Diamons

gum disease

Photography by Dr. Padval

You and the Tube

Start reading labels to choose the right toothpaste for you and your family. All toothpastes have certain ingredients in common. They’ll contain mild abrasives for scrubbing, foaming detergents to help float away debris, fluoride to protect tooth enamel, thickening agents for stability, humectants for moisture retention, and flavors to make the mixture palatable. Gum Protection Given what we know about the relationship between gum disease and your overall health, finding a toothpaste that will protect your oral health should be your top priority. Dental [...]

By |2024-09-03T14:35:24-07:00April 8, 2025|Preventative Dentistry|

Scaling and Root Planing

When Elbow Grease Counts Most periodontal patients in our practice become very familiar with the two primary therapies we rely on to treat gum disease: scaling and root planing. Sounds a little disagreeable, yes. But scaling and root planing are the beginning of the end of periodontal problems. The treatment is tried and true, with a simple goal—get the “junk” out of there. It’s a certainty. Plaque, calculus, and bacteria, left to accumulate, will form pockets around teeth beneath the gumline. As pockets deepen [...]

By |2024-09-03T14:34:57-07:00April 1, 2025|Periodontal Dentistry|

Waiting to Exhale

It’s not the best way to deal with bad breath... Do you have bad breath, aka halitosis? If so, what are you doing about it, besides turning your face away from anyone who comes near? Finding the cure means first finding the cause. In many cases, food particles and bacterial plaque accumulate toward the back of your tongue and go bad there. But you might also be suffering inflamed gums, infection, saliva deficiency, stomach upset, even anxiety. Dieting can bring it on, as can [...]

By |2024-09-03T14:34:26-07:00March 25, 2025|Restorative Dentistry|

Periodontal Disease—It’s More Than Just Sore Gums

And periodontal health is more than a dazzling smile. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums has become more important than ever. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation of the gums that not only can lead to tooth loss but can even interfere with other systems of the body. Periodontitis, aka gum disease, has been associated with such other chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. You can assess your risk for periodontal disease at perio.org. Good news! Periodontal disease is treatable. [...]

By |2024-09-03T14:32:51-07:00March 4, 2025|Periodontal Dentistry|

What Your Mouth “Tells” Us…

About Your Overall Health Recent studies, including the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health, confirm what our team has known for a long time: There are so many connections between oral health and overall health that your next dental visit can be the next best thing to a physical examination! Your mouth is both an early warning system and a window to the health of your heart, your circulation, and your healthy well-being. A dental exam gives us the chance to recognize potentially serious [...]

By |2024-09-03T14:31:40-07:00February 18, 2025|Preventative Dentistry|

Can You Catch a Cavity?

When you have a cold, we all know to cover your mouth before you sneeze and not to drink out of the same glass. We do this because we know that a cold is contagious. Now we know that, chances are, so is tooth decay. Recent research suggests that the germs responsible for cavities may be "catchy." Likewise, scientists suspect that bacteria associated with gum disease may be transferable from husband to wife, or mother to child. Infants get the bacteria that come to [...]

By |2024-09-03T10:02:25-07:00December 10, 2024|Patient Education|

Soothe Your Joints…

Love Your Gums! Treating gum disease can actually reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Arthritis sufferers may soon be jumping for joy. Yes—in case you needed another reason to nip gum disease in the bud, researchers are demonstrating a link between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The good news is, treating gum disease can go beyond creating a healthy foundation for your teeth and actually reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. It makes sense. In both diseases, unchecked inflammation eats away at [...]

By |2024-09-03T09:58:50-07:00October 8, 2024|Periodontal Dentistry|

Healthy Gums—Healthy You!

Fighting periodontal (gum) disease through meticulous daily hygiene and regular dental appointments is brilliant. You preserve your beautiful smile and sweet breath, maintain the health of your teeth and gums, and protect your overall health in the bargain! Periodontal disease—a chronic inflammatory disease that can destroy gum tissue, ligaments, even the bone supporting the teeth—is the most common cause of tooth loss among adults. Gum disease has been associated with such chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. People with [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:47:12-07:00July 16, 2024|Periodontal Dentistry|

Facts on Flossing

Flosses and picks Plaque is a sticky layer of material containing germs that accumulates on teeth, including places where toothbrushes can't reach. This can lead to gum disease. The best way to get rid of plaque is to brush and floss your teeth carefully every day. The toothbrush cleans the tops and sides of your teeth. Dental floss cleans in between them. Some people use waterpiks, but floss is the best choice. Should I floss? Yes. Floss removes plaque and debris that adhere to [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:43:25-07:00June 4, 2024|Preventative Dentistry|

Smoking and Still Smiling?

Say you've spent the time and effort to get your mouth and teeth in shape. You’re dentally hale and hearty. And you smoke. As if there isn't enough reason to give up smoking, your dental health suffers too. Dramatically. Aside from the tobacco stains on teeth (not to mention the bouquet), serious oral disease can develop. The evidence just keeps piling up. Gum Disease - Research is showing that the incidence of gum disease is increased in a smoker, even given good oral hygiene and the best dental [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:39:51-07:00April 2, 2024|Patient Education|