Is Your Smile Embarrassing?

Your Dentist has always known that the best way to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy is to brush twice, floss once each day, maintain a healthy diet and visit your dentist regularly, but unfortunately, a good oral hygiene routine doesn’t always keep your mouth feeling or looking great.

According to Web MD, common oral problems, including tooth decay, bad breath, receding gums, and erosion can happen to anyone, even people who are meticulous about oral hygiene.

Fortunately, the right dental treatments can help solve the above embarrassing teeth and gums problems.

Bad breath, also referred to as halitosis, can vary, and really depends on the root cause. Brushing and flossing is critical as it keeps the food particles in your mouth from collecting bad bacteria. Without flossing, food particles and debris can be caught between your teeth causing a foul smell. If your dentist has given you the all clear, but you are still suffering from bad breath it could be something else entirely.

Check with your doctor as bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, gastrointestinal disturbances, and respiratory infections can be the cause of your chronic halitosis. Kidney and liver disease can also affect your breath. Medications that give you dry mouth could also be the cause of your halitosis.

Your bad breath can also be sweetened just by changing your diet. Cut down on onions and garlic, which can stay in your system for up to 72 hours and it may help your breath. Stop smoking and you will notice a difference in your breath and so will everyone else.

When you brush with a fluoride toothpaste twice each day, floss and see your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings, you are well on your way to fighting tooth decay. Your dentist may also recommend sealants on un-restored teeth to help reduce decay on your back molars. If you avoid acidic foods, which can strip away the enamel on your teeth, you may not have as many cavities.

Gum recession is caused by periodontal disease, but if caught in time, can be reversed. Gum disease in its earliest stages, known as gingivitis, causes your gums to bleed when brushing and flossing. Your gums may also be swollen and red. If periodontal disease is present, your dentist may notice damage to your gums and bones that support your teeth. Untreated periodontal disease can eventually cause tooth loss.

For more information regarding healthy teeth and gums and a beautiful smile, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.

The Real Dangers of Oral Piercing

If you or someone you love is considering oral piercings, there are some things that you should know before you or a family member or friend has tongue, cheek, or lip piercings.

Your dentist explains that oral piercings can cause all sorts of problems including infection, blood loss, and gum disease and jewelry aspiration.

The American Dental Association agrees with your dentist about the dangers of oral piercings. In fact, oral piercings could cause your tongue to swell so much that it blocks off the air passageways making breathing extremely difficult.

Infectious diseases are just one of the issues that could occur from oral piercings. The Herpes Simplex virus and hepatitis can happen if you have your tongue, lip, or cheek pierced.

Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria and if that bacteria enters your bloodstream after the piercing infection and swelling will occur. This could also cause excessive bleeding.

Because your mouth is moist and a breeding ground for bacteria, infection can happen, which could be life threatening. If that bacteria enters your bloodstream and you have undetected heart problems Endocarditis, or inflammation of the valves of the heart and the heart itself, could be a real issue.

Your dentist has seen permanent nerve damage thanks to oral piercings. Numbness is normal after you have your tongue, cheek, or lip pierced, but that numbness could be permanent. That injured nerve could affect how your mouth moves and your taste buds.

If you are sensitive to metals, oral piercings could cause allergic reactions once the jewelry is placed at the site of the piercing.

Crowns, fillings, and caps could also be damaged because people who have oral piercings tend to bite or play with the stud, ring, or barbell. Damage to gums could also occur which could lead to gum disease, gum recession and eventual tooth loss.

Oral piercings could increase your saliva production. This may cause excessive drooling that could be permanent.

Jewelry aspiration happens when part of the jewelry becomes loose. This could lead to choking if swallowed leading to lung or digestive track injury.  

If you would like more information regarding the dangers of oral piercing, schedule anappointment with your dentist who may be able to persuade you or someone you love against oral piercing.