Hormones and Gum Disease Linked for Some

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Smiling Middle AgedHormonal fluctuations and surges aren’t something you can directly control. Unfortunately, hormones cause side-effects throughout our lives. You may experience mood swings, bloating, blemishes, or any number of unpleasant emotional and physical manifestations of hormones in your years. You may not realize that dental health issues can also be linked to cyclical hormone changes – namely gum disease and other periodontal issues.

Hormonal Surges and Gum Disease

When a young woman hits puberty, estrogen and progesterone begin to ramp up production which can increase blood flow to gum tissues. This leads to an exaggerated response to plaque and tartar build-up. During menstrual cycles throughout a female’s reproductive years, salivary glands and gum tissues can become irritated and inflamed. Women who are prescribed progesterone-based birth control (more commonly known as the pill) sometimes experience puffy, swollen gums. During pregnancy, hormones and (more…)

Dental Implants and Oral Diseases

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older man brushing teethLosing one or more teeth is often the severe result of untreated oral diseases, like periodontitis, but it doesn’t mean the disease has run its course. Even if you replace your lost teeth, the oral disease that claimed them can still be a menace to your oral and overall health. As a skilled periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania has extensive experience dealing with complex oral diseases, as well as replacing lost teeth with innovative dental implants. As she warns, dental implant placement is only successful when your mouth is free of oral diseases, and maintaining your new smile relies on preventing an oral disease from returning. (more…)

Smoking Cessation: Nicotine Dependence Q & A

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girl breaking a cigarette to quit smokingAccording to the American Cancer Society, only about 4% to 7% of people are able to quit smoking without medicines or other help. The chemical, nicotine, is the cause for tobacco addiction, whether it’s smoked or chewed. The dependence on nicotine means you may not be able to stop using the substance, although it is causing harm to your body.  To help you defeat a nicotine addiction, Dr. Ann Kania is happy to offer council on your journey towards smoking cessation. (more…)

A Periodontist’s Connection to Lost Teeth

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woman covering mouth embarrassedWhat does a periodontist have to do with tooth loss? As an expert in maintaining the health of your gums, your Encinitas periodontist is specially trained to help you prevent and control gum disease—the leading cause of permanent tooth loss in the US. Should you lose one or more teeth, Dr. Kania can also help you rebuild your smile by assessing your eligibility for a dental implant restoration. (more…)

How Deep of a Dental Cleaning Do You Need?

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tools for teeth cleaningThere’s more than one way to clean your teeth, and all of them are important at different steps in your dental hygiene routine. The most common is to simply brush and floss your teeth twice a day. In between brushings, the many kinds of oral bacteria in your mouth gather and form dental plaque, which can calcify (harden) if ignored, or if your toothbrush misses it. Since tartar can’t be removed with water and toothpaste, a healthy patient also requires routine dental checkups and cleanings at least once every six months. If bacteria work their way underneath your gums, inciting the onset of gingivitis, then you may need a deep dental cleaning, or periodontal cleaning, to save your smile from gum disease. (more…)

Your Powerful Smile

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woman with powerful smileYou might recognize the maxim, “Smile and the world smiles with you.” Did you know, however, that studies have shown the human smile actually is contagious? It’s also the most widely recognized expression in the world, transcending language to portray a person’s joy and good will. As the subject of numerous studies, however, the power and benefits of smiling go far beyond sharing your joyful expression with others. It can also significantly improve your self-image, reduce chronic stress, serve a number of important social functions, and, perhaps, help you live longer and healthier. (more…)

What Does a Periodontist Do?

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wonderingUnlike your general dentist, who utilizes a broad range of treatments for most common dental issues, a periodontist is an expert who specializes in the tissues and structures that support your teeth. Preventing, diagnosing, and treating issues with your periodontal tissue (gums) may be necessary to preserving your natural teeth. When advanced gum disease, or rampant oral inflammation, is present, your dentist will likely recommend you to a periodontist for specialized treatment. (more…)

How to Fight Periodontal Disease with Lasers

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smiling woman pointing at somethingAs a periodontist, a significant part of Dr. Ann Kania’s life involves helping patients prevent or fight off periodontal disease. The gum infection affects over 80% of the adult population in the United States, and patients often don’t seek treatment until the disease has become a serious issue. Its most advanced form, called periodontitis, is the leading cause of permanent tooth loss, and treating the disease often means undergoing surgery to clean infectious bacteria from underneath the gums. At Dr. Kania’s office, however, advanced periodontal treatment usually consists of lasers and the LANAP protocol, rather than conventional surgery with scalpels and sutures. (more…)

How to Regenerate Tooth, Bone, and Gum Structures

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cell matrixThe goal of periodontics is to help you maintain your teeth and their supportive structures in a healthy, functional state for life. Sometimes, this may require treatment to eradicate bacteria and prevent or control the development of periodontal disease—the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the United States. Also known as gum disease, the bacterial infection destroys the gum tissue that supports your teeth, and can degrade the jawbone underneath it when allowed to progress. Traditionally, treating periodontal disease involved thoroughly cleaning bacteria from underneath the gum line and your teeth’s roots. If tissue damage occurred, then treatment could help repair it. Today, however, Dr. Kania employs a number of biologic materials that help regenerate lost tooth, bone, and periodontal structures, improving the success of periodontal therapy for longer-lasting results. (more…)

Does Bad Breath Mean You Have Gum Disease?

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guy confused by bad breathPeriodontal disease goes through many stages, is known by many names, and produces many symptoms to warn you of its presence. Bleeding gums are a common sign, but since they don’t hurt, they can be fairly easy to overlook for some patients. Chronic bad breath, however, is a bit more difficult to ignore, since other people can often notice it as much as you can. When your breath is less-than-stellar due to the presence of gum disease, no mint or stick of chewing gum can offer you a solution. On the contrary, you might require the expertise of a specialist to treat your gum disease before seeing any improvement in your bad breath. (more…)