Tetrick Family Dentistry

Gum Disease: Signs and Symptoms To Watch Out For

Most people don’t know if they have gum disease and that’s because most are not aware of the signs and symptoms of gum disease. Most gum disease starts with mild symptoms, but it can progress over time.

The mildest form of gum disease is gingivitis. Red, swollen gums that bleed easily, as well as chronic bad breath are usually found in persons with gingivitis. They do not experience any pain or tooth loosening. With good oral hygiene and dental care most will recover from the condition.

If gingivitis goes untreated, over time it can progress to periodontitis. Plaque and tartar can spread below the gum line. Present in plaque are bacteria that irritate the gums and trigger an inflammatory response. The reaction may eventually lead to tissue and bone destruction, characterized by gum tissue slowly receding from tooth structure and bones becoming brittle and prone to fracture. Eventually teeth will lose their support. As the damage worsens, deep pockets of space between the teeth and the connective tissues are observed.

If you have periodontitis, the condition is sometimes asymptomatic, or does not present symptoms initially. However, you may notice the following: teeth appearing longer (gum recession), loose teeth, presence of pus between the teeth or at the gum line, halitosis (chronic bad breath), bleeding gums or red, swollen gums.

There are risk factors that can increase the likelihood of you getting gum disease. Aging is one of them, but which you cannot control. Other than that, here are some of the most common risk factors for developing gum disease: obesity and poor nutrition, smoking and tobacco use, teeth grinding or bruxism, stress and genetics. Certain drugs, like antidepressants, oral contraceptives, and some heart medications. Presence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis are also contributory factors.

If you experience some of these signs, do see your dentist right away: gums that pull back from the teeth, that bleed easily and are swollen or red, teeth that are sensitive teeth or feel loose in their sockets, pain while chewing, and ill-fitting dentures.

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Fighting Gum Disease in Bellingham

We know all the signs and symptoms of gum disease and though we see them regularly, we give each patient personalized treatment. Find out if you are at risk. See us at Tetrick Family Dentistry, here in Bellingham.

Tips to Keep Gums Healthy

Firstly, you have to learn to brush teeth properly. It’s key to having healthy mouth and gums. Brush at least twice a day using soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brush the teeth at a 45-degree angle to the gums, moving brush in short strokes, pressing gently, vertically brush the insides of front teeth making short strokes along each tooth. When bristles start to fray, replace the toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, or sooner.

Choose the right toothpaste, the one that contains fluoride and has the ADA seal of approval on the packaging.

Floss daily, a habit recognized by the ADA as an important part of oral care. It removes food and plaque from between the teeth and gums where toothbrush bristles may find difficult to reach.

Be careful when rinsing your mouth out. Know that after brushing with fluoride toothpaste and afterwards rinse your mouth out with water, you are actually washing away the fluoride as well. Do so carefully as it can diminish the effectiveness of fluoride products.

Use therapeutic mouthwash. This type of mouthwash can remove food particles from the mouth, reduce the amount of plaque on the teeth, reduce the speed at which tartar builds up, and prevent gum disease, However, it is not a replacement for brushing and flossing. Look for the ADA on the mouthwash label. Children under the age of 6 years should not use mouthwash though.

Go for regular dental checkups which typically include a professional mouth cleaning. It’s the only way to remove tartar from teeth and eliminate plaque as well. Regular visits can also help identify early signs of gum disease, like gingivitis. Early detection can help prevent more severe problems as well.

Stop smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking makes a person more susceptible to gum disease because it weakens the immune system. Quitting smoking or stopping use of other tobacco products immediately help reduce the risk of developing gum disease.

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Recommending Easy Steps for Healthy Gums

Here in Bellingham, we are concern with gum disease and gum health. We advocate these easy steps all the time to patients young and old. Let’s all work together for healthy gums.

Considering Diagnosis and Treatment for Sleep Apnea

How serious is sleep apnea? If left untreated, sleep apnea is potentially very dangerous. The condition brings with it an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and dementia. It can be fatal in some cases.

There’s a 2015 study examining the association of obstructive sleep apnea with clinical outcomes including all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease(CHD), strokes and chronic kidney disease. It found that people with untreated sleep apnea are 86% more likely to die at a younger age than people who don’t have sleep apnea. It definitely increases the risk of dying younger than you would otherwise.

Side Effects of Sleep Apnea

There are many side effects and complications of untreated sleep apnea. Studies show a strong link between obstructive sleep apnea and depression, though the relationship is not fully understood. Another study found that sleep apnea might be associated with erectile dysfunction in men. It has also been associated with liver damage and metabolic syndrome and increases the risks associated with surgery and undergoing anesthesia.

How is the condition diagnosed? See your primary care doctor if you experience these: loud snoring, headache on waking up, dry mouth, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, irritability, gasping for air at night. It might be sleep apnea. If your doctor suspects it, you might be referred to a sleep specialist for a full evaluation.

Evaluation for sleep apnea will require an overnight stay at a sleep center for monitoring. The primary test is a nocturnal polysomnography that monitors everything from your heart and brain activity to your breathing patterns and blood oxygen levels. There are home sleep test options but are not as reliable.

Treatment Option for Sleep Apnea

What treatment options are available? Lifestyle changes will be the first step, and these include weight loss and exercise, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and changing your sleeping position. A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine may be recommended which will keep your airways open while you sleep. This method treats moderate to severe sleep apnea.

If these don’t work, surgical solutions are available. These are tissue removal and tissue shrinkage, jaw repositioning, nerve stimulation, and tracheostomy. Consider your best option. Treating this condition is still worth all the trouble.

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Seeking Treatment in Bellingham

For all its worth, look into your sleep apnea condition and consider the possible consequences. For life and health and for the treatment of sleep apnea, pay us a visit here at Tetrick Family Dentistry in Bellingham, WA.

Tips Every Parent Should Know

The National Children’s Dental Health Month is the month of February and it calls out to parents – the ones responsible for children’s good dental health habits. As parents, kids follow what you do – if you brush regularly, they, too, will. Kids are more likely to accept dental hygiene as part of everyday life as they get older when they start young.

Taking care of infant’s teeth is all about from wiping the gums with soft cloth to fingertip brushing to soft bristle tooth-brushing. A small pea-size toothpaste will do until the child can handle more toothpaste. Artificially sweetened toothpaste is better than those that use sugar. The American Dental Association recommends that children see a dentist in the first year of life, to familiarize them with the process and to detect any early decay issues or anomalies. Regular six-month checkups starting at 2-3 years old is another basic parenting skill. It will monitor good dental health in kids by setting guidelines and establishing discipline.

ADA guidelines offer tips so that brushing is an integral part of family life, but also a time for fun. Tips like brush with your kids to set a good example, let kids choose their own toothpaste and toothbrushes, stick to the brushing routine even on vacation or special event days, make brushing time pass quickly by playing a favorite song, reading/listening to a story, reinforce good habits with stories or videos that show characters taking care of their teeth, and reward good behavior with stickers or other small treats.

Establish some dos and don’ts regarding habits. Make clear that the first line of defense is brushing. Good healthy diet is also important. Things to avoid or minimize are candy, regular chewing gum, fruit juices and soft drinks. They are fun to have occasionally and should not be regular treats.

When choosing a dentist, it’s important to find one you like and trust. Ask family and friends for recommendations. Find out your dentist’s specialty area, insurances that are accepted and methods of payment. As parents, you must know your child’s dentist’s office hours, travel distance distance required to get there, how emergencies are handled outside of office hours, and what is the dentist’s approach to preventive dentistry.

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Child-Friendly Dental Practice in Bellingham

When you’re ready and your little one is into his or her first year of life, come visit us at Tetrick Family Dentistry and we’ll start our good oral health journey together.

Surprising Things Doing More Harm Than Good

The following may be unhealthy habits that are destroying your oral health.

Consuming foods or drinks high in acidity. Fruits and fruit juices can be harmful to your teeth, containing high amounts of acid that can dissolve enamel. The acid content can alter the pH of your mouth that otherwise protects teeth from the damage of acid. This holds true for other consumables like lemon in hot water, apple cider vinegar, green juices, apples, oranges, etc. One can use a straw to avoid prolonged contact with teeth, or drinking water immediately after, or eating cheese, milk or yogurt which can neutralize the acid.

Not minding the fluoride in your toothpaste. There are just many types of toothpaste out there in the market, but do you ever look at labels to see that there’s fluoride in them? Fluoride makes enamel stronger, enabling it to be more resistant to demineralization caused by acids. It’s been well established that fluoride offers protection to teeth by preventing the decay process. You at least need 1,400ppm (parts per million) fluoride in your toothpaste for the right protection.

Brushing immediately after eating. This can be damaging to teeth when you brush straight away after consuming a highly acidic diet. This is brushing at wrong timing. If you brush straight after eating or drinking something acidic, like orange juice, you’re basically rubbing the acid into the teeth. Wait at least 30 minutes before you brush, or gargle with water, swishing it around your mouth, then wait awhile before you brush.

Clenching your teeth. If you feel anxious or stressed you can subconsciously clench your teeth at night, while sleeping. This can wear the enamel down, exposing the dentine, the soft part underneath the enamel. If it goes unchecked, your teeth actually wears down more quickly, causing sensitivity and giving teeth a yellow appearance.

Falling for DIY Teeth Whitening. Like some people, you might want to whiten your teeth on your own so you go and purchase toothpaste that may contain abrasive agents, such as those for severe whitening or charcoal toothpaste. They may cause damage because it’s the equivalent of scrubbing salt on your teeth. These products can temporarily lift stains, but if the enamel is damaged, that will actually leave teeth more open to staining over time. For safe and monitored whitening, opt for professional tooth whitening.

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Lifestyle Changes in Bellingham

Know more about daily habits that can do more harm than good to your teeth. Visit us at Dr. Tetrick’s and learn about lifestyle modifications good for oral health.

Gums Can Tell Your Health

If you experience these unhealthy signs in your gums, do not ignore them. They are red and puffy; they bleed, hurt or are tender when you brush or floss; they’re receding away from your teeth. You may have gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, but at this stage it is still a reversible situation. If it goes untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis. The state of your gums gives you a picture of your oral health, and your oral health can give you clues to whether something’s up with the rest of your body functions. Here’s what you need to know.

Signs and Symptoms of Unhealthy Gums

If your gums are receding, you may be stressed out or have sleep apnea. Receding gums can result from bruxism which puts a lot of pressure on your gum line, teeth, and jawbones, causing gums to pull away. It can lead to tooth sensitivity if roots are exposed. Bruxism may also be due to health issues like anxiety and stress, it’s also commonly linked with sleep apnea.

Sores on your gums could be an indication of herpes. They can cause oral outbreaks, known as cold sores. They can be painful, often popping up on the borders of the mouth, or break out inside the mouth, including on the gums. Before they show up, you’ll feel tingling, burning, or itching. An outbreak can last for days, and it can take two to four weeks for the blisters to fully heal. Get in touch with your doctor for an antiviral drug to accelerate healing.

Pale gums could be a sign of anemia. Very pale gums can be a sign of anemia, a blood disorder when your red blood cell count is low or you don’t have enough of the iron-rich protein hemoglobin, which gives blood its color. If you have pale gums and other symptoms of anemia, like fatigue and dizziness, consult your doctor – especially because pale gums may be masking signs of gum disease.

Dry gums could be a symptom of immune system issues. Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder affecting the mucous membranes of your eyes and mouth, that result in lowered levels of tears and saliva, leading to dry mouth, including your gums. When your gums are dry, it can contribute to or exacerbate gum disease. If dry gums bother you, bring it up with your doctor or dentist.

Gum disease and diabetes also share a link. If you have uncontrolled diabetes, this can make gum disease more severe and take longer to heal. Conversely, having a bacterial infection in your mouth can tax the body and make it harder to control diabetes. If you have these conditions, it’s important to address both with your doctors instead of just one or the other.

The Picture of Neglect

Some dentists say that they’ve observed that the most negligent group when it comes to oral health is that set of people in their twenties. These young adults call themselves health-conscious, mind you, and are very much aware about healthy foods, healthy lifestyles and practices. They have the discipline to work out at the gym, attend yoga classes, and engage in sports. However, if you ask them about the state of their teeth and gums, they’d say they’re fine, nothing is painful and their teeth and gums look good.

Putting their energy, resources and their time into the pursuit of their general health, they tend to forget their mouth. If ever they see their dentist, who will tell them about a bad bite, a small cavity, a little puffiness in the gums, these people will likely shrug off the advice, not feeling anything wrong. After all, regular dental visits are not exactly at the top of their list.

Down the road at some time, a compromised tooth will become painful or sensitive, or their gums start to bleed, then only then will they seek dental care. The fix by this time may require more extensive repair or replacement. It doesn’t take long for significant damage to be done. In as little as a year and a half, neglect can create a torrent of issues. Some will be difficult if not impossible to fix.

Many patients in their 50s will have unsalvageable teeth which could have been saved if they were helped by their dentists 30 years earlier. Basically, if you don’t see your dentist for two years, you’re already compromising your health. If you skip visits for five years, you’re going to see some bone loss. Ten years without professional dental care and you’re almost certain to have severe bone loss.

Bone loss is asymptomatic, people just don’t feel it happening. Bones become less dense and more fragile as one gets older, becoming prone to breakage. Unfortunately, harmful bacteria in the mouth hasten the process of disintegration in the bone supporting the teeth. Teeth can loosen in their sockets and fall out and nothing can be done at this point to stimulate bone growth. Bone loss can be prevented with good habits that diminish bacterial growth in the mouth so that teeth are preserved longer.

Being mortals, we are designed to age and die. Our teeth and gums will eventually give way, but we can slow it down by paying attention to our oral health.

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Caring About Oral Health in Bellingham

If you are concerned about your overall health, certainly your oral health is part and parcel of your well-being. Keep your regular visits with us and preserve your dental health for the longest time possible.

Benefits of Preventive Oral Care Plans

If you are a health provider or the patient, did you know that with a preventive care benefit, you can reduce the times you have to go to the emergency department of hospitals and even hospitalizations?

If dental services are integrated more tightly into the medical care system, it can cut utilization by those people with chronic conditions. Research shows that those with chronic illnesses but without dental coverage through medical insurance companies had a higher rate of hospital stays than those with dental benefits. On the other and, those who had dental coverage but did not use the benefit for preventive services had 3 times higher incidence rate of emergency department visits than those who took advantage of routine dental care.

Having quality dental coverage, and using it for preventive care, can contribute to overall good health. Research reinforce how integrating medical and dental coverage and care can be associated with improved health and lower costs for those who suffer from chronic medical issues.

We know already that poor dental health has been linked to an increase in heart disease and that gum disease and other dental issues contribute directly to cardiovascular events. There are strong correlations between oral health and the successful management of chronic conditions.

Research found that persons with serious oral health conditions spent twice as much as other members on healthcare expenses. Individuals with dental health issues are also 25 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease, two times as likely to experience an emergency visit or hospitalization, and are also more likely to be diagnosed with autoimmune conditions, kidney disease, and anemia.

Seeking oral care throughout life can help detect more serious problems still to happen. Unfortunately, dental benefits are not always available, or often financially separated from traditional insurance coverage. This affects the access for individuals on the lower end of the socioeconomic strata. Individuals in the lowest income brackets are half as likely as well-off patients to visit a dentist. This situation calls for more concern if good oral health is targeted to be available to all.

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Preventive Care with Benefits in Bellingham

Know that at Tetrick Family Dentistry, we practice preventive dentistry on all our cases. Proper preventive care avoids or delays oral diseases that are also linked to chronic health issues. Visit us in Bellingham.

Watch These Everyday Food and Drinks

We all know that candy is bad for the teeth. The high sugar content of candies can build up as plaque on tooth surfaces, even under the gums. Later bacteria attacks the plaque and turn them acidic, and can eventually lead to cavities and tooth decay. Little did you know that there are far more dangerous food stuffs out there worse than candy.

What’s Worse than Candy?

Just as bad as candies is eating dried fruits; they have a high sugar content and are very sticky, tending to adhere much longer on tooth surfaces. They can also get stuck in-between teeth. Skip the dried variety and opt for fresh fruits instead. Another culprit is soda. A 12-ounce can of soda has 39 grams of sugar, about ten teaspoons. Soda is also very acidic. Bottled juice can also be acidic and often contains added sugars, as much as ten teaspoons per serving. It would be better to make your own fresh fruits instead.

Pasta sauce is acidic. Tomatoes, which make up most pasta sauces, are healthy, but they’re also acidic. Eating tomato sauce with spaghetti enhances the damage to the enamel of teeth. The acid in the sauce can break down the enamel and the carbs in pasta help feed cavity-causing bacteria. Another is apple cider vinegar. While it has detoxifying properties, it is high in acidity and can erode enamel quickly. If apple cider is part of your regimen, always dilute it with water, drink it in one sitting, and rinse well afterward.

Coffee and tea are both acidic and diuretic, which means they can dry your mouth. A dry mouth makes you more prone to cavities and gum disease. Popular blended coffee drinks is even worse because of all the added sugar. Protect your teeth by swishing with water afterward. Beer, wine, hard liquor, and cocktails can also do damage. Beer has carbs which can turn acidic, wine is sugary and so are cocktails. Also, remember, the higher the alcohol content of the drink, the more it can dry the mouth. Check the USDA for the nutrient content of foods.

Other foods that can pose a danger to your teeth that are worse than candy, are gummy vitamins, flavored chips, cough drops and flavored yogurt.

Advising Moderation in Bellingham

Ask Dr. Tetrick, your Bellingham dentist, what other foods and drinks considered to be harmful to teeth and gums. While what we’ve mentioned are favorites, moderation, if not avoidance, is key to oral health.