How Hormones Impact Dental Health

Many women joke about having to deal with physical and emotional changes brought on by surging or plunging hormones — regardless of whether they’re pregnant or not. So what’s so unique about pregnancy hormones and dental health? Higher levels of estrogen and progesterone cause the tiny blood vessels in gums to dilate and become more engorged with blood supply. This extra blood causes gums to become swollen and sensitive to the slightest pressure or touch. The increased vascular flow also makes gums more sensitive to the irritating properties of dental plaque (bacteria). Unfortunately, this often leads to a condition referred to as ‘pregnancy gingivitis’ where gums bleed easily when being flossed or brushed.

What Can You Do To Keep Your Smile Healthy During Pregnancy?

Increased hormone levels aren’t responsible for causing all the trouble in a pregnant woman’s mouth.  Plaque also plays a significant role in the formation and worsening of poor oral health, and usually, plaque is present prior to a woman discovering she’s expecting. Ensuring a healthy pregnancy starts before conception, and increased visits to the dentist for professional cleanings are highly recommended to reduce plaque levels and the presence of harmful bacteria. It’s also common for women to need more frequent cleanings during pregnancy — especially if puffy, swollen gums are a concern. Increasing the frequency of cleanings ensures that irritating bacteria won’t cause high levels of gum inflammation, so you can avoid serious issues like the destructive gum disease called periodontitis.

But What Has Swollen Gums Got To Do With Your Baby?

It’s all about inflammation and bacteria. Inflamed gums are indicative of inflammation throughout the body, and the bacteria that causes gum irritation can enter the bloodstream and travel around your body, lowering your immune system and putting organs under additional stress.  A healthy mouth before and during pregnancy also helps prevent premature birth and low birth-weight, which helps a child have the best chance at great health.

Are you expecting an addition to your family? Whether you’re planning on conceiving or already pregnant, it’s time to give your teeth and oral health the extra attention they need.

Contact the team at Discover Dental today at 403-285.0222

The post Dental Health During Pregnancy appeared first on Dr. Shazia Butt DDS.

Dentists at Discover Dental in NE Calgary are focused on providing patients with information that will improve their dental health.  During a dental appointment it is common for patients to experience some anxiety – which makes retaining dental information challenging.  That’s why this group of NE Calgary Dentists make sure accurate material is available to patients 24/7 through web and blog content.

Maintaining good oral health is not easy for everyone.  Some individuals are plagued with dental concerns from the moment teeth appear – possibly due to genetics, diet, physical health, or injury.  Preventing dental issues always starts with excellent home care – brushing and flossing daily, and seeing your dentist for regular exams and cleanings.  However, regardless of how hard we try to keep our teeth in tip-top condition problems can arise.  Here’s a list of the top 10 dental concerns – and tips on how to prevent them.

Bad Breath– this is the number one dental concern.  Let’s face it, we’re all self-conscious of our breath after a garlicky meal, or have wondered how to pluck up the courage to let our co-worker know they need a breath mint – bad breath affects everyone at some stage of life – but living with it day after day suggests there is a need to address this embarrassing predicament.  Over the counter mouthwashes, mints, and gum are merely a short-term solution – these products mask the odor but are not able to address the cause of it.  Bad breath is usually caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth as a result of poor home care.  Lack of daily brushing and flossing causes food particles to remain trapped between teeth and stuck to the surface of the tongue. The decaying food particles react to the bacteria already present in the mouth – releasing an unpleasant odor.  The bacteria and food particles increase the formation of plaque on tooth surfaces – which if not removed by brushing also contributes to bad breath and causes gums to become inflamed – which results in more places for food to get trapped.  There’s no other way to say it – Brushing and Flossing are the vital step in creating and maintaining a healthy dentition.  When you brush and floss, plaque is removed from the surfaces of teeth.  When plaque is removed, bacteria are reduced – and a healthier dental environment is created.

Gum Disease– is the number two dental concern that affects adults.  Above we mentioned the importance of daily brushing and flossing – so it won’t come as a surprise to learn that the second dental concern after bad breath is gum disease – as it’s a natural progression to go from having inflamed gums and moderate plaque and calculus to more significant gum recession and heavy build-up of calculus.  NE Calgary Dentists hate to nag their patients about the value of regular cleanings – but the reality is that when dental care is neglected a patient’s entire health system is affected.  You may have read about the increase risk of heart attack associated with gum disease (periodontal disease) due to the high levels of bacteria present in a patient’s mouth – increasing inflammation throughout the body.

General Dentists at Discover Dental in NE Calgary aim to improve the dental health of each and every patient – if you experiencing bad breath or have gum disease, call them today to schedule an appointment – 403.285.0222

Follow our blog in the coming weeks to learn more about the top 10 dental concerns – and what you can do to prevent them.

The post NE Calgary Dentists Share Top 10 Dental Issues appeared first on Dr. Shazia Butt DDS.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums which looks like red, swollen, puffy gums that bleed easily.

The good news is that gingivitis can be easily stopped when diagnosed in its early stages. Seeing a Calgary Dentist for regular check-ups and dental cleanings, along with maintaining excellent home care, will prevent gingivitis from starting or advancing to a more serious condition called periodontitis.

Periodontitis is inflammation of the tissues surrounding teeth, including bone and fibers. Unfortunately this advanced inflammation causes gums to recede and ‘pockets’ to form where food and plaque get trapped, only contributing to more inflammation and destruction. Seeing a Dentist in Calgary for treatment is essential to help prevent the loss of teeth. Calgary Dentists are skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of gingivitis and gum disease and regular appointments with your hygienist will help prevent, stop and/or maintain gum and tooth issues. Be aware of the signs and symptoms and follow-up with your Calgary Dental office.

Signs and Symptoms of Gingivitis:

– Red Swollen Gums
– Receding Gums
– Bleeding When Brushing
– Bad Breath
– Feeling of ‘Itchy’ Gums

Prevention is better than cure – so help yourself prevent gingivitis by – Visiting your Calgary Dentist regularly, brushing several times a day and flossing daily. Eat nutritious food to keep tissues healthy and try to quit smoking and other negative habits that impact the health of your mouth.

Don’t ignore the early signs and symptoms of gingivitis as early treatment can prevent further problems. Dentists in Calgary acknowledge that other conditions can contribute to gingivitis such as, being chronically stressed, hormonal imbalance, diabetes, certain medications and mouth breathing. If you experience any of these concerns make sure you stay on top of your home care and visit a Calgary Dentist regularly.

Calgary NE Dentists, at Discover Dental in Falconridge, welcome patients questions regarding the prevention and treatment of Gingivitis. Accepting New Patients this General Dental Practice looks forward to seeing your smile soon – call today at 403.285.0222

The post NE Calgary Dentists Shine A Light On Gingivitis appeared first on Dr. Shazia Butt DDS.