Category: Blog

Do you or does someone close to you have an eating disorder? If so, chances are it’s effecting their oral health in many ways, not to mention other health consequences of eating disorders. Contrary to the popular stigma of eating disorder’s being only a “lady’s problem” that’s far from the truth! Both men and women can suffer from eating disorders of various varieties, and some can be severe or life-threatening. Eating disorders should be reported to professionals to seek help, and your dentist can help improve your oral health if someone you know or love is looking to overcome an eating disorder of their own.
Dental Complications of Eating Disorders:
While it’s no secret that eating disorders can have many complications, many eating disorders are first diagnosed when a patient visits the dentists’ office for a routine visit. Changes in the mouth can be the first present signs of an eating disorder.
A nutritious diet is vital for optimal oral health for both the teeth and gums. People with disorders like anorexia and bulimia often experience severe malnutrition, which can affect their oral health as well as their health as a whole. Poor nutrition can leave the person with mouth sores, swollen salivary glands, and periodontal diseases from a lack of nutrition. Gums and others soft tissues can be bleed more easily. People suffering from eating disorders oftentimes also experience bad breath and dry mouth.
The most dangerous thing about an eating disorder is the constant vomiting that comes with binging and purging food when one suffers from bulimia. The constant exposure of the teeth and gums to the very strong acid from the stomach can cause tooth discoloration, and after long enough even tooth decay. Once the enamel is worn through cavities can become a persistent problem, and the shape and length of the teeth can also be effected. Teeth may also become more brittle from not having vital nutrients they need and break off or chip more easily as well.
Reducing the Damage to Your Teeth:
As someone you know or love seeks treatment for an eating disorder, there are several things you can do to help lessen the damage to their teeth and oral health during recovery:
Continue to encourage regular brushing (2x+ times per day according to dentists’ instructions) and flossing at least once per day.
Instead of brushing the teeth immediately after purging (vomiting) rinse your mouth with water mixed with a tablespoon of baking soda to help neutralize the acids instead of teeth brushing.
Be open and honest with the dentist and see them on a regular basis. Your information is private and your dentist cannot talk to anyone about your dental health without your explicit consent according to HIPPA.
Ramona Dental is Here for You:
As your oral healthcare provider Ramona Dental of Chino, California is here for you and your family as you work through your eating disorder. We are here to provide premium dental care for all of your needs. We want to help! No doctor within our practice will pass judgement on you for what you are going through, but will rather extend sympathy and a helping hand to ensure you get through the condition as easily as possible while maintaining your oral health along the way!

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 no secret that pregnancy is a massive responsibility. It effects every aspect of your lifestyle from your diet to your exercise schedule and back. Another area that it can affect equally is your oral health! Paying attention to oral health and ensuring you have good hygiene habits ensures that you are not catching any infections that put you, or the unborn child, at risk during a pregnancy.
While pregnant, many women may be more prone to dental issues than they would be otherwise. Some studies show that up to around 40% of women who become impregnated already have some level of gum diseases – many of them being having gingivitis. During pregnancy increased hormone levels may make you more susceptible to plaque than you traditionally would be. Gingivitis should be treated during pregnancy and taken serious BEFORE it turns into periodontal disease, which can chew through the gums and effect the roots of the teeth. If left untreated long enough infections can go into the blood stream causing harm to you and possibly the baby. Studies of mothers who have had their periodontal diseases go to their bloodstream show they are more likely to have complications with pregnancy including premature delivery of the baby. This is why it’s vital to keep up brushing and flossing habits while pregnant to ensure no such problems happen to you. Also continue to regularly visit your dentist while pregnant, and if you have any other concerns visit your dentist immediately for an evaluation.
About 5% of women who are pregnant will experience lumps along their gums. These are benign and can be removed by your dentist. They are not cancerous and generally are not harmful either.
Morning Sickness:
Morning sickness can cause dental woes for pregnant women as well. Vomiting can cause stomach acid to be brought up into the mouth leading to tooth decay. Sometimes in women with weak gag reflexes even brushing or flossing can cause morning sickness to induce vomiting without intending to do so. After vomiting rinse the mouth with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water to neutralize the effects stomach acids are having in your mouth to keep your teeth and gums healthy and fresh.
Protecting Your Teeth During Pregnancy:
To protect your teeth during pregnancy is to the dentists’ office! If you plan to get pregnant talk with your dentist beforehand so you can fix any dental issues you may have and lessen the chances of complications negatively effecting your pregnancy.
You can get routine checkups during pregnancy! It is recommended as you are more susceptible to getting infections and having issues while you are pregnant! Routine cleanings are a must! If anything at all gives you problems see your dentist for assistance! Be sure to brush at least twice a day and floss daily as well!
Remember to eat a healthy diet as your baby develops their teeth buds between 3 and 6 months into pregnancy. You will need plenty of Vitamins A, C, & D as well as protein, calcium, and phosphorous to ensure your child is growing healthy baby teeth.
Keep Coming to The Dentist:
Most dental offices are happy to serve pregnant patients. Tell your dentist ahead of time, but always be sure to continue to see your dentist while pregnant! Pregnancy is no excuse to skip the dental work! Dentists will make accommodations needed to help keep you comfortable, healthy, and happy! At Ramona Dental in Chino, California we are happy to accommodate expectant mothers any time at any location! Our doors are open to you!

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”

Every day there is plenty of both good and bad bacteria living in your mouth. Both bacteria effect your teeth in many ways. Only you can ensure that the good bacteria need to be more numerous than the bad to ensure your teeth are being kept healthy.

       Many people have this false concept that because enamel is the hardest substance mostly made up of minerals that there is nothing that can penetrate the enamel. That’s actually wrong! Enamel is actually rather porous! When you lose the tooth enamel the teeth are weakened and they are also exposed to being decayed which is also called “demineralization”. If enough enamel is taken away cavities are what are formed. However, the good news is that this can be stopped! Tooth enamel can also be strengthened by receiving enough minerals and nutrients through one’s diet which is also called “remineralization”. This relies on the proper foods going into your mouth each day to be able to perform “remineralization” to the teeth.

   The bad guys are the bad bacteria in the mouth that cause the cavities to form or plaque to build up around the gums and teeth! Some of these bacteria include Strep Sobrinas, Strep Mutans, Strep Salivarious are a few of the bacteria that are in carbohydrates that turn into sugars and chew through the tooth’s enamel and produce harmful acids in the process. This is how “demineralization” occurs where the enamel is worn off the teeth. This leaves teeth susceptible to both decay and in extreme cases tooth loss when left untreated. Sure, there are always tooth replacements or dentures, but believe us when we say it’s easier just to keep the regular teeth you have healthy as possible!

    All is not lost! Saliva is a secret ammunition of sorts that can help combat against the decay and rotting factor in the teeth! There are many minerals in saliva that help keep the teeth protected and healthy including fluoride., calcium, and phosphate that help deposit these minerals back into the tooth enamel to keep it from wearing off. The more enamel that is kept on the teeth, the better the teeth are protected. This keeps our smiles healthy and strong.  Saliva not only helps with “remineralization” of the teeth, but also helps keep the pH in the mouth in balance healthy even after we eat very acidic foods.

      What is at stake if we don’t keep our mouths healthy? Our dental health is at stake!

       The number one complaint people have when they are getting dental implants or dentures are, “I would I would have taken better care of my teeth then I wouldn’t be in this position!” After the implants people say, “Sure I like my new teeth, but it would have been so much cheaper and easier if I just had taken care of the original ones I had!”

       The good news is that this battle is something you have some say in! You can promote good oral health and tooth “remineralization” by practicing healthy mouth habits! You are the ultimate protector of your own teeth! Eating a healthy diet is the best choice you can make to help provide “remineralization” of your teeth! Choosing foods like cheese, eggs, celery, apples, or wild caught fish provide great choices for nutrients as well as helping protect the teeth. On the other hand, limit the sugary drinks, cookies, cakes, candy, chips, etc. that are high in sugar and carbohydrates as those foods “demineralize” teeth and ruin the enamel left on your teeth!

      Ensure you are brushing with a toothpaste that includes fluoride! That helps protect your teeth against decay and rot! It also helps rid the mouth of any plaque that may be trying to build up in there!

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”