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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health


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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

Like many people who need to lose a few pounds, I try diet after diet in an attempt to find one that finally works for me. I learned the hard way that I need to make sure any diet will not harm my teeth, even if it does help me lose a few pounds. I learned this lesson when following a grapefruit diet. There are many versions of this, but the version I tried had me eat a grapefruit alone several times each day. It was supposed to suppress my appetite. I helped keep me from munching on unhealthy snacks, but the acid in the fruit took a toll on my tooth enamel and I quickly started getting lots of cavities. I created this blog to remind people that change up their diets often to make sure the foods they are eating are not harming their teeth.

4 Surprising Signs You Should Consult A Periodontist

Brushing and flossing your teeth and visiting your dentist for regular exams will help the health and look of your smile. Unfortunately, certain issues may arise, affecting your mouth, teeth, and gums even though you follow your dentist's recommendations. Half of Americans aged 30 years or older have some form of periodontitis, an inflammation of the soft and hard areas that support the teeth.  If you see your dentist regularly, they may notice the signs before you realize you have this inflammation in your mouth. However, learning the signs will ensure you receive fast and proper treatment to save your smile. Here are a few signs that you should consult a periodontist.

Bad Breath

Everyone has bad breath at times. If you eat a lot of fish, garlic, and onions or you smoke or use tobacco products, you most likely have bad breath more than usual. Unfortunately, chronic bad breath is also a sign of a more involved condition affecting your mouth, teeth, and gums.

High levels of plaque and tartar that are left on your teeth can spread throughout your mouth, resulting in infections, inflammation, and gum disease. The inflammation from this buildup will decrease your mouth's production of saliva, creating a warm and dry environment. Over time, this abnormal environment will cause foul odors in your mouth, resulting in halitosis, or bad breath.

Bleeding Gums

If you brush your teeth hard or use an older toothbrush, you may experience some bleeding of the gums. This is pretty common, so you should not panic after seeing some blood on your toothbrush or in the sink. If you are noticing your gums are bleeding periodically, even when you are not brushing, consult your dental professional immediately.

Bleeding gums and gum tissue that appears red and swollen is one of the first signs of gum disease. As the bacteria spreads across your teeth and gums, the tissue supporting your teeth will be inflamed, red, swollen, and sensitive.

Brushing, eating, or even just touching the inflamed gum tissue can cause them to bleed. Restoring your gums and mouth back to a healthy state will require a few steps including a full cleaning and antibiotic treatments.

Heart Issues/Stroke

If you have recently been diagnosed with heart disease or other cardiovascular issues, you may need to consult a periodontist. Also, if you have experienced a stroke, visit this specialist. If you are wondering why, recent studies have shown there is a direct connection between gum disease and heart conditions and stroke.

Heart disease and another cardiovascular problems that you are facing may stem from the inflammation caused by gum disease. The exact relations are unknown, but many doctors believe the infections and inflammation of the gum tissue seep into the bloodstream easily, moving through the vascular system and affecting the underlying health of the heart and brain.

Weak Teeth

You may not realize you have weak teeth until it is too late. If one or more teeth have become brittle, chipped, broke, or fallen out, it may be due to form of periodontal disease.

As the inflammation and infection spreads through the mouth, your teeth will begin to decay. Tooth decay not only affects the look of your smile, but it can also weaken the teeth and cause them to chip and break.

The spreading of gum disease through the mouth will also affect the tissue and bone supporting each of your teeth. As gum disease progresses, your teeth will lack the support they need, eventually falling out of the mouth completely.

Your dentist has the tools necessary to clean and repair issues with your mouth, teeth, and gums, but special care may be necessary if you are experiencing one or more of the above dangerous signs.