Oral Health Care in
Roanoke, VA
Good oral health means a mouth that's free of disease - which can range all the way from mild gingivitis (gum inflammation) to oral cancer; a bite that functions well enough for you to eat without pain and get ample nutrition.
What Can You Do to Stay Healthy? +
- Maintain daily oral hygiene.
- Make smart nutritional & lifestyle choices.
- Avoid eating a lot of sugar & smoking.
How Dentistry Can Help +
At your regular exams, for example, you will be checked for any signs of oral cancer, tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral infections, hard-to-reach deposits from your teeth will be cleaned, and you can get answers to any questions you have on topics ranging from oral hygiene issues to the connection between oral health and systemic diseases.
ORAL HEALTH TOPICS
Preventative Dentistry
Preventative Dentistry procedures include:
- Cleanings.
- Dental Sealants.
- Fluoride.
- Laser Decay Diagnosis.
- Mouth guards.
- Oral Cancer screenings.
- Salivary Diagnostics.
- X-Rays.
OrAL CANCER
- Signs & Symptoms: You should look out for changes such as white or red patches, ulcers, and lumps anywhere in and around your face and neck that persist for more than a couple of weeks.
- Diagnosis & Treatment: Anything that looks suspicious may be analyzed with a routine procedure called a biopsy, in which a small amount of the suspicious tissue is sent to a laboratory. It’s possible that radiation and/or chemotherapy will be needed to eradicate the disease.
- Prevention: There are lifestyle choices you can make to reduce your risk considerably. Giving up tobacco in all forms, along with alcohol, are big ones. Avoiding risky sexual behavior is also important. Protect yourself from overexposure to the sun, and eat a healthy diet.
BAD BREATH
Since bad breath most often originates in the mouth, the dental office is the best place to start in your quest for consistently better-smelling breath. After a thorough examination, any of the following might be recommended:
- Oral hygiene instruction.
- Professional dental cleaning.
- Treatment of tooth decay.
- Treatment of gum disease.
- Treatment of infection.
Aging & Dental Health
Dental Concerns for adults:
- Cavities.
- Protecting the chewing surface.
- Inability to brush or floss.
- Oral Cancer.
- Dry Mouth.
Maintaining Oral Hygiene for Life:
Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush — use one with a special grip, or an electric brush, if it helps. Clean in between your teeth with floss, or another type of interdental cleaner, at least once a day. If you wear dentures, regularly clean and care for them as instructed. Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water.
Diabetes & Oral Health
Periodontal disease is a chronic ailment that is also associated with an elevated level of systemic (whole-body) inflammation. Like diabetes, it may have wide-ranging consequences outside the mouth — possibly increasing a person's chance of experiencing major cardiovascular events (such as heart attack or stroke).
When you come to our office, be sure to let us know if you’re being treated for or are at risk of developing diabetes. And if you are managing the disease, remember that it’s more important than ever to maintain good oral health.
Nutrition & Oral Health
In general, a health-promoting diet is based on the concepts of:
- Variety.
- Balance.
- Moderation.
Protecting your teeth by:
- Drinking plenty of water.
- Avoiding sugar.
- Avoiding soft drinks.
- Controlling levels of acidity in your mouth.
Oral Piercings
If you’re old enough to get an oral piercing, you’re old enough to take an active part in maintaining your own oral health. If you are thinking about having a tongue bolt, lip ring, cheek stud, or other ornament placed in your mouth, talk to a dental professional about it first. Due to the increased potential for dental or periodontal problems, you will likely need to have more frequent checkups and pay special attention to your oral hygiene.
Professional Teeth cleanings
Dentists have a special term for preventive procedures like tooth cleaning: prophylaxis, meaning to protect or guard against. In this case, the focus is on preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Performed in conjunction with a routine dental examination, a professional cleaning can go a long way toward controlling these two common maladies. While your teeth are being cleaned, it's also a good opportunity to take a close look at your oral health in general and check for a few specific problems.
Osteoporosis & Oral Health
- This may be of particular concern if you are considering certain dental procedures.
- Over 90 percent of the people who suffer from bisphosphonate-associated ONJ received high doses of the medication intravenously — often for cancer treatment.
- No matter what dental procedures you are considering, it is vital to keep us informed about any medical conditions you have and any drugs you may be taking — both prescription and non-prescription.
- Preventative measures include: Getting enough calcium and vitamin D. It also helps to decrease your caffeine and alcohol intake and quit smoking.
Eating Disorders & Oral Health
More than 90% of those with bulimia experience tooth erosion. This is caused by acid from the stomach, which can dissolve the enamel when it comes in contact with teeth during vomiting.
To protect teeth in the short term, it is important not to brush them immediately after vomiting, as this can scrape off more of the softened enamel. It is better to rinse with water to which a little baking soda has been added, which neutralizes the acid.
Geographic Tongue
The pattern on the tongue can change daily as the lesions appear to move or migrate, healing in one spot only to reappear in another. That’s why the medical term for this condition is benign migratory glossitis. It’s scary looking but does not compromise a person’s health.
Discomfort from the condition can sometimes be relieved with over-the-counter pain relievers, mouth rinses containing anesthetics, antihistamines, or steroids, and by avoiding certain irritants such as tobacco, alcohol, and foods that are spicy, salty, or acidic.
Pregnancy, Hormones & Oral Health
Pregnancy hormones don't cause gingivitis by themselves — the irritants in plaque need to be present first. So if you experience the signs and symptoms mentioned above, you'll want to redouble your oral hygiene efforts, both for your sake and your baby's.
What you can do:
- Eat right.
- Stick to a good oral hygiene routine.
- Have a dental cleaning and exam.
Blood Pressure Medication & Your Gums
Gum tissue may become thick and lumpy, and it may sometimes extend abnormally and start to cover the teeth. This change in appearance can cause social embarrassment, as well as discomfort and difficulty in chewing.
The overgrowth of gum tissue also makes it difficult or impossible to clean the spaces between teeth.
What to do:
- The doctor may recommend a change in dosage.
- Scalding & root planing.
- Using proper brushing techniques.
Dry Mouth
There are several possible causes for xerostomia, including:
- Medications.
- Radiation Therapy.
- Disease.
- Nerve Damage.
Getting Relief
- Sip fluids frequently.
- Chew sugarless gum.
- Avoid drying/irritating foods and beverages.
- Don't smoke.
- Use a humidifier.
- Use saliva stimulants/substitutes.
- Practice good oral hygiene.
- Have an exam/cleaning.
Fluoride
Most kinds of toothpaste sold today contain fluoride because it's an effective, easy, and inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay and promote oral health. Because of its proven health benefits, fluoride is often added to municipal water supplies to bring them to the current recommended level of 0.70 parts per million.
How fluoride is available to teeth:
- When swallowed, it travels through the body and becomes incorporated into developing teeth.
- Fluoride can also be applied directly to the teeth at the dental office.
Stress & Oral Habits
Stresses from the powerful forces generated by grinding and clenching (also known as “bruxing”) can wear down teeth or even loosen them.
Sometimes simply becoming aware of the habit can help you to get it under control. If stress is the issue, try to find healthy ways of managing it: exercise, meditation, listening to relaxing music, or a warm bath may help.
If your malocclusion (bad bite) is more serious, orthodontics might be recommended.
ANTIBIOTIC PREMEDICATION FOR DENTAL TREATMENTS
Prophylactic antibiotics might be recommended before dental procedures if you have one or more of the following heart conditions:
- A heart transplant
- Artificial heart valves
- A history of infective endocarditis
- Some types of congenital heart problems
If you have undergone a joint replacement procedure, prophylactic antibiotics might be recommended if you also have one or more of the following risk factors:
- A systemic inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosis
- A weakened immune system resulting from HIV, cancer, radiation or chemotherapy, or another cause
- Insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes or hemophilia
- A history of previous infection in a prosthetic joint
- Undernourishment or malnourishment
Missing Teeth
There are other problems associated with tooth loss that are less obvious but could have more of an impact on your health. These include nutritional difficulties, oral health issues, and bone loss.
The consequences of tooth loss are very real, even if they are less visible than a gap in your smile. That's why it is so important not to put off the replacement of missing teeth.