Gingivitis and Gum Disease

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums that precedes periodontitis (gum disease). If you are experiencing gingivitis, it is important to take care of it before infection sets in. You will recognize gingivitis by mild swelling in the gums. If you care for your teeth regularly and stick to a good schedule of professional dental cleaning, gingivitis should clear up on its own. If you reach gum disease stage, your dentist will have to help you clear it up, so take good care of those gums.

For pregnant women, gingivitis is a particular concern. Changing hormones can result in an increase in dental bacteria. This can lead to gingivitis and gum disease. If you experience bleeding while brushing or flossing during pregnancy, talk to your dentist. Controlling gingivitis is important for your health and the health of your unborn child.

Just Getting Back Into Your Flossing Routine

If you haven’t flossed for a while (or ever), you are likely to bleed a little at first. If it doesn’t stop within a week of regular flossing, then you are likely experiencing gingivitis or another cause. Again, bleeding isn’t normal, so if you think you just missed a day or two of flossing, and then you bleed, you probably missed several days or more.

Your Toothbrush Is too Firm

Soft bristles are really all you need for brushing (medium at most). If you get a firm toothbrush, it may irritate your gums. Since the gums are already irritated, they are more prone to bleed when you floss. You can talk to your dentist about what type of brush is best for you.

Medications that Reduce Clotting

Certain medications may make a person bleed more easily. You should always keep your dentist up to date on any medications that you are taking. Your dentist can help you to determine how to control bleeding while you floss.

Obviously, some of the causes of bleeding gums are more serious than others. There’s no need to call your dentist if you just started flossing for the first time or if you didn’t floss for a few days while on vacation. However, if your gums are red and inflamed, it may be a sign of gum disease which will require the help of your dental professional.

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How Your Jaw Is Connected Throughout the Body

First of all, TMJ throws off the balance of the entire body. The spine is rather slender compared to the size of the human head that it must support. If anything is out of alignment, including the jaw, it can cause everything to become misaligned. The result can often be headaches. This occurs when long-term muscle tension around the jaw turns into tension in the face and neck. Tension headaches may begin to recur. Even more concerning is the fact that this imbalance can be transferred down the spine resulting in muscle tension all over.

Pinched nerves are another painful side effect of TMJ. The trigeminal nerve, for example, is very close to the jaw. Pinching this nerve can result in back and neck pain. From there, pain often travels to the extremities.

The Results of TMJ Correction

Correcting TMJ may be the first step in eliminating these other serious problems. Some patients have discovered that when their TMJ was fixed, other problems went away that they did not realize were related. For example, one woman found that her hand pain and gripping problems went away. Obviously, her TMJ had resulted in a problem with her brachial nerves. After correcting the root cause, the symptoms were relieved.

One of the primary connected issues is headaches including tension headaches and migraines. Fixing a problem with TMJ with frequently result in fewer headaches or relief from them altogether.

How Is TMJ Corrected?

The first step to overall health is correcting TMJ. This will also relieve any other symptoms that have TMJ as their root cause. Treatment for your TMJ will depend on an examination and the severity of the case. Treatments include:

· Conservative, Self-Treatments – This involves exercises for the jaw, a change in diet to make eating easier on the jaw, and the use of ice.

· Pain Management – NSAIDs, such as medications containing ibuprofen, may be prescribed or certain brands recommended if an over-the-counter dose is suitable.

· Bite Guards – This is more of a temporary relief of symptoms rather than a cure. Bite guards can only be used on a temporary basis and will not reverse the problem.

· Botox – Clinical trials are being used to determine if this is a viable treatment option for TMJ. This treatment is not currently approved by the FDA making it an off-label treatment option.

· Surgery – This is considered to be a last resort in extreme cases because the surgery is invasive and cannot be reversed. Be sure that your doctor discusses all of your available options before deciding on surgery.

· Implants – One form of TMJ surgery involves a surgical implant. Be sure to consider the possible effects before deciding on this option.

Contact your dentist today to see how dental treatment can alleviate the causes and symptoms of TMJ.

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Symptoms of TMJ

Some of the symptoms of TMJ may be obvious such as jaw pain or difficulty chewing, but there are other symptoms that could point to TMJ that you should be aware of. They include:

– Ear, face, or neck pain.

– Difficult or painful chewing.

– Difficulty opening and closing your mouth; limited mobility of your jaw.

– Clicking, popping, or grinding sound when chewing or opening and closing your mouth.

Just because you have jaw pain does not necessarily mean that you have TMJ. If you have any of these symptoms, you should follow up with your dentist. Jaw pain can also point to some other oral health problems such as a tooth abscess or even gingivitis and tooth decay.

The Effects of TMJ

While some people may only have minor symptoms and don’t feel the need to seek treatment, it’s always best to follow up with your dentist if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of TMJ or have diagnosed TMJ. This is because the disorder of the temporomandibular joint may be causing you to grind your teeth or have other long-term effects on your oral health. The effects of TMJ could include eventual muscle stiffness or arthritis from the affected muscles around the joint, headaches, and swelling of the jaw. The good news is you don’t have to live with these symptoms.

Treatment for TMJ

While there are more extreme treatments for TMJ including surgery and pharmaceutical drugs, there are things you can do at home to help ease your symptoms of TMJ. Apply ice packs if necessary and of course avoid jaw movements that stretch your jaw including chewing gum or big yawns. As stress can affect TMJ, try to reduce the stress in your life and practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing for when you can’t. Your doctor may be able to talk with you about some exercises you can do to help improve the movement of your jaw. Some patients find that acupuncture helps to relieve their symptoms as well.

While TMJ is an unpleasant disorder, don’t self-diagnose your jaw pain. Visit your dentist to see if you could be grinding your teeth or have another oral health problem. TMJ should be evaluated by a doctor so that could can develop healthy practices and seek treatment if necessary.

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Cold sores are a form of the herpes virus, and highly contagious. Canker sores are not contagious and are a simple wound, not a virus. Canker sores are almost always inside the mouth, whereas cold sores often are located outside the mouth around the lips. If you have a small, round or oval spot on your tongue, the roof of your mouth or inside your cheek and it is painful to the touch or when you eat, it is probably a canker sore.

Canker sores cannot be treated and they will go away on their own, usually in a week or two. In the meantime, they can be very uncomfortable, but there are methods of easing your discomfort while you are waiting for your canker sore to go away.

A visit to the dentist can determine if the problem is actually a canker sore. If it is, you can take over-the-counter pain medications to ease the pain, or the dentist could prescribe an antibacterial mouth rinse or a topical medication.

Canker sores can be caused by a variety of things including injury to the mouth, certain fruits or vegetables that can irritate the tissues inside the mouth, vitamin deficiency or poor diet. Women get canker sores more often than men do, and children are more likely to get them than adults.

Severe cankers sores are rare, but a canker sore that is unusually large or doesn’t go away in three weeks may require treatment with prescription medications. If you have canker sores that are accompanied by fever, a feeling of sluggishness or joint pain, you should call your physician.

You can decrease the chances of getting canker sores by maintaining a healthy diet, brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled brush to avoid irritation to the tissues in your mouth, and by limiting your consumption of citrus fruits or vegetables that cause irritation to your mouth.

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