Periodontal Maintenance: Learning to Love Your Teeth

Sometimes it is hard loving the things that benefit you the most. Not that you don’t value them, nor that you are unaware of the value. Sometimes you may become so accustomed to their place in your life that you are oblivious of how life would be without them. A case in point would be your teeth.

Considered what your life would be like without your teeth. In other words, think about not being able to chew your food?   Not being able to smile or speak confidently.  Ever consider wearing dentures?

So learning to love your teeth is an important life lesson especially as you age. One of the possible consequences as you age is getting Periodontal Disease. This infection is caused by bacteria that live on our teeth and under our gums. In a matter of hours after a cleaning,  a film develops on the teeth.  This matrix attracts bacteria and allows it to grow and prosper. If not managed properly, it becomes a chronic infection.

What all this means is that Periodontal Disease is an infection that is managed. It is not cured. It requires daily home care that addresses the disruption of bacteria in the mouth. Finding the right oral aids and protocol with your hygienist is only part of maintenance. Your visits for professional cleanings will ensure your efforts are working and to access areas that you are unable to reach. The recommendation of a three month interval is based on research and scientific evidence.

Consider how much you spend on other portions of your well-being. How much money and time do you spend when you go to a hair stylist? How many trips to the gym do you make in 3 months’ time for weight control and fitness? Why wouldn’t this be the same with your teeth?

The pathogens that cause Periodontal Disease are persistent. You must be persistent too! The disease can become active with just a short lapse of routine brushing and flossing. We often see advancing disease when a person's immune system is challenged, as in stress, illness, or even sleeplessness.

The consequences to your teeth could be serious. This starting inflammation may seem minor, but it is the exact precursor to advancing disease and bone loss. Dismantling the maturing biofilm (bacteria) is crucial at this time to reverse early invaders from spreading throughout the mouth. It is the time when uninterrupted bacteria become destructive and the body’s immune response goes “from healing damaged cells to harming healthy ones.”

It isn’t overreacting to include your dentist and hygienist as part of your regular health regimen. Professional cleanings not only aim to control Periodontal Disease, but will lessen the burden of inflammation in general in your body. The benefits of such regular cleanings—every three months if you have Periodontal Disease—are unquantifiable!

Here are some informative links for your further reading:

• http://www.realsimple.com/health/what-causes-inflammation
• http://www.dentaleconomics.com/articles/print/volume-100/issue-12/practice/its-all-about-perio-maintenance.html

How a Dentist helped my Relationship and My Oral Health

by Rudolfo San Miguel

I really got into brushing my teeth daily when my mouth started getting sore. I figured my mouth had become irritated because I wasn’t keeping up with my daily cleaning and it was a sign of my lack of maintaining proper oral hygiene. 

I never thought it was time to go to the dentist. I didn’t like the dentist, and it was bad enough that I had to go for an annual appointment with my general practitioner. Why should I see a dentist annually as well? I stood by this attitude with the assurance that if I kept my new habit of cleaning my teeth daily, the need for an annual dental exam was unnecessary.

My girlfriend Heather was the person who got me out of this thinking when she complained that my mouth stank every time I was close to her. She always said my gums were red and swollen. Heather resisted kissing me around that time. This was enough to get me into a dentist’s office and change my thinking. 

The dentist was a nice guy by the name of Charles McDonald. He had been practicing restorative dentistry since graduating first in his class from Howard University in 1970. He was really patient with me. What I discovered really helped me realize how off was my thinking. It turns out I had the beginning stages of Periodontal Disease (PD), which is called Gingivitis. 

The bad news was I was stuck with it and I needed to deal with it or would face consequences. The good news was that I could deal with it and that PD was very treatable with the regular help of a dentist.

The first question you may have is what is Periodontal Disease? This is what the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has to say about PD:

"Periodontal disease is mainly the result of infection and inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed. In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out. Periodontal disease is mostly seen in adults. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the two biggest threats to dental health."

Surprisingly, it turns out that over 47% of adults over the age of 30 have some kind of PD, whether it is simply gingivitis or something more serious. And it is over 71% common for people over the age of 65. It is more common for men to have it and for people who smoke. You can follow this link for more on the CDC’s information on PD: http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/periodontal_disease/index.htm

 

The solution to my problem, especially since it was the early form of PD, was a lot less painful than learning about the problem. Dr. McDonald, after finishing his exam and giving me his recommendations, referred me to his hygienist, Donna Avakoff, who provided me with a professional cleaning. Both Dr. McDonald and Donna recommended that I keep up the good work and continue to brush my teeth daily along with including flossing to my daily mouth hygiene.

I ended up convincing Heather to visit Dr. McDonald after being swayed by his office’s philosophy on PD prevention, “Early diagnosis and treatment for better oral health and systemic health.” Donna stressed that PD is a chronic infection that occurs in many adults has been linked to the increased risk for heart disease and stroke. This was reason to be concerned and be proactive in my dental hygiene.

I felt reassured after finishing my cleaning and relieved of the soreness on my gums. The biggest satisfaction when Heather was more inclined to stick closer to me, especially now that my mouth was much more pleasant.

Why Fluoride Varnish?

The benefits of fluoride varnish can be realized throughout a life time.
Young children are the most vulnerable to getting cavities. As soon as the teeth erupt into the mouth they are exposed to bacteria. Those bacteria then metabolism carbohydrates that you eat and drink. The byproducts produced are acidic in nature and will demineralized  tooth structure. Fluoride varnish will not only help reverse early decay but will help prevent acid dissolution in the future.

In young adults the benefits of a fluoride treatment are geared more towards prevention. The margins surrounding existing crowns and fillings, where bacteria is often harder to remove, will be more vulnerable to the acids and can undermined a restored tooth. 

By mindful homecare and regular professional cleanings with a fluoride varnish, you can lessen the risk of recurring decay. 

In my opinion however, I feel the greatest need for fluoride varnish is when there are a multitude of challenges, often seen  in mature adults. Medications causing dry mouth contribute to the acid environment in the mouth.  With less salivation there is a decreased buffering effect from acids that are formed.  Additionally, bacterial biofilm collecting around restored teeth often at the gum line have a faster pathway into the root of the tooth. The root being less mineralized than the enamel will decay faster and comprom

ise treatment options possibly leading to root canal therapy or extraction.
To make matters worse a weakened immune response and the challenges of improving oral hygiene due to the aging body's increased needs, sets the stage for many adverse possibilities.  

Proactively practicing prevention when you are young, can give you more years of health as you age.

Donna Avakoff, RDH 

http://www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/2016/02_February/Features/What_the_Evidence_Says_About_Fluoride_Varnish.aspx#.VtSQ6fDJrrw.email