This article explains what gum disease is, what the symptoms of this condition are and how it can be dealt with.

Do you have gum disease?

This question may sound outrageous and one can be sure that the majority of you reading this are shaking your head vehemently in response. Well, consider this: according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 80% of the American population presents with some form or stage of gum disease. In other words, if you were standing in an elevator with nine other totally random people, only two people in that crowded space would be in good oral health. The rest would be suffering from an oral bacterial infection of some degree.

Makes you want to hold your breath until you get out the elevator, doesn’t it?

According to dentists in Silver Spring MD and to national healthcare organizations, tooth loss, dental decay and gum disease are pervasive problems in our modern society. This is in spite of all our advanced medical technology and preventative measures and our greater appreciation for good oral hygiene. The bottom line is that people just don’t spend the time and money necessary to keep their teeth and gums in excellent condition.

So, the questions are: DO you have gum disease? What can you do about it?

The Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease

It’s hard to believe that you could have something as serious as gum disease and not even know it. Most people deny that they have any oral problems whatsoever, but this is in most cases ignorance. Oral bacterial infections do not typically cause any pain, which makes the other initial symptoms of gum inflammation and swelling quite easy to ignore.

Chronic bad breath is another symptom of oral infection, but let’s face it: few people enjoy telling a friend or family member that their breath is insufferable. Oral bacterial infections also weaken the gums, causing them to tear easily and bleed when brushing or eating hard crunchy foods. For the record – from the collective wisdom of dentists in Silver Spring MD – bleeding gums are NOT normal. Too many people believe otherwise. It’s not. It could be a sign of gum disease.

So, as you can see, all of these initial symptoms of gingivitis can quite easily be ignored. It’s only when the more severe problems occur – loose teeth, dental discoloration, oral lesions and the visible build-ups of calculus on the teeth – that people are forced to admit they have a serious problem. By then, the treatment required is far more complex and expensive, too.

Treating Oral Infection and Gum Disease

Gum disease is a rather loose definition of an oral bacterial infection. This infection can be localized around a single tooth, or it can affect your entire mouth. There are also varying degrees of gum disease or bacterial infection. In its initial stages, dentists term it “gingivitis” – inflammation of the gums. In its advanced stages, it becomes known as “periodontitis.”

If you suspect that you may have an oral infection or disease, your primary responsibility is to book an appointment with the dentist. Once a diagnosis has been made, a treatment will be prescribed. You will need to take much better care of your teeth moving forward. Regular and thorough brushing and flossing are a must. If you have been diagnosed with gingivitis or periodontitis, it might be a good idea to incorporate an anti-bacterial mouthwash into your hygiene routine. Cut down on acidic, sugar-rich foods and beverages (including alcohol) and give tobacco-use the boot.

A Final Note…

Tooth loss is a very real risk for those who don’t care for their teeth properly. If you don’t fancy a future of denture wearing, it comes recommended by dentists in Silver Spring that you take the necessary measures to get your oral health back on track.

This article provides some information on wisdom teeth, what they are, why we still have them and why it is typically necessary for them to come out in our early adulthood.

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that erupt from our jawbones and this usually happens between the ages of 18 and 26. We wouldn’t mind them so much were it not for the simple fact that they tend to be troublesome; very troublesome. Why do we need wisdom teeth? Why are some people born with only two or none at all? And why do they typically need to be extracted? Let’s find out what dentists in Silver Spring MD have to tell us about our wisdom teeth!

The Truth about Wisdom Teeth

We used to need wisdom teeth and now we don’t. A few thousand years ago, having a third set of molars used to be extremely handy when our diet consisted of chewier, unprocessed foods and grains. Back then, our jaws were much larger and more robust (think caveman), which helped us to cope with a diet heavy in fiber. With the evolution of our species and our gradual civilization, our diets shifted to softer, more processed and cooked foods. Over many thousands of years, our bodies adapted to our changing diet and one of these adaptations was a smaller and more gracile jawbone.

With less space along the jaw for wisdom teeth, the emergence of our third molars in our early twenties has become increasingly problematic. In many cases, the lack of space causes the wisdom teeth to push up underneath the second molars or even to emerge at odd, unnatural angles. This can cause damage to the neighboring dentition, severe over-crowding and a risk of infection and painful abscesses forming. Furthermore, the physical act of these teeth pushing through the gums, which leaves them torn and exceptionally painful, can lead to infection.

So as you can see… wisdom teeth are generally problematic, but for a very interesting reason. Just like our appendix, wisdom teeth are evidence of how we have evolved as a species. In fact, as proof of their redundancy, more and more people are being born without them!

Why Wisdom Teeth Need to Come Out

For all the reasons mentioned above, it can be in the best interests of the individual to simply have their wisdom teeth extracted by a qualified Silver Spring dentist. Rather than endure the pain and discomfort and the risk of over-crowding and infection, a dental healthcare professional may opt to extract the offending teeth, especially if they’re impacted (emerging under the second molars). A simple X-ray will reveal the orientation of your wisdom teeth and whether you’re jaw is spacious enough to accommodate them.

The surgery required to remove wisdom teeth is typically quick and straightforward. In many cases it can be done in the offices of dentists in Silver Spring MD with only a local anesthetic and – if you desire – a sedative. If your case is more complex, the teeth may need to be broken down and removed piece-by-piece in which case you will be fully anaesthetized so that you don’t experience any pain. Post-operative recovery can involve facial swelling, bruising and some discomfort, but most patients are back up on their feet within a few days.

In this two-part article series, we take a comprehensive look at dental implants. We explain what they are, how they work, what the treatment entails and what benefits and advantages they come hand-in-hand with.

Welcome back to the concluding installment of this two-part article series all about dental implants. In our previous post, we discussed what dental implants are and some of the benefits they offer. Dentists in Silver Spring MD explain that the benefits and advantages that come with dental implants have resulted in these incredible devices being regarded as one of the most important and significant breakthroughs in the field of dental science in recent decades. Besides the fact that they are in effect identical to natural healthy teeth, the biological fusion between your jaw and the titanium screw comprising your dental implant allows the entire tooth substitution structure to stay steadfastly embedded in your mouth. This means that your replacement teeth can function just like natural, healthy teeth.

How the Dental Implant Treatment Works

During your preliminary consultation, your cosmetic dentist in Silver Spring will execute a complete oral assessment and decide upon the best possible surgical plan for your unique case. The first step will be determining the site/s for your dental implants. When you have come in for treatment and your implants have been placed, your dentist will provide you with temporary tooth substitution while you spend the next few months healing. Once the osseointegration has occurred to the desired degree, you will be fitted with your original, artificial and permanent replacement teeth.

Dental Implants: Even More Benefits and Advantages

A Cosmetic dentist in Silver Spring explains that dental implants accomplish vital functions that assist in sustaining an excellent standard of oral health.

• Dental implant restorations reinstate the entire missing tooth from the root to the crown, which not only affords an aesthetic replacement, but also the fundamental source of functional stimulation that the missing root once offered the underlying jawbone. This functional stimulation helps to protect good bone volume, prevent deterioration and keep your jaws healthy and strong.

• If you leave a missing tooth/teeth untreated, adjoining teeth start shifting in order to fill the gap/s left behind. This creates severe problems as this instability travels from tooth to tooth in what can be likened to the ‘domino effect’, causing your entire dental arc to become unbalanced. Dental implant restorations provide support to the neighboring teeth, keeping your dentition stable and firm.

Dental Implants Can Last a Lifetime

By opting for the dental implants as your mode of treatment, you will be left with not only a beautiful smile, but also a fully restored and efficient bite that can last a lifetime. The resourceful skill and proficiency that go into the creation and assignment of dental implants and oral restorations utilize highly developed techniques and materials that last decades! If you continue to care for your new teeth, following a good and consistent oral hygiene routine comprising of daily brushing, flossing and rinsing as well as regular dental check-ups, you can enjoy the benefits and advantages of your new teeth for the rest of your life!

A Final Note on Dental Implants

Dental implants are, by reputation, far better in purpose, look, comfort, health, and life span than older technologies, like traditional removable dentures. “Traditional removable dentures have a bad reputation for numerous reasons,” explain dentists in Silver Spring. “Other than their non-natural look, removable dentures are for the most part uncomfortable to wear; they can cause embarrassment and are often painful. To make matters worse, over time, the wearing of dentures can cause damage to your gums, which can lead to all kinds of oral health problems.”

On the other hand dental implants have a wonderful repute for improving one’s quality of life and smile, and many patients report back with nothing but positive feedback concerning their implants’ function and feel.