Your Teeth Age Too!

Special Concerns for Older Adults

Along with those gray hairs and inevitable smile lines, your mouth undergoes natural changes over the years, as well. Among them:

Cutting edge of teeth are worn flat by chewing or grinding.

Remember to keep regularly scheduled hygiene appointments to check for cavities. Consider dental sealants to prevent decay, or a nighttime mouthguard if you experience grinding (bruxism).

Jawbones supporting teeth or dentures can shrink by as much as two-thirds!

Loss of bone mass is a fact of aging, especially in women. When teeth are missing, osteoporosis (bone thinning) is accelerated. A diet rich in calcium (milk, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits) can help put the brakes on bone loss.

Tooth enamel becomes thinner, more brittle, more translucent.

There are many way to strengthen a damaged or compromised tooth. Bonding, porcelain veneers, or crowns can all provide structural support and repair imperfections. Discolored or stained teeth can also be whitened!

Xerostomia (pronounced zero-stomia), or “dry mouth,” affects people of a certain age.

This can be a problem because lack of saliva can increase susceptibility to infection, decay, and gum disease. Dry mouth can also interfere with chewing, swallowing, even speaking. Xerostomia can be caused by prescriptions such as sedatives, heart and blood pressure medications, and others. Radiation therapy has the same effect as well.

If you’ve got chronic dry mouth, consider saliva substitutes, sugarless gum or sugarless lemon drops. You may want to consult your doctor.

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An Ounce of Prevention…

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You’ve heard that a million times—because it’s so true! Our office really wants you to avoid painful, costly dental procedures. The way you can do this is through regularly scheduled dental exams. The idea is to discover a problem when it’s large enough to be observed—and small enough to be contained!

Two dental visits a year are average. But you—are not average! More appointments may need to be scheduled when mouths build tartar fast, cavities multiply, or teeth and gums experience change.

The American Heart Association has reported that the BEST indicator of your chance of having a stroke is your number of teeth. Not cholesterol, blood pressure, or bad diet. The more teeth you lose, the higher your risk of stroke.

The main purpose of a hygiene appointment is the prevention of periodontal disease. Our hygienist removes deposits from your teeth and measures the pocket between your gum and teeth with a probe to detect periodontal disease.

You’ve got a lot at risk. We can help. It’s as simple as scheduling a dental hygiene appointment. The benefits extend far beyond your teeth and gums!

Please schedule an appointment with our office today for your overall health.

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The Long & Short of Gum Disease

Surprising but true: the major cause of tooth loss in adults is not decay, but periodontal disease. More than half of all people over age 18 have at least the early stage of periodontal disease. After age 35, about three out of four adults are affected.

Some people seem to be more susceptible to gum disease than others. Anything from pregnancy, systemic disease (like diabetes), and certain medications can contribute to its development. Smoking increases the likelihood dramatically (and renders treatment less effective). Some unlucky folks are inherently more susceptible because of unique bacterial/chemical mixes in the mouth that encourage plaque.

The results of gum disease aren’t pretty. Early stages of disease show up as persistent bad breath and red, swollen gums. Eventually, if the disease progresses without treatment, tooth loss is inevitable.

If you are diagnosed with periodontal disease, we’ll start you on an appropriate treatment program, but we’ll depend on you to continue the work at home. It’s critical to the success of your treatment!

Perio Patients Should Be Sure To:

• brush and floss twice a day
• come in regularly—we’ll want to see you every three months to monitor your progress and keep your motivation strong.
• maintain a healthy diet

The good news is we can treat the disease at every stage. If you notice any signs of gum problems, call us for a periodontal exam.

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Dental Myths, Fabrications, and Falsehoods

Originally, these ideas held because no one really knew how to maintain a great smile over a lifetime. Unfortunately, “popular wisdom” still prevents some people from recognizing how modern dentistry can keep teeth natural, attractive and pain free. Do any of the following notions sound familiar? If so, get ready for a little relief!

A woman can expect to lose a tooth for every child

The Reality: This myth used to be true in many cases, but thankfully with modern medicine and dentistry, there’s no longer need for you to lose a single tooth.

The Reason: Moms used to lose teeth partly because their calcium was being diverted during pregnancy for fetal development. Chances were, she wasn’t taking enough vitamin C “for two”—or maintaining her normal level of daily oral hygiene. We strongly encourage moms-to-be to make an appointment for a tooth-preserving hygiene and oral examination.

Protecting your teeth may be important for baby as well. A recent clinical study suggests there is a link between gum disease in pregnant mothers and low birth weight or premature babies. Treating your perio early in pregnancy just might benefit the newest family member!

Today’s toothache is tomorrow’s extraction

The Reality: Not true! There are many different things that can cause a tooth to ache, but many of these conditions can be treated and your natural tooth saved.

The Reason: Even if the pain is caused by an infected nerve, modern root canal techniques can usually save the tooth—while definitely relieving the pain. Often cracks, broken teeth, and painful gums can be treated long before tooth extraction is the only remaining option. The secret is to visit your dentist before the pain gets worse!

Some unlucky people just have ‘soft’ teeth

The Reality: This myth may seem true, but it has very little to do with the teeth and more to do with the environment in your mouth. Every mouth is different, and some are more decay-resistant than others. Some are tartar producers, others have antibodies that fight plaque more effectively. But regardless, no tooth today need be considered naturally cavity prone.

The Reason: No matter what the chemistry of your mouth, dentistry can help preserve, protect, and defend teeth! Veneers, crowns, bonding, better fitting removable appliances can all make you feel great about your teeth.

Mouthwash cleans teeth and gums

The Reality: Mouthwash, largely alcohol, can kill some bacteria and freshen the breath temporarily. But it can’t dislodge plaque or prevent decay.

The Reason: Mouthwash temporarily masks mouth odor, but persistent halitosis is almost always a signal of something seriously wrong. If you are troubled with persistent bad breath, a dental appointment can help determine the real cause. A Band-Aid approach—gargling with mouth-wash—may allow the condition to go from bad to worse.

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Food and Diet After Dental Implants

After restoring your shining smile with dental implants, one of the first things you might want to do is to go out for a festive meal at your favorite restaurant. But not so fast – oral surgery is serious business, whether you were anesthetized/sedated or not, and adjusting your diet during the recovery period is one of the most important things you can do to help your mouth heal. You should eat a soft food diet for 5 to 7 days after having tooth implant surgery.

At AllDental Travel Ltd., our world-class professionals will revive your bright smile, but it’s up to you to ensure your recovery is comfortable, swift, and free of complications.

Day of dental implant surgery

During the first 24 hours, confine your food intake to liquids, such as smoothies and milkshakes, but DO NOT use straws – sucking can dislodge blood clots and cause more bleeding. Also, avoid carbonated beverages and very hot foods or drinks. Have juices, milk, broth, protein shakes and even meal replacement shakes.

Foods to eat on the day of the clinical procedure:

• Water
• Juice
• Milk
• Coffee/tea (not hot)
• Broth
• Non-chunky soup such as tomato
• Protein shakes
• Meal-replacement shakes

First few days after the clinical procedure

You can transition to pureed foods after the first day of recovery, but it’s still important to avoid using straws and consuming extremely hot foods. To avoid any unwanted complication, it is better to try out the following:

Foods to eat during the first few days after dental implant surgery:

• Yogurt
• Pudding
• Oatmeal/Cream of Wheat
• Custard
• Mashed potatoes
• Jell-O
• Ice cream
• Applesauce
• Cottage cheese
• Chunkier soups pureed in a blender
• Applesauce

Two weeks after dental implant surgery

You will feel better so you can move onto soft chewable food. But remember that not all soft foods are advisable. Rice, quinoa and other small grains can get lodged in the surgical areas, and of course, stay far away from anything crunchy like nuts and chips that can cause trauma to your gums. If the list of recommended soft foods sounds too confining it might be helpful to chop heartier food into small pieces or puree in a blender.

Foods to eat up to two weeks after the clinical procedure:

• Scrambled eggs
• Soft bread
• Steamed vegetables
• Soups
• Forcemeat
• Baked or broiled fish
• Broiled or stewed chicken (finely chopped)
• Pasta
• Tofu
• Soft fruits like bananas, mangoes, peaches and pears

Foods to AVOID for the first week following surgery:

• Spicy foods
• Crusty breads, bagels, cookies
• Foods that are difficult to chew (steak, poultry, deli meats)
• Popcorn, pretzels, potato chips
• Alcoholic beverages
• Fruits with seeds (raspberries, strawberries, etc.)

Foods to eat during your recovery from dental implant surgery

Don’t skip meals. If you’re diabetic, talk with your doctor about specific dietary recommendations. Changing your entire diet for a couple weeks might seem daunting, but keeping nourished is crucial to your recovery. Proper nourishment will help you feel better, gain strength and heal faster, so eat up and save that festive dinner for later.

Considering dental implants?

Dental implants is the best alternative to overcome your natural tooth loss. Improve your self-confidence by replacing your missing teeth by this safe and modern treatment procedure. Results of this treatment last lifelong, providing you with the true value for your money.

At AllDental Travel Ltd., we’ve been performing dental implant procedures for more than decade and we can answer all your questions, whether you’re just beginning to consider dental implants or you’re ready to book an appointment. If you want to boost your smile give us a call!

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Crown and Bridge Treatment

Maintaining the integrity of your mouth

Teeth are tough. Formed from the hardest substances in the body, they’re harder even than bone. But they’re not indestructible. Throughout life teeth are subject to injury—maybe it will be a blow from a hockey puck in your twenties. Or a luckless chomp on an unseen popcorn kernel in your thirties. Or a molar that’s had one too many fillings in your forties.

Whatever the scenario, at some point most of us will need repair for a weakened or broken tooth. For such situations, crowns and bridges are the workhorses of restorative dental care.

Crowns and Bridges: What are They?

“Crown and bridge” is a collective phrase for a broad range of treatments. We rely on crown and bridge treatment to replace missing teeth and rebuild damaged ones. The goal is to return a blemished smile both to good function—eating and speaking efficiently—and to good looks.

The parts of the mouth are dynamically balanced. So when even a single tooth is lost or broken, the whole machine goes out of kilter. The teeth on either side of a disintegrated or missing tooth begin to drift into the resulting space, or the opposing tooth will grow longer. Such tilting, shifting teeth are prone to gum disease. The bite is compromised. And the integrity of your mouth is gone.

How Crowns Work

When a tooth has sustained extensive damage and is still healthy enough to save, we place a crown. A crown, or “cap,” is a restoration that covers the biting surfaces and sides of a tooth, binding it together for strength.

A crown is all finesse, an exacting creation. A well-fitting crown is precisely tailored to match adjacent teeth. It must mesh well with opposing teeth so your bite works efficiently.

Building Bridges

Bridges are an exercise in creativity and engineering. Bridgework recaptures a stable oral environment, preserving the strength and integrity of the dental arch. A bridge can span a single missing tooth, or many. Conventional bridges usually involve crowns at either end. A false tooth, or “pontic,” fused to the crowns, fits in between. In new designs, the bridge can sometimes be bonded to neighboring teeth without crowns.

Crown and bridge treatment brings a lot of satisfaction to both patient and dentist. Integrity is the watchword: properly conserved and restored, your teeth will reward you with great dividends in comfort, pleasure and good health. It’s enough to make you smile.

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When Diseases Cause Oral Complications

We have come a long way in the treatment of serious, life-threatening systemic diseases. Part and parcel of healing more aggressive diseases are—more aggressive therapies. And sometimes as a result of forceful care, complications arise that demand attention of their own: oral problems.

When an individual is very sick, nutrition becomes more important than ever. Oral problems can interfere with normal function—eating, speaking, swallowing—just when the patient needs it most. Early evaluation by a dentist can help preserve a patient’s oral health. So please, be aware of the possibility of oral disorders in those you care for and care about.

If You Have:	Be Concerned About:
Leukemia	Red or tender tissue, bleeding gums, white patches, ulcers
HIV	Fungal infections, gum infection problems, dry mouth, tumors, white patches on tongue
Rheumatoid Arthritis	Tooth loss, gum inflammation, changes in salivary function
Breast Cancer	Ulcers, fungal infection
Parkinson’s Disease	Tooth loss, soreness, problems with lips and cheeks, change in taste, craving for sweets

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