Oral health is one crucial component of overall health, and this is even more true when you’re pregnant. 

Did you know that studies have revealed a connection between periodontitis — also known as gum disease — and premature birth? Gum disease also has been linked to low birthweight. That’s why it’s so important for you to take care of your teeth and gums while you’re expecting. 

How does pregnancy affect your dental health?

The changes in your body you experience during pregnancy can have a big impact on your teeth and gums. One of the most obvious signs of pregnancy is bleeding gums. When you’re pregnant, there’s more blood flowing through your veins, a higher level of acid in your mouth, and a drastic rise in hormones. 

All of these changes can cause problems with your oral health. These issues can include: 

• Gingivitis: Do your gums bleed when you brush? Are your gums red, swollen and/or sore? Then you might have gingivitis. Progesterone, a hormone that is heightened during pregnancy, can lead to gingivitis, so it’s a common occurrence in pregnant women. You’ll need to see a dentist to treat the gingivitis before it gets more serious and turns into periodontitis (gum disease).
• Tooth loss: Just like it causes gingivitis, excess progesterone during pregnancy — along with estrogen — can impact the tissues and bones that keep your teeth intact. If you feel loose teeth while you’re pregnant, this is normal. 
• Periodontitis: If all of the above conditions are heightened to include extreme swelling and infection in your gums and the bones in your mouth, then you could have periodontitis. This is a serious gum disease. It can also cause your teeth to become loose. You’ll need to get this treated immediately. 
• Pregnancy tumors: Tumor sounds like a scary word, but pregnancy tumors are not cancerous, but instead, lumps that form in between teeth — on already swollen gums. The tumors can cause your mouth to bleed. They could be caused by having too much plaque. Flossing will help to eliminate plaque, but if the pregnancy tumors don’t go away on their own, you might end up having them surgically removed after you have your baby. 
• Tooth decay: Tooth decay — or when the enamel that protects your tooth breaks down — is caused by acid in your mouth. Because pregnancy creates higher levels of acid in your mouth, tooth decay is more common among women who are expecting. You’ll have even higher acidity levels if you’re experiencing a lot of morning sickness and vomiting during pregnancy. 

How you can help you and your unborn child

The myth that it’s unsafe to visit your dentist for cleanings or X-rays while you’re pregnant is just that: a myth. Visiting your dentist can be integral in keeping your mouth (and thus your baby) healthy while you’re expecting. 

You should notify your dentist as soon as you know about your pregnancy so he or she can adjust treatment, procedures and medications. The American Pregnancy Association says the second trimester is the usually the best time for minor dental work (i.e. cleaning, fillings).

Summer is approaching and many people are working on their physiques to get into beach body-worthy shape. While folks want to look great in swimwear, having a white smile can boost your attractiveness, too. Your smile says a lot about you including your friendliness and confidence.

Age and exposure to stain-causing foods, beverages, and tobacco will darken our teeth over time. While surface stains can be removed with good oral hygiene and professional dental cleanings, you might need to invest in having a professional teeth whitening treatment to achieve the bright smile you want.

If you want to look great head to toe, consider the following tips for achieving pearly whites.

Commit to a Thorough Oral Hygiene Regimen

It’s true that a proper oral hygiene routine prevents disease. But you might not know that regular brushing and flossing can help you achieve (and maintain) a whiter smile. Brushing and flossing removes plaque, a semi-translucent substance that coats our teeth. Plaque accumulation can make teeth appear dull and yellow.

You should brush at least twice a day and not more than thrice for about two minutes each time. Brushing long enough helps rinse away plaque and leftover debris from food that stains teeth. Even though brushing is pretty effective at cleaning your mouth, it isn’t enough. You should also floss once a day to control plaque development and remove debris that has accumulated between teeth.

You can also use a whitening toothpaste to lighten your teeth a shade or two but keep in mind that store-bought whitening products can only address surface stains. Teeth whitening toothpastes also contain abrasives so they shouldn’t be used for too long.

Schedule a Dental Cleaning

Did you know a dental cleaning can boost the vibrancy of your smile? It’s true. Professional prophylaxis removes surface stains and debris that can make teeth look discolored.

Even if you practice great oral hygiene, you still need a dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar. Having two professional cleanings a year will help keep your teeth looking bright and lustrous.

Quit Smoking

There is a plethora of good reasons to quit smoking and protecting your smile is one of them. Using tobacco—including chewing tobacco—can permanently discolor your teeth. While you’re adopting a healthier lifestyle to rock your summer clothing, consider quitting tobacco, too to boost your health and protect the color of your smile.

Drink Coffee, Tea, and Soda in Moderation

Dark-colored beverages like coffee and soda can lead to permanent tooth stains. Drinking them frequently will cause extrinsic stains that can only be lightened with a professional whitening treatment.

Beyond cutting down your consumption of dark beverages, you can drink clear water afterwards. Water helps rinse away food and beverage particles. It also the dilutes acidic content of many of these drinks, which is important for preventing tooth enamel damage.   

Oral health and general wellness are connected. A wealth of research has been dedicated to studying the links between common oral health conditions like gum disease and general health concerns like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Quite a bit of this research has shown that there is a correlation between the development of periodontal (gum) disease and cardiovascular health conditions. When it comes to men’s health, this research matters—particularly because men have higher risks for developing gum disease and heart disease than women.

The Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease & Gum Disease Among Men

Studies show that the incidence of both gum disease and heart disease is higher among men than women. Some of these statistics might startle you.

• Heart disease is the most common cause of death among men from all ethnic groups
• About half of men’s deaths attributed to heart disease were asymptomatic at their onset
• Gum disease is over 56% more likely to affect men than women
• Men tend to have poorer dental health including excessive plaque and tartar accumulation as well as inflamed gingiva
• Roughly 80% of the adult population in the USA will develop a form of periodontal disease at least once in their lifetimes

Connections Between Periodontal Health and Heart Health

Did you know that people with gum disease have a two to three times higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease—especially heart attack and stroke?

The exact correlations between heart disease and periodontal health are still being researched. Previous studies have shown, however, that the plaque present in periodontal disease can enter the blood stream. This plaque and the bacteria that infect the gums can attach to arteries in the heart.

Additionally, the level of inflammation present among those with gum disease appears to contribute to health issues including the cardiovascular variety. Harvard Medical School specifically points to the link between the long-term inflammatory responses of gum disease and atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of fatty deposits of plaque in the arteries.

Preventing Gum Disease for Men

Preventing gum disease has a number of health benefits for men, including reduced risks for developing cardiovascular problems. The most effective way to prevent periodontal disease is to practice proper oral hygiene. The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Periodontology set forth guidelines for oral hygiene that include:

• Brushing teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time
• Flossing once each day
• Using ADA-approved oral hygiene tools and fluoridated toothpaste

Beyond practicing good oral hygiene, men should receive two dental cleanings and checkups each year, spaced about six months apart. Regular dental exams will help detect gum disease at its earliest stages, when it’s far easier to manage and treat.

There’s nothing like playing a sport. You get to push your body and mind to its limits, refine difficult skills, burn tons of calories, and enjoy a rush of endorphins. Physical activity is a wonderful thing for your mind and body. And while sports and physical activities have abundant wellness benefits, an injury—especially one that affects your mouth and face, could be devastating.

Sports-induced oral health injuries can be severe and require multiple invasive treatments and surgeries. They are also incredibly painful. While modern dentistry and medicine can help you get your comfort and quality of life back on track, prevention is always best.

Wearing a mouthguard—particularly one that is custom made by your dentist—is one of the best ways to prevent sports-related facial trauma.

Sports-Related Facial Injuries: The Painful Truth

A hard tumble on the court or a hard bump into an opponent’s elbow could land you in the emergency room with crippling pain and far-reaching damage to precious oral tissue. When it comes to a sports-related facial injury, the effects are dizzying and distressing. Blunt trauma to the oral cavity and face can lead to broken and knocked out teeth, fractured facial bones, dislocated jawbones, and deep lacerations into the lips and cheeks.

Some traumatic facial injuries can be mild but the best-case scenario is normally a knocked out tooth. The worst-case scenario is far more disturbing. Facial trauma can cause multiple injuries to different types of tissue at once. A blow to the face could require multiple types treatment from an ER physician, an oral maxillofacial surgeon, and a dentist—not to mention multiple surgeries and months of down time spent healing.

Patients with severe facial injuries might need a combination of treatments such as:

• Corrective jaw surgery
• Tooth extractions
• Dental implant placement
• Suturing of lacerated soft tissue
• Restorations like dental crowns and bridges

When the oral cavity endures trauma, special care has to be taken because the oral health system is delicate and complex. There are numerous nerve endings, capillaries, and blood vessels to consider when providing treatment.

If the jaws are affected, correcting broken bones and misalignments takes time and invasive care. Slightly misaligned jaws can throw a big wrench into a person’s quality of life—leaving them with frequent discomfort and diminished oral function. Correcting something like broken jawbones requires precise care from a specialist like an oral surgeon.

Statistics Reveal Why Mouthguards are Necessary

If you’re still not sold on the need for mouthguards, the numbers might convince you. An alarming number of athletes and parents of child-aged athletes don’t use mouthguards. As it stands now, a whopping 200,000 facial injuries are prevented each year among those who do wear recommended safety gear like mouthguards and chin straps.

This number could be higher, though. Much higher. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation’s study in 2012, as many as three million teeth were knocked out by sports injuries. The Center for Disease Control also estimates that there are over 7 million sports-related injuries for youth, teens, and adults annually. Unfortunately, not wearing mouthguards increases a person’s risks for sport-induced dental injuries by 60 times.

When you look at the numbers, wearing a mouthguard just makes sense.

Sports and Activities Where Mouthguards are Recommended

You might be surprised to learn how often mouthguards are recommended for sports and physical activities. Many people know that mouthguards are especially important for contact sports like boxing and wrestling but might be surprised to learn that they’re recommended for other activities like skateboarding, horseback riding, and football.

Here are some other activities and sports for which the American Dental Association recommends wearing mouthguards:

• Gymnastics
• Skating
• Basketball
• Field Hockey
• Martial Arts
• Raquetball
• Lacrosse
• Shot Put
• Skiing
• Soccer

Types of Mouthguards

There are a couple of types of mouthguards. Sporting goods stores and large supermarkets carry ready-made mouthguards that come in various sizes as well as “boil and bite” mouthguards that can conform better to a person’s unique oral anatomy. While these mouthguards can prevent some facial injuries, the best option for protection and comfort is to have a custom mouthguard made by your dentist.

A custom mouthguard is made to very exact specifications so that it properly covers (and protects) your teeth. Custom oral appliances will fit more comfortably, too. A comfortable mouthguard is more likely to be used.

Our Lafayette, LA family dentist offers custom mouthguards to help you protect you and your children’s oral health. Call our friendly team today to schedule a consultation.

We’ve all woken up with bad breath. And most of us pack some breath mints or sugar-free gum to use after a meal laced with garlic and onions. In a way, having bad breath from time to time is universal. But bad breath can be a little more problematic than short-term unpleasant odors from aromatic foods. Persistent bad breath might be an indicator of poor oral hygiene or an oral health condition.

Halitosis—the clinical term for bad breath—can be short-term or more chronic. The causes and solutions to bad breath might surprise you. If you’ve ever wondered what’s behind bad breath and how to combat it, keep reading for little-known facts about halitosis.

Causes of Bad Breath

Many people equate halitosis with eating certain foods like onions and garlic. While aromatic foods can give your breath a distinct odor, it’s actually short lived. This is because once our bodies process foods that cause bad breath, the odor stops.  

It probably goes without saying that tobacco use contributes to unpleasant breath. There’s abundant reasons to quit smoking and preventing bad breath is only one of them.

Even though its common to have short-term bad breath from food from time to time, the real cause of bad breath is normally the bacteria in your mouth.

Our mouths are home to millions of bacteria. Some are “good” bacteria and many other strains are bad bacteria. Bad bacteria contribute to bad breath, infections, and some are cariogenic—which means they contribute to tooth decay. Bacteria feed on sugar molecules in the food we consume. As bacteria feed, they colonize. They also produce acids as by-products. These acids affect the oral pH in our mouths, another factor that can contribute to the development of more bacteria and subsequently, bad breath.

Another culprit behind halitosis is oral infections. If you have gum disease or thrush (a fungal infection) you could have some serious oral odors. This is because the bacteria in your mouth are infecting oral tissue. For instance, gum disease is incredibly destructive to your teeth, gums, and bone. As this tissue becomes infected and as bacteria colonizes, a pretty unpleasant smell could be emanating from your mouth.

If you have prosthetics like bridges and dentures or wear orthodontic appliances, bacterial-related halitosis can be especially pesky to you. Food and debris lodged under or around prosthetics and orthodontia are ripe for bacterial feeding.

Home Remedies for Bad Breath

Feeding bacteria with sugary and starchy foods can make halitosis worse—especially if you’re not practicing thorough oral hygiene. Consider making changes to your diet so that you can starve stinky (and harmful) oral bacteria.

Oral hygiene is essential for keeping unpleasant odors at bay. Not only will you protect your teeth and gums from disease, a meticulous oral hygiene regimen will help eliminate halitosis. For optimal health and pleasant breath, consider the following oral hygiene tips:

• Brush twice a day for two minutes each time
• Floss every day
• Brush soft oral tissues including the roof of your mouth, the linings of cheeks, your gums, and your tongue (most oral bacteria accumulates on your tongue!)
• Change your toothbrush or brush heads every three months (four times a year)
• Use oral hygiene tools with the American Dental Association’s seal of acceptance for maximum efficacy and safety

If you wear orthodontic appliances or have prosthetics like bridges or dentures, be sure to clean them thoroughly with oral hygiene tools and soaking (when recommended). Keeping the surfaces of prosthetics and orthodontia clean is imperative for fresh breath.

Addressing Halitosis with Professional Treatment

Improving your oral hygiene routine and reducing sugar consumption will likely improve most recurring halitosis but if it doesn’t, then you should make an appointment with your dentist. A checkup could reveal if an oral health condition like tooth decay or periodontal disease is the cause of your bad breath.

Treating halitosis professionally might involve a deep dental cleaning that removes surface debris above and below the gums. It might also involve treating undiagnosed tooth decay with restorations or removing diseased teeth.

If your dentist rules out common oral health conditions, you might need to see your primary care physician as persistent halitosis could be a sign of kidney and liver issues, diabetes, and sinus problems.

Our Lafayette, LA dentist treats a number of oral health concerns including bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. If you have questions or would like to schedule a checkup, call our practice at your convenience.