periodontal dentistry Archives - Your Dental Health Resource

Can an Uneven Gum Line Be Corrected?

Nhien Lu — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:41:57 +0000

If you have an uneven gum line, you might be embarrassed about your smile, or you could be wondering what’s causing your gums to take on an irregular appearance. There are several factors that can influence your gum tissue growth, and your treatment will depend on the severity of the issue as well as its cause.

An uneven gum line could be the result of genetics, brushing your teeth too hard, and even misaligned teeth. Fortunately, in most cases, an irregular gum line can be corrected. Here’s what you need to know about treatment for your gum line based on the cause of its uneven appearance.

For Gum Disease: Gum Grafting

For some people, an inconsistent gum line is the result of gum disease, which can spread below the gum tissue can cause gums to pull away from the teeth in random places [1].

In some cases of mild to moderate gum disease, conventional therapy such as a deep cleaning, changing home care habits, and potentially antibiotics can help return your gum line back to normal. However, for cases of severe gum disease, you may also need a gum graft to restore the evenness of your gum line.

For Gummy Smile: Gum Contouring

People who have gummy smile can have a gum line that’s either too high or too low. In most cases, the gum line extends too far down on the teeth, which can not only give the teeth a shorter appearance, but can cause the gum line to appear asymmetrical in places.

If you have gummy smile, gum contouring may be able to help. Gum contouring is considered a cosmetic procedure in which the shape of your gum line is changed [2]. Your dentist can remove excess gum tissue or even restore missing gum tissue to improve your appearance.

For Other Issues: Laser Therapy

Even if your teeth are aligned correctly, an uneven gum line can make some teeth appear longer and others shorter. You may have the option of laser therapy, which is another way to contour gum tissue for a more symmetrical look [3].

Laser therapy is considered non-invasive and can help restore the appearance of your gums. Laser therapy could also be used to treat gum disease in certain cases, or can repair gum tissue that has been affected by gum disease.

Do You Have an Uneven Gum Line?

Typically, treatment for an uneven gum line is an outpatient procedure that can help restore your appearance and correct the underlying issue that’s causing your crooked gum line. There is treatment for this condition, so follow up with your dentist today to learn more about what can be done for your uneven gum line!

Sources:
1. https://www.perio.org/consumer/types-gum-disease.html
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4239760/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5968693/

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How Exactly Does Tobacco Harm Your Smile?

Sowmya Kanumilli — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 21:38:45 +0000

It’s well-known that tobacco products are harmful to your smile, including chewing tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, and even natural tobacco. Tobacco has been linked to a myriad of other health issues in the body as well, including cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

How exactly does tobacco harm your oral health? Here we cover some of the biggest and most lasting impacts that using any type of tobacco product can have on your beautiful smile.

Tobacco Causes Oral Cancer

All types of tobacco have been linked to cancer, including oral cancer. Oral cancer includes cancers of mouth, tongue, throat, neck, and even certain parts of the face. Tobacco is the leading cause of cancer and death from cancer, including oral cancer [1].

In fact, people who use tobacco products—cigar smokers in particular—are up to 10 times more likely to die from oral cancer, including esophageal cancer (cancer of the esophagus, or the tube that connects your throat and your stomach) and laryngeal cancer (cancer of the larynx, which forms part of the throat and the vocal cords) [2].

Smoking and Chewing Tobacco Stain Your Smile

It’s no secret that smoking and chewing tobacco have a negative effect on the appearance of your smile [3]. People who use tobacco tend to have a yellowish or brownish hue to their teeth, which can get worse over time, especially with regular use.

These stains can be difficult to remove, even after you’ve stopped using tobacco products. You may have the option of getting a professional teeth whitening, but for some people, these stains won’t come out or will only lighten to a certain degree.

Increased Risk of Gum Disease

Smoking and tobacco use also increases your risk for gum disease [4]. Tobacco products contain nicotine, which is addictive, and nicotine affects the oral cavity by decreasing blood flow to the gum tissue.

Since nicotine inhibits blood flow in the oral cavity, it actually works to mask symptoms of gum disease. Many people who smoke or otherwise use tobacco have gum disease and experience minimal or no symptoms, leading them to think everything is fine while gum disease is discreetly advancing. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults in the United States and can dramatically impact your smile if left untreated [5]!

Do You Smoke or Use Tobacco?

If you use tobacco products (remember, e-cigarettes still contain nicotine!), it’s time to reconsider your use. There are more options than ever today to help you quit—including nicotine gum, patches, and even medications you can take. Talk to your doctor or dentist today to get started with kicking your tobacco habit to the curb!

Sources:
1. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/cessation-fact-
sheet
2. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=oral-cancer-and-tobacco-85-
P00900
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1079878/
4. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/smoking-and-tobacco
5. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/periodontal-disease

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Prevent Gum Disease with These Simple Steps

Karan Kamboh — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 01:32:08 +0000

Gum disease is a progressive oral health condition that can compromise your smile. Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease typically starts out with minor symptoms. If ignored, these symptoms can get worse over time and even cause the need for tooth extractions.

While some people are predisposed to develop gum disease based on genetics and lifestyle factors such as smoking, in many cases, gum disease is entirely preventable. Here’s how you can stop gum disease from ruining your smile with a few simple steps.

Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day

Brushing your teeth is an essential part of removing plaque, which is a substance made up of bacteria that grows on the teeth. You can actually feel plaque on your teeth when you skip brushing or at the end of the day—it almost has a fuzzy feeling while brushed teeth feel smooth.

Plaque causes gum disease as it builds up around the gumline, which can irritate gum tissue and lead to ongoing inflammation and infection that can eventually compromise tooth structure. Fortunately, brushing regularly—at least once but preferably twice a day—removes plaque to keep your smile healthy [1]!

Floss Once a Day

Just like brushing, flossing helps remove plaque and bacteria from teeth. However, the important thing about flossing is that it gets in between teeth in areas that a regular toothbrush simply can’t reach [2]. People who skip flossing are missing crucial areas in their oral cavity when cleaning!

Since plaque is responsible for both tooth decay and gum disease, flossing once a day is an important part of any oral care routine. To floss properly, use a clean section of floss for every set of teeth you floss between and focus on flossing the sides of your teeth, not simply pulling the floss in and out of your teeth, which is not only ineffective but can hurt your gumline.

Visit Your Dentist

Visiting your dentist at least once a year or as recommended by your dentist can help you prevent gum disease. While brushing and flossing are certainly effective at preventing gum disease, your dentist can conduct a thorough cleaning of your teeth to remove the traces of plaque you can’t always see.

Your oral healthcare professional can also evaluate your smile for subtle signs of gum disease you might be missing [3]. The earlier you catch gum disease, the easier it is to treat and to reverse, so don’t skip your regular appointments with your dentist!

Are You Seeing Signs of Gum Disease?

If you have inflamed, red, or bleeding gums, you could have gum disease. Other symptoms include sensitive teeth and a persistent bad taste in your mouth. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to determine if you could have an early stage of gum disease and what you can do to treat it—getting treatment now can save your smile and prevent tooth loss later in life!

Sources:
1. https://www.perio.org/consumer/prevent-gum-disease
2. https://www.ada.org/en/press-room/news-releases/2016-archive/august/statement-from-the-american-dental-association-about-interdental-cleaners
3. http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/patient_08.ashx

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