Tag Archive for: dental cleaning

What you need to know about Periodontal Disease - dr chauvin lafayette la

What you need to know about Periodontal Disease

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Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a serious condition where the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, creating pockets that trap bacteria and debris. Over time, these pockets can become infected, triggering an immune response that damages the bone and connective tissue that support your teeth. If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss.

At Tim Chauvin DDS & Associates, we help patients throughout Lafayette catch and treat periodontal disease before it reaches this advanced stage.

Understanding Periodontal Disease

Gum disease typically begins as gingivitis, a mild inflammation of the gums. At this stage, no permanent damage has occurred, and the condition is fully reversible with proper care. If not treated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, where bone loss and permanent gum damage begin.

Common Signs of Periodontal Disease:

  • Swollen, red, or tender gums

  • Gums that bleed easily during brushing or flossing

  • Gums receding or pulling away from teeth

  • Loose or shifting teeth

  • Changes in bite or tooth alignment

  • Pain while chewing

  • Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth

  • Tooth sensitivity

Can Periodontal Disease Be Reversed?

In the early stages, yes. Periodontal disease can often be managed and even reversed with early intervention and a strong at-home oral hygiene routine. This includes:

  • Brushing twice daily (especially after waking and before bed)

  • Rinsing with water or brushing after meals and snacks

  • Flossing daily, especially under the gumline

  • Using an antibacterial mouthwash twice a day

However, once gum disease has progressed, professional dental care is essential.

Professional Periodontal Treatments

At Tim Chauvin DDS & Associates, we offer advanced periodontal treatment options tailored to your needs. If X-rays show deep pockets of bacteria under the gumline, we may recommend:

  • Scaling and root planing: A deep cleaning to remove plaque and bacteria

  • Antibacterial rinses or medications

  • Surgical treatment: In more advanced cases, your dentist may perform gum flap surgery to clean infected areas more thoroughly and reposition the gums for better healing

Most patients experience significant improvement with treatment and regain healthy function of their teeth and gums.

Schedule Your Gum Evaluation Today

Don’t ignore the signs of gum disease. With early detection and the right treatment plan, you can protect your smile and avoid long-term damage. If you’re noticing changes in your gums or experiencing symptoms of periodontal disease, contact Tim Chauvin DDS & Associates in Lafayette today to schedule your exam.

We’re here to help you restore your oral health and confidence – starting with your gums.

How Often Do I Need a Dental Cleaning - dr chauvin lafayette la

How often do I need to get a teeth cleaning?

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One of the best things a person can do for their dental health is to prioritize practicing good oral hygiene and keeping routine appointments with his or her dentist.  If you have good oral hygiene habits and good oral health, your dentist and dental hygienist will probably suggest professional teeth cleaning at least twice a year.  For patients with gum disease, dental cleanings may be necessary every quarter.

Dental cleanings are necessary for everyone, including those with great oral health. Even if you brush and floss correctly, you still need to have routine cleanings. A dental cleaning provides much more protection from destructive oral conditions than oral hygiene alone. Cleanings remove substances that cannot be cleaned away with brushing and flossing. During dental cleanings, a dentist or hygienist will measure the depth of periodontal pockets (the space just between the base of a tooth and the gingiva). If these pockets are too wide or deep, it could indicate that a patient has gum disease. Having cleanings every six months greatly improves the chances that a patient’s gum disease is detected in its earliest stages. 

Tartar and plaque form in the mouth at different rates and can lead to periodontal disease that can cause inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) or the bones (periodontitis) that surround and support the teeth. Once these conditions have developed, they can be challenging to treat. The best protection is prevention, with regular teeth cleanings, avoiding smoking, and practicing good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly at home.

What Can I Expect During a Teeth Cleaning?

During a teeth cleaning, a dentist or hygienist will evaluate your overall health and oral hygiene. They will check for any tooth decay, root decay, and gum or bone disease. Any surface stains or deposits of plaque and tartar on your teeth are removed with tools including a tooth polisher and a scaler. Tooth polishers buff teeth and eliminate tiny pieces of plaque. Scalers look a bit like metal hooks and are used to remove calcified plaque (tartar). 

What you can do to prevent gum disease and tooth decay:

There several things you can do to improve your mouth’s health and decrease your chances of dental problems.

  • Scheduling routine checkups and cleanings
  • Brushing 2-3 times a day
  • Flossing once a day
  • Using mouthwash once a day
  • Brushing in soft and gentle circular motions
  • Using the correct type of toothbrush—preferably one with soft bristles that is ADA-approved

Every day, your mouth has to battle oral bacteria and the effects of the foods/beverages you consume. As you eat, food particles are smashed in-between your teeth. Acidic drinks such as fruit juice or soda can wear away enamel over time while sugar serves as a food source for bacteria. As bacteria feed on sugar molecules, they release acids, which soften tooth enamel. 

Since our gums and teeth must contend with a hostile environment, it’s imperative that all patients commit to practicing meticulous oral hygiene and receive dental cleanings twice a year. Keeping appointments with your dentist can help detect oral health concerns in their earliest stages, which is when they are easier and cheaper to treat. 

If it’s time for a checkup or cleaning, give our Lafayette dental office a call at (337) 234-2186 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Chauvin.

How to get rid of bad breath - dr chauvin lafayette la

How to get rid of bad breath

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Do you feel self-conscious about your breath? Bad breath might make us feel awkward in social and professional situations, but the good news is that there are simple things you can do to improve your breath in no time. 

Generally speaking, bad breath (also called halitosis), isn’t serious. In many cases it’s caused by poor oral hygiene but it can also be caused by tooth decay, gum disease, and failing restorations. 

Causes of Bad breath

The underlying cause of most halitosis is the growth of oral bacteria and leftover food stuck in hard-to-reach areas. However, there are other common contributors to bad breath, which include:

  • Certain foods and drinks: Strong-smelling foods such as garlic and onions, as well some dairy products like cheese, along with coffee may be detected on a person’s breath for up to 72 hours after digestion.
  • Not flossing: Small particles of food can get stuck between your teeth, just below your gums, and the back teeth that are difficult to reach. When food particles are left behind, they collect bacteria, which in turn causes bad breath and plaque.
  • Oral Bacteria:  The mouth can harbor obscene amounts of bacteria because it is a warm and moist environment. Moreover, bacterial growth on the tongue accounts for most cases of mouth-related bad breath. 
  • Smoking: Smoking leaves particles in the throat and lungs. This is typical of nearly any tobacco product that involves inhaling smoke or rolling it around in the mouth. The smell of a freshly smoked cigarette can linger in the lungs for hours, hence the stale scent associated with smoker’s breath

How to Control Bad Breath

Controlling most instances of bad breath can be accomplished with committing to better oral hygiene and certain lifestyle changes. 

Oral Hygiene

When it comes to cleaning your teeth and gums, it’s important to dedicate plenty of time to brushing and flossing. For example, it takes about two minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth and soft oral tissue. Adequate brushing involves more than just cleaning your teeth. Since bacteria grows anywhere in the mouth, it’s important to gently brush your tongue, the roof of your mouth, your gums, and the linings of your cheeks. Flossing, like brushing, is an important component of controlling the growth of halitosis-causing bacteria. We recommend using handheld flossers or waxed dental floss to clean hard-to-reach areas. Patients with bridges and implant-supported dentures may want to invest in a water irrigator to keep the gingiva underneath prosthetics debris-free. 

Dietary and Lifestyle Changes

If bad breath persists after improving your oral hygiene, consider removing foods like onions and garlic from your diet. If coffee is the cause of your unpleasant breath, consider switching to green tea or caffeinated sparkling water for a breath-friendly energy fix. 

Smoking and chewing tobacco greatly contributes to bad breath. Since both of these habits cause a number of serious health problems, quitting as soon as possible makes good sense. 

Tooth Decay, Periodontal Disease, and Failing Restorations

Sometimes, halitosis is caused by common dental conditions and old dental work like fillings, inlays, and crowns. Tooth decay and gum (periodontal) disease could be the cause of your unpleasant breath. If you have old dental work, it might be time to get it replaced. Ensuring that your oral health and restorations aren’t the cause of your bad breath involves keeping routine appointments for dental checkups and cleanings. 

Our gentle dentist, Dr. Chauvin provides excellent oral healthcare to patients in and around Lafayette, Louisiana. If it’s time for a checkup or cleaning, give our office a call at (337) 234-2186.

Best New Years Resolutions for you and your teeth

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“New year, new you!”

You may be considering saving some extra money, getting a better job or losing weight. Many people set new goals about having a healthier lifestyle in the new year.  Why not try adding some New Year resolutions for your teeth into the mix? Setting a goal to improve dental health is easy and it can benefit your overall health too.

Simple New Years Resolutions for you and your teeth

  • Schedule out your two dentist appointments – We all know that professional cleanings should happen twice a year, but most people have a hard time making it into the office for just one of the two appointments. We all have packed and growing schedules. So, make it a point to actually see the dentist twice in 2015, even if that means scheduling the appointments right now. You will be glad you did once you’re walking out with a healthy smile!
  • Diet Change (2 birds 1 stone) – Eating well is important for your dental health. Poor nutrition can affect the entire immune system making you more susceptible to a long list of mouth problems (including gum disease). Luckily, eating crisp fruits and raw vegetables like apples, carrots and celery help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath.  Antioxidants and other nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts improve your body’s ability to fight bacteria and inflammation, helping to protect your teeth and gums.
  • Quit smoking – Smokers experience twice the tooth loss of non-smokers, due to plaque and tartar buildup that encourages dental decay.  Your ability to fight infection throughout the body decreases significantly, including in the mouth and gums.  Lastly smoking causes bad breath (and it’s much more pleasant to kiss a non-smoker!)
  • Finally (possibly the hardest resolution) Pick up that FLOSS! – It’s been in the drawer for months just hoping to get it’s big break – why not make 2015 the year? Flossing is the only way to get between the teeth and all the way down in the gum line. The seemingly never ending list of benefits  might just be the kick you need.

So we’ve got you on the right path and hopefully you will think about your teeth while you plan out your New Year’s resolutions, and you will have a healthier, better-looking smile by the time the next year rolls around!

The first and easiest step is picking up the phone to make your appointments – Dr. Chauvin is waiting for your call!

Happy New Year!