Category: Gum Health

The Impact of Genetics on Dental Health: What You Inherit

granddaughter and grandmother share a hug and a smile

When you visit the doctor, you discuss your overall health and lifestyle habits. Your doctor also asks about your family history and diseases that may be genetic or recurring in your family’s lives. It’s probably obvious why this information is valuable to your physician, but did you know this also provides valuable insight for your dentist?

Your genetics play an important role in your oral health in some ways you may suspect, and in others, you may not. We’re here to help you understand these connections.

Alignment & Fit

Your genetics play a role in the size, shape, and alignment of your teeth. A smaller jaw or large teeth could cause crowding in the oral cavity. This crowding makes teeth more difficult to clean and more vulnerable to gum disease, plaque and tartar build-up, infection, and halitosis.

Teeth & Gums

The enamel is your tooth’s first line of defense against invasive bacteria and gives your tooth its tough, durable nature. The strength of your enamel is genetic, so if you’re born with naturally weaker or thinner enamel, you may need to take extra precautions to protect your teeth.

Your gums’ susceptibility to disease and sensitivity are genetic, as are certain periodontal cancers. Since your saliva is responsible for neutralizing acids and helping wash away bacteria, your genetics play a role in the efficacy of your saliva to help protect your teeth and gums.

What Can You Do?

The best way to protect your smile is by scheduling regular appointments with your dentist to review personal and genetic concerns you may have. Your dentist will work with you to ensure you have everything you need to protect your smile!

Mindful, Compassionate Dentistry in Travelers Rest, SC!

Take control of your health and gain the knowledge you need to protect yourself from dental disasters with a visit to Paris Mountain Dental. Call today or click today to schedule your appointment with our caring staff!

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Yummy Foods for a Healthy Smile

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Many foods, like sugary drinks and starchy snacks, are poor for your teeth and gums. We recommend prioritizing dietary choices that will benefit your dental health! For example, the following yummy foods help promote a healthy smile:

Strawberries

These bright berries are sweet, juicy, and rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Vitamin C promotes healthy gums and strengthens blood vessels, reducing the risk of gum disease. The natural astringent properties of strawberries can also help remove surface stains from your teeth, enhancing your smile’s brightness.

Grilled Vegetables

Grilling is a popular cooking method, but it’s not only for meats! Try grilling an assortment of vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant. These vegetables are rich in fiber, which promotes saliva production and helps scrub away plaque from your teeth while you chew.

Dairy Products

Calcium-rich dairy products like low-sugar yogurt, whole-milk cheese, and milk support strong teeth and bones. Dairy products also contain a protein called casein that forms a protective layer on the tooth enamel, shielding it from acid erosion.

Salmon

While calcium is great for the teeth, it won’t matter how much you eat if your body doesn’t have enough vitamin D. Vitamin D is helpful in processing and absorbing calcium. Salmon is one of the best foods for getting vitamin D. The healthy fats from salmon also help prevent oral disease.

Pears

Similar to vegetables like celery, pears are fibrous and can easily stimulate saliva production. Pears also have acid-neutralizing effects in your mouth. Add sliced pears to a salad or eat them on the go!

Schedule a Dental Appointment in Travelers Rest, SC

While what you eat is important, how you care for your smile is even more important! Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time and floss daily to remove plaque and food particles. And don’t forget to schedule routine dental appointments for you and the whole family at Paris Mountain Dental!

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How Dental Problems Can Affect Overall Health

Couple brushing teeth while camping.

Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist protect your oral health. Did you know that good oral hygiene protects your overall health, as well? Neglecting the care of your teeth and gums can have long-term consequences. Here are some ways that dental problems can affect your health.

Gum Disease Worsens Diabetes

Gum disease (also known as periodontitis) is an infection of the gums. Research shows a two-way relationship between gum disease and diabetes. If you have diabetes, you’re more vulnerable to gum disease. In turn, gum disease makes diabetes more difficult to manage by raising your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, it’s important to avoid getting gum disease.

Tooth Loss Affects Your Diet

Losing just one tooth can affect your chewing function. The more teeth you lose, the harder it is to eat whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and lean meats. This eliminates many nutritional foods from your diet. A poor diet leads to health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, unhealthy weight loss or weight gain, and malnutrition.

Gum Disease Increases Risks During Pregnancy

Changing hormone levels during pregnancy affect oral health in a few ways, including increasing the risk of gum disease. Unfortunately, there are links between gum disease and pre-eclampsia, premature birth, and underweight infants. Routine dental care is an essential part of your health management during pregnancy.

Tooth Infections Can Spread

Tooth infections are often caused by untreated tooth decay. In some cases, an untreated infection can spread from the tooth to your face, neck, and other parts of the body. Tooth infections can even lead to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition. While rare, people have died from tooth infections that spread.

Maintain Great Oral Health at Paris Mountain Dental

Dental problems affect your oral health and your overall health. Issues like gum disease are especially far-reaching and often worsen existing health conditions. Thankfully, you can keep your health in great shape by brushing, flossing, and visiting our office for services like cleanings and exams. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ghimire, please contact our Travelers Rest office today!

Good oral hygiene protects your overall health!

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The Best Tools to Fight Gingivitis

Photo of a water flosser and electric toothbrush to help fight gingivitis.

Gingivitis, or early stage gum disease, affects millions of Americans every year. When caught in the early stages, this progressive ailment can be reversible if you invest in the right tools to fight it. Here are some of our favorite gingivitis-fighting tools at Paris Mountain Dental.

Signs of Gingivitis

Some of the common signs and symptoms of gingivitis include:

  • Swollen, red, or bleeding gums
  • Bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
  • Receding gums

If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with Paris Mountain Dental as soon as possible for a proper diagnosis and to potentially catch your gum disease in the earliest stages possible.

Antibacterial Mouthwash

Rinsing your mouth is a gentle, effective way at curbing bacteria growth under the gumline. Your dentist can recommend the right antibacterial mouthwash for your smile as well as specific instructions on how often you should use it.

Dental Floss

Dental floss is one of the most powerful ways to address and prevent gum disease. After all, dental floss is the most effective way to dislodge plaque and bacteria from under the gum line, which is how gum disease starts in the first place. You must floss your teeth and gums twice a day to keep them healthy. If you experience bleeding or swelling when you floss, schedule an appointment with your dentist right away.

Water Flosser

In addition to dental floss (which you should use twice a day!), a water flosser is a great way to break up plaque and bacteria under your gum line. Using pressurized streams of water, this tool delivers a gentle yet powerful clean, making it ideal for patients who might have difficulties maneuvering regular floss.

Electric Toothbrush

A soft-bristled toothbrush is a great tool to use to prevent gum disease, but an electric toothbrush delivers a more accurate, powerful cleaning experience, making it a great tool to use to fight gingivitis. Many electric toothbrushes come with different settings, including ones that are tailored for gum care.

Dental Picks

If you have tight spaces between your teeth, it might make it harder to floss. Dental picks are a great tool to help you squeeze into tough-to-reach spots and keep them free from plaque and bacteria.

Affordable Comprehensive Dentistry in Travelers Rest, SC

Twice-yearly dental appointments are extremely important, especially for those who might have gum disease. At Paris Mountain Dental, we offer comprehensive preventive dental care along with cosmetic and restorative procedures to give our patients healthy and gorgeous smiles. We also make our services affordable with flexible financing and an in-house dental savers plan. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!

Stop gingivitis from becoming gum disease with early treatment!

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Are You Overdue for a Dental Cleaning?

Did you know that your smile needs regular dental cleanings to stay in tip-top shape? In addition to cleaning your teeth at home, professional cleanings are a necessity for a healthy smile. Keep reading to learn more about dental cleanings!

How Do I Know When I Need a Dental Cleaning?

The American Dental Association states that adults and kids should get a professional dental cleaning twice a year. Even if you follow a strict at-home oral hygiene regimen, it’s not uncommon to miss the hard-to-reach areas in your mouth. Professional cleanings give your dentist and hygienist a chance to thoroughly clean every inch of your teeth and gums. It also allows them to check for any dental issues and catch them while they’re still small.

What Is a Professional Dental Cleaning?

Dental cleanings are professional-grade cleanings performed by trained dental hygienists. They are a more thorough cleaning treatment that is geared towards removing plaque and tartar buildup. Hygienists utilize special dental tools to scrape off hardened tartar without damaging the teeth. Then, they use a gritty paste and an electric brush to perform a deep cleaning. This is followed by water flossing to remove any trapped particles and debris. After the teeth and gums are completely clean, hygienists will use a polishing paste to make the teeth shine. If needed, fluoride treatments are applied at the end of a dental cleaning. Fluoride helps remineralize weakened enamel to strengthen teeth. Fluoride treatments can be applied by biting into a foam tray or painting the fluoride varnish directly onto the teeth.

Overdue For Your Dental Cleaning?

Have you put off your next dental cleaning? Don’t wait any longer! At Paris Mountain Dental in Travelers Rest, SC, we have extensive experience performing thorough deep cleanings. We’re dedicated to helping our community achieve and maintain a lifetime of great oral health. Please contact our office to schedule your cleaning!

Dental cleanings provide great preventive dental care!

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How to Maintain Healthy Gums

Graphic showing the stages of gum disease.

You can’t have healthy teeth without healthy gums as their foundation! Maintaining healthy gums is one of the most simple and powerful ways to boost your oral health. Here are Paris Mountain Dental’s top tips for maintaining healthy gums.

1. Floss

Flossing is one of the best ways to keep your gums healthy. Plaque, food particles, and bacteria can get trapped in the tight spaces under your gum line, and can’t be removed through simple brushing. Flossing helps remove bacteria from under the gum line to keep them clean and prevent gum disease, which starts with gum inflammation, swelling, bleeding, and pain.

2. Avoid Smoking

Smoking is extremely damaging to your health, and is one of the leading causes of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and many more deadly ailments. Smoking begins in your mouth, and the harmful chemicals in cigarettes can cause dry mouth and increased bacteria growth, accelerating your chances of developing gum disease.

3. Eat a Balanced Diet

Diets that are high in sugars, starches, and acid speed up the development of cavities and decay. Eating a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, protein, and fiber supports healthy saliva production and naturally curbs bacteria growth.

4. Have a Consistent Oral Hygiene Regimen

One of the most simple and powerful ways to maintain your oral health is by brushing and flossing your teeth thoroughly twice a day. If you use a fluoridated toothpaste, even better! Consistent brushing and flossing helps keep your teeth and gums free of bacteria.

5. Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year

Dentists and dental hygienists are specially trained in detecting oral health issues even before they’re visible. They can perform any necessary deep cleanings using professional tools to keep your gums clear of tartar and buildup. At Paris Mountain Dental, we offer a suite of preventive services designed to improve your oral health.

Comprehensive Dentistry in Travelers Rest, SC

Our staff is committed to helping you have a healthy, beautiful smile, starting with strong gums. Whether you need a preventive or more advanced, custom treatment to suit your needs, we’re here for you. Contact us to schedule an appointment and take a look at our financial page to learn more about our flexible financing options.

Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy smile.

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