Vitamin C Good For Oral Health

Posted on Apr 12, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

According to the Journal of Periodontology, people who consume at least 180 mg of vitamin C per day give their gums and teeth a healthy boost. As an anti-inflammatory, Vitamin C also binds cells to build connective tissue with collagen. Vitamin C has even been shown to increase bone regrowth, which helps to restore healthy teeth.

Dietary sources of vitamin C include coconut water, citrus, red peppers, brussel sprouts, broccoli and tomatoes. Getting your C through food sources is best since most chewable vitamin C is highly acidic, which can erode tooth enamel. If you aren’t getting sufficient vitamin C through your diet, non-acidic alternatives are an over-the-counter vitamin C that comes in powder form or vitamin C chewing gum, which is also non-acidic.

Healthy teeth and gums mean fresher breath and save you time and money by decreasing your risk for gum disease and cavity repair. While foods and vitamin supplements are beneficial to maintaining a healthy mouth, having a professionally cleaned mouth is to your advantage. If you haven’t had regular dental cleanings, arrange an examination by calling 828-274-9440.

Also, be aware of the signs of gum disease. These are tender gums that bleed when brushing, swollen and achy areas on gums, gums that darken in color, receded gums and persistent bad breath. Gum disease only worsens without treatment. It is the nation’s leading cause of adult tooth loss. If you have any of these symptoms, call promptly so treatment can be scheduled without delay.

How Periodontal (Gum) Disease Begins & Progresses

Posted on Apr 12, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Periodontal (gum) disease begins without obvious symptoms. This is likely why it is allowed to progress. Yet, even when gum disease is fully underway, the warning signs are often ignored. For example, some people assume that seeing blood in the sink when brushing is a sign they are doing a good job rather than a symptom of inflamed gum tissues. (It’s not!)

Acquiring gum disease is easier than you might imagine. The following is the typical process of gum disease:

•  Accumulation Of Oral Bacteria: Our mouths are a warm, moist environment. Every day, it takes in an enormous amount of bacteria. Bacteria is on food, lipstick, and even the toothbrush we use. Bacteria in our bodies, including our mouths, is a fact of life and something we can process – at certain levels. The problem begins when too much bacteria accumulate.

•  Plaque: Without regular and thorough brushing, flossing, saliva flow and diet, oral bacteria can reproduce rapidly in the mouth. Their accumulation over the course of a day forms a sticky film you feel on teeth. This film, known as plaque, can form in just the brief time between your morning tooth brushing and evening brushing.

•  Tartar (or Calculus): In about 48 hours, sticky plaque film can harden into tartar. Tartar (also known as calculus) is a hardened form of oral bacteria that attaches to teeth. Tartar will continually reproduce and amass as oral bacteria subsist on tooth enamel and gum tissue.

•  Gingivitis: This is the first stage of gum disease. At this point, gum tissue is under attack. Gums are tender and bleed easily when brushing. You may have an aching sensation in some areas and your breath will be frequently bad. By taking effective measures at this point, you have an opportunity to restore your gums to a healthy state. Halting gingivitis at this point is important to avoid its progression to gum disease.

•  Periodontal (Gum) Disease: At this level, the gums are inflamed and tender. Gum tissues will darken in color and begin to pull away from some teeth, exposing darker root portions. Your breath will be frequently offensive. As gum disease worsens, pus pockets form on gum tissues and teeth will loosen. Gum disease can lead to the need to remove some teeth. It is the nation’s leading cause of adult tooth loss.

An estimated 47% of American adults have some level of gum disease. As devastating as tooth loss can be, research has been associated the bacteria of gum disease with serious health problems elsewhere in the body.

Oral bacteria can become bloodborne through tears in diseased gum tissues and has been shown to cause inflammatory triggers. This systemic inflammation has been associated with heart attacks, stroke, high blood pressure, some cancers, arthritis, diabetes, preterm babies and impotency. Yet, gum disease is one of the most preventable of all diseases with simple measures.

Re-examine your at-home oral care routine. Twice daily brushing, daily flossing, drinking plenty of water and limiting snacking, sweets and caffeine help to keep your mouth healthy between regular dental check-ups and cleanings. And, those check-ups are vital to keeping a healthy smile. During these visits, accumulated tartar can be removed and signs of early gum disease can be noted.

Good oral health practices can save you much in time and money by avoiding procedures to repair problems. Too, keeping a healthy mouth means you are helping to protect your overall health by lowering risks associated with oral bacteria. With proper care, you can easily enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles.

If you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease, call 828-274-9440. As a specialist in all levels of gum disease, we can help you restore your oral health.

Is Your Mouth Frequently Dry? Oral Bacteria Thrive In A Dry Mouth.

Posted on Mar 30, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Okay, let’s admit it – we all have not-so-fresh breath at times. Upon wakening in the morning, after several cups of coffee, or indulging in a garlicky dish – we all have times that leave us hoping to avoid close interactions.

Occasional bad breath is fairly normal in situations as described above. Other than its source being certain foods (which can emerge from the stomach and linger long after consumption), smelly breath odor is most commonly the result of oral bacteria buildup.

It’s normal for every mouth to contain a certain amount of bacteria. It’s when the bacteria levels accumulate beyond what is manageable that creates the unpleasant stink of bad breath.

One source of persistent bad breath is periodontal (gum) disease. Frequent bad breath is a symptom of gum disease and is often accompanied by gum tenderness, seeing blood in the sink when brushing, or gums that deepen in color. If your breath odor is not coming from gum disease, however, your problem is likely related to a dry mouth.

Xerostomia, commonly known as ‘dry mouth,’ is a frequent state of oral dryness. Saliva is your mouth’s natural rinsing agent that helps cleanse oral bacteria from the mouth. This keeps bacteria to a minimum and their ability to cause problems at low risk.

When saliva flow is depleted, however, bacteria ‘hang around’ in the mouth longer and multiply rapidly. As oral bacteria thrive, reproduce and amass, the initial result is plaque. Plaque, the sticky film you can feel on teeth, also has an odor.

Periodic dry mouth can occur from consuming alcoholic beverages, coffee and certain medications. Although sugary drinks don’t necessarily dry oral tissues (unless they contain caffeine), sugar provides an ideal food for bacteria reproduction. When these beverages are both sugary and caffeinated, your mouth gets a one-two punch when it comes to oral bacteria growth.

Medications, such as antihistamines and some prescribed for depression and urinary incontinence can contribute to dry mouth. Medical conditions, including acid reflux, sinus infections, diabetes and bronchitis can also cause dry mouth. A bad cold, snoring or just being in the habit of breathing through the mouth are drying as well.

And the worst culprit of all for dry mouth? Smoking.

To begin, we examine patients who have a dry mouth to determine its source. Once the reason for your breath odor has been found, simple measures can often resolve the problem. These include:
 – Brush at least two minutes, twice daily. Use a tongue scraper or brush your tongue with your toothbrush after brushing teeth.
 – Floss daily. If this is difficult or awkward for you, purchase an electronic flosser.
 – Drink lots of water throughout the day. (Sports drinks do not count!) If you take medications that have drying side effects, use an oral rinse that replenishes saliva. There are several available over-the-counter.

Having fresh, confident breath begins with a clean, healthy mouth. If you have symptoms of gum disease or feel you have persistent bad breath, call (828) 274-9440 to schedule an examination.

Don’t Let Lupus Compromise Your Smile

Posted on Mar 22, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Over the years, I’ve shared many findings that have revealed links between the infectious bacteria of periodontal (gum) disease to other serious health problems. The culprit tends to originate in how oral bacteria can trigger systemic inflammation elsewhere in the body. Because the bacteria can become bloodborne through tears in weakened gum tissues, it can freely travel throughout the body and lead to chronic inflammatory reactions.

Periodontitis is an advanced stage of periodontal (gum) disease. In the mouth, it causes destructive inflammation that leads to the loss of the structures that support teeth. Eventually, this leads to tooth loss and is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the U.S.

A person with Lupus, depending on the type of disease, faces a variety of oral health challenges. As an autoimmune disease, Lupus affects the collagen tissue in the entire body. This includes the collagen that exist in the tissues of the mouth. This adds to the problems of Lupus patients with longer healing times required after oral procedures as well as the common symptom of dry mouth.

When a mouth is dry, oral bacteria can more easily accumulate. Having a dry mouth contributes to an increased risk of developing cavities, gum disease and candidiasis, a fungal mouth infection. Dry mouth can cause the gums to become red and leukoplakic lesions to form on gum tissues. These are white, scaly patches that appear on the gum tissues inside the cheeks and/or on the palate and inner border of the lips.

To overcome the challenges of dry mouth, Lupus patients should practice ways to stimulate the production of saliva flow. This can be done by chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy.  They should drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep the mouth wet, preferably taking frequent sips. To soothe dry, cracked lips, a petroleum-based lip balm is recommended.

Dry mouth can be made worse by consuming caffeinated foods and beverages, spicy foods and alcoholic beverages. The worst drying agent to oral tissues is smoking or ‘chew.’

In addition to actions to prevent the problems associated with dry mouth, a saliva substitute may be helpful to replenish low saliva production. These products mimic some of the properties of saliva and help make the mouth feel wet. Some also contain fluoride, which can help to prevent cavities.  However, the benefits of saliva products are limited since they are eventually swallowed.  Because the effects last only a few hours, it may be necessary to use them several times a day.

Although the challenges that Lupus patients face are many, keeping good oral health can occur by devoting mere minutes to proactive oral health measures. In addition to helping to keep your mouth moist, be committed to a thorough at-home oral hygiene regimen. This includes daily flossing, twice daily brushing (at least two minutes each time), and limiting snacks.

We believe every person, regardless of their challenges, can enjoy a healthy, confident smile. If you have Lupus or any disease that creates hurdles when it comes to your oral health, let us help. Together, we can develop a plan that is appropriate for your individual needs. Call 828-274-9440 to arrange an examination to begin.