You CAN Take Care of Your Teeth

You CAN Take Care of Your Teeth

by | Jun 17, 2016 | Cavities, Cavity, Communication, Dentistry, Periodontal Disease, Prevention, Tooth Decay, Tooth Loss

The idea that losing teeth is an inevitable part of aging is a common misconception. While it’s true that tooth loss occurs more frequently among older adults, it’s not a foregone conclusion. With proper oral care and preventive measures, you can keep your natural teeth healthy and strong well into your later years.

Why Tooth Loss Occurs

Tooth loss can be caused by various factors, including:

  • Gum disease: This is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Gum disease is an infection that affects the soft tissues around the teeth, eventually destroying the bone that supports them.
  • Tooth decay: This is caused by bacteria that build up on the teeth and form plaque. Plaque produces acids that can erode the enamel, the hard outer covering of the teeth. If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to cavities and eventually tooth loss.
  • Trauma: Injuries to the mouth or teeth can also cause tooth loss.
  • Other health conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as osteoporosis and diabetes, can increase the risk of tooth loss.

Preventive Measures

The good news is that you can take steps to prevent tooth loss and maintain healthy teeth for a lifetime. Here are some key strategies:

  • Practice good oral hygiene: This includes brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, flossing daily, and using a mouthwash.
  • Visit your dentist regularly: For professional cleanings and checkups.
  • Eat a healthy diet: Limit sugary foods and drinks, which can contribute to tooth decay.
  • Quit smoking: Smoking increases the risk of gum disease and other oral health problems.

In addition to these general recommendations, there are some specific things you can do to protect your teeth as you age:

  • Use a toothbrush with soft bristles: Hard bristles can damage your gums and enamel.
  • Consider using an electric toothbrush: Electric toothbrushes can be more effective at removing plaque and bacteria than manual toothbrushes.
  • Get regular fluoride treatments: Fluoride can help strengthen your teeth and prevent decay.

Myths about Tooth Loss and Aging

There are several common myths about tooth loss and aging. Here are a few of the most prevalent:

  • Myth: Losing teeth is a natural part of aging.
  • Fact: While tooth loss is more common among older adults, it’s not inevitable. With proper oral care, you can keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime.
  • Myth: You don’t need to see the dentist as often as you get older.
  • Fact: It’s important to continue seeing your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings, even as you get older. Regular dental care can help detect and prevent problems early on.
  • Myth: There’s nothing you can do to prevent tooth loss.
  • Fact: There are many things you can do to prevent tooth loss, including practicing good oral hygiene, eating a healthy diet, and quitting smoking.

Losing teeth doesn’t have to be a part of aging. With proper care and preventive measures, you can enjoy a healthy smile for a lifetime. Talk to your dentist about ways to keep your teeth healthy and strong as you age.

Additional Resources

It’s More Than Just a “Cleaning”

It’s More Than Just a “Cleaning”

by | May 1, 2015 | Dentistry, Medical Issues, Periodontal Disease, Prevention

It is not without purpose that dentists repeatedly herald the fact that your mouth tells us a great deal. Yes, it will communicate — and without words — whether you have been brushing or flossing. But it will also tell us a story of your overall health.

For centuries, even the physician began his examination of the patient with a look at the head, ears, eyes, nose and throat. He would ask you to “Say aah.”

Ever wonder why?

The specific reason is that the sound you make elev

ates the soft palate and allows for a clearer view of the back of the throat, but it also tests the function of the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves. Doctors have an abbreviation they use to describe this evaluation: HEENT (head, ears, eyes, nose, throat). More recently, health professionals have been pushing for a modification to that standard evaluation, changing it to “HEENOT” instead (head, ears, eyes, nose, oral cavity, and throat).

Thus, health professionals can work together in the best interest of their patients. By performing a thorough oral exam, the dentist will often spot systemic problems and refer their patient to a physician for further evaluation. The family doctor can, in turn, evaluate oral health and alert the patient to the fact that it is time to see a dentist in order to get better.

Anyone following our blog or newsletter for any length of time has already been acquainted with the fact that what goes on in our mouths can affect the health of the rest of our bodies. Studies continue to show the links between oral and general health. By way of review – periodontal disease has been linked to complications with diabetes and pre-term labor in pregnancy. There is also a strong connection between poor oral health and rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, strokes, and Alzheimer’s.

The fact that we perform an oral (and oral cancer) examination during your bi-annual checkups and “cleaning visits” does not excuse you from seeing your doctor for general health problems, and vice-versa. We are professionals in oral health and regular maintenance in our office helps you to stay healthy. So you want to be certain that each time your family doctor ask you to “say aah,” they then say “good job – everything looks great!”

Can a Tooth Infection Kill You? What You Need to Know

Can a Tooth Infection Kill You? What You Need to Know

by | Mar 7, 2015 | Cavities, Cavity, Dentistry, Medical Issues, Periodontal Disease, Prevention, Tooth Decay

Can a Tooth Infection Kill You? The Scary Truth About Dental Abscesses

People often ask, “Can a tooth infection kill you?” The answer, while alarming, is yes—if left untreated. What starts as a simple toothache can escalate into a dangerous dental abscess that spreads beyond the mouth, potentially becoming life-threatening.

In this post from our Weird Dental Facts series, we’ll explain how dental infections can turn deadly, the warning signs to look for, and what you can do to protect your health.

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How Can a Tooth Infection Become Life-Threatening?

A toothache might feel like a small problem, but if the underlying infection isn’t treated, it can spread. When bacteria enter the inner pulp of the tooth, they can create an abscess—a pocket of pus that may expand into the jaw, face, or even the bloodstream, leading to a condition called sepsis.

Untreated periodontal disease (gum disease) can also lead to abscess formation. The danger is that dental infections are not always painful in their early stages, causing many people to delay treatment until it’s too late.

What Is Ludwig’s Angina?

One of the most serious complications of an untreated dental infection is Ludwig’s Angina. This fast-spreading infection can travel from the roots of the teeth to the floor of the mouth and under the tongue, causing severe swelling. If the swelling blocks the airway or makes swallowing difficult, it becomes a medical emergency.

Immediate medical treatment—such as opening the airway, administering antibiotics, or even surgery—is often required to save a patient’s life. Delaying treatment can be fatal.

How Dental Infections Spread Beyond the Mouth

When bacteria from a tooth infection enter the bloodstream, they can travel to other parts of the body. In rare but severe cases, this can lead to heart infections (endocarditis), brain abscesses, or even sepsis. These complications highlight why early dental care is crucial—what starts as mild pain or swelling can spiral into a medical crisis if ignored.

Signs of a Serious Dental Infection

See a dentist right away if you notice any of the following warning signs:Tooth infection illustration showing abscess – can a tooth infection kill you?

  • Persistent or throbbing toothache
  • Swelling in the face, jaw, or under the tongue
  • Fever or general malaise
  • Difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • A foul taste or pus drainage in the mouth

How to Prevent Dangerous Dental Infections

The best way to avoid asking, “Can a tooth infection kill you?” is to take preventive steps:

  • Brush and floss daily to remove harmful bacteria.
  • See your dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleanings.
  • Limit sugary foods and drinks that feed harmful bacteria.
  • Boost your immune system with a balanced diet rich in vitamins C and D.
  • Never ignore a toothache, swelling, or signs of infection—early treatment is much safer and less costly.

FAQ: Can a Toothache Really Be Fatal?

Can a toothache kill you? A toothache itself won’t, but if the infection behind it spreads untreated, it can become deadly.

How fast can a dental infection spread? Some infections can progress in just a few days, especially if they move into the soft tissues of the neck or bloodstream.

What should I do if I suspect an abscess? See a dentist or doctor immediately. Do not attempt to drain it yourself—this can worsen the infection.

Key Takeaway

A tooth infection can, in rare cases, be fatal if left untreated. Don’t take chances with your health—seek professional dental care at the first sign of pain or swelling.

For more surprising dental trivia and health tips, visit our Weird Dental Facts archive.

How Do I Know If My Tooth Infection Is Spreading?

Wondering if your dental issue is becoming serious? A key sign of a spreading infection is pain that worsens or radiates to the jaw, ear, or neck. Swelling in the face or under the tongue, difficulty breathing, fever, or a foul taste in your mouth are all red flags. If you’re asking, “can a tooth infection kill you?” the answer is that severe infections can become life-threatening if they block your airway or enter the bloodstream. Don’t wait—seek professional help immediately.

Tartar – Why Should You Care?

Tartar – Why Should You Care?

by | Feb 23, 2015 | Dentistry, Periodontal Disease

You go to the dentist every six months to have your teeth cleaned. Well, hopefully you are getting regular dental visits. Right? But, just what is the dentist doing when he cleans them anyway?

We’ll get into that shortly. And maybe you can even recall the dentist pointing out places where you had some tartar. But if you are like many patients, you nodded your head and he went on cleaning.

On the other hand, possibly you were thinking: “Just what the heck is tartar anyway? Isn’t that a Russian thing? Or, maybe, it has something to do with that white sauce. No, that doesn’t make any sense. Oh well, I don’t want to embarrass myself by asking.”

And it went in one ear and out the other.15976631 s

Let’s try to clear it up a little. Tartar is basically hardened plaque. And plaque is the sticky mix of bacteria, food particles and proteins that forms in your mouth — pretty much every day. It sticks to your teeth, it gets under your gums, and it builds up on your dental work. The trouble is that when plaque hardens, it builds up – actually, very much like a coral reef.

And like a coral reef it can spread out over a broad area. But the damage it causes hits you in two ways. Firstly, the bacteria that cover the tartar damage your gums from the toxins they secrete. This can cause the gums to become inflamed and to bleed. In its mildest form, this is called gingivitis. But secondly, the tartar acts as a foreign body. Get the idea of having something stuck in your teeth – say, a shell of popcorn. It won’t take long before the gums get puffy, red, and irritated.
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The thing is, if it’s popcorn, you notice it pretty much immediately. After all, one moment everything is fine, and the next you’ve got this thing stuck in your gums. And until you pick it out, your gum stays puffy and protests its presence with bleeding and, sometimes, pain.

The difference with tartar is that it generally forms more slowly. So, in most cases, people don’t even notice it growing. Nor do they notice what it is doing to their gums and the surrounding bone. Because when gingivitis is not gotten under control, it gets worse. Pockets form between your teeth and gums and get filled with more bacteria and more tartar. This leads to an infection called periodontitis.

Over time, your immune system kicks in, trying to use stronger methods to fight this problem that just isn’t going away. The result: it starts to work against you and breaks down your own bone. What’s more it usually does it painlessly. So many people don’t even realize they are losing bone until their teeth get loose. That’s why this is the number one cause of tooth loss worldwide.

So what is the dentist doing when he cleans your teeth? He’s removing the foreign body (the tartar) and what is basically a condominium for your harmful bacteria. But don’t feel too bad for your evicted bacteria. They will try squatting in a new home under your gums in less than twenty-four hours. And they are associated with such nasty effects as heart attacks, strokes, Alzheimer’s, pancreatic cancer, and more.

For the sake of your health, when it comes to tartar, you should care. Steps you can take to get matters under control include brushing after meals, daily flossing, and eating a healthy diet. Oh, and if you smoke, chances are you will build more tartar as well. There’s one more reason to quit.

Once tartar has formed on your teeth, only your dentist or hygienist can remove it.
So, be sure to visit your dentist at least twice a year to remove any plaque and tartar that has built up and to prevent more serious, and costly, health problems.

Laser Dentistry

Laser Dentistry

by | Oct 28, 2013 | Dentistry, Laser Dentistry, Periodontal Disease, Prevention

"La-ser"

Lasers are familiar to many of us from science fiction (think of the Star Wars light saber) to comedy (remember Austin Powers’ Dr. Evil?).  The fact is that lasers surround us in every-day life.  For example, in the home you will find them in CD players, while industry uses them for high-speed metal cutting machines and measuring devices.  Hair replacement, tattoo removal, dermatologists, eye surgeons — they all use lasers.

So do dentists.  And so does our office.

This begs the question, just what is a laser?  How is it different from any other kind of light?  “If Dr. Evil planned to destroy the world with one, why won’t it hurt me when you use it on my gums?!”  Actually, that’s three questions . . . .

Anyway, let’s try take them in order:

The word “LASER” itself is an acronym that stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.  This concisely describes exactly how a laser works.   The laser is a device which controls the way that energized atoms release photons (a quantum of electromagnetic energy).  When we say “radiation” however, we are not talking about ionizing radiation — such as would be produced by an x-ray.

Laser light is very different from normal light or radiation emitted by an x-ray.  Laser light has the following properties:

  • The light released is monochromatic. It contains one specific wavelength of light (one specific color). The wavelength of light is determined by the amount of energy released when the electron drops to a lower orbit.
  • The light released is coherent. It is “organized” — each photon moves in step with the others. This means that all of the photons have wave fronts that launch in unison.
  • The light is very directional. A laser light has a collimated (very tight) beam.  This makes it stronger and concentrated. A flashlight, on the other hand, releases light in many directions, and the light is very weak and diffuse.

Why won’t it burn you to a crisp when we use it on your gums?  Clearly, we’re using a controlled power setting (in our office we use a diode laser) — in fact, most patients tell us they don’t feel anything when we use it in conjunction with their dental cleanings.  But that doesn’t mean it isn’t effective!

Watch the video below for a demonstration and explanation of how a dental laser is being used during a routine cleaning.

Laser Dentistry in Philadelphia

If you would like to read more about how we use a dental laser in our office and how it can benefit your health, check out the following article posted in the Services section of our website:

LASERS IN DENTISTRY

Oral Bacteria and General Health

Oral Bacteria and General Health

by | Jun 2, 2013 | Dentistry, Periodontal Disease, Prevention

Did you know that there are way more bacteria in your mouth than there are people on the planet? By some estimates: 120 BILLION bacteria can grow in 24 hours!

That’s really a lot of bugs!Bacteria

Germophobes might get a little skittish reading this, so it may make you feel better to know that most of them are harmless.

Typically, the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care — such as daily brushing and flossing — can keep these bacteria in check. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.  After more than twenty years of practice I have also observed that oral health can act as a window to your overall health.

For example, your oral health might be affected by, may itself affect, or may contribute to, various diseases and conditions — including:

  • Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.
  • Endocarditis. Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium). Endocarditis typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart.
  • Pregnancy and birth. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
  • Diabetes. Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection — putting the gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes. Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels.
  • Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis — which causes bones to become weak and brittle — might be linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss.
  • HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
  • Alzheimer’s disease. Tooth loss before age 35 might be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Other conditions. Other conditions that might be linked to oral health include Sjogren’s syndrome — an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth — and eating disorders.

Good HealthBecause bacteria can proliferate as quickly as they do, we now provide our patients with a way to minimize bacterial risks during their cleaning appointments.  We have the ability to use a laser decontamination process that dramatically reduces bacterial levels in your gum pockets painlessly, without the need for anesthesia, and in as little time as 5 to 10 minutes.  Better still, the lowered bacterial levels are expected to continue for six to eight weeks.

Unfortunately, dental insurance still tends to be a little behind the times in terms of their coverage for the procedure.  We have kept the cost low, however, in order that most patients can benefit from this exciting new technology.  You can read more about it by clicking HERE.

Don’t Bother Flossing

Don’t Bother Flossing

by | Apr 25, 2013 | Dentistry, Periodontal Disease, Prevention

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What?! Is the sky falling? What dentist would dare utter such blasphemy!

Stick with me for a moment. You may learn something about flossing.

Here are the facts as I see them after more than twenty years in dental practice:

Most patients don’t floss.
Most patients don’t like to floss.
Most patients won’t floss even if you explain the benefits of flossing at every checkup visit for ten years.
Most patients are convinced flossing makes their gums bleed and is uncomfortable to do.
Most patients will tell you they floss, but “probably not as much as I should.”
So really, why bother?

Another observation I have made about flossing regards what people think flossing is. I will sometimes hand a patient a piece of floss and ask them to show me how they floss.  Without exception, I have seen patients pass the floss between their teeth and then pop it back out.

That sounds right, doesn’t it? Special effects department please sound the buzzer. That’s not flossing.

Add to this the fact that most patients will only perform this routine once in a while. If you call that “flossing” I say don’t lose sleep over the fact that you are not flossing regularly. That can be effective at pulling food out from in between your teeth, though, so feel free to do so. But if that’s not flossing, just what is it, really?

Flossing is the action of taking a length of floss – either the conventional “string” kind or pre-threaded on a fork-like device – and then passing it between your teeth while holding it in a “C-shape” against the side of the tooth. You then take the floss and rub the edge of the tooth, sliding it all the way under the gum-line in an up and down motion. How often can one do this? After every meal would not be too much. But if people did this at least once a day, the average case would see dramatic results after an average of two weeks of daily flossing.

If you haven’t been flossing regularly here is what you can expect: your gums will bleed when you start to floss. It is also likely to be a little uncomfortable at first. But over time, the bleeding should stop. If you haven’t had a dental checkup and cleaning for a while, it is a good idea to do so this first. Flossing against existing tartar will be an unending battle. Once the teeth are clean, however, daily flossing will usually result in pink, firm and healthy gums that don’t bleed. Other benefits? Fresher breath and reduced inflammation – which also means a lowered chance of heart attack and stroke.

If you only floss once in a while, though, inflamed gums will likely never get up to a point where the occasional activity makes any difference. So, if you don’t make it a discipline, why bother? But if you would like healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime, start flossing today!