Gum Disease | Morris Park Dental

Health concerns regarding diabetes might not be something that crop up on your agenda, but November is the month to start thinking seriously about this health condition. November is National Diabetes Month and is a timely reminder to consider out overall state of general wellbeing. A thought that might not be so common during this month is to get a check up with you dentist. What many people don’t realize that there is a link between diabetes and dental concerns such as gum disease. This is why, as National Diabetes Month encourages you to become more aware of health problems related to diabetes, you shouldn’t forget about your mouth during this time.

Emerging research suggests that having diabetes puts you at risk of increasingly complicated gum problems. Gum disease, or periodontitis in its most severe form, is when gums begin to pull away from teeth. This leaves pockets of air between your gum and teeth, meaning that germs and pus can move in and create serious issues. Among the symptoms of gum disease are jaw pain, tenderness while brushing your teeth, and bleeding.

There is also research that indicates patients with diabetes are at risk of other oral health problems, such as gingivitis. This is because diabetes leaves you more susceptible to bacterial infection. Diabetes also decreases your abilities to fight and prevent bacteria from getting stronger between your gums.

Gum disease is also linked to diabetes in other ways. Serious periodontitis can potentially affect blood glucose control and contribution to diabetes progressing in patients.

During National Diabetes Month, consider these things about your oral health care to raise your awareness of dental concerns associated with diabetes.

How am I at risk of dental problems if I have diabetes?

As diabetes alters the blood glucose levels, this impacts infections in the mouth. A lack of control of blood sugar levels can lead to gum disease and teeth loss occurring more easily. Gum disease can also cause blood sugar levels to increase and have a negative impact for diabetics. There are also other oral hygiene concerns that increase with diabetes, such as thrush, dry mouth, ulcers, infections, and cavities.

What can I do to prevent these concerns if I have diabetes?

It is important to remember that just because you have diabetes or are at risk of having diabetes, this doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed to have increased dental problems. There are many preventative measures you can take to protect the state of your teeth if you have diabetes, for example:

Control blood sugar levels
Regularly brush and floss your teeth, and clean your teeth
Have a regular check up at the dentist every six months
Avoid smoking
Control your diet

What else can I do?

If you have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes, it is very important to tell your dentist during your routine check ups. If your dentist or oral hygienist is aware of your health condition, they can give you better advice and practical tips on how to care for your teeth as well as your diabetes, and might refer you to a periodontist. Your dentist or dental hygienist also needs to be aware of any medication you are taking to treat your diabetes as this can impact on the treatments they are able to give you and procedures they can do. Staying aware and informed with all your health professionals is the best thing you can do to take care of your health.

What is a Periodontist?

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists are also experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. Periodontists receive extensive training in these areas, including three additional years of education beyond dental school. They are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, and are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

Periodontists often treat more problematic periodontal cases, such as those with severe gum disease or a complex medical history. Periodontists offer a wide range of treatments, such as scaling and root planing (in which the infected surface of the root is cleaned) or root surface debridement (in which damaged tissue is removed). They can also treat patients with severe gum problems using a range of surgical procedures. In addition, periodontists are specially trained in the placement, maintenance, and repair of dental implants.
At Morris Park Dental, we have all specialists under one roof, including a dual board certified periodontist and prosthodontist Dr. Yung Kim! Dr. Kim is one of only four dentists in the country who has both board certifications, which means he is a specialist in gum disease as well as dental implants. Click here to read more about our periodontist, Dr. Yung Kim.

Call us today at (718) DR-SMILE (718-377-6453) to schedule a consultation today with our periodontist or click here to request an appointment online!

We’ve all made New Year’s resolutions about many different things every year. Some people make the resolution to save, others to meet that special someone, and many others want to lose weight and look great. Well, here at Morris Park Dental, let us direct your attention to a different kind of New Year’s Resolution… Oral and Dental Health!

I. Don’t wait until “it hurts” to get it checked out
One of the biggest and most common mistakes made by people is not going to see their dentists for their regular check-ups. If you visit your Bronx dentist at least once or twice a year, your Bronx dental team could oversee and prevent dental health problems early. You could even save money, and time, because the facts are this: Someone who goes to the dentist seldom will most likely require more than a simple dental procedure. More extensive and expensive treatment will most likely be required, which will lead you to have a less enjoyable visit. So, brush your teeth and floss every day, twice a day, (even after every meal for those A+ patients) make your regular 6 month full-mouth exam and cleaning, and actually keep your appointment! (Click here to schedule your appointment at Morris Park Dental now or call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) )

II. STICK to Good Oral Habits This Year
And we mean it! Even if you have to place a Sticky Note on your mirror.
Who likes the feel of that thin layer of temporary plaque on your teeth? No one does! Plaque though, doesn’t just feel gross; it is actually harmful bacteria that can build up on your teeth and gums every day… This is why brushing and flossing regularly is very essential. Many people avoid flossing because they don’t know how, or because they think it’s too much work, or because they find it disgusting. Well the truth is, brushing only, will NOT remove ALL of the plaque from your teeth. Plaque also grows in between teeth and below the gumline, the only way to reach those areas, would to floss them. If you have a hard time flossing, we urge you to ask your hygienist, dental assistant or dentist properly instruct you the way to do this (trust me, you might even start to enjoy it)

Facts: Did you know that decay and gum disease often begin below the gumline, and in between the teeth? Did you know that bleeding, swollen gums, gingivitis, and other gum diseases can develop if proper and regular brushing and flossing is not prevalent? Did you know that mouth diseases could affect the rest of your body?

Try this at home: THE FLOSS CHALLENGE! (For those who don’t believe that flossing makes a difference)

1. Eat a hardy meal, with your favorite meats, greens, pastas, and desert.
2. After your meal, and a little bit of digestion, go brush your teeth. (BRUSH ONLY)
3. Notice how ‘fresh and clean’ your mouth feels! You may think, “Oh, my teeth are brushed, my mouth is clean, there’s no need to floss”
4. Now take your floss of choice, (not those little individual ones, but the floss in the dispenser) floss in between each tooth… notice anything? Yep! Those are food particles, plaque, and many other foreign objects left behind from before.
5. Now marvel at the fact that flossing is absolutely essential to the contribution of a clean and healthy mouth. Even after thorough brushing, of the surfaces, your teeth are not completely clean! So I’m hoping that you are now a believer and you will brush AND floss regularly.

III. Stay Away From Bad Oral Habits!
Are you a smoker, or a heavy drinker? Please continue to read this, and head these lifesaving warnings. Virtually everyone knows by now, that the use of tobacco may harm your mouth gravely, in more ways than one. It increases the risk of cancer, tooth discoloration, cavities, dry mouth, gum recession, dry socket and sometimes it may even cause you to have a lower pain tolerance.
Facts: Did you know that smokeless tobacco is just as harmful to your oral and overall health? Did you know that smokers are twice as likely to lose their teeth and have gum diseases, compared to non-smokers? Did you know that your high risks can decrease after quitting smoking, or using smokeless tobacco?

For those who binge drink or consume high amounts of alcohol on a regular basis, listen up. You’ve always heard that alcohol can affect your liver, your overall health, etc… but that is not all that it can affect. Taking in an excessive amount of alcohol may affect your oral health as well, causing increased gum recession, gum disease, and more. So limit your alcohol intake, and take good care of your oral hygiene.

Get help, get support, and if you fall, just get back up, don’t just stay down! It’s a new year, and anything is possible.

IV. Your Teeth Are What They Eat
Who would have thought that eating well would be important to dental health? Well I guess that New Year’s resolution of losing weight can finally kick off right now. Studies show that poor nutrition can actually affect the immune system, which increases susceptibility to numerous common oral disorders. So, drink plenty of water, eat lots of fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Facts: Fruits and Vegetables contain antioxidants that can improve your body’s ability to fight bacteria, and inflammation; this helps not only to protect your teeth and gums, but also helps you to heel well and fast. Did you know that raw and crisp fruits and veggies i.e. crunchy apples, crunchy raw carrots and celery can contribute to cleaning plaque from teeth, and even freshen your breath?

V. Educate Yourself and Your Children this year
Starting very young is not at all frowned upon, in fact, it is to be applauded. Take your children to go see the dentist and to get acquainted with the staff, have them sit in the chair, just to get the feel of it, before an actual dental appointment visit, so he or she doesn’t feel intimidated, scared or perhaps traumatized. Ask for permission of your dentist and the staff first, it usually shouldn’t be a problem, as long as they have previous knowledge.

Infants: If you live in an area without fluoridated water, you can make sure your kids get their fluoride by using tablets, drops or gel and by having topical fluoride treatments applied at the dental office (you can find that out by calling your local water company or your local health department.) Using fluoride toothpastes and rinses are also effective. A healthy and balanced diet is not just important for adults, but children as well. Children especially need calcium, which helps build strong bones and teeth. Good sources of calcium are milk, cheese and yogurt. Research shows that eating cheese after meals seems to prevent the effects of decay-causing acids. As much as possible, avoid giving your kids snacks containing sugar or starch.

By the age of 3: Children should be brushing their own teeth under adult supervision. Only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is necessary. Start flossing your child’s teeth daily when all the primary teeth are in or when teeth are touching each other.

By the age of 8: Children should be able to brush and floss by themselves, with occasional checks. Turn brushing and flossing into a fun and daily routine. Make it fun by having your child pick out his or her own colorful toothbrush, with perhaps their favorite cartoon character and bubble gum-flavored floss.

Here is a tip: Today, many of the kids’ shows feature dentist appointment episodes, or how to brush your teeth episodes. Take advantage of these, to help your child see that it is actually a good thing and show them by your example how fun, but yet how important and necessary it is to have good oral hygiene habits.

VI. Take A Plan Of Action NOW!
Get yourself a journal, take up a new hobby, or revisit an old one. Undoubtedly, you will work hard this year, so take care of your body, and it can take care of you. Ultimately the body does not just consist of one or two limbs, nor does it just run on one or two organs. The entire body is an inclusive machine that works together with every inch of it involved. This does not exclude your mouth.
Write down your goals. Number them. Be honest, and realistic. Write down what practical steps you will take to reach those goals. Document your actions every week to monitor your progress, obstacles, and positive outcomes. By the end of the year, go back and read your journal from beginning to end, and see what you’ve accomplished. In dentistry, caring for your mouth is more than just brushing flossing, or check-ups, but it is about your overall health, and happiness. We want to help to contribute to those things, in any way possible. Therefore this New Year, make the resolution to take better care of your mouth, don’t you think it deserves it? It helps to feed you every day; it makes kissing that cute little baby of yours special. It is the least you can do for your mouth… and yourself.

Click here to schedule your appointment at Morris Park Dental now or call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) and stick with those new years dental resolutions!)