Why Your Mouth Hates Cigarette Smoke

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stop smokingThere was a time when the dangers of cigarette smoke were debatable, and the act of smoking was nowhere near controversial. Today, however, modern science and medicine have done away with the veil by providing irrefutable evidence of tobacco smoke’s detrimental effects on your physical health. Similarly, tobacco smoke can also devastate your oral health, causing or exacerbating destructive dental disease like gum disease and, in extreme cases, oral cancer. To help raise awareness of the dangers that smoking can pose to your teeth and gums, Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania explores how tobacco smoke interacts with the tissues in your mouth.

Cigarettes and Oral Health

Studies have shown that people who smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or any other form of tobacco are more likely to develop periodontal disease. There are various theories concerning the exact mechanisms that account for the increased risk, many of which involve smoking’s tendency to cause your blood vessels to constrict, inhibiting the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your periodontal tissue (gums) and stunting its ability to heal. Consequently, many harmful oral bacteria are anaerobic, meaning they thrive in the lack of oxygen and can attack your gum tissue more effectively. (more…)

A Two-Sided Debate on Coffee

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coffee beansIf you’re an avid coffee drinker, then chances are that you’re familiar with the many warnings that are often spouted about coffee’s damaging effects to your smile. Some reports have even claimed that drinking coffee can increase your risk of certain health conditions, including bad nerves and heart troubles. While over-indulging can most certainly cause more harm than good, more recent studies suggest that drinking a moderate amount of coffee (one or two cups a day) can actually prove beneficial to your health. To help clarify, Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania discusses both sides of the coffee debate and how the beverage really interacts with your teeth and health.

The Good: Reduced Oral Health Risk

Although experts are not exactly sure how, studies suggest that participants who consistently drank a moderate amount of coffee every day were significantly less likely to develop heart disease or other chronic illnesses. Along with the study, conducted by researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, other research also suggests that ritual coffee consumption helped increase participants’ defense against oral health issues, including gum disease. According to the authors of the more recent studies, previous reports about coffee’s damaging effects did not take into account other habits commonly practiced by coffee drinkers at the time, including smoking cigarettes and habitual inactivity.  (more…)

Encinitas Periodontist Explores Vitamin D and Periodontal Health

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vitamin dVitamin D is often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin” because of our ability to synthesize the vitamin when ultraviolet B rays stimulate the skin. Its purposes are diverse, but vitamin D’s importance is clear; numerous reports have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with many illnesses, including some cancers, inflammatory diseases, and poor periodontal health. To help highlight this importance, Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania explores vitamin D’s benefits to your oral health.

Periodontal Benefits of Vitamin D

One of vitamin D’s most beneficial properties to your physical health is the role that it plays in helping to mediate bone health. While keeping your jawbone strong is essential to maintaining your dental health, emerging research also suggests that the vitamin may also serve as an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Inflammation is the mechanism by which your immune system fights off unwanted biological invaders. It is also the mechanism that oral bacteria utilize to progress the damage of periodontal disease, which attacks your supporting dental structures (i.e., periodontal tissue (gums), jawbone, etc.). Controlling inflammation with an adequate supply of vitamin D helps reduce the risk of developing periodontal disease, or increase your chances of successfully treating it. (more…)

Is Your Smile Ready for the Holidays?

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smoochingKissing is an important ritual during the end-of-year holiday celebrations. For instance, couples often kiss at the strike of the New Year’s first minute in hopes that it will bring them love and good luck throughout the year. Whatever the reason, chances are that you will enjoy a kiss or several this holiday season. Make sure your mouth is prepared by following these tips to a kissable mouth, brought to you by your Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania.

Tips for a Kissable Mouth

  • The first step to a kissable mouth is to ensure that it is attractive, which requires a strong and healthy foundation. Although the advice is so common that it is almost clichéd, Dr. Kania stresses the importance of brushing and flossing your teeth to help them remain free of infection and disease. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss at least once, to keep them clean of food debris and harmful bacterial plaque.
  • Most people can be a little self-conscious about their breath during social functions, or other events that involve the congregating of other people. However, detecting your own bad breath can be rather difficult. Many times, foul exhalations can stem from poor oral hygiene. Some oral bacteria release noxious, volatile sulfur compounds that assault the sense of smell. Brushing and flossing your teeth helps inhibit bacteria from gathering in your mouth, helping to eliminate bad breath. (more…)

Encinitas Periodontist Explains Why Teeth Hurt

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young woman with a tooth acheWhile there are numerous reasons for your teeth to hurt, some of which are not even-dental related, the discomfort is never benign and should not be ignored. However, treating a toothache depends first on determining its cause. To help you learn why your tooth is giving you trouble, Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania explains some of the more common causes behind a toothache.

Common Toothache Causes

  • Cavities—Cavities are the small holes that form in your tooth as decay eats away at its structure. Directly underneath your enamel is the softer portion of your tooth called dentin, whose surface contains tubules that lead back to your tooth’s pulp (home of the nerves and blood vessels). When decay exposes this tissue, or the pulp itself, discomfort can spring at the slightest irritation, such as sweets, hot and cold temperatures.
  •  Periodontal Disease—Although periodontal disease affects your gum tissue, it can also lead to tooth sensitivity by exposing sensitive parts of your teeth. Your teeth’s roots, which extend below the gums and are secured in your jawbone, are not protected by enamel. When your gums recede, such as with the onset of gum disease, these roots become exposed and may be sensitive to food debris, bacteria, and other irritants. (more…)

Don’t Let Stress Dampen Your Holiday Spirit

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This time of year, tension can be as common as shopping and decorating. Extended family and holiday celebrations make the season joyous, but dealing with and planning the holiday season can pull you in more ways than your mind and body are used to throughout the year. Some tension can be good for your concentration and problem-solving abilities, but elevated stress levels for extended periods of time can be detrimental to your health in many ways. To help keep your holiday season jolly, your Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania explains how stress affects your health and offers tips to help you relax.

Detrimental Effects of Stress

Your Immune System

Anxiety has long been linked to illnesses such as depression and heart disease. Studies have shown that people who are, or have recently been, under stress were more likely to develop a cold because their immune systems were less effective. The results showed that participants who were anxious had immune systems that were less sensitive to cortisol, a hormone that helps control the immune system’s inflammatory response. (more…)

Encinitas Periodontist Gives Advice for Sore Throat Relief

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Like a toothache, a sore throat can be debilitating and may indicate a number of various illnesses, including a common cold, tonsillitis, and strep throat, among others. While viruses are the more common cause of throat soreness, bacteria can also be the culprit. For instance, true to its name, strep throat is an infection caused by Streptococcus bacteria; the same type of bacteria that causes tooth decay (Streptococcus mutans). Until your sore throat is diagnosed, you may not know exactly what the cause is, although additional symptoms may offer more distinctive clues. For relief in the meantime, Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania offers these tips to ease your sore throat at home.

Home Remedies for a Sore Throat

  • Quench your thirst, a lot—Regardless of the malady causing your discomfort, dryness is never a good thing for your throat or oral cavity. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, to prevent dehydration. Sleep plenty, and rest your voice to avoid further irritating your throat tissue.
  • Comfort food—Chicken soup is a classic get-well treat, and for good reason. When your throat is sore, the warm broth helps soothe discomfort while providing much-needed sustenance. Alternately, cold treats such as popsicles can also help ease a sore throat. (more…)

Can Bone Disease Affect Your Oral Health?

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There is a popular conviction among scientists, researchers, and dental experts that the state of your oral health can affect the quality of your physical health. This is more than conjecture; virtually countless studies have examined the notion of oral-systemic health, and although there is still insufficient evidence to state that oral disease specifically causes systemic illness, many of these studies have definitively linked the presence of poor oral health with the development of certain illnesses. To highlight the oral-systemic connection and how your mouth and body are intertwined, Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania quizzes you on how osteoporosis is linked to your dental health.

Osteoporosis and Oral Health Quiz: True or False

Osteoporosis affects your oral health because your teeth are also bones.

False: Osteoporosis is, indeed, a disease that diminishes the strength and density of your bones. Your teeth, however, are not made of bone, as many people believe. On the contrary, osteoporosis affects the foundation of your oral health—your jawbone. The roots of your teeth are embedded into your jawbone. When this foundation is weakened, so is its secure hold on your teeth, and tooth loss becomes much more likely. (more…)

Gum Disease Increases Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

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By itself, gum disease is one of the most destructive diseases that can affect your oral health. Most people are aware that the disease causes your gums to swell and bleed, but not as many people are aware of what happens beyond our immediate perception. Aside from potentially destroying your gum tissue and jawbone, as well as costing you one or more lost teeth, gum disease’s effects can manifest themselves in other parts of your body as well, including your brain. As part of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month this November, Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania explains how gum inflammation is linked to the cognitive degeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Gum Disease and Inflammation

For a vastly destructive affliction, gum disease has quite modest beginnings. Most commonly, it begins with the bacteria that accumulate at your gumline in the form of dental plaque. These germs release toxins that irritate your gum tissue, causing your gums to separate and create pockets between your gums and teeth. More bacteria collect in these pockets, resting cozily as they continue to release toxins and aggravate your gums. These bacteria also incite your immune system’s inflammatory response to harmful invaders. Inflammation affects your gums from the beginning of the disease, and is often the telling sign of gingivitis (the first stage of gum disease). However, gingivitis does not typically generate physical discomfort, so the inflammation is often ignored. Unchecked, the disease will progressively grow worse as inflammation works to destroy your gums, the connective tissue that secures them to your teeth, and the jawbone that supports it all. (more…)

Why Periodontal Disease is More Likely to Develop as You Age

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Periodontal (gum) disease affects nearly 75% of adults in America, and we seem to be more prone to develop the disease as we grow older. The increased risk may come as no surprise to some people, considering that the older we get, the more susceptible we become to all sorts of health issues and disorders. However, like many systemic health problems, periodontal disease is an inflammatory issue. Understanding its risk factors can help researchers develop innovative treatments that help lower the rate of gum disease, as well as offer a glimpse of understanding into similar systemic diseases. With this goal in mind, researchers from Queen Mary, University of London, decided to examine the relation between old age and gum troubles. Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania explains their findings.

The First Step—Understanding Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease begins with a bacterial infection of your gums. Bacteria in your mouth is not an uncommon thing; in fact, at this moment, your mouth is playing host to about 600 different kinds of bacteria. Luckily, they’re not all destructive. Most help maintain the ecological balance inside your mouth. The harmful ones (pathogens), are essential in disease progression.  (more…)