Archive for the ‘Periodontal News’ Category

Dental floss comes in many different forms such as unwaxed or extra-slippery, minty or plain. Make it a daily routine to floss. Floss is inexpensive and a good investment to help prevent yourself from getting gum disease, and not to mention help avoid other health problems.

Did you know that 1 in 12 adults have periodontitis, chronic gum inflammation and infections? It is more common than most think. Nearly half of adults at an early stage have gingivitis which you may be able to tell if you have the following red, swollen, and bleeding gums.

One of the main concerns is plaque, that colorless mix of food particles, gooey, saliva and bacteria that sticks to teeth like a magnet. Don’t worry because plaque is preventable with the following methods: Brushing and flossing. Both of them being very important but floss will help you get between the teeth where as your tooth brush might not be able to reach those areas. Floss will also whisk the plaque away from the gum line, which is where the gum disease starts. Go buy some floss today and prevent that gum disease from starting.

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Good oral hygiene consists of your teeth being clean, no debris, your gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss. Bad breath is a sign that your oral hygiene isn’t very healthy or good. If you have bad breath or if your gums do hurt or bleed while brushing or flossing you want to see Dr. Salamati right away.

Dr. Salamati can help you eliminate any of the above problems. Maintaining good oral hygiene is very important to keep up and maintain. Visiting Dr. Salamati at least twice a year and among other things such as: bushing thoroughly twice a day, flossing, eating a balanced diet, and using dental products that contain fluoride will greatly decrease your risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems.

Below are 5 easy steps to help you practice good oral hygiene.

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Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the supporting bone and tissues around the teeth. The inflammatory reaction is your body’s way of removing the toxins released by bacteria that live on your teeth and gums. However, when the inflammation lasts for too long or is too strong, it starts to break down the tissues around your teeth, including your gums and supporting bone. This may cause teeth to become loose and evenfall out.

Unfortunately, inflammation doesn’t only occur in your mouth. Several other serious conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, are caused by the same chronic inflammation that causes periodontal disease.

The good news is that Dr. Salamati can help you reduce the inflammation in your mouth as a result of periodontal disease through treatments such as scaling and root planing. But you can also help to reduce the inflammation in your mouth and even in your entire body right at home.

Here are a few things you can try:

1. Exercise on a regular basis, those who maintain a healthy body weight and exercise regularly have been shown to have lower incidences of periodontal disease than those who do not exercise regularly

2. Eating the right foods like omega-3 fatty acids, such as oily cold-water fish and walnuts, have been shown to reduce inflammation in the gums.

 3. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day. When you brush and floss it removes the bacteria on your teeth and gums that causes inflammatory response which leads to gum disease.

Dr. Salamati will ask the patient questions regarding symptoms and carry out an examination of his/her mouth.

Dr. Salamati will examine the patient’s mouth using a periodontal probe – a thin, silver stick-like object with a bend at one end. The probe is inserted next to the tooth, under the gum line. If the tooth is healthy, the probe should not slide far below the gum line. In cases of periodontitis, the probe will reach deeper under the gum line.

Dr. Salamati may order an X-ray to see what condition the jaw bone and teeth are in as well.

Periodontal disease can sometimes not be visible. There however are some signs that can be very helpful for you to notice, they include the following:

 1. Red, swollen or tender gums or other pain in your mouth
 2. Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating hard food
 3. Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth, causing the teeth to look longer than before
 4. Loose or separating teeth
 5. Pus between your gums and teeth
 6. Sores in your mouth
 7. Persistent bad breath
 8. A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
 9. A change in the fit of partial dentures

If you have any of the following symptoms listed above you should see Dr. Salamati right away. If the infection is not treated right away it can lead to tooth loss.

Rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers, and even kidney diseases are a few surprising conditions that have been linked to periodontal disease. Those diseases also include heart disease, stroke, and diabetes which can be formed from periodontal disease. It’s very important that you keep up your oral hygiene and visit Dr. Salamati regularly so you don’t have to face these diseases.

The risk for periodontal disease may increase depending on age, gender, bleeding gums, tobacco use, and family history of gum disease. To help protect yourself from these diseases, make sure you brush your teeth twice a day, and floss every single day. Don’t forget to visit Dr. Salamati for cleanings twice a year. If however periodontal disease develops, Dr. Salamati is an expert in this specialty and he will take great care of you to solve this problem.

Periodontal disease and its associated complications affect both men and women, so it’s important that both sexes are doing everything they can to maintain their periodontal health.
However, research published in the Journal of Periodontology suggests that women are more proactive in maintaining healthy teeth and gums than men. In fact, the study found that women are almost twice as likely to have received a regular dental check-up in the past year, and women in the study also had better indicators of periodontal health, including lower incidence of dental plaque than men.

Overall, the study suggested that women have a better understanding of oral health, as well as a more positive attitude towards dental visits. This understanding is important for women, as hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life may affect her periodontal health and, therefore, overall health. Certain life stages may increase women’s susceptibility to periodontal disease, which may require special attention:

• Puberty: Studies show that elevated hormone levels may cause an increase in gum sensitivity and lead to a greater inflammatory reaction, which can cause gums to become swollen, turn red, and feel tender.
• Menstruation: During menstruation, some women may experience menstruation gingivitis, which may cause gum bleeding, redness, or swelling of the gums between the teeth.
• Menopause: Hormonal changes may cause women to experience discomfort in their mouths, including pain, burning sensations in the gum tissue, or mouth sores.

Men have special periodontal health considerations, as well. A June 2008 Lancet Oncology study found that men with periodontal disease may be more likely to develop kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, and blood cancers. Periodontal disease has also been linked to higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

Both men and women should strive for periodontal health by brushing twice each day, flossing at least once each day, and seeing a dental professional, such as Dr. Salamati, regularly. Additionally, it’s a good idea to get a comprehensive periodontal evaluation every year. A dental professional, such as Dr. Salamati, can conduct this exam to assess your periodontal disease status.

Oral Health Survey: Men vs. Women

A recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology found some interesting results including:

• Women are 26 percent more likely than men to floss on a daily basis.
• 74 percent of women would be embarrassed by a missing tooth (a possible consequence of periodontal disease), compared to 57 percent of men.
• Women are almost twice as likely to notice missing teeth on another person than men.
• 44 percent of women are aware that a periodontist can help contribute to overall good health, compared to 33 percent of men.

Source: American Academy of Periodontology

People are now living longer and healthier lives, and older adults are more likely than ever before to keep their teeth for a lifetime. However, research has shown that older people also have the highest rates of periodontal disease. In fact, at least half of people over age 55 have some form of periodontal disease, and almost one out of four people over 65 have lost all their teeth.

No matter what your age, it is important to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you’ve succeeded in avoiding periodontal disease as you age, it is especially important to continue to maintain your oral care routine. Be sure to brush and floss daily, and see Dr. Salamati regularly. You should also receive a comprehensive periodontal exam each year. This will ensure that your oral health (and possibly even your overall health) stays at its best. If you have dexterity problems or a physical disability and are finding it difficult to properly brush or floss your teeth, Dr. Salamati can suggest options such as an electric toothbrush or floss holder.

Research has shown that periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that may put you at a higher risk for other diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. During your regular visits with Dr. Salamati, be sure to let him know if you have any of these medical conditions or if you have a family history of disease. Likewise, if you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, it’s a good idea to share this information with Dr. Salamati to ensure that you’re receiving appropriate care.

You should also tell Dr. Salamati about any medications you are taking, because many medications can impact your oral health and therefore affect your dental treatment. Hundreds of common medications – including antihistamines and high blood pressure medications – can cause side effects such as soft tissue changes, taste changes, and gum overgrowth. Another possible side effect of some medications is dry mouth, a condition that leaves the mouth without enough saliva to wash away food from your teeth. This may leave you more susceptible to tooth decay and periodontal disease, and can cause sore throat, problems with speaking, and difficulty swallowing.

Maintaining your oral health should be a priority at any age. As you get older, be sure to continue to take care of your teeth and gums to ensure that they’ll stay healthy and strong for life!

Special Concerns for Women

Women who are menopausal or post-menopausal may experience changes in their mouth including dry mouth, pain or burning sensations in the gum tissue, and altered taste due to hormonal changes. Additionally, menopausal women should be concerned about osteoporosis, which can lead to tooth loss if the density of the bone that supports the teeth has decreased. Talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy or estrogen supplements, which may help symptoms of menopause.

Research suggests chronic inflammation links gum disease to other disease states

Brush after every meal. Floss daily. See your dental professional regularly. These instructions make sense coming from your dentist to help you sustain your oral health. But now not only dentists, but also many physicians, are stressing the importance of maintaining oral health in an effort to keep the rest of the body healthy. Research has long suggested an association between gum disease and other health issues, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes, but now scientists are beginning to shift their focus to understanding why these connections exist. An emerging theory, and one gaining support from researchers worldwide, is that inflammation may link the mouth to the body.

Inflammation is the body’s instinctive reaction to fight off infection, guard against injury or shield against irritation. Inflammation is often characterized by swelling, redness, heat and pain around the affected area. While inflammation initially intends to heal the body, over time, chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunction of the infected tissues, and therefore more severe health complications.

According to Dr. Susan Karabin, Past President of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), periodontal disease is a textbook example of an inflammatory disorder. “For many years, dental professionals believed that gum disease was solely the result of a bacterial infection caused by a build-up of plaque between the teeth and under the gums. While plaque accumulation is still a factor in the development and progression of gum disease, researchers now suspect that the more severe symptoms, namely swollen, bleeding gums; recession around the gum line, and loss of the bone that holds the teeth in place, may be caused by the chronic inflammatory response to the bacterial infection, rather than the bacteria itself.”

Periodontists, the dentists specially trained in the in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum disease, hypothesize that this inflammatory response to bacteria in the mouth may be the cause behind the periodontal-systemic health link. Many of the diseases associated with periodontal disease are also considered to be systemic inflammatory disorders, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease and even certain forms of cancer, suggesting that inflammation itself may be the basis for the connection.

“More research is needed to pinpoint the precise biological mechanisms responsible for the relationship between gum disease and other disease states,” says Dr. Karabin. “However, previous findings have indicated that gum disease sufferers are at a higher risk for other diseases, making it more critical than ever to maintain periodontal health in order to achieve overall health.”

To avoid gum disease, it is recommended to have comprehensive daily oral care, including regular brushing and flossing, and routine visits to the dentist. If gum disease develops, a consultation with a dental professional, such as a periodontist, can lead to effective treatment. Patients diagnosed with gum disease should also disclose all health conditions to his or her dental professional, and be sure to update other health care professionals on his or her periodontal health.

For more information on the role of inflammation in oral health, tips on how to prevent or treat gum disease or to find out if you are at risk, please call us at (310)275-1090 for an appointment.

Source: American Academy of Periodontology