Archive

Posts Tagged ‘Gum Disease’

Children & teeth … teeth and children

January 7th, 2010

I have several fillings in my teeth and my husband has none! What a lucky man! Of course, I hate going to the dentist and always try to avoid the experience. The mere sound of the drill makes my skin crawl and my ears ring as I’m sure is the case with many moms. Just thinking about it makes me more determined to avoid the place more than ever.

Like all children, my children nag for sweets and tit-bits that they see other children eat. As a conscientious mum I try to avoid those things altogether. It is not that easy. Whenever we socialize they get sweets from someone. That’s life and we all know it.

My daughters – being women – are particularly fond of chocolate. Although they may choose other sweets off the shelves because they look colorful and fun, they always end up eating MY chocolate instead! In a recent survey women voted chocolate to be their ‘first love’. With statistics like that how can I possibly deprive my two little girls from this pleasure?

Of course I end up allowing them chocolate on a regular basis … followed by guilt and concern. I spend thousands on different types of healthy tit-bits in my effort to try and get them to like something healthier. It doesn’t work. For almost 4 years it didn’t work … how long does one bang your head against a brick wall?

But dental health is a real concern in the short and long term!

Just read this! “Chronic periodontal disease affects about 85% of the adult population!” (Dr Steven J. Smith D.D.S., P.C). This disease can affect the entire body through bacteria that is absorbed into the body via the mouth. In fact – any disease in the mouth can affect the whole body because it has a direct pathway into the bloodstream through inflamed tissue supporting the teeth. It was discovered that disease spread through the body in this way can even cause clotting in the blood increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke. The fact is … the mouth must be healthy or else a compromised systemic body health will result.

Recent studies have shown that people with healthy gums have shown to have higher levels of an antioxidant called ‘glutathione’ in their saliva. Glutathione is an antioxidant naturally produced by the body however supplementation will facilitate dental health and reduce the incidence of gum disease.

My eyes and ears were open when I came across articles and information on a product that contains an array of antioxidants, including natural bioavailable glutathione that supports the healthy functioning of the body … providing a long list of other benefits!

It was just the right product for us! Chocolate! It is crucial to know one thing though – not all chocolate is created equal … you need the right kind of chocolate.

My first question was: “What does it taste like?” and the second questions was: “Will my children like it?” Children do love good things and it turns out, my children love it! They can have chocolate every day now! No more guilt, no more fear, no more worries! The other benefits are amazing too.

My conclusion? God does love the world … he gave us chocolate.www.healthychocolate.co.za

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How to Treat Gum Disease â?? Get Healthy Teeth

November 7th, 2009

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It is often described as a sneaky disease because you may have it and not be aware of it. Gum Disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. The two stages of gum disease are called gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis causes red, swollen gums that bleed easily when the teeth are brushed. Because gingivitis usually doesn’t cause pain, many people don’t get the treatment they need.

Periodontitis develops if gum disease gets worse. The gums pull away from the teeth, leaving deep pockets where germs called bacteria can grow and damage the bone that supports the teeth. Gums can also shrink back from the teeth. This can make the teeth look longer. Teeth may become loose, fall out, or have to be pulled out by a dentist.

Symptoms of Gum Disease :

· Irritation and pain in the gums

· Bleeding

· Secretion of pus

· Swelling

Causes

If you don’t brush and floss your teeth every day, this food can big problem for you. The rotten bits of food cause a bad smell in your mouth. Rotten food also helps bacteria to grow in your mouth. This bacterium can cause gum disease, or gingivitis. Gingivitis also causes bad breath.

In addition to causing tooth decay, some of these bacteria contribute to gum disease. One type in particular, Fusobacterium nucleatum, assists other bacteria in adhering to the teeth and penetrating beneath the gum line.

Causes of bleeding gums

Bacterial, viral or fungal infection arises in the gums and teeth produce acids and toxins that usually erode and cause inflammation of the gums. The inflammation makes gums swollen, red and spongy that increases the tendency to bleed and weakens the stability of the teeth by recession. Bleeding gums is more commonly seen in adults, since in case of children, it is mostly due to injury due to improper brushing. In case of adults or the aged, it is often found to be related with some disease. Females have higher incidences for bleeding gums than males.

Prevention

It is quite easy to prevent gingivitis if you follow a few simple rules. Brush and floss your teeth regularly. Make it a habit to visit a dentist at least twice in a year for cleaning your teeth. Eat a healthy food with a diet rich in fibers. Avoid sweets and sugars that stick. Do not keep a candy in your mouth for too long. Make it a habit to clean your mouth after every meal or sweet that you have taken.

Treatment

The goal of periodontal treatment is to control any infection that exists and to halt progression of the disease. Treatment options involve home care that includes healthy eating and proper brushing and flossing, non-surgical therapy that controls the growth of harmful bacteria and, in more advanced cases of disease, surgery to restore supportive tissues.

Surgical treatment may be necessary. Deep pockets may need to be opened and cleaned. Loose teeth may need to be supported. Extraction (removal) of a tooth may be necessary for advanced periodontitis so destruction doesn’t spread to adjacent teeth.

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Using Essential Oils for Healthy Teeth

November 7th, 2009

America’s love of teeth whitening is quite extensive. Whitening dental treatments can be purchased at any neighborhood discount store, supermarket or pharmacy. Whitening treatments can even be found in malls where you could find a technician working with the newest and fastest whitening treatment. All of the advertising for the newest teeth whitening methods appear on television every few minutes several time a day. But what is going on beyond the teeth?

The health of the gums, or gingival, is also very important, but something that most people don’t pay enough attention too. We brush our teeth every day and some brush more than others. There are those who brush once a day and those who brush 3 times a day, after each meal. But despite of all of the effort, our gums are constantly in danger of infection. Even if we brush our teeth really well several times a day, the remains of food between teeth and under the gum line, as well as sweets and smoking, can cause the buildup of a substance called Plaque.  When plaque is not removed, it becomes a bacteria breeding ground on the teeth and bacteria continue to proliferate. This bacterium can release toxins into the blood stream. Of course, we can’t immediately see the damage caused by these bacteria, but slowly sore gums that become worse over time can be an indication of chronic disease that can cause the body more problems.

Often the first sign of some sort of gum infection is bleeding gums while brushing. Most people, if you ask them what they are doing with bleeding gums, they say nothing. There could be a number of reasons for this, including not knowing that it could be a symptom of a larger problem and fear of the dentist. After a prolonged period of time the gums become inflamed and sensitive. Once the person does visit the dentist, the problem has often escalated to a serious situation requiring the doctor to prescribe antibiotics, in addition to a number of other, often painful procedures that require repeated visits and a lot of money. Some patients just give up, with only about 30-40% following through with the full course of treatment. Often they feel that if they have no pain, then the problem is gone and they don’t have to endure the time and expense of continued treatment. This simply isn’t true, and will cause even more problems in the long run.

There are a number of things that you can do to prevent gingivitis. The most common is frequent brushing and flossing. It is surprising how many people can forget to floss. Alcohol based mouth washes are also helpful as they kill harmful bacteria and can often reach areas that brushing can’t.

Now there is another revolutionary product that uses time tested natural medicine to prevent gum infections. The Vital Gums formula from Moriah Herbs is a combination of chalky powder and essential oils which is used before regular brushing. With regular use of this formula people can find relief from their painful, bleeding gums and because the essential oils in this formula are renowned for their antibacterial properties, they will not only bring pain relief but they will heal the infection as well.

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