Archive forOral

Most Common Causes of Dry Mouth

Those that suffer from a dry mouth are suffering from a decrease in saliva production.  Saliva keeps the mouth moist.  Saliva also cleans the mouth and helps to digest the food that we eat.  Saliva also controls the bacteria within the mouth and helps to prevent infections that typically form in the mouth.

We all will suffer from a dry mouth at some point in our lifetime.  Some of the most common reasons for a dry mouth include:

□    Side effects of certain medications

□    Side effects of certain diseases

□    Side effects of certain medical treatments

□    Nerve damage

□    Dehydration

□    Damaged or removed salivary glands

□    Hormonal changes

□    Lifestyle

All medications, have some type of side effects and one side effect of many medications is a dry mouth.  Medications used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, allergies, colds, obesity, acne, epilepsy, hypertension, diarrhea, nausea, psychotic disorders, urinary problems, and asthma commonly cause a dry mouth.  If a certain medication is causing the dry mouth, the condition will normally subside when the use of the medication is discontinued; however, you should never discontinue a prescribed medication without the consent of a physician.

There are also diseases and infections that affect the salivary glands and lead to a dry mouth.  These diseases and infections include:

□    Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

□    Sjogren’s syndrome

□    Alzheimer’s disease

□    Diabetes

□    Anemia

□    Cystic fibrosis

□    Rheumatoid arthritis

□    High blood pressure

□    Parkinson’s disease

□    Stroke

□    Mumps

It is also common for certain medical treatments to cause a dry mouth.  The most common medical treatment that causes dry mouth is radiation that is aimed at the head and neck.  Radiation which is commonly given to cancer patients who have some type of cancer in the upper part of their body or around their head and neck will usually suffer from a dry mouth as side effect of the radiation.  The radiation works to kill the cancer and in the process it also destroys the salivary glands, which are the glands that produce saliva.  The production of saliva in those patients that have had radiation aimed at their head and neck will most likely suffer from a decrease of saliva production for the remainder of their lives even after the radiation treatments are completed.

Lifestyle habits can also cause a dry mouth.  Smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco damages the body in numerous ways as well as causing a dry mouth.

Dehydration also contributes to a dry mouth.  When we are sick, it is not uncommon for some of us to become dehydrated. Fevers, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, and severe burns can cause dehydration.  Drinking an inadequate amount of water can also cause a dry mouth and can lead to dehydration.  Avoid drinks with a high content of sugar in them including colas; these drinks tend to cause a dry mouth.  Lastly, the way we breathe can determine whether or not we have a dry mouth.  For those of us that breathe in and out of our mouths, we will most likely have a dry mouth compared to those people who breathe in and out through their nose.

Comments

Know the Causes of Gum Disease To Prevent Them Best

Gum disease or periodontal disease is the infection and destruction of the tissues and bones that support the teeth. It affects about 30 percent of the adult population.
There are several causes of gum disease but the primary cause is bacterial plaque. Plaque is a bacteria-laden soft substance that layers the teeth and sticks to the gums. That plaque remains in the teeth harden overtime and becomes tartar. When this happens, you will not be able to get rid of it through normal brushing and you would need to have it removed by your dentist.
Neglect of oral hygiene leads to the accumulation of plaque and tartar, which are major causes of gum diseases.The build of bacteria in plaque and tartar attacks and infects the gums, causing it to become irritated and inflamed. Persons with severe gum disease may eventually loose their teeth.
The risk factors and other causes of gum disease include:

Smoking
The Smoking weak immune system and, therefore, greatly decreases the body’s ability to fight infection, including bacterial infection of the gums.This puts smokers at a much higher risk of developing gum disease than non-smokers. So smoking Tartar forms and deep pockets around the tooth where bacteria gather. It damages mouth tissue and the bones that support teeth.

Stress
Persons under great stress who lack the ability to cope with pressure have a tendency to neglect their health, including dental care. So stress affects the immune system, weakening a person’s defense against infection. To stress affects the immune system, weakening a person’s defense against infection.

Genes
There are cases when even persons with great dental habits acquire some form of gum disease for the simple reason that it is in their genes. The best help for individuals who are genetically prone to gum disease is early detection through genetic testing.

Hormones
There are certain periods in life such as during puberty when the body experiences of surging hormones.In women, for instance, hormone level changes during monthly periods and even more so during pregnancy and menopause. During these times, changes in Hormones affect the makeup of Saliva and bacteria in the mouth, increasing the risk of gum disease.

Some Drugs
Some of these drugs are hypertension medicines that block calcium channels, contraceptive pills, steroids and anti-seizure medications that over-stimulates the growth of gum tissue. Long-term use of some antibiotics can cause bacteria to become resistant to it. Check with your dentist to find out how a medication can affect your dental health.
Other causes of gum disease are inadequate intake of nutrients essential to dental health, excessive consumption of sugar and alcohol, and other diseases that target the immune system
Learning about the causes of gum disease will better equip you on how to prevent it. You will find that maintaining oral care at home and with your dentist as well as taking care of your immune system are the keys to excellent dental health.

Comments

How to fight against cavities? Understand the formation of cavities.

The occurrence of cavities

Dental caries is a disease that gradually destroys the tooth forward in several steps. When the bacteria are in contact with the sugars provided by the food, they attack our teeth. The email is the first key. The bacteria break down sugars into acids, which promotes the dissolution prisms enamel.

The opening created allows bacteria to enter until the dentin. As it is less mineralized than enamel, the progression occurs more rapidly towards the center of the tooth. Then the dental pulp is attacked. If the tooth is not treated, bacteria then invade the jaw bone by the root canals.

How to detect cavities?

Following the increase in bacteria, the pain is more or less strong. The aggression of the enamel is painless. The pain in sugar or sale appear when the bacteria attack the dentin. They become more vivid (hot, cold, rage tooth night) where the pulp is infected. If the jaw bone is key, it can create abscesses or cysts which can in turn infect other parts of the body through the blood (hair, eyes, kidneys …). Of course without treatment, extraction of the tooth will be inevitable.

The bacteria can also reach the underlying bone without causing any pain.

How to deal with everyday life?

The absorption of food, the teeth are attacked by the bacteria. The enamel is regularly subjected to aggression. This is where fluoride is the most effective tool that promotes the demineralization of the enamel. Brushing removes plaque bacteria and stop the progression of bacteria.

Once the teeth, only the dental specialist is able to heal. It will remove diseased tissue, clean surfaces dental and parties will replenish destroyed by decay.

Comments