The actual implant consists of a small screw that’s inserted into the jaw onto which a dental
crown will be placed. These sturdy restorations are designed to last a lifetime.

But can dental implants actually help prevent gum disease? Here’s what you need to know
about gum health after getting dental implants.

Implants Support Alveolar Bone

Dental implants help support the bone that supports teeth, which is called alveolar bone. This
bone—located in your jaw—helps keep your teeth healthy along with your gums and other
connective tissue.

When your alveolar bone is strong, you’re less likely to lose teeth. Jawbone naturally recedes
when a tooth is lost, as the bone is no longer being stimulated by that particular tooth and so
the body doesn’t see a need for it.

Lost jawbone can make your face appear less full and more sunken, leading to an older
appearance. Dental implants can essentially halt the bone loss process and generate better
jawbone density even if you’ve been missing teeth for years.

Dental Implants Can Still Be Affected by Gum Disease

Just because dental implants can support healthy alveolar bone doesn’t mean that your teeth
will now be immune to gum disease.

Dental implants aren’t able to get cavities, but gum disease can still affect the gum tissue
surrounding your new dental implant. This means that your dental implant is still susceptible to
the effects of gum disease.

For this reason, your dentist will want to ensure your gums are healthy before considering
dental implants for your smile. You cannot have existing gum disease and get dental implants,
but you can have dental implants and get gum disease.

How to Know if You Qualify for Dental Implants

Fortunately, even if you’ve had gum disease in the past, you can still qualify for dental implants
as long as your gum disease has been resolved by your dentist.

If you have an existing gum infection, your dentist will need to cure the problem before
considering your candidacy for dental implants.

You’ll also need to have enough alveolar bone to support dental implants. However, even if
you’ve sustained jawbone loss over the years, you may be able to get a bone graft in order to
receive dental implants.

Patients who may not qualify for dental implants include those who currently have gum
disease, those who smoke, or those who don’t have enough jawbone and are not able to
receive a bone graft.

Considering Dental Implants?

You don’t have to live with missing teeth. Dental implants have a 98% success rate and the
majority of patients are very satisfied with their restorations [1].

Dental implants may help prevent bone and tooth loss, but remember that keeping your smile
healthy is going to be key to preventing gum disease with your dental implants. Talk to your
dentist today to see if you qualify for these quality tooth replacements!

Sources:
1. https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-myths

The post Can Dental Implants Help Prevent Gum Disease? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Dry socket happens when the blood clot that normally forms over the areas of extraction is
somehow dislodged or never properly forms in the first place. When the blood clot is no longer
there, it leaves nerve tissue and even bone exposed after your procedure.

Dry socket will need to be treated by your dentist as soon as possible, but how can you know if
you have dry socket, and what can be done about it?

How Dry Socket Happens

Dry socket can happen for a variety of reasons. Food debris or bacteria may somehow cause
the clot to dislodge or improperly form. Any type of trauma to the area, whether it’s
accidentally hitting it with your toothbrush or chewing foods that are too hard, can also cause
this issue.

People who smoke or neglect to follow their dentist’s instructions for care after wisdom tooth
removal are more at risk to experience dry socket, as are those who are on oral contraception,
as higher levels of estrogen may interfere with clot formation.

Signs and Symptoms

Dry socket will cause some discomfort and is generally painful. Patients usually experience pain
on the corresponding side of their jaw where the affected extraction site is. This pain or
throbbing may spread throughout the face.

Patients may also experience a bad taste in their mouth or have bad breath that doesn’t go
away after brushing, which can be indicative of an infection. In addition, bone may be visible at
the extraction site.

Treatment for Dry Socket

If you have a dry socket, treatment at your dentist’s office will be required. Your dentist will
clean the area in order to help prevent an infection—or treat an existing infection if
necessary—and will provide a numbing cream or gel for the pain.

Your dentist will send you home with instructions for aftercare which may include rinsing with
saltwater. A follow-up appointment is necessary to ensure the extraction site is healing
properly after your initial visit.

How to Prevent Complications After Extraction

You can have a healthy healing process after your tooth extraction by following your dentist’s
instructions. The following tips can help prevent dry socket:

Don’t smoke or use tobacco. If you haven’t quit yet, talk to your dentist or doctor about
getting help. Chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes should be avoided as well!

Eat softer foods. Sticking to soft foods after the procedure can help prevent trauma to
the extraction site and accelerate the healing process.

Keep your mouth clean. It’s important to brush gently yet thoroughly and avoid the
extraction site.

Rest. Take it easy for one to two days after your procedure to give your body time to
heal.

Fortunately, dry socket won’t happen to the majority of patients that need a tooth extraction.
However, if you’re worried about getting a dry socket, talk to your dentist. He or she can
provide additional tips to help you avoid this complication after your procedure. By following
your dentist’s instructions, you’ll be back to normal in no time!

The post What is a Dry Socket? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

However, you can be too aggressive with your flossing to the point that you actually damage
your teeth and gums. When done incorrectly, harsh flossing can cause a host of problems.
Here’s how you can know if you’re hurting your smile by flossing too aggressively!

You Allow Floss to Damage Your Gumline

Many people forget that it’s your teeth you’re supposed to be flossing, not your gums. Some
people pull too hard on the floss to try and get it in between their teeth and end up pulling the
floss down hard on their gums.

Allowing floss to get underneath your gumline, especially if it’s in a harsh manner, actually
injures your gums. It can cause your gums to bleed in the short term and even worse, can cause
them to recede and accelerate gum disease in the long term.

Allowing floss to hurt your gumline doesn’t help remove plaque. Instead, it can open up spaces
for bacteria to enter your gums and tooth roots, leading to painful infections and even tooth
decay and gum disease.

You Floss Numerous Times a Day

Flossing numerous times a day increases the chances that you’re hurting your teeth and gums.
Flossing your teeth too much can hurt the gumline, which can expose your tooth’s root.

You only need to floss once per day for effective results, especially if you floss gently and
correctly to remove plaque from in between your teeth. If you need to floss again due to
something being stuck in your teeth, this is fine, just try not to make a regular practice out of
flossing numerous times every day!

You’re Too Enthusiastic When Flossing

Some people use floss too enthusiastically, which can hurt both the teeth and the gums.
Forcing floss against the gums or the teeth and using too much pressure can hurt the gums and
even wear away tooth enamel over time.

Digging underneath your gumline with floss isn’t necessary. Flossing should be done with some
pressure, but not excessive pressure. Just like brushing, it’s important to do this task gently for
best results.

If you’re confused about how to floss correctly, ask your dentist to demonstrate during your
next checkup. Many people experience receding gums, gum disease, and root cavities without
realizing that the main problem may actually be their harmful flossing habits!

Don’t skip flossing just because you aren’t sure how to do it correctly or you’re afraid that
you’re harming your teeth. Remember, gums usually bleed because you haven’t flossed in a
while. However, if they bleed regularly while flossing, you may need to floss more gently.
Schedule a checkup with your dentist to review your flossing techniques to protect and
enhance your smile instead of harming it!

The post Can You Be Too Aggressive with Your Flossing? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Regardless of what’s holding you back from visiting your dentist, keep in mind that there are few things
scarier than the consequences of skipping your annual teeth cleaning. Consider the following health
risks before you decide to forgo that essential dentist appointment!

Gum Disease

With nearly half the adult population of America having some form of gum disease, this might seem like
a common problem that’s not a big deal. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Gum disease happens when plaque from inadequate oral care builds up around your gum tissue and can
cause inflammation, bleeding, and infection. Without treatment, gum disease is one of the leading
causes of tooth loss in older adults.

In addition, the inflammation and bacteria present in gum disease have been linked to many other
health conditions. From heart disease to diabetes to cancer, research is finding more and more that gum
disease could be linked to disease within the body.

Tooth Decay

Without a professional cleaning, it’s highly unlikely you’re reaching all the areas in your mouth that you
need to in order to remain plaque-free. When plaque is allowed to build up, it can turn into tartar, which
can only be removed by a dentist.

Tooth decay is an unfortunate result of unmanaged plaque. By skipping your annual cleaning, plaque is
allowed to harm your tooth enamel, which can lead to cavities that will need professional treatment.
Having cavities isn’t just inconvenient—it’s damaging to your oral health and can be costly as well. With
a simple professional cleaning, you can help prevent cavities and enjoy a smile free of tooth decay.

Teeth Staining

Besides helping to prevent gum disease and tooth decay, regular cleanings help lift surface stains out of
your tooth enamel. Through regularly removing these stains, your smile remains as bright as possible
without additional treatment.

Although your regular oral care habits at home can help remove stains daily as well, a professional
cleaning can more effectively get rid of those stains. In addition, skipping your cleaning can allow stains
to build up, which can make it harder to remove them later on, even with a professional teeth
whitening.

Greater Risk of Unhappiness

Recent research suggests that skipping regular dental appointments could lead to poorer quality of life,
as people who avoided the dentist tended to have cavities, gum disease, and missing teeth, therefore giving them more anxiety and less happiness about life due to their compromised smile.

Instead of being anxious about your smile or depressed about missing teeth, simply schedule a dentist
appointment at least once a year to keep your smile as healthy as possible!

When was the last time you saw the dentist? Your dentist plays a crucial role in keeping your smile
healthy and disease-free—and who doesn’t want that? No matter how long it’s been since you’ve had a
professional teeth cleaning, reach out to your local dentist today to reveal your beautiful smile!

The post The Consequences of Skipping Those Yearly Teeth Cleanings appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

What exactly is an impacted wisdom tooth? The following are all characteristics of impacted
wisdom teeth as well as how they’re typically treated.

Unable to Erupt Into the Mouth

Fully impacted wisdom teeth are entirely trapped in your jaw and are unable to come through
the gum tissue into the oral cavity. They may be blocked by the surrounding teeth or they may
be coming in at a bizarre angle—such as tilted or sideways.

These teeth are usually out of alignment which is what’s preventing them from coming in
properly. You may also have a wisdom tooth that’s partially impacted, which means it’s not
quite as stuck as fully impacted wisdom teeth, but stuck enough to cause adverse symptoms.
Caught Between the Jaw and Gum Tissue

Wisdom teeth that partially erupt into the mouth but don’t quite make it through the gum
tissue are often called soft-tissue impacted wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth that are impacted in your gum tissue means they can’t fully erupt into the
mouth, perhaps because they don’t have enough room or just because that’s as far as they’re
willing to go.

This type of impacted wisdom tooth is likely to cause irritation or even infection in the
surrounding gum tissue. This is because they are difficult to properly clean being so far back in
the mouth and stuck in the gum tissue, which leaves more room for bacteria and food particles
to get trapped.

Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause many problems in the mouth. If they aren’t able to erupt
through the gumline, they can cause swelling, infection, and pain.

You should never ignore impacted wisdom teeth on account of the problems they can cause. In
addition to causing pain, the longer you allow impacted wisdom teeth to develop, the more
likely they are to cause an infection or alignment problems with your neighboring teeth.

What Does the Treatment Entail?

Treatment for impacted wisdom teeth usually involves extraction. Although impacted wisdom
teeth can be trickier to remove than wisdom teeth that have erupted through the gumline,
these types of extractions are commonplace and most dentists have experience with them.

Getting your impacted wisdom teeth extracted before they cause symptoms can help reduce
the chances you’ll experience any future problems. Since impacted teeth can also ruin
orthodontic work by pushing against your other teeth, getting them evaluated now can help
keep your teeth in place.

If your wisdom teeth haven’t made an appearance yet, schedule an appointment with your
dentist. A simple x-ray can tell if your wisdom teeth are on their way in and whether or not
they’re impacted. Never let an impacted wisdom tooth go because the sooner you get
treatment, the less your smile will be disrupted by these molars!

The post What Is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth and How Is It Treated? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

When your wisdom teeth don’t have room to come in all the way, they may only erupt through
the gums partially, or push horizontally against the other teeth. Either way, these impacted
wisdom teeth can cause damage through crowding or problems with the gum tissue. Partially
erupted wisdom teeth can cause bacteria to grow, causing pericoronitis, or an infection in your
wisdom teeth.

What are the signs of a wisdom tooth infection? Here’s what you need to look out for!

Red Swollen Gums

If you’re able to see your wisdom teeth in the back of your mouth, you may notice red,
inflamed gums around one or more of your wisdom teeth if you have an infection. Although
you may or may not see any pus, the swelling or tenderness in that area may make it
uncomfortable for you to bite down properly. Puffy gum tissue around the infected site and
redness may be signs of pericoronitis.

Bad Taste or Smell in Your Mouth

One sign of an infection in your oral cavity is a foul taste in your mouth or a bad smell. In
addition to this, you may also see pus coming from the gum tissue near the infected tooth. This
taste will return after brushing and will normally persist until the infection is taken care of. If
you notice these signs, be sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist to evaluate the
problem!

Swollen Lymph Nodes or Fever

If your infection is more severe, you may have swollen lymph nodes just below your chin, which
usually indicates that your body is trying to fight off an infection. You may also have a fever or
chills, and additional swelling on the side of your face with your affected tooth. Some people
even experience jaw muscle spasms. All of these are signs that you need to get checked out to
determine what’s causing the problem.

How Periocoronitis Is Treated

In order to make the infection go away, you’ll need to have your dentist properly clear the
infection, and you’ll likely need to be on antibiotics. You may also need to have your wisdom
teeth extracted, or have gum tissue around the area removed so that the infection doesn’t
return. Your dentist will discuss the best options for your treatment with you once your
symptoms are evaluated and a diagnosis is made.

Are you experiencing signs of wisdom tooth infection? If your wisdom teeth are still intact and
you’ve been seeing any of these signs, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Since oral infections can get into the bloodstream, it’s imperative that you get the problem
addressed as soon as possible. Get your wisdom teeth checked out if you have these signs!

The post Top Signs of Wisdom Tooth Infection appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, more commonly known as acid reflux disease, is when powerful acids from your stomach end up in your esophagus. This damaging disorder can cause traces of these acids to wind up in your mouth, causing enamel erosion and dental caries. Many people don’t realize that acid reflux could actually be a warning sign of sleep apnea, as the acids can back up in your esophagus and cause coughing which wakes you up.

Depression

If you’ve been feeling depressed or tired, it might not be what you think. You could actually be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes you to wake frequently during the night, and these disrupted sleep patterns could impact how serotonin works in your brain, causing you to feel depressed. The effect works two ways—decreased serotonin levels could also cause a disrupted sleep cycle!

Cognitive Disorders

Research indicates that people who have sleep apnea get diagnosed with cognitive disorders an average of ten years earlier than people who don’t have the disorder. Experts speculate that this is the result of a lack of oxygen in the blood, which means the brain can’t properly remove toxins or store memories. The effects may be memory loss or worse—early dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Mood Swings

Sleep hugely impacts your mood, research shows. When you get only a few hours of sleep every night, anxiety, stress, agitation, and more mood swings can become part of your daily life. If you’ve been seeing a dramatic change in your moods but are still getting that 8 hours every night, talk to your dentist, who can refer you to a sleep specialist. You could be waking up every few minutes and not know it!

Sexual Dysfunction

People with sleep apnea often experience a decreased sex drive or erectile dysfunction. This can be the result of a lack of deep sleep, which can negatively impact testosterone levels. Testosterone plays an important role in sex drive for both men and women. This is one symptom of sleep apnea that’s commonly overlooked, as people can be hesitant to talk about this with their physicians.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a consultation with either your dentist or a sleep specialist. Your dentist can talk with you about your symptoms and perform and oral exam that’ll reveal the state of your oral health. Acid reflux has a huge impact on dental enamel, so you may need treatment for this along with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is considered a chronic disorder that can severely impact your health—don’t wait to seek a diagnosis or get treatment!

Image courtesy of FrameAngel at freedigitalphotos.net

The post Unexpected Signs That You May Have Sleep Apnea appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Children generally begin to lose their teeth by age 6 and will continue to lose them for the next several years as they get their adult teeth in. If your child begins losing teeth earlier than age 4 ½, you should see a dentist to evaluate your child for any oral health problems.

Timing of Lost Primary Teeth

Generally, anytime within these years is normal, but a dentist visit can help ensure your child’s adult teeth are on their way!

Age 6-7: Lose First Tooth (Central Incisor)

The first teeth to be lost are usually the central incisors—these are the teeth in the center of the top and bottom rows of teeth, also known as the front teeth or biting teeth. Many children lose their bottom teeth first, but top or bottom teeth may be lost around the same time, which is around age 6 for many children!

Age 7-8: Lose Lateral Incisor

Also known as laterals, these teeth are the teeth neighboring the front teeth. They are usually the next to go after the central incisors and will happen with a year or around the same time as your child’s first baby teeth.

Age 9-11: Lose First Molar

The molars are those bigger teeth towards the back of the mouth that are designed for grinding up food. Your child will tend to lose these teeth a little later in their childhood years, around age 9 or possibly age 11. Your child’s adult molars should be on their way in!

Age 10-12: Lose Canines

Your child will lose their top and bottom canines around the same time, around ages 10-12. Many kids experience a gap in losing teeth between ages 8-10 after losing their incisors but before shedding their molars.

Ages 10-12: Lose Final Primary Teeth (Second Molars)

The second molars are usually the last teeth in the mouth to be shed. These are also the teeth that come in the latest during your child’s toddler years, so it makes sense that they are around for longer! Don’t forget your child’s third molars— also called wisdom teeth— will arrive around the ages of 17-21!

When Is It Too Late to Lose Primary Teeth?

Just as early tooth loss could potentially be a problem, so can late tooth loss. Visiting your dentist can help identify any problems that are present. If your child has not begun losing their teeth by age 7 or 8, you should be concerned.

Losing baby teeth can be a fun experience for children and is a great opportunity for you to talk with them about how important their teeth are to their health. The arrival of their adult teeth is a great milestone for many children, so teach them how to properly care for their teeth and visit your dentist for a checkup!

The post Sequence and Timing of Losing Baby Teeth—Is Your Child on Schedule? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Dentists can notice the signs for sleep apnea, since you may complain of headaches, dry mouth (mouth breathing while sleeping) or lethargy. You also see your dentist more often than the doctor, usually every six months or at the least every year for your checkup and professional cleaning. Be open with your dentist and talk with him or her about any symptoms you’re experiencing.

Your dentist is trained to notice the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea—and if you’re breathing through your mouth while sleeping, dry mouth could create an increased risk for cavities and even gum disease. If your dentist thinks you may be suffering from sleep apnea, he or she will recommend a sleep medicine specialist to diagnose you.

Treatment at the Dentist Office

Treatment for sleep apnea can’t happen until you get diagnosed with this sleep disorder. Once you have a confirmed diagnosis, your dentist can actually help treat your sleep apnea! Depending on your type of sleep apnea, an oral appliance may help. Oral appliances reposition the jaw and tongue to improve airflow. They’re easy to wear, removable, and only worn while you sleep.

Sleep apnea oral appliances are covered by many insurance companies as essential treatment for sleep apnea. They help to keep your upper airway open and therefore prevent the collapse of your airway while you sleep, which can cause you to stop breathing. Your dentist has undergone training to recognize symptoms of sleep apnea as well as to treat it. Talk to your health care professionals about your symptoms!

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

It’s important to know the risk factors as well as the symptoms of sleep apnea to determine if you’re at risk and if you are, when to seek a professional diagnosis of your condition. The risk factors for sleep apnea include:

 Being overweight or obese

 Age (older adults experience sleep apnea more often)

 Alcohol use or abuse

 Smoking

 Being a man (men are twice as likely to experience sleep apnea)

The symptoms of sleep apnea range from snoring, dry mouth, and fatigue during the day to irritability, a dull headache, or awakening during the night short of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, discuss them with your doctor to see if a sleep apnea oral appliance could help alleviate your symptoms!

Sleep apnea is considered a serious sleeping disorder that can increase your risk of death and lead to other serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and atrial fibrillation (AFIB). Talk to your dentist about any symptoms you’re experiencing, and ask if he or she can recommend a sleep specialist. Sleep apnea can be treated by your dentist, so don’t ignore the signs!

The post Waking Up Exhausted? Sleep Apnea Could Be the Cause appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

There are several different types of fillings these days. Although the traditional amalgam (silver) fillings aren’t as popular anymore, composite fillings, ceramic, and glass ionomers are all options you may have. You and your dentist will decide on the best one for you based on the size and location of your cavity. Talk with your dentist about what to expect the setting time for your material to be—not every material has the same one!

Brush and Floss Gently

After you get your cavity filled, you can brush and floss as normal—and this means gently! Always choose a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day. No need to take special care when brushing around your cavity, just ensure your brushing is gentle so to not damage your enamel or your new filling!

Avoid Extreme Hot or Cold Foods

Sensitivity may happen as a result of any food you consume with extreme temperatures for the next few days or weeks. You’ll want to try and avoid foods with extreme temperatures; these could not only hurt you but your filling! You may also experience sensitivity when biting down, a sensation that should go away as your mouth heals.

Take Caution When Chewing

Be gentle when chewing. It may help to chew on the opposite side that your cavity was filled on. Be careful while eating and drinking, especially because of the local anesthesia as well as the time it’ll take your filling to set. Avoid eating or drinking for a couple hours while the anesthesia wears off and you can comfortably chew food again, and if you can, avoid chewing directly on the filling for a couple of days.

Contact Your Dentist

It’s always best to follow up with your dentist to ensure the filling has set properly, but in the meantime, call your dentist if you have extreme pain, trouble biting down on the filled tooth, or notice cracks in the filled tooth. Your dentist will advise you on which symptoms are normal and which aren’t. Always call your dentist if you have any questions or concerns!

With the proper care, your filling will set securely and your tooth will be protected for years. Talk with your dentist about the best filling material of your tooth, and treat your mouth with care in the days after the procedure. This includes avoiding hot and cold foods, chewing carefully, and brushing gently!

The post The Best Ways to Take Care of Your New Filling appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.