Risk Factors Affecting the Gums of Fort Lauderdale Periodontic Patients

The following is a great overview of some of the more common factors that impact the health of your gums and teeth.

The American Academy of Periodontology is a wonderful resource for people who are concerned about their health, who are considering periodontics to help with current issues or who are studying up on procedures they may be scheduled for.

You can find the full article here at The American Academy of Periodontology by clicking here.

gum disease doctor ft lauderdale

Age

Studies indicate that older people have the highest rates of periodontal disease. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that over 70% of Americans 65 and older have periodontitis.

Smoking/Tobacco Use

Tobacco use is linked with many serious illnesses such as cancer, lung disease and heart disease, as well as numerous other health problems. Tobacco users also are at increased risk for periodontal disease. Studies have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease.

Genetics

Research has indicated that some people may be genetically susceptible to gum disease. Despite aggressive oral care habits, these people may be more likely to develop periodontal disease. Identifying these people with a genetic test before they even show signs of the disease and getting them into early intervention treatment may help them keep their teeth for a lifetime.

Stress

Stress is linked to many serious conditions such as hypertension, cancer, and numerous other health problems. Stress also is a risk factor for periodontal disease. Research demonstrates that stress can make it more difficult for the body to fight off infection, including periodontal diseases.

Medications

Some drugs, such as oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, and certain heart medicines, can affect your oral health. Just as you notify your pharmacist and other health care providers of all medicines you are taking and any changes in your overall health, you should also inform your dental care provider.
Clenching or Grinding Your Teeth

Clenching or grinding your teeth can put excess force on the supporting tissues of the teeth and could speed up the rate at which these periodontal tissues are destroyed.

Other Systemic Diseases

Other systemic diseases that interfere with the body’s inflammatory system may worsen the condition of the gums. These include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Poor Nutrition and Obesity

A diet low in important nutrients can compromise the body’s immune system and make it harder for the body to fight off infection. Because periodontal disease begins as an infection, poor nutrition can worsen the condition of your gums. In addition, research has shown that obesity may increase the risk of periodontal disease.

More questions for a local periodontist? Let’s chat.

If you have questions for a periodontist – please contact our offices. We’d be happy to talk more with you!

Deerfield Beach office: (954) 427-5700

periodontist in fort lauderdale

Why You Shouldn’t Be Scared Of Visiting Your Dentist

A study conducted in Britain at King’s College London Dental Institute shows that dental phobia can have serious consequences for the person suffering from the phobia.

Essentially, those people who are scared of the dentist or the procedures provided by the dentist, are more likely to suffer from oral health issues. Additionally, those oral health issues can impact their overall quality of life as well.

Per the study…

“Predictably the study found that the fearful patients were more likely to have at least one missing or decaying tooth. Surprisingly, dental phobia was also broadly linked to a poorer quality of life.

While oral diseases aren’t usually life-threatening, the study noted that they can affect people’s ability to eat, drink, speak and socialize, and therefore, the overall quality of life.”

Read the entire article — Dental Phobia Can Have Serious Consequenceshere at CBSNews.com.

We Make Dental Procedure Comfortable! Let’s chat.

If you have questions for a periodontist – please contact our offices. We’d be happy to talk more with you!

Deerfield Beach office: (954) 427-5700

periodontist in fort lauderdale

Are You At Risk For Gum Disease?

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While you may not often think about the health of your gums, perhaps you should.

We find that in talking to our patients in the Fort Lauderdale area, most of them don’t give much thought to the condition of their gums and teeth unless, 1) they’re at the dentist, 2) they’re brushing or flossing, or 3) they’re experiencing pain in their mouth.

And outside of a dentist telling you, “you’re gums are really bad — you should see a specialist,” most people won’t schedule a visit to a periodontist until they’re experiencing consistent pain with their gums, their teeth or jaw.

Gum disease is a sneaky issue. Generally, once the pain begins, you’ve already been subject to the advances of gum disease. The pain is symptomatic of “deeper issues” and shows when the disease has progressed.

At this point, intervention from an experienced periodontist is your next step.

So, how might you ward off gum disease in the future?

First, it’s important to know that the main cause of gum disease (periodontal disease) is plaque, but other factors affect the health of your gums, including:

If you take into account the factors that impact your chances of getting gum disease, you can make a plan to try and avoid it’s advances.

While you can’t avoid getting older, you can take better care of your health by eating correctly and exercising regularly. You can quit or cut back on smoking. You can brush and floss more often and schedule regular visits to your dentist.

You may also want to talk to your doctor or dentist to better understand the impact of your medication on your oral health (if you’re taking medications). The same can be said for medical issues and genetics — your doctor(s) should be able to give you an overview of your condition and how it may be related to your oral health.

For more information, visit the American Academy of Periodontology.

More questions for a local periodontist? Let’s chat.

If you have questions for a periodontist – please contact our offices. We’d be happy to talk more with you!

Deerfield Beach office: (954) 427-5700

periodontist in fort lauderdale

Should You Take a Selfie While Brushing Your Teeth

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Take a Picture of Yourself — ?

A recent study in India indicates that taking a picture of yourself brushing could have a positive effect on your dental care.

In the study, researchers examined whether taking a smart phone video selfie might help people learn to brush their teeth in a more effective manner.

Per an article in TheConversation.com…

 

“Well, can it help? Short answer: Maybe. Longer answer: It’s complicated, too.”

One concept within the study was that better dental care comes when changes to your daily habits happen — using a cell phone to document your toothbrushing could help to affect change.

These changes may suggest that participants were trying to create a new habit, trying to change their behavior, almost as if, while taking the selfie, someone was watching them.

The thought was that by using selfies, participants were more self-conscious about changing their ingrained toothbrushing approach and so may have been better able to “override” their habitual way of brushing. Also, the participants may have had more fun or been more curious about doing a sometimes mundane task.

Learn More…

We found this to be an interesting article and a interesting perspective on the positive attributes of taking a selfie.

To read the full article, click here.

 

More questions for a local periodontist? Let’s chat.

If you have questions for a periodontist – please contact our offices. We’d be happy to talk more with you!

Deerfield Beach office: (954) 427-5700

periodontist in fort lauderdale

Statement from the AAP on Flossing Efficacy Says to Keep Flossing

A statement released by the American Academy of Periodontology on Augus2, 2016 has a simple message — keep flossing!

Per the statement…

“The American Academy of Periodontology recommends daily flossing as one part of a regular oral hygiene routine, which also includes brushing your teeth twice a day and ensuring you receive a comprehensive periodontal evaluation every year.

The accumulation of plaque bacteria beneath the gum line may cause an inflammatory response which ultimately leads to gingivitis, a mild form of periodontal disease.

If left untreated, periodontal disease can worsen, leading to tooth loss and increased risk for other systemic disease such as diabetes and heart disease. Flossing allows for the removal of plaque bacteria and debris from areas in the mouth that brushing alone cannot reach.

Periodontal disease is a condition that can result from a number of risk factors, including family history, presence of other systemic conditions, and age.

Flossing—as part of a regular oral hygiene routine—is only one component of maintaining periodontal health. That’s why it is crucial that patients receive an annual comprehensive periodontal evaluation and seek treatment from a periodontist, a dentist with specialized training in diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, when needed.

Because the development of periodontal disease is slow in nature and because a variety of factors can impact its progression, studies that examine the efficacy of daily flossing are best conducted over a number of years and among a large population.

Much of the current evidence does not utilize a large sample size or examine gum health over a significant amount of time. Additionally, many of the existing studies do not measure true markers of periodontal health such as inflammation or clinical attachment loss. In the absence of quality research, patients should continue to include flossing as a part of their daily oral hygiene habit.”

More questions for a local periodontist? Let’s chat.

If you have questions for a periodontist – please contact our offices. We’d be happy to talk more with you!

Deerfield Beach office: (954) 427-5700

periodontist in fort lauderdale

Despite FDA Ban From Soaps, Triclosan Considered Effective Ingredient In Toothpaste

Recently, it was shared in the American Dental Association (ADA) newsletter that even though the Federal Drug Administration has banned “Triclosan” from being used in soaps, it is still considered an effective ingredient in toothpaste.

From the article….

“The New York Times reports that the ingredient triclosan, which the FDA banned from antibacterial soaps recently, can still be legally used in some toothpastes. According to FDA spokesperson Andrea Fischer, the ingredient is “demonstrated to be effective at reducing plaque and gingivitis.” Fischer adds, “Based on scientific evidence, the balance of benefit and risk is favorable for these products.” The article noted that a 2013 Cochrane review “concluded that toothpastes with triclosan and fluoride outperformed those with only fluoride.”

The ADA reported previously that a study in the May 2016 issue of mSphere was “designed to examine whether use of consumer products” containing triclosan could “alter gut microbiome composition, endocrine function, and markers for obesity, diabetes, and inflammation.” The ADA says the study is “strongly suggestive” of triclosan’s “safety for use by humans.”

The ADA provides official commentary on the FDA’s final rule and the Times reporting here.”

What does that mean for you?

“At this point, the American Dental Association believes in the safety of the ingredient — and should not be a cause for concern.
According to an article in the New York Times….

What happens when you add triclosan to toothpaste? In 2013, an independent review of 30 studies by The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews concluded that toothpastes with triclosan and fluoride outperformed those with only fluoride on several counts. When used for six to nine months, triclosan-fluoride toothpastes reduced plaque severity by 41 percent more than fluoride pastes alone. The triclosan-fluoride combination reduced gum inflammation by 22 percent more and gum bleeding by 48 percent more than fluoride alone.

For the truly dedicated, two to three years of using triclosan toothpaste showed a 5 percent drop in cavities compared with brushing with fluoride paste alone.”

Local personal injury lawyers in Florida also don’t see any real issues with this ban, but advise it’s always smart to keep and eye on any changes.

To learn more, let’s chat.

If you have questions for a periodontist – please contact our offices. We’d be happy to talk more with you!

Deerfield Beach office: (954) 427-5700

 

periodontist in fort lauderdale

Are There Medical Consequences If I Delay Treatment?

Sometimes our patients will ask us the questions, “what are the consequences if I delay treatment?

It’s a good question and one that will surface from time to time, especially from patients who are just learning about the impact of their periodontal or gum disease.

Ordinarily, patients referred from other periodontists or dentists around Fort Lauderdale are “ready to go” with their treatment.

Others have done research and perhaps seeing a periodontist for the first time…and after our evaluation and consultation…will have some follow up questions.

What we tell patients is that periodontal disease is a progressive, painless infection…until the problem has pretty well progressed…and then you might be experiencing pain.

Delaying treatment while you’re still essentially “pain free” can cause you potential future pain, further bone loss and more expense.

To address advanced disease, you may be looking at surgery, dentures, implants or other measures to address the problem.

More questions for a local periodontist? Let’s chat.

If you have questions for a periodontist – please contact our offices. We’d be happy to talk more with you!

Deerfield Beach office: (954) 427-5700

periodontist in fort lauderdale

President of the Atlantic Coast Dental Association

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Congrats to Dr. DeTure on becoming President of the Atlantic Coast Dental Association!!!

The Atlantic Coast District Dental Association serves the public and dentists in our area which includes the following counties: Indian river, Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and Broward (north of Hollywood).

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Fort Lauderdale Peridontists Keep It Light On The Set

Having fun on the set…

Recently, while filming a spot for television coverage with NBC 5, Dr. Nick DeTure & Dr. Marissa Matthews had a few ‘bloopers.”

They’re fun to see!

Concerned about the health of your teeth? Let’s chat.

If you have questions for a periodontist – please contact our offices. We’d be happy to talk more with you!

Deerfield Beach office: (954) 427-5700

periodontist in fort lauderdale

3 Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy

Worried about your teeth and gums? Looking for ways to reduce your chances of visiting the dentist or orthodontist?

A recent Reader’s Digest article called 3 Surprising Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy is a great article to review. Here is a link to the article and below is a breakout of some of the key ideas.

1. Reduce Sugar

We hear this all of the time — “reduce the amount of sugar you eat!” — and it’s true for your overall health, but also quite true when we’re talking about your oral health as well.

Sugar is the leading cause of tooth decay – that’s when the enamel that protects your teeth begins to erode and break down.

A quick review of your diet will highlight where you sugar intake is coming from. Remember too that starches – breads, cereals, rice, potatoes and pasta have sugar too.

2. Gum Disease

It’s true, more teeth are lost due to gum disease rather than tooth decay. However, they are generally related. Someone who is not taking care of their teeth is also not likely to be taking care of their gums too.

Gum disease is generally caused by poor oral hygiene, poor diet, declining health, social choices (drinking, smoking) and genetics.

The first step in keeping gum disease at bay is proper dental care and regular visits to your dentist or orthodontist.

3. Helpful foods

You might not think that certain foods can help your teeth, but some certainly can.

Apples for example are considered ‘natures toothbrush’ because they help stimulate the gums. Yogurts and cheese, great sources of calcium, help build teeth up.

Concerned about the health of your teeth? Let’s chat.

If you have questions for a periodontist – please contact our offices. We’d be happy to talk more with you!

Deerfield Beach office: (954) 427-5700

periodontist in fort lauderdale