bone loss in the oral cavity. The results showed that women with periodontal bacteria were more prone to bone loss in the mouth. Another study in the Journal of Periodontology suggested that women who supplement with estrogen, the female sex hormone, within the first five years after menopause can slow progression of periodontal disease. The study indicated that estrogen supplementation by women with signs of osteoporosis seemed to inhibit inflammation of gum tissue and decrease destruction of the fibers and bone that support teeth. (more…)

Welcome to Our Blog

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At Oasis Family Dental, we want our patients to be as educated as possible about oral health, trends in dental treatment, and healthy living. Our Temecula dentists at Oasis Family Dental believe that educated patients are best equipped to make informed decisions about their dental care and healthcare. This blog will deliver information about nutrition, oral hygiene, dentistry, and anything else we feel will improve quality of life for you and your family, in a format similar to a family magazine.

Oasis Family Dental

Our Temecula dentists Dr. Y. Stephen Sugiono, Dr. Tonia Cantrell, Dr. Norman Carter, and Dr. Stephen Taylor offer a variety of general and more specialized services.

  • General Dentistry—Also known as “family dentistry,” this includes preventive, restorative and esthetic dental services.
  • Cosmetic Dentistry—Our dentists focus on the functionality of your teeth but also work hard to improve the appearance of your smile, utilizing veneers, porcelain crowns and whitening.
  • Implant Dentistry—Many patients who have lost teeth and want the look and feel of full smile can benefit from implant dentistry. Artificial teeth are attached to titanium rods that are inserted in the jaw bone.
  • Pediatric Dentistry—Oral health begins long before children get their adult teeth. Dental hygiene and professional checkups are important during childhood to ensure a beautiful and healthy adult smile. Pediatric dentists communicate with children in a way they can understand and provide necessary dental services with the child’s age in mind. (more…)

What You Didn’t Know About Your Jaw Explained by Moreno Valley Dentists

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explain how teeth keep your jawbone healthy, and what to do if you have missing teeth.

How Your Teeth Connect To Jaw Joint Health

Did you know that a misaligned bite can be detrimental to your jaw? We use our temporomanidublar joint to chew, open our mouths, and speak. Therefore, it only makes sense that when your is amiss, your jaw muscle health can be affected. TMJ disorder is a condition related to issues with your temporomandibular joint. One of the main causes of TMJ disorder is malocclusion, or misaligned bite. This is because the jaw muscles constantly struggle to hold misaligned teeth in the correct position. The symptoms of a malocclusion can be harmful not only to your teeth, but also to your overall health.

How Missing Teeth Contribute to Alveolar Atrophy

Alveolar atrophy is one of the hidden detrimental effects of . This phenomena involves jawbone shrinkage due to a lack of stimulation from tooth roots. When a tooth is missing, that section of your jawbone seems to be no longer needed; therefore, your body will stop sending nutrients to that part of the jaw. The result is a weaker jawbone, deteriorated from lack of use. (more…)

What You Eat Can Help or Harm Your Dental Health

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Your diet affects more than your weight or overall health. What you eat also affects the health of your mouth. Your mouth is constantly coated by a thin biofilm of bacteria and plaque. When certain ingredients in food and beverages come into contact with this biofilm, they secrete harmful acids that attack tooth enamel. Your Corona dentist gives advice on maintaining a diet that will benefit your dental health.

Refined Sugar and Your Teeth

Refined sugars and other fermentable carbohydrates cause a reaction in plaque when they meet. The byproduct of plaque absorbing and processing these substances is lactic acid, which saps minerals from your teeth in a process called demineralization. Because your enamel is made of mineral crystals (i.e., calcium and phosphate), after acid drains the tooth’s minerals, the enamel cannot remineralize and is vulnerable to attack. As summer dawns upon us, lemonade and iced tea become the popular thirst-quenchers of the season. Aside from their sugar content, lemonade and other fruit juices also contain harmful acids. If you consume a sugary beverage, try to do so quickly in one setting, as opposed to prolonged sipping over time. Also, rinse your mouth with water after finishing your drink to flush away any food debris, bacteria, and lingering plaque. (more…)