The More Important Details 

Oral health is essential to general health and well-being. This is clearly evidenced by studies. For example, medical conditions like heart disease and stroke are linked to inflammation caused by poor oral hygiene. Hence, daily oral care can keep mouth bacteria from causing infections that can affect other areas of the body.

The oral conditions that most affect overall health and quality of life are cavities, severe gum disease, and severe tooth loss. If simple cavities and gingivitis are not properly addressed early, these conditions become worse and that is when overall wellbeing is jeopardized.

About half of children (52%), by the age of 8 years, have had a cavity in their primary teeth. Since children are unable to brush well by themselves until about 6 years old, they should be well taught and monitored. This also includes proper flossing. A diet rich in sugar and starch contributes to early cavities.

Children from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities as higher-income children. This can be due to lack of dental instructions and access to dental treatment. 

The prevalence of untreated tooth decay is said to be declining; however there is 1 in 4 adults aged 20 to 64 who currently has cavities. 

To prevent cavities, drinking fluoridated water and getting dental sealants in childhood are effective measures. The use of fluoride is well studied. Not only does it prevent cavities, it also saves money by avoiding expensive dental care.

Two of the biggest risk factors for gum disease are tobacco use and diabetes. Unplanned emergency dental care resulted in 34 million school hours lost each year on the average. Likewise, over $45 billion in US productivity is lost each year due to untreated dental disease.

To benefit patients and save resources, medical-dental integration is essential between oral health and chronic disease prevention programs.

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More Facts of (Oral) Life in Issaquah

Visit your dentist in Issaquah at Meadow Creek Dental for more informative and helpful oral health care tips. 

Oral Health

According to a CDC report, published recently, relating to the prevalence of periodontitis in the United States, 47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease, and that 70.1% of adults 65 years and older have it. It is more common in adult men(56.4% vs 38.4% women), those living below the federal poverty level (65.4%), those with less than a high school education (66.9%), and current smokers (64.2%)

In its early stage, periodontal disease is termed as ‘gingivitis,’ the swelling and inflammation of the gums which may or may not bleed. Periodontitis is the more serious form when the gums pull away from the root, exposing it, teeth may loosen owing to some jaw bone destruction, and may lead to loss of the tooth. The condition is mainly the result of infections and inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. 

What causes periodontitis?

Bacteria in the mouth infect tissue surrounding the tooth, causing inflammation around the tooth leading to periodontal disease. When bacteria stay on the teeth long enough, they form a film called plaque, which eventually hardens to tartar, also called calculus. Tartar build-up can spread below the gum line, which makes the teeth harder to clean. 

These warning signs should not be ignored: red or swollen gums, tender or bleeding gums, sensitive or loose teeth, pain on chewing, bad breath or bad taste that won’t go away, gums pulling away or tooth seemingly elongated, any change in the bite or any change in the fit of partial dentures.

Factors that increase the risk for periodontitis: heredity, stress, smoking, poor oral hygiene, crooked teeth, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, dry mouth, defective fillings, ill-fitting bridges, and female hormonal changes, such as with pregnancy or the use of oral contraceptives

How do you prevent and treat periodontitis?

Control gingivitis with good oral hygiene and regular professional cleaning. The condition can still be reversed. However, a more extensive treatment may be required in moderate to severe forms of periodontal disease. Deep cleaning of the tooth root surfaces below the gums, medications prescribed, and sometimes corrective surgery may be needed. More frequent dentist visits are necessary to manage or treat periodontal disease.

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Treating Periodontal Disease in Issaquah

See your Issaquah dentist for regular checkups, or more frequently if you have any of the warning signs or risk factors for periodontal disease.

On the other hand, when gums suffer from poor health, they can be red or swollen or tender, though but not always. Likewise, if the depth of the pocket between gum and teeth is more than 3mm, a disease may be present.

Over time, this can lead to teeth feeling loose in their sockets and tooth sensitivity may be felt. Bad breath may also result from build-up of food debris in the sockets. Frequent bleeding episodes from the gums may also signal that something is wrong; a somewhat metallic taste is left in the mouth as well.  

The earliest sign of gum disease is gingivitis.

Gums are red, swollen, and are not always painful, which makes it harder to notice that there is a problem. The usual cause is poor oral hygiene. Gums are neglected while plaque builds up around the teeth and between them, irritating the gumline. Left untreated, gingivitis can lead up into the more serious periodontitis, the beginnings of which are when your gums start to pull back and expose more teeth. 

Good Oral Hygiene Practices

Good oral hygiene practices can keep gingivitis at bay, and may also reverse it. The daily routine looks like this: brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. Mouth rinses can also be incorporated as needed. Regular dental check-ups and cleanings, at least every 6 months, ensure your dentist is able to detect emerging dental conditions before they turn serious. 

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Knowing The Differences

Teeth are not the only structure we think of when we consider oral health. Gums have an important role to play in our mouth as well. Hence, when we speak of oral health, both our teeth and gums should be in tip-top shape, so to speak, to support oral health.

How do you know if your gums are healthy?

First consider the color and the texture. They should be light or pale pink in color. However, depending on your ethnicity, gums can be darker or have other pigments that render them so.

Next, healthy gums are firm in consistency and hold on tight around each tooth, fitting snugly. A healthy amount of space can exist between the gum tissue and the teeth and that is no more than 3 mm deep. They also feel smooth to the touch and are scalloped in appearance.

They also must be resistant to movement and to normal brushing, flossing or probing. Lastly, healthy gums do not bleed easily when they are cleaned.

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Gum Health at Meadow Creek Dental

At Meadow Creek Dental in Issaquah, we look after the health of your gums as we do your teeth. If you are seeing changes in your gums or are feeling certain discomforts, make a visit soon.

Post Procedure

So to make sure that dental implants stick to their well-deserved reputation for longevity, one must have a healthy mouth, with untreated caries and gum disease addressed before the implant procedure, and that oral hygiene practice be kept faithfully to better reduce risk of infection.

What are the important oral hygiene practices that can help avoid infection after dental implant surgery?

This consists of brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing well with mouthwash to remove leftover plaque and bacteria. Additionally, visiting your dentist regularly, as in every 6 months, for check-ups and in-office cleaning is highly recommended. Use fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your teeth and detoxifying toothpaste to ensure healthy gums.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle also contributes to improving the success rate of your implants. This involves a healthy diet, limiting the intake of sugary treats and liquids, starchy foods, and those that can discolor teeth. Smoking cessation is imperative as well. 

Improving the Odds in Issaquah

Let us help you be a qualified candidate for dental implants by improving your mouth health. Let’s draw up a treatment plan to deal first with gum disease or caries, if you have them. See your Issaquah dentist now. 

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Understanding Implants and Gum Disease

It has been reported in literature that dental implants have a very high success rate. Studies have shown that it is around the vicinity of 95 to 98%. Good candidates for the procedure enjoy this amazing benefit.

By ‘good’ means the patient is in sound oral and overall health, coupled with the proper oral hygiene routine. Your mouth must be in a healthy condition to ensure the high success rate of dental implants. Hence, the presence of tooth decay and/or gum disease may jeopardize the outcome.

Does this mean you cannot avail of the benefits of a dental implant if you have tooth decay and gum disease?

Actually, before you undergo a dental implant procedure, your dentist will first determine if you’re a good candidate. If gum disease or tooth decay are found at this stage, then these conditions need to be treated first. After a period of healing, implant dentistry may be reconsidered.

However, there are situations when even ‘good’ candidates can experience implant failure and implant loss. About 77% of patients contract peri-implant disease after the procedure. This is usually a result of poor oral hygiene or a lifestyle habit that is detrimental to implant success, like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

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Different Dental Emergencies

At some time, children and even adults will encounter a dental emergency or two. It is best to know what the situation is, how severe it is, not to panic, and just be prepared. A dental emergency can be addressed by your dentist with a call and/or a visit to the clinic.

Your emergency may be a chipped or broken tooth, or a broken crown or filling that needs attention as they can be the start of cavities and later decay. They can cause tooth sensitivity and are most likely difficult to clean. Some emergencies involve trauma to your teeth and may cause you to panic.

Here are simple steps you can take until you see your dentist.

You broke or chipped a tooth. If this happens, save and rinse the pieces with warm water. Similarly, do this too with your mouth. Apply gauze to bleeding areas. Then apply cold compress once any bleeding stops. See your dentist as soon as possible, bringing the broken pieces. Depending on them, reattachment may or may not be possible.

If you have to replace the tooth, there are options you and your dentist can agree on. You dislodged a tooth. If your tooth becomes partly dislodged, put a cold compress on the area to decrease swelling. See your dentist right away.

Your tooth has been knocked-out tooth.

Pick up your tooth by the crown, not the root as it still has tissue fragments attached to it that need to be preserved. Rinse the tooth but don’t scrub. It may still be saved if it is put back in place within the hour of the accident. You can try to put it back in its proper place and direction, but do not force it. If this is not possible, place your tooth in a small container of milk, or water with a pinch of salt, or a specialized growth medium. Take it to your dentist as soon as possible.

You have a missing filling.

If a filling falls out of a tooth, plug the cavity with a small piece of dental wax or dental cement. See your dentist right away and if you can find the filling bring it along. If the crown itself is missing, use dental cement, toothpaste or a denture adhesive to hold it in place until you get to your dentist. A broken brace might be found in your child mouth (so it is best to check regularly). A wire may have snapped, or protrudes into the soft tissues. In this case, use the rubber end of a pencil to push it away. If not, cover the protruding wire with a small piece of gauze, a small cotton ball, or orthodontic wax. Don’t cut that wire – it may be accidentally swallowed. See your orthodontist right away.

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In Cases of Dental Emergencies in Issaquah

Do not hesitate to call or come see us, your dentist in Issaquah, for any dental emergency. Just stay calm, be aware at what has happened, and just follow the tips we shared.