Author: adv-admin

Diabetes is a condition that millions of Americans are living with every single day. There are millions of new cases diagnosed every year, and this disease may also cause problems orally for the person that is diagnosed. It’s not the first thing people think of when they are diagnosed with diabetes, but it is a very real problem that can result from diabetes if it’s not controlled properly. Some of the problems that people may experience with their oral health after being diagnosed as diabetic include tooth decay, periodontal disease, salivary gland dysfunction, fungal infections, inflammatory skin reactions, infection/delayed healing, and tasting impairment can name a few conditions that you may experience.

Diet & Tooth Decay:

When diabetes is not controlled properly there will be higher levels of glucose in the saliva that will help bacteria thrive more than they would if there wasn’t this level of glucose present. Ensuring that you are brushing 2x per day with a fluoride-based toothpaste and flossing at least 1x per day will help remove plaque that comes from this glucose and can help limit the problems you experience dentally. If you do not remove this plaque it will eventually harden and turn into tartar which is much harder to remove from the mouth than the plaque before would have been to remove. Diabetes is a resistance to the body getting infections, so the most advanced stages of tooth decay from diabetes can result in periodontal disease and eventually a corroding of the bone structure under the teeth which can result in the loss of the teeth.

However, the good news is that most people who have control of their diabetes will not have these problems. It’s when the blood sugar constantly spikes and leaves the glucose in the saliva for extended periods of time, and there are poor oral hygiene habits that this problem is the most prevalent. If you notice any of the following symptoms see your dentist immediately: gums that are bleeding easily, red/swollen/tender gum, gums peeling back from teeth, pus between teeth/along gum line, persistent bad breath, permanent teeth that are lose/separating, any change in the way your teeth fit together when biting/chewing, and any change in the fit of partial dentures.

Fungal Infections:

While some bacteria and fungi naturally occur in the mouth, the body has a natural defense that keeps the amount of these various bacteria in check. Conditions like diabetes, however, can inhibit the body’s ability to control such bacteria or keep them in check. Individuals with diabetes often have something called oral candidiasis which is a condition where fungal infections appear in the mouth. Smoking while having diabetes is again likely to increase the level of bacteria in the mouth making it more likely a fungal infection can start.

Diminished saliva flow in the mouth (dry mouth) can also play a role in how many bacteria can grow in there as well. The most common condition you can develop is thrush, which is a red, scaly, patchy type of fungus that grows in the mouth and causes difficulty swallowing, and can even compromise your ability to taste foods you are eating.

Caring for Your Teeth:

Preventative oral care including regular cleanings at the dentist office can help ensure that you are not getting a fungal infection in your mouth. This way you can treat your initial fungal issues before they grow into full-blown oral health problems. Watch for signs and symptoms of any issues, and your dentist immediately if you notice anything different in your oral health patterns.

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”

Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder that interrupts the sleep of millions of Americans every night, and moreover, if left untreated, can be very dangerous. There are many things that can help people with sleep apnea find permanent relief, and some of those are not always the easiest solutions. One solution is for people who are overweight or obese that are suffering from sleep apnea is for them to lose weight. Another option is using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or a similar machine can help keep the airway open while someone sleeps to help them breathe. Oral breathing devices such as nasal dilators can be worn at night to ensure breathing is regulated. There are medications that people can take to help them stay awake during the day when there is no device on their body to help them breathe. There are also surgeries in some cases that can help relieve the pressure and restore breathing while the person is sleeping.

The first steps will usually come with lifestyle changes (for weight loss) and CPAP devices to see if that helps treat the sleep apnea as those are the least invasive and least costly options overall. Surgery will only be the case in a situation where there is a blockage that is causing the problem that can be easily fixed.

In almost every case, CPAP will be the first treatment the offer someone with sleep apnea. Using CPAP means that the person has to use a breathing device at night while sleeping to keep the airway from closing while they sleep. CPAP can help decrease a person’s daytime sleepiness (due to fewer interruptions to their rest during the night due to not being able to breathe) and can lower both daytime and nighttime blood pressures. It may take time for you to get used to the CPAP machine while sleeping, but with adjustments made to the mask to allow it to fit comfortably, you should be able to adjust to the machine in a few weeks or less.

Oral breathing devices are also available for conditions in which they fit the situation. These devices simply reposition your tongue during sleep so the airway is left open so breathing is made easier. This is for people who have more mild-to-moderate sleep apnea. People who have severe sleep apnea will often find that this does not work as well for them. Your doctor may also suggest you use a nasal dilator in conjunction with the oral breathing device to ensure that airways are open and allowing you to breathe freely and fully while sleeping. Many of these devices are able to be purchased at medical device stores and you likely won’t even need a prescription for such devices.

Sometimes, these are not the only solutions for sleep apnea, and other conditions may be implicating your sleeping patterns. Sometimes people will find out that they are having inflamed nasal passages (rhinitis) and a nasal spray to help decrease the inflammation is the answer to their issues. People may also possess an underactive thyroid gland that is causing this problem and they will need some medication to restore the function of the thyroid to normal.

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”

It’s the warmest months of the year that stretch ahead of us with endless time at the beach, pool, or outdoors just relaxing and spending time with family and friends. This is the time of year for graduation parties, class reunions, etc. which means more parties and more photos. This means people do a lot more relaxing, and likely a lot more smiling. Thus, this makes summer one of the most common times for people to seek whitening treatments to make their smile the best it can truly be.

Professional Bleaching Procedures:

The first thing you will need to do is determine which kind of treatment you want so you know which option will be the best for you. The questions abound: Do you have porcelain teeth or a discolored stain to the front teeth? Is there decay on any of your teeth currently? These will have massive implications on what kind of treatments will work for you or which won’t.

Professional whitening recommendations will vary. Some offices will require you to have impressions made of your teeth to make you custom trays that fit into your mouth so you can use the gels they provide in the comfort of your own home to whiten your teeth. Others will provide this treatment in-office using lasers or ultraviolet lights to help active a solution or goo that is put on the teeth to help them whiten. These are the treatments that are going to take longer so sometimes scheduling them before school starts and things get busy can help ensure you have the time you need to get these treatments done. You have more time and these whitening procedures can take a few appointments that may last 1-2 hours in length. Your dental professional can help you determine if these are the right treatments for your situation.

Over-The-Counter (OTC) Treatments:

These are the whitening kits you buy at the local grocery store or Walmart that allow you to do the whitening at home. Usually, these will not deliver quite the results of in-office whitening treatments, but they will also be much less expensive.

These treatments can include things like whitening toothpaste to remove stains from things such as coffees, teas, cigarettes, and other discoloring agents. This toothpaste can help restore the teeth’s natural colors and are a great first-step in the whitening process at home. This toothpaste will not make the tooth more sensitive to heat or cold either, so you can still enjoy ice pop or ice cream without worrying about a stinging sensation in your mouth from the cold on newly whitened, sensitive teeth.

Maintaining the Shine:

Once your teeth have been whitened, you can maintain that shine by going through routine dental checkups, which for most people is every 6 months, and maybe more often if you have a reason to be going more often. Ensuring you have a toothbrush with you on the go so you are brushing your teeth 2-3x a day in the summer as you enjoy extra junk food can also keep your teeth from becoming somewhat discolored again.

If you don’t have a toothbrush, simply rinsing with water is better than nothing! You can also try using whitening pens or trays along with the whitening toothpaste to help touch up discolored spots on your teeth during the summer to help provide your whitest smile possible! Summer is, after all, the perfect time to pursue whiter smiles as you can use both in-office and at-home treatments to reveal a whiter smile to ensure you are shining your brightest.

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”