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February is Gum Disease Awareness month, a timely reminder that preventing gum disease is one of the best ways to protect our oral health. 

Gum disease is easily treated in its earliest stages. Left untreated, the progressive nature of gum disease makes it one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. 

And while we often think of gum disease as an older person’s disease, the fact is that teens and young adults can suffer from gum disease, too. Irregular brushing and flossing habits, hormone fluctuations, family history, and even orthodontic treatment can make people of any age more vulnerable to gum disease.

Let’s take a moment in this shortest month of the year to discuss how understanding, treating, and, above all, preventing gum disease can help us enjoy long-lasting healthy smiles.

How Gum Disease Develops

Gingivitis is the first, mild stage of gum disease. 

• Gingivitis begins with plaque. 
• Plaque irritates gum tissue, causing inflammation, which is the body’s reaction to injury or infection. 
• Typical symptoms include gums which are swollen or red. The gums might feel tender or bleed easily when you brush or floss. You could develop persistent bad breath. 

With proper care, gingivitis is reversible. Because gingivitis symptoms can be very mild, they’re sometimes overlooked. That’s why it’s important to keep up with regular checkups to discover and treat the disease in its earliest stages. 

Periodontitis is a serious gum disease which is destructive to the structures which support our teeth: gums, connective tissue, and bone. 

• Plaque, when it’s not removed, hardens into tartar, which can form on the tooth above and below the gumline. 
• The gums pull away from plaque and tartar deposits, creating a space between the gum tissue and tooth roots. 
• As the gums continue to recede, pockets form between the teeth and gums.
• Infection-causing oral bacteria thrive in these pockets. Gum infections can lead to painful abscesses—but gum disease is not just an infection.
• The body normally responds to bacterial infection with inflammation. With periodontitis, this inflammation becomes destructive chronic inflammation. 
• Over time, chronic inflammation and infection break down the gum tissue, bone, and connective tissue holding teeth in place. Teeth become loose or shift out of alignment.

The tooth’s support structure eventually becomes so compromised that extraction is the only option. That’s why prompt treatment is essential.

Treating Gum Disease

Several options are available to treat gum disease, depending on its severity.

Treatment for gingivitis can be as simple as paying more careful attention to your brushing and flossing and, if necessary, seeing your dentist for a professional cleaning. In some cases, your dentist might recommend an antimicrobial mouthwash or rinse.

Periodontitis requires specialized treatment from your dentist or periodontist, and this treatment will be based on how advanced the condition is:

• Topical, oral, or time-release medications treat infection.
• Non-surgical deep cleaning procedures called scaling and root planing remove plaque and tartar above and below the gumline, allowing gum tissue to reattach to the tooth. 
• Flap surgery treats more advanced gum infection by reducing pocket depth and re-securing the gums snugly around the teeth.
• If needed, bone grafts, gum grafts, and other regenerative procedures are available which help repair and restore damaged tissue.

Preventing Gum Disease

What many people aren’t aware of is just how preventable gum disease is! Because wearing braces can make brushing and flossing more challenging, it’s especially important during these months to stay on top of your dental hygiene and be on the lookout for signs of gingivitis.

• Brush twice a day for two minutes each time, after every meal, or more often if your orthodontist recommends it. 
  • Use proper brushing technique, angling your brush toward the gums to gently clean around and below the gum line. Be sure to brush around your brackets and under your wires. Use a soft-bristled brush to protect both gum tissue and tooth enamel.
• Floss once each day, after every meal, or as directed by Dr. Nathan Downey. 
• There are specialized brushes and flossers available to make cleaning around brackets and wires much easier. Electric toothbrushes and water flossers can also be helpful in removing hard-to-reach plaque. Ask Dr. Nathan Downey to recommend the flossing tools and techniques which will work best for you.
• See your dentist regularly. Gum disease can be invisible in its beginning stages. Discovered early, treatment is simple and effective. 
• Having your teeth cleaned every six months, or as recommended, will remove tartar buildup which brushing alone can’t handle. 

Your dental hygienist is experienced in cleaning teeth when patients wear braces. And you can get tips for better brushing and flossing techniques from the team at Downey Orthodontics in Bowling Green, OH, too!

Even when it seems like there aren’t enough days in the month or hours in the day, it takes just a few minutes daily to care for your gums and teeth. And when you’re aware of just how much those few minutes mean to a healthy smile, it’s time well spent!

Many smokers believe that chewing tobacco is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. This simply isn't the case! In fact, smokeless tobacco can cause serious health concerns.

Smokeless tobacco comes in many forms and goes by many names: dip, snuff, snus, or simply chewing tobacco. Use of these products usually involves sucking or chewing on shredded or loose tobacco leaves, sometimes flavored, for a prolonged period. There are even products that emulate a dissolvable candy-like consistency which are made of compressed tobacco powder.

What are risks and smokeless tobacco?

Whichever form a tobacco product takes, the dangers of using or consuming them is very real. According to a 2007 study by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, there are upwards of 28 cancer-causing chemicals in smokeless tobacco that are known to cause cancer. And these products are habit-forming just like any other tobacco product that contains nicotine. Using them will increase your risk for many serious diseases including but not limited to: cancer (especially oral and esophageal), gum and heart disease, cavities, and pre-cancerous mouth lesions.

At the end of the day, long-term use of smokeless tobacco can cause serious health issues. These products really take a toll on both your oral and overall health. They put a strain on your immune system and make it less capable of warding off infection and disease.

Dr. Nathan Downey and our team strongly advise you to stop using smokeless tobacco—or any kind of tobacco product—and not to pick up the habit if you aren't. There is no safe level of tobacco use, smokeless or otherwise.

Need to quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco products?

You can and should always talk to your doctor, healthcare practitioner, or Dr. Nathan Downey for help quitting. But there are many other resources available today for those who'd like to quit. The National Cancer Institute offers information, support (local and online), and tools to help smokers and smokeless tobacco users quit. They offer live online chat with cessation counselors Monday through Friday and even have a smartphone application available to help people who are serious about quitting.

You can take a look at their website at smokefree.gov or call them toll-free at 1–877–44U–QUIT (1-877-448-7848). There is also help available from your state's quit line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

Make the best choice for your health and well-being; avoid the bad habit of tobacco products. If you have any questions about how tobacco related products affect your oral health and hygiene, please don't hesitate to ask one of our Bowling Green, OH staff members.

Braces and aligners help straighten teeth and create a confident, attractive smile. And those visible benefits are amazing! But orthodontic treatment has an even more important purpose than transforming the appearance of your smile—and that’s protecting and improving your oral health. 

If you’re ready for orthodontic treatment, you know you can look forward to a future of beaming smiles. You can also look forward to healthier teeth and gums and a more comfortable and functional bite. For some people, orthodontic treatment can make speaking and eating easier, and could even contribute to a better night’s sleep.

How can orthodontic treatment from Dr. Nathan Downey accomplish these goals? Let’s set the record straight!

Protecting Tooth and Gum Health

• Lowering Your Risk of Cavities

Perfectly aligned teeth are considered aesthetically pleasing, but there’s a more practical reason to appreciate straight teeth. Crooked and overlapping teeth make it easier for food particles and plaque to stick in between the teeth and harder for your brush to remove them. Straight teeth allow you to remove cavity-causing plaque more effectively and with less effort.

• Promoting Healthy Gums

When plaque and tartar build up around the gums, the gum tissue becomes irritated, which is the first stage of gum disease. When teeth are straight and evenly spaced, brushing and flossing are easier and more effective, and your gums reap the benefits.

Creating a More Functional and Comfortable Bite

A malocclusion occurs when the teeth and jaws aren’t properly aligned—they don’t fit together the way they should when you close your mouth. There are different types of bite problems, and these can impact both your oral health and your overall health depending on the type and the severity of the malocclusion. Once a malocclusion is corrected, patients can experience:

• Stronger Teeth and Healthier Gums

Teeth and jaws which don’t fit together properly put extra pressure on your teeth and gums, leading to problems such as worn enamel, cracked teeth, and gum recession. Protect your oral health by creating a well-aligned bite.

• A Pain-Free Bite

Left untreated, malocclusions can cause problems like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), headaches, face and neck pain, earaches, limited jaw movement, and painful chewing. Correcting your bite will protect your temporomandibular joint from harm and will relieve the discomfort and pain caused by a malocclusion. 

Other Possible Benefits of Treatment

For those with more serious malocclusions, orthodontic treatment might improve daily life in unexpected ways:

• Improved Speech

It takes a lot of coordination to produce different sounds. The lips, the tongue, the alveolar ridge which holds our teeth, the hard and soft palates, parts of the throat, and, yes, the teeth all play a part in creating speech. Some kinds of malocclusions contribute to speech disorders such as lisps, which orthodontic treatment can help correct.

• Improved Digestion

Digestion starts in the mouth, not the stomach! As we chew, we break down our food into particles which are easier for the stomach to digest. If you can’t chew properly because your teeth are misaligned or a bad bite makes it too painful to chew food as thoroughly as you should, you won’t be getting the full nutritional benefits of your healthy diet. Orthodontic treatment helps you bite down painlessly and break down foods easily for better digestion.

• Improved Sleep

Bite problems can sometimes lead to sleepless nights. More serious malocclusions may cause mouth breathing, which, in turn, can affect the quality of your sleep. If you’re having trouble sleeping, a sleep specialist can help you discover the source of your problems. If your troubled sleep is caused by tooth or jaw misalignment, orthodontic treatment might be the solution.

Orthodontists offer many treatment options designed to align your teeth and jaws for a healthy, attractive smile. Braces or aligners might be all you need to correct a mild malocclusion. Appliances and headgear can influence the growth and position of the jaw if needed. In more severe cases, surgery, together with braces, can create a proportional, healthy bite. 

Whether it’s a confident smile, healthier teeth and gums, a functional, comfortable bite, or any of the other benefits orthodontic treatment can bring, talk to the dental team at Downey Orthodontics in Bowling Green, OH to discover how orthodontic treatment can help you achieve all of your smile goals!

On the last Wednesday in September, we celebrate “Women’s Health and Fitness Day.” Because your oral health plays such a large role in your general health and well-being, let’s look at a few of the ways you can treat yourself with the care you need and deserve at different stages of your life.

Puberty 

Puberty begins around the ages of 8 to 13, and typically lasts from 2-5 years. During this time, our bodies begin to produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which affect not just the reproductive organs, but our brains, hearts, skin, hair, bones, and more. These hormones can also affect our oral health.

• Gingivitis

Hormonal fluctuations make gum tissue more sensitive to irritants like plaque and bacteria. You might find that your gums are swollen, tender, red, or bleed easily. 

What you can do:

Keeping up with your dental hygiene is the best defense against gingivitis. Even if your gums feel a bit tender, it’s important to keep up with your brushing and flossing because proactive dental hygiene can reverse gingivitis before the condition becomes more serious. If symptoms persist, a visit to the dentist is in order.

Menstruation

• Menstruation gingivitis

Elevated hormone levels can also cause gingivitis during the menstrual cycle, usually beginning a few days before the start of your period and ending soon after your period begins. Some women also experience canker sores and swollen salivary glands during this window.

What you can do:

Be mindful of any oral changes during your menstrual cycle. Pay special attention to dental hygiene, and, if you develop canker sores, talk to your dentist or doctor about the best way to care for yourself while they heal.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings about many physical changes, including potential changes in your oral health.

• Pregnancy Gingivitis

Pregnancy hormones cause an increase in the blood supply to your gums while at the same time making them more vulnerable to irritation from bacteria and plaque. You may find that your gums are redder, more swollen, and more likely to bleed when brushing. 

• Loose Teeth

During pregnancy, increased hormone production helps relax and loosen ligaments and joints in preparation for birth. Teeth are held in place by ligaments, and you might be alarmed to discover your teeth are looser as well. Typically, this situation resolves when the baby is born.

• Pregnancy Granulomas

Some pregnant women may also experience pregnancy granulomas. These dark red swellings are benign tumors which appear along the gumline. These generally shrink on their own, but, if a granuloma is causing you pain or discomfort, your dentist can remove it surgically.

What you can do:

Let your dental team at Downey Orthodontics know right away when you learn that you’re pregnant. You’ll get helpful advice about brushing and flossing techniques, pregnancy-related oral conditions to look out for, when to schedule dental treatment and cleanings, a tooth-healthy diet, and more.

Menopause and Later Years

As we age, there’s an increased risk of oral health issues.

• Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis causes loss of density in the bones—including the bones and bone tissue which hold our teeth in place. Studies indicate that women with osteoporosis suffer significantly higher tooth loss than women who don’t have the disease.

• Dry Mouth

Saliva helps protect the teeth from cavities by washing away bacteria and food particles and by neutralizing acids in the mouth. Reduced estrogen production, medications, and medical conditions such as diabetes can all cause dry mouth. 

• Gum Disease

About 2/3 of older Americans have gum disease, which is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. Lower hormone levels have been linked to increases in periodontal diseases.

• Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is more common as we age, and, while men are affected almost three times as often as women, we should be aware of the common symptoms of oral cancer, including a sore in the mouth which doesn’t heal, a lump or thickening in the mouth, red or white patches on the tongue, gums, and other oral tissues, loose teeth, or persistent earaches or discomfort when eating or swallowing.

What you can do:

Visit your dentist and doctor for preventative care and whenever you are concerned about your oral health! Whether it’s helping you prevent osteoporosis and dry mouth or discovering dental and medical conditions early, when they are more likely to be treated successfully, regular visits to your dentist and doctor can help ensure that you have years of happy smiles ahead.

At Any Time of Life

Let’s talk a moment about something which isn’t limited to any one phase of your life—orthodontic treatment!

Straighter teeth and a healthier bite aren’t gender-related. Women and girls don’t have different orthodontic needs from men and boys. They don’t require different types of braces or appliances. But there is one difference in the sexes—women and girls choose orthodontic treatment more often. Good for us! And let’s encourage the men in our lives to do the same.

Why? Because orthodontic treatment does more than give you an attractive smile. You and Dr. Nathan Downey work to create an attractive, healthy smile. A well-aligned bite can lead to healthier teeth and gums, more comfortable jaw movement, and even improved facial symmetry. And, while it helps to begin treatment early, while the bones are still forming, as long as our teeth and gums are healthy, we adults can reap the benefits of a beautifully aligned smile as well.

What you can do:

Today’s orthodontic treatment is more comfortable and effective than ever before. Women of all ages are benefitting from the latest treatment options, including smaller and lighter traditional braces, discreet aligners, and lingual braces attached to the back of the teeth. If you’ve always wanted straighter teeth, or if you have bite discomfort, or if your teeth have shifted with age, make an appointment with Downey Orthodontics in Bowling Green, OH for an evaluation. 

Missed the date this year? No worries! Women’s Health and Fitness Day is one day in September, but every day in the calendar is a good day to think about your oral health. Partner with your dentist, your doctor, and Dr. Nathan Downey to help make your healthy smile something to celebrate all year long!