10 - 2019 - Ballantyne Family Dental

October 23, 2019October 23, 2019 by GPGDev

Just like maintaining your overall health, your teeth’s health is important too because this is from where the food enters your body, and you would want it to be bacteria-free at all cost. Your teeth require regular cleaning in order to stay healthy, shiny, and of course, having a bad breath would be the last thing you would want.

According to dentists, you should brush your teeth twice a day, and we are sure most of us act upon their advice. But what if you start skipping it? It can be due to any reason, maybe because you are too lazy to get up from your bed or because you stayed up all night and thought you don’t need to brush as you won’t sleep. Before you say ‘count me in,’ let us break this to you that there can be consequences, and they can be actually bad for your overall health too.

You Can Lose Your Teeth

We understand you might take teeth cleaning as a task that requires a lot of effort, but it is not a good enough reason to skip it. Experts say that if your gums bleed, there are chances that you might have gum disease. If you scrub your teeth regularly, you can save them from damage. Being too ignorant towards your oral health can lead to gingivitis. It can create space between your teeth and cause infection. This can result in a lack of tooth retention, and you’ll end up losing a tooth or two.

Having A Bad Breath

Bad breath is everyone’s nightmare. It can keep people away from you, but it’s also a sign that you have health issues. Experts say that an oral source causes 80% of bad breath, but it can also come from health conditions like liver disease, diabetes, acid reflux.

Keeping a healthy diet and regular visits to your dentist can help you prevent bad breath

It Can Cause Diabetes

If you are careless towards your oral hygiene and don’t take care of your teeth’s cleaning, there are chances that you can develop diabetes because of increased inflammation.

If you already have diabetes, you are at greater risk of developing periodontitis, a gum tissue infection.

You're At Risk For Dementia

Your brain can deteriorate if you do not take care of your oral hygiene. According to research carried out in the University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine and Dentistry, in four of the brains with dementia, a bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis was found.

Damage To Your Immune System

If you skip your teeth brushing routine, you tend to get more sick than an average person. Bad oral hygiene can put your health at risk by damaging your immune system. Turns out that brushing your teeth is more than just a chore.

It is better to make some efforts and invest in your health by keeping good oral hygiene. Putting your health should not be an option.

Please contact Dr. Vinita Patel, our family dentist in Charlotte, NC if you would like a consultation or if you would like to schedule an appointment with Ballantyne Family Dental.

October 23, 2019October 23, 2019 by GPGDev

When we are young, the loss of dental pieces is a phase on the road to adulthood. However, when we grow up, it is a traumatic and irreversible experience with long-term consequences both aesthetic and functional in the mouth, which can affect self-esteem.

There are a number of reasons that can lead to loss of teeth in adulthood. You can lose teeth in an accident or as a result of a disease such as diabetes. However, one of the main causes of the loss of teeth is a serious and irreversible gingival disease (periodontitis).

Why Can Gingival Disease Cause the Loss of Teeth?

Having healthy gums is of crucial importance for the health of your teeth. Your jaw keeps each tooth fixed in its socket. Therefore, it is very important that this bone is not exposed to bacteria or infections that can cause damage and even the loss of teeth. Your gums are a protective barrier between the tooth and the bacterial plaque of the mouth.

The first phase of gingival disease begins with the accumulation of bacterial plaque capable of irritating the gums. This causes them to redden and swell and bleed when you brush your teeth or floss. Those are the signs of the first phase of gingival disease: gingivitis. If left untreated, it can develop until it reaches the second phase, which is irreversible: periodontitis and the possible loss of teeth.

This occurs because the accumulation of bacterial plaque can cause the gums to separate from the tooth, which creates small spaces where more plaque can accumulate and cause infections. If left untreated, these infections can affect the bone and gum tissues that support the structure of the teeth. If it is damaged, the teeth begin to move. The key to preventing the loss of teeth caused by periodontitis is not to let the disease progress so much.

Regular check-ups with the dentist are of vital importance since, unlike tooth sensitivity or discomfort, gingival disease is not always painful. In fact, to begin with, you may not even notice that you have it, but a professional exam can detect the first signs so you can take the necessary steps to treat gingival disease before it gets worse. This is especially important if you smoke, since tobacco can mask the signs of gingival disease.

If your dentist detects that you have persistent gingival problems or that they get worse, you may be advised to use the 0.2% intensive treatment mouthwash. It has been clinically proven to be an antiseptic to prevent and help treat gingivitis. It contains an active antimicrobial ingredient called chlorhexidine, which inhibits the formation of bacterial plaque and gives your gums the chance to heal. If used early, before gingivitis progresses too much, it can help prevent periodontitis of rapid progression.

If you would like to schedule a consultation at Ballantyne Family Dental for your next dental cleaning, please contact Dr. Vinita Patel, our general dentist in Charlotte, NC today!