Why Your Gums are Bleeding

Do you sometimes notice blood on your toothbrush or in your sink when you brush your teeth? If so, then you should know that it is something that you should never ignore. It is possible that your gums bled a bit because you ate something coarse and it scratched them. However, if this is a regular occurrence, then it might be a more serious problem.

 

If you have no idea why your gums are bleeding, read on, as we give you five reasons why they do and what you can do to stop them:

 

  1. Gingivitis

Plaque and cavity-causing bacteria can build up on your teeth and result to inflammation of your gums. This is what we call gingivitis. It is usually painless and there are no symptoms so there is a possibility that you don’t know you have one, except there are bloodstains on your toothbrush. Gingivitis can progress to a periodontal disease and lead to eventual tooth loss. It can still be reversed though, or avoid altogether. The solution? A meticulous routine that includes thorough brushing and flossing, to make sure you have removed all that plaque.

 

  1. Smoking

Smokers are simply prone to bleeding gums. Irritating toxins are left on your teeth when you inhale smoke and it could be hard to remove the stains once there’s a build-up. These same substances can irritate the gums and cause them to bleed.

 

  1. Poor Diet

If you do not eat the recommended servings of vegetables and fruits for each day, you could be giving your gums reason to be inflamed. Remember that staying healthy is the best defense you can have to protect yourself from any problem.

 

  1. Pregnancy

It could be because of hormonal changes that are common when a woman is pregnant. If you are not, then it could be because of your menstruation. It is not uncommon for women to experience hormonal gingivitis which is associated with their monthly periods.

 

  1. Poor Oral Hygiene

Are you brushing way too hard? Or have you been forgetting you should brush every time you eat?  If you do not have a regular oral hygiene routine, it will be your gums to suffer the consequences. You should brush your teeth, floss, and make sure you remove all the plaque and other food debris.

These are only some of the possible reasons why your gums are bleeding. Whatever is causing it though, you have to make sure you pay your dentist a visit at Pickering Square Dental to check it for you.

What’s Causing Your Toothache?

There are a lot of different kinds of pain associated with toothaches.  Pain can be constant or intermittent, sharp or throbbing, and can be accompanied by other symptoms or be completely in isolation.  Whatever your pain toothaches are always unpleasant and are generally caused by one of a handful of issues.

Tooth Decay

Your toothache may be a direct result of holes in your teeth – cavities – caused by an acidic degradation of enamel.  If you get a toothache after eating something hot, cold, or sweet, this may be the cause.  See if the hurting tooth is visible in a mirror and you may be able to spot the decay.

Infection

One of the more painful forms of toothache is an infection between the gum and the tooth or right at the tooth’s root.  This is called an abscessed tooth and is the result of extreme tooth decay.  An abscessed tooth is often accompanied by other symptoms like pain when chewing, foul breath, gum swelling, fever, and many others. 

Gum Disease

Periodontitis – a more severe form of gingivitis – is caused when the inner layers of the gum pull away from the teeth and form spaces that can become infected by collected debris.  This can create pain which can lead to the feeling of a toothache.

Damage

Aches can be caused by injury to the teeth.  A fracture can create an issue in the nerve below the teeth causing severe pain.  Additionally a pre-existing filling may be damaged as well which can create issues of its own.

Other Causes

The other main cause for toothaches tends to be repetitive motions like grinding teeth or chewing gum.  This can create what feels like muscle pain when trying to move your jaw or bite down.  Also, you may feel a sharp tingling when drinking something too hot or too cold and that may be due to teeth sensitivity caused by some nerves being exposed at your gum line – switch to a toothpaste for sensitive teeth for some help with that.

Regardless of your type or cause of toothache there are some important things to keep in mind.  If your toothache is severe, lasts longer than 1 or 2 days, or is accompanied by a fever, earache, or pain when opening your mouth wide, see a dentist as soon as possible.  The toothache may be very serious and left unattended the cause could be detrimental to your health.  If you have a toothache and need a great dentist to take a look at it contact Pickering Square Dental today.  We’d be happy to help.

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease, or periodontitis, is a serious gum disease that is caused by bacteria in the mouth and may result in eventual loss of teeth if not properly treated.  In fact, gum disease of this nature is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.  In most cases periodontal disease is caused by an advancement from gingivitis where pockets form between the inner layer of the gum and the teeth.  These pockets accumulated debris and, in time, may become infected.  Eventually the pockets get deeper and more tissue is destroyed – a series of events which ends in tooth loss.

Symptoms

There are several symptoms that may imply you have periodontitis.  Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing is a major one as are receding, red, or tender gums.  If you notice the pockets between teeth and gum have formed that is a sure sign.  Other symptoms include persistent bad breath and changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite down.

Causes

The most common cause, as stated above, is the plaque build-up that characterizes gingivitis but there are other factors in play as well.  Certain illnesses can play a part and people with diabetes especially are more prone to infection.  Hormonal changes like puberty or pregnancy can make gums more sensitive and certain medications may cause dry mouth which can aggravate the issue.  Additionally poor health habits like smoking or general lack of oral hygiene such as not brushing or flossing can make it easier for bacteria to take hold.

Treatment and Prevention

Once periodontal disease has taken hold treatments will need to be made by a dentist to reverse or repair any damage.  Professional dental cleaning will often stop the problem before it starts by removing plaque and tartar.  Root planing and scaling, which is a deep-cleaning technique will remove bacteria and smooth trouble spots.  Often the above are all that is necessary to prevent and treat periodontal disease however if the case is severe surgical interventions such as bone and tissue grafts may become necessary in order to retain your natural teeth.

Periodontal disease can be scary but if you take the right precautions you’re likely able to avoid it altogether.  Keep up good dental care habits and see your dentist regularly and you’ll be able to ensure you never have to deal with the unpleasantness of severe gum disease.  If you think you have periodontal disease and want an expert opinion contact us at Pickering Square Dental today.

Important Dental Care Tips for Seniors

For those reaching their golden years additional worries about their health are nothing new.  Advancing age makes the body more susceptible to injuries, complications, and disease.  In addition health issues that build over time often come to a head in later years further complicating a senior’s medical situation.  Dental health is no different and there are important things every senior should know about additional risks they may have and what they can do to lower those risks.

Issues Specific to Seniors

Cavities can start to pop up again in old age after not having them for many years.  The primary cause of this is dry mouth which is a reduction of the flow of teeth-protecting saliva.  Dry mouth is not a natural part of aging however, but a very common side-effect of hundreds of different medications including those for high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease.  Your dentist can help you combat this, provided they’re aware of the medications you’re taking.

Gum disease is often painless until it reaches the advanced stage – and advanced age can often be when it strikes.  Seniors may also suffer darkened teeth due to decades consuming stain-causing beverages or the thinning of the outer enamel layer.  Tooth loss can also happen more often due to gum disease and root decay that may be the result of receding gums.

Preventative Care

There are a lot of issues but the good news is that most of it can be prevented with a fairly standard dental hygiene regimen catered to your specific needs.  That means brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting your dentist on a regular schedule, a minimum of twice a year or more depending on specific circumstances.  For dry mouth specifically drinking more water will help, as will chewing sugar-free gum, oral moisturizers, and avoiding beverages that can irritate dry mouths alike alcohol or coffee.

Getting old isn’t easy but it can be made easier with the right preventative care.  If you are, or know, a senior who requires dental care contact us at Pickering Square Dental today and we’ll be happy to assist.

How to Prevent Receding Gums

It can, and usually does, happen without you even knowing it.  You smile a big smile in the mirror and you notice something – your teeth seem ever so slightly taller or longer than they used to be.  You have receding gums.  Receding gums is a condition in which the gum tissue around the teeth pulls back or is worn away, exposing more of the teeth and their roots.  It can be serious problem especially with heavy recession as the gaps that can form between the teeth can allow bacteria to build up and can even result in severe damage to teeth and the surrounding bone if left untreated.  In order to understand what you’re dealing with there are some things you should know about receding gums.

Causes

Gum disease is the largest cause of receding gums – the bacteria destroys tissue around the teeth and attacks the supporting bone structure as well.  Hard or incorrect tooth brushing can cause the enamel on your teeth to wear away and your gums to recede.  Inadequate brushing can also make it easy for tartar to build up which itself can lead to issues with receding gums.  Additional contributing factors include hormonal changes, heredity, smoking, and grinding your teeth.

Treatment

If receding gums become enough of an issue that treatment becomes necessary mild or moderate recession can be treated by deep cleaning and potentially antibiotics.  If the recession has progressed into becoming severe it may require dental (periodontal) surgery to treat.

Prevention

Preventing gum recession can be as easy as taking good care in maintaining dental hygiene.  Brush and floss every day and see your dentist at least twice a year.  Always use a soft bristled toothbrush and follow the correct instructions on how to use it.  If receding is caused by grinding or crooked teeth you should get the issue corrected by your dentist as soon as possible.  Make sure to keep an eye on your gums if you sense a problem and see your dentist if you’re worried.

Taking care of your gums isn’t too difficult but if you are noticing an additional sensitivity or you’re worried about your dental care in general contact us at Pickering Square Dental today.

Oral Health Tips For Midlife

If you’re entering your late 40s and early 50s, you might have recently discovered your oral health deteriorating. We know from industry data that visits to dental practices peak at the midlife stage. Oral health care is a significant issue for all patients, but especially those in the older age brackets. It’s important to understand how to protect your oral health as you age, and so within this post, we’ll outline several leading health tips for those in their mid-life stage.

Learn the Risks of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a disease that predominantly impacts older patients. The latest data shows that most oral cancer patients survive at least five years after diagnosis, however early diagnosis is essential to ensuring survival. If you’re entering the midlife stages, it’s now essential that you become acquainted with the risks factors behind oral cancer.

Risk factors include:

Excessive alcohol consumption

A family history of HPV

Heavy sun exposure

Heavy smoking

It’s also important to undergo regular oral cancer screenings with your dental health professional to ensure potential problems are found and treated at the earliest opportunity.

Understand the Signs of Gum Disease

As we grow older, problems with gum disease become more prevalent. More than half of adults over the age of 50 have some form of gum disease. Dental industry researchers have shown that gum disease can lead to tooth loss and other forms of oral health damage over time and so it’s important to recognize the signs of gum disease quickly as you grow older. Please review the following signs and ensure you visit a dental office as soon as possible if you have any of these issues:

Red, swollen or, puffy gums

Bleeding while brushing or flossing

Separating or, loose teeth

Receding gums

 

Discover your Cosmetic Dentistry Options

Cosmetic dentistry is a quickly evolving field. While, once, cosmetic treatments were only for those with enough money and time to undergo significant care work, now cosmetic treatments can be completely simply and effectively within your local dentist office. Options such as whitening, dental implants and veneers are available for all dental patients. If you feel the look of your teeth is impacting your well-being, it could be the ideal time to speak one of our Team Members here at Pickering Square Dental about your cosmetic options.

Our bodies are continuously changing as we age. It’s important to recognize how these changes are taking place and what it means for our oral health. Effective care at any age requires consistent treatment alongside a trusted professional. To discover more midlife oral health care tips, speak with the team at our dental clinic today!

The Benefits of Laser Technology for Gum Disease and Infection Treatments

Laser technology is quickly being adopted as a means to provide a more comfortable and faster healing experience.  But for many patients, the benefits of the procedures are largely misunderstood. Having a full understanding on the processes involved in treatment and how treatment with laser technology can benefit them in the long-term, can ensure patients select their ideal treatment option. This blog will help clear some of the confusion and explain the many treatment advantages of using lasers in resolving gum disease and infections.

Lasers Help Limit Bleeding

In many cases of gingivitis patients may notice severe bleeding from the gums and go on to have bone loss. It is extremely important to remove bacteria from the teeth and the gingival pockets (gums) around the teeth.  Lasers are now being added to traditional treatments because they have the advantage of not only removing bacteria but in fact, it killing them.  This will help in reducing the amount of bleeding and swelling and may alleviate further comprehensive treatment such as gum surgery. 

Laser Treatments Can be Optimized

Another leading benefit of laser treatments is they can be optimized for the patient. Different wavelengths and power levels can be used to treat varying levels of periodontal disease. This provides the Dentist with the ultimate control over the procedure and ensures the patient has a treatment that has been uniquely designed for their long-term requirements. This greater level of control also empowers the Dentist in crafting a treatment plan for the patient that may vary in intensity over many months. This can help ensure effective treatment while mitigating discomfort in the process.

Lasers Help Preserve Health Teeth during Cavity Removal

Due to the precise nature of laser treatments, specialists can now use the technology to preserve healthy parts of teeth during the cavity removal process. For those with particularly severe bacterial infections, saving parts of healthy teeth during the cavity treatment process can help ensure stronger outcomes in the long-term.

Lasers treatment systems are changing the way that many common dental procedures are completed. To speak with one of our specialists about the many advantages these systems can offer.