It is unlawful to sell a home that has termites; that’s how destructive these little bugs are to the structure of a home. When a homeowner learns they have termites, immediate measures are taken to combat these demons and repair the damage they’ve caused thus far.

Oral bacteria, which are living ‘bugs,’ are no less destructive than termites. They multiply quickly and spend their lives eating away at the structure of your mouth. Oral bacteria begin by eating away at gum tissue and tooth surfaces. As they continue to multiply, they destroy bone structure below the gum line as well.

When oral bacteria enters the blood stream through tears in diseased gum tissues, they can trigger an inflammatory reaction elsewhere in the body. Oral bacteria have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, preterm babies, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and even impotency.

Unlike the home in which you reside, your body is your forever home. When you think of oral bacteria as they truly are – like termites in the mouth – your oral health will have a more prominent part in your overall health commitment.

If you have signs of gum disease, oral bacteria is already causing damage. Symptoms include gums that bleed when you brush, persistent bad breath, sore and tender gums or receded gums. Delaying treatment only allows these oral ‘bugs’ to multiply further and continue their damage.

Call us at (828) 274-9440 for a consultation, or better yet, schedule an examination so we can determine your specific level of gum disease and treatment needed.

An article in the Journal of Periodontology lists nine risk factors for tooth loss due to periodontal (gum) disease, which is the nation’s leading cause of tooth loos.

Risk factors include:
Being over the age of 35
Being a male
Never getting professional dental care
Never using a toothbrush
Smoking
Having diabetes
Having high blood pressure
Having rheumatoid arthritis

Although age and gender are unchangeable, decisions to not brush your teeth or to smoke, for example, are something you can control.

Why should you worry about gum disease? In addition to causing tooth loss, oral bacteria can enter then bloodstream through tears in diseased tissues in the mouth. Once bloodborne, this bacteria can trigger an inflammatory reaction elsewhere in the body.

The bacteria of gum disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, memory loss, preterm babies, arthritis, diabetes, and even impotency.

If you aren’t concerned about losing teeth, then these additional health risks should get your attention. Treating gum disease before it becomes severe can be done comfortably and affordably. Payment options are available for those without dental insurance.

Gum disease will only worsen without treatment. Call (828) 274-9440 if you have tender, sore gums that are red in color rather than a healthy pink. You need to be seen promptly.

With our aging population, about 10% of American adults wear dentures. Although I am a proponent of Dental Implants for their tooth replacement superiority, I realize some people are accepting of the feel and function of dentures.

More commonly, however, patients come to us weary of the frustrations that are typical with wearing dentures and desire the stability of Dental Implants or an implant-secured denture.

Common complaints we hear from denture wearers include:
   • My dentures are uncomfortable.
   • It took a long time to get used to something foreign in my mouth.
   • I had to relearn saying certain words and to chew differently.
   • I don’t feel they look natural.
   • My denture causes me to have bad breath.
   • My dentures have embarrassed me by slipping.
   • I have a fear my dentures will shoot out when I sneeze in public.
   • I feel I look older now that I wear dentures.
   • I have sore gums a lot.
   • I’ve had to give up many things I loved to eat.
   • I can’t taste as well now.
   • Denture creams melt when I drink hot coffee and ruins the taste.
   • Adhesives help some but are expensive.
   • I laugh less with friends to avoid embarrassment.
   • I turn down invitations when there is a meal involved.

If you see your own frustrations with wearing dentures above, call (828) 274-9440 and begin with a consultation. During this time, I’ll discuss options best for your situation and answer your questions in a relaxed, comfortable setting.

The World Health Organization wants you to cut down on the amount of sugar you’re consuming. Of particular concern, WHO said, is the role sugar plays in causing dental diseases. The challenge, however, is that sugar can be so addictive, it has been compared to opium.

From 1950 to 2000, the USDA says American consumption of sugar increased 39%. On average, Americans consume about three pounds of sugar every week.

However, some of our sugar addiction may have developed without our knowledge. This occurred, in some cases, because consumers demanded foods that were lower in fat. Therefore, manufacturers lowered the fat while substituting sugar to preserve the taste.

Some manufacturers add sugars in forms other than high fructose corn sugars to sweeten foods and beverages. These include honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit concentrates; still sugar in these forms. The American population also unknowingly consumes sugars that are ‘hidden’ in processed foods. For example, you’ll find sugar in frozen pizza, yogurt, mayonnaise, catsup, bread and many soups.

Recommended daily intake is actually six teaspoons a day, or about the amount in a can of regular soda. So, how do you wean yourself off of sugar? Begin by reading labels, of everything! For every sugar gram, multiply by four to get the sugar calories per serving.

Then, begin lowering your amount of sugar on a daily basis. Drink plain water with meals rather than a can of soda. Each month, adjust your diet so you are moving away from sugar in any form.

Sugar creates the worst onset on oral bacteria of anything you can consume. Protect your smile and your overall health by making simple changes on a gradual basis. You’ll find it’s easier than you may think!