What is a periodontist?

Just as it’s important to go to the dentist regularly, it’s also important to consult specialists like a periodontist if you notice symptoms of gum disease. Periodontists specialize in periodontal – or gum – disease and can help patients identify, treat and later prevent this type of disease. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, periodontists must receive an extra three years of training on top of regular dental school.

This extensive training helps prepare them to use new techniques and perform cosmetic procedures. The Academy recommends that people schedule a periodontal evaluation regularly to check for signs of gum disease. Such signs include receding gums, bleeding after brushing or flossing, swollen gums, and persistent bad breath. By being proactive and consulting a peridontist, patients can avoid waiting until they are referred by their regular dentist for an existing problem.

Oral health and its link to adequate nutrition

As we age, it becomes increasingly important to maintain a healthy diet and consume the proper amount of vitamins in order to remain in good health. Older adults are particularly susceptible to nutrient-deficient conditions, such as osteoporosis and anemia. In response to this need, researchers for the Journal of the American Dental Association studied a group of seniors ages 79 and older and analyzed their diets. What they found has since shed more light on the need for oral hygiene.

In this study, seniors who had fewer natural and healthy teeth were found to have poorer dietary habits and higher nutrient deficiencies. This same conclusion was drawn about older adults who do not have properly fitting dentures. In both cases, the seniors who maintained good oral hygiene and had either natural teeth or well-fitting dentures were more likely to eat a variety of foods and, consequently, consume a wider range of vitamins throughout the day.

Based on this study, the researchers at JADA concluded that it is important to encourage dental hygiene as a person ages in order to avoid needing dentures. In the event that a person does need dentures, however, it’s equally important that he is educated about the proper use and fit of false teeth.

One way to achieve this is by encouraging a healthy exchange of communication between older adults and their dentists. If you or someone in your family seems to not be eating as well due to deteriorating or ill-fitting teeth, make an appointment with your True Dental Discounts, dentist to talk about your options. Your dentist will be able to give you suggestions on taking proper care of your teeth as you age and can also make sure any dentures you already have are the correct size and shape for your mouth. By taking advantage of this link between oral hygiene and nutrition, you can make maintaining your health both simple and affordable.

Biting your tongue and cheeks

Everyone has accidentally bitten his tongue while eating or woken up with a small mark on the inside of his cheek. But what do you do if this nuisance becomes a common occurrence? Many people frequently bite the inside of their mouth during sleep or while eating, but the causes vary. In some cases, it is due to misalignment of the teeth or poor denture fitting.

In that situation, the teeth can overlap with the person’s tongue, increasing the chance of a bite. In other cases, a person may constantly breathe with his mouth open, leading to a slightly swollen tongue, which can again lead to accidental bites. In some rare cases, a person may also have seizures, causing him to involuntarily bite his tongue or cheek. Regardless of the reason, though, constant wounds in the mouth can become more than just annoying.

Over time, biting can lead to scars and decreased sensitivity, so it is important to treat the bites properly and speak with a dentist about preventing future occurrences. He or she will help you identify the cause of the biting and hasten the time until you can eliminate the bites altogether.

Does your child need space maintainers

One of the primary purposes of a child’s “baby teeth” is to reserve space for the adult teeth growing underneath. Typically, baby teeth fall out once the adult tooth begins pushing its way through the surface and is ready to emerge. However, in some cases, children may have a baby tooth removed early if they get it knocked out in an accident or have it removed due to dental decay. When this happens, there is a chance that the tooth underneath is not yet ready to emerge, causing a gap to be present in the tooth line. Unfortunately, some adult teeth do not grow in until the child is 12-14 years old, and your pediatrician may be concerned about later problems with the permanent teeth that could be caused by the gap.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, when baby teeth are lost too soon, adjacent teeth may try to fill the space by tilting or drifting toward the gap. This is a problem because baby teeth often guide the permanent teeth into place, meaning a child may end up with a crowded or crooked smile once their adult teeth have emerged. To avoid this scenario, a pediatric dentist on your True Dental Discounts dental plan will likely suggest space maintainers. Space maintainers are made out of either metal or plastic and are custom-made to fit into a child’s mouth. The purpose of a space maintainer is to keep the gap left by a baby tooth open and to prevent movement of the other teeth. The AAPD suggests that it is much easier to correct the problem in advance with space maintainers than to fix it afterward with extensive orthodontic treatment.

Once a child’s adult tooth has successfully emerged and taken its natural place, the space maintainer is removed. Until then, it is important that the child: avoids gum and sticky foods; keeps the space maintainer clean with regular brushing and flossing; does not pull or try to adjust the space maintainer; and continues visiting the dentist regularly. That way, your pediatric dentist can monitor the progress of the child’s tooth growth and ensure he or she has a beautiful – and permanent – smile!

Dreaming of better gum health

How much sleep did you get last night? If it was six hours or less, you could be at increased risk for gum disease progression. A 2007 study in the Journal of Periodontology looked at the way lifestyles affect a person’s periodontal health and found that lack of sleep was one of the biggest factors in gum disease. People who had slept at least seven hours were less likely to experience advancement of the disease, leading researchers to speculate that a lack of sleep may reduce the body’s immune response, which then contributes to gum disease progression.

Another major lifestyle factor was smoking. More than 40 percent of participants in the study who experienced a progression of gum disease were smokers. This may seem obvious, but it reinforces the idea that tobacco use affects far more areas of a person’s health than just the lungs. Other influential factors identified in the study included high stress levels and daily alcohol consumption. Many of these factors are related, so it’s important to be self-aware. For instance, high stress levels may cause a person to lose sleep, which can then lead to progression in gum disease.

By fixing one contributing factor, other problems may be lessened, as well. Your True Care Advantage dental plan dentist can help you identify signs of periodontal disease and show you specific ways to stop it from progressing. By making changes to your lifestyle, you can quickly get back on the path to oral health.

Effects of cancer treatments on oral health

Most cancer patients who undergo radiation therapy are aware of the risks and side effects associated with the treatment, but not all are familiar with its effects on oral health. According to the American Dental Association, approximately one-third of Americans diagnosed with cancer suffer from painful oral complications after receiving radiation therapy. Radiation in the head and neck regions of the body can cause patients to develop dry mouth, hypersensitive teeth, rapid tooth decay, and lesions.

They may also experience difficulty swallowing. Although most of these effects are caused by radiation, chemotherapy may also result in damage to the oral cavity. To prevent these effects, the ADA suggests that a patient’s oncologist and dentist work together before and during treatments. Patients undergoing cancer treatments should typically brush their teeth gently twice a day and may need to use a special saliva-replacement product to combat dry mouth. An increase in the frequency of fluoride treatments may also be recommended. The most important thing for patients to remember is to maintain constant and proactive communication with their dentists and oncologists.

Both health professionals care about their patients’ well-being and can benefit from coordinating their treatments. If you are anticipating cancer treatments in the near future, talk to your True Care Advantage dental plans dentist for individualized advice and recommendations. He or she will perform a full oral examination and work with you to maintain your healthy smile.

Good oral hygiene may be linked to memory health

In the last decade, mountains of research have been conducted on the brain and the way a person’s memory changes over time. But before you reach for the Ginkgo Biloba, you may want to consider reaching for the toothbrush instead.

Researchers at West Virginia University are studying the effects of gum health on a person’s memory, and many experts predict that brushing and flossing may reduce the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s. Studies have already shown that gum disease increases a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke, perhaps due to the inflammatory response caused by periodontitis or microorganisms in the mouth. Now, researchers suspect that mental health can also be affected by a person’s gums. According to the West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, connections have already been found between severe dementia and gum disease.

To keep your gums healthy, it is important to brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily, as well as use fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash. Most importantly, schedule regular visits with a dentist on your True Care Advantage discount dental plan and ask questions. Staying informed is the first step to staying healthy.