Must Gums Recede As We Age?

February 2, 2010 by badbreath  
Filed under Bad Breath

gum disease

Do you believe that gums must recede as we age? If you do, then it might seem natural to you to lose teeth. I have known people in their late 80’s and I am surprised to see that they still have their complete set of teeth. They say that they have been very cautious when it comes to the food they intake and with proper home care.

Funny how some elderly would stick out their dentures and scare their grand children away – happy bonding time with the family, something really worth reminiscing. But do you know that there is more to life than just making the children in your family have a good time when they see you play with your dentures? Besides brushing and flossing, have you tried the hydrofloss yet? 

Perhaps you are making it appealing to them so that they tend to like the idea or at least accept that they would lose their teeth one by one. I have actually asked a child who had his first permanent molar extracted at the age of 12. Imagine how many years more he has to live without his first molar. This does not bother him as he is actually enjoying the idea that he may soon wear dentures. Wouldn’t it be better to use a mouthwash like therabreath?

Some patients sound weird as they talk to the receptionist that they are having several incisors extracted due to little discolorations. I thought to myself, I am so fortunate to have mine complete never having to undergo multiple extractions and never ever considering having one. Essential oils, like those in Oramd may be helpful. 

And I realized that the greatest secret of the successful ones is that they meticulously cared for their teeth throughout their lifetime. You don’t have to lose your teeth as you grow old. Gum recession does not have to be part of the aging process.

Learn more about what you can do to prevent or stop gum disease.

Disclaimer: If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, please visit your doctor or periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment for any health condition.

Where Can You Get a Gum Graft?

December 7, 2009 by badbreath  
Filed under Dental Care

gum disease

The question "Where can you get a gum graft?" will invariably pop up once somebody’s either been told they have some tooth root exposure or they notice a darkening of the root at the receded gum line. This darkening can be due to a number of reasons but it’s most commonly from a bit of decay. Fortunately, many people can be good candidates for a grafting of tissue over that gum area.

This first thing to know about such procedures as grafts is that they are what are known as "periodontal surgeries." Now, the term surgery often conjures visions of an operating room theater and a team of intense-looking gown-clad medical types, but fortunately that’s not the case in this type of procedure.

As with any kind of surgery or disease, prevention is you best option. However, once you have reached a certain point, perhaps you and your doctor will feel that it is too late for preventive measures. Some products that are useful for periodontal health are ora-md, therabreath and the hydro floss oral irrigator.

Gum grafts are most often performed in the treatment room of a periodontist, who is usually a doctor of dental surgery (DDS), with a board certification and specialist training in periodontal issues. Just as with medical doctors, though, any dentist who’s been licensed to practice dentistry can hang a shingle out and do just about any aspect of dental medicine.

It’s always highly recommended, though, that some time be taken to research for a dentist with appropriate periodontal certifications and extensive experience in performing grafts. If you stop to think about things doesn’t it make sense, after all, to put your trust in somebody who actually specializes in such procedures instead of a general dentist who may or may not have such a background?

Gum grafting can make sense in a few different circumstances, especially when the root of the tooth is exposed or there’s some hypersensitivity of the area surrounding the root. If done properly, with donor tissue taken from the palate of the mouth, a full healing can be expected within 4 to 8 weeks. Remember to try to use a periodontist who has experience in the procedure, if possible.

Scott W. recommends the book: What You Should Know about Gum Disease for those seeking more information on this topic. ISBN: 978-0981485508

Disclaimer: If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, please visit your doctor or periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment for any health condition.

Hopefully, You Won’t Need a Gum Graft

December 1, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Dental Care

If you have discovered that you have receding gums, then there are a number of methods you will be able to turn to. One of those methods is known as a gum graft. Today, it seems as if the gum graft has gained a lot of popularity. What is a gum graft? Well, it is a dental procedure that can be done in order to replace those receding gums.

One other side effect of gum disease is that you could get bad breath

What causes recession of gums? Well, there are a number of things that can cause this problem. When you brush your teeth more than needed, this can cause recession of gums. Some other factors that could cause gum recession include periodontal disease.

What exactly do gum grafts do? A gum graft will be using either hard or soft tissue, depending on the location in order to restore that gum line. We must add that recovering from gum grafts can be a bit on the painful side. You will need to allow some time for the gum to heal.

Tip: A portable oral irrigator is a device that may help you maintain good oral hygiene while travelling.

You may have also heard of gum grafts as gingival as this is the dental terminology that is used. Gingival mucosa will be flexible, yet soft tissue. Keratinized gingival will be made out of harder material as it has been designed to protect the roots. Whenever the gums start to recede, the soft tissue is generally the one that disappears first.

Tip: Using a Hydro Floss Oral Irrigator may help to reduce plaque build up between office visits.

If you catch this early, you will be able to get this process done with the soft tissues. The soft tissue graft is going to restore the gum line. If the dentist finds that the gums have deeply receded, then you may need to have a connective tissue graft done. Connective tissue grafts will be using firmer gingival, which will be protecting those fragile areas of your teeth.

Disclaimer: If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, please visit your doctor or periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment for any health condition.

Why is it Important to Stop Gum Disease?

November 22, 2009 by badbreath  
Filed under Dental Care

gum disease treatment

You may wonder why it is important to end periodontal disease. But besides your teeth starting to look bad, and your gums bleeding there is much more to it than that. It can be linked to many different medical problems too.

When you first notice that brushing or flossing is causing your gums to bleed you should realize something is wrong. This is the first hint you will have that you are in the beginning stages of gingivitis. This is a good time to think about thera breath products. Getting to see your dentist immediately should be what you do, and then you should begin brushing and flossing more often.

It’s recommended that you brush at least two times a day, and that you brush continuously for three minutes. But after you eat something that is full of sugar, or drink a soda, you should also brush your teeth at that time. You could also utilize a hydro floss. It seems a bit redundant to brush too many times, doesn’t it?

Researchers believe that this problem can lead to such serious problems as heart disease, strokes, respiratory problems, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Plus you could lose teeth and your overall appearance may not be as appealing.

You’ve seen people who’ve had advanced stages of gum disease, and how their teeth look. If you don’t stop your gum disease when you can that’s what you have to look forward too. Besides that the bacteria that is eating away at your gums and teeth can enter your blood and travel to other parts of the body.

Don’t let this disease side line you with a stroke just because you’re too worried about going to the dentist. Get that problem taken care of when you first notice that your gums are no longer the healthy pink they should be. When you see puffiness in your gums, or notice that they are pulling away from your teeth, take immediate action.

Scott Wells recommends the book: What You Should Know about Gum Disease for those seeking more information on this topic. ISBN: 978-0981485508

Disclaimer: If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, please visit your doctor or periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment for any health condition.

The Truth about Halitosis

November 18, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Causes Of Halitosis

Halitosis is the medical term used to describe the unpleasant odors that come out of a person’s mouth. The average person refers to the condition simply as bad breath. The impact of this problem, however, is not as simple as its name. In fact, it can have a significant personal and social impact on the sufferer and is identified as the third most common reasons for visiting the dentist.

In about 90% of cases, bad breath traces its origins in the mouth itself and the intensity varies during the day, as a result of stress, eating certain foods, smoking or consuming alcohol. Most conditions are considered transient or temporary and can easily be treated by regular brushing, flossing and the use of a specialized mouthwash. At least 25% of cases, however, is chronic and requires more focused treatment by a medical professional.

Although the exact causes of halitosis are not yet fully understood, the most unpleasant odors are believed to come from proteins processed by oral bacteria and excreted as sulfur compounds. The most common location of the odors that originate in the mouth is the back of our tongue, which is why it is important to brush not only the teeth, but the tongue as well.

For the more serious cases of bad breath, sinusitis, gum disease and gastric disorders are often pinpointed as major culprits. Odor exiting the nostrils of a person suffering from sinus infections can be quite pungent, and bacteria that grow below the gum line are known to emit a foul smell upon removal. Some gastrointestinal disorders are also said to cause bad breath due to the gases that are emitted from the stomach and exits through the mouth.

Whatever its cause, there is no doubt that halitosis has an adverse negative effect on a person’s professional, social and personal relationships, thus resulting in a low self-esteem and high stress levels. This makes immediate treatment even more important for sufferers. It is necessary that the problem is dealt with before a person’s self-esteem suffers permanent damage.

What Causes Halitosis

November 18, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Causes Of Halitosis

Halitosis, or bad breath can be one of the most embarrassing problems to have and the sad thing about this condition is that although it affects more than half of the world’s population, many people are not aware that they have it. This makes it doubly important for everybody to know what the causes of halitosis are and how to treat the condition.

Bear in mind that if you do have bad breath, the people around you may already be aware of it even though you are not. Because of the embarrassment associated with halitosis, most people will not say anything to you about the problem and may choose to either avoid close contact with you or just grin and bear it.

There can be several causes of halitosis, the most common of which are oral bacteria, smoking, certain foods and health problems. Bacteria that reside in the mouth, particularly in the back of the tongue, can excrete sulfur compounds that cause unpleasant odors in out mouth. Needless to say, constant smoking will leave cigarette odor in your mouth permanently, causing you to emit a nasty smell when you speak.

Food such as onion or garlic may also leave you with bad breath. The good news is that halitosis caused by food intake is usually temporary and usually disappears after a few minutes or after brushing. Certain health disorders also cause bad breath, most especially gum disease and sinusitis. Halitosis caused by these underlying conditions can be more serious, and consultation with a doctor may be required.

Generally, maintaining proper oral hygiene is still the best way to avoid halitosis. Remember to brush for at least two minutes and at least twice every day. Brush or scrape your tongue as well to remove oral bacteria and floss your teeth to dislodge any food particles between your teeth. Doing this regularly will take you a long way towards beating the causes of halitosis and leaving your breath fresh and sweet.

Bad Breath Treatment

January 10, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Bad Breath Treatment

Bad breath, breath odor or halitosis; no matter what you call it, it is just as embarrassing, and since it affects a majority of the population, it is important for everyone to know the various bad breath treatment options available to sufferers of this condition. Halitosis itself is not a health problem. It can either be a by-product of certain factors or a symptom of more serious health concerns.

Most cases of bad breath are caused by food particles that get lodged between our teeth. These food particles encourage the growth of oral bacteria that leave waste products causing the unpleasant odors in our mouth. The best bad breath treatment therefore is proper oral hygiene. Here are some practical tips that may point you in the right direction towards eliminating halitosis.

Brush your teeth thoroughly after every meal. Brush your tongue as well and make sure that all food particles are dislodged from between your teeth by flossing right after brushing. Visit your dentist regularly to make sure that your bad breath is not a symptom of other health concerns such as gum disease.

If your mouth is dry, try sucking on sugarless lozenges to increase saliva flow in the mouth and drink plenty of water to add to your mouth’s moisture.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol intake, as well as smoking since these will aggravate the problem of having a dry mouth. Avoiding alcohol intake does not only mean not drinking, it also means not using mouthwash that contains alcohol.

When going out on a date or to any social gathering, avoid foods such as garlic and onion. Although bad breath caused by food is temporary, it can still be a major turnoff. Using toothpaste that contains baking soda is advisable since baking soda has been proven to help fight bad breath and maintain oral health. To top off this bad breath treatment regimen, you may also apply a dash of peppermint or tea tree oil on your tongue. These can kill the bacteria in your mouth and have natural refreshing properties.