Smoking and Periodontal Disease

Did you know that is you smoke you will probably get periodontal gum disease? People who use tobacco products often have bad breath, oral cancer, stained teeth, tooth loss, loss of taste, bone loss, gum recession, mouth soars and facial wrinkling. Research also states that people who use tobacco are less successful when they get periodontal treatments.

In my practice as a Los Angeles dentist and oral surgeon I have also seen many people who have lost their teeth because of years of smoking and neglect. Plus there are other medical problems associated with smoking including lung disease, cancer, heart disease and low-birth-weight infants.

If you are still a smoker and are worried about the effects that tobacco can have on your health, gums, and teeth in particular, maybe I can help to convince you to quit smoking by the end of thisblog post!The American Academy of Periodontology released recent studies have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the progression of periodontal disease. And if I do perform oral implant surgery on a patient who smokes, often the chemicals in tobacco can slow down the healing process, so it makes it more difficult for me to predict the results of the treatment.

I specialize in periodontal gum disease and oral implants and know that smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have what is called “calculus” or plaque . You know – it’s that hard stuff that yellows the teeth next to your gums. When calculus is not removed it often remains below your gum line, and that’s when bacteria in the calculus can destroy your gum tissue. The worse scenario is that it can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth, and it also creates pockets where more bacteria can hide and collect.

Most smokers are apt to get deep pockets between their teeth and gums, which leads to loss of the supporting bone and tissue. Periodontal disease gets worse when the pockets between the teeth and gums grow deeper, resulting in your gums shrinking away from your teeth. If this condition is not treated by a periodontist, your teeth may become loose and fall out, not to mention hurt.

It is a known fact that smokers lose more teeth than nonsmokers, and in fact, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that only about 41.3 percent of daily smokers over age 65 are toothless, while only about 20 percent of people over age 65 who have never smoked have lost their teeth.

As I said before, smokers don’t heal as well after periodontal treatments, even though this IS reversible if the smokers quit smoking before beginning the dental work.

This includes all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco like chewing tobacco or nicotine gum products.

Are you ready to quit yet? If so, do it right. Don’t use these cigarette replacement products because they may also cause periodontal disease down the road. But whatever you do, your overall health will benefit if you quit smoking.

Los Angeles Dentist Gives Ten Dental Hygiene Tips

We all remember our parents hounding us to brush our teeth twice a day or more when we were kids, right? So why IS it so important to brush our teeth and go to the dentist? Because for one thing, our teeth allow us to have proper speech, and second, to eat and chew a variety of foods. Third it’s a plus to have a nice smile!  Yet why then are so many people reluctant to brush their teeth?  

It is estimated that about 90 percent of adults will suffer from gum disease at some point in their lives, and it does not discriminate by age. Gum disease is caused in part by plaque, which is a film that builds up along the upper and lower gum lines. This is where food and germs get trapped, often causing bleeding and tenderness. If plaque is left on the gums for a long time, tartar, a much harder substance, will form underneath the gum line, and cause tooth decay. This is the first stage of gum disease, and it is known as gingivitis – when the plaque builds up enough to cause gums to bleed.

A second and even more serious stage of gum disease is called periodontitis – something that occurs if gingivitis is left untreated, and it is when pockets that collect food become infected. Your teeth may begin to loosen, and you could lose them. Preventing gum disease is as easy as following a daily home dental hygiene program. And you should also make sure to visit your dentist regularly. If you think maybe you have gum disease, call a dentist right away.  

Good dental hygiene habits need to begin when your first set of teeth come in as a child. Following are the top ten dental care tips: 

1. Choose the right toothbrush – with bristles that are soft and have a round end.
2. Floss and brush your teeth two times a day.
3. A  toothbrush should be placed at a 45 degrees angle to the gums; brush in small circles.
4. Back and forth brushing should be done on all the teeth – inside and outside.
5. Back teeth and chewing areas are key; brush all gum areas and the tongue too.
6. At least three minutes on brushing your teeth every time is important.
7. To protect against germs, put your toothbrush in the dishwasher often.
8. Replace your toothbrush every four months or less.
9. Visit your dentist every six months for professional cleaning and an exam.
10. Use a floss strand 18 inches long, placing it in between your teeth and gently use a sawing motion until you reach the gum line. Scrape the side of each tooth in an up-and-down motion. This is repeated around each and every tooth.

In my practice, at Wilshire Dental Care we see many patients who could have avoided the costs associated with not taking care of their teeth. But if you brush your teeth on a daily basis, and visit a Los Angeles dentist often, you should have a nice smile for many years.