Second-Hand Smoke Increases Risk of Periodontitis

It has been known that smoking increases the odds of developing periodontitis (gum disease), but new studies are indicating that exposure to second-hand smoke increases your risks of developing the disease by 62%.

Periodontitis is caused by a buildup of plaque and bacteria in the space between your gums and tooth surfaces. The bacteria thrives in the plaque, and feasts on the bone, gum tissue, and connective tissue of your teeth. Left untreated, it can cause bone loss, infection, and tooth loss. It can also affect other parts of your body, including increased risk of strokes, and body-wide inflammation. Diseases such as diabetes can increase these risks as well.

But if you have a buildup of plaque, all hope is not lost. Your friendly Valencia dentist can help reverse the damage. Through scaling and debridement, they can clean up that plaque lodged below the gum line. They can also remove plaque buildup from the roots of your teeth using special tools and (mostlikely) local anesthetic. They can also repair any previous restorative work that looks like it may be trapping plaque and increasing risks of future damage.

Once the cleaning is done, your friendly Valencia dentist will reevaluate your gums, and most likely schedule you for a follow up visit within 3 months to ensure that no more bacteria is growing. If there is a recurrence, they will take care of it and teach you some proper cleaning techniques.
As always, if you have any questions about
periodontitis and second-hand smoke, feel free to ask your friendly Valencia dentist.

Go Dental - Your favorite Dentist in Valencia.

Cutting Down on Sugar Leads to a Healthier Life

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement that reducing the intake of “free sugars” to less than 10% of your energy income will lead to a healthier life, reducing the risks of being overweight, obesity, and most importantly, tooth decay.

In a typical 2,000 calorie diet, restricting free sugars to 10% or less would mean cutting back sugar to under 50 grams a day. Sugar occurs naturally in syrups, fruit juices, and honey, but it is added to many everyday foods, including food that isn't typically thought to be sweet. Ketchup, for example – a traditionally non-sweet food – can house up to 4g of sugar mixed inside it. Comparatively, a soda can contain up to 10 times more – 40g.

A “free sugar”, as reported by the WHO, is a sugar that is not naturally occurring in milk, fresh fruits, or fresh veggies. The WHO cannot find any adverse effects of these natural sugars being consumed – only the added “free sugars”.

Free sugar intake varies depending on region, as well. A typical resident of Hungary or Norway typically takes in 7-8% of their daily energy intake as free sugar.  In Portugal, it is almost 25%. And within those countries, rural areas take in less free sugars than populated urban areas.

Children with free sugar intake above 10% have a much higher risk of developing obesity and tooth decay. The biggest culprit of free sugars in children? Sugary drinks, including sodas and sports drinks.

If you have any further questions about sugar’s role in tooth decay, be sure to ask your friendly Valencia dentist today.

Glass Fillings Just Around the Corner

Tooth decay is the largest oral health problem in the world, and fillings are a standard option to repair damage. But fillings have had their weaknesses – up until now. Dentists are teaming up with physicists to develop a new material for fillings.

Traditionally, fillings were done with silver amalgam filling, which was strong and durable. However, it was gray in hue, stained teeth, and contained mercury. While it is still used in some parts of the world today, many dentists have moved towards composite fillings, which requires more frequent replacing than amalgam due to the way they are applied.

But scientists are working on a new filling, a glass ionomer, which will adhere to the surface of the tooth and slowly release fluoride into the mouth, preventing further tooth decay. As of now, the glass ionomer is strong, but researchers are studying the micro-structures of the material to make it even stronger.

The glass ionomer also boasts another beneficial property – it can be hand mixed, and doesn't need any special equipment to make it set on the teeth. This will help low-income areas and remote countries without electricity to provide much needed basic dental care.

Together, the dentists and physicists are perfecting the mixture. It currently contains too many liquid-filled pores when set which can compromise the structure of the filling. The researchers are experimenting with different minerals and ratios to see about reducing the pores and increasing the strength.

Glass ionomer fillings are the way of the future. If you have any questions about the benefits of each type of filling, or about the status on the glass ionomer fillings, be sure Valencia dentist today.
to ask your friendly

Water Flouridation

When fluoridation was first implemented in America in the 50s and 60s, there was a lot of controversy surrounding it. Many people cited false studies about the connection between fluoridation and AIDS, cancer, low IQ, or even arthritis. But it has all been proven false, as nearly 70% of America is drinking fluoridated water. One thing has occurred, however – a drop in tooth decay.

Initial studies of the effects of fluoridated water on teeth showed a decrease of 50% - 60% in childhood tooth decay. And the added fluorine has no impact on the water’s appearance, taste, or smell. This helps prevent future problems in teeth, especially for people living in areas where the financial aspect of dental care is a bit daunting.

The fluoride works by binding to your tooth’s enamel, and aiding in the remineralization of enamel. If the tooth’s enamel is weakened from early stages of decay, that fluoride boost will help repair and regrow the damaged minerals. And any fluoride not used by your teeth is effortlessly discarded by your body.

Fluoridated water has no known adverse effects on your body. There is a cosmetic risk of having too much fluorine called fluorosis. Dental fluorosis appears as bright white streaks on the surface of the teeth, and has no impact on the health or structure of the teeth. And while the streaks are rarely noticeable, dental procedures can reduce their appearance.

Recent studies have shown a trend of water fluoridation in high levels being linked to underactive thyroids in England. However, there are no definite conclusions that fluoride is to be blamed, and another yet unknown cause is likely the blame.

If you have any questions about the benefits of fluoride on your teeth, feel free to ask your friendly Valencia dentist. We are here to put your mind at ease.

Need a Tooth Pulled? Here is what to Expect.

There are many reasons a tooth may require extraction: tooth decay, trauma and damage, infection, or even a crowded jawline. But with today’s advances in dentistry, a tooth extraction does not need to be something that causes you anxiety. Your friendly Valencia dentist is here to walk you through the process.

Once your dentist has determined that a tooth (or teeth) needs to be pulled, they will schedule your appointment with an oral surgeon. The surgeon will begin by giving you a simple shot to administer local anesthetic, preventing pain and discomfort while they work. If you have having multiple teeth pulled, a larger dose of anesthetic may be required, possibly including some laughing gas so you sleep throughout the procedure.

Depending on the damage to the tooth, an extraction can be a simple pull, or it may require the surgeon to cut away gum and bone tissue. Some teeth are held tightly by ligaments in the jaw, as well as bone, making it more difficult. And in some more extreme cases, the tooth may need to be broken into several
smaller pieces in order to be removed. Either route, you will not feel a thing.

After the tooth (or teeth) is successfully removed, your surgeon will pack the extraction site with gauze and have you bite down on it. This helps to stop the bleeding and begin to form a blood clot. In very rare cases, the blood clot in the socket will break loose. This exposes the bone and can cause pain. In those situations, a quick trip back to your dentist will have the socket repacked, and the blood clot on its way to forming again.
In many cases, your surgeon will provide you with painkillers. Make sure you take them as prescribed. If there is any signs of swelling, applying an ice pack to the area will help keep it in check. The ice shouldn't be used for more than 10 minutes at a time, however. In order to avoid loosening the blood clot, try to prevent rinsing and spitting for about 48 hours. After that, rinsing with warm salt water will help with pain and stave off infection. Most importantly, get some rest in the day following the procedure. Your body needs to heal.

If you experience any intense pain after 24 hours, or have signs of infection, be sure to let your friendly Valencia dentist know as soon as you can. These are rare occurrences, but your friendly Valencia dentist is there to help.

In one to two weeks after your extraction, you should be back in fighting shape with your beautiful smile.

If you have any questions about the extraction process, be sure to ask your friendly Valencia dentist during your next appointment.

Is Your Tooth Infected?

Untreated tooth decay, exposed pulp, and gum disease can all lead to a dental abscess. An abscess occurs when an infection reaches the root of your tooth, or the space between your tooth and gums. Bacteria infects your tooth, reaching the pulp, and can spread throughout your tooth and even into your jaw bone.
A toothache is the biggest indicator of something awry. Some people with infected teeth suffer from extreme, throbbing pain in a centralized location. Some people have no pain at all. Once the pulp of your tooth dies, the pain often vanishes, but it doesn't mean the infection is gone.

With pain as an unreliable indicator, you can also check for other symptoms. People fighting an infection will often time have a fever, swollen neck glands, or ill feelings. A dying tooth will often times leave a bitter taste in your mouth, and have a foul smell tainting your breath. And any swelling in the jaw or gums is always a sign of concern. An abscess can form in your gums, often filling with pus.

In order to rid yourself of the infection, you must sometimes have any abscesses drained. A root canal is often suggested, or even tooth removal. And then a strong dose of antibiotics will finish off any lingering infections. If the pain is unbearable, ibuprofen can sometimes be used to take the edge off.

Teeth abscesses and infections can be prevented, of course, by maintaining oral health and visiting your friendly Valencia dentist regularly. If you have any concerns about your tooth’s health, be sure to ask your dentist.

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Flabby Gums, Flabby Health

When you’re in for your quarter yearly cleaning, you may hear your dentist or dental hygienist reciting numbers. They aren’t counting your teeth, but they are taking specific measurements. They use a carefully calibrated tool to assess your gum health.

The tool they use is a measuring device, which measures between 1mm and 9mm. They measure the distance between your gum and your tooth – the larger the gap, the more likely you are to suffer from gum disease.
A healthy gum gap measurement falls between 1 and 4 mm. Any number greater than that signifies that your gums may be inflamed, and that a deep cleaning may be necessary. The deep cleaning requires a special tool, possible small incisions, and a more frequent professional cleaning schedule. These extra treatments can cost you time and money.

The good news is that gum disease and flabby gums are preventable and, more importantly, treatable with regular cleaning and flossing. Inflammation can be caused when food particles are trapped in the gums, so with regular cleaning, the particles can be removed before they cause trouble.

If you have been having issues with bleeding or sensitive gums, make sure to schedule an appointment with your friendly Valencia dentist. They can assess your risk of gum disease, and go over steps to treat and prevent it.

Go Dental - Your favorite Dentist in Valencia