Prevention of Gum Disease

The Ary again later or contact merican Academy of Periodontology reports that over 90% of all adults have some level of gum disease and that periodontal disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss. Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, begins when the food and bacteria build up around teeth, known as plaque, is not removed. When this plaque stays on your teeth, it turns into tartar which creates dangerous bacteria that causes gingivitis and can later escalate to periodontitis. Gum disease is sometimes known as a “silent disease” as it often does not present many symptoms at early onset. Patients sometimes witness slight bleeding of gums, soreness or itchiness of the gums and bad breath. If not detected early on, this state of gingivitis can lead to bone loss, teeth loosening and eventual premature tooth loss.
This is why we at Cosmetic Dental Specialists are diligent in the early detection, diagnosis and prevention of gum disease.

Please try again later or contact customer support.

The best way to prevent gum disease is by brushing your teeth twice a day, floss regularly to remove plaque from between teeth, and visit Cosmetic Dental Partners in NYC for professional screenings and cleanings every six months. Both Dr. Maryam Edalat and Dr. Parviz Edalat are certified specialists in this field and have dedicated a major portion of their practice to prevention and saving teeth, before it’s too late.

Another common contributing factor to chronic periodontal disease, which presents as bone loss and gum recession, is seen in patients who grind their teeth. It is not uncommon to hear patients complain of headaches, neck aches, upper back pains, facial, jaw and ear pain. These may all be symptoms of grinding or clenching teeth, and are not incurable as is sometimes thought, but can be relieved with a systematic approach that diagnoses the problem correctly and manages the solution in phases as appropriate.

Cosmetic Dental Partners in NYC approaches treatment and management of problems such as gum recession and grinding as a team with you as the patient and our team of experts, to ensure solutions are presented early on which translates into less pain and lower costs in saving your teeth. Stress management, a healthy lifestyle along with the most sophisticated dental diagnosis and treatment modalities all play a major role in the long term maintenance and correction of periodontal disease. TMJ disorders that may be a contributing factor to periodontal disease.

One aspect of Periodontal prevention that is at the forefront of research in recent years is the knowledge that inflammation is the cause of many diseases and conditions in the body on the whole, and this includes the oral cavity. It is now widely accepted that a diet low in acidity has anti-inflammatory properties that can actually reverse some medical conditions. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition, so control of the inflammatory response will show significant benefits for both the oral cavity as well as the body as a whole

For further reading on this material refer to Dr. Alejandro Junger’s book “Clean”. We aim to motivate and educate patients to help prevent and hopefully in some cases reverse the damage done by years of poor eating habits and life-styles that may not promote optimal health and energy.

By now almost everyone knows that smoking has been linked with lung disease, cancer, and heart disease. But most people are not aware that smokers are three to six times more likely to have periodontal disease, and two times more likely to lose teeth.

Periodontal disease is an infection of the teeth, gums, and the bone that surrounds your teeth. It is caused by the bacteria that live in plaque, the sticky film of food and bacteria that forms constantly on your teeth. The bacteria infect the tooth roots and cause pockets of infection to form in the gums.

The bacteria also produce toxins, and these toxins, combined with your body’s reaction to them, destroy the bone around your teeth.

Smoking helps cause periodontal disease in two ways: It reduces the production of saliva, and it damages the body’s ability to fight off infection.

Saliva is necessary for oral health because it helps wash bacteria from the teeth, so less saliva means more plaque. Saliva also contains disease-fighting antibodies that help fight destructive bacteria in the mouth.

Smoking damages your immune system by causing blood vessels to constrict throughout your entire body. This constriction reduces the flow of infection-fighting white blood cells, oxygen, and nutrients to the gums, making them more susceptible to infection.

Besides contributing to the onset of periodontal disease, continuing to smoke after periodontal treatment makes it much harder for your gums to heal. So, if you have not yet thought about quitting smoking, you should consider it now. By becoming a nonsmoker you can strengthen the fight against periodontal disease and keep your teeth.

When plaque—that sticky, colorless film of food and bacteria—remains on your teeth, it can progress to forming deep gum pockets. Deep gum pockets are one sign of periodontal disease. The gums begin to recede and you may have lost bone around your teeth.

Regular brushing and flossing are not enough to effectively remove plaque from your teeth. Instead, it takes special tools and techniques to keep your teeth clean. Here is why.

In a healthy mouth, the space between your teeth and gums, called the sulcus, is about 2 to 3 millimeters deep, and your toothbrush and floss can effectively reach these areas. However, with periodontal disease, the sulcus deepens and forms a pocket that is more than 3 millimeters. Regular cleaning tools just cannot clean that deeply.

Also, in a healthy mouth, the bone level is high and the gums attach at the necks of the teeth. The exposed tooth surface is smooth; the floss can make full contact with the area to keep it thoroughly clean.

However, periodontal disease causes the bone levels to fall and the tooth attachments to recede. This exposes the root surfaces, which have indentions. Floss stretches across these indentions; it cannot remove the plaque that has formed in them.

Special tools are necessary to reach below 3 millimeters and to thoroughly clean the gum pockets and root indentions. Each tool is useful in different areas of your mouth.

We will be happy to recommend the right tools for your situation. We will also show you how to use these tools effectively to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

People who floss every day are taking a significant step in keeping their teeth clean and healthy.

Periodontal disease and many cavities start between the teeth where the bristles of your toothbrush simply cannot reach. That is why flossing is necessary for removing the plaque and bacteria that cause these dental diseases.

Pull out about 18 inches of floss and wind it around the middle fingers of each hand, leaving about a 5-inch span of floss between your fingers. Pinch the floss between your thumbs and index fingers, leaving about 1 inch to work with.

Using a gentle side-to-side motion, gently guide the floss between the teeth. Pull the floss tightly in a C-shape around the side of the tooth and slide the floss under the gumline.

Move the floss up and down several times to remove all the food and bacteria. Then pull the floss around the neighboring tooth and repeat the process. Wind the floss to a fresh section and gradually work your way around your mouth. Make sure to floss on both sides of every tooth.

If your gums are infected, they will bleed when you floss. That is to be expected if you are just beginning to floss. After a week or so of regular flossing, the bleeding should stop.

If you have problems reaching some areas, you may want to use a floss fork, a floss pick, or other flossing aids.

Tell us if your teeth are too tight to floss or if the floss catches or tears. This indicates that there may be problems in your mouth that need to be fixed.

To help you remove plaque around bridges, braces and implants, we recommend superfloss and floss threaders.

When you have any kind of dental fixture, it is important to be especially careful about removing plaque. Bridges, braces and implants can trap plaque and food particles in places that are difficult to clean with regular dental floss and a toothbrush.

Superfloss is a special kind of dental floss that comes in pre-cut segments. It has a stiff end that helps thread it through tight areas. It also has a fuzzy tufted segment that removes plaque as you floss.

Insert the superfloss between your braces, under your bridge between the artificial tooth and the gums, or around your implant. Then floss each area like you normally would.

A floss threader helps you insert floss into tight spots. You simply put floss through the loop, insert the pointed end of the threader into the area you need to floss, and then pull the threader all the way through. This leaves the ends of the floss on either side of the area, ready for you to use.

Remove the floss threader from your mouth, and then use the dental floss as you normally would.

Superfloss and floss threaders are very effective tools for helping you keep your mouth healthy.

Let us know if you have any questions about your flossing. We will be happy to recommend the best floss for you and offer tips for keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

Cleaning your teeth and gums with an oral irrigator can be a great idea for several reasons.

Many people use the powered stream of water to help remove bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Others use an oral irrigator because it makes it easier to clean around braces, bridgework and implants. Some use an oral irrigator to help control periodontal disease.

No matter why you choose an oral irrigator, you will get the best results when you correctly use it.

Begin by filling the reservoir with lukewarm tap water according to the manufacturer’s directions. Depending on your situation, we may recommend that you use saline (salt mixed with water), an antiseptic mouthwash, or a medicated solution instead of water.

Choose the best tip for your oral condition. If you are using a regular tip, place it at a 90-degree angle to the gumline, almost touching the tooth. If you are using a tip that is designed for rinsing below the gumline, place it against the tooth at a 45-degree angle, and gently move the tip into the tiny groove between the tooth and gum.

Set the pressure to the lowest setting and turn on the irrigator. Close your lips slightly, allowing the liquid to flow out of your mouth.

Move the tip along the gumline, pausing for a few seconds at the spaces between the teeth. If you are rinsing below the gumline, make sure to reach into each gum groove as you go. Irrigate around all the teeth, especially the back teeth.

Ask us if you have any questions about choosing or using an oral irrigator. We are happy to offer tips for keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy.

Importance of brushing
Whether you use a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush, brushing is important because it removes plaque and disrupts the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Proper tooth brushing involves five things:

Use a toothbrush with soft bristles. They are kinder to your teeth and gums. They also make it much easier to remove plaque from below the gumline, where gum disease starts.

Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride strengthens the outer enamel layer of the teeth. It can stop a cavity in its tracks and give you more resistance to future cavities.

Make sure your brushing routine lasts long enough to thoroughly remove plaque. We recommend that you brush for at least 2 minutes. Try using a timer or clock to confirm the time.

Use the correct brushing action. To start, center your brush on the gumline and angle the bristles at a 45-degree angle. Apply gentle pressure so the bristles slide under the gumline. Gently vibrate the brush while you move it in short, circular, wiggling motions.

Brush one or two teeth at a time. Then move to the neighboring teeth, allowing some overlap. Use this method to brush the insides and outsides of all the teeth. To brush the backs of the front teeth, tilt the brush and make several up and down strokes. Then brush the chewing surfaces of teeth with a gentle, circular, scrubbing motion.

End by brushing your tongue and the roof of your mouth. This removes germs and keeps your breath fresh.

Electric toothbrushes have become more popular for a variety of reasons. They do a good job of reducing stains, removing plaque, and disrupting the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Electric toothbrushes can be easier to manage than a manual toothbrush, and they are fun to use.

No matter why you have chosen an electric toothbrush, it is important to use it correctly.

Make sure the brush head has soft bristles because these are kinder to your teeth and gums.

Your brushing schedule is important, too. Brushing after breakfast cleans away the morning’s food debris. Brushing your teeth before bedtime protects your teeth all night.

Ask us if you have any questions about using your electric toothbrush. We are happy to offer tips for better brushing and having a clean, fresh, healthy mouth.

From braces to bridges to implants, most people have some kind of dental work. And no matter what you have, cleaning it regularly will help keep your mouth healthy.

Removable appliances, such as a retainer, a bridge, or a denture, need to be taken out and cleaned at least once a day. First, place a towel in the basin or fill it with water. This will protect your appliance if you drop it while you’re cleaning it. Run it under warm water and brush it with a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. If we have advised you not to sleep wearing your removable restoration, store it in a glass of water to keep it from drying out. Or soak it overnight in a cleaning product made especially for your appliance. If your removable restoration is supported by an implant, remember to clean the abutments as well. After removing the prosthesis, brush and floss all around the gums and abutments.

A non-removable prosthetic, such as a fixed bridge or implant, needs extra care, too. Just like with your natural teeth, you need to thoroughly brush and floss twice a day. Whether you have a fixed or removable restoration, please keep your hygiene appointments. We may even need to see you more often than twice a year. We want to address any possible issues early. The sooner we address a problem, the longer your prosthetic will last. You made an investment in your health. Good hygiene will reward you for years to come. And we’ll be here to help you keep your beautiful smile.