Whether you have a lot going on or are having a more relaxed celebration this year, following these quick tips can help you keep your teeth and gums healthy this holiday season!

Incorporate Water Into Your Routine

Water plays an essential role in keeping your smile healthy. It not only helps prevent dry mouth, but it also minimizes the effect of acidic foods and drinks on your teeth, including sugar and alcohol.

Drinking water to stay hydrated as well as to rinse your mouth can help wash away leftover food, bacteria, and acids that can affect your smile [1]. Always incorporate water into your daily routine to protect your teeth and gums and reduce plaque buildup!

Watch Out for Snacking

While snacks are, of course, fine, continually eating doesn’t give your teeth a break from the acids and bacteria that they are exposed to from food. It’s good to reserve snacking to certain intervals during the day and allow your oral bacteria to rebalance after consuming food or drinks that aren’t water.

Avoid constantly eating or sipping sugary drinks during the holidays to give your smile a break—and remember to wait at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth!

Carry Sugar-Free Gum With You

Did you know that research shows sugarless chewing gum can help prevent dry mouth, cavities, and even combat the effects of acid reflux on your smile [2]? Chewing sugar-free gum can help increase saliva production, which can essentially “rinse” your mouth to prevent acids from harming your tooth enamel.

Keeping sugar-free gum with you can help you avoid the effects of acid and bacteria on your teeth and protect your smile in-between brushing, or when you don’t readily have water or a toothbrush available!

Make Time for Yourself

Although it can feel easy to get caught up in the holiday rush, it’s important to stick to your oral care routine and brush and floss your teeth daily. Make time for yourself this holiday season, and don’t be so busy that you can’t neglect your oral health. Stress can be just as bad for your oral health as it is for your body [3]!

Also, don’t forget to schedule an appointment with your dentist for a checkup. Whether you want brighter teeth for the New Year or just need a professional cleaning, your dentist is your partner in ensuring your teeth and gums stay healthy during the holidays and the entire year!

By making some healthy choices to take care of yourself this holiday, you can protect your teeth and gums even during this hectic time of year. Follow the above tips to ensure tooth decay and gum disease don’t have an opportunity to sabotage your smile this season!

Sources:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/nutrition/food-tips/water-best-beverage
2. https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/chewing-gum
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5010733/

The post Quick Tips for Maintaining Healthy Teeth and Gums This Holiday Season appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

While periodontal disease can be mild or severe, it’s important to know that nearly everyone is susceptible to this condition, including children. Here’s what you need to know about your child’s risk of periodontal disease.

Chronic Gingivitis Is Common

Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease which involves inflammation of the gum tissue. Unfortunately, chronic gingivitis is common in children [1].

Children who have a poor diet consisting of a lot of sugars and refined carbohydrates as well as those that neglect their oral care are most at risk to get gum disease.

It’s essential to know that just because gum disease is more common in adults doesn’t mean it can’t happen in children as well, so doing your part to help prevent gum disease is important!

Risk Factors for Gum Disease in Children

Children may be more at risk for gum disease if they:

•  Have a family history of gum disease
• Eat a poor diet lacking in nutrients
• Have an autoimmune disorder
• Breathe through their mouth
• Grind their teeth

Having one or more of these factors can mean your child may be more at risk for periodontal disease than the average child [2].

Gum tissue is also sensitive to changes in hormones, so while teenagers are going through puberty and experiencing hormones change, they may be more at risk for gingivitis. Teenage girls are typically more susceptible to gum disease than teenage boys [3].

In addition, kids or teens who have braces may not be able to clean their teeth as well. If your child has braces, it’s imperative that you provide them with the tools necessary to clean under their oral appliances to remove plaque and bacteria, such as interdental cleaners.

Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms of gum disease in children are the same as gum disease in adults and may include gums that bleed when brushing, a receding gumline, loose teeth, constant bad breath, or red gum tissue [4].

If your child is complaining that their gums are sore or that they’re seeing blood when brushing, it’s time to get a checkup with your local dentist.

Treatment for gum disease will depend on how severe the condition is. For gingivitis, a deep cleaning may suffice. For more advanced cases, antibiotic therapy along with a deep cleaning or even surgery may be necessary.

You Can Prevent Gum Disease!

To prevent gum disease in children and teens, the best you can do is encourage healthy eating and oral care habits as well as take your children to the dentist every six months for a professional cleaning. The right habits combined with your dentist’s help can prevent gum disease in your children and set them up for healthy oral care habits for life!

Sources:
1. https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-and-children
2. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=90&conte
ntid=p01865
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/h/hormones
4. https://www.chw.org/medical-care/dental-care/dental-and-oral-health/periodontal-
disease

The post Are Children Susceptible to Gum Disease? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Receding gums can have several causes. The following are some of the most common reasons
why you may be seeing a receding gum line.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease—also called gum disease—is the most common reason that the gums begin
to recede. In the beginning stages of gum disease, bacteria accumulate around the gum line
and can irritate the gum tissue. When this irritant isn’t removed, the disease progresses and
can cause an infection, loose teeth, and even tooth loss.

Periodontal disease is treatable, but the more advanced it becomes, the harder it is to treat.
Seeking treatment for your gum recession as soon as you notice it is paramount to reversing
gum disease and restoring your gum health!

Aggressive Brushing

For some people, brushing their teeth too hard can contribute to a receding gum line. Gentle
brushing is effective at removing plaque while brushing your teeth aggressively, especially with
a stiff-bristled toothbrush, can cause the gums to begin to pull back from the teeth.

It’s important to invest in a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush your teeth gently yet thoroughly
in order to effectively remove plaque at the gum line and keep your gum tissue safe and
healthy.

Poor Oral Health

Not taking proper care of your teeth can cause plaque to build up around the gum line and turn
into tartar. Without brushing and flossing, this plaque has a greater chance of going on to cause
gum disease.

Brushing and flossing your teeth every day as well as visiting your dentist can help regularly
remove plaque and prevent your gums from receding, so don’t neglect your oral health,
especially if you notice gum recession!

Smoking or Using Tobacco

Smoking or using other tobacco products can cause the gums to recede. Toxins in cigarette
smoke, chewing tobacco, and even marijuana can irritate the gum tissue and begin the process
of gum recession or exacerbate existing gum recession due to gum disease or poor oral health.

Even the nicotine in e-cigarettes can contribute to dry mouth, which can again contribute to
problems with gum health. In order to have the healthiest smile possible, avoiding all types of
tobacco and marijuana smoke is important.

Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

Teeth grinding not only damages teeth, but can cause the gum tissue to recede as well. When
bruxism—the term for teeth grinding—happens, it places a huge amount of pressure on the
teeth and their roots. The roots can become inflamed which in turn can inflame gum tissue.

If you suspect you grind your teeth, your dentist can help you stop this incredibly harmful habit
to avoid further damage to your teeth and gums with stress management and a mouthguard if
necessary.

Are you seeing the signs or experiencing the symptoms of gum recession? When gums begin to
pull back from the teeth, they can expose tooth roots which can lead to painful sensitivity or
even an increased risk of tooth decay at the gum line. Don’t wait to see your oral healthcare
professional if you’re worried about gum recession!

The post What Are the Causes of a Receding Gum Line? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.