Asthma and Oral Health

If you suffer from asthma, you may be at heightened risk for developing gum disease. We at the dental offices of Dr. Martin Urban have helped a lot of people to manage dry mouth and resulting symptoms such as tooth decay, gum recession, and bad breath. To assist asthma patients with their preventive care, we wanted to explain why it is so important for them to take steps to prevent dry mouth-related damage.

People who have difficulty breathing through their noses often resort to breathing through their mouths, particularly when asleep. This is a problem for oral health because saliva does more than wash away sugary food debris. It also neutralizes acid that is produced by bacteria, regurgitated from the stomach, or in drinks such as soda and citrus juices. Furthermore, saliva contains enzymes that kill disease-causing bacteria and fungus.

Mouth-breathing is not the only reason people with asthma may experience higher levels of dry mouth. A reduction in saliva flow is also a common medication side effect. Patients should not stop using medication without a doctor’s recommendation, but they should ask about alternatives. They may stimulate saliva production by chewing sugar-free gum or using a prescription-strength throat moisturizer. Patients should also be aware that inhaler medication may contain sugars that will fuel bacteria growth, so they should brush their teeth after using it.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.

 

Missing Incisors

Implants are one of our specialties at the dental office of Dr. Martin Urban. Although they are often marketed as replacement teeth, they also work for people whose teeth never came in at all.  This condition is rare, but we still wanted to discuss what kinds of treatments are available.

It is relatively common for the wisdom teeth and upper canines to have trouble erupting, but in about 2% of adults, the upper lateral incisors never come in. (Lateral incisors are the flat teeth on either side of the central ones.) When they are unable to erupt, we can cut away the gum tissue covering them, allowing an orthodontist to attach brackets to them and guide them down with wires. But if the teeth simply never developed, the orthodontist would have to make room for them by opening gaps between the existing teeth.

The circumstances of a patient’s condition will determine whether implants or a partial denture should be used to provide them with incisors. Implants require a bit of jaw bone tissue to work with, but they won’t have to be adjusted as the patient ages. Many people also find them easier to clean. If a patient does get a partial denture, they may still benefit from miniature implants to snap it onto, ensuring that it will remain in place and their jaw tissue will have additional support.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.

 

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath, or halitosis, isn’t just embarrassing. If it chronically recurs, it could be a sign of poor health. We’re very concerned with any sign of oral health problems at the dental office of Dr. Martin Urban, and we want our patients to understand why halitosis is something they should take seriously.

Poor hygiene is the most common reasons for halitosis. Bacteria can hide between the teeth, behind the back molars, and in the papillae of the tongue. Proper hygiene requires thorough flossing, brushing for two minutes twice a day, and use of a tongue scraper. People are particularly vulnerable to bacteria build-up on their tongue when nasal discharge is dripping onto it. If they have dry mouth, they are deprived of the antimicrobial enzymes saliva contains and will have a harder time ridding their mouths of food debris.

Dry mouth is a common side effect of medications, including ones for mood disorders and ADHD and those which are given as part of cancer treatment. While patients should not change their medications on their own, they should ask their doctor about alternatives if dry mouth is contributing to caries or gum recession People should also pay especially close attention to their breath if they have diabetes, since diabetes-induced hardening of blood vessels harms gum health. It is also possible for bad breath to be caused by acid reflux, which would eventually erode enamel. Patients can somewhat mitigate all of these by drinking more water and getting fluoride topical treatments.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.

 

Alzheimer's and Gum Disease

As periodontal specialists, we at the dental office of Dr. Martin Urban recognize how important healthy gums are for the entire body. Recent research has established connections between gum disease and diabetes, cirrhosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Now, evidence is building that gum disease contributes to yet another common disease with life-threatening implications. We want our patients to know that good dental health could protect them from Alzheimer’s.

One of the species of oral bacteria that causes gum recession is Porphyromonas gingivalis. These bacteria protect themselves from white blood cells by producing toxic enzymes called gingipains. In one recent study, scientists found that people who displayed symptoms of Alzheimer’s had elevated levels of gingipains in their brains and neural fluid, with higher levels being found among people with worse symptoms. Gingipains are known from animal testing to be able to trigger the formation of neural plaque.

Another recent study found direct evidence of P. gingivalis moving from the gums to the brain in people who were still alive. Although doctors caution that this does not mean gum disease is the only contributor to Alzheimer’s, it does now appear to be a significant one. Previously, scientists had believed that Alzheimer’s was causing people to have bad oral hygiene, but the two now appear to function as a vicious circle. People who take good care of their teeth and gums may be able to avoid the cycle.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.