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…)

How Safe Are Your Teeth This Halloween Season?

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Halloween night is as much about safety as it is about fun. While trick-or-treating is typically reserved for children and young teens, even adults indulge in more candy and goodies than they normally would. A major safety concern, aside from the safety of our costumed children, is the damage that our festive indulgence can cause our dental health. After all, sugar is the main cause for cavities, right? Well, not exactly, but it is a significant contributor to tooth decay. Knowing the truth about cavities can help you protect your teeth as you enjoy assaulting them, so Dr. Kania, your Encinitas periodontist, helps clear the myths and brings you the facts about cavity formation and prevention.

Debunking Common Cavity Myths

Myth: Sugar is the main cause of cavities, so refraining from it will prevent tooth decay.

Truth: Sugar helps set the stage for tooth decay to develop, but it is not the main cause. Sugar merely feeds the bacteria in your mouth that turn it into acid, which erodes your tooth enamel until bacteria can slip past and infect the underlying layers of your tooth. Some foods, beverages, and candies are naturally acidic, such as most sour candies, so completely abstaining from sugars is not a guarantee that cavities will not develop. Your best chance of preventing cavities is good oral hygiene. (more…)

Encinitas Periodontist Explains Proper Periodontal Maintenance

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Gum disease has become such a common phrase that it hardly seems like a serious problem to much of the population. However, even though nearly 75% of adults in America have some degree of gum disease, its frequent occurrence does not mean that it is harmless. It starts with a bacterial infection, and if left untreated, will work to destroy your gum tissue and tooth-supporting structures, leading to tooth loss and the deterioration of your jawbone. In fact, gum disease is the number one cause of adult tooth loss in America today. Luckily, there are numerous steps you can take to protect your gums from this disease, or to treat it once the disease develops. Your Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania explains a couple of the most effective maintenance techniques for good gum health.

Gum Disease Prevention at Home

As destructive as gum disease can be, you may be surprised to learn that its development typically stems from poor oral hygiene and a susceptible patient. When the bacteria in your mouth congregate, they generate a sticky biofilm called plaque that protects them and allows them to adhere to the surfaces of your mouth. (more…)

Encinitas Periodontist Explores Dentistry of the Past

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Human interest in teeth date back to antiquity. Remains that date back thousands of years BC include molars with nearly perfect holes carved from their centers. Since the molars are situated in the back of the mouth, experts believe they can rule out the possibility of cosmetics being a motivation for the dental procedures. To celebrate the history of oral health care, your Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania outlines some of history’s interesting achievements in dentistry.

The Long Journey to Advanced Dental Care

While everyday oral hygiene has taken enormous steps since the chewing sticks of old, the true benefit to today’s advanced dentistry lies in the achievements regarding our understanding of the intricacies of oral health. The following milestones outline the growth of knowledge that has taught us the more complicated aspects of oral health. (more…)

Gum Disease Terms to Know from Your Encinitas Periodontist

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Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the earliest form of gum disease, or periodontal disease. One of the first signs of gingival infection that you may notice is bleeding during brushing. Contrary to popular belief, consistent gum bleeding when you brush your teeth is not normal. Other symptoms of gingivitis include inflamed or sensitive gum tissue, deep red or purple coloration of your gums, and foul breath.

Preventing Disease

A preventive dentistry measure, prophylaxis is a dental cleaning to help you avoid gum disease.  This term refers to therapy for a healthy person.  Supportive  Periodontal Therapy (SPT) is provided to patients that have a history of periodontal attachment loss.  Both thorough dental cleanings from our Encinitas periodontist, Dr. Kania, includes meticulously removing dental plaque. Since colonies of plaque collecting along your gum line are a main contributor to gum disease, disrupting this bacteria is imperative for preventing periodontal disease progression.

Periodontal Pockets

Ground zero for gum disease, periodontal pockets are a cesspool for the bacteria that perpetuates gingival infection. The pockets form in later stages of gum disease as the infection damages connective tissues between the teeth and gums. As the gum tissue separates from the teeth, periodontal pockets deepen, causing teeth to become loose and possibly fall out or require extraction. (more…)

Researchers Find Links to Gum Disease and Pancreatic Cancer

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Did you know that the average survival rate for pancreatic cancer within five years of diagnosis is around 5%? This staggering statistic should not be taken lightly. That’s why Dr. Kania, our Encinitas periodontist, brings to your attention new research that suggests a connection between pancreatic cancer and gum disease.

Pancreatic Cancer and Gum Disease

Recently, the British Dental Health Foundation published their findings in the journal Gut, which describes a study concerning bacteria which causes gum disease, according to Medical News Today. They found that patients with such pathogens were two times as likely to develop pancreatic cancer. For patients without any harmful oral bacteria, their chances of pancreatic cancer were 45% less. Although the researchers cannot yet prove gum disease‘s exact relation to the causes of pancreatic cancer, the connection is significant.

Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer and Gum Disease

In fact, gum disease and pancreatic cancer have other connections. Your risk of both increases exponentially if you smoke or chew tobacco. One in four people with pancreatic cancer smoke. In addition, age heightens your risk of both gum disease and pancreatic cancer. Many patients diagnosed with periodontal disease are over 40, and the majority of those with pancreatic cancer are over 60. (more…)

Stem Cells Could Change the Face of Complex Dental Procedures

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Your oral health consists of a complex combination of oral tissues and supporting structures that all depend on each other. Your teeth, for instance, are supported by your gums, periodontal ligaments and jawbone. If these supporting structures are compromised (by gum disease, for instance), they can no longer support your teeth, and tooth loss can follow. Consequently, losing a tooth can lead to the deterioration of your jawbone. Luckily, your Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania offers dental implants—the only dental prosthetic that replaces your entire tooth structure and helps prevent jawbone degradation. The success of an implant, however, depends on an adequate amount of jawbone for support. Patients who lack this support often have to undergo additional procedures to fortify their jaws, which can include bone grafts. New stem cell research, however, may some day help provide an innovative method for jawbone regeneration as an alternative to bone grafts.

Rebuilding Your Jawbone with Stem Cells

Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and the Michigan Center for Oral Health Research recently conducted a clinical trial involving 24 participants. The patients all required jawbone reconstruction following tooth removal. Half of them received traditional guided bone regeneration, while the other half received experimental tissue repair stem cells. At six and twelve weeks, the patients received dental implants. Those who received the experimental cells had greater bone density and quicker bone repair than their counterparts. (more…)

A Mother’s Emotional Health can Affect Her Child’s Oral Health

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There is an old saying that goes something like this:  “If mother isn’t happy, then nobody is happy”. Interesting idea, but it holds some truth. Traditionally, mother often plays the role of primary caregiver in raising children and overseeing the household. Mom’s emotional state can affect the mood of the entire family. According to research from Case Western Reserve University’s School of Dental Medicine, mom’s emotional health may also play a role in the state of her children’s oral health. Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania explores this research, and what it could mean for mothers and their children everywhere.

Lasting Effects

The oral health study involved 224 adolescent participants. The researchers examined the oral health of the young teenagers by counting the number of decayed, filled, or missing permanent teeth, and measured levels of dental plaque, which is a key indicator of poor oral health. The researchers gathered medical information from the children and their mothers to assess the children’s wellbeing at ages 3, 8, and currently, at age 14. The information revealed that even with dental insurance and preventive measures, including fluoride treatments and dental sealants, children were still susceptible to cavities by the age 14. A complicated statistical modeling program tracked the source of poor oral health to the mother’s emotional health, education level, and knowledge of oral health at children’s ages 3 and 8. Lead investigator Suchitra Nelson says it is important for mothers to care for themselves in order to care for their children. (more…)