Over the past few years, obesity has increased significantly within the U.S. In fact, recent studies suggest that 67% of adults in this country are overweight or obese, and more than 34 percent are severely obese. Most of us know that obesity contributes to a wide range of serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, gout, high cholesterol, and a variety of other maladies. Now, according to recent research conducted on the topic, you can add another health concern linked to obesity: gum disease.

Studies conducted in the past have shown a link between gum disease and several risk factors, including poor oral hygiene, smoking or chewing tobacco, eating (or drinking) too much sugar, and diabetes, to name just a few. Now, new research has found that overweight people experience twice the incidence of gum disease as people of a normal weight, and people who are severely obese are three times more likely to have periodontal disease than people within a healthy weight range.

Although more research remains to be done on this topic, studies have shown that the hormones and chemical signals produced by fat cells increase inflammation in a person’s body. That inflammation compromises the individual’s immune system, and that makes them more susceptible to developing periodontal disease. Once gum disease forms in an obese person, it may progress at an increased pace due to a decrease in blood flow to the gums caused by inflammation.

There are several symptoms of gum disease, including the following:

• Bleeding gums
• Swollen and/or sore gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Receding gums
• Changes in a person’s bite
• Changes in how dentures or other dental appliances are fitting inside the mouth
• Loose teeth

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to contact your dentist right away. Fortunately, gum disease is entirely treatable if it’s caught in the early stages. Treatment options depend on how far the condition has progressed, and the earlier it’s diagnosed, the easier those treatment options are.

If you are obese or overweight, it’s important that you take healthy steps to lose the excess weight. If you need help, speak to your doctor or a medical professional to find out the best ways to lose weight in the healthiest way possible. It’s not a coincidence that foods most often recommended to help you lose weight are also foods that contribute to good oral health: foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, low-fat dairy products, and avoidance of sugar and high fat foods as much as possible. Take steps today to lose weight and improve your overall health, and prevent gum disease at the same time.

October is National Oral Hygiene Month, which is a great time to review some basic tips and guidelines for your own oral hygiene routine. If you enjoy good oral health, your teeth will be clean, your gums will be pink (not red or light pink), and you won’t have bad breath on a regular basis. But just having an attractive smile and fresh breath aren’t the only advantages of good oral health. In fact, studies show that having healthy teeth and gums is closely related to your overall health and that certain diseases – such as diabetes and heart disease, to name a few – are related to poor oral health. Now that we’ve been reminded what good oral health looks like and how important it is to our general well-being, let’s review some of the best ways to ensure that you and your family enjoy all the benefits of good oral health.

Your Oral Hygiene Routine

Although every person is different, most dentists would agree that it’s important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss at least once a day. If you are more cavity-prone, you may want to brush after every meal. If you’re more prone to developing gum disease, you may want to floss more often than once a day and use an antimicrobial mouthwash to further reduce the number of bacteria inside your mouth. Talk to your dentist and your oral hygienist for their recommendations on how to make sure that you’re doing all you can do at home every day to achieve good oral health.

Regular Visits to the Dentist

While there’s no doubt that a consistent oral hygiene routine at home plays an essential role in good oral health, don’t forget the importance of visiting your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and oral exams. Only a trained dentist or hygienist using specially designed dental tools can completely remove all the plaque and tartar that build up on teeth over time, so no matter how diligent you might be, you’ll never be able to thoroughly clean your teeth on your own.

But there are other reasons to visit the dentist in addition to professional cleanings. Your dentist will be able to recognize the early signs of cavities and gum disease and recommend steps to start treating those issues right away. Your dentist will also check for oral cancer and other more serious conditions that you may not be able to detect on your own.

Call Your Dentist When Problems Arise

The third component necessary for good oral hygiene habits involves notifying your dentist as soon as you see changes in your teeth or gums. If a toothache persists for a few days, or if becomes severe, it could be a sign of an infection or some other dental issue that needs to be addressed right away. The same is true for your gums. If you notice a sore that won’t heal, or if you experience bleeding of the gums or bad breath, contact your dentist and schedule an appointment. Remember that it’s always better to address oral health issues as soon as possible to prevent them from developing into more serious – and much harder-to-treat – problems.

You and your family deserve to enjoy all the benefits of good oral health. Fortunately, all it usually requires is consistent oral hygiene practices at home, along with regular trips to your dentist. That seems like a small price to pay for all the advantages it brings!

Most of us have heard about the benefits of fluoride when it comes to helping to ensure good oral health. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that already exists in much of our water. Many years ago, experts found that fluoride can actually help prevent cavities, so several municipalities started adding additional fluoride to their water supplies. When it comes to fluoride, it’s important to understand how much you and your children should be exposed to, and how much is too much.

Fluoride in Your Water Supply

Over the past several decades, many communities throughout the US have added fluoride to their drinking water. The first step in determining how much fluoride you and your family are exposed to on a daily basis is by finding out whether or not your drinking water contains any. Ideally, your community water supply should contain 1 ppm (part per million) of fluoride. That amount is just the right amount to help prevent tooth decay for an adult. If you’re like many Americans and don’t drink a lot of tap water – opting instead for some type of bottled water – it’s important to remember that most bottled water does not contain fluoride. So you can only benefit from the fluoride in your community water supply if that’s what you actually drink. Contact your local water supplier or water management company to find out the fluoride levels in your water.

Fluoride Treatments Offered by Your Dentist

If your drinking water doesn’t contain an adequate amount of fluoride, you might consider asking your dentist what type of fluoride treatments are available to patients. Most dentists offer in-office treatments that involve either a foam fluoride, a fluoride gel, or a fluoride varnish that is applied to the patient’s teeth for short period of time. The application is simple and fast. All you have to do is follow the directions provided by your dentist, which usually involves not eating or drinking for some amount of time after the treatment.

Over-the-Counter Fluoride Products

There are several over-the-counter products that contain fluoride, including a variety of toothpastes and mouth washes and rinses. It can be confusing to decipher all the information provided on these OTC products, so it’s a good idea to talk to your dentist about which are best for providing an adequate amount of fluoride if you’re not already getting enough from either your drinking water or in-office treatments.

Although there’s no doubt about the benefits of fluoride, even this healthy mineral can be produce unwanted results if you ingest too much of it. Dental fluorosis – the condition that occurs if you are exposed to too much fluoride – can produce white spots or lines on teeth. In extreme cases, it can even turn a child’s teeth gray or brown. Although it’s not likely that you and your children will be exposed to levels that cause dental fluorosis, it is a good idea to make sure that you and your family are getting the optimum amount of fluoride to help ensure your good oral health.

The vast majority of us remember the excitement of losing a tooth as a young child, knowing that we could put the tooth under our pillow at night and the Tooth Fairy would come to leave us money for our treasured teeth. Believed to have started in the US in the early 1900s, the Tooth Fairy legend is a great way to teach children about the importance of oral health, and to celebrate their growing up and the development of adult teeth. But there are many more creative ways to celebrate your child’s baby teeth than simply leaving behind spare change. Here are a few more creative ideas for the Tooth Fairy in your household.

Special Activities

Leaving money for a child’s tooth may be the traditional response by the Tooth Fairy, but why not make it more interesting for your little one by leaving something unexpected! Consider tickets to an amusement park or a movie. In that way, you’re really giving two gifts: the activity itself and the gift of spending quality time with your little one.

Tooth Fairy Notes and Dental Products

Leaving a personalized note from the Tooth Fairy, along with a toothbrush or toothpaste especially designed for kids, is a great way to reward your child for losing a tooth and educate him or her about good oral health habits at the same time. You can either design your own Tooth Fairy note, or download a Tooth Fairy note card available online.

Surprise Visits from the Tooth Fairy

The Tooth Fairy doesn’t have to limit his or her visits to only when a baby tooth is lost. You might surprise your little one by leaving behind a special note of encouragement from the Tooth Fairy with a gold star and a special treat the night after your child has a dental appointment, for example.

Dinner or Treats

The Tooth Fairy might also consider leaving behind a gift certificate for a special dinner your child’s favorite fast food restaurant, or maybe a trip to a frozen yogurt shop. Once again, you’ll be giving the gift of special time devoted to your child in addition to the meal out.

Our children are only young once, so why not use legends like the Tooth Fairy to make the most of these precious years? Spare change may be okay from time to time, but just imagine all the other creative ways that the Tooth Fairy can visit your house! Not only will you be teaching your kids the value of good oral health habits – you’ll also be leaving them with a lifetime of fond Tooth Fairy memories from their childhood.

Most of us know the importance of brushing and flossing every day. But maintaining good oral health involves more than paying attention to your teeth and gums. There’s one part of your mouth that many people overlook entirely, but it’s a vital part of your overall health, and the quality of your life actually depends on it – your tongue. When it comes to maintaining good oral health, it’s important to remember this very special part of your mouth. After all, your tongue allows you to taste, chew and enjoy your food, not to mention the ability to speak clearly. This important part of your anatomy needs attention in order to remain healthy.

Your tongue is truly an amazing part of your body. Over 10,000 taste buds survive on its surface, allowing you to enjoy one of life’s greatest pleasures – tasting food and drinks. But these same little taste buds create a somewhat rough surface on your tongue, and that rough surface is the perfect place for bacteria and acid to thrive. If you don’t keep your tongue surface clean, it can lead to bad breath and more.

The bacteria that collects on the tongue surface is easily transferred to your teeth. Most of us know that bacteria collects on the tooth surface and that bacteria can eventually build up and lead to plaque and tooth decay. But you may not realize that much of the bacteria left behind on your teeth originate from the tongue.

As if that weren’t enough reason to pay attention to your tongue, there’s one more important reason to keep your tongue clean: you’ll be able to taste the flavor of your food better!

Caring for Your Tongue

Fortunately, caring for your tongue is relatively easy. Each time you brush and floss your teeth, remember to brush your tongue as well. Use a soft-bristle brush and scrub it gently for just a few seconds. It’s that simple. If you notice that your tongue is a little sensitive, don’t worry – that’s normal. Once you begin brushing your tongue on a regular basis, you won’t notice it so much. But if discomfort persists, mention it to your dentist.

By following this simple routine of gently brushing your tongue each and every day, you’ll help to reduce the risk of developing tooth decay, freshen your breath, and enjoy the taste of food and beverages to the full extent possible. Remember what an important role your tongue plays in the quality of your life, so take good care of it every day to maintain good oral health.

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you’re not alone. In fact, it is estimated that 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Most dentists strongly encourage people who are missing teeth to choose a method to replace them. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that other teeth will shift in place over time to fill in the gap left behind by missing teeth, and that can lead to a myriad of other problems. The good news is that there are several options for replacing missing teeth, including the following.

Dental Implants

An implant consists of a titanium rod that is implanted into the patient’s jawbone. After a few months, when the implant fuses to the bone, an artificial tooth is affixed to the top of the implant. The result is an extremely strong, permanent replacement for a missing tooth. An implant is a popular option because it’s very much like getting a new natural tooth, and it can last for many decades or even for a lifetime. Implants can also be used to anchor either dentures or dental bridges.

Dentures

For patients who are missing several or all of their teeth, dentures can be life-changing. Today’s modern dentures offer many advantages over dentures from years past. They are typically better-fitting and more comfortable for the patient. Partials are available for people missing a few teeth, and complete sets can be made for people who have no natural teeth left.

Dental Bridges

Bridges consist of one or more artificial teeth mounted onto a metal frame. This can be a good option for replacing missing teeth in an area of the mouth where natural teeth are still in place on either side since a bridge attaches to the patient’s adjacent natural teeth to hold it in place. But even if you don’t have the natural teeth to support it, a dental bridge can still be an option thanks to implant-supported bridges. In these circumstances, your dentist or oral surgeon will insert dental implants that serve as supports for the bridge.

Missing teeth can not only ruin your smile; they can make it difficult to chew food and even affect the way you speak. In the long term, living with missing teeth can result in your other teeth shifting in place, which throws off your bite and creates other problems. Fortunately, thanks to modern dental technology, no one has to live with the embarrassment and discomfort of missing teeth. Your dentist can provide you with more information about each of these replacement options and help you decide which is best for you.

We all know about most of the services provided by dentists, such as fillings, crowns, tooth extractions, dental bridges, etc. But there are other treatments offered by some dentists that may surprise you. Although these services are directly related to oral health, they go beyond the scope of typical dental services.

Snoring and Apnea Treatments

If you have trouble sleeping because of your own loud snoring or the snoring of a family member, you know how difficult it can be to get a good night’s sleep. And lack of sleep can have a negative impact on your overall health and the quality of your life. An even more serious condition is sleep apnea, where the patient actually stops breathing for several seconds while asleep. Many dentists offer treatments for both loud snoring and sleep apnea, such as an oral sleep appliance that keep airways open and clear while the patient sleeps. If the problem is severe, your dentist may refer you to a sleep specialist or an oral surgeon, who can perform a procedure to remove part of the soft tissue in the back of your neck to help open the airway.

Teeth Grinding

Grinding your teeth at night (also called “bruxism”) not only damages your teeth; it can also result in morning headaches and can negatively impact the quality of your sleep. Many dentists offer treatments for patients who grind their teeth, such as specially designed mouthguards that protect your teeth while you sleep.

TMJ Disorder

If you suffer from headaches or pain in and around your jaw, you could be suffering from TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder. The temporomandibular joint is located in front of your ears. You can actually feel this joint functioning when you open and close your mouth. When too much stress is placed on this joint – such as that incurred from an injury, clenching the jaw too much, arthritis, or teeth grinding – the joint may become injured and begin to malfunction. Many dentists now offer treatments for TMJ disorder, such as medications, dental appliance therapy, and/or recommendations for dietary changes to relieve stress on the joint.

Sports Protection

Certain sports and physical activities can put your teeth at risk. Rough-and-tumble sports such as football, soccer and basketball make it all too easy for players to break a tooth or even knock a tooth out. Fortunately, sports guards offer an excellent way to protect the athelete’s teeth, which is why some dentists now offer a variety of mouthguards especially designed for atheletes.

The field of dentistry isn’t just about teeth and gums. Countless dentists across the US have expanded their list of services to include a variety of issues that impact your overall oral health. If you suffer from any of these problems, talk to your dentist!

Missing one or two teeth is quite common among adults in the US, particularly within the older population. In fact, by the time they reach middle age, the majority of people in this country are missing at least one tooth due to a variety of reasons. Many people choose to simply live without those teeth, thinking that missing teeth is not a major problem and not wanting to go through the procedures involved to replace them. But that is never a good idea. You should always replace missing teeth – even if it’s just a single tooth. If you don’t, you run the risk of a variety of other problems, each of which is much more serious than a missing tooth.

• Changes in your bite: When you lose a tooth, your other teeth gradually begin to shift in place to fill in the gap left behind. When this happens, your bite can be thrown off, which can make it difficult to chew food normally and can cause some discomfort as well.
• Changes in your speech: A missing tooth, particularly a tooth in the front of your mouth, can negatively impact the way you speak.
• Changes in your appearance: The gap left behind by a missing tooth can be embarrassing. That kind of embarrassment can damage your self-confidence and self-esteem, and can have a negative impact on the quality of your life overall.
• Increases your risk of developing gum disease: When your remaining teeth shift in place to fill in the gap left behind by a missing tooth, it can be harder to thoroughly brush and floss between teeth. This can result in a higher likelihood of developing gum disease.
• Bone loss may occur: Teeth are much more than simply instruments that allow you to chew food. They also perform an important function in keeping the bone density of your jaw healthy. When you lose a tooth and don’t replace it, the bone tissue that once surrounded that tooth begins to deteriorate and bone loss can occur.

Although there are many negative consequences of tooth loss, we do have some good news: there are several different options to choose from to replace missing teeth. The choices range from dental implants to bridges to partial or complete dentures. Each of these replacement options are likely to last for many years. For more information about how to replace missing teeth, and to decide which option is best for you, talk to your dentist.

It’s safe to say that most of us would enjoy having whiter teeth. But white spots on teeth are not so desirable. These discolored areas on the enamel of the tooth surface can be embarrassing and detract from the appearance of your smile. If you have white spots on your teeth, there are several possible causes, including the following:

• Bacteria – White spots may indicate the presence of bacterial acid, usually a sign that enamel is dissolving and tooth decay is about to form.
• Fluorosis – If teeth are exposed to a large amount of fluoride when they are still developing, white spots can appear on the surface. This is especially common in children who might be drinking fluoridated water and using other forms of fluoride as well – such as fluoride toothpaste, for example.
• Enamel hypoplasia – In areas of the tooth surface where enamel hypoplasia is present, white spots can form. This condition might be brought on by a number of things, such as high fever, nutritional deficiency, or side effects of certain medications.
• Enamel demineralization – Demineralization of enamel occurs when plaque accumulates on teeth and is left untreated. This is usually due to poor oral hygiene and can be common for people wearing traditional braces, for whom brushing thoroughly is difficult.

Treatments

Fortunately, there are a number of ways in which dentists can remove white spots from the surface of teeth. Which treatment is best for you will be determined by the cause of the problem and what your dentist believes to be the most effective treatment. What follows are some ways in which white spots can be removed:

•  Teeth whitening – Bleaching the surface of the teeth can help to even out the overall shade of the enamel. The most effective whitening products are those provided by your dentist, but there are over-the-counter products available as well.
• Microabrasion – Your dentist may recommend microabrasion, which involves removing a very thin layer of enamel from the teeth.
• Porcelain veneers – Veneers can be an excellent way to drastically improve the appearance of your smile. A very thin layer of porcelain is placed over the surface of the tooth and bonded in place.

Not only does this method cover existing white spots, it also provides a protective covering for enamel and helps to prevent future staining.
If you notice white spots on your teeth, contact your dentist to determine what might be causing them to appear. The good news is that white spots can usually be removed using one of the procedures listed above.

A recent study conducted by Oral Health American (OHA) finds that oral health is, in some ways, generally improving for many Americans. This improvement, which has taken place over the span of the last 50 years or so, is largely due to more effective dental technology and more vigorous prevention efforts, including water fluoridation efforts in communities across the U.S. While we have made some great strides in our overall oral health, much still needs to be done. Of particular concern is the need to address oral health issues for a rapidly growing senior population.

Certain findings of the study were somewhat alarming. For example, research showed that one-third of older adults have lost at least six teeth, and half of the states inside the U.S. received a poor overall rating when graded in the six following areas: severe tooth loss of residents (6 or more teeth); number of dental visits; Medicaid dental benefits for adults; fluoridation of community water systems, state oral health plans; and basic screening surveys. The study also reported that factors such as income level and education play a role in the oral health of adults in the U.S. Residents from lower income households had poor oral health compared with people from higher socioeconomic backgrounds.

The positive news is that more states are taking proactive action to ensure the oral health of their senior populations. Many of these states have initiated surveys to determine the current oral health of their older residents, provided fluoridated water to more citizens, and have increased the number of dental services provided under Medicaid plans.

Based on the OHA ranking of the six criteria mentioned above, the following 10 states had the best scores: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Connecticut, Colorado, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Michigan, California, and Vermont. The 10 states with the lowest scores included Wyoming, Delaware, West Virginia, New Jersey, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

The OHA study concluded that several steps should be taken to address the concerns for the oral health of our aging population: ensure comprehensive Medicaid benefits; increase dental coverage in Medicare plans; expand community water fluoridation efforts; include objectives for the oral health of seniors in each State Oral Health Plan (SOHP); and perform basic screening surveys of the older population in every state to identify concerns.

While it’s good news that many improvements have been made with regard to the oral health of Americans, our older population still struggles with their oral health. And as our population continues to age and the number of senior citizens increases, so too does the urgency to address these problems so that we can all enjoy better oral health in our golden years.