Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums. This commonly occurs because of films of bacteria that accumulate on the teeth which is called plaque.  A person who has gingivitis will normally have red and puffy gums. Their gums will most likely bleed when they brush their teeth.

Generally, gingivitis can be resolved with good oral hygiene habits, such as longer and more frequent brushing, and flossing. Some people may find that using an antiseptic mouthwash, alongside proper tooth brushing and flossing also helps.  People that have gingivitis may need to see a dentist more then just twice a year to make sure that dental habits are being maintain and for check ups. Since untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which is more serious and can eventually lead to loss of teeth.

For over two decades, scientists have relied on studies that linked juvenile primate tooth development with their weaning as a rough proxy for understanding similar developmental landmarks in the evolution of early humans.   New research from Harvard, however, is challenging those conclusions by showing that tooth development and weaning aren’t as closely related as previously thought.

Cutting back on candy and sweets, is not only best for your dental health but good advise for overall health care in kids.  Yet there are still some sweets that are the better choice options when providing sweets to your child.

* Try sugar-free lollipops and or other sugar free hard candies. These sweet treats are able to stimulate the production of saliva which helps to deter the growth of cavity-causing bacteria inside your mouth. And since they are sugar-free, it means that bacteria will not have anything to feast on inside your child’s mouth.

* Sugar-free chewing gum is another good sweet option.  Like sugar-free lollipops and hard candies chewing gums is also another effect way to stimulate saliva production, and, at the same time, dislodge whatever food particles that might be stuck in between your teeth. When shopping for sugar-free chewing gum try and pick out chewing gum that contains xylitol, an alcohol sugar, which reduces the risk of tooth decay.

A 2011 study published in the Journal of Periodontology showed that oral infections and diseases can raise the risk of respiratory diseases, including pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are caused when bacteria get into the lower respiratory tract from the upper part of the throat. If you keep your mouth clean, that could help to keep bacteria from getting into your lower respiratory tract.

In prior post we talk about porcelain veneers how they can help improve your smile as well as how your tooth is can still be at risk for dental decay.  In order to prevent the risk of serious decay behind porcelain veneers, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene habits. Your dental habits should not change just because you now have porcelain veneers.

Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day, using an appropriate toothpaste recommended for the care of porcelain veneers. It is also important to floss every day to remove plaque from between your teeth. The side angle where the veneer meets the tooth becomes the most vulnerable approach in your teeth. When you visit your dentist, make sure you communicate any changes in sensitivity associated with your veneered teeth. Newly-sensitive teeth may be suffering from decay. With proper cared for veneers your teeth should remain healthy and the veneers on them should last a decade or more.

When having a dental veneer put on, the first step in preparing the tooth for a veneer involves removing dental enamel from the tooth surface where the veneer is to be placed. (Much like putting on a fake nail you sand down the nail surface) Even though your tooth will now have less tooth enamel to protect the interior of the tooth from attach by bacteria, when the porcelain veneer is applied to the tooth, it should be adequately protected. The seal formed between veneers and dental enamel or dentin is strong and water tight. Porcelain veneers has non-stick qualities that make it harder for bacteria and food to adhere to them.

Veneers are also resistant to attack by the acids that bacteria secrete, so cavities will not be able to form on the veneers themselves. However, tooth decay can form in the natural tooth enamel that remains behind the veneer. Once decay penetrates into the tooth behind the veneer, the concealing properties of porcelain veneers may prevent you from knowing about it until the damage reaches the tooth nerve, or pulp, leading to infection that may require removal of the tooth or a root canal. If the infection goes unchecked it can sometimes,threaten several teeth and even your jawbone.

It is important that pregnant mom’s have a good dental hygiene routine.  A 2007 study published in the Journal of Periodontology Online showed that periodontal disease is linked with pre-term low birth weight.   The study showed that performing periodontal therapy on pregnant women who have periodontal disease may reduce the risk of preterm delivery to equal that of periodontally healthy women.

An NYU nursing-dental research team has found, that oral blood samples drawn from deep pockets of periodontal inflammation can be used to measure hemoglobin A1c.  Hemoglobin A1c blood glucose measures from oral blood compare well to those from finger-stick blood, the researchers say. The findings are from a study funded by an NYU CTSI grant awarded to the research team last year.

It is important for your children to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Preventing tooth decay not only reduce the need for extensive dental care treatment latter on but helps keep dental care cost down.   According to a new study, parents that are concerned about risk of fluorosis, should use toothpastes that contain fluoride with a minimum concentration of 1,000 parts per million in order to prevent tooth decay in their children.  It is also advised that concerned about the risk of fluorosis (the discoloration or mottling of the teeth caused by excessive fluoride ingestion) should consult their dentist to discuss the benefits and risks.

Losing your natural teeth is something no one really wants but it can happen.  In the past dentures, partials and bridges where the only options.  Dental implants bring another option for a people that a healthy smile without having dentures.  Talk to your cosmetic dentist and find out the best dental option available for you and your dental needs.

Toothbrush damage also know as toothbrush abrasion is the damage to your teeth and gums as a result from the use of excessive force in brushing.  As important as it is to brush your teeth regularly you do not want to become over-zealous and brush with too much force.

Toothbrush abrasion affects your teeth as well as your gums. An earliest sign of the problem is what people describe as a ‘little ledge’ in the tooth at the very margin of the gum. Sensitivity to cold is a quite common feature with toothbrush abrasions.

As the damage progresses it becomes more and more noticeable, with the gum tissue receding back causing the tooth to look longer as more of its root surface is exposed. The damage to the tooth eventually manifests as a v-shaped notch at the gum margin which increases over time both in width and depth.

According to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, men in their thirties who had inflamed gums caused by severe periodontal disease were three times more likely to suffer from erection problems.   Turkish researchers compared 80 men aged 30 to 40 with erectile dysfunction with a control group of 82 men without erection problems.   This showed that 53 per cent of the men with erectile dysfunction had inflamed gums compared with 23 per cent in the control group.

When the results were adjusted for other factors, such as age, body mass index, household income and education level, the men with severe periodontal disease were 3.29 times more likely to suffer from erection problems than men with healthy gums.

Question:  I am up for my open enrollment for my insurance benefits though my employer.  I was given two plans to pick from. As I read though the two plan choices I do not see anything about dental services.

I though dental comes with your health benefits.  Is it possible that they are not including dental benefits?  Or many they are not showing dental but it comes with it and I do not see it on the plans information.  How will I know for sure I want both dental and health insurance.

Answer:  It is quite possible that your employee benefits does not include dental care.  However to confirm what the plans do provide, you will need to speak to the person that handles your employee benefits options.

If you are not receiving dental benefits though your employer, know that their are many affordable dental insurance plans you can buy on your own for your dental health care needs.  I suggest reviewing the dental plan options we provide and calling our office if you have any questions about them.

Another look at an existing studies points toward a potential role for vitamin D in helping to prevent dental caries.    The review, published in the December issue of Nutrition Reviews, encompassed 24 controlled clinical trials, spanning the 1920s to the 1980s, on approximately 3,000 children in several countries. These trials showed that vitamin D was associated with an approximately 50 percent reduction in the incidence of tooth decay.

Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have now demonstrated an ability in a mouse model to both prevent periodontitis from developing and halt the progression of the disease once it has already developed, by blocking a molecular receptor that bacteria normally target to cause the disease.

Question:  My daughter is six years old and lost one of her baby teeth in a accident.  Right now she has a space maintainer in but I am told there is a high likelihood that she will need to have braces.  I really need help with her increasing dental care cost and looking for a low cost dental insurance plan.

Answer: You may want to start with reviewing dental HMO plans.  Dental HMO plans are the lower cost dental insurance option and will help you with the cost of your daughter dental care needs.

According to scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology’s Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick, digested coconut oil is able to attack the bacteria that cause tooth decay. It is a natural antibiotic that could be incorporated into commercial dental care products.

Question:  Do to a recent job change I no longer have dental insurance.  Because I am a diabetic it is very important that I maintain dental insurance.   I have to see my dentist every three months just so I can keep my teeth in good shape. Will there be any problems with me buying a dental insurance plan because I am a diabetic?  I would also like to be able to keep my current dentist since he knows about my diabetes and I like the way he takes care of me.

Answer:  Most dental insurance plans will not have a problem with you being a diabetic.  Pre-Existing dental conditions that are normally not covered would be any dental work currently in progress, missing teeth, replacement of bridges and dentures(depending on how long you had them) and dental work done prior to plan effective date.  There can be more exclusions depending on the plan so just read the plan terms and conditions carefully.

This website also offers many good PPO’s or Indemnity (Free choice of providers)  insurance plans that will  let you keep your current dentist.

Dentist warns:   That brushing at the wrong time, particularly within 20 minutes of finishing a meal can drive the acid deeper into your teeth, corroding them far faster than they would have rotted by themselves.

Did you know you can spread dental decay to your child?  Though poor diet and hygiene patterns, adults can develop cavities. If the adult has a history of cavities, they can then pass the destructive oral bacteria on to their children.  However research does show that once parents are aware that they can spread tooth decay, 91 percent of new mothers stop sharing spoons, cups, utensils, and other items with their young child.