Search Results for: blog treating mild and severe gum disease

Tooth Sensitivity

There are different culprits for that little zing of pain in a tooth… and different types of pain can mean different things! Here’s a look at some common types of tooth sensitivity, and what they may mean for the health of your mouth. Sensitivity to cold — this is a common complaint and often indicates tooth decay or root exposure. Both these things can make cold a real pain in the mouth! After a dental treatment, teeth may temporarily be sensitive to cold, but the sensation should subside within a week. If it doesn’t go away (or gets worse), call … Continue reading →

Two Dozen Motivating Reasons to Lose Weight:

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I’m happy to be guestwriting in this blog. You can also find me at the Adoption Blog here on Families.com, where I’ve written for over 2 1/2 years. Our responses to food are often not totally planned. Try programming your brain to think in new ways by reading, every morning and evening, your reasons for losing weight and possible things you can tell yourself in a tempting or difficult situation. Here are two dozen of my most serious motivations for losing weight. (My next blog will share two dozen more light-hearted–but sometimes no less motivating–reasons.)Maybe some of them are yours. … Continue reading →

Are You Afraid of the Big, Bad Dentist?

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If you get a little anxious thinking about going to the dentist, you’re not alone. Dental phobia keeps a lot of people from getting the care they need for their pearly whites. There are a lot of different facets to dental phobia. Some of the most common fears involving the dentist’s office include: Embarassment — “I haven’t been to the dentist’s office in years, and my teeth are going to be horrible. The dentist is going to lecture me about what a failure I am.” Pain — “It’s going to hurt when they clean my teeth. I’ll have cavities that … Continue reading →

Do You Floss?

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Flossing is good for your pearly whites… but a lot of people don’t bother unless there’s something stuck. Why is flossing important, anyway? Dental floss is the best way to get plaque out from between the teeth and right at the gumline. Since a lot of periodontal disease tends to start at the gums, flossing is a good way to prevent problems. Brushing alone doesn’t always clear all the plaque. Here’s the way to do it, according to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association: Get about a foot and a half (18 inches) of floss. No, you don’t need to measure … Continue reading →

Fight Cavities with Gummy Bears

Another candy joins the fight against bad teeth: those sweet, colorful Gummy Bears! As long as those Gummy Bears are sweetened with xylitol, that is. Xylitol is a naturally-occurring sugar alcohol that is often used as a sugar substitute. Studies have shown that xylitol can help reduce levels of a particular kind of bacteria (mutans streptococci) in plaque. You may have seen xylitol as an ingredient in sugar-free chewing gum! However, gum isn’t usually recommended for younger children — it’s all too easy for a young child to chew and swallow gum, rather than just chew it. A study from … Continue reading →

Gum Health and Diabetes

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The American Diabetes Association believes that people with type 2 diabetes can help control the disease by taking care of their gums. Several studies support this belief. A study of United States population data between 1988 and 1994 showed that having gum disease doubled a person’s risk of experiencing insulin resistance. A study from Stony Brook University linked severity of gum disease with degree of insulin resistance. Inflammatory chemicals produced by the infection in the mouth could enter the bloodstream and affect cells that deal with insulin. A study from the National Institutes of Health found that treating gum disease … Continue reading →

Common Causes for Bad Breath

Would you believe that there are ninety million people in the United States alone suffering from chronic bad breath? That’s a lot of halitosis! What causes all that bad breath? These are the top culprits: The food you eat. Some things are just stinkier than others — like garlic or onions. Food can also contribute to problems with bacteria in the mouth (see number 3 for the explanation). Tobacco and alcohol. They can leave your mouth stinky! Bacteria that lives in the mouth. When bacteria in the mouth interact with food particles, they can give off stinky by-products. Bacteria can … Continue reading →

The Basics for Brushing

Just because we brush every day (often twice a day) doesn’t mean we’re doing it right! Studies have shown that there are lots of people out there who have bad brushing habits. Here are some tips to help you get it right. Don’t brush too hard. You can actually hurt your teeth and gums this way. A thorough brushing takes two minutes or more — whether you use an electric toothbrush or a traditional one. Set a timer if you need to. Most people think they’re brushing long enough and they just aren’t. Those “Tooth Tunes” brushes are great for … Continue reading →

Treating Mild and Severe Gum Disease

If you have early-stage gum disease (also known as gingivitis), early treatment can save your teeth! In the early stages, gingivitis is a bacterial infection of the tissues and bones that support the teeth. As the disease progresses, it becomes periodontitis — a more serious form of gum disease that can permanently damage tissue and lead to tooth loss. Treating gingivitis early gives you a chance to reverse the damage done to your mouth. Brush your teeth twice daily (morning and night). Floss your teeth once daily. Use an antiseptic or antiplaque mouthwash. Visit your dentist more frequently (every three … Continue reading →