Your oral health is more important than you might realize. Get the facts about how the health of your mouth, teeth and gums can affect your general health.
Did you know that your oral health can offer clues about your overall health — or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Understand the intimate connection between oral health and overall health and what you can do to protect yourself.
What’s the connection between oral health and overall health?
Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of them harmless. Normally the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/healthy-smiles.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-07-25 00:41:402015-07-25 00:41:40The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Health
While most orthodontic problems are not life threatening, there are some early warning signs that indicate your child might need to see an orthodontist even if they still have the majority of their baby teeth.
These are the top 5 that warrant a visit before the problem becomes worse:
1. A persistent thumb, finger or tongue habit
While thumb sucking may help a child sleep better, by the time they go to Kindergarten, those habits should have been eliminated.
If left untreated, they could cause the teeth to be pushed out too far and the jaws to grow in the wrong direction. Furthermore, speech problems and eating difficulties are quite common in children with these persistent habits.
2. Upper teeth that are behind the lower teeth (also called an under bite)
This is a very severe problem that should be treated at a young age while the child is still growing. The upper jaw, in these cases, is not growing at the same rate as the lower jaw.
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/orthodontic-problems-in-children.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-07-21 22:46:062015-07-21 22:46:06Does Your Child Have Any of These Potentially Serious Orthodontic Problems?
Fillings used to treat cavities have come a long way, and today there are many options beyond traditional metal fillings.
Don’t Miss This
Cavities, also called caries or tooth decay, develop when plaque damages the enamel that protects the outer surface of the teeth.
If you have cavities, it is important to have them treated by a dentist as soon as possible. Without prompt treatment, cavities can eventually progress and affect the delicate tissue and nerves deep within your teeth. When cavities are treated early, serious complications, such as nerve damage and tooth loss can be prevented.
Stomatitis, a general term for an inflamed and sore mouth, can disrupt a person’s ability to eat, talk, and sleep. Stomatitis can occur anywhere in the mouth, including the inside of the cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, and palate.
Types of Stomatitis
Types of stomatitis include:
Canker sore: A canker sore, also known as an aphthous ulcer, is a single pale or yellow ulcer with a red outer ring or a cluster of such ulcers in the mouth, usually on the cheeks, tongue, or inside the lip.
Cold sores: Also called fever blisters, cold sores are fluid-filled sores that occur on or around the lips. They rarely form on the gums or the roof of the mouth. Cold sores later crust over with a scab and are usually associated with tingling, tenderness, or burning before the actual sores appear.
Mouth irritation. The irritation can be caused by:
Biting your cheek, tongue, or lip
Wearing braces or another type of dental apparatus, or having a sharp, broken tooth
Chewing tobacco
Burning one’s mouth from hot food or drinks
Having gum disease (gingivitis) or other type of mouth infection
Having hypersensitivity to certain things, such as foods or medicines
Having certain autoimmune diseases affecting the mucosal lining of the mouth, such as lupus, Crohn’s disease, or Behcet’s disease
Taking certain drugs such as chemotherapy, antibiotics,medications used for rheumatoid arthritis, or epilepsymedications
Some improvement found over 5-year period but expert says program cuts could hurt.
Only about one-third of U.S. children on Medicaid receives dental care in a single year, and how often these kids see a dentist depends on where they live, a new study finds.
In 2007, the prevalence of visits to the dentist ranged from 12 percent in Nevada to 49 percent in Vermont, but didn’t reach 50 percent in any state or the District of Columbia, the researchers found.
The researchers also compared the 2007 findings with data from five years earlier.
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/dental-health-kids.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-07-10 05:44:302015-07-10 05:44:30Many Kids on Medicaid Don’t See Dentist
Brushing your teeth seems easy enough. But some toothbrushes are better than others and there is a right and wrong way to brush your teeth.
Brushing your teeth regularly is key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums and preventing periodontal (gum) diseases, but it’s also important to make sure you choose the right toothbrush for your teeth and use proper brushing techniques. Done correctly, brushing your teeth at least twice a day — in the morning and in the evening before going to bed, for at least three minutes — can help ensure long-term dental health.
“It takes time to brush effectively,” says Richard H. Price, DMD, spokesperson for the American Dental Association (ADA) and a former clinical instructor at Boston University Dental School. “Most people just rush through it.” Dr. Price suggests setting a timer for three minutes and brushing and flossing until the time runs out.
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toothbrush-tips.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-07-10 05:39:282015-07-10 05:39:48Toothbrush Tips to Keep Your Teeth in Shape
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, exists in two forms: gingivitis and periodontitis. Both types of gum disease arise from a bacterial infection that is usually brought on by poor dental care. Gingivitis is a milder form of gum disease that causes irritated, bleeding gums. If left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis.
Like gingivitis, periodontitis causes gums to bleed and become inflamed. Other signs and symptoms of periodontitis can include:
Mouth sores
Gum pain
A sour taste in the mouth
Many people with periodontitis experience few symptoms. But even in the absence of obvious symptoms, untreated periodontitis can cause teeth to loosen and fall out or need to be extracted.
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/gum-disease.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-07-06 22:45:592015-07-06 22:45:59Understanding Periodontitis: A Progressive Form of Gum Disease
What your child eats affects his or her teeth. Too many carbohydrates, sugar (for example, from cake, cookies, candies, milk, and other sugary foods and beverages), and starches (for example, pretzels and potato chips) can cause tooth decay. How long carbohydrates remain on the teeth is the main culprit that leads to tooth decay.
The best thing you can do as a parent is to teach your child to make healthy food choices. Here are some tooth-friendly foods to serve your children along with some other tips:
Fruits and vegetables: Offer fruits and vegetables as a snack instead of carbohydrates. Fruits and vegetables that contain a high volume of water, such as pears, melons, celery, and cucumbers are best. Limit banana and raisin consumption as these contain concentrated sugar or if you serve these fruits, try to brush your child’s teeth immediately after they are eaten.
Cheese: Serve cheese with lunch or as a snack, especially cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and other aged cheeses which help to trigger the flow of saliva. Saliva helps to wash food particles away from teeth.
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/healthy-snacks-for-kids.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-07-03 23:28:162015-07-03 23:28:16Nutrition and Your Child’s Teeth
Don’t wait for a toothache to start taking care of your teeth. By practicing good oral hygiene and getting regular dental checkups, you can protect yourself from tooth decay.
Tooth decay – also called cavities or dental caries – can happen to anyone but it is a particularly common problem for children and young adults. Left untreated, dental cavities can become infected and eventually, tooth decay can result in tooth loss.
Understanding Tooth Decay
Tooth decay begins with the normal bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria feed on food particles in your mouth and produce acid as a byproduct. The combination of bacteria, food debris, acid, and saliva in your mouth forms a filmy substance on your teeth, called plaque, roughly 20 minutes after you eat. If the plaque isn’t removed promptly, tooth decay will begin. Eventually, plaque hardens into a mineral-like substance called tartar which is much harder to remove. Both tartar and plaque can eventually lead to the gum diseases gingivitis and periodontitis.
Stinky breath, unsightly mouth sores, and tooth decay: We’ve got a solution for all of your dental-health dilemmas.
The best way to keep your mouth, teeth, and gums looking and feeling great? Your daily brushing and flossing routine, combined with a balanced diet and regular dental visits.
But following these oral hygiene commandments isn’t always enough. Many common oral-health problems, such as bad breath, tooth decay, erosion, receding gums, and mouth sores, can leave people feeling both physically uncomfortable and reluctant to smile. Fortunately, with the right treatments these embarrassing oral-health problems can be solved! Check out these remedies from the American Dental Association (ADA):
The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Health
/in Oral HealthArticle featured on Mayo Clinic
Your oral health is more important than you might realize. Get the facts about how the health of your mouth, teeth and gums can affect your general health.
Did you know that your oral health can offer clues about your overall health — or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Understand the intimate connection between oral health and overall health and what you can do to protect yourself.
What’s the connection between oral health and overall health?
Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of them harmless. Normally the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
Read more
Does Your Child Have Any of These Potentially Serious Orthodontic Problems?
/in About Orthodontics, Orthodontics For ChildrenWhile most orthodontic problems are not life threatening, there are some early warning signs that indicate your child might need to see an orthodontist even if they still have the majority of their baby teeth.
These are the top 5 that warrant a visit before the problem becomes worse:
1. A persistent thumb, finger or tongue habit
While thumb sucking may help a child sleep better, by the time they go to Kindergarten, those habits should have been eliminated.
If left untreated, they could cause the teeth to be pushed out too far and the jaws to grow in the wrong direction. Furthermore, speech problems and eating difficulties are quite common in children with these persistent habits.
2. Upper teeth that are behind the lower teeth (also called an under bite)
This is a very severe problem that should be treated at a young age while the child is still growing. The upper jaw, in these cases, is not growing at the same rate as the lower jaw.
Read more
Dental Filling Options for Cavities
/in About OrthodonticsFillings used to treat cavities have come a long way, and today there are many options beyond traditional metal fillings.
Don’t Miss This
Cavities, also called caries or tooth decay, develop when plaque damages the enamel that protects the outer surface of the teeth.
If you have cavities, it is important to have them treated by a dentist as soon as possible. Without prompt treatment, cavities can eventually progress and affect the delicate tissue and nerves deep within your teeth. When cavities are treated early, serious complications, such as nerve damage and tooth loss can be prevented.
Read more
Mouth Sores – Stomatitis
/in Oral HygieneStomatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Stomatitis, a general term for an inflamed and sore mouth, can disrupt a person’s ability to eat, talk, and sleep. Stomatitis can occur anywhere in the mouth, including the inside of the cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, and palate.
Types of Stomatitis
Types of stomatitis include:
Read more
Many Kids on Medicaid Don’t See Dentist
/in Orthodontics For ChildrenSome improvement found over 5-year period but expert says program cuts could hurt.
Only about one-third of U.S. children on Medicaid receives dental care in a single year, and how often these kids see a dentist depends on where they live, a new study finds.
In 2007, the prevalence of visits to the dentist ranged from 12 percent in Nevada to 49 percent in Vermont, but didn’t reach 50 percent in any state or the District of Columbia, the researchers found.
The researchers also compared the 2007 findings with data from five years earlier.
Read more
Toothbrush Tips to Keep Your Teeth in Shape
/in Oral Hygiene, Tips & TricksBrushing your teeth seems easy enough. But some toothbrushes are better than others and there is a right and wrong way to brush your teeth.
Brushing your teeth regularly is key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums and preventing periodontal (gum) diseases, but it’s also important to make sure you choose the right toothbrush for your teeth and use proper brushing techniques. Done correctly, brushing your teeth at least twice a day — in the morning and in the evening before going to bed, for at least three minutes — can help ensure long-term dental health.
“It takes time to brush effectively,” says Richard H. Price, DMD, spokesperson for the American Dental Association (ADA) and a former clinical instructor at Boston University Dental School. “Most people just rush through it.” Dr. Price suggests setting a timer for three minutes and brushing and flossing until the time runs out.
Read more
Understanding Periodontitis: A Progressive Form of Gum Disease
/in General Care, Oral HygieneGum disease, also known as periodontal disease, exists in two forms: gingivitis and periodontitis. Both types of gum disease arise from a bacterial infection that is usually brought on by poor dental care. Gingivitis is a milder form of gum disease that causes irritated, bleeding gums. If left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis.
Like gingivitis, periodontitis causes gums to bleed and become inflamed. Other signs and symptoms of periodontitis can include:
Many people with periodontitis experience few symptoms. But even in the absence of obvious symptoms, untreated periodontitis can cause teeth to loosen and fall out or need to be extracted.
Read more
Nutrition and Your Child’s Teeth
/in General CareWhat your child eats affects his or her teeth. Too many carbohydrates, sugar (for example, from cake, cookies, candies, milk, and other sugary foods and beverages), and starches (for example, pretzels and potato chips) can cause tooth decay. How long carbohydrates remain on the teeth is the main culprit that leads to tooth decay.
The best thing you can do as a parent is to teach your child to make healthy food choices. Here are some tooth-friendly foods to serve your children along with some other tips:
Read more
Avoiding Tooth Decay and Cavities
/in Oral HygieneDon’t wait for a toothache to start taking care of your teeth. By practicing good oral hygiene and getting regular dental checkups, you can protect yourself from tooth decay.
Tooth decay – also called cavities or dental caries – can happen to anyone but it is a particularly common problem for children and young adults. Left untreated, dental cavities can become infected and eventually, tooth decay can result in tooth loss.
Understanding Tooth Decay
Tooth decay begins with the normal bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria feed on food particles in your mouth and produce acid as a byproduct. The combination of bacteria, food debris, acid, and saliva in your mouth forms a filmy substance on your teeth, called plaque, roughly 20 minutes after you eat. If the plaque isn’t removed promptly, tooth decay will begin. Eventually, plaque hardens into a mineral-like substance called tartar which is much harder to remove. Both tartar and plaque can eventually lead to the gum diseases gingivitis and periodontitis.
Read more
Top 5 Embarrassing Oral Health Problems…Solved!
/in UncategorizedStinky breath, unsightly mouth sores, and tooth decay: We’ve got a solution for all of your dental-health dilemmas.
The best way to keep your mouth, teeth, and gums looking and feeling great? Your daily brushing and flossing routine, combined with a balanced diet and regular dental visits.
But following these oral hygiene commandments isn’t always enough. Many common oral-health problems, such as bad breath, tooth decay, erosion, receding gums, and mouth sores, can leave people feeling both physically uncomfortable and reluctant to smile. Fortunately, with the right treatments these embarrassing oral-health problems can be solved! Check out these remedies from the American Dental Association (ADA):
Read more