Gum Disease Archives « Columbus Dentist Columbus Dentist

Signs, Symptoms, And Treatment of Gingivitis

Jun 24th, 2023

Are you experiencing a bacterial infection and you’re not sure what it is? You may be showing symptoms associated with gingivitis. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums normally caused by bacteria. The primary culprit of gingivitis is plaque, however smoking, changes in your hormones, irregular flossing and brushing, or a history of dental diseases in the family may all be contributing factors.

Signs And Symptoms Of Gingivitis

Many sufferers of gingivitis may not realize they have gingivitis for quite some time, as the symptoms are usually mild. Left unchecked gingivitis may turn into periodontitis, or gum disease, and lead to more oral issues in the future. Common signs and symptoms of gingivitis include:

• Swollen or tender gums
• Bleeding gums, specifically after brushing
• Receding gums
• Pain associated with chewing
• Persisting, irregular smelling breath
• An irregular build-up of plaque

Treatment Of Gingivitis

After scheduling an appointment with your dentist, he will determine how far along the gingivitis is as well as dental insurance coverage (check with Easton Dentist for company plans). Your dentist will then deep clean your teeth by scaling (removing plaque and tartar from your gums), using lasers to remove plaque, or root planning (smoothing out rough areas and removing infected areas of your teeth). Catching gingivitis early is a surefire way to prevent gum disease.

After Treatment
After your dentist has administered the appropriate treatment, be sure to continue brushing and flossing regularly, as well as using a disinfectant mouthwash to prevent bacteria from building up in the future.

Regular brushing and flossing are essential to keeping great oral hygiene. If you have one or more of the symptoms described and feel you may be suffering from gingivitis, call Dr. Gilmer (your local Columbus Ohio dentist) at (614) 414-0111 to schedule an appointment.

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Is Smoking Detrimental To The Health Of Your Teeth?

May 25th, 2023

By now, it is no secret that smoking can lead to serious health problems such as lung and throat cancer, but did you know that tobacco use can also have a huge impact on your oral health? Using tobacco of any kind, whether it be chewing, cigarettes, or smoking from a pipe, can create nearly irreversible effects on your oral health.

Some common problems associated with smoking and your oral health include bone loss, gum disease, plaque and tartar buildup, halitosis, and the notorious discoloration, “yellowing” of the teeth. These issues may result in the need for dental insurance, or asking about company plans. These are just some of the many effects smoking has on your teeth.

Gum Disease

Smoking effects the gums by inhibiting the regular functions of the gum tissues, as well as affects the bone attachment and soft tissues in the mouth. Over time the blood flow responsible for healing will become impaired and the mouth will become more amenable to infections. All of these issues combined makes smokers more susceptible to periodontal disease, or “gum disease.”

Oral Cancer

It is estimated that 35,000 patients will be diagnosed with some form of oral cancer in the United States. The odds of developing cancer is stacked against tobacco users, with an estimated 90% of oral cancer patients having been regular tobacco users (whether from pipes, cigarettes, cigars, or other smoking apparatuses.) In fact, statistics from the American Cancer Society show that smokers are 6 times more likely to develop cancer of the tongue, mouth, lips, or throat, than that of a non-smoker.

Issues with Dental Procedures

Not only does smoking make your teeth look bad, it also effects your recovery from dental procedures. This happens because of the weakened healing capabilities, causing an extended recovery time post-surgery. Persistent smoking can also lead to repeated tooth decay and complete loss of teeth.

Smokeless Tobacco

Those hoping to curb these oral health issues by using smokeless tobacco should know that they are still at risk. Smokeless tobacco products contain many chemicals that affect the esophagus, mouth, and throat, and may cause receding of the gums.

Protect your mouth against disease and unwanted issues by maintaining good oral health, brushing and flossing daily, having regular dental checkups, and conquering the habit of tobacco use.

If you feel that smoking may have damaged your teeth beyond repair, call Easton Dental Center in Columbus OH. Maybe it is not as bad as you think?

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Americans Only Use 10% of the Floss They Should

Dec 21st, 2020

Shampoo, soap, and toothpaste are all toiletries that you probably buy on a regular basis. When was the last time you bought dental floss? If you are following your dentist’s recommendations, you should be purchasing at least two 55-yard packages of floss per year. However, the majority of Americans do not purchase nearly that amount! In fact, the average person uses only 18 yards of floss per year – 10% of the amount of needed when flossing daily and correctly.

How Important Is Flossing?

Flossing is just as important as brushing in the process of ensuring good dental hygiene. Many people think that if they brush their teeth at least twice a day that is enough to keep their mouth healthy, but that just isn’t the case. No matter how thoroughly you brush, your toothbrush simply can’t reach the crevasses deep between your teeth. A dentist or dental hygienist can show you the proper way to floss and different types of flossing products to make the process as quick and easy as possible for you to do every day.

Call The Dental Center to make an appointment and learn the correct way to floss to keep your mouth healthy and beautiful!

Posted in Gum Disease, Oral Hygiene, Teeth Cleaning | No Comments »

What If My Gums Are Bleeding?

Mar 4th, 2019

One of the top concerns of our patients at the Easton Dental Center have with their gums, it is that say that their gums bleed when they floss, and this is the reason why they stop flossing. If it is felt that flossing is not the issue, patients often say that their gums are overly sensitive, and that is why they bleed. We have also have heard from some female patients that they feel that gum bleeding may coincide with their monthly period.

After divulging that they their gums are bleeding at times, we usually hear “but a little bleeding is OK, isn’t it?” Unfortunately, it is not.

Bleeding gums while flossing or brushing is neither healthy or normal. Despite what you may have heard, noticing blood while brushing or flossing is a dental issue that needs to be addressed!

Having bleeding gums is a sign that a problem is present, and flossing too hard is not the primary cause, unless you are injuring your gums with a too aggressive flossing technique. Normally though, you just need a slight change to your dental care regimen.

Healthy gums should not be sensitive, nor should there be bleeding. This is a sign of an underlying battle occurring in your mouth, an inflammation caused by bacteria building up around your teeth and into your gums. This is a symptom shouldn’t be overlooked and needs to be taken seriously.

If you don’t brush or floss often enough with the correct technique, dental plaque, a sticky biofilm of bacteria, grows and accumulates on the surfaces within your mouth and under the gum line. This condition bacteria accumulation leads to the inflammation of the gums, called disease called “gingivitis”.

More often than not, anyone who does not floss for a period of 2 weeks will likely develop gingivitis. Gingivitis can manifest itself in a mild or in a very aggressive and acute form, depending on the kind of bacteria involved. This condition is completely reversible and heals after a professional dental cleaning and some changes in the oral care routine.

When plaque is not removed above and below the gum line for a long period of time, it hardens and turns into calculus (tartar) that will further irritate and inflame the gums, along with destroying the bone.

If gingivitis is left untreated and if some other risk factors (smoking, diabetes, stress or genetic factors) are present, a much worse condition can occur. This is a degenerative disease called “periodontitis”, which can lead to tooth loss.

Daily flossing is the best method to clean between the teeth and under the gum line in the prevention of this disease. Flossing not only helps cleaning these areas, but it also disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.

Flossing cleans areas where toothbrushes can’t: if you are not flossing, you are only cleaning approximately 55% of all the areas in your mouth. If you floss infrequently, you can expect to see gum bleeding when flossing because plaque can form in a few hours and the tissue between your teeth won’t be used to stimulation. Once you start correctly brushing and flossing, your gums may feel sore and bleed a bit, but the bleeding should subside in a week or so. Regular flossing the gum tissue between your teeth makes them more resilient, clean and healthy.

Most patients will stop flossing an area that bleeds when flossed, though the opposite should occur. If bleeding occurs, you should change your habits and properly brush and floss more often. If you have been flossing for 7-10 days and your gums are still bleeding, it is time to see your dentist. Let your dental professionals evaluate your flossing technique and whether there is a need for gum treatment.

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Electrical or Manual Toothbrush: Which is Better?

Oct 26th, 2018

This is one of our most frequently asked questions! Our answer? It’s not the brush that matters, it’s who’s doing the brushing.

Let’s break that down. The goal of tooth brushing is to remove plaque from your teeth on a consistent (daily!) basis, so that we prevent the buildup of tartar which leads to tooth decay. A manual toothbrush is a great and inexpensive tool that helps us do just that. Make sure to brush two minutes per day, twice a day. Gently brush ALL surfaces and make sure to reach those back molars.

For some people, it can be difficult to brush properly with a manual toothbrush. Those with some form of motor disability or arthritis may benefit from using an electric toothbrush. An electric brush can also be helpful for kids or anyone with braces.
The same tooth brushing rules apply – two times per day, two minutes at a time. One advantage of an electric toothbrush is that some have a built-in timer. If you’re one of those quick brushers who has a hard time making it to two minutes, consider using a timed electric brush.

At your next dental visit, ask us whether we think you would do better with a manual or electric brush! And, as always, don’t forget to floss!

Posted in Bad Breath, Braces, Columbus Dentist, Dental Advances, Dental Care, Gum Disease, Oral Care, Oral Hygiene | No Comments »

How Does Smoking Impact Dental Health?

Oct 11th, 2018

The use of tobacco products is the leading preventable cause of disease and early death in the United States.

Smoking has been linked to a myriad of dental health problems. The most well-known are bad breath and tooth discoloration. On a more serious note, smoking can be linked to a higher risk of gum disease, loss of bone mass in the jaw, and oral cancer.

And yet, approximately 42 million Americans still smoke cigarettes!

Every year, the American Cancer Society’s celebrates the Annual Great American Smokeout – one day each year that is set aside to encourage people to make the pledge to quit smoking. Easton Dental strongly encourages people to quit smoking and thus promote better dental health. Why?

Because…

A person that smokes has twice the risk for gum disease as a non-smoker. The American Academy of Periodontology makes the assertion that the use of tobacco is one of the greatest risk factors in both the origin and progression of gum disease.

Not only does smoking increase likelihood of gum disease, but has also been discovered to make the treatment of gum disease not as effective.

A list of serious health conditions due to tobacco use includes heart attack, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. Gum disease has been found to also be a leading cause of tooth loss, along with being linked to complications during pregnancy. At least 75% of cancers of the mouth, lips, tongue and throat are found in people that use an excessive amount of tobacco.

But all is not lost. It has been found that the effects of smoking begin to reverse themselves almost immediately once a smoker quits this harmful habit. According to the American Dental Association, even after many years of heavy tobacco use, reducing the amount a person smokes or quitting all together is very beneficial. This action can greatly reduce the health risks, even so far as reducing the likelihood of gum disease to the point as if that person had never smoked!

A life without the cigarettes can lead to: Better breath, whiter teeth, healthier gums, and overall better health. Who would not want that?

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What Does Smoking Do to Your Oral Health?

May 7th, 2018

We all know smoking is bad for our health. In fact, smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease and death in the United States and is linked to 480,000 deaths each year. Despite these stark statistics, about 17% of adults in the United States smoke. One thing smokers may not realize is that smoking can significantly damage their oral health.

Smoking and other forms of tobacco use can stain teeth and cause bad breath. In addition, smoking has been found to alter the microbiome of smokers’ mouths. Our oral microbiomes consist of carefully balanced levels of various bacteria. When these levels are altered, there can be serious health consequences.

Over time, the effects of smoking and tobacco use on oral health can grow more severe. In addition to cavities and gum disease, tobacco use can lead to increased rates of oral cancers.

As you can see, tobacco use is detrimental to your oral health in many ways. Luckily, quitting is always an option and the sooner you quit, the better. Scientists have ever found that your oral microbiome will return to its natural state after you quit smoking, although they have yet to determine exactly how long this takes.

If you’re ready to reclaim your health by quitting smoking, the Dental Center team is here to offer our support. Contact us today to learn more about how smoking can damage your oral health. We also recommend calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW for guidance regarding quitting tobacco usage. We know it will be difficult to quit, but we’re certain you have the strength to do it. Just keep reminding yourself that you deserve a long, healthy, and happy life!

Posted in Gum Disease, Oral Care, Oral Hygiene, Tooth Whitening, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Reasons You May Have A Dry Mouth

Jan 29th, 2018

We all know drinking enough water is good for our health. And when you’re feeling parched, there’s nothing better than a tall drink of ice-cold water to dampen that dry mouth of yours.

But what do you do when you find yourself constantly needing to wet your whistle?

There are numerous reasons you could be suffering from dry mouth. Below are the top five.

Physiologic
Sometimes having a dry mouth is just a normal part of life. Temporary anxiety, open-mouthed
breathing, mild dehydration, menopause, pregnancy, and decreased saliva due to sleep are all
normal causes of dry mouth.

Prescription medication
Sixty-three percent of the top 200 most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S. are known to cause dry mouth. And the higher the number of medications a person takes, the higher the chance of dry mouth. That’s why as we age, we tend to experience more instances of dry mouth. It’s not necessarily age-related, but our consumption of medication may cause this side effect.

Habitual use of alcohol and tobacco
Use of any of these products will dry out the oral cavity.
Please drink in moderation, and make sure to up your water intake when you imbibe. As for tobacco, we always recommend quitting as soon as possible.

Chronic Disease
Diabetes, Sjogren’s disease, Sarcoidosis, Hepatitic C can all cause dry mouth.

Psychogenic or Idiopathic
When symptoms are present without an identifiable cause (idiopathic), or because of psychological causes (psychogenic), they can be difficult to diagnose.

If you find yourself with a persistent, unidentifiable case of dry mouth, you should make an appointment. Call us at 614-414-0111 or request an appointment online.

Figuring out which one is causing your dry mouth is so important because a dry mouth has a big effect on your dental health. Saliva is so important for swishing away bacteria.

The dryer the mouth, the more prone you are to cavities, bad breath, and gingivitis. We recommend visiting us at 4030 Easton Station, Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43219 or your doctor for a consultation on why you may be experiencing a dry mouth.

Posted in Bad Breath, Cavity Prevention, Columbus Dentist, Dental Care, Dental Issues, Dentist Columbus Ohio, Emergency Dentist, Gum Disease | No Comments »

How Often Should You See the Dentist

Jan 29th, 2018

We love our patients, so we’d be more than happy to see you every day! Alas, we realize that’s not really possible to visit Easton in Columbus, OH everyday, so here are some more realistic guidelines for making appointments.

In general, it all depends on your oral health status and your health history.

For most patients, the optimal frequency to visit the dentist is twice a year. In six months,
enough tartar and plaque can build up to require a dental check-up and cleaning, especially if your dental hygiene isn’t as rigorous as it should be.

For others with gum disease, a genetic predisposition for plaque build-up or cavities, or a
weakened immune system, you’ll need to visit more frequently for optimal care.

Depending on where you fall in those categories, we will prescribe the necessary frequency to keep your optimal health.

It’s important to keep your routine visits with us so that:
• We can check for problems that you might not see or feel.
• We can find early signs of decay (decay doesn’t become visible or cause pain until it reaches more advanced stages).
• We can treat any other oral health problems found (generally, the earlier a problem is found, the more manageable it is).

There you have it! Those are the brass tacks for how often you should schedule an appointment.

Remember, we offer a variety of different hours to make it the most convenient for you! Mondays and Wednesdays we are here for late appointments, Tuesday and Fridays we start really early, and of course we have lunchtime appointments everyday! If you need to schedule, you can do that request an appointment now!

But if it is not time for your next appointment, don’t let it keep you from stopping in and saying hi whenever you’re in the neighborhood! We are really close to Gahanna, New Albany, Westerville, and all those Easton neighborhoods! We love seeing your smile!

Posted in Cavity Prevention, Columbus Dentist, Dental Care, Dental Facts, Dentist Columbus Ohio, Gum Disease, Oral Hygiene | No Comments »

The Why, When, How and Where of Tongue Scraping

Mar 3rd, 2017

Imagine it’s still winter…not hard to do in Ohio since it changes so quickly… you’re standing at the door, ready to brave the cold. You’re layered-up with three shirts and a sweatshirt, your heavy winter coat, and two layers of socks underneath your waterproof winter boots. Then you’ve got those awesome jeans with the flannel on the inside, your comfy hat, scarf, and gloves. You’re set! But wait. As you step toward the door, you suddenly realize you have an itch … and it’s deep down … buried beneath all those layers. And, try as you may, every attempt to reach that bugger-of-an-itch fails. Defeated, you realize the only relief you’re ever gonna’ get is to remove each one of those layers. Where are we going with this?!

The Tongue

We’re going inside your mouth, of course, to your tongue – this is a dental article, after all! Because whether you know it or not, like you in the wintertime, your tongue is also “all covered up” – buried beneath layers of bacteria, fungi, and food residue that can inhibit your ability to taste, let alone cause your tongue to appear various shades of yellow, white, or green! Remove the bacteria, though, and your food will once again directly interact with those taste buds, and return to its natural hue. So how does one do that? With a tongue scraper, of course!

WHAT is a tongue scraper?

A tongue scraper is a U-shaped device designed to “scrape” the top layer of scum from your tongue. They have been in use since ancient times, and have been made of everything from wood to whalebone. Nowadays, they are made of more hygienic material, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs and colors.

WHY use a tongue scraper?

The residue on your tongue includes things like the cavity-inducing Streptococcus mutans bacterium, fungi, rotting food (that’s not good), and what’s referred to as “volatile sulfur compounds.” In other words, sulfur – that “rotting egg smell.” Talk about ew! So, as you can see, there are several reasons why you’d want to get rid of this gunk in your mouth. Let’s tackle them one by one:

Reduce bad breath: ‘nuff said! We have had many patients thank us so much for this little tip because it dramatically improves their overall life! Get a little closer…
Reduce your risk of periodontal disease and cavities: Bad bacteria contribute to plaque and tartar on teeth, making them more susceptible to cavities. Bacteria build-up can also lead to inflammation of gum tissue (gingivitis). If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease, which means a more expensive dental visit (plus other unwanted consequences!). Speaking of avoiding an expensive dental visit, when was the last time you came in to see us? Come see us now if it’s been awhile, by calling in at 614-414-0111.
Make room for good bacteria: see our article here on probiotics for your mouth.
Prevent heart disease? While the debate is still up in the air, many studies suggest there could be a correlation between gum disease and heart disease.

HOW does one use a tongue scraper?

In general, make sure to rinse your tongue scraper before and after use. Apply the tongue scraper to the back of your tongue and drag it forward. Then, rinse and repeat. Make sure to get the sides of your tongue as well, not just the center!

Make sure not to press too hard or you can cause yourself to bleed. And, if you’re wondering if you should scrape your tongue while recovering from a dental procedure, that’s a good question … ask your dentist for the best advice particular to your situation. Still not sure how this thing really works? The next time you’re in ask Julie, Kate, or Lindsay for a quick tutorial!

WHERE do I buy one?

Your first choice is, believe it or not, us! We may even have a sample we could provide to you at no cost. Tongue scrapers are relatively inexpensive, and can also be found at any local drugstore. It doesn’t matter the material, color, or brand – just find the one you like and get scraping!

Posted in Bad Breath, Columbus Emergency Dental, Dental Care, Dental Facts, Dental Issues, Diet, Emergency Dentist, Gum Disease, Oral Care, Oral Hygiene | No Comments »

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