Visiting a dentist twice year is surely one of the important steps towards maintaining a good oral health and hygiene. But, what people don’t realize is that, this process can often trigger dormant mental issues.
People often find surprising to learn that their dental health or oral health can be directly connected to their mental health. It is the lack of sufficient awareness that causes it.
As poetic as it might sound, dental health can have a direct impact on mental health. Upon suffering from bad dental health, it can subsequently play a role in deteriorating your mental health as well. If you’re embarrassed about your teeth, you might come to notice that it can trigger subtle or full scale social anxiety. It can cause you to refrain yourself socially, or can affect your self-esteem. This is also give rise to more serious mental health issues.
On the other hand, some doctors also believe that the opposite situation can also equally and truly impactful. That is, your mental health can also affect your dental health, both directly and indirectly. People who happen to be under a lot of stress, often tend to pay lesser heed to their dental health and oral hygiene. Again, your dental health can also give a clear indication about your stress levels, anxiety, mood swings, or the presence of chronic eating disorders.
In a long term research comprising 25 studies, it has been found that people suffering from severe mental health ailments were almost 2.8 times more likely to lose their teeth than the rest of the population. This difference is mostly because of undetected health issues or the difficulty in accessing proper health care services.
All of this has a serious impact on physical health. Some people indulge in drinking, smoking or consumption of a lot of processed food. This is what psychologists classify as “self- soothing behaviors”, and all of these substances are known to have adverse health effects.
Based on a research carried on by the National Health and Nutrition Examination department, it was brought forward that almost 67% of patients who were diagnosed with clinical depression, also experienced toothaches.
Anxiety or depressive episodes can often make people impossible to function properly on a regular basis. In situations like these, taking care of oneself becomes equally challenging. People lack motivation to do even the simplest of the chores, let alone attending to dental health or oral hygiene.
Similarly, your teeth and mouth can also hint at some upcoming mental health disorder. People often find themselves grinding their teeth, or might experience jaw pain. Worn out teeth enamel can also indicate that the patient might be suffering from acute anxiety disorders, as opined by multiple psychologists and dentists.
People suffering either from obsessive compulsive disorder or bipolar disorders, might also suffer from the problem of worn out enamel. For them, it becomes more of a ritual/habit than a process to maintain their oral hygiene. Wearing out or tooth enamel or tooth decay can also occur when a person struggles with eating disorders. These people are also often known to suffer from ailments with their gum. This is caused by the malnutrition or the high consumption of sugary or processed food.
Your mental and dental health is much more intricately connected than you might know. Mental disorders can often lead to coping mechanisms like smoking, or consuming processed sugary food, which largely impact on dental or oral health. People suffering from mental health issues, where they often fail to cope with their daily activities, visiting a dentist becomes a long shot.
Losing of appetite, which can cause poor nutrition
Eating or drinking way too many sugary foods or processed beverages
Fear of visiting the dentist, or dental anxiety.
Lower levels of energy
Difficulty in performing regular chores like brushing or flossing their teeth
Sensitivity to pain
Alcohol or substance abuse
Smoking, often transitions to chain smoking.
Dry mouth
Considering the interconnection between mental and dental health, things you do to manage one can also harm or benefit another. Even the smallest of the positive measures can have long lasting impacts on your health. Here’s a list of day to day lifestyle changes that can help you improve:
Eat a healthy diet
Introducing nutritional diet can go a long way in benefitting both your dental and mental health. Food that comprises fruits, vegetables and other nutritious food items can benefit your dental health and also uplift your mood. Consuming a large plethora of nutritious food on a daily basis can preserve your teeth and take care of your mental health.
Look Out for any symptoms that you might have
Your mouth keeps dropping us hints about the impending or existing ailment in our body. Symptoms like a bleeding gum or dry mouth, jaw ache, or sensitive teeth can be considered as the primary indicators.
Dry mouth is usually caused by certain anti-depressants, anti-anxiety pills or mood stabilizers. The compounds present in these medicines causes the saliva inside the mouth to dry up. Saliva is one of the important agents to maintain oral hygiene, and overall health. It not only helps in the process of digestion, but also kills the harmful germs and bacteria preventing them from entering the body through the mouth. These germs can also lead to oral health issues, gum problems and bad breath. Vigorous brushing motions by those with bipolar or other similar disorders could result in them brushing away the enamel or the hard protective layer on the surface of the tooth.
In a situation where you are under medication that is causing your mouth to dry up, it is always advisable to consult your doctor, dentist and your therapist. They will help you find out if that particular medicine is harming your dental hygiene or oral health. People struggling with anxiety issues often tend to show prior symptoms like teeth grinding and canker sores. These symptoms could be destructive to their health, owing to their long and short term effects. Stress is known to have psychological effects on oral health. Cortisone, or popularly known as the stress hormone, hampers a person immunity system, making way for the bacteria to cause gums inflammation. Anti- anxiety or mood stabilizing pills cause the insides of the mouth to dry up the saliva and fail to clear out the food remains left behind in the mouth after eating.
Practice stress reduction activities
Like already mentioned, wearing of enamel can be a red flag. More often than not, it indicates at higher stress or anxiety levels in a person. Should that happen, you might want to try some relaxing or breathing exercises. Practicing yoga and meditation can not only scientifically lower your stress levels, but can also help you focus.
Downloading apps that are available online specifically designed to help you sleep, meditate or calm down might also prove beneficial in circumstances like this.
These might include downloading an app to help you sleep better and be calm at night, or deep breathing and meditation exercises. In fact, you can practice deep breathing and meditation throughout the day to de-stress and focus.
See your dentist as regularly as possible
Dentists are much more than just people who help you maintain your set of teeth. They often happen to be the first ones to detect any forthcoming health issue, or a preexisting dormant mental health issue. They often refer to therapists and psychiatrists, when needs arise. Issues such as teeth grinding are some of the prior symptoms of anxiety driven mental disorders.
Oral Health Preventive Care
Cascading mental situations can have adverse effects on your oral health. People who are embarrassed about their teeth, often find it hard to eat or drink in front of others, which leads them to socialize less with other people. This is in turn hampers their mental wellbeing.
Following are some of the steps you can take to keep your teeth and gums healthy:
Brushing your teeth twice a day.
Floss your teeth or an interdental brush twice a day
Quit smoking
Reduce alcohol consumption or stop completely if possible.
Cut down on processed foods and sugary drinks
See your dentist at regular intervals.
Practice eating a healthy, balanced diet.
If your medication tends to dry your mouth, try xylitol mints. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that helps you in the production of more saliva, and it is also known to help prevent plaque and cavities in your teeth. Some helpful xylitol products include:
Mints
Gums
Toothpaste
Mouth spray
Discussing your symptoms with a licensed professional at the earliest is one of the first steps towards getting to the root of the problem. All kinds of physical and psychological problems need immediate medical attention before it gets out of hand.
In order to maintain a salubrious life one needs to look after their oral health and make it a priority to take care of it on a regular basis. And it is not something new poor oral health can lead to several other diseases. Do you know that a poor oral health condition can end up making the teeth and gums more susceptible to oral viruses, and these viruses can end up causing certain types of cancer? Poor oral health is linked with different types of cancer such as mouth and throat cancers.
Through researches it was seen that those who have a poor oral health, they are more likely to have oral infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV), and in some cases it can also cause cancer. Whereas, ten per cent of people with gum disease and tooth decay tested positive for oral HPV.
Several oral health problems like cavities, broken teeth, loose crowns or fillings and even gum diseases too can get worse or could cause problems during the treatment of cancer. Bacteria which thrive on mouth can cause infection when the immune system is not functioning well or when the count of white blood cells are low.
The treatment of cancer can have an affect virtually on every part of your body, and this also includes your teeth, mouth and gums too. Not just that a poor oral health can also increase your risk of experiencing treatment side effects and possibly interfere with certain cancer therapies.
Hence before beginning the cancer treatment it is a vital part to see a dentist who can give you the assurance of your oral health and say whether your teeth, gums and mouth are in a healthy position. As because doing this can help you to reduce the risk of infection, which can end up compromising your body’s healing capacity. Other than that you should also discuss about your oral health with your oncologist, as because they are ones who can explain in detail what you might expect during your treatment.
What Are Oral health Changes During Cancer Treatment?
During the time of receiving cancer treatment, some people might experience:
#1. Sores in mouth: With certain chemotherapy medications and radiations therapy which is given to head or neck can end up causing sores to develop in the mucous membranes which lines the mouth, throat and digestive tract. Known as mucositis, this condition can end up causing pain and infections, making it difficult to swallow, eat and drink.
Mouth sores are a common treatment side effects. Usually, there are mouth sores which occur on the cheeks, tongue, floor of the mouth, and soft palate. Fortunately, most eventually heal on their own. However, it may be uncomfortable when you have one. During this time one should avoid spicy, acidic, hard, and crunchy foods. As having these foods might end up irritating the sores. And, ask your doctor for rinses or medicines that can help manage mouth pain.
#2. Dry mouth: There are some cancer treatments which can end up damaging the salivary glands, as it disrupts the flow of saliva or it can also cause dry mouth which is known as xerostomia. In addition to discomfort, xerostomia can lead to infections and tooth decay because saliva helps balance the levels of bacteria in the mouth.
How to protect your dental health during cancer treatment?
It is an important thing to maintain your oral health before, during and after cancer treatment as this may lessen some of the side effects, which help you feel better and allow you to focus more fully on your recovery. Here are some ways to do so:
You need to brush your teeth more often, and brush your teeth more gently with the help of a soft-bristled toothbrush. In place of toothpaste you need to mix a half-teaspoon of salt with four cups of water and use this gentle solution in place of toothpaste. As well as flossing and rinsing your mouth more often is required, because with frequent flossing and rinsing the mouth with water can help in the reduction of irritation by keeping food away from your teeth and gums. Avoid using mouthwashes that contain alcohol as this could create problem. Suck on ice during chemotherapy sessions, request ice chips or sugar-free popsicles, which can help alleviate mouth soreness. As well as staying hydrated is an essential thing during this time, thus drink plenty of water in order to get relief from dry mouth. Avoid acidic beverages, such as orange and cranberry juice, which can be irritating. See your dentist regularly and throughout your cancer treatment, you need to keep your dentist informed of any changes that takes place in your oral health.
Did you know that many cancer treatments can cause side effects in the mouth?
Your mouth is a complex organ of the body, as it is comprised of many types of cells and tissues. Here are some of the ways in which the mouth is unique: It’s the only place where a hard tissue which is the teeth gets to touches the outside world. There are specialized tissue, nerves, and muscles which helps you to eat, taste, swallow, and speak. Your mouth is the only place in the body where the joints have both ball-and-socket and sliding movements. These are the spots where the jawbones connect with the skull. Your mouth also has the glands which produces saliva for lubrication.
Some types of cancer treatment ends up interfering with these functions. This includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy to the head or neck, and some forms of targeted therapy. Surgery is a part of the treatment plan for some cancers of the head and neck. Sometimes, surgery will end up affecting the mouth and its associated structures, like the salivary glands. If you are having surgery, then it is a good idea to discuss possible oral side effects with your health care team and your dentist.
The muscles of the jaw might end up becoming stiff after radiation therapy. Hence you need to ask your health care team to teach you stretching and relaxation exercises in order to keep your jaw muscles in a healthy state.
Dry mouth, can occur as because drugs and radiation therapy to the head and neck can end up affecting the salivary glands. This condition means your mouth may feel dry because you’re not producing enough saliva in order to keep it healthy and in a suitable state. This condition is called xerostomia. If such a situation arises the best to do is stay hydrated, in this situation water is the best choice. Though you are drinking water you need to avoid consuming those caffeinated drinks. Use lubricating mouth rinses before you eat. Saliva helps in keeping the bacteria in your mouth off your teeth. Hence if your mount doesn’t produces enough saliva because of cancer treatment, then this can lead to plaque buildup more easily on your teeth. Plaque can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Hence if such a case arises, you need to practice good oral hygiene, such as regular brushing and flossing in order to keep your oral health in check.
Before You Start Cancer Treatment:
You need to visit your dentist at least 4 weeks before starting treatment for cancer. This needs to be done in order to solve any current dental issues if you are having any such. That’s because an existing problem could create more problems once you start cancer treatment, even possibly interrupting treatment.
If you need dental surgery, get it done at least 2 weeks before starting radiation therapy or chemotherapy. That way, you will have time to heal.
During cancer treatment
Oral hygiene is important: Brush, floss, and rinse. Repeat. A soft toothbrush is preferred. Ask your dentist what softness toothbrush you should use.
Other tips:
Watch what you eat and drink. In particular, stay away from sugar.
Don’t use tobacco products.
Drink lots of fluids.
Ask your health care team about fluoride rinses and gels. These can strengthen your teeth.
You may want to consider chewing sugar-free gum.
Just like your sparkling teeth, your gums too play a very important role. Whenever your tooth pains it creates a havoc situation for you, similarly whenever your gums pain it might end up creating a miserable condition for you. Gum irritation is a very common dental diseases. Do you know that people who have a healthy mouth, they too experience sore gums and gum pain. Though at the very beginning a minor gum infection might not bother you, but with the passage of time it might end up causing a severe problem. A severe gum problem can end up your tooth to get slowly detached from your tooth.
Whenever such a condition happens you should know that food, bacteria, and plaque can begin to accumulate on the loose pockets and this eventually results your tooth to get slowly detached from gums. When a larger amounts of bacteria begins to gather at the pockets, a person during this situation can end up experiencing painful swelling and occasional bleeding. As it mentioned earlier, even the healthiest mouth can experience sore gums but there are times when this situation gets serious and during this case the person should immediately look for medical attention in order to receive the treatment for sore gums.
Well, at the very beginning the individual needs to do a bit of self-examination themselves. In such a situation you need to ask yourself that for how long you are experiencing soreness? If the soreness is temporary or does it occurs particularly after you are consuming a certain type of food. If you discover that the soreness is occurring frequently due to the consumption of certain type of foods then in that case you should immediately stop consuming that particular type of food which causes irritation for you. The gum irritation might also occur due to ulcer or due to canker sores, and during each case you could typically buy any specialized rinses or creams as they would help in soaring the gum pain.
While it is also seen that there are some women too who experience gum pain during the time of pregnancy, or they can also experience pain while going through puberty, menopause or it can also occur due to hormonal birth control pills too. It is often seen that when there are changes of hormones in the body, there is more amount of blood brought to the gums and this in turn could lead to irritation and bleeding too. When you smoke or chew tobacco, in case too you might also experience irritation. If such a situation persists, it is not necessary to visit a dental professional due to sore treatment, but it is recommended if the problem tends to worsen.
The other common reason due to which gum pain occurs is due to the negligence of oral health, when you follow a poor oral dental hygiene such as not brushing and flossing on a regular basis then due to this reason it could lead to damaging your gums and even gingivitis. When such cases arises you should seek for medical attention. Dentists would help you to give a proper treatment in order to treat your sore gums.
How would know that you are suffering from gingivitis? Gum diseases are something which comes in many forms, and it takes place at some point of life. Whenever you get to see that you are bleeding, or experiencing pain during the time of brushing or flossing then you might have a very minor form of gingivitis. If such a situation occurs then it is recommended to stay on a safer side by taking the opinion of a medical professional. Though sore and bleeding gums both are a minor issues but this shouldn’t be taken lightly. But what exactly causes sore gums?
One of the most common reason of gum pain is due to inflammation of gums or it could also occur due to gingivitis. The most common cause of gingivitis is due to the buildup pf bacteria on the teeth and gums and this in turn leads to irritation and pain. Other than this there are several other causes of gingivitis too and this includes mechanical irritation, medications, nutritional deficiencies or other systemic illnesses. Infections both in the teeth or mouth can also lead to gum pain symptoms and this symptoms further develops various diseases. While there are some infections which occurs at the back of your mouth, and this infections too can end up causing pain as well as life threatening swellings and if such a situation occurs one should seek for medical attention for treatment. Some symptoms such as headache, dysfunction in the jaw joint, or nerve dysfunction in the face are other possible causes of gum pain.
Gingivitis is also known as inflammation of gums, and do you know that gingivitis is one possible cause of the inflammation in the gums. While the several other causes of gingivitis includes, the plaque buildup is caused due to bacteria which occurs in the teeth and gums. While during some cases the bacteria and the immune response of bacteria can lead to causing irritation and inflammation in the gums. Irritation from brushing, flossing, or due to several other dental procedures can lead to inflammation of the gums and cause gum pain symptoms.
What Are The Different Types Of Gum Pains?
Some of the common types of dental infection are:
#1. Dental Infection: The buildup of plaque can lead to the dwindling of your tooth and this in turn can lead to infections in the tooth, and with the passage of time your tooth might also get detached. Not just on the tooth the build-up of plaque can also take place in between the tooth and gums and this leads to infections of the gums and tissues and even on bones which underlines the gums.
#2. Soft Tissues Infections: The soft tissues are located below the tongue and in the back of the mouth and this can become infected and it can also get accompanied by gums and tooth pain. At the end this infections can end up causing those life- threatening swellings to the airway leading to stridorous or wheezy breathing and respiratory distress and if such a situation arises it might require emergency medical treatment in order to treat the condition.
#3. Herpetic Stomatitis: This is also a viral infection that occurs in the mouth and this in turn causes fever as well as red inflamed gums which causes a severe pain.
#4. Sinus Infection: Sinus infections are one of the common cause of the dental infection and this infection might occur due to pain in mouth, teeth, or gums.
While The Other Causes Are:
Some of the other causes of gum pain includes:
Headache: Headaches occur due to migraines, might present with gum pain or tooth pain.
Joint dysfunction: The jaw joint can become inflamed and this can lead to pain in the teeth, gums, or jaw. This pain is often present while you are chewing or biting.
Nerve dysfunction: Dysfunction to the nerves which supplies the face can lead to causing pain in the gums, teeth, or jaw.
Now that you have known what the causes of gum infections are and what leads to pain, now you should know what are the several home-made remedies which you can try if you are facing gum pain and inflammation.
If you are suffering from any of the gum pain then you can try the homemade remedies that are mentioned below:
#1. Saltwater rinsing:
Saltwater rinse works wonder during the gum pain problem, all you need to do is just warm one cup of water and pour that into a cool glass. In this water add 1 tablespoon of salt to the warm water and give it a good mix.
Swish this mixture in the mouth, and spit it out. You need to keep in that this salt water is not meant for swallowing. Swishing the salt water mixture in the mouth helps in the prevention and the growth of bacteria in your mouth and it also decreases the bacteria on the gums which might cause swelling on the gums. Hence if you are suffering from gum infections, then rinsing your mouth with the help of salt water for twice a day can help in numbing the pain from swelling.
#2. Compress:
If you are trying compress then you need to keep in mind that you can try it either hot or a clod compress in order to reduce the pain.
For a hot compress:
You need to heat water at a suitable temperature, and after that soak a clean cloth in the water and squeeze out the excess water. Then gently press that warm damp cloth on your face near the area of the gum pain.
For a cold compress:
Wrap an ice pack in a clean cloth and apply it in the same way as it is mentioned above.
Use either method until your pain subsides, or alternate between hot and cold until any swelling and inflammation dies down.
3. Herbal poultice:
Do you know that there are certain herbs and spices which could be turned into home remedies for gum inflammation and pain?
Clove powder and Spilanthes are known as pain reliving herbs. Both of this herbs have been used as alternative oral pain relievers for quite a longer period of time. An anti-inflammatory powdered herb like turmeric may also help.
To use this treatment, mix the powdered herb of choice with a little warm water until you have a paste. Then apply the paste directly to your gums until pain subsides, and then rinse your mouth with water. You can apply this paste as often as it is required.
4. Homemade Dental Spray:
In order to make a homemade dental spray all you need to do is dilute the essential oils into a spray bottle. In order to do this treatment all you need to do is get a clean spray bottle which has never been used. For making the dental spray you need to fill the bottle with water, and into this water add about five drops of essential oils as per your choice per ounce of carrier oil. Now you are done all you need to do is shake and spray lightly on your gums as needed.
Never let essential oils touch the skin without being diluted in a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil. Also, never swallow essential oils. Swish with water after and spit it out.
Several oils like peppermint, oregano, and clove have natural pain-relieving, inflammation-reducing, and circulation-boosting properties.
5. Teabags:
It is not something new that tea has got several medicinal properties in it, all you need to do is take a fresh tea bag and steep the tea bag into boiling water for about 5 minutes the process is same just like you prepare tea. When the tea bag is cool enough to touch, apply it directly to painful gums for at least 5 minutes.
You need to choose a tea high in astringent tannins, such as black tea, green tea, or even hibiscus tea. Or choose a tea that contains an anti-inflammatory herb such as ginger and chamomile.
The anti-inflammatory herbs will soothe, while the tannins will absorb anything that irritates the gums.
6. Oral anesthetic gels:
Medicated oral gels are available in the medical shops. These gels consists of natural and synthetic compounds which helps in numbing and the treatment of gum pain. Some even include pain-numbing compounds from botanicals like clove or Spilanthes.
When to visit a dentist?
So if you are still feeling the pain in your gums, then you should make your mind to fix an appointment with your dentist. Gum pain is a problem which can could be easily treated or relieved. While in certain circumstances, gum pain can be a symptom of a bigger oral health issue. See your doctor or dentist if your gum pain:
Is persistent or intense
Interferes with eating or sleeping
Is accompanied by other symptoms
Gum pain can also be a sign of other oral problems, such as:
Thrush: This is an oral yeast infection which may include gum pain as a symptom. If such a situation appears then you need to talk to your doctor if you have gum pain as well as a yellowish coating on your mouth, throat, or inside of your cheeks then this could it may be thrush.
Periodontal disease or periodontitis: this condition occurs due to untreated gingivitis. If you have fallen into such a problem then you need to immediately head to your dentist as soon as possible if you’re experiencing gum pain on top of red, swollen gums; gum bleeding; receding gums; tooth loss; and abscesses.
There are a lot beverages which gives your teeth a salubrious life, but do you know that coconut water which is a natural fluid can be a beneficial thing for your oral health. If you think that coconut water is just a sweet fluid and which consists of flesh in it, then you are mistaken. There are a tons of health benefits which is present in coconut water. Coconut water is a best tropical drink, and is a natural solution which is known for the elimination of toxic elements by improving the digestive system, urination and also dehydrates the skin by making it much more glamorous. Though these are some of the health benefits of coconut water, but as it is already mentioned earlier coconut water helps in boosting the strength of your gums and teeth.
The oil which is extracted from the flesh of coconut is widely known for treating several oral problems like dry lips, gum diseases, reduction of plaque build-up and many more.
How Your Mouth Benefits from Coconut Water?
You should get one concept clear in your mind that, whatever you are drinking or eating it has got a direct connection with not just your health but your mouth too. Hence if you are consuming too much amounts of sugary and acidic drinks then it can end up dwindling your tooth enamel. Once dwindling of the tooth enamel begins it leads to tooth decaying and bad breath. Hence you should made up your mind and switch to natural element such as coconut water as because it is an electrolyte water which consists of a higher amount of potassium and sodium in it. The presence of these two elements helps the body to supply with energy when your body is exerting too much energy during the time of exercise and sports.
Consuming Coconut Water Helps In Keeping Your Mouth Hydrated:
When you investing much of your time on sports or on any exercise then salivary production gets affected due to too much of energy exertion. When your body is releasing too much sweat your mouth tends to become dry, and this means that your body requires much more water. For those who are involved in any kind of sports or vigorous activities then they should relish themselves with an ample amount of water in order to maintain the temperature and stamina of their body.
Hence in order to maintain that hydration of your body, you need to consume coconut water as because it is a healthier substitute than compared to any sports drink which consists of too much artificial sugar in it. Consuming coconut water helps in enhancing your overall health and your oral health by keeping your body hydrated during the time of intense workouts.
What Are The Other Benefits Of Coconut Water For Your Dental Health?
#1. Reduction Of Oral Bacteria:
The presence of oral bacteria in your mouth could end up damaging your oral health. As because the bacteria present in the mouth produces acids which erodes the teeth’s enamel and this in turn leads to cavities and decaying of your teeth.
The harmful bacteria can end up forming plaque on the teeth and this in turn ends up causing gum infection. Hence if you want to prevent the buildup of oral bacteria in your mouth then you should start drinking coconut water as this nutritional water can help in removing bacteria from your mouth, and this also includes the bacteria which causes gum diseases.
Coconut water has pH level of 6.1 to 7.o, it takes care of bring back the acidic levels to normal. Moreover, the beverage is a good source of hydration which increases salivary flow to swish away the harmful bacteria in the mouth.
#2 Replace Electrolytes In Your Body:
This natural drink is also an excellent drink for your oral health, as this tropical drink helps in replacing electrolytes in your body. Hence if you will go through any kind of oral surgery, then you should definitely consume this hydrating drink. The cells of your body rely on the electrolytes in order to keep the cell membranes in a stable condition, as they carry the electrical charges which requires for muscle contraction. You are losing the electrolytes throughout the entire day and especially if you are involving yourself in any kind of vigorous activities, then in order to maintain the hydration of your body you should definitely drink coconut water.
#3 Powerhouse Of Vital Minerals:
By now you have already known that this tropical drink is an excellent hydrating agent, but you should also know that coconut water consists of the necessary organic compounds which helps in protecting your cells. Apart from all that this tropical drink is also rich in plethora which are an active agents that helps in boosting your immune system. This nutritional drink also fights against those inflammatory response of microbes.
Coconut water also includes different organic agents like amino acids, calcium, antioxidants, cytokinins, magnesium, and potassium. Moreover, the drink is low in calories. The minerals like potassium and magnesium contents in this natural beverage help prevent yeast infection in the mouth.
#4 A healthy beverage choice:
Though there are a lot of unhealthy beverages easily available in the market, a bottle of cold drink or a soda can taste delicious but the presence of harmful sugars and acids in those drinks can attack your teeth with the moment you drink them.
Once you start consuming this natural drink on a regular basis, your teeth will definitely thank you for consuming it. Coconut water tastes a bit sweeter than any regular water, but drinking it can do several benefits for your body.Coconut water is a natural energy drink that can restore the electrolytes like your favorite energy-boosting beverages but without affecting your oral health.
When combined with good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, coconut water is a healthy addition to your oral care regimen.
Coconut water is a naturally available healthy drink that substitutes artificial beverages. If you need something sweeter than regular water, then in that case coconut water is a boon for your oral health. Also people who are conscious about their oral health always search for new things to enhance it and keep their oral health in a safer side then they too could opt for this healthy drink. Add this habit of consuming coconut water also to your oral health enhancement list to boost your teeth and gums’ strength.
#5 Contains natural sugar:
This nutritional drink is sweet as because if the natural presence of sugars in it. This fluid contains glucose 50 percent, sucrose 35 percent, and fructose 15 percent.
A Clean And Natural Substitute To Tap Water:
Coconut grows in the tropics and water is enclosed in the husk which is impervious to bacteria and mold. It does not contain preservatives compared to sodas and sports drinks and the natural sweetness makes it more palatable and tasty. Coconut water is easily absorbed by the body because it has vitamins and minerals that are in an absorbent structure.
This nutritional drink also contains lauric acid, which is a good compound that helps in the prevention of bacteria from proliferating. Coconut water also contains the anti-inflammatory compound, tannin and can be beneficial to keep your stomach lining’s health in check. Hence you should drink coconut water on a regular basis if you want to keep your teeth and oral health in check.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing putting it all together?
Now that you have already reached at the end of the article, you should get one thing clear in your mind that whenever you drink it too much it could eventually cause problem. And it is already mentioned above that coconut water is an energy drink. But as there is a presence of sugar in this natural drink, you need to keep in mind that consuming too much it can lead to tooth decaying problem.
One of the best benefits of drinking coconut water is that you’ll help to replace electrolytes in your body. High acidity can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and enamel erosion, so replacing these drinks with coconut water is a great step for improved oral health.
If you want to give your teeth a best food then you should definitely try drinking coconut water.
A beautiful smile is want everyone wants, a charming and graceful smile emits a positive radiance around you. Do you know, in order to maintain that radiance in your smile you need to follow proper oral hygiene? It is not something new and we all have heard since our childhood that brushing your teeth once in the morning and once before going to bed is an essential thing.
But let’s be honest, not everyone follows this routine appropriately. In fact, it was seen through a survey that half of Americans do not floss regularly, and one out of five do not brush their teeth twice a day. If you are also the one who does not take care of their teeth, then don’t worry you are not alone.
Taking care of your oral health has a great impact on your over health too. But very few know how important it is to take care of your oral health, in order to maintain your all-over health. The truth is your mouth is the mirror of your body’s overall health. Your mouth is the ultimate passage of your overall health. So you need to keep an important thing in mind whatever you are consuming enters from your mouth. So the bacteria too can travel from your mouth to the other parts of your body and this can eventually put you to risk for several other diseases.
Today in this article we are going to discuss the dangers which your body can face if you do not pay much attention to your oral health and neglect oral hygiene. It is said in several kinds of research that there are multiple systemic diseases which can have a severe effect on your mouth and can, in turn, can have a life-threatening problem to your health and this could happen due to your poor oral health.
Poor oral health can have a severe effect on your mouth, as this could lead to several problems such as bad breath, gum disease, cavities, tooth abscesses and infections, and even the loss of teeth. All these oral diseases can occur if you neglect your oral hygiene but do you know that if you end up neglecting your oral hygiene then it can lead to several other dangerous diseases too and those diseases can have an adverse effect on your health? Hence in order to stay on the safer side it is important to be screened for cavities, periodontal disease, and oral cancer at least every 6 months and visit your dentist so that you do not end up facing any problems later on.
If you are also the one who is suffering from any of these conditions then in that case it is an extremely important thing to treat the problem. So that you do not end up facing any complications, and that could be prevented within a limited period of time. It is also important thing to visit your dentist on a regular basis so that preventive measures could be taken in order to encourage a healthy mouth and a healthy body overall.
There are several types of research which have shown that following poor dental hygiene could be related to the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Even one study has also shown that those who are having the symptoms of memory loss have often reported that they didn’t want to the dentist.
There are multiple research studies which have proven that correlation which exists in between uncontrolled periodontal disease and coronary artery disease can lead to several problems. It is also found that bacteria and plaque are capable of entering the bloodstream through the gums and it promotes the proteins that are naturally found in the body to induce blood clotting. This blood clotting takes place, especially in a person who is more prone to the development of heart conditions, and this in turn could lead to an increased amount of risk of heart attack and even stroke too.
Not just heart, if you end up neglecting your oral health then it can also have a detrimental effect on your lungs too. Studies have also discovered that there might be a connection between gum diseases and periodontitis. This could lead to a higher risk for the development of pneumonia or acute bronchitis. Not just that bacteria from the gums could easily travel through the blood and also into the lungs and in turn this could lead to irritation of existing COPD or several other lung conditions too.
Periodontal disease is the common disease which the patients who are already suffering from diabetes. There is a wider link in between an uncontrolled diabetes and gum diseases. The severe gum diseases is an infection and your body treats it just like any other infection. Hence in order to protect your body, it ends up increasing the blood sugar levels in order to fight against the infections. This in turn can make the diabetes harder to control, and if your body was free from any kind of infection then it could end up fighting against the diabetes rapidly.
Maintaining the oral hygiene is an extremely essential thing for those mothers who are attempting to conceive. Several studies have pointed out that the women who are suffering from gum diseases have a harder time in conceiving and becoming pregnant. Studies have also shown that the chronic infection which is caused due to gum diseases can end up causing stress on the mother’s body, which in turn could lead to a premature birth too. Premature birth can cause infants to have a more difficult time entering the world and may necessitate extensive neonatal hospital care for the child.
If someone is suffering from kidney disease, then it doesn’t ends up only effecting the kidneys as a whole but it also has an adverse effect on the other organs such as heart, and even on the bones and can also increase the blood pressure too. Periodontal disease can also lead to kidney disease. Patients are suffering with this gum disease can typically have a weaker immune systems, and this can make them more prone to infections. Many patients those who have poor oral health also have kidney disease, and this can lead to kidney failure if it is not treated on time.
If you having a poor oral hygiene and if it causes you to suffer from tooth loss, this problem could lead you to potential loss of memory which in turn can then lead to dementia. There are substances which are inflammatory in nature that can cause parts of your brain to die. Hence in order to keep the problems away you need to take care of your oral health.
If you want to prevent the serious health issues which are caused by bad oral health habits then in that case you should take care of your oral health. In order to keep the dental problems at a bay, you need to visit your dentist for twice a year, and doing that can help in keeping your teeth and gums in a good condition. If you are suffering from any dental issue then visiting a dentist can help you in preventing the oral disease, as well as any other health issues.
#1. Brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular basis, as doing this helps in keeping your mouth healthy by deleting bad breath from mouth.
#2. Avoid smoking or using any tobacco products as using them could lead to stains in the teeth.
#3. Use mouthwash that contains fluoride, as fluoride helps in making your teeth stronger.
#4. Try and stay away from food and drinks that contain lots of sugar, as because sugary drinks could lead to the accumulation of plaque.
#5. Eat a well-balanced diet, with proper nutrition and vitamins.
#6. Exercise and take care of your overall health
If you take care of your oral health, you eventually end up taking care of your body. Good oral hygiene can help in the prevention of several oral problems such as gingivitis or periodontal disease, and not just that it also helps in the prevention of much more serious health issues in your body that can hamper your body.
Gingivitis is a common oral health problem which is a mild form of gum disease, and this causes several other problems such as irritation, redness and swelling in the gingiva. Gingiva is part of your gum which is located around the base of your teeth. Hence it is an important thing to take the problem of gingivitis seriously and do a proper treatment for it. If it is not treated in a proper manner, if the treatment is delayed then it can also lead to serious gum disease called periodontitis and even tooth loss.
Well, the most common reason which leads to gingivitis is due to poor oral hygiene. Proper oral hygiene such as brushing twice a day, and flossing once along with regular dental checkups can help in the prevention of gingivitis largely. It is also said that gingivitis is a common oral health problem which has mild symptoms, but it could end up into a severe condition if the person doesn’t takes care of it properly and doesn’t end the problem from its root cause.
What Are The Symptoms Of Gingivitis?
How to know if you are having a healthy gum line, if your gums are firm and pale pink in colour and if they are fitted tightly around your teeth then they are in healthy form. The signs and symptoms of gingivitis are:
#1. Swollen or puffed-up gums: the major symptom of gingivitis is swollen and puffed-up gums which could be severely painful.
#2. Dusky red or dark red gums: when someone is suffering from gingivitis, his gums tend to turn dusky red or dark red.
#3. Gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss: gingivitis tends to cause several other problems, as your gums bleed easily when you brush or floss and this could cause severe pain too.
#4. Bad breath: Gingivitis could lead to bad breath, and hence in order to keep this problem at a bay you need to do the treatment as soon as possible.
#5. Receding gums: receding gums are a major problem of gingivitis.
#6. Tender gums: gingivitis tends to cause tender gums and this could also lead to problems for your teeth too.
So now that you have known what the possible symptoms of gingivitis are, a simple question might arise in your mind when you should visit the dentist?
When To See A Dentist?
If you end up noticing any such signs and symptoms of gingivitis then you should schedule an appointment with your dentist. As because this problem could further lead to several other problems and the sooner you take care there are better the chances of curbing the damages by preventing the progression to periodontitis.
What Are The Causes Of Gingivitis?
As it is already mentioned earlier, the most common cause which causes gingivitis is poor oral hygiene and this it ends up causing plaque to get accumulated on the surface of teeth, this accumulation can end up causing inflammation around the surrounding gum tissues too. So, what can lead to the accumulation of plaque, and that can cause gingivitis?
Plaque is an invisible sticky film which is mainly composed of bacteria that forms on the surface of your teeth. The formation of plaque usually occurs when the starches and sugars present in food tend to interact with the bacteria which is usually present in your mouth. Hence in order to remove plaque, you should brush and floss on a regular basis. As plaque usually re-forms on your teeth very quickly.
Hardened-up plaque ends up turning into tartar. And tartar makes plaque much more difficult to remove, and this creates a protective shield for bacteria and in turn, it causes irritation along gum lines. Hence if such a situation persists you should go for professional dental cleaning in order to remove the tartar. If the plaque and tartar stay for a longer period of time, they would end up irritating the gingivitis, which is part of your gum and this can also lead to inflammation too. Within a little time, the gums tend to become swollen and hence they can bleed easily. And not just that it can also lead to tooth decaying too. And if it has not been treated gingivitis can even lead to tooth loss.
What Are The Risk Factors Connected To Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a common oral disease and anyone can end up developing it. Below mentioned are some of the factors which can end up increasing your chances and risks of gingivitis.
#1. Not paying attention to your oral habits
#2. Smoking or chewing tobacco
#3. Old age
#4. Dry mouth
#5. Poor nutrition, and diet less amount of vitamin C consumption
#6. Dental restorations that don’t fit properly or crooked teeth that are difficult to clean
#7. Conditions that end up decreasing immunity such as leukemia, HIV/AIDS or cancer treatment
#8. Certain drugs, such as phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) for epileptic seizures, and some calcium channel blockers, used for angina, high blood pressure and other conditions
#9. Hormonal changes, such as those related to pregnancy, menstrual cycle or use of birth control pills
#10. Genetics
#11. Changes in hormones may occur during puberty, menopause, the menstrual cycle, and pregnancy. The gums may become more sensitive, raising the risk of inflammation.
What Are The Complications?
Not that you have already known what gingivitis is, and what are the symptoms? You should also know the complications too.
Untreated gingivitis can end up progressing to gum disease and it can spread to underlying tissue and bone (periodontitis), and if the situation ends up getting a much more serious condition that can even lead to tooth loss too.
Chronic gingiva inflammation has been thought to be associated with some systemic diseases such as respiratory disease, diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. Some researchers have even suggested that the bacteria are responsible for periodontitis that can enter your bloodstream through the gum tissue, and not just that it can possibly end up affecting your heart, lungs and other parts of your body too. But more studies are needed to confirm a link whether is true or not.
Trench mouth, also known as necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG), is a severe form of gingivitis that causes painful, infected, bleeding gums and ulcerations. Trench mouth is rare today in developed nations, though it’s common in developing countries that have poor nutrition and poor living conditions.
How Should You Prevent Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a very common oral health issue, and as mentioned earlier it can be caused due to several reasons. But how you would prevent this? What should you do in order to prevent this? The answer to this is good oral hygiene. This simply means brushing your teeth twice a day is an essential thing. Once in the morning and night, and apart from that flossing too is required in order to maintain your oral health. Better yet, brush after every meal or snack or as your dentist recommends. Flossing before you brush allows you to clean away the loosened food particles and bacteria.
Regular dental visits. See your dentist or dental hygienist regularly for cleanings, as it is always advised to visit your dentist usually every six to 12 months. If you have risk factors that increase your chance of developing periodontitis such as having a dry mouth, taking certain medications or smoking then, in that case, you may need professional cleaning too. Annual dental X-rays can help in identifying those diseases that are not seen by a visual dental examination and monitor for changes in your dental health.
Good health practices. Practices such as healthy eating and managing blood sugar if you have diabetes also are important things in order to maintain your gum health.
A person may be able to prevent gingivitis at home by practicing regular good oral hygiene. This includes:
Brushing teeth at least twice a day
Using an electric toothbrush
Flossing teeth at least once a day
Regularly rinsing the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash.
Dental emergencies refer to those dental problems which require instant treatment or an instant temporary aid in order to repair the problem. Dental emergencies are those where the patient cannot wait for a few hours for the dentist to come, and treat the problem. In such a situation you should undergo instant treatment or else the problem tends to get worse and critical with the passage of time.
Your teeth is the vital part of your body, they help in making your face much more elegant and your smile looks much more beautiful with a shining set of white teeth. Even though your teeth is a vital part of your body, but whenever it comes to maintaining your teeth’s health you end up neglecting daily brushing and flossing. Even though you take care of your teeth’s health, dental emergencies do happen. When any kind of dental emergencies take place in that case you need a proper medical attention at times, to save the tooth and repair the damage before it ends up getting worse.
Dental emergencies is something which can occur at time and due to various different reasons. Whenever the dental emergency occurs, during the midnight or during holiday it can seriously end up creating worse situations and this could occur due to the unavailability of the dentists. Hence it is an important thing to know on how to deal with the dental emergencies.
In the situation of dental emergency you need to act wisely, and if you are just waiting for the dentist then the situation might get worse. Hence in such a situation you need to look for a first aid treatment as soon as possible.
You need to wisely act as soon as the dental emergency occurs. You cannot wait for the dentist because if you do so, the problem will get worse. It is important to provide first aid as soon as possible. For example, if your gums are bleeding and you have extreme toothache, the very first thing you need to do is rinse your mouth with warm water. Keep warm water in your mouth for a few minutes. Doing this would help you to relax your gums’ muscles, stop bleeding, and reduce the level of pain. If there is swelling in your gums, then in that case you should take a cold compress from outside of your mouth. As this will give an instant relief.
What Are Considered As Dental Emergencies?
An important thing which you should notice is whether the problem which you are going through is a dental emergency or not. Do you know that there is a few inches gap in between a standard dental issue and a dental emergency?
Any dental problem could be treated by scheduling an appointment or you can also wait for hours and days in the case of a standard dental issue. While on the other hand, if there is any such dental issue which requires an instant attention or first aid is dental emergency then this is a dental emergency. The problem of dental emergency includes extreme toothache, non-stop gum bleeding, cracked and broken teeth, gum swelling, mouth injury, etc.
Just to put it in a simpler terms, if you are unable to have control in any of your dental problems whether it is a toothache and cracked teeth, it should be considered as a dental emergency. Now a question might arise in your mind what kind of accidents requires an attention from the emergency dentist?
Types Of Accidents Which Needs Help From An Emergency Dentist?
Dental emergency treatment should be given to those who requires it immediately. Generally the dental emergency is given to those when the tooth is knocked out, chipped, there is an abscess, or you have a toothache that has lasted more than a few days.
Apart from that, dental emergency care is a crucial thing if you notice any of the following symptoms with dental issues:
Fever, swelling, pain while biting, trouble in breathing or swallowing, foul discharge or pus or abnormally red or bloody gums.
Dental Emergencies And Their Instant Treatment
There are several type of dental emergencies and if you want to know what they are and what to do if you face them then keep on reading the article and you will get to know everything about dental emergencies and how wisely you can deal them if you face any situation like that.
#1. Toothaches & Bleeding Gums:
Both toothaches and bleeding gums are a common dental emergencies. Both of these emergencies occur due to several different reasons such as tooth decay, wobbly teeth, infection, teeth worms, and mouth injury.
Whenever any of these emergencies occurs you should treat these dental emergencies following the instructions we mentioned above in this article. Doing this would help you a lot to get rid of extreme toothache, and it would also stop gum bleeding, and have some instant relaxation and relief. Later, you can visit the emergency dental clinic for further treatment.
#2. Cracked Teeth:
Cracked teeth are also a dental emergency when it causes extreme toothache and gum bleeding. Cracked teeth generally, occurs during an accident when someone is participating in a recreational activity, playing outdoor sports, meeting a road accident, slipping in the washroom or slippery surface, etc. Whenever a situation like this occurs, it should be treated instantly.
Again in case also the same instructions you need to follow. You need to rinse your mouth with warm water or keep warm water in your mouth for a few minutes. If there is swelling, take a cold compress. Once you get some relaxation and feel okay, you should visit the nearest emergency dentist.
#3. Broken Teeth:
An accident or mouth injury lead to causing a broken teeth. If you notice a reddish flesh, or a lump of the dental pulp, a broken line, and too much bleeding from the root on your teeth after meeting with an accident, then this situation means there are very high chances that your teeth get broken.
The very first step which you need to do is collect the broken pieces of your teeth. Then rinse your mouth and broken pieces of teeth. In order to stop bleeding, you need to apply gauze on the bleeding area for around 5-10 minutes. Then take a cold compress to reduce the effects of swelling. Once you start to feel good, visit the emergency dentist and get your full dental check-up done in order to save yourself from the problems.
#4. Gums, Tongue, and Lips Injury:
Gums injury as well as the infection occurs when you use a hard-bristled brush and during a mouth injury. While the injury in the tongue and lips, can occur due to meeting an accident and different bites problems this could be open bite, under bite, cross bite, deep bite, and crowding. All these are minor dental emergencies until the cut in the lips and tongue are large enough to cause any problem.
If you cut your lips or tongue, then in that situation you should stay calm and rinse your mouth appropriately to prevent any further bleeding. You need not do too many things. Just visit the emergency dentist in your locality as soon as possible. The dentist will examine the dental problem and provide you with an instant relieving solution to give you relief.
#5. Something Stuck between Your Teeth:
This situation generally, happens with those people who have large gaps in between their teeth. While eating, if something gets stuck in between your teeth and if it is not getting out of your teeth despite putting so much effort, then use the dental floss. If you don’t have dental floss, use a thin thread between your teeth where the particle of food is stuck in order to get the food particle out from the middle of your teeth.
If still the situation remains the same, then in such a situation visit the emergency dentist as soon as possible otherwise this problem will poke you again and again.
#6. Lost Filling or Crown:
In the case of losing a filling or crown, it can often leave your sensitive nerves and dental pulp exposed, and this can cause radiating pain and lead to an infection. If you’re experiencing pain after losing a crown or dental filling, it in that case it should be fixed as soon as possible.
If you notice that a filling or crown has come out the below enumerated steps are what you need to do:
Gently rinse your mouth with warm water.
Make sure you don’t swallow the filling or crown.
If you must eat, only chew on the side of the mouth that is not affected.
Try to save the crown, which your dentist may be able to replace.
See your dentist to assess and repair the damage.
A missing crown or filling may leave your tooth open to elements such as hot and cold liquids or foods that cause extra sensitivity. Be careful with it until you can be seen by a dentist and get the problem resolved.
These are some of the dental emergencies which might occur, and an important tip if you find yourself in any of the dental emergency situation which are mentioned above. Then in that case you need to just stay calm and act wisely.
Your alluring smile is what makes a first impression on anyone you meet. A beautiful smile is what creates a charming effect, and rejuvenates you from within throughout the day. In order to maintain that picture perfect smile of yours you need to look after maintaining your oral hygiene. Apart from brushing and flossing using a mouth wash can be a beneficial thing in order to maintain a healthy smile and mouth.
Bad breath can lead to several oral diseases such as plaque and gingivitis. Well, if such a case occurs then you should consider using a mouthwash. As because a freshly washed mouth can help in fighting against bad breath, and this in turn can really help in the improvement of your oral health. Using mouthwash on a regular basis can help in fighting against the bad breath, and also help in the prevention of cavities.
Using mouthwash can help in freshening your bad breath, and there is nothing like the feeling of rinsing a mouth with a mouthwash. Along with that gargling with a mouthwash leaves your breath freshened throughout the day, and not just that it also gives you a boost of confidence throughout the entire day.
There are a few questions which might arise in your mind that are related to mouthwash, such as does the oral mouthwash helps in the prevention of cavities and gum diseases?, or can it help in the improvement of your oral health? Keep on reading the article till the end and you get all the answers of the questions that are wandering around in your mind.
It is not something new that brushing your teeth for twice a day and flossing once a day helps in maintaining the oral health. If you have chosen to rinse your mouth then you need to make it a daily routine for yourself to wash your mouth with a mouth wash. When you are using a mouthwash correctly it helps in cleansing your mouth and also amps up your oral health.
Using a mouth wash helps in freshening the mouth, whenever you eat food it can eventually leave behind bacteria, and in this case using mouthwashes with antimicrobials, such as essential oils, can help in eliminating the odors and bad breath.
Using mouthwash also helps in fighting against the cavity and tooth decay, and in this case, you should use fluoride. Mouthwash which contains fluoride helps in the remineralization of your teeth by keeping them healthy. Hence it is always a smart option to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Not just that using mouthwash also helps in flushing away those pesky particles which could lead to gum disease.
Mouthwash is also known as oral rinse or mouth rinse, and it typically consists of antibacterial ingredients that helps to clean your teeth as well whereas there are other ingredients which helps it to give a flavor. Some types of mouthwash contain alcohol as an inactive ingredient, while others are alcohol-free.
Using mouthwash can help in masking up of bad breath, and hence a quick swig of mouthwash can help in achieving a great oral health. And apart from that cosmetic mouthwashes might also provide you with temporary freshness boost and hence you need to make sure to use a good non-alcoholic based mouthwash for yourself.
Using mouthwash might irritate canker sores, as using too much of it can be painful for several sensitive spots and also for open wounds. Hence you need to select those mouthwashes which consists of enzymes, cellulose or animal mucins, which will help promote moisture.
For some people, mouthwash can have some unpleasant side effects. These side effects may outweigh the benefits of using an over-the-counter oral rinse as part of your everyday routine. Other people have expressed concerns over some of the chemical dyes and flavors in certain brands of mouthwash.
Alcohol that is used as a preservative ingredient and as a carrier for the other active ingredients in mouthwash, is not as an antiseptic ingredient. Not every person will experience all of the following side effects of mouthwash, and certain formulas are more likely to cause more or fewer side effects.
It might also cause burning or pain when you use it, there are some people who enjoy the feeling of a tingling sensation when they use mouthwash that consists of alcohol. But for others, the feeling can be more like a burning pain. There are some mouthwashes contain up to 25 percent alcohol, which makes this sensation more powerful.
Some side effects of mouthwash aren’t related to whether there is alcohol in the formula. May remove your healthy oral microbiome, as there are many types of mouthwash, whether alcohol-free or containing alcohol, might help in killing off a high number of bacteria in your mouth.
There are some bacteria in your mouth that can lead to cavities and bad breath too, but other bacteria are actually part of what’s called your oral microbiome, which helps break down your food and maintains healthy teeth and gums. Killing off all of the bacteria in your mouth on a regular basis isn’t recommended, so gentler antiseptic formulas can be a healthier choice for your oral health.
There are many types of mouthwash which may consist of synthetic ingredients that have been linked with the increased risk of certain cancers. There are several studies that have been conducted which proved that those people who use mouthwash on a regular basis, which might slightly elevate the risk of head and neck cancers than people who never used mouthwash. A lot more research is needed to understand whether this link is real and, if so, which ingredients cause the risk to increase.
Now you might think that is there a limit of using a mouthwash, well the answer is yes. There’s such a thing as using mouthwash too often.
Mostly those nonprescription mouthwashes will advise you to use the product twice per day, along with brushing and flossing together. But there are some people who prefer to use mouthwash more than that, using it to freshen breath or get that “clean mouth” feeling in between meals. An important thing which you need to keep in mind is that, you should cut back or discontinue mouthwash use if you experience any of the following symptoms that are enumerated below:
#1. Persistent or inflamed canker sores
#2. Bleeding gums when you use your mouthwash
#3. Symptoms of dry mouth
#4. Pain or sensitivity when you brush your teeth after using mouthwash
#5. Teeth staining
Using a mouthwash also has some health benefits. As using a mouthwash in a limited quality can help in fighting several oral problems. Using the mouthwash can help to freshen breath and treat halitosis, reduces your risk of gingivitis, reduces the plaque buildup in order to prevent cavities and it also makes teeth look visibly whiter and shiner.
Using a mouthwash helps to clear those areas in your mouth which is nearly impossible for your toothbrush and toothpaste to clear out. Hence using the mouthwash for these areas can help in clearing out the bacteria, and this in turn can help in the reduction of pain and inflammation by promoting a healthier mouth and a good oral salubrious health.
Using mouthwash also helps in the prevention of gum disease, and mouthwash consists of the ingredients that helps in fighting against tooth decay and cavities. Using mouthwash also has several benefits as they help in the reduction of plaque formation, and it also helps to give you relief from pain by controlling cavities and gum diseases.
Like it is mentioned earlier using mouthwash also helps in freshening your breath, as using mouthwash helps in providing the sense of freshness while it controls the breath odor. It not only helps in freshening your breath but it also works in killing the bacteria that causes bad breath.
Mouthwash consists of hydrogen peroxide, which works for teeth whitening. When used consistently whitening mouthwash can also significantly whiten stained teeth.
Different types of mouthwash can also include non-abrasive whitening technology that does not harm the enamel yet forms a protective shield, preventing future stains.
Children who are under the age of 6 years should not use mouthwash, and kids who are over 6 years should be supervised whenever they are using mouthwash.
If you have sores in your mouth, and if you have a compromised immune system, or you’re currently undergoing chemotherapy, then in that case you might want to avoid using mouthwash.
An adult only has one permanent set of teeth, and it is a very obvious thing that no one wants to lose them due to any kind of oral disease. If you have developed any kind of gum disease, then, in that case, tooth scaling and root planing would help in order to save your teeth.
If you end up developing severe gum disease and gingivitis then in that case you would require tooth scaling and root planing in order to remove the accumulated tartar and treat those inflamed gums. The deep cleaning procedures help in chipping off the tartar that gets hardened on the surfaces of your teeth and roots. Whenever you are suffering from gum diseases, during that case the treatments would help in protecting your smile and also helps in the prevention of teeth loss and gums and bone.
Before moving forward let us discuss what is root scaling and root planning.
Both scaling and root planing is known as deep cleaning in the world of dentistry. This procedure is performed in order to get rid of tartar which is the hardened material that can otherwise adhere your teeth. These treatments are performed if you are suffering from periodontitis which is an advanced gum disease.
Tooth scaling is performed in order to remove the tartar from the surface of your teeth, which gets accumulated due to various reasons. The treatment of root planing helps in the removal of tartar from the roots of the teeth below the gum line.
Both root planing and tooth scaling are performed by dentists and periodontitis who are also known as gum disease specialists. The procedure is usually performed by a dental hygienist. Both tooth scaling and root planing takes place during the same visit to the dentist. In this case you would require more than one appointment in order to treat all your teeth.
As you get older you end up developing higher chances of periodontitis, and it seen that nearly 5 in 6 adults face from this.
Diabetes or blood sugar, family history of gum disease, different health conditions like heart disease, arthritis, hormonal changes, improperly fitted dental bridges or defective dental fillings, overbite or crooked teeth, poor oral hygiene, smoking and stress.
Just like tooth pain or cavities periodontal disease does not usually ends up causing pain. You might get diagnosed by your dentist with periodontitis during your dental check-up. Not just that if you are suffering from several other dental problems like cavities, abscessed teeth or bone loss then in that case too your dentist might also ask you to get dental X-rays done.
If you are having periodontitis then in that case your provider will discuss the treatments options with you. Tooth scaling and root planing would take place during a future appointment.
The deep dental cleaning is performed below your gum line in order to completely remove the tartar from your teeth, and this also includes the roots to. In order to minimize any kind of discomfort or pain your provider is going to numb your mouth with the local anesthetic, and you are awake after the procedure is completed.
During the process of tooth scaling your dentist would use a vibrating tool which is called an ultrasonic scaler in order to perform the scaling process. Following steps might take place during the process of tooth scaling. The vibrating metal tip on the scaler chips the tartar off the teeth that is located above the gum line. Then a water spray is used in order to wash away the tartar and also flushes plaque that might have accumulated in the gum pockets.
Your provider uses a manual dental scaler and scraping device in order to remove small remaining pieces of tartar.
Root planing is almost same like tooth scaling the only difference is it takes place on the roots of your teeth that is located below your gum lines.
During the process of root planing your provider, would use a tool in order to gently push aside your gum tissues and doing this would expose the surface of the roots. Using the same tooth scaling tools for chipping the tartar from the roots helps in making them smooth. At times they might also inject an antibiotic medication directly in any of the gum pockets.
After the process of tooth scaling and root planing, the bacteria and plaque becomes likely to stick on the smooth surfaces of your treated teeth. The inflammation tends to decrease when your gums heal. Those healthy gums tends to reattach more firmly to those smoothed tooth roots.
During those follow-up appointments, your provider would measure those pockets that are surrounding your gum tissues. If the pockets have not decreased then in that case you might require a periodontal surgery. The surgical treatments for periodontitis includes:
Bone grafting in order to replace the lost bone with bone from a donor or lab-made material.
Flap surgery (pocket reduction surgery) to make a gum pocket smaller by lowering your gum line.
Soft tissue grafting to replace lost gum tissue with tissue from the roof of your mouth (palate) or a donor.
The accurate number of dental appointments that you require for scaling and planning solely depends upon how severe your conditions are.
Some providers treat one side of the mouth (both upper and lower teeth) in one visit. You’ll need a second visit to treat the other side of your mouth.
There are some providers who treat each mouth quadrant separately instead. For instance, they scale and plane only the lower right side of your mouth. And during your next appointment, they might treat the upper right side of your mouth. With this treatment approach, you’ll need four appointments.
After the process of scaling and root planing is done, you might experience a little amount of discomfort around your teeth for few days, and might also feel an increased amount of sensitivity to hot and cold things. This might even drag up to four to six weeks of duration. There is no need to worry during this time, as because this is the normal course of healing period.
There are studies which have shown that tooth scaling and root planing are the effective treatments for periodontitis. And doing this can keep you from losing your gum tissue, teeth and bones.
There are many periodontists who recommend performing scaling and root planing for twice a year or even more and this solely depends upon how severe the condition of your gum disease is. In fact, there are some patients who would require it for every 3-4 months.
Both Tooth scaling and root planing can end up causing a temporary amount of discomfort for a while when you are healing. But the overall risks are minimal. People who suffer from certain heart conditions, like endocarditis, or who have synthetic heart valves might need to take antibiotics before they are getting any dental procedures done for themselves. Antibiotics help in lowering your risk of a bacterial infection.
There are a few risks that are related to root planing and scaling as Root planing and scaling can eventually end up allowing harmful bacteria to enter your bloodstream. The tissue of the gums could also become at risk for infection. Hence in this case your dentist might ask you to take antibiotics before and after surgery if you have a condition that might place you at high risk for a severe infection or if an infection could be dangerous in the future.
Your gums might be temporarily swollen and tender after the procedure has taken place. You may also have some teeth sensitivity too. You should follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for a speedy and healthy recovery.
Some things which you need to do after scaling and root planing are:
#1. You need to cut off foods and drinks which are either too hot or too cold.
#2. Pump up your day with soft foods.
#3. Use an antimicrobial mouthwash.
Your mouth is the mirror of your all over health. A healthy mouth speaks a lot about your health. It is true that if you want to maintain a healthy body, and hence it is an extremely important thing to look after your oral health. If you are facing any problem then it is an extremely important thing to look after your oral health with regular cleanings and scheduled dental visits.
Today in this article we are going to discuss what affect diabetes has on your teeth and gums.
Diabetes takes place when your blood sugar levels have soared. This condition might happen when your body is becoming a resistant to the insulin, which helps in keeping your blood sugar level at check or it could also happen because your body isn’t capable of producing enough amounts of insulin.
It is not something new that diabetes can have a havoc effect on you’re all over body, and your mouth is not an exception. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can have a harmful effect on you’re all over health too. Whenever your blood sugar levels rises it could eventually have a detrimental effect on your health too by damaging it more and more.
Diabetes can have a direct effect on your mouth and end up changing your saliva too, a fluid which helps in keeping your mouth wet. And not just that saliva also helps in the prevention of tooth decay as it washes away the pieces of food, and this in turn prevents the growth of bacteria and also fights with the acids that are produced by the bacteria. This fluid also consists of minerals which helps in the protection of tissues present in your mouth by fighting against the tooth decay.
Diabetes as well as some medicines which are used for the treatment of diabetes can end up causing the salivary glands in your mouth to make less amounts of saliva. Whenever there is a less flow of saliva it ends up increasing the risks of several dental problems such as dental cavities, gum disease, and other mouth problems. Diabetes could also increase the amounts of glucose in your saliva. Whenever there are higher levels of glucose in your blood it can also affect your saliva too.
This glucose can end up feeding on harmful bacteria and it can combine with the food and in turn if can form a soft and sticky film on your teeth called plaque and this condition leads to the formation of cavities. If you do not remove the plaque from your teeth then it can also end up spreading into your gum line and later it ends up hardened to form tartar, and this, in turn, can cause gum disease. If these mouth problems goes untreated it can ultimately lead to tooth loss. Let us know why people who are suffering from diabetes are more prone to gum diseases.
It is a very common thing to have a tiny amount of bacteria present in your mouth. If these bacteria end up multiplying in your mouth and accumulates in your mouth then it can end up causing serious periodontal disease. This chronic, inflammatory disease can end up destroying your gums, and not that it also damages all the tissues which holds your teeth and even your bones.
Periodontal disease is the most common dental disease which affects the ones those are living with diabetes. Especially with the increasing age, and poor blood sugar control there is an increase in the risk for gum problems. Now a question might arise in your mind that how will you know that if the problem in your mouth is due to the result of diabetes, keep on reading and you will get the answer in the next section of the article.
Checking your mouth for the signs and the symptoms of the problems if you are suffering from diabetes. If your mouth is suffering from diabetes then you will suffer from the gum problems like, red, swollen, or bleeding gums, receding gums, pulling away from your teeth, loosing teeth, ends up increasing spaces between your teeth, dry mouth is an important sign of diabetes, not just that you might also suffer from bad breath, and that doesn’t go away even if you brush your teeth.
When the bacteria in your mouth comes in contact with the sugars and starch then end up reacting and this produces a coating around your teeth. And this is known as plaque, plaque consists of acids that slowly end up dwindling your teeth. When you are already having diabetes, it would naturally more sugar and starch and that will be circulated to your mouth. And whenever this situation occurs it means your teeth and gums would be more vulnerable to decaying.
Diabetes ends up making your immune system very week, and significantly when it comes to dental health. If your immune system is strong and you are healthy your body would be able to fight against the harmful effects which plaque can cause. But if you are suffering from diabetes it would end up weakening your immune system and the plaque will end up becoming a solid hard mass which is known as dental calculus.
This hardened plaque affects the tooth base and when they are infected, they end up swelling up and this may even leading to bleeding.
Periodontitis is an advanced form of gingivitis. Whenever it occurs it attacks the tissues and bones that helps in gripping your teeth, and this leads the teeth to become loose and eventually it end up falling off. This infection persists as because your body can’t get rid of it due to a weakened immune system.
It is not only bacteria but yeast too which at times can end up dwelling in your mouth. Candida Albicans, which is a type of yeast, and it ends up causing an infection.
Diabetes can also end up drying your mouth, and this condition can end up causing a disorder which is known as xerostomia. In this condition your mouth is not able to produce enough amount of saliva in order to moisten your mouth. Whenever there is less amount of saliva it makes it an easier task for the plaque to stick to your teeth and this can also end up deteriorating your oral health too.
By now you have known that diabetes can end up increasing the risks of teeth and gum diseases, but it is always said that where there is will there is way. Even though if you are suffering from diabetes there are several precautions which you can take in order to take care of your oral health, and can keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Though there are foods which ends up keeping your blood sugar under level, apart from that you need to also maintain your oral health by following healthy oral habits. You need to also brush your teeth every day for at least twice in order to prevent plaque build-up. While brushing you need to remember to use a toothbrush which has soft bristles and always choose a toothpaste which contains of fluoride.
A part from brushing and flossing your teeth you need to also remove the stubborn plaque. Visiting your dentist regularly and apprise him or her of your current blood sugar level. Cut off smoking, drinking alcohol, or soft drinks as they are the enemies for your teeth.
Exercising regularly for at least 30 minutes a day is an essential thing. You can pick up any exercise such as dancing, running, weight lifting or yoga everything would work for you.
If you are diabetic, then there is nothing to worry out. With the proper steps, you can dramatically end up reducing your risk of gum diseases and tooth decay and also end up ensure that you maintain a healthy mouth. Here are some simple steps to help you do so.
See Your Dentist Regularly, visiting a dentist for twice a year is an essential thing. Visiting dentist for at least twice a year can end up help with regular cleanings and examinations. You should be seeing your dentist every three to six months so they can check your mouth for periodontal disease and tooth decay.
Maintenance of a Good Oral Hygiene Habits – Apart from visiting your dentist you should also brush and floss for at least twice a day. A regular oral hygiene routine helps you in destroying the bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay, even if you have elevated blood sugar levels.
Control Your Blood Sugar Levels Closely – This is the most important action you can take. Follow your doctor’s orders to control your blood sugar levels, and do your best to maintain a healthy level. Doing so helps mitigate the effects that diabetes can have on your oral health.