How Often Should I Floss?

We all know the importance of brushing our teeth, getting checkups and taking care of our gums, yet there is one thing most people lack in, flossing. It’s time for a new year, new habits and new resolutions. January is the perfect time to create new habits that are healthy and that your teeth will thank you for in the future.

According to the American Dental Association, “The American Dental Association recommends cleaning between your teeth daily with an interdental cleaner (like floss).” Cleaning between your teeth is essential for removing plaque, which can lead to tartar around your teeth or lead to bacteria that can cause tooth decay.

So how often should you floss? You should floss once a day, either in the morning or the evening. According to the Journal of Periodontology, “flossing first and then brushing is more effective at removing plaque between the teeth and at maintaining the concentration of fluoride on the tooth enamel.”

If flossing is not part of your routine, you may want to start flossing for a healthier smile. Cleaning the visible surface of your teeth is effective with brushing your teeth, but for the places in between your teeth and for the health of your gums, flossing an important step in your oral hygiene routine.

Is there a Link Between Heart Disease and Gum Disease?

Research studies have shown that there is a strong association between periodontal disease and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy complications, and respiratory disease.

Periodontal disease is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gum tissue, periodontal infection below the gum line and a presence of disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. Halting the progression of periodontal disease and maintaining excellent standards of oral hygiene will not only reduce the risk of gum disease and bone loss but also reduce the chances of developing other serious illnesses.

There are several theories that explain the link between heart disease and periodontitis. One such theory is that the oral bacteria strains which exacerbate periodontal disease attach themselves to the coronary arteries when they enter the bloodstream. This, in turn, contributes to both blood clot formation and the narrowing of the coronary arteries, possibly leading to a heart attack.

A second possibility is that the inflammation caused by periodontal disease causes a significant plaque buildup. This can swell the arteries and worsen pre-existing heart conditions. An article published by the American Academy of Periodontology suggests that patients whose bodies react to periodontal bacteria have an increased risk of developing heart disease.

If you have any questions or would like to set up a consultation, request an appointment here.

Smoking and Gum Disease

Your smile is the extension of who you are, the first impression for mosts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of the adults age 30 and older suffer from some form of gum disease. Gum disease comes with silent symptoms that often are easy to overlook.

It’s no secret the health benefits of quitting smoking and not smoking at all. Smoking increases an individual's risks of various types of cancer, such as cancer in our lungs, pancreas, stomach and anywhere else in our bodies. Smoking also can lead to respiratory diseases and other different health factors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases, and reduces the health of smokers in general.” It contributes to causing more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States. This is nearly one in five deaths.

By quitting smoking, not only does your overall health can improve, your smile and gums benefit as well. Here are a few reasons why smoking impacts your gums, teeth and overall smile in a negative way.

• Stained teeth and tongue
• Slow healing after a tooth extraction or other surgery
• Difficulties in correcting cosmetic dental problems 
• Gum disease
• Oral cancer

If you have any questions or would like to set up a consultation, request an appointment here.

3 Unusual Gum Disease Risk Factors

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of adults age 30 and older suffer from some form of gum disease. That is 1 in 2 people suffer from gum disease. Gum disease comes with silent symptoms that often are easy to overlook. “The main cause of periodontal (gum) disease is plaque, but other factors affect the health of your gums,” according to the American Academy of Periodontology.

Gum diseases are caused by lack of oral hygiene, not flossing or brushing your teeth. However, there are other factors that may increase your risk of gum disease. Here are three unusual gum disease risk factors to look out for.

1. Stress
Stress can cause various health problems and one of those is gum disease. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, “research demonstrates that stress can make it more difficult for the body to fight off infection, including periodontal diseases.” Stress may cause gum disease to go away, once you have it.

2. Teeth Grinding
Grinding your teeth or clenching your teeth puts force on your gum tissues supporting your teeth and can cause gum disease to accelerate. Not to mention, the negative impacts this has your teeth itself and your jaw.

3. Medications
Different types of medications can cause various side effects to our oral health, such as a dry mouth and others. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, “some drugs, such as oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, and certain heart medicines, can affect your oral health.”

2 Common Questions for a Periodontist

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the soft tissues of the mouth and the underlying jawbone which supports the teeth. A dentist must first graduate from an accredited dental school before undertaking an additional three years of study within periodontology residency training program, in order to qualify as a periodontist.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of adults age 30 and older suffer from some form of gum disease. Gum disease comes with silent symptoms that often are easy to overlook.

Here are 2 common questions you may have for a Periodontist.

My gums bleed when I brush, what should I do?

The first stage of gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is gingivitis. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum tissue caused by bacteria wherein the gingival tissue becomes red, swollen and forms blood blisters inside the pockets of gum tissue surrounding your teeth (periodontal pockets). When these blood blisters are disturbed by either brushing or flossing they break open and blood rises to the top of the gingiva where you can see it.

There are many reasons gums bleed. However, almost all these problems involve plaque or bacteria that mixes with food and settles around the gum line. In most cases, bleeding gums (whether because of poor oral hygiene or tooth positioning) are exacerbated by plaque.

If your gums are bleeding when you brush, you need to see a dentist. If you're cleaning your teeth thoroughly, brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and using a mouth rinse, then your cleaning technique might be causing the bleeding, or you could have hardened plaque (calculus) on your teeth that should be cleaned out. Dr. Wentz will advise you about regular cleaning appointments and even special root-planing appointments that might be necessary to eliminate your bleeding gums.

How often should I brush and floss?

You should floss everyday and brush your teeth at least twice a day, every morning and before you go to bed. Brushing and flossing help control plaque and bacteria that causes dental disease. Establishing a healthy oral hygiene routine will help ensure your smile is always healthy and looking great.

Plaque is a film of food debris, bacteria, and saliva that sticks to the teeth and gums. The bacteria in plaque convert certain food particles into acids that cause tooth decay. Also, if plaque is not removed, it turns into calculus (tartar). If plaque and calculus are not removed, they begin to destroy the gums and bone, causing periodontal (gum) disease.

Plaque formation and growth is continuous and can only be controlled by regular brushing, flossing, and the use of other dental aids.

 If you have any questions, or would like to set up a consultation, request an appointment here.

Take a Smile Analysis

A smile says a lot about you and hiding your smile is not a way to go through life. Your smile affects your self-image, and can greatly influence the quality of your interactions with your friends, neighbors and any other individual. Many people hold back from laughing or smiling because they are uncomfortable about their appearance when they do.

We have designed a “Smile Analysis,” that will help you appraise your smile. Take the full analysis here:

The Correct Way to Floss

We all have gone to the dentist fearing a particular question, deciding whether to be honest or fib. “Have you been flossing?” We all know the importance of flossing and the health benefits flossing has on our gums, teeth and overall health.

Flossing is one of the best defenders against gum disease. Gum disease comes with various symptoms that are silent and difficult to notice at first. Our personal oral hygiene routine plays an important role in achieving a healthy smile, starting with out gums.

By flossing daily, we ensure that our teeth are as clean as possible (between teeth and under our gumline). Flossing disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.

1. Take 12-16 inches (30-40cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.

2. Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.

3. Curve the floss into a "C" shape around each tooth and under the gumline. Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.

Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss. Learn more on how to take your personal home care to the next level.