The Oral-Systemic Connection

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Classic Denture Center

For many years dental professionals have explored the links between oral and systemic health, and here at Classic Denture Center, we feel this connection is a big one!

Beginning as early as the late 19th century, researchers proposed that bacteria in the oral cavity could cause issues elsewhere in the body. However, over the past several decades, scientific study has helped us further understand these connections and added to the list of systemic conditions associated with periodontal disease.

Find oral health with a denturist in Portland OR

By the year 2000, the United States Surgeon General issued a report on the national oral health status. This report formally acknowledged the association between periodontal disease and the following conditions:

-Cardiovascular disease

-Diabetes

-Pneumonia

-Adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth.

The report also suggested that more research was needed to establish causation.

Experts have identified two mechanisms that could explain the connection between oral and systemic health.

The first is chronic inflammation in the oral cavity – this could hypothetically lead to an increase of inflammatory markers in the bloodstream and, in turn, add to the body’s inflammatory response or general burden of disease.

Second, the oral cavity may act as a reservoir for pathogenic bacteria that can enter the bloodstream and affect distant sites within the body. While this phenomenon, known as bacteremia, is not generally a risk for patients with healthy immune systems, it can pose a serious threat to immunocompromised patients such as those with HIV/AIDS or diabetes.

Many dental patients will resist treatment, especially when their condition isn’t causing them pain or other serious symptoms.

In order to maintain your oral health, it is important to take part in routine dental appointments. This will help with the early detection of both oral and systemic diseases. In turn making treatment as manageable and effective as possible!

Medical experts, including your denturist in Portland OR recommends two annual visits to the dentist as an important investment to your oral as well as overall health! Not only can you catch conditions in the early stages, you can also prevent future issue from popping up.

This is even more important if you have full or partial dentures. Regular care can prevent disease as well as the costly mistake of need to prematurely replace your dentures.

When you do visit your dentist, it is important to know that saliva can act as a powerful diagnostic tool, offering a window into oral and systemic disease, even in the absence of traditional symptoms. During a dental visit, saliva can be collected and tested for biomarkers of:

-Hepatitis

-HIV

-Cancer

-Osteoporosis

-And more.

Saliva additionally wards off disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

These are just a few of the ways that your oral and systemic health are connected, further research could show even more of a correlation. To learn more about your health, contact your denturist in Portland OR! We can help you develop a dental hygiene plan that can give yourself the best chance you have at staying at the top of your game.

A Denturist’s View of Tobacco Use

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

You have all heard it and it’s basically common knowledge… Smoking and tobacco use is not good for your health. That said, you might not have heard about what it can do to your oral health! Today your denturist in Portland OR wants to show you the effects of smoking on your dentures and people with dental implants as well.

Back fifty years ago, people were not so aware of the risks and health issues associated with smoking or the connection between cigarettes and lung cancer. And over time, we have seen study after study showing consistent findings showing links to mouth cancer, gum disease, and tooth decay. It is also important to note that smoking cigarettes and the use of other tobacco products can actually cause negative effects to where the soft tissue connects the bone to the teeth and impacts the function of the oral cells and tissues.

With the knowledge that tobacco use can drastically damage your denture (or dental implant) experience, it is more important than ever to stop smoking if you can.

Here are just a few things to know:

Your dental implant failure risk increases if you use tobacco. Many medical professionals will recommend quitting smoking if you’re considering having dental implants.
If you smoke, you are at greater risk of infection when having dental implants fitted.
Smoking can damage the success rate of dental surgery.
Your healing time is extended after surgery for those who smoke. This is because nicotine constricts your arteries and reduces the blood flow to your gums.
Bone loss that comes with losing your teeth is often accelerated in smokers, which can cause your face to shrink and other harmful side effects.

Risks of Second-Hand Smoke

There are many things that can be harmful to your oral health, and tobacco use is definitely on the list for both adults and children. Second-hand smoke causes more harm than you might realize, for yourself and for those around you! All the more reason to quit smoking.

Second-hand smoking (or passive smoking) is dangerous to everyone, children included, leading to respiratory problems and other health complications. What you might not realize is that it can actually cause the formation of cavities in children’s teeth.

We hope that this information has helped you realize the harmful effects of smoking and has shed some light on how serious these issues can be. You may not always be able to see or feel the damage it does, but it’s there.

To learn more about oral health or have questions about your dentures in Portland OR, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

5 Surprising Tips for Increasing Denture Efficiency With Dental Implants

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

In many cases, adding dental implants in Portland OR can make your dentures feel more natural and help them function better in comparison to dentures worm without an implant anchor. This process will provide you with much more confidence and freedom.

Those who already have implants will find that they experience even more improved denture function with dental implants.

Why do dental implants help denture function?

In the case of replacing single missing teeth, your dental implant becomes your new permanent tooth replacement option. It uses a small titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone, serving as the “tooth root.” This life-like dental crown is attached to the post, creating a natural-looking and natural-feeling replacement for your tooth.

Now when a patient is completely toothless and has dentures, a specialized “locator attachment” is used in place of a crown. The attachment is made to anchor the denture to the implant, resulting in an easy-to-wear denture option. When you have an implant to serve as an anchor, your dentures function will more naturally.

Dental implants are being advertised every day, helping make patients more aware than ever of their benefits and accessibility.

Here are a few things to know…

1. Dental implants are quite often the best thing for patients who are missing a tooth or multiple teeth. An implant or implant-supported restoration could last up to 30 years or more, contributing to patients’ oral health and overall well-being.

2. Many physical and emotional factors lead to patients wanting implants:

Missing teeth
Bone deterioration
Improving smile or face shape.

From the clinician’s perspective, good candidates are patients who exhibit adequate bone support, good overall health, are not at risk for periodontal disease, and exhibit excellent oral hygiene. Risk factors to consider include health history, smoking, systemic disease, current medications and history, malocclusion, parafunctional habits, and even unrealistic expectations. Many risk factors will impact a successful clinical outcome if they can’t be resolved.

3. Tooth extraction is very technique sensitive, especially in the anterior. Care must be taken to ensure that sufficient bone and tissue are preserved to support an implant and a natural, esthetic emergence profile. If not enough bone exists to support immediate placement /loading, a bone graft can help support the soft tissue until an implant can be placed.

Whether disease, decay, or trauma has caused tooth loss, if a tooth can’t be replaced immediately, the surrounding bone may begin to shrink or resorb. Severe bone loss can make it impossible to place a dental implant later. A small block of substitute bone such as an allograft can be shaped to restore the ridge to its original form to prevent bone loss. Once the bone block is secured in place with titanium screws, additional bone material can be used to cover the surrounding area and create a more natural final shape.

4. Dental implants in Portland OR are supposed to last a lifetime. Patient education is the best defense for the long life of implant restoration. Patients should understand that an implant’s success depends on their home care as well as continued overall health.

5. Compliance may be aided by explaining that their oral hygiene regimen will be essentially the same as for their natural teeth – brushing, flossing, and professional teeth cleaning – although they may be asked to use special brushes and interdental products, low-abrasive or low pH toothpastes, and different techniques or irrigation technologies to avoid damaging the various implant component surfaces. They also may need to have additional professional cleaning sessions to reduce plaque and prevent periimplantitis, depending on their oral health and compliance.

Your dentures are designed to give you significant improvement to your daily oral function, but current denture wearers will let you know that they aren’t perfect. That said, once you get past the learning curve, you will begin to find that it’s much easier to eat certain foods or speak normally with dentures.

Here at Classic Denture Center, we do not place implants. We create your new dentures and place them over your implants. To discuss whether dental implants would be right for your oral health, contact us today!

Easing Your Dental (and Denture) Fears

Posted on October 25, 2019October 25, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

Do you fear having any sort of dental work done? If so, you are not alone! This fear often starts as a child, but sometimes doesn’t go away once you’re grown-up! As a matter of fact, somewhere between 9% and 20% of Americans downright avoid going to the dentist because of fear or anxiety.

For some though, the fear is much more than simple anxiety, it’s a phobia. People who experience this condition are often full of panic and terror at the mere thought of having dental procedures done. Though they often know that this fear is irrational, they are unable to control it.

So what do they do? They avoid the thing that terrifies them. They will do everything they can to get out of going to the dentist, including going through pain and experiencing much worse oral health than those who go to the dentist regularly.

Below you will find some of the classic symptoms of someone who has this phobia straight from your denturist in Portland OR:

Difficulty sleeping the night before going to the dentist
Experiencing nervousness or anxiety that escalates while in the waiting room
Experiencing a loss of control over emotions (crying) or feeling sick when thinking about visiting the dentist
Feeling uneasy about the idea or act of objects placed inside your mouth during the treatment
Feeling like you won’t be able to breathe during your procedure

These symptoms can be debilitating and detrimental to your oral health, but it’s definitely worth fighting through.

In order to know how to resolve this phobia, it is important to understand the reasons behind it. Some of the common causes include:

Fearing pain: This is a very common reason many people avoid dental appointments or procedures. Often this fear stems from experiencing an unpleasant or painful dental encounter in the past. It can also come from hearing “dental horror stories” from other people, causing an irrational fear of going through something similar. That said, it is important to remember that due to medical advances, many procedures are actually pain-free, or close to it!

Fearing injections (or fearing that those injections won’t be effective): One of the most common irrational fears out there is the fear of needles. Especially ones inserted inside the mouth. Injections are uncomfortable but are mostly tolerated. Moving further, some people are terrified that the medicine will not have taken effect before the procedure begins.
Fearing side effects: While less common, this is a real fear, especially for those who haven’t experienced anesthetic before. In many cases, people will fear the dizziness, faintness, nausea, or having a numb mouth.
Fearing feeling helpless: Most medical procedures come with a loss of control, and some people do not like that idea.
Feelings of embarrassment or feeling claustrophobic: Some people may feel uncomfortable about the physical closeness of the other people in the room. Others may feel self-conscious about the way their teeth look or about having someone smell their breath.

Dental fear is common… Normal even! So if this is you, we want you to remember the importance of your oral health. Regular cleanings and checkups can prevent tooth decay, tooth loss, and the need for dentures too soon!

In the long run, you will be happy you bit the bullet and held your head high in the face of pain!

If you need to see the denturist in Portland OR for any of our services, from implants to dentures, do not hesitate to contact us at Classic Denture Center today! We would love to help ease your fears and make sure you leave our office with a (beautiful) smile on your face.

What YOU Need To Know About Tooth Sensitivity

Posted on September 18, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

Here at Classic Denture Center, your denturist in Portland OR Tanya Poleon has seen just about every mouth complaint out there! That said, one she hears about quite often is tooth sensitivity. This is probably due to the fact that many of her patients are getting new dentures because of pre-existing oral conditions, many of which cause sensitivity.

In any case, sensitivity of the teeth is highly common.

Most everyone has experienced a tooth (or more than one) that is a bit sensitive to hot, cold, or chewing, it’s just a part of life… But sometimes this discomfort can point towards a condition or problem within your mouth, making it a good idea to have things checked out as soon as you can.

So What is Tooth Sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity, otherwise known as dentin hypersensitivity, is a pain associated with your teeth when they are exposed to certain conditions. Some of these conditions include:

Hot liquids or foods
Cold liquids or foods
Overly sweet liquids or foods
Acidic liquids or foods

In some cases, you might even experience tooth sensitivity when your teeth are exposed to the cold air.

This sensitivity occurs when the outer coating of the tooth (enamel) is chipped, cracked, or weakened from decay or other factors. This weak outer layer causes the softer dentin beneath to be exposed. You might not know it, but dentin is a porous material that contains many little channels running through it. These channels run to the sensitive nerve-containing pulp at the center of your tooth. This is why these external conditions might cause momentary sharp pain when exposed to hot or cold.

What are the common causes of sensitive teeth?

The most common underlying causes of having sensitive teeth are:

Using a hard toothbrush that has stiff bristles. This can wear the enamel down.
Using a toothpaste that is too abrasive.
Having a cracked or chipped tooth in your mouth, exposing the dentin.
Grinding your teeth can also gradually wear down the enamel from friction between the teeth.
Having gum disease or gum recession can also cause sensitivity due to the gum receding from the base of the tooth causing the enamel to thin, the dentin.
Foods that are acidic can also cause the enamel to weaken.

The above are just a few of the causes behind your sensitive teeth, but thankfully there are some things you can do about it!

How Can I Treat Tooth Sensitivity?

The first step in treating sensitive teeth is to get a fluoride toothpaste to ease the pain. Along with that step, it is also a good idea to swap your current toothbrush for one with soft bristles. Using a fluoride rinse or gel is another great idea, and so is avoiding the foods that you know will cause you pain. In some cases, getting a mouthguard is a good idea for those who grind their teeth.

Here are a few treatments that might be necessary for your sensitive teeth:

Fixing or sealing any cracks or chips in the teeth
Undergoing a gum graft to protect the root of the affected tooth
Treating gum disease
Having bonding applied to the exposed root
Root canal treatment
Extractions or implants if the tooth has too much damage

If you have questions about tooth sensitivity or any services we provide, your denturist in Portland Oregon, Tanya Poleon, would love to help! Her main goal is to help you keep your smile exactly the way you want it to be! Contact us today!

3 Enticing Reasons To Stop Wearing Your Dentures While you Sleep

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

At Classic Denture Center we like to live by the saying: “Take care of your dentures and your dentures will take care of you.” Perhaps you have heard it before?

It might not be such a new saying, but it is definitely good advice! When you take care of your new pearly whites, you can improve how long they last, how well they look, and most importantly, how good they feel. To keep them in tip-top shape, your denturist in Portland OR suggests having them cleaned and checked regularly.

Another piece of advice we have to offer you is to stop wearing your dentures around the clock. What we mean by this is that wearing them overnight could lead to some major undesirable consequences.

Wearing your dentures 24/7 can actually accelerate bone loss in your jaw and over time cause your dentures to lose their comfortable fit. Bone loss is a natural consequence of tooth loss due to the fact that the bone is no longer stimulated to grow by your teeth during chewing, but accelerating this loss is not something you want. Dentures can’t accomplish that stimulus and the pressure they place on your gums and underlying bony ridges can make bone loss worse. Removing your dentures at night is one way to relieve this pressure and slow the loss of bone.

Dentures can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. These growths can lead to irritation, unpleasant mouth odors, and even disease. Remembering to take your dentures out at night helps deprive the microorganisms in your mouth of the prime opportunity to breed and grow. Also, taking them out offers you a great opportunity to clean your dentures. When people sleep with them in, they are much more likely to have gum or oral yeast infections and higher levels of proteins produced by white cells that increase inflammation. These infections could definitely contribute to other diseases in your body.

Sleeping without your dentures also increases their longevity. Your dentures already have to put up with a lot of wear and tear. You chew with them, talk with them, and they live in your mouth for half of the day already. When you take them out at night, you are able to keep up with oral hygiene and give them a break from the tough job they need to do. This will lead to a longer denture life-span and save you money.

In addition to taking your dentures out while you sleep, it’s obviously a good idea to practice other daily hygiene tasks including:

Removing your dentures after you eat and rinsing them with clean water
Brushing your dentures every day with a soft-bristled brush and dish or antibacterial soap or dental cleanser (remember, do not use toothpaste but do rinse thoroughly)
Remembering to clean your gums and tongue every single day
Storing them in clean water or preferably an alkaline peroxide-based solution

Your denturist in Portland OR believes that taking out your dentures while you sleep and following good oral habits will help extend the life and fit of your dentures. It can also help with your overall health.

If you want to learn more about proper denture care, please contact us today!

What’s a Dental Bridge and Do I need One?

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

Tanya Poleon, your trusted denturist in Portland OR believes that being knowledgeable about your oral health is a key component to your overall health. It’s how you take control over how your mouth looks and feels. Without that control, you might just miss out on an important factor in keeping your mouth at its best!

To continue that tradition, she felt that now is a good time to share with you the basic information regarding a dental bridge.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A bridge is a dental restoration that fills the space where one or more teeth are missing. The bridge restores your bite and helps keep the natural shape of your face.

Since a missing tooth is a serious matter, bridges are highly necessary to ensure your teeth can work together in the way they need to. When you lose a tooth, the nearby teeth may tilt or drift into the empty space. The teeth in the opposite jaw may also shift up or down toward the space. This can affect your bite and place more stress on your teeth and jaw joints, possibly causing pain.

It is also important to note that teeth that have tipped or drifted are more difficult to clean. This puts them at a higher risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

When a tooth is missing, the bone may shrink. If that happens, it may change the way the jawbone supports the lips and cheeks. Over time, this can make your face look different.

How is a Bridge Placed?

Many people don’t realize it, but placing a bridge usually takes more than one dental visit. Below are the typical steps for placing your new dental bridge:

On your first visit, your dentist prepares the teeth on either side of the gap. The bridge will later be attached to these teeth.
Your dentist then takes an impression of your teeth and the space, and sends the impression to a dental laboratory.
The technicians at the lab make the bridge.
Your dentist will place a temporary bridge to protect your exposed teeth while you are waiting for the permanent one.
The bridge is then fixed, or cemented, to the prepared teeth.
This type of bridge is permanent and cannot be taken out of your mouth without a dentist’s help.
During one or more follow-up visits, the bridge is fitted, adjusted, and cemented in place.

What if I am missing several teeth?

Dental implants may be used to support a bridge when several teeth are missing. Implants are posts that are surgically placed into the jaw. The implants fuse to the jawbone to act as a base for the bridge. A key benefit of implants is that they don’t need support from the surrounding teeth.

Because surgery is required, candidates for dental implants should have good general health and enough bone to support an implant.

How do I care for my bridge?

A bridge can lose its support if the surrounding teeth or jawbone holding the bridge are damaged by dental disease.

Follow these tips for good oral health:

Brush twice a day and floss or use another between-the-teeth cleaner.
Brushing and cleaning between the teeth helps remove plaque, a sticky film of bacteria.
Always clean between your teeth and under the bridge.
There are many kinds of flossers, picks and little brushes – ask your dentist what type will work well with your bridge.

It is very important to see your dentist regularly for exams and professional cleaning.

Placing a bridge is an expensive dental procedure. At Classic Denture Center we can fabricate you a partial or a flipper to substitute your missing tooth/teeth at a price that will make you smile! Contact your trusted denturist in Portland OR today to learn more!

Together We Can Help Prevent Tooth Decay

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

We have all heard it takes a village to raise a child, right? And to be honest, this is such an important part of our lives… But what about the idea that it takes an army to raise and maintain optimal oral hygiene? The constant 24-hour, 7-days-a-week battle against bacteria and inflammation in the oral cavity is a universal issue for all humans, children and adults alike. Your dental professionals, including your denturists in Portland OR at Classic Denture Center, are at the forefront of this struggle each and every day… Constantly learning and evolving to find new ways to keep your mouth healthy and beautiful.

Even in cases where your teeth look healthy, acids in everyday foods and drinks can still put enamel at risk and potentially cause enamel erosion. It’s true! You may not feel it or see it, but you could be doing damage to your teeth without even knowing it.

What is Enamel Erosion?

Enamel erosion from acids is a form of tooth wear that is caused by acid softening the surface of the tooth enamel. When tooth enamel (the tooth’s hard surface) is exposed to acids from certain everyday foods or drinks, it can temporarily soften and lose some of its mineral content. When the enamel is softened and you brush your teeth, it can be worn away more easily. Foods and drinks with a high acid content, such as fruit and fruit juices, sparkling water with lemon, salad dressing, and wine, may erode your tooth enamel.

Effects of pH

Evidence-based approaches are enabling dental professionals to shift their focus from identifying disease process outcomes to managing and controlling risk factors for infection. Among these risk factors are low (acidic) pH levels contributing to tooth demineralization and susceptibility. A more acidic oral environment is responsible for shifting the balance of oral biofilm from one supporting health to one in which the harmful bacteria implicated in destructive tooth decay and periodontal diseases are more prominent.

Advice for Caring for Your Teeth

Oral health maintenance and prevention begins with a strong mechanical and chemical homelier regime. All dental professionals are taught about how it takes a combination of mechanical and chemical tools to help our patients achieve optimal oral health. Inflammation, decay, erosion, and sensitivity can all be symptoms you are suffering from growing plaque bacteria.

Here at Classic Denture Center, we are your denturists in Portland OR fighting on the frontlines every single day for your oral health. We care for our patients and always give to them a full scope of recommendations for home care. Contact us today to learn more about your oral health and what can be done to improve it.

Sleep Apnea: A Hidden Disorder

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

When you think about sleep apnea, who comes to mind?

Many people misguidedly think that sleep apnea only afflicts men over the age of 50 who are overweight. While these things do factor into an increased risk for sleep apnea, you might be surprised to hear that so much more goes into it.

Today, your denturist in Portland OR would like to clear the air a bit about who suffers from sleep apnea and how serious this condition is.

A person who suffers from sleep apnea could be:

Male or Female
In any physical condition
Young, middle-aged, mature adult, or elderly

As a matter of fact, an estimated 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and a staggering 80% of these cases are undiagnosed. This means that you could be struggling with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and not even realize it. It is also important to note that between 1% and 4% of all children, including infants, are affected.

So what is sleep apnea and why is it a concern?

This is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea. The main type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where the throat muscles relax and disrupt the normal breathing pattern.

Sleep apnea can be the cause of many other secondary issues because the afflicted cannot obtain restful sleep.

Disease manifestations in the absence of appropriate, quality sleep can include:

Depression and anxiety
Dementia
Hypertension
Congestive heart failure
Nighttime heart attacks
Obesity
Memory loss
Atrial fibrillation
Impotence
Metabolic syndrome
Lack of energy
Diabetes
Premature death

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

The signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap, sometimes making it difficult to determine which type you have.

The most common signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas include:

Loud snoring
Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep – which would be reported by another person
Gasping for air during sleep
Awakening with a dry mouth
Morning headache
Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
Difficulty paying attention while awake
Irritability

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Sleep breathing disorders must be diagnosed by a physician, and will typically begin with a sleep study. Once a diagnosis has been rendered, the physician can refer the patient to a qualified dentist who knows how to create the appropriate sleep device. Denturists and dentists work together in making different devices to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

If you think you or someone you love think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, time is of the essence! You never know, you could be one of the 80% of people with this disorder who are unaware they have it.

If you have any questions about sleep apnea or the devices you may need, please don’t hesitate to contact your denturist in Portland OR. Tanya Poleon understands the ins and outs of sleep apnea and can help you better understand various devices that treat the illness.

The Warning Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Periodontal Disease

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

Periodontal disease is an infection and inflammation that affects the tissues and bone that support your teeth. Today your denturist in Portland OR wants to share some information about this medical condition and share some warning signs to watch for.

When your gums are healthy, your gum tissues tightly hug each of your teeth. When you have gum disease, your gums pull away from your teeth. As the gum disease gets worse, the tissues and bones that support your teeth become damaged. Over time, your teeth may need to be removed.

Treating Periodontal Disease in the Early Stages is Very Important and Can Help Prevent Tooth Loss.

Periodontal disease has been linked to other diseases. Gum disease is common among people with either diabetes or heart disease. Strokes and high stress also may be related to periodontal disease.

It is important to talk to your dentist about medications you may be taking or health problems you may have. Together, you can work out an oral care plan for your best oral and overall health.

Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease

Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
Gums that are red, swollen, puffy or tender
Gums that no longer tightly hug your teeth
Feeling that your teeth are loose
Bad breath that doesn’t go away
A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
A change in the way your partial dentures fit

You may notice one or more of these warning signs, or you may not have any signs of gum disease at all. This is why it is important to see your dentist regularly. Treatment of periodontal disease is most successful when it is caught early.

Causes of Periodontal Disease

Plaque is a sticky film that is always on your teeth. Bacteria that live in the plaque can cause your body to react and make your gums become red, puffy and swollen. Plaque can harden when it is left on your teeth and gums. Hardened plaque is also called tartar. Gums that are red, puffy, and swollen also start to pull away from your teeth. Spaces called pockets start to form between your gums and teeth. These pockets give bacteria a place to collect and grow.

The bacteria in your oral pockets will cause your gum condition to get worse. These bacteria produce toxins, which causes your body to break down the gum tissues and bone around your teeth.

Are You at Risk?

Anyone can get periodontal disease, but there are other factors that can raise your risk of getting it.

Not taking care of your teeth and gums. Be sure you brush 2 times a day, every day, and for 2 minutes each time. Also, please remember to clean between your teeth every day.
Using tobacco of any kind. You are more likely to have gum disease if you smoke, chew, or dip tobacco.
Diseases that affect the whole body, such as diabetes and HIV infection lower your body’s resistance to infection, including periodontal disease.
Many medications, such as those to treat blood pressure or steroids, can affect your gums. A common side effect is dry mouth. This can increase your risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease. Tell your dentist about all the medications you take and any changes in your health.
Teens, pregnant women, and those taking birth control pills have changes in hormone levels. These changes can cause gums to become more sensitive to plaque bacteria.
Genes may play a role. If your parents wear dentures or you have a family history of tooth loss, be extra alert for changes to your gums.
The bacteria that cause gum disease may be passed from parents to children and between partners through saliva.

Treating Periodontal Disease

Your gum disease treatment will depend on factors such as your personal health history and the stage of your periodontal disease.

All dentists are trained to detect and treat gum disease. That said, in some cases, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist – a dentist who specializes in the treatment of gum disease.

If the gum disease is caught early enough (when it is gingivitis), you may simply need a professional cleaning. Your dental team can also give you advice for improving your daily oral hygiene.

A professional cleaning is not enough if your gum disease is severe. Usually, a special deep cleaning called scaling and root planing is needed. Scaling and root planing is sometimes called “deep cleaning” or “periodontal cleaning.”

If you have any questions about periodontal disease or suspect you may be developing it, your denturist in Portland OR recommends that you see your dentist right away.