Raleigh NC Periodontist | Can Extra Sun Boost Your Oral Health?

Posted on by IDMadmin

A sunny day can make it seem like the whole world is smiling. But it turns out that all that extra sun could be doing wonders for your gum health too. How? We’re glad you asked.

Raleigh NC Periodontist | Can Extra Sun Boost Your Oral Health?

Most of us get the majority of our vitamin D directly from the sun. Despite this, nearly one billion people around the world are vitamin D deficient. In addition to keeping bones and teeth healthy, vitamin D is critical to supporting a healthy immune system, making it extremely important to our overall health. When your immune system is weakened, it leaves you vulnerable to a wide array of health issues, including gum disease. Gum disease comes from a swelling or soreness of the gum tissue and can cause loose teeth, painful gums and even tooth loss.

 

Getting an extra helping of sunshine could help make a tangible difference in your immune health. While it can’t and shouldn’t replace your daily oral health routine, that extra bit of sun could help keep your gums happy and healthy. And the best part? It’s completely free.

 

So as you’re enjoying some outdoor fun, rest easy knowing that you are doing something great for your oral and overall health. Keep gum disease at bay and contact our office to schedule your next appointment.

 

Raleigh NC Periodontist | 3 Tips for Healthy Teeth and Gums

Posted on by IDMadmin

Our experienced dental team wants to remind you that no matter how busy life gets, your oral health and wellness are equally as important. With that in mind, here are three easy tips to keep you out of the dentist’s chair and enjoying your life with beautiful teeth and gums.

Raleigh NC Periodontist | 3 Tips for Healthy Teeth and Gums

  1. Moderation is Everything

The world is full of delicious food that we can’t wait to try. Unfortunately, some of that food can negatively impact your teeth and gums. Sugary drinks, such as lemonade, sweet tea, soda and alcoholic beverages have acids and sugars that can soften tooth enamel. Foods like corn on the cob and bone in meats not only stick in between teeth, but can also cause injury. Make sure to keep some floss handy. While it’s no fun to try and avoid all the sweets, neither is a painful toothache, so remember to limit your consumption of sugar.

 

  1. Your Teeth Should Not Be Used as a Bottle Opener

We’ve all seen someone try it, or maybe done it ourselves. You struggle to open a bottle and in your haste to get back to the festivities, you use your teeth. But teeth aren’t meant for this purpose. This can leave you with a painful, broken tooth. While it may seem like a quick and easy solution, take a few seconds and reconsider. Your teeth are precious, don’t treat them like a tool.

 

  1. Safety First

According to the American Dental Association, more than 200,000 oral injuries are prevented each year by wearing a mouth guard. Whether you’re a professional athlete, or play recreationally, it’s important to remember the proper mouth protection to make sure you keep your teeth.

 

The best thing you can do for your oral health is to stick to your normal oral hygiene routine. Brush at least twice a day, floss daily, and be sure to schedule your next appointment with us to keep your teeth and gums healthy for all that life has to offer.

 

Raleigh NC Periodontist | Gums: The Foundation for a Healthy Smile

Posted on by IDMadmin

When people think of a healthy smile, they think of perfectly aligned white teeth. Many don’t realize that without healthy gums, your mouth and your body isn’t healthy either. Your gum and periodontal health is not something to take lightly, as it is the foundation for a healthy mouth.

Raleigh NC Periodontist | Gums: The Foundation for a Healthy Smile

Gums Hold and Support your Teeth

Your gums are what hold your teeth in place and allow you to bite and chew. Healthy gums attach to the root of the tooth and the tooth socket . The gum helps to protect the teeth and jaw bones from disease and physical damage.

Gum Disease is Linked to Systemic Disease

Your mouth is the gateway to your body. If you have a persisting infection in your mouth, other areas of the body are also prone to disease. Gum disease has been directly linked to heart disease, diabetes and stroke. If you have signs of gum disease, it is imperative to seek professional periodontal care.

How to Know if your Gums are Healthy

Healthy gums are colored light pink and are tight to the teeth. They shouldn’t bleed when you properly brush and floss. If you have any questions regarding your gums and oral health, please contact our office.

 

Raleigh NC Periodontist | Plaque: Your Teeth’s Number One Enemy

Posted on by IDMadmin

When buying a toothbrush, toothpaste, or coming in to our office, you often hear the word “plaque” associated with the health of your teeth. Plaque is one of the main reasons why it is so important to keep up with a daily oral hygiene routine that includes brushing two times each day for at least two minutes, and flossing regularly as well. Here’s what you need to know about plaque and what it can do to your smile.

Plaque: Your Teeth’s Number One Enemy

What is Plaque?

If you haven’t brushed your teeth in a while, you might feel a film-like, sticky buildup on your teeth. This is plaque, a bacteria layer that grips onto your teeth. There isn’t anything you can do to stop plaque from forming, but brushing and flossing as well as keeping up with regular dental visits are your best defenses for cleaning plaque off your teeth.

 

What Plaque Does to Your Teeth & Mouth

Without regular brushing and cleaning, plaque builds up and multiplies. As plaque is left untreated, it hardens to form tartar (also known as calculus). Plaque also leads to decay, as it produces an acid that damages your teeth. When you come into our office for a dental examination, we thoroughly clean your teeth to ensure that any buildup is taken care of. Tartar can cause staining on your teeth if left untreated. Plaque is the leading cause of gingivitis, causing your gums to swell and become red or bloody.

 

What You Can Do

The most important steps of keeping plaque in check is to stick to a daily brushing routine. This means brushing twice each day, for two minutes each time, and flossing at least once daily. Plaque occurs naturally, and when you come into our office for a complete examination, we work with you to clean off any buildup. Maintaining regular visits to our office is one way to ensure tartar buildup is minimized and managed. It is particularly important that you are brushing your teeth all the way to the gum, because the gum line is an area that is prone to plaque buildup. Brush gently, as vigorous brushing will only do more damage than good, especially to your gums.

 

Sticking to your daily brushing and flossing routine will help keep your teeth free of plaque buildup. Make sure you are brushing in the morning and before bed. If you don’t brush before bed, bacteria and plaque will build up throughout the night. Schedule a visit to our office so our experienced, professional dental team can clean your teeth, giving you a smile you can be proud of.

 

For more tips on keeping your teeth healthy or to schedule your next visit, please contact our office.