Thickening of blood vessels is a complication of diabetes that may increase risk for gum disease. Blood vessels deliver oxygen and nourishment to body tissues, including the mouth, and carry away the tissues’ waste products. Diabetes causes blood vessels to thicken, which slows the flow of nutrients and the removal of harmful wastes. This can weaken the resistance of gum and bone tissue to infection.

To compound this marked weakness in gum and bone tissue is the fact that many bacteria thrive on glucose, the very same sugar that can easily rocket out of control in diabetics. Aside from diabetics, anyone who practices poor oral cleaning habits is prone to periodontal disease, and once you have it you might soon be suffering from bad breath, loss of teeth, or even heart disease. According to the New York Times: Studies have reported that people who have heart disease have a 1.5 – 4 times increased risk for periodontal disease.

The risk is [of heart disease]highest for patients with extensive gum disease, bleeding from every tooth.) Acute coronary syndrome, high blood pressure (hypertension), and high cholesterol have also been associated with periodontal disease.

Combating periodontal disease can have many positive repercussions around the body, from keeping your mouth minty fresh, to maintaining a healthy heart!

For more information on comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry, contact Dr. Robert Williamson today!

A problem that can arise with wisdom teeth is that they don’t always come in properly. The lower wisdom teeth in particular can sometimes only come in partially. This leaves the rest of the tooth under a flap of gum. When this happens, bacteria and pieces of food can get trapped under this flap, causing the gum to swell and become irritated. This infection is called pericoronitis.

Symptoms of pericoronitis can include pain in the area around your teeth, a bad taste in the mouth or bad breath, swelling of the gums around your back teeth, and a difficulty in opening your mouth all the way. If the pericoronitis is severe, the swelling and infection may extend past the jaw all the way to the cheeks and neck.

The pain of pericoronitis can be somewhat alleviated by swishing warm salt water around the mouth, but people experiencing these symptoms should see their dentist. The dentist can clean the area to remove damaged tissue or pus, and also prescribe antibiotics for the pain. If the pain and swelling are severe, oral surgery may be necessary to remove the flap of gum or wisdom tooth.

For more information on comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry, contact Dr. Robert Williamson today!

When women are pregnant, they have a higher chance in general of developing swollen gums because of the hormonal changes that take place in the body right after conception. Usually these effects are temporary, but this condition is still important to treat. It’s believed that in some women, the oral bacteria that’s responsible for the gum disease enters the bloodstream – not only exposing the baby to the bacteria, but also alerting the immune system to send signals to the uterus that the baby needs to be delivered. The American Academy of Periodontology speculates that “the likely culprit is a labor-inducing chemical found in oral bacteria called prostaglandin.”

While more research needs to be done in this area, studies have already been done to establish the risk of premature birth from gum disease. Professor Steven Offenbacher from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tested 357 women for gum disease when they were less than 26 weeks pregnant and again three days after their babies were born. His study concluded that the women with gum disease during pregnancy had a higher than average rate of going into labor more than three weeks early.

So what can be done to prevent premature birth from gum disease? Visiting the dentist regularly, just as people should throughout their lives, can help identify potential problems before they escalate. Also, eating at least three servings of foods high in calcium each day can help prevent gum disease as well.

For more information on comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry, contact Dr. Robert Williamson today!

First of all, most dentists recommend picking a soft-bristled toothbrush. These are best for removing plaque and debris from your teeth. Harder brushes may wear away the enamel on your teeth, and damage your teeth or gums. Secondly, the toothbrush should be small enough to be comfortable in your mouth and reach all surfaces of your teeth, including the hard-to-reach back teeth. When brushing properly, the bristles should go a little under the gumline and around the edges of each tooth. A smaller brush is more effective in getting thoroughly around the teeth, and getting closer to the gumline where bacteria like to flourish. Adults with smaller mouths might even do better to use a kid’s toothbrush.

Your toothbrush should be replaced every 3 months or so, or whenever the bristles start looking worn or bent. Some toothbrushes have a color indicator that tells you when it’s time to replace your brush. If you’ve been sick, you should also replace your toothbrush so that the sick bacteria doesn’t spread to your healthy, germ-free mouth and cause re-infection. An electric toothbrush is another option. These can do a better job of cleaning the teeth, and are especially beneficial to those who can’t easily reach all their teeth, or who have arthritis or other problems with their hands or arms.

Whatever toothbrush you use, it is important to also visit your dentist for more intensive cleanings at your regular check-ups. Such preventative action can put a stop to dental problems in the future.

For more information on comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry, contact Dr. Robert Williamson today!

The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that 43% of dentists believe maintaining good oral hygiene/preventive care is going to be the main oral health issue facing the baby-boomer generation, while thirty-two percent believe periodontal disease will be the primary concern. While these may be the most pressing issues, a survey of the baby boomers’ most requested procedures showed that this generation of adults is instead more concerned with their improving the look of their teeth. The number-one requested procedure by adults aged 40 to 60 was named as teeth whitening by 63% of dentists, with veneers, bonding, and crowns ranking as the second most requested procedure. Treatment for periodontal disease ranked third according to 55% percent of dentists.

Focusing more on periodontal disease would be beneficial for baby boomers. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, periodontal or gum disease is the second most prevalent disease in the U.S. after heart disease, affecting more than 50 million Americans — and only 15–20% receive treatment. Baby boomers would do well to brush twice daily, floss at least once before bed, and visit their dentist regularly, which is the same dental advice given to everyone throughout their lives. It sounds simple, but has many benefits, and will prepare adults for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

For more information on comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry, contact Dr. Robert Williamson today!

In 2006 members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry were surveyed and the results showed that 12.8% of patients were not happy with their natural born smiles, and looked for alternate ways to brighten their teeth. With the explosion of cosmetic procedures in the last few years, this number has undoubtedly increased and it bears the question; how much is too much?

Statistics show that teeth whitening is the number one requested cosmetic dental procedure today. It’s no wonder, because even outside of the dentist office, its popularity is flourishing. Americans spent over $1.4 billion on teeth whitening products in the last year alone. And in today’s society, which is driven by beautiful celebrities flashing their perfectly straight and white teeth on the covers of magazines everywhere, who wouldn’t want that? According to the American Dental Association, whitening products can either be administered by your dentist in the office, provided by your dentist to be used at home, or can be purchased over-the-counter. The two major groups of whitening products include peroxide-containing whiteners or bleaching agents and whitening toothpastes. Some products are more effective than others, and although certain side effects may occur such as tooth sensitivity, and tissue irritation, most are temporary and stop after treatment.

It is important to consult your dentist before excessively trying to achieve the perfect smile on your own, however, a beautiful smile can be a wonderful stepping stone towards an increased self-confidence.

For more information on comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry, contact Dr. Robert Williamson today!

According to researchers at the Foryth Institute in Boston and the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, although some forms of bacteria protect against halitosis, the formal name for really bad breath, there are other kinds of bacteria that are the cause for the horrible odor. Studies have used gene sequencing to compare the bacteria found on the tongues of people who have halitosis, with those who have fresh breath. Researchers found that the same three types of bacteria were found in those people who had fresh breath, while the germ Streptococcus salivarius (a bacteria causing bad breath) was discovered in only one out of six people with halitosis. Apparently, the differences in germs in people’s mouths can be caused by a number of different things including someone’s blood type.

But what is it that makes bad breath occur? Discovering all of the germs responsible for bad breath may turn out to be an extremely daunting task. There are between 75 and 100 different kinds of germs that live in each individual’s mouth, out of a total of 700 that collectively populate all human mouths. The problem is that scientists only know the names of about 300 of these germs, which could make targeting the exact source for bad breath very difficult.

According to the National Institute of Dental Research, roughly about 65 million Americans suffer from halitosis at some point during their lives. Hopefully researchers will continue to make progress in determining what exactly causes the problem, because that is a lot of people with bad breath. In the mean time, if you want to try and keep the odor causing bacteria away, brushing not only your teeth, but also the tongue twice daily and using a tongue scraper to remove the bacteria can drastically reduce the chances of developing bad breath.

Bacteria may be winning the battle against bad breath, but with proper dental health care, you can win the war.

For more information on comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry, contact Dr. Robert Williamson today!

According to the American Dental Association, researchers have found that periodontitis, also known as the advanced form of gum disease, may not only cause tooth loss, but may also be associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke, and bacterial pneumonia. Research has also shown that pregnant women who are suffering from periodontitis may be at a much higher risk for delivering premature babies, babies that are low in weight, or both. Now, it is important to note that although research suggests that these diseases are connected, scientists are performing studies to determine whether or not periodontitis is actually a cause for the appearance of these other diseases. Studies are being conducted to determine whether or not periodontitis when treated in persons already suffering from pre-existing health conditions has a cause-and-effect relationship. For example, studies have shown that treating people with periodontal disease who are also suffering from diabetes may actually help to improve their blood sugar control. Although these conclusions are not solidly set in stone, they do show promise for discovering whether or not there truly is a link between periodontitis and systemic health conditions.

So keep on maintaining a good oral hygiene regimen, which includes brushing and flossing every day, because who knows, it may very well save your life.

For more information on comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry, contact Dr. Robert Williamson today!