Gum Disease

Gum Disease, Services

Blood Pressure Screenings

We don’t just care about your teeth, we care about your health! It’s true that most people don’t visit their family doctor very often. As a result health issues may go undetected. Our blood pressure screening is done with our computerized blood pressure monitor at your regular maintenance visits. Here are some items to consider regarding your blood pressure reading: High Blood Pressure Range: Systolic pressure (mm Hg)Top Number Diastolic pressure (mm Hg)Bottom 210 / 120 Stage 4180 / 110 Stage 3160 / 100 Stage 2140 / 90 Stage 1 Normal Blood Pressure Range: Systolic pressure (mm Hg)Top Number Diastolic pressure (mm Hg)Bottom Number 130 / 85 High Normal Blood Pressure120 / 80 Normal Blood Pressure110 / 75 Low Normal Blood Pressure Signs of high blood pressure include, headache, dizziness, pounding in ears, bloody nose. If you can just picture pressure in your head, then you can remember what the signs of High Blood Pressure are. You are at increased risk for cardiovascular (heart) disease if: Don’t leave your health up to chance! Call us at (513) 896-1573 to schedule a dental visit today and let us check to make sure your overall health is good.

Gum Disease, Services

Halitosis Care

Do you suffer from chronic bad breath? Is your spouse or loved always complaining about your ‘dragon breath’? Don’t Let Bad Breath Interfere With Your Life! Recent studies have shown up to 90% of all cases of halitosis, more commonly referred to as bad breath, can be attributed to harmful mouth bacteria that are not removed by brushing, flossing, or gargling alone.Also, the American Dental Association News recently reported that halitosis experts agree that the dominant cause of bad breath is the bacteria on the tongue. The bacteria release odorous byproducts (known as Volatile Sulfur Compounds, or VSCs – similar to the gasses released by a rotten egg) as they thrive on the tongue. These stinkers also arise from active gum disease. In fact, according to recent research, VSCs may even be the first factor in initiating gum disease. As plaque is to the teeth and gums, coating is to the tongue. Brushing alone does not solve the problem. Our normal hygiene routine doesn’t work against the bacteria on the tongue because we simply are not properly cleaning our tongues. Primary Cause of Halitosis The tongue is a rough surface that provides the bacteria with plenty of hiding places. When we eat, debris left over from food and normal mucus production build the coating on our tongues. This coating provides the bacteria with a safe hiding place. Why is it safe? Because the bacteria are anaerobic – oxygen is lethal to them. So the bacteria, hidden in the safety of the tongue’s coating, do their dirty work releasing odorous gasses in the process, which is the primary cause of halitosis. Halitosis can also lead to increased risk of tooth decay (especially root surface decay), and a decreased sense of taste. Beware of Advertising Claims About Bad Breath! Some companies would have you believe that bad breath is caused by a sour stomach, but this is true only in about 1 of 10 people, and that type of bad breath is temporary. Self Test for Halitosis (Bad Breath) Cup your hand over your nose and mouth and exhale. Do you smell anything? If you do, you have probably eaten something today that is causing the odor. As mentioned above, this type of halitosis is usually temporary (lasting from a few hours to a few days). If you do not smell an odor, there are two possibilities: Self-testing simply is not reliable. Still dying to know if your breath is offensive? The nose (not yours!) knows. Ask a close (honest) friend, or your dentist or hygienist. You can also watch for these clues. Do people tend to… If you experience any of these uncomfortable (and embarrassing) symptoms, it’s very possible that you have halitosis (bad breath).  It could also be gum disease, or at least the early stages of it.  If this is the case, early intervention is vital as it will help avoid the loss of teeth and allow you to get close and personal without being offensive. A recent study showed that mouthwashes (even antibacterial brands), gums, and breath mints merely mask the problem. They only work for a short time (an hour at most) because the bacteria are still alive and well. Even if you are using an antibacterial mouth-wash, the bacteria are comfortable lurking in the safety under the coating of the tongue. All of the mouthwashes currently available over the counter add to the compost pile on the tongue, instead of reducing it, thereby making the problem worse! The key to curing your bad breath problem is to remove the coating on the tongue. There is one type of mouthwash that works in conjunction with tongue cleaning for optimum hygiene. Ask your dentist for a mouthwash containing chlorine dioxide. Use it after you clean your tongue. Many people ask me if brushing the tongue with a toothbrush is enough to remove the coating. Although brushing the tongue is a step in the right direction, it merely loosens the coating. It does not remove it. Removing the coating is crucial to killing the bacteria that cause bad breath. I recommend that my patients brush their teeth and then clean their tongue. Today, tongue cleaners may still be hard to find, however, I expect them to be as common as the toothbrush or dental floss in the next decade. In addition to freshening breath, tongue cleaning reduces the risk of decay and improves the sense of taste. When purchasing a tongue cleaner, look for the following: If you’re suffering from halitosis and would like to consult about how you can eliminate this problem, schedule online or call at (513) 896-1573 to schedule a consultation.

Gum Disease, Services

Oral Cancer Screening

With all the medical progress we have made in cancer treatment, oral cancer is one of the few types that haven’t had a reduced mortality in over 30 years. In fact, the number of North Americans developing oral cancer today is 3X’s the number that develops cervical cancer. Oral cancer kills one person every hour, 24 hours a day in the U.S. alone! Of over 34,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only half will be alive in 5 years. Oral cancer most commonly involves the tissue of the lips or the tongue. It may also occur on the: Most oral cancers look very similar under the microscope and are called squamous cell carcinomas. These are cancerous and tend to spread quickly. Smoking and other tobacco use are linked to 70 – 80% of oral cancer cases. Heavy alcohol use is also associated with an increased risk for oral cancer. Other factors that may increase the risk for oral cancer include: Some oral cancers begin as a white plaque (leukoplakia) or as a mouth ulcer. Oral cancer accounts for about 5% of all cancerous growths. Men get oral cancer twice as often as women do, particularly men older than 40. Symptoms of oral cancer include mouth sores, lumps, or ulcers that: Other symptoms of that might indicate oral cancer include: To help prevent oral cancers, you should be sure to: “What If I Already Suffer From Oral Cancer?” Approximately half of people with oral cancer will live more than 5 years after they are diagnosed and treated. If the cancer is found early, before it has spread to other tissues, the cure rate is nearly 90%. However, more than half of oral cancers have already spread when the cancer is detected. Most have spread to the throat or neck. Approximately 25% of people with oral cancer die because of delayed diagnosis and treatment. We recommend an oral cancer screening be performed twice a year. As part of your dental maintenance visit, this is included and performed on all patients so really all you need to do is make sure to visit our office regularly. So, if it’s been a while, why not contact our office at (513) 896-1573 to schedule a regular dental checkup,which includes this critical oral cancer screening.

Gum Disease, Services

Fluoride Treatment

Tooth decay is caused by acid that is formed when bacteria in your mouth are allowed to linger to long on the surface of your tooth.  The plaque is a sticky, clear film. Without good daily oral hygiene and regular dental visits, teeth become more vulnerable to decay and sensitivity.  Brushing multiple times per day and using floss or other interdental cleaner will remove the plaque. Regular dental examinations and cleanings are also important for keeping teeth healthy.  Another key to good oral health is fluoride, a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay and can help to repair and strengthen teeth. You can get fluoride in 2 ways, topical or systemic flourides. Topical Flourides – This is applied directly to your teeth.  This includes toothpastes and mouth rinses, as well as fluoride treatments in the dental office. Systemic – Fluoride that is swallowed.  This includes fluoridated water and dietary fluoride supplements.  The maximum reduction in dental caries is achieved when fluoride is available both topically and systemically.  At the dental office you can receive this treatment for children and adults.  If you are prone to cavities this can be an added defense to prevent trouble from arising. Factors that may increase the risk are as follows: PROFFESIONAL FLOURIDE TREATMENT If you or a family member is at a moderate to high risk of developing cavities, a professional fluoride treatment can help.  The fluoride preparation used in the dental office is much stronger in concentration than is available over the counter. Professional flouride treatments generally take just a few minutes and may be in the form of a solution, gel, foam or varnish. After the treatment, you may not eat or drink for 30 minutes, which allows for the maximum amount of flouride absorption into your teeth.  Eating or drinking sooner will reduce the effect of the fluoride. Depending on your oral health status, fluoride treatments may be recommended every three, six or 12 months. We may recommend other preventive measures if you are at a moderate or high risk of developing decay. We will discuss this more with you at the office. To learn more or to schedule your professional flouride treatment, contact our office at (513) 896-1573.

Gum Disease, Services

Gum Therapy

Did you know that your gums are an indicator of your dental health?  This tissue is what forms the barrier between your mouth and your body and f your gums are sore and bleed very easily, it could be an indiciation that you have gum disease. Gum therapy is the process we use to treat gum disease(periodontal disease). Like we mentioned above signs of gum disease include bleeding, sore gums and bad breathe.  If left untreated, periodontal disease can also cause significant loss of the spongy bone that holds your teeth in place, ultimately leading to loss of your teeth. In fact, periodontal disease untreated by gum therapy is the leading cause of tooth loss. Gum therapy is identified in several stages, the first being Gingivitis.  This can be cured with relative ease using non surgical treatment and better home care.  More advanced cases of gum disease require more intensive courses of gum therapy. To measure the health or your gums, a thin device is gently slid between your gum and your tooth and each tooth is measured in six areas in relation to the gum line.  If the area measures deeper than 3 a deep cleaning may be recommended. The deep cleaning process is called scaling and root planning. This removes the plaque and tarter from between the teeth and gum pockets.  As dental procedures go, it’s relatively painless and in most cases a local anesthetic is given to numb the treatment area.  After this type of treatment meticulous home care is needed to provide the best chance of healing and preventing of future gum problems. During the course of gum therapy we may prescribe antibiotics and a mouth rinse to aide in killing the bacteria associated with gum disease. We will recommend seeing you for follow up 4 times a year instead of the regular 2 times. This helps us keep you informed of your progress and prevents relapsing of your original condition.  If the treatment we have provided for you isn’t successful you may be referred to a specialist for further treatment. To learn more about gum therapy treatments or to schedule an appointment, contact our office at (513) 896-1573.

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