Gum Disease: What You Need To Know

Gum disease, or periodontal disease is not an enjoyable experience! If you want to avoid gum disease, or if you already have it and want to fight it, read this article.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

How do you know if you have gum disease? Here are some of the symptoms you should look for. Often you will notice inflammation of the gums and mouth – soreness, bleeding, and/or redness. Another common symptom is bed breath (a.k.a. Halitosis), and / or a bad taste in your mouth. Other signs of gum disease include shaky or loose teeth, receding gums, and spaces between the teeth and gums.

Cause Of Gum Disease

What causes gum disease? Quite simply, gum disease is caused by bacteria growing in your mouth. These bacteria normally begin growing on particles of food left in your mouth. The infection then continues to grow, causing inflammation and breakdown of the gums and mouth.

Prevention Of Gum Disease

Gum disease can be prevented by discouraging the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Proper dental hygiene goes a long way in preventing bacteria growth in the mouth. Also helpful is a healthy diet low in refined sugars and other foods that make perfect bacteria fodder.

Treatment of Gum Disease

If you already have Gum Disease, there are several ways to treat it. The first and seemingly most common is a professional cleaning. A periodontist will clean your mouth to remove the plaque, etc that harbors the bacteria causing the disease. Drugs may also be used to treat gum disease. Recently, several natural treatments have been developed for gum disease as well.

Hopefully, the information in this article will have given you the information that you need to prevent and / or treat gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. Trust me when I say that you don’t want to get gum disease – it’s worth preventing, and prevention is simple when you follow the steps outlined in this article!

Natural Remedies for Toothaches

As hard as we all try to take good care of our teeth, almost everyone experiences a toothache at least once in their life, some more than others. Unfortunately, most toothaches are just severe enough that they can hinder a person’s ability to continue on with their daily tasks. Of course, a dentist should be seen if severe pain is present for more than one week, but many are surprised with the relief they receive from natural remedies. Natural remedies are a great way for the uninsured to seek relief, as well as a great way to treat the pain until a dentist can be seen.

One natural remedy that works great for toothaches is that of onion consumption. There are a number of medical studies that proved that onions have bacterial benefits. For that reason, individuals suffering from a toothache should put a small onion piece on the tooth that is causing them pain. Relief can typically be seen in a manner of minutes. Also, due to the benefits of onions, those who eat a couple of raw onion pieces everyday can protect their teeth. This is because a raw onion can help to kill common germs and bacteria in the mouth that can cause dental complications, such as a cavity.

Another natural remedy and home remedies that is ideal for treating a toothache involves the consumption of garlic. A clove of garlic can be placed on the tooth that is producing the pain. Within a matter of minutes relief will be felt. This relief may even be permanent or it will last the longest, when compared to many other natural and home remedies for toothaches. In addition to garlic, a clove can be placed on the affected tooth. This will not only provide pain relief, but clove is also known to limit the chances of an infection.

Pepper is considered a natural remedy and a home remedy that can help with a toothache that results from a cavity. When using this approach, a pinch of pepper should be placed on a tooth cavity. Many others also recommend adding in about a quarter of a teaspoon of salt to create a salt and pepper combination. As previously stated, this can help to provide relief from a toothache associated with a cavity, but there are other dental benefits associated with this remedy as well. A small mixture of pepper and salt can also provide relief from bad breath and gum problems, such as soft or infected gums.

In addition to using the above mentioned home remedies and natural remedies for toothaches, preventative steps should also be taken. This involves seeking regular dental care. A dental checkup is advised at least once a year; however, twice a year is better for those with known dental problems. Another preventative step that can be taken involves limiting the consumption of sugary foods and drinks, such as candy and soft drinks. These food and drinks can increase the chances of a cavity developing. If these sugary food and drinks are consumed, a quick brushing is advised.

Speaking of food and drinks, those that are high in vitamin C and calcium are known to prevent many dental complications, including loose teeth, cavities, and gum disease. Lime is recommended for the healthy maintenance of teeth; however, dairy products, which are high in calcium should also be consumed on a regular basis. If you are a parent, it is advised that you provide your children with a constant source of these calcium and vitamin C rich foods, to limit the dental problems they may have in the future.

As outlined above, a number of natural remedies and home remedies can provide relief with a toothache. With that being said, it is also important to remember that preventative care is advised. Also, although the above mentioned natural remedies will provide most relief from many common dental problems, a visit to a dentist is recommend for those suffering from severe, long-lasting pain.

Common Oral Health Problems in Adolescents

Adolescents face many oral health problems which may require them to visit a dentist or any other healthcare professional. Irregular teeth growth is a common problem and adolescents with braces are a common sight. Another problem is wisdom teeth extraction or the removal of the third molar. Dental cavities are yet another common problem in adolescents.

Orthodontics is a specialty in dentistry which deals with correction, development and prevention of irregular teeth, jaw and bite. Orthodontics also helps to correct jaw disorders and facial abnormalities. If a general dentist feels abnormalities in the adolescent, he/she will refer the patient to an orthodontist. The American Dental Association suggests that every adolescent above the age of seven should get an orthodontic evaluation done. Problems which require orthodontic treatment are crowded or crooked teeth, extra teeth, missing teeth, under-bite, overbite, jaw joint disorder, and incorrect or misaligned jaw position.

To get braces or any other orthodontic treatments, the appropriate age is ten to fourteen years. But regardless of the age, the same physical and biological process is used in correcting and moving the teeth alignments. Braces are also known as fixed orthodontic appliances. There are three types of braces used to move and reposition the teeth. The first consists of brackets which are made out of plastic or metal. They are either of tooth color or clear and are bonded onto the teeth. The second type is the lingual type of brackets which are attached to the back teeth and cannot be seen while talking. The third type is a band. It is a metal band which covers the teeth and wraps around the last ones.

When adolescents wear braces they have to take certain precautions in order to avoid any more oral health complications. The most important precautionary measure is to brush the teeth regularly after every meal. Since the food can be easily lodged in braces, it is a good idea to brush carefully with soft bristles toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. In the morning, the adolescent must floss between the braces and teeth. Food stuffs which are sticky or hard must be avoided as they are very difficult to remove. Foods like caramel, chew candy, popcorn, and nuts must be avoided. Cleaning must be done by the orthodontist or general dentist, every five to six months.

The wisdom teeth or third molars can grow in people of the age fifteen to twenty five. These teeth cause problem, because most of the mouths are too small to adjust new teeth and hence they need to be removed. If the wisdom tooth has place to grow, without affecting other teeth, they can be left to themselves. But if the adolescent experiences pain, facial swelling, mouth infection and gum-line swelling, then they should be extracted immediately. They can also destroy the second molars and impact other tooth. Various gum and jaw diseases can be caused. There can be a tumor development; cysts development and plaque build up. Hence, a surgery is performed to remove the tooth or teeth. The gum tissue covering the wisdom tooth is removed and the connective tissue connecting the tooth to the bone is detached. The tooth is then removed and the opening is sutured. A general dentist can perform wisdom tooth surgery in the local office using anesthesia.

Five times common than asthma is tooth cavities. The tooth above the gum line is made up of enamel, the hardest tissue within the human body. The tooth below the gum-line comprise of nerves, roots and dentin. Dentin is another type of tissue and isn’t as hard as the enamel. The acid which leads to tooth decay is produced by bacteria. These acids, along with dietary sugar, attach the enamel and eat away the minerals within the enamel, until a cavity is formed. This is known as tooth cavity. The biggest prevention against dental cavities is brushing teeth twice a day and even better, after every meal with fluoride toothpaste and soft bristle toothbrush. Carbonated drinks must be avoided strictly and must be replaced with fruit juices and sugary food must be avoided. Intake of fluoridated water also helps a lot or fluoride supplements can be used as replacement.

Great Tips For Gaining Your Whitest Smile

The first thing people notice about us is our smile. If you are looking for tips and tricks on how to get the whitest and brightest teeth, here are they are! Our helpful tips will help you to get a beautiful smile that you won’t be able to hide.

When you are trying to get a whiter smile, you should try brushing your teeth with teeth whitening toothpastes. These toothpastes can remove mild discoloration on your teeth through subtle abrasives that they contain. Get the smile that you have always wanted when you begin brushing your teeth with teeth whitening toothpaste.

If you have gum disease, a gum infection or unfilled cavities, consult with your family doctor or dentist before using any teeth whitening products. Certain chemicals can make you gum or tooth problem worse. Have any tooth or gum problems fixed or treated before you use any tooth whitening chemicals or procedures.

While brushing your teeth with some kind of tooth whitener can actually be a bit beneficial, it won’t be able brighten your smile by more than a degree or two. To have really improved whitening you will need to find a more aggressive program to take care of the discoloring problem.

If you over use teeth whitening products, especially extremely powerful ones, you could be doing serious harm to your teeth. You should always consult with your dentist before going through such a procedure and make sure it’s safe for you to do so. If your dentist says it’s too soon or you’ve done it too many times – listen to him!

If you are looking for a natural way to whiten your teeth, use fresh lemons. Simple rub the inside of a lemon peel on your teeth daily for whiter and brighter teeth. This teeth whitening technique is simple, fast, and inexpensive. Using lemon peels lets you whiten your teeth, without using the harsh chemicals found in some whiteners.

To have a white smile, make sure you avoid drinking water or using toothpastes that contain fluoride. It has been reported that fluoride may aid in discoloring and permanently staining your teeth. Many countries have actually banned fluoride from their drinking water due to this very reason. To stay on the safe side, avoid fluoride at all costs for a healthy and white smile.

Baking soda is a great way to naturally whiten your teeth. There are many toothpastes that use baking soda because of its proven effectiveness. If you want to make your own baking soda based tooth whitener; just mix baking soda with a little salt and water. It’s that easy, and it’s a cheap, but effective alternative to costly preparations.

You should not begin a teeth whitening regiment until you are around the age of 16 to 18. Until this time a child’s gums are incredibly sensitive. Therefore, the caustic and abrasive products that are used to clean teeth can cause a child’s mouth to enter a world of pain.

As you can see, a beautiful, white smile can be yours. If you follow our helpful tips you will have the whitest smile you’ve ever had. Our tips are proven and will work to get you the smile you have always dreamed about. So go ahead and show those pearly whites.

Early Detection: Important Factor for Earache Cure

Pain is something that can hamper many individuals from performing their daily activities, adversely affecting their lifestyle and overall wellness. Earache is something that can be uncomfortable and keep an individual up all night with intense pain. An earache from a cold can cause a sharp, dull burning sensation. This condition is often caused by infection or disease in the ear, nose, mouth, throat or any injury to the jaw area. If not treated properly, earache can lead to hearing loss. This article is about earache and how early detection can prevent further health ailment.

Earache can also be caused by accumulation of fluid and pressure at the back of the eardrum which is called the middle ear. The middle ear is connected to the nasal passages by the Eustachian tube—a tube that allows normal fluids to drain out the middle ear. Regular draining of fluids out the middle ear helps balance the air pressure in the ears. A cold or allergy may block the Eustachian tube to inflammation and build-up of secretions. If the fluid accumulates and may cause stiffness, pain, ear infection, and hearing loss. Some of the causes of earache may include raptured eardrum, tooth infection, sinus infection, sore throat, and many more.

Symptoms of earache may include the following:

High fever or severe pain in the ear area
Severe pain which suddenly stops, this may indicate a ruptured eardrum
Headache, dizziness, swelling around the ear, or twitching of the face muscles
Buzzing or ringing sound in the ear
Blocked or full sensation in the ear
Swelling of the ear

People who suffer from earache pain can try to sleep with the bad ear facing up to alleviate pain. If this adjustment does not relieve pain, there are pain killers out in the market that can give earache pain relief. These medications contain acetaminophen like Tylenol or Ibuprofen which can help alleviate pain that is brought by earache. There are antiseptic ear drops out in the market that may help eliminate bacteria that causes ear infection. These ear drops may also provide fast and effective earache pain relief.

Other steps that can be done to relieve pain may involve the following:

Use vaporizer to add moisture and humidity and keep the mucous thin.
A cold pack or cold wet wash cloth applied to the outer ear for 20 minutes may reduce pain.
Chew gum, chewing may help relieve the pain and pressure of an ear infection. Ear pain caused by rapidly descending from high altitudes can be relieved by swallowing, chewing gum, or other methods.

Taking medication for earache pain relief should be combined with a healthy diet and sufficient rest to help prevent the progression of earaches. A healthy diet that contain non-acidic food and beverages is essential in keeping this disorder under control. In addition to this, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and coffee should be avoided to prevent the occurrence of earache. Smoking, excessive alcohol, and coffee may weaken the immune system, making it prone to various kind of infection. Earache is a condition that should not be taken for granted. Like other health conditions, the most effective earache treatment is early evaluation and treatment.

Abscessed Teeth

An abscess in the tooth refers to an infection that was caused by a pocket of pus residing in the tissue around the tooth. Abscesses are very serious conditions, and can lead to serious matters if they aren’t treated immediately. When the pulp of a tooth dies due to damage or decay, bacteria will begin to grow from the dead tissue that is left. This bacteria will eventually spread from the root of the dead tooth into the tissue that is below and create a pocket of pus – the abscess.

Gum disease is also a cause for a tooth becoming abscessed. Gum diseases causes the gums to pull back and away from teeth, leaving pockets behind. When one of the pockets becomes blocked, the bacteria can grow and spread, or get backed up. When this happens, an abscess will start to form under the surface of the gums and become apparent will swelling as it gets bigger and spreads.

Once the infection has started to spread, your jawbone may start to dissolve as it makes room for the swelling in the area that has been infected. Once the bone starts to dissolve, the pressure will be greatly reduced, although the infection will still be there. Even though you will get relief, the infection will get worse – and the pain will always come back. Once more of the bone has been dissolved, there will be nothing left to support the tooth, meaning that it will become loose and end up needing to be extracted.

The symptoms of an abscessed tooth are easy to see, as they include severe pain in the affected area, red or swollen gums, a bad taste in your mouth, swelling around the area or the jaw, and possibly a high fever. Pain is excruciating with an abscess, normally affecting the area in a bad way. No matter what you do, the pain seems to intensify.

Abscesses mostly occur with back teeth, although they can happen in the front as well. Once your tooth has become abscessed, your dentist won’t immediately pull it. If a tooth that has abscessed is extracted once the infection is still present, it can quickly spread. Your dentist will instead prescribe you some antibiotics that can help to destroy the bacteria.

The dentist can also perform a root canal, in an attempt to remove dead or decayed tissue. Last but not least, he can also drill a hole in the tooth to give the infection a chance to drain and try to remove any dead pulp. The most common treatment with an abscess is to use antibiotics to kill the infection, then get the tooth removed. You should never let it get that bad – as an abscess is something that can destroy your jawbone.

Information on Gum Disease

Gum disease, how much do you know about them. For you to know more about the said condition; here are some of the basic information on gum disease. Gum disease or more known in the medical world as periodontal disease. It is a chronic inflammation and infection of the gingiva or commonly called as gums. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss among adults.
Recent studies have come up with additional information on gum disease. Further studies proved that bacterial plaque (a sticky, colorless film that forms on the surface of the teeth) is the main cause of gum disease. Additional studies regarding information on gum disease show that specific gum diseases can and are associated with specific bacterial types. If a specific plaque is not removed, it will accumulate and will solidify into calculus (more known as tartar). The toxins that are produced by the bacterial plaque will cause irritation to the gums and will cause the breakdown of the attachment fibers that holds the teeth to the gums, hereby, creating pockets around the teeth. These pockets will gradually be filled with more toxins.
The Academy of General Dentistry released additional information on gum disease stating that, genetics is one factor of gum disease. The information on gum disease that Academy of General Dentistry has made public also states that individuals who have a low in nutrition diet can lessen the ability of the body to fight infection. Individual who smoke cigarette or individuals who use spit tobacco are more likely to experience irritation on the gum tissues than non smokers and tobacco users.
The information on gum disease that was just recently released recommends that patients should visit their dentist more frequently if they experience any discomfort on their gums. They advised the public not to disregard any minor gum discomfort. Some gum diseases are painless and often take years before the usual signs and symptoms of gum disease appear or felt.
So how do you prevent gum disease? Preventing gum disease is very simple. All it takes is to exercise regular dental hygiene. Plaques can be removed by brushing your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day. Flossing daily can prevent formation of plaque on hard to reach areas. Rinsing your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash will provide additional protection against gum disease. Visit your dentist regularly or at least once every six months to monitor and maintain the wellness of your gums.
If you want to know more information on gum disease, visit your dental hygienist or dentist. They will provide you with all the information you will need to know regarding gum problems or gum diseases. Take good care of your gums to have a beautiful smile.

Pulling Your Own Teeth

Even though it may sound very odd and downright compelling, a lot of people actually try to extract their own teeth. Toothache pain can be very painful and very frustrating, making you try anything to get relief. Depending on how bad the pain is, you’ll be more than willing to do just about anything you can to get the pain to stop. Abscesses or really bad cavities are among the worst, as the pain never seems to let up – no matter what you do.

In the old days, teeth were extracted by pliers, as there were no dentists around. During these times, people would get drunk on alcohol and then the teeth would be extracted. There was no such thing as anaesthesia back then, so it was impossible to locally numb the pain. These days though, local anaesthesia is the best way to numb a toothache before pulling the tooth. If you attempt to pull a tooth yourself, you’ll feel the pain no matter what you do.

There are situations however, in which you can pull your own teeth. Baby teeth for example, are acceptable to pull. Before you yank it out though, you should check on the age of when the tooth in question should be removed. If you wiggle the tooth around and it appears to be loose, then chances are it will come out without a problem. On the other hand, if you pull the tooth and it turns out to be an abscess, you’ll end up with a real problem and your hands and you’ll need to visit a dentist as soon as you can.

Another situation in which it is acceptable to pull your own teeth is when you have a severe case of gum disease. Gum disease can cause the socket and the bone to become extremely decayed, which will result in the destruction of the tooth. If the gum disease is severe enough, the tooth will be extremely loose and will come out without a problem. In some cases, the tooth can be almost unbearable to the touch. If you have gum disease and notice a loose tooth, you should be careful when pulling it. If you don’t do it properly or if you do it too soon, you could end up breaking the top of the tooth. If this happens, you’ll need to go to the dentist to have the remaining portion of the tooth cut out.

Even though a tooth may feel loose when you touch it, doesn’t always mean that you can grab a pair of pliers and rip it out. Teeth are very delicate. If you try to rip a tooth out with pair of pliers and make a mistake, you should end up doing more harm than good. Putting pliers in your mouth can also lead to an infection, which would send you to the dentist. Abscesses on the other hand, should never be dealt with on your own – you’ll need to go to a dentist to have him properly extract the tooth and give you some antibiotics to stop the infection.

To be on the safe side and avoid any potential problems that could easily arise, you should always go to the dentist if you have a toothache. No matter how bad the pain may be, you should never attempt to pull the tooth yourself. Your dentist can numb the area before he pulls the tooth, so you’ll feel no pain at all. He will also prescribe you some pain medicine and antibiotics as well, to help treat any infection you may have. If you attempt to pull the tooth yourself, you’ll only cause more problems in the end – and end up going to a dentist anyway.