Author: adv-admin

There are several common myths that seem to follow gum disease, but these misunderstandings are important to clear up before they perpetuate into false information for patients. Here are some of those myths we often hear that are simply untrue:

1. Gum Disease Is Not That Common: Actually, the truth is quite the opposite. Gum disease is actually quite common, much more common than we would like to think. About half of adults age 30 and older have or have had some form of gum disease in their lifetime. The gum disease is often caused by that stick layer of film that can form over teeth and eventually turn into calcified tartar if not removed through brushing and flossing regularly.
2. I Have No Cavities So I Can’t Have Gum Disease: This is also untrue as the cavities occur in the teeth themselves, whereas the gum problems occur in the gum line. Gums that bleed easily or are very red in nature already are infected with gingivitis, and if left untreated can turn into a periodontal disease which gets under the gum line and can penetrate the bone. Gingivitis is usually treatable through consistently improved brushing and flossing habits, but once it advances to periodontal disease the fix is not so easy!
3. Having Gum Disease Means I Will Lose All of My Teeth: That is also not true. You don’t have to lose your teeth to gum disease if you up your oral routine and hygiene. Gingivitis is the first sign that you have to improve your oral health, and people rarely lose teeth to gingivitis alone but left untreated it can advance to periodontal diseases, which can sometimes be treated to save the teeth, but in its more advanced stages, the chances may not be so great. Why let it get there, though? Just take care of your teeth and you won’t have a thing to worry about. If you have no idea what the state of your teeth is today, contact your dentist right away so you can get an appointment scheduled to see how you are doing. If improvements need to be made, agree to make them so you don’t have oral health problems in the future.
4. Bleeding Gums During Pregnancy is Normal: Actually, on having your gums bleeding during pregnancy is not your body’s normal reaction. It’s a condition called “pregnancy gingivitis” which may mean your gums are a little bit more susceptible to infection and disease than they were when you are not pregnant. IF you have more sensitive gums, just provide extra TLC to keep them from getting infected, and most women should not have a problem averting pregnancy gum disease if they visit their dentist regularly and keep on top of things.
5. Bad Breath Can Be an Indicator of Gum Disease: Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth can be a sign of gum disease. If you constantly have that bad breath, then see your dentist for regular checkups and see how you can avoid any further problems with gum disease before it’s too late. If your dentist sees no issues, you may be referred to your physician who can do further testing for any medical abnormalities.
6. I Have Diabetes, Will I Get Gum Disease?: Diabetes is a chronic condition which effects the body’s ability to process and digest sugars. Diabetes can lower your natural ability to fight off certain conditions, including infections like gum disease in gingivitis or periodontal disease. If you have diabetes you are at greater risk of developing conditions like gum disease, but regular preventative care from your dentist should be able to help keep these problems to a minimum when combined with healthy habits of brushing 2x per day, and flossing 1x per day.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team “Where Family Comes First”

There are many reasons that you can see a dentist, including for regular 6-month checkups, however, sometimes there are signs that you need to see your dentist ASAP. Here are a few of those clues that if you experience these symptoms you should see your dentist ASAP:

1. You have pain. You feel pain or severe swelling in/around your face, neck, or mouth area see your dentist immediately.
2. Your gums are acting up. If you have red, inflamed, painful gums and they are puffy and bleed when you brush or floss and if you have a history of gum disease it’s time to have the dentist take a look at it.
3. Your try to hide your smile. Whether you’re self-conscious about missing a tooth or hoping for a brighter smile then maybe seeing the dentist to get some pointers on how to make that happen is a good idea!
4. You’ve had work done. If you have had past dental work done, making sure the job that was done is holding up is vital to not ending up to having more work done again if something goes wrong in the future.
5. You have ongoing medical issues. Make your medical condition that can affect your oral health part of the dental problems a priority. Include your dentist as a person on your medical team so they know of any other treatment you are undergoing.
6. You’re Pregnant: It’s safe to go to the dentist while you are pregnant, especially in your first two trimesters. Ensure you are getting your regular checkups, and even more so if you are having gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).
7. You’re Having Trouble Eating: If you are having trouble chewing or swallowing foods you may have something wrong that needs to be fixed. Same is true when you are experiencing pain while chewing or find yourself just gravitating towards softer foods to avoid pain.
8. You Have Dry Mouth: If you are seeming to drink nonstop but can’t satisfy that dry feeling in your mouth you may be having a side-effect from medications you are on, which can also spell dental problems if left untreated.
9. You Use Any Kind of Tobacco: If you chew tobacco or smoke cigarettes regular dental care is even more important as tobacco can cause tooth decay and loss.
10. You’re Having Jaw Pain: If your jaw is constantly in pain you may be grinding your teeth or clenching them while you sleep at night and not even know it. You may be wearing your teeth to nubs without even knowing it!
11. You Have Spots & Sores Appear in Your Mouth: If you are feeling new, funky spots on your tongue or in your mouth chances are you might have a fungus or a canker sore or cold sore or even a case of candidiasis developing. While many canker sores will heal themselves funguses or cold sores and candidiasis cases may need special treatment from your dentist. If you are having braces or other dental pieces put in and they are rubbing on your mouth you may have problems with infections if the rubbing is persistent and continues, or the area will just get rawer and more painful.
12. It’s Time for a Checkup: Even if you have no symptoms you should be visiting your dentist every 6 months anyways to make sure everything is good and that no problems are beginning. Problems are easier to catch in the beginning, and much less costly in many cases, too!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team“Where Family Comes First”

There are currently about 29.1 million people in the US living with diabetes. That totals about 9.3% of the entire US population. There are about 1.7 million new cases diagnosed each year, and about 8.1 million people out there have diabetes and don’t even know they are effected. Diabetes ruins your body’s ability to process sugar. Type I diabetics have the problem of not producing insulin, which is a hormone that carries the sugar to the cells of the body for energy. Type II diabetes is when the body quits responding to the insulin that is stored. Both cases result in severely heightened sugar levels being present in the blood, which in turn results in problems with various parts of your body. One problem a lot of people don’t consider that they may have is complications with their oral health.

Symptoms of Untreated Diabetes:

There are many warning signs that an individual may be suffering from diabetes and they can come from every part of your body. These are all signs that may point to you having high blood sugar and they include the following symptoms including the need to urinate excessive thirst, the need to urinate frequently, weight loss, excessive fatigue, and even loss of consciousness if blood sugars fall too low at any given time.

There are also problems that you can have with your oral health if you become diabetic. These problems include producing less saliva (dry mouth), gingivitis, problems tasting food, experience slower wound healing (especially in the mouth), higher susceptibility to infections, and teeth may erupt through the gum line at an earlier age than they should in children (usually Type I diabetes).

Why Are People with Diabetes More Prone to Gum Disease?

We all have tiny bacteria living in our mouth, and if these bacteria are not occasionally cleaned out (i.e. brushing and flossing) they can work their way into the gum line which can eat away at the bone structure underneath the teeth and cause periodontal disease. This chronic condition inflames and can destroy your gums and the tissues holding your teeth in, which in extreme cases can result in tooth decay or even loss.

Periodontal disease is much more relevant to people who are diabetic as it is estimated that about 22% of all diabetics have some form of periodontal disease. The risk of this condition increases with age, poor blood control tactics, and poor oral hygiene. This makes diabetes harder to control if the person cannot eat the foods they are supposed to eat to help keep their diabetes in check due to poor oral health and a lack of teeth.

How Can My Dentist Help Me Fight Diabetes?

Your dentist can help by seeing you for regularly scheduled appointments. Most people see the dentist at least every 6 months, but sometimes people with diabetes may need to go see their dentists even more frequently. Talk to your dentist about a good visitation plan for your individual needs, and be sure to stick to that schedule. Regular visits can help catch problems before they become more advanced and can save you a lot of trouble, headaches, and problems in the future.

Your Action Plan:

To control your diabetes and any orally-related problems there are some things you can continually do to ensure that your oral health is at a premium. Those things include controlling your blood sugar levels by ensuring you are using your blood-sugar medications as directed, avoid smoking, cleaning your dentures every day, brushing 2x a day/flossing 1x per day (good oral habits), and seeing your dentist for regular checkups.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team “Where Family Comes First”