Category: Blog

The mouth can tell you a lot about the health of the rest of someone’s body. Research suggests that the health of the body might go beyond just the foods that go into one’s mouth. The bacterial and dental health of one’s mouth may indicate conditions that the person has in the rest of their body. Some research suggests that certain bacteria in the mouth may be indicative of systemic diseases within the rest of the body. Researchers have noticed some links between the various bacteria that causes periodontitis diseases can also be linked to the person having higher risks of diseases like strokes or bacterial pneumonia. Pregnant women who have periodontal diseases may be more likely to deliver pre-term or low-weight babies some studies suggest. Note that that all these claims between periodontal diseases and these different infections are still under investigations, and more studies are needed before this is accepted as scientific fact.

It has also been suggested by some professionals that having systemic disorders including diabetes, blood cell disorders, HIV infections, or full-blown AIDS can cause people to contract bacteria that cause conditions like periodontitis a lot more easily than people who do not have these conditions. Again, more studies are needed to prove these connections to be for certain. However, the results so far have indicated that these connections may be related. The cases of periodontitis that are contracted by people with these conditions may also be a lot more severe than those cases contracted people without that same condition. However, it is worth noting that because two conditions occur together doesn’t mean that they are related to each other. More studies need to be done before any such claims can be made with confidence.

Given the potential links between periodontitis and other conditions that many individuals may have, it’s even more vital to maintain proper oral health to help prevent these conditions from becoming a problem in the first place. It is vital to brush your teeth thoroughly at least once, preferably twice per day, as well as to floss daily. Choose dental tools that are also approved by the American Dental Society (ADA) to ensure that you are getting effective tools that actually help improve the oral hygiene of your mouth. If the product is not ADA approved, skip it in favor of one that is approved. If you cannot brush after meals at least rinse water through the mouth to help some of the food get out from sitting between or on your teeth till the next time you consumer food to replace it or drink water to get rid of it.

In the end, the easiest way to prevent gingivitis and eventually periodontitis is by regularly visiting the dentist on the recommended semi-annual for a regularly cleaning and inspection. Any gingivitis/periodontitis, cavities, or toothaches that you are suffering from are found early before the damage is severe or irreversible. This is also vital to pregnant women as any oral bacteria that enters the mouth and consequently the body can also effect the unborn child. Getting recommended dental care is vital to everyone’s health, well-being, and future, especially for those who are pregnant or wanting to become pregnant. It can be the difference between a healthy start for their children in their lives, or an unhealthful one.

If you have any questions regarding this article please contact us or call us at 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”

The famous quote was coined in the 1730s that stated “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. That could be more true when stated about the dental field. This statement particularly applies to Chino and dental health. Prevention is the biggest thing you can do to keep your smile healthy and happy. Get to the problems before they occur, or prevent them early and they are likely to never become a huge issue. Here are 7 steps you can take between semi-annual appointments and cleanings to help ensure your teeth are in top condition at all times:

1. Brush Your Teeth Regularly (Daily): Make it a habit using the “2-2 Rule”. That means 2x/a day for 2 minutes at a time. Teach it to your children so they develop the same good habits you teach. Make sure the toothbrush and toothpaste you use are American Dental Association (ADA) approved. They will clean your teeth best.
2. Follow Up By Flossing (Daily): Make sure you floss your teeth every evening before you go to bed so that your teeth don’t have food sitting in between them chewing through the enamel and into the tooth or gum-line while you sleep. Floss before you brush. It keeps your gums healthier too.
3. Wear A Mouth Guard: When playing any Chino city or local school/area recreational sport that requires physical contact make sure to wear a certified mouth guard during the action. This includes any activities like wrestling, football, or hockey to name a few. This prevents you from biting your tongue (severely), clacking your teeth together, and on some of the most brutal hits/contact to help avoid concussions.
4. Nix Smoking: If you are a smoker this is yet another reason to kick the habit! The chemicals in smoking are horrible for your oral health, can cause oral cancers, gum disease, and speed up the rotting of teeth.
5. Avoid Oral Piercings: Yes, it’s a new Chino trend, but avoid oral piercings at all costs. Piercings of the tongue or lips can get infected, the metal can rub on teeth/gums, and bacteria can grow around the piercing and cause infections. The oral health risks are not worth the metal hanging out of your tongue or mouth and the “in” look that it provides.
6. Choose Better Snacks: Stay away from snacks that are high in sugars and starches. Those are foods such as candies or cookies, chips, pretzels, pies, cakes, etc. If you choose to consume them occasionally (i.e. 3-4 times a week or so) brush your teeth or rinse with water after to keep the sugars and starches from eating through your teeth and doing permanent damage afterwards.
7. Schedule Regular Dental Visits: Finally, be sure to schedule your semi-annual cleanings to ensure that if there are any gum diseases or tooth decay/cavities/infections that you are catching these early enough before serious damage is done.

If you have any questions regarding this article please contact us or call us at 909-465-1016

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”

Keeping your teeth for a lifetime is not only something that is possible, it’s something that’s very likely if you bother to take care of your teeth properly. The easiest way to do that besides daily brushing and flossing is to see your dental hygienist for a general cleaning every 6 months. This makes the risk of deep cavities or serious gum problems forming drop way down. Any problem caught earlier is much more likely to be treatable, rather than to cost you your precious, original teeth. Sure, we live in a day and age where anyone can go get “false” teeth or implants, but why do that to yourself when keeping your own teeth is really so simple?
The leading causes of tooth loss actually aren’t rotting teeth or cavities, but what surprises many people is that the leading cause of tooth loss is gum disease. While gum diseases in its mildest forms is not all that damaging, and is relatively treatable serious gum diseases can spell major problems. A mild case of gingivitis can turn into periodontitis relatively quickly if left untreated, especially in the age 65+ populations. Periodontitis is a serious condition that effects millions of men and women each year around the country, oftentimes including children with poor access to dental hygiene tools. Simply by visiting the dentist every 6 months one can catch gingivitis before it turns to periodontitis, and save many expenses and a lot of pain for themselves later down the road.
Left untreated, periodontitis can lead eat through the gums into the bones that hold the teeth in. The bone decay can cause loose teeth, and in some extreme cases cause the teeth to fall out. When periodontitis gets to the point of eating into the bone, this may be past the help and care of even the most up-to-date dental technologies available to consumers today. By paying regular visits to the dentist, you can prevent these conditions before they get to this point. This is why your 6 month checkups are so vital to the future health of your teeth. The populations most likely to have issues losing teeth to periodontitis include those that are aged 35 or older, are male, avoid professional dental care, do not brush their teeth regularly (it’s disgusting but there are people in the US who don’t brush their teeth daily), smoke, have diabetes, suffer from high blood pressure, or suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
Remember, if caught early enough the effects of gingivitis are very easy to treat and prevent in the future, and some cases of periodontitis in the earlier stages can be reversed! This is why the importance of seeing your dentist every 6 months is so stressed. It’s not a quack to create more income or charge customers more money, it’s to keep this exact scenario from playing out in your mouth!

If you have any questions regarding this article please contact us or call us at 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team
“Where Family Comes First”