How To Brush Modified Bass brushing technique: • Hold the toothbrush sideways against your teeth with some of the bristles touching your gums. • Tilt the brush so the bristles are pointing at your gum line. • Move the brush back and forth, using short strokes. The tips of the bristles should stay in one [...]

During a periodontal exam, your gums are checked for bleeding, swelling and firmness. The teeth are checked for movement and sensitivity. Your bite is assessed. Full-mouth X-rays can help detect breakdown of bone surrounding your teeth. Periodontal probing determines how severe your disease is. A probe is like a tiny ruler that is gently inserted [...]

In the broadest sense, the term gum disease — or periodontal disease — describes bacterial growth and production of factors that gradually destroy the tissue surrounding and supporting the teeth. “Periodontal” means “around the tooth.” Gum disease begins with plaque, which is always forming on your teeth, without you even knowing it. When it accumulates [...]

May-June 2002 Volume 36 Number 3 by Carol Lewis More than 75 percent of Americans over 35 have some form of gum disease. In its earliest stage, your gums might swell and bleed easily. At its worst, you might lose your teeth. The bottom line? If you want to keep your teeth, you must take [...]

Tell your dentist you have diabetes and ask him or her to show you how to keep your teeth and gums healthy. People with diabetes get gum disease more often than people who do not have diabetes. Gum infections can make it hard to control blood sugar. Once a gum infection starts, it can take [...]

Is There an Association Between Gum Disease and Diabetes? For the nearly 21 million Americans that have diabetes, many may be surprised to learn about an unexpected complication associated with this condition. Research shows that there is an increased prevalence of gum disease among those with diabetes, adding serious gum disease to the list of [...]

Dental decay, also known as dental caries, begins first inside the tooth. A white spot appears on the enamel where the tooth has started to weaken inside. At this stage, the tooth can repair the weakened area with the help of fluoride and minerals in saliva. But if the decay continues and breaks through the [...]

You need food, particularly sweet and sticky food, for the bacteria in your mouth to produce acids that will attack the tooth enamel (outer surface of the tooth). Sugars, especially sucrose, react with bacteria to produce acid. The acid from the bacteria can decay your teeth. It’s not just candy and ice cream we’re talking [...]

To understand what happens when your teeth decay, it’s helpful to know what’s in your mouth naturally. Here are a few of the elements: - Saliva: Your mouth and teeth are constantly bathed in saliva. Although we never give much thought to our spit, this simple fluid is remarkable for what it does to help protect [...]

An abscess is a limited area of pus formed as a result of a bacterial infection. The body’s immune system reacts to the infection, and sends white blood cells to the area to try to get rid of the bacteria. Pus is a mixture of live and dead white blood cells, enzymes and parts of [...]