How To Prevent Gum Disease In Your Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant and wondering what effect your oral health might have on your unborn baby, the dental health experts at our dental practice want patients to know the facts about how oral health can impact pregnancy.
There has been evidence that shows a correlation between gum disease and premature babies. Researchers have revealed that pregnant woman who have gum disease are more likely than other pregnant women to have a premature birth.
There needs to be more research on this subject, but it does seem that gum disease is detrimental to fluids that induce labour. If gum disease worsens during pregnancy, the risk will be greater of having a baby born too early or too small.
The dental health team at Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry encourages pregnant women to visit our Vancouver dental practice for regular dental appointments so that oral health issues can be treated before they have an impact on pregnancy.
While you are pregnant, the team at our Vancouver dental practice will pay close attention to your teeth and gums. In order to keep your mouth healthy, brush and floss on a regular basis and make sure your diet is nutritious. Ensure that you visit Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry for your regular checkups and to prevent dental issues.
Aside from gum disease, another issue that women may develop during pregnancy is gingivitis. This occurs when plaque is stored in the teeth, causing gums to be irritated. Symptoms of this dental problem are red, swollen and bloody gums, and inflammation.
Gingivitis is a major concern for pregnant women who visit our Vancouver dental practice because the high level of hormones make the way gums respond to plaque much worse. It should be noted that plaque is the major cause of pregnancy gingivitis, not hormones.
If you are diligent about keeping your teeth clean, this will reduce your chances of gingivitis. Make sure to pay special attention to the gumline, as it attracts plaque and bacteria the most.
Let the Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry team know about your pregnancy when you make your appointment.
Read More
Smiles for Life: Keeping Your Teeth Natural
It has come across our attention at Kerrisdale Dental that many aging patients are concerned about losing teeth as they grow older. The truth of the matter is that there is no reason for senior citizens to lose their teeth other than because of oral disease.
Your perfect smile can last you a lifetime, if you take proper care of it.
The aging generation is now one of the fastest growing populations in North America. Most dental professionals are seeing that these citizens are keeping their teeth healthy, allowing for a natural smile with no need of dental implants or dentures.
However, a natural smile that lasts a lifetime is only possible with proper oral health care—which typically requires an annual visit to the team at Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry.
“We have found that seniors take longer breaks from visiting the dentist,” says Dr. Abbas Tejani, “it seems as if they stop caring because they don’t think their oral hygiene matters anymore.”
Proper oral health care is essential for older people for a multitude of reasons. One of which is dry mouth, which slows down the production of saliva. Often seen in elderly patients, dry mouth can be harmful because saliva helps to prevent tooth decay by washing away food particles and eliminating acids. Luckily, a dentist can fix dry mouth.
Senior citizens should also remember to maintain a regiment of daily flossing and brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Elderly people are likely to get cavities where older fillings have broken or where receding gums have left unprotected surfaces.
In addition, for elderly patients to maintain optimal oral health, snacks with sugars and starch should be eliminated.
Keep your smile healthy and complete with proper oral care! Take some time to contact us at Kerrisdale Dental for a check-up and cleaning today.
Read MoreFast Food Puts Teens on the Fast Track to Cavities
"One of the leading causes of cavities is from carbonated beverages; which not only result in cavities but also increase obesity in today’s teenager."
With teenagers eating an increased amount of fast food and carbonated beverages to keep up with their busy lifestyle, family dental clinics are witnessing a generation inflicting serious damage to their oral and overall health.
A poor diet that consists of sugary treats and fast food can result in premature loss of tooth enamel, resulting in a weaker tooth structure. Due to this, it is especially important that teenagers try to maintain a healthy diet.
One of the leading causes of cavities is from carbonated beverages; which not only result in cavities but also increase obesity in today’s teenager.
The citric, tartaric, carbonic and phosphoric acids that come from pop can often lead to the breakdown of tooth enamel, naturally leading to cavities or tooth decay.
In order to actively prevent cavities from occurring, teenagers and parents need to decrease the amount of sugar-filled pop consumed. In addition, regular checkups and cleanings need to be scheduled at your local family dental clinic to ensure optimal oral health.
Contact Kerrisdale Dental today to book an appointment or to learn more about cavity prevention for teenagers.
Read MoreDiabetes and Gum Disease: The Connection Between the Two
Is there a connection between the two diseases? Yes. Recent studies conducted by the American Diabetes Association have proven that diabetes and gum disease are linked. Diabetics not only have the problem of everyday blood glucose monitoring and maintaining; they are more prone to gum disease and oral health complications. With the serious disease of diabetes, numerous other complications can occur such as a low immune system and oral health complications such as gingivitis. Diabetics do not have as much fighting power within their immune system as healthy people and this makes them vulnerable to a variety of problems.
Diabetes and gum disease are connected because when blood glucose levels become unstable the teeth cannot remain strong. This can cause a diabetic to lose teeth throughout their lifetime. The risk of serious gum disease is higher when a diabetic’s blood sugar level becomes unbalanced. New research and studies performed indicate that if we focus on maintaining our oral health, we can maintain or improve our general health. An unhealthy set of teeth can lead to numerous problems and health conditions. Gum disease can seriously affect a diabetic because it can increase blood glucose levels so high that it may be more and more difficult to maintain on a daily basis.
If you are suffering from diabetes, you must take good care of your gums. By brushing your teeth two to three times daily after meals, flossing, booking routine dental cleanings, controlling glucose levels and using mouthwash, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting gum disease. It is also important to observe your teeth and gums daily to see if any teeth are loose and if any gums are bleeding as this has been a sign of individuals dealing with diabetes and gum disease
We at Kerrisdale Dental understand how diabetes and gum disease can deeply affect your life and quality of living. We remain educated and updated on the most recent dental studies, confirmed healthcare reports and offer state-of-the-art technology and treatments. It is our job to keep your teeth and gums healthy and we commit ourselves to providing optimal oral health and hygiene in all of our patients.
Read MoreGum Disease and How to Identify It
If you think you may have gum disease make sure you check out the top symptoms below. Do not worry, there is treatment for gum disease and your oral health can be restored. It is a good idea to maintain your oral hygiene practices as usual and then set up a consultation with one of our experienced and highly knowledgeable dentists within our practice. We care about your teeth and gums just as much as you do and strive to achieve optimal dental health with every patient that comes to see us. At Kerrisdale Dental, we want you to feel safe, cared for and treated as one of the family.
Gum disease is a tissue infection surrounding the teeth. Periodontal disease attacks an area within the mouth called the sulcus. The sulcus is located between the gums and the teeth and when the tissue is damaged, a pocket is formed in the sulcus. There are two stages that occur when this form of disease develops. They are known as periodontitis and gingivitis. Gingivitis can be reversed as it is a milder form of gum disease, but if left untreated it can turn into severe periodontitis.
Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease can go undetected for quite some time. Gum disease can be prevented with regular dental checkups and routine cleanings.
Ask yourself the following questions.
- When you brush your teeth, do your gums bleed? Do your gums bleed for no apparent reason?
- Do you find that some of your permanent teeth are loose? Do you see gaps forming?
- Have you noticed that your gums are protruding outwards from your teeth?
- Do people complain that you have bad breath? Do you constantly have a bad taste in your mouth?
- If you wear dentures, have you noticed a change in the way they are fitting within your mouth?
- Is your bite different? Do you feel it isn’t the same bite as you previously had?
- Have you lost teeth recently without cause?
- Do your gums appear red, feel tender or look swollen?
If you answered yes to more than one of these questions, contact us today to book a consultation visit.
What should I do?
Call us and schedule an appointment for an exam. Many dentists and dental practices including Kerrisdale Dental can help stop the progression of the disease with periodontal maintenance. Do your best to maintain good oral health at home and brush, floss and eat healthy foods to maintain optimal immunity. We can help save your teeth from further damage if you get in touch with us today!
Read More