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Diseases of the Mouth

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There are a number of common mouth diseases that can affect people at various points in their lives. It’s important to look after your oral health by brushing and flossing regularly and by visiting your Elk Grove dentist on a regular basis. Diseases like hand-foot-mouth disease, thrush, and gingivitis all need to be treated promptly.

Hand-foot-mouth disease is usually seen in babies and children. Symptoms include blistering in the mouth, sore throat, fever, and lack of appetite. This common mouth disease also presents as a rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The virus is spread from person to person and frequent hand washing is a good strategy to keep the risk of spreading it down. Since hand-foot-mouth disease is a virus, there is no specific treatment ordered to treat this example of common mouth diseases. Specific symptoms can be treated, though. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to reduce fever and treat the pain caused by the mouth sores.

Another example of disease of the mouth is thrush. This is an oral yeast infection that affects children and adults. Yeast is normally present in a person’s mouth and if the levels are at a normal level, this is not a cause for concern. However, when the individual’s resistance to infection is low, the level of yeast can get out of balance, and cause an infection. Thrush looks like white lesions on the tongue and in the mouth. The tissue underneath the lesions will appear red in color and my bleed. Your doctor or dentist can diagnose a case of thrush and recommend treatment options. When babies have thrush, most of the time no specific treatment is needed and the infection will clear up on its own. In adults, a special mouthwash or lozenges with anti-fungal properties may be ordered.

Periodontal disease is often a result of poor oral care and hygiene, though not always. In some cases, weakened immune systems or genetic disorders can result in chronic periodontal disease. A far more common cause of periodontal disease is the long-term neglect of the teeth and gums. Harmful bacteria build up in the mouth, on the surface of teeth, and between the teeth and gums to forms plaque. If plaque remains on the surface of the teeth and between the teeth and gums, it becomes a much harder substance called tartar. Gingivitis is yet another example of common mouth diseases. This condition causes the gums to swell. Bleeding after brushing may be a sign of gingivitis, but there are other factors that my increase your risk of developing the disorder. Tobacco use, poor nutrition, substance abuse, and the hormonal changes present during pregnancy have been linked to gingivitis. If gingivitis is left untreated, it can lead to periodontitis, which is a more serious mouth disease. It’s a good idea to look after your oral health by practicing good oral hygiene. Seek medical attention if you notice something that doesn’t appear normal, and be on the lookout for symptoms of these common mouth diseases.

In healthy mouths, the buildup of plaque occurs naturally, but is easily controlled by regular brushing and flossing and routine professional teeth cleanings. However, if the bacteria begin to increase either due to neglect or to a medical condition, the tartar eventually destroys the gums and supporting structures. Periodontal disease occurs more frequently in people with diabetes, osteoporosis, herpes, and diseases that weaken the immune system. Other risk factors for developing periodontal disease are preventable and include smoking and vitamin C deficiency. Short of poor oral hygiene, smoking is the leading preventable cause of periodontal disease.

Preventative Dentistry to Avoid Gum Disease

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Preventative dentistry relies on good oral hygiene and regular dental care that is essential throughout your life, whatever your age. By practicing good oral hygiene at home and visiting the doctor regularly, you will help prevent dental problems and aid in early detection of problems such as gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss. In the process, you can save your teeth and gums. You should visit your dentist every 6 months for routine cleanings and check ups. A complete program of preventive dental begins with regular cleanings to control plaque and calculus, which cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. It is caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. The bacteria create toxins that will damage gums. At each regular checkup the dentist will measure the depth of the shallow v-shaped crevice between your tooth and gums to identify whether you have gum disease.

Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis. Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down. As the tissues are damaged they develop into a pocket; generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the depth of the pocket. With gingivitis, the gums become red, swollen and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by daily brushing and flossing. In the more advanced stages of gum disease, called periodontitis, the gums and bone that support the teeth become seriously damaged. The teeth can become loose, fall out, or have to be removed by a dentist.

Tooth decay or cavities can develop on all surfaces of any tooth. A decaying tooth may not cause you pain, so you may have a cavity and not realize it. The dentist checks for tooth decay at your regular check-ups and will periodically use x-rays to check for decay between teeth. The dentist treats tooth decay by cleaning out the cavity and placing a restoration or filling in the tooth.

By fighting plaque you can keep your teeth for a lifetime. You can start fighting plaque and keeping your gums and teeth healthy at any age by following some simple guidelines:

  • Schedule regular check-ups. Visit the doctor regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.
  • Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove food particles and plaque from the tooth surfaces.
  • Clean between your teeth daily with floss. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
  • Eat a balanced diet with limited snacks. Nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese or a piece of fruit should be chosen for snacks.
  • Ask the doctor about dental sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts.

What Receding Gum Treatments are Available in Sacramento?

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Although some people are predisposed to receding gums due to heredity, prematurely receding gums may be prevented with proper oral hygiene — daily brushing, flossing and regular visits to the dentist. Many dentists will advise patients to focus on proper flossing, saying that it is even more important than brushing alone. For people that suffer receding gums due to overly exuberant brushing, consider switching to a softer bristled toothbrush and ask your dental hygienist for tips to improve your technique. Receding gums are typically a normal part of the aging process, many people may notice them much earlier than usual. Gums may recede due to genetics but they may also be caused by periodontal or gum disease. Sometimes receding gums can be identified at first glance, but they may be detected by feeling the top of the teeth at the gum line. If the tooth feels notched at the gum line, then the gums are likely receding, thus hastening the decay of healthy teeth.

Treatment should start with addressing the problem that caused the gum recession. If poor plaque control was a contributing factor, improved oral hygiene must be performed, combined with regular professional dental cleanings. If severe tartar was the cause, then a procedure called scaling and root planing may be necessary to clean the teeth and heal inflammation in the gums. If malocclusion or incorrect bite was a factor, a bite adjustment or bite splint may be recommended. Receding gums may also be caused by teeth that are misaligned, or by excessive plaque build-up at the gum line. Misaligned teeth can be addressed by an orthodontist through the application of braces or other treatments. Regular cleanings to remove plaque build up as well as treatments for possible periodontal disease should be undertaken where appropriate. New research is focused on using stem cells to culture the patients’ own gums to replace receded gums.

For those with severely receded gums, a graft from another part of the mouth may be the only option for treatment. For others with healthy teeth and gums, there are currently two methods for the treatment of receding gums. In one treatment, the dentist drills holes in the teeth and then fills them with a material that helps keep the gums from receding further. This is perhaps the most commonly used method by dentists in the United States. The second, and newer method for the treatment of receding gums has not yet been approved by the American Dental Association. Instead of drilling holes in the teeth, the smooth surface of the tooth is roughened with a dental drill. A light coating of adhesive or filling material is then applied to the tooth and allowed to dry slightly. After this step, the teeth are “cured” by exposing them to a special blue light at a high intensity. This is followed with another layer of adhesive material.

Treating receding gums is important, not only for comfort, but also to preserve the health of your teeth. When gums recede, the exposed portion of the tooth is much more sensitive, causing discomfort when consuming hot or cold foods and liquids. It can also lead to greater risk of tooth decay and other oral conditions such as a poor bite, sore jaw, periodontal disease and tooth loss.