Over 90 percent of Americans at some time or another during their lives have had it. Strikes most often during puberty, when hormonal changes lead to conditions which create the disease. Poor brushing habits and negligence of flossing and professional cleaning can lead to it. It’s the early stages of periodontal disease called gingivitis.
According to the American Dental Association, gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums and is the initial stage of gum disease and the easiest to treat. The direct cause of gingivitis is plaque – the soft, sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms constantly on the teeth and gums.
If the plaque is not removed by daily brushing and flossing, it produces toxins (poisons) that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. At this early stage in gum disease, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected. Left untreated, however, gingivitis can become periodontitis and cause permanent damage to your teeth and jaw.
How do I know if I have gingivitis?
Classic signs and symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen, tender gums that may bleed when you brush. Another sign of gum disease is gums that have receded or pulled away from your teeth, giving your teeth an elongated appearance. Gum disease can cause pockets to form between the teeth and gums, where plaque and food debris collect. Some people may experience recurring bad breath or a bad taste in their mouth, even if the disease is not advanced.
How do I treat gingivitis?
Gingivitis treatment usually starts by thoroughly cleaning your teeth. This includes removing all traces of plaque and tartar — a procedure known as scaling. The cleaning may be uncomfortable, especially if your gums are already sensitive or you have extensive plaque and tartar buildup. Your dentist may also recommend using an antiseptic mouth rinse to clear away bacteria. Your dentist will also review brushing and flossing techniques to make sure you’re doing these effectively.
How can I prevent gingivitis?
Good oral hygiene is essential. Professional cleanings are also extremely important because once plaque has hardened and built up, or become tartar, only a dentist or dental hygienist can remove it.
You can help stop gingivitis before it develops by:
Proper brushing and flossing to remove plaque and debris and control tartar buildup
Eating right to ensure proper nutrition for your jawbone and teeth
Avoiding cigarettes and other forms of tobacco
Scheduling regular checkups with your dentist
Gingivitis can be prevented with a good oral health habits. Talk to your dentist during your next visit to ensure your taking the proper steps to prevent the early stages of periodontal disease called gingivitis.
Most people are unaware of the fact that they have bad breath, or “halitosis” as dental professionals refer to it. According to the American Dental Association, one in four people have bad breath and some studies have reported that approximately 50 percent of the adult population does have. In fact, it is estimated that nearly 60 million people will suffer from chronic halitosis in the United States.
Certain foods, health conditions and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene.
If simple self-care techniques don’t solve the problem, you may want to see your dentist or doctor to rule out a more serious condition that may be causing your bad breath.
Causes of Bad Breath Bad breath can be caused by external and internal factors. External factors can be the types of foods that we eat such as spicy or odorous in nature (certain spices used in cooking, garlic, onions even tuna or tacos). If you think your bad breath is related to the foods that you are consuming, consider recording the food you are eating to determine if this is the reason. People who use tobacco and alcohol can also experience bad breath.
Internal factors include oral factors that can affect the body systemically. The tongue provides a place for bacteria to attach and grow. Most odor-causing bacteria produce compounds that cause bad breath called volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). These primary VSCs that cause bad breath are hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan. Most of these odor-causing bacteria reside in the posterior area of the tongue.
Other causes of bad breath can include the following:
Dental issues (poor oral hygiene, gingivitis and periodontal disease)
Dentures (plaque and food can develop on dentures)
Dry mouth (lack of saliva flow)
Mouth, , nose and throat issues (sinus or throat infections and cryptic tonsillitis)
Please see your dentist for a dental appointment to determine why you are experiencing bad breath and continue to properly clean your mouth with an antibacterial fluoride toothpaste, floss daily and clean your tongue with a tongue brush or scraper.
By Dr. Carol Lybrook, DDS Editor’s Note: The author, Dr. Carol Lybrook and her husband, Dr. Scott Lybrook, operate Lybrook Dental Center in Fruita.
You’re sound asleep, pleasant dreams dancing across your subconscious. You snuggle down into your pillow — and suddenly you’re awakened by a horrible sound. Your spouse is grinding his/her teeth. What an irritating sound. As bad as fingernails scratching across the black board. And far more dangerous.
According to the American Dental Association, this is nocturnal bruxism – grinding of the teeth in the night – and it can have far-reaching implications, like loosening and loss of teeth. It can also cause another condition – temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ.) TMJ occurs when the muscles, joints and ligaments of the jaw move out of alignment. Symptoms of this are headache, earache and pain in the face, neck or shoulder. While no hard figures on the frequency of bruxism are available, at the very least, one out of twenty Americans brux. Most likely, one in four Americans brux. Over 80 percent of all bruxers maybe unaware of the habit, so they may dismiss evidence that they do in fact engage in this self-destructive behavior.
Bruxism is also closely associated with some sleep disorders. Research has discovered that people who brux are more likely to snore, suffer from breathing pauses during sleep and be victims of sleep apnea. As is the case in many sleeping problems, stress is a major cause of bruxism. Even during the day, it’s not unusual to clench or grind the teeth when angry or nervous. The use of tobacco, alcohol or caffeine tends to aggravate the problem.
It’s a disorder that can affect people of all ages, men and women. It does seem to decrease with age, and the worst cases occur in the 19 to 44 year age group.
What Can I Do to Stop Grinding My Teeth?
Your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during sleep. If stress is causing you to grind your teeth, ask your doctor about options to reduce your stress. Attending stress counseling, starting an exercise program, seeing a physical therapist or obtaining a prescription for muscle relaxants are among some of the options that may be offered.
Other tips to stop teeth grinding include:
Avoid or cut back on foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as colas, chocolate, and coffee.
Avoid alcohol. Grinding tends to intensify after alcohol consumption.
Do not chew on pencils or pens or anything that is not food. Avoid chewing gum as it allows your jaw muscles to get more used to clenching and makes you more likely to grind your teeth.
Train yourself not to clench or grind your teeth. If you notice that you clench or grind during the day, position the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This practice trains your jaw muscles to relax.
Relax your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.
If you think that you have bruxism, one solution is visit your dentist and find a solution for not just better oral health but also for a better nights rest. To learn more about bruxism, talk to your dentist during your next regular check-up. It might save you some sleep!
By Dr. Carol Lybrook Editor’s Note: This article is the final in a 2-part series on dental health in recognition of the American Dental Association’s National Oral Health Month. The author, Dr. Carol Lybrook, along with husband Dr. Scott Lybrook, operate Lybrook Dental Center in Fruita.
You have heard it many times: see your dentist every six months to get your teethed cleaned and overall oral health screened. Poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of dental and medical problems such as gum disease, infection, bone loss, heart disease, strokes and more. Regular check-ups and cleanings can prevent these problems as well as provide you with good oral hygiene.
1) To Prevent Oral Cancer
According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the United States alone. When you have your dental cleaning, your dentist is also screening you for oral cancer, which is highly curable if diagnosed early.
2) To Prevent Gum Disease
Gum disease is an infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place and is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. If diagnosed early, it can be treated and reversed. If treatment is not received, a more serious and advanced stage of gum disease may follow. Regular dental cleanings and check-ups, flossing daily and brushing twice a day are key factors in preventing gum disease.
3) To Help Maintain Good Physical Health
Recent studies have linked heart attacks and strokes to gum disease, resulting from poor oral hygiene. A dental cleaning every six months helps keep your teeth and gums healthy and could possibly reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
4) To Keep Your Teeth
Since gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults, regular dental check-ups and cleanings, brushing and flossing are vital to keeping as many teeth as you can. Keeping your teeth means better chewing function and ultimately, better health.
5) To Detect Dental Problems Early
Your dentist and hygienist will be able to detect any early signs of problems with your teeth or gums. Early detection of cavities, broken fillings and gum disease are easily treatable. If these problems go untreated, root canals, gum surgery and removal of teeth could become the only treatment options available.
6) To Maintain Good Oral Health and Bright Smile
Your dental hygienist will help ensure that you are maintaining your good oral health through visual examination and comparing your previous dental check-ups. If you are falling off track with your oral hygiene he / she will help put you back on the right path.
By Dr. Carol Lybrook Editor’s Note: This article is the first in a 2-part series on dental health in recognition of the American Dental Association’s National Oral Health Month. The author, Dr. Carol Lybrook, along with husband Dr. Scott Lybrook, operate Lybrook Dental Center in Fruita.
Oral health means more than just an attractive smile. Poor oral health and untreated oral diseases and conditions can have a significant impact on quality of life. And in many cases, the condition of the mouth mirrors the condition of the body as a whole. Recent reports indicate a relationship between periodontal (gum) disease and stroke, heart disease, and pre-term low-birth-weight babies. Likewise, more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations, meaning your dentist may be the first health care provider to diagnose a health problem.
What problems can poor oral health cause?
According to the recently released Surgeon General’s report on oral health in America, a large percentage of the population suffers from a reduced quality of life due to oral and facial pain. This pain is largely due to infections of the gums that support the teeth and can lead to tooth loss. More than 72 percent of the population is affected by some type of periodontal disease or gingivitis.
Recent reports show that infections in the mouth can affect major organs. One example is bacterial endocarditis, a condition in which the lining of the heart and heart valves become inflamed. Poor mouth care also can contribute to oral cancer, which now takes more lives annually than cervical or skin cancer. In addition, poor oral health affects the digestive process, which begins with physical and chemical activities in the mouth. Problems here can lead to intestinal failure, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other problems.
What symptoms from other diseases show up in the mouth?
Mouth tissues reflect symptoms of other problems. In addition, many diseases can be diagnosed in their early stages through an oral examination. These diseases may be characterized by swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and/or excessive gum problems. Some of these diseases include diabetes, leukemia, cancer, heart disease and kidney disease.
What can I do?
Seeing a dentist every six months can help identify diseases in their earliest stages. It also is important to provide your dentist with a complete medical/dental history and to inform him or her of any recent problems, even if they seem unrelated to your mouth.
What can my dentist do?
A regular exam allows your dentist to keep your mouth in tiptop shape and watch for developments that may point to problems elsewhere in your body. A dental exam also picks up on poor nutrition and hygiene, growth and development problems and improper jaw alignment. According to a recent survey, 90 percent of dentists said they counsel patients on home care for special oral health care needs resulting from chemotherapy or head and neck radiation therapy. Eighty-seven percent of dentists surveyed responded that they counsel patients on tobacco use, more than half provide direct counseling to patients. Thirty-eight percent of respondents also provide literature on the dangers of tobacco and information on tobacco cessation programs to patients, 17 percent refer patients to their primary care physician, and 14 percent directly refer patients to cessation services.
Lybrook Dental Center – Fruita Times Featured Article – January 2010
By Dr. Carol Lybrook, DDS
Editor’s Note: The author, Dr. Carol Lybrook and her husband, Dr. Scott Lybrook, operate Lybrook Dental Center in the Kokopelli Professional Plaza in Fruita.
Every year, we ring in the New Year celebration with the intention of adopting a resolution. The logic behind this tradition is to chase away the bad habits of the previous year, leaving a clean slate that provides for good health and fortune in the coming year. The New Year is a great time to resolve and follow through on healthy changes to establish or re-establish good dental health habits for your family. Good dental health requires only a few minutes a day.
Here are (5) five practical suggestions on how to make good on your resolution to improve your smile and overall oral health:
1. Visit the dentist regularly.
Regular dental visits are important to overall dental health. Be sure to tell your dentist about any medications (new or existing) that you or your children are taking. Parents should make sure their children see the dentist for the first time around their second birthday. Also, ensure every visit includes a comprehensive oral screening and exam. Make sure you have a preventive plan in place for 2010.
2. Eat a nutritious and healthy diet.
Good nutrition plays an important role in dental health. Eating an orally healthy diet should include a variety of foods from the five main food groups, and limit in between snacks. Continuous contact with foods and beverages that are high in sugar can negatively affect the teeth and gums. Make a resolution to cut down on the number of sugary drinks and sticky, sugary snacks. Instead, offer your children water and fruits and vegetables for snacks. Also, offer water to your children to drink after meals to help cleanse the teeth.
3. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Learning proper brushing techniques is an essential part of maintaining good oral health and preventing gum disease. Daily brushing helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Fluoride reduces tooth decay and prevents cavities. Parents and caregivers should consult a dentist or health care provider before introducing a child under age two to fluoride toothpaste.
4. Floss daily.
Flossing cleans areas between the teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach. Dental floss should be used to floss between teeth at least once a day for two-three minutes. It is important to floss between all teeth in the mouth. Start in the same place each time and work around the mouth. For children, flossing should begin when there are two teeth in the mouth that touch together, usually around age four or five years of age. Parents can help floss children’s teeth until they are able to floss by themselves.
5. Throw away old toothbrushes and replace them with new ones.
It is recommended that a toothbrush be replaced every two or three months or after an illness. Start the New Year with a new toothbrush.
Start off the new decade with healthy resolutions that will make you smile and create healthy habits that can last a lifetime for you and your family. Happy New Year from Lybrook Dental Center!
Lybrook Dental Center – Fruita Times Featured Article – December 2009
By Dr. Carol Lybrook
Editor’s Note: The author, Dr. Carol Lybrook, along with husband Dr. Scott Lybrook, operate Lybrook Dental Center in Fruita.
Since 1946, every holiday season surrounds us with the words and lyrics of a song written by Don Gardner called: All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth! This special holiday song is popular with children but true from some adults. Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be the only options when replacing missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural.
According to the American Dental Association, dental implants offer a replacement system for missing teeth that look and function like natural teeth. They’re durable and do not damage existing structures. Many dentists are optimistic that the latest generation of implant technology will fulfill these goals.
What are dental implants?
An implant starts with a titanium metal screw that is surgically inserted into the alveolar bone of the upper or lower jaw where a natural tooth has been lost. The screw acts as a substitute for a natural tooth root, forming the base for a replacement. A dentist can place implants alone or in combination. They can serve as individual replacement teeth or as abutments for fixed bridges, or as anchors for full or partial removable dentures.
Implants had been used for decades with mixed success. The materials and techniques were less than ideal until a breakthrough occurred in the late 1960s, when researchers explored the use of titanium. They discovered that bone would grow directly into the surface of a titanium implant and create a bond so firm that the implant could not be dislodged. This osseointegration was something that didn’t happen with implants made of other materials. These devices became known as osseointegrated implants.
Are you a candidate for dental implants?
Implants aren’t a good choice for everyone. Pregnant women and people with chronic illness or immunosuppression (due to the increased risk of infection during surgery), children (because their jawbones are still developing) and people who grind or clench their teeth (this habit can put too much pressure on implants), are not good candidates for dental implants. Keep in mind that the surgery to place dental implants takes several hours, and more than one procedure may be needed. So anyone who is at increased risk for infection may not want to choose dental implants.
The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease. Dental implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Since periodontists are the dental experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team. Not only do periodontists have experience working with other dental professionals, they also have the special knowledge, training and facilities that you need to have teeth that look and feel just like your own.
If you feel you are a candidate, talk to your dentist because there is an option with dental implants. You will not have to experience another holiday season signing … All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. Happy Holidays from all of us here at Lybrook Dental Center. See you in 2010.
Lybrook Dental Center – Fruita Times Featured Article – November 2009
By Dr. Carol Lybrook Editor’s Note: The author, Dr. Carol Lybrook, along with husband Dr. Scott Lybrook, operate Lybrook Dental Center in Fruita.
It starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth. It turns into a deadly cancer nobody really thinks about. According to the American Dental Association, oral cancer strikes an estimated 34,360 Americans each year. An estimated 7,550 people (5,180 men and 2,370 women) will die of these cancers this year.
As a dentist, I am very optimistic about the recent good news about progress against this particular cancer. It’s now easier than ever to detect oral cancer early, when the opportunity for a cure is great. Today, your dentist has the skills and tools to ensure that early signs of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions are identified. You and your dentist can fight and win the battle against oral cancer. Know the early signs and see your dentist regularly.
Things You Should Know About Oral Cancer:
Oral Cancer often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth.
It can affect any area of the oral cavity including the lips, gum tissue, check lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate.
Other signs include:
A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
A color change of the oral tissues
A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area
Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue.
Oral Cancer most often occurs in those who use tobacco in any form.
Alcohol use combined with smoking greatly increases risk.
Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of lip cancer.
Oral cancers can occur in people who do not smoke and have no other known risk factors.
Regular Dental Check-ups Important
Oral cancer screening is a routine part of a dental examination. Regular check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. You may have a very small, but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of it.
Your dentist will carefully examine the inside of your mouth and tongue and in some patients may notice a flat, painless, white or red spot or a small sore. Although most of these are harmless, some are not. Harmful oral spots or sores often look identical to those that are harmless, but testing can tell them apart. If you have a sore with a likely cause, your dentist may treat it and ask you to return for re-examination.
Prevention and Detection
The best way to prevent oral cancer is to avoid tobacco and alcohol use. Regular dental check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. Knowing the risk factors and seeing your dentist for oral cancer screenings can help prevent this deadly disease.
Oral cancer can happen to all of us. Prevention and detection play an important role. Are you taking the right steps? Talk to your dentist today about an oral cancer screening.
By Dr. Carol Lybrook Editor’s Note: The author, Dr. Carol Lybrook, along with husband Dr. Scott Lybrook, operate Lybrook Dental Center in Fruita.
Costumes and treats go hand-in-hand when Halloween rolls around, but kids indulging in an excess of candy could be putting their teeth at risk for decay. According to the American Dental Association, if you’re a parent, you may not be able to prevent your child from eating candy — but you can take active steps to prevent tooth decay and promote good nutrition all year long.
Offer healthy alternatives to candy.
Sugar-free gum actually helps prevent cavities, making it a smart choice to drop into Halloween bags this year. You also can give sugar-free gum to your child to help neutralize the effects of sugary snacks after eating. Eating sweets causes damaging acids to form in the mouth. These acids continue to affect the teeth for at least 20 minutes before they are neutralized. Sugar-free gum contains the artificial sweeteners sorbitol and xylitol, which are effective in combating the bacteria in plaque and fighting the acid that eats away at enamel. The chewing motion also stimulates the flow of saliva, which helps cleanse the teeth.
Use fluoride to fight cavities.
The use of fluoride has been demonstrated to dramatically reduce the damage caused by tooth decay. The most common ways to use fluoride for cavity prevention are by using fluoridated toothpaste and other products and by drinking fluoridated water. Children should brush three times a day for two minutes with a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste and rinse with a fluoridated mouth rinse. Fluoride treatments, applied directly onto teeth, are also available in any dentist’s office. Fluoridated water generally is delivered through a community’s water supply. If your area does not have fluoridated water, consider buying fluoridated bottled water or asking your dentist for fluoride supplements for your children.
Teach your child to eat all foods in moderation.
Although sweets are blamed for much tooth decay, all foods — even healthy alternatives to candy, such as fruit and nuts — can promote tooth decay if eaten in excess. Children (like adults) should eat all foods in moderation. Read nutrition labels to avoid foods and drinks loaded with sugar, fructose and other sweeteners.
Take time during Halloween to brush up on your child’s oral health habits.
What better time than Halloween to treat your kids to a little reminder about the importance of healthy teeth and gums? Just a quick reminder of the importance of brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist is all that’s needed to help your child understand the importance of oral health. Treat your child to a special, new toothbrush and some flavored floss to reinforce the habit of proper dental care.
Set up a candy bank.
Allow your child to make daily withdrawals from the bank and monitor the progress. This way, you can control how much candy your child consumes.
So remember, Halloween doesn’t necessarily need to be sticky, sweet and scary to be fun. We at Lybrook Dental Center wish all ghosts, goblins and princesses a safe and fun Halloween.
