Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)
Periodontitis, also generally called gum disease or periodontal disease, begins with bacterial growth in your mouth and may end — if not properly treated — with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds your teeth.
What’s the Difference Between Gingivitis and Periodontitis?
Gingivitis (gum inflammation) usually precedes periodontitis (gum disease). However, it is important to know that not all gingivitis progresses to periodontitis.
In the early stage of gingivitis, bacteria in plaque build up, causing the gums to become inflamed and to easily bleed during tooth brushing. Although the gums may be irritated, the teeth are still firmly planted in their sockets. No irreversible bone or other tissue damage has occurred at this stage.
When gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance to periodontitis. In a person with periodontitis, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth and form pockets. These small spaces between teeth and gums collect debris and can become infected. The body’s immune system fights the bacteria as the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line.
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Tooth Discoloration
/in Cosmetic DentistryWhat Is It?
Your teeth can become discolored by stains on the surface or by changes inside the tooth. There are three main types of tooth discoloration:
Extrinsic — This occurs when the outer layer of the tooth (the enamel) is stained. Coffee, wine, cola or other drinks or foods can stain teeth. Smoking also causes extrinsic stains.
Intrinsic — This is when the inner structure of the tooth (the dentin) darkens or gets a yellow tint. You can get this type of discoloration if:
Age-related — This is a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Dentin naturally yellows over time. The enamel that covers the teeth gets thinner with age, which allows the dentin to show through. Foods and smoking also can stain teeth as people get older. Finally, chips or other injuries can discolor a tooth, especially when the pulp has been damaged.
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Got Braces? It’s Easier to Clean & Floss with a Water Flosser
/in All About Braces, Caring For Your Braces, Living With Braces, Oral Hygiene, Tips & TricksCleaning Dental Braces
Dental braces can create oral health problems such as gingivitis and decalcification (white marks), which lead to more serious issues.
You can minimize or prevent oral health problems caused by dental braces with good dental and orthodontic care.
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Signs of Gum Disease
/in About Orthodontics, General Care, Oral HygieneGingivitis and Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)
Periodontitis, also generally called gum disease or periodontal disease, begins with bacterial growth in your mouth and may end — if not properly treated — with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds your teeth.
What’s the Difference Between Gingivitis and Periodontitis?
Gingivitis (gum inflammation) usually precedes periodontitis (gum disease). However, it is important to know that not all gingivitis progresses to periodontitis.
In the early stage of gingivitis, bacteria in plaque build up, causing the gums to become inflamed and to easily bleed during tooth brushing. Although the gums may be irritated, the teeth are still firmly planted in their sockets. No irreversible bone or other tissue damage has occurred at this stage.
When gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance to periodontitis. In a person with periodontitis, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth and form pockets. These small spaces between teeth and gums collect debris and can become infected. The body’s immune system fights the bacteria as the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line.
Read more
First Day in Braces: Silke from Sidney, Australia
/in Living With BracesFirst Day in Braces: Silke from Sidney, Australia
Here are some weird and wonderful things I thought I’d share with you about my experience with braces so far. I’ve had my braces on for 3 and a half months now. My teeth have moved quite dramatically already. I never expected it to happen so quickly. Anyway here’s my list of hopefully helpful tips for anyone out there thinking of getting braces:
Lots and lots of people have not even noticed I have braces. This surprised me because before getting them, I envisioned explaining my metal mouth to everyone and their dog. I told people at work I was getting braces and believe it or not, one girl was jealous! She says she has always wanted braces. She has perfect teeth but even asked her dentist if she could please get braces. Now that I did not expect.
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The Changing Face of Orthodontics
/in About OrthodonticsWhile the goals of orthodontic treatment haven’t changed since the early days, the way in which we reach those goals to create beautiful, healthy smiles has evolved significantly. With today’s advanced digital technologies, doctors can offer a more comfortable treatment experience that is both faster and allows for better, more exact final results. Gone are the days of providing all patients with the same metal brackets regardless of the underlying issues. Now, we can customize brackets and digitally design each step of the treatment to ensure the course of action addresses the patient’s needs (yours!)
Almost all adults believe a smile is an important social asset and approximately 23 million adult Americans are interested in improving their smiles. If you’re considering orthodontic treatment as an adult, you’re not alone. All patients share similar concerns: how long treatment will take, how painful will it be and how will it affect appearance. The world of orthodontic treatment has changed! Today, with cutting-edge technologies, we can forgo headgear and bulky metal braces and develop a predictable, patient-specific treatment plan with custom made brackets. The following article highlights how technology has successfully addressed some of the biggest treatment fears adult patients have. Braces may just be the perfect option for you!
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Invisalign Before & After
/in Before & After, Do I Need Braces?, InvisalignA picture is worth a thousand words. If you’re curious about how effectively Invisalign® can treat your case, take a look at a few success stories of previous Invisalign patients. Each of these individuals had their own unique orthodontic and dental issues that were successfully treated with Invisalign.
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Will my teeth move after I’ve had braces?
/in All About Braces, Life After Braces, Orthodontic Retention, Orthodontics For Adults, Orthodontics For ChildrenAfter any orthodontic treatment, whether it be Invisalign or conventional braces, you need retainers to hold your teeth in their new positions and keep them straight.
Why wear retainers?
There is a very high likelihood of the movement of teeth after braces are removed or after Invisalign treatment, particularly within the first few months. This is because the gums and bone around your teeth need to readjust and firm up.
Also, as we age, our face matures and our jaws continue to change shape, which may result in tooth movement or crowding of the lower front teeth. Some people even believe the eruption of wisdom teeth can cause the teeth to be “pushed” forward; however, research does not substantiate this theory, as tooth movement can still occur whether you’ve had wisdom teeth removed or not.
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Best Mouthwash For Braces 2015
/in Caring For Your Braces, Oral Hygiene, Preventive CareThose who wear braces have a higher risk of getting plaque formed around the brackets. As a result it can cause tooth decay. Some of the patients when they take off the braces are left with white squares on their teeth. To cover them they need to get white fillings, which costs money and time. That’s why along with brushing your teeth and flossing an important part of your oral care routine should be oral rinsing. For orthodontics a good mouthwash should contain fluoride. Below we have reviewed the best mouthwash for braces.
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What’s the best Electric Toothbrush for Braces?
/in Caring For Your Braces, Oral HygieneLiving with braces can be a challenging experience for most people. According to some studies, more than 4 million people wear braces in United States alone and about a quarter of them are adults. Wearing them can take up to 3 years and keeping a proper oral hygiene during that time is even more important than without them.
Tiny spaces between teeth, braces and wires are like a magnet for foods and plaque. Poor oral hygiene can attract numerous issues like gum diseases, periodontitis and delcalcifications, leaving permanent stains and discolorations on our teeth.
“Can I use electric toothbrush on braces?”
Of course you can! Superior cleaning and plaque removal are the top two features of electric toothbrushes. They are recommended by dentists from all over the world and their customized cleaning modes make them a perfect choice for people with braces.
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7 Tips to Prevent Ceramic Braces From Staining
/in Caring For Your Braces, Living With BracesCeramic braces are brackets that are made to easily blend in with your teeth hence making them unnoticeable. Unlike the metallic and clear braces, these are made to look like your teeth hence more preferred. The ceramic braces are also favored due to their ability to align teeth much faster than the metallic and clear brackets. However, as much as we would like to have these unique ceramic braces, they stain easily if not well taken care of. You need to know the factors that lead to staining beforehand, so you can prevent your ceramic braces from staining in the future. Unfortunately, some people learn through experience which should never be the case.
Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal
This cannot be emphasized enough. This is a practice that should be trained even to small children due to its importance. Making it a habit to brush your teeth with braces immediately after meals ensures that the food color and flavors are washed off hence leaving the mouth clean. This will also prevent tooth decay which is higher due to food getting trapped in between brackets.
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