(217) 546-3333Bad Breath: Health Problems and Prevention
July 29, 2013
What are the health problems associated with bad breath and how can it be prevented?
Bad breath is an oral problem that often cannot be noticed by the patient himself. The patient comes to realize about his bad breath when his family members or friends comment about it. Bad breath can be due to many causes and it can also act as an indicator or symptom of other medical conditions. Regular dental checkups can help you avoid the associated oral health problems.
Some health problems associated with bad breath:
- Gum disease- Improper brushing leads inadequate elimination of food particles from between the teeth. These food particles allow the build-up of plaque on the tooth surface and the gum lining. Persistent neglect in maintenance of oral hygiene causes irritation of gums and subsequent inflammation. This can be perceived as bad breath and bad taste.
- Decayed teeth- Decayed teeth with cavities serve as a storehouse for food remnants and are not accessible by bristles of the toothbrush for removal. The food particles undergo putrefaction within the cavity and become the source of bad breath.
- Fungal infections- There are chances of fungal infection in the mouth if there is persistent bad breath.
- Dry mouth- also called xerostomia. Our saliva flushes out the dead cells in our mouth. If the saliva produced is decreased, the flushing action gets lowered. Hence, the dead cells undergo disintegration generating bad breath. Dry mouth is a sign for a number of health problems like salivary gland disorders. It can be found in people with habit of mouth-breathing and is a common side effect of certain medications.
- Respiratory tract infections– Individuals with infections like sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia or post-nasal drip often have bad breath.
- Metabolic disorders- There are few metabolic disorders like gastro esophageal reflux (GER) that cause bad breath due to regurgitation (reverse flow of acid within the stomach). Problems related to kidney and liver may also be the cause of foul odor.
Ways of prevention of bad breath
Bad breath should not be taken lightly as it is associated with so many health problems. For preventive measures or treatment of halitosis (bad breath), the underlying cause has to be determined. If any health problem is the causative factor, you should be referred to a general physician for the rest of the treatment plan. If it is related to your oral health, your dentist will be the best person to deal with it.
Whatever may the case be, you can follow some simple rules for good Oral Hygiene to keep bad breath at bay.
- Brushing – For good oral hygiene it is essential to brush your teeth twice daily, preferably with fluoridated toothpaste. Scrape your tongue with a scraper to remove all the food particles trapped on the surface of the tongue.
- Flossing- Floss daily to remove the food debris stuck in between the teeth and also areas that are inaccessible for the bristles of the toothbrush.
- Mouthwash- Use of chlorhexidine mouthwash can be of great help for those with bad breath as the antibacterial action washes off the bacteria and there is a feeling of freshness in your breath.
- Diet control- Paying attention to small details of your diet will help you in the long run. Avoid onion and garlic. Try chewing peppermint for fresh breath.
If you are upset with your bad breath, call (217) 546-3333for a free consultation with Dr. VanderMolen. His team at Advanced Dental Care will guide you to get the healthy mouth and gums you have been waiting for!
Does age make a difference in receiving dental implant therapy?
July 22, 2013
Losing your teeth is unfortunate enough, but then only finding a temporary solution to replace them, such as dentures can be disheartening. Fortunately, dentures are not the only technique in use these days. Modern dentistry has gone a long way in finding answers for replacing missing teeth. Since the 1980’s dental implants have provided a more permanent replacement solution.
Dental implants are synthetic substitutes for tooth roots. Their role is to act as anchors for the replacements that are used to fill the gaps of missing teeth. Any dental implant can be used as a root for a single tooth that has been removed or for many missing teeth. Replacing a single tooth with a dental implant or many teeth is the closest one can get to a natural tooth.
Age doesn’t matter
The great thing about dental implants is that age does not matter. Anyone can have a dental implant fitted, from a teenager to an octogenarian and beyond. As long as the recipient has the required health status to undergo the minor treatment that is involved, then age is not a handicap.
What are the benefits of dental implants for people of all ages?
They are such a useful invention, for both young and old. Dental Implants can:
• Reactivate your life and produce new confidence and improved self esteem.
• Offer a solid base for teeth that will look, feel and act like natural teeth.
• Act as a support for a bridge, therefore taking away the need for a partial denture.
• Offer support for a denture that is usually removable therefore ensuring it is more comfortable and secure.
• Remove pain while in the process of chewing food with teeth that aren’t permanently fixed.
• Assist in the maintenance of bone structure and improve facial features.
• Keep you looking young.
• Permit you to eat what you really like as well as harder health giving foods such as fruit and vegetables.
Even a single tooth missing can, over a period of time, allow the rest of your teeth to become misaligned and take away that much loved smile. One individual tooth that is replaced with a single dental implant and its associated crown is a long lasting solution. If a dental implant is not used, the two teeth on either side of the missing tooth must be adapted so as to anchor a bridge. Dental implants are a great development, as they take away the necessity to make any changes to natural teeth.
When many teeth are missing, a problem of support takes place as your jaw starts to weaken. Implants do a good job slowing down that deterioration, as well as offering you the opportunity to be able to use teeth for the original purpose they are best designed for.
If you are worried about having dental implant therapy because of your age, call Dr. VanderMolen at (217) 546-3333 today, to make an appointment to discuss the procedure and its effect on your health and well-being. Click here for more information on our FREE Dental Implant seminars.
Dental Implants Offer a Superior Alternative
July 15, 2013
If you are wearing dentures at the moment and you would really like a change, dental implants may be right for you. Dr. VanderMolen at Advanced Dental Care can offer you this innovative, permanent alternative.
You don’t have to be one of the thousands of people who are living with dentures which do not fit well, and therefore cause continual discomfort. Dentures have served a purpose for many decades for those people who have had to endure tooth loss with its accompanying problems of eating and speaking. If you are looking for more natural looking and feeling teeth, there is now an option where permanent dental implants can be installed to replace traditional dentures.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a replacement tooth root that is fixed into the jaw bone and acts as a foundation to support dental prosthetics. At the time that the implants are installed, Dr. VanderMolen will drill small holes into the jawbone, and put into position small, threaded rods made from titanium. When he has completed this process, he will tighten the dental implants so that they will not move. The dental implants will be positioned where teeth are missing so that they can act as a foundation for a dental crown or bridge which can be firmly fixed into place.
There are great benefits when using dental implants as a substitute for dentures. The most important is that they form a firm foundation for affixing permanent replacement teeth. Once this has been added, then eating and speaking occur with far more confidence. Dental Implants, firmly rooted in the jaw, look and act as natural teeth.
Less Chance of Allergic Reactions with Titanium Implants
Materials used in dentures can sometimes cause allergic reactions in their recipients, but titanium dental implants do not cause the same sorts of responses, even though they are embedded firmly into the jawbone. This means that more people can use dental implants to replace those teeth that have been lost. Over time their true worth will be revealed as you will smile, eat and speak as naturally as if you had all your original teeth.
If you have lost teeth and would like to know more about how dental implant procedure can benefit you, make an appointment by calling Dr VanderMolen at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield today at (217) 546-3333.
Take advantage of our FREE Dental Implant Seminars held regularly in Springfield. For more information CLICK HERE.
Implants Help to Reduce Bone Loss
July 1, 2013
When a tooth or teeth have been lost, it creates a space in your mouth that can create problems for the whole of your mouth structure. The presence of teeth helps to create a shape for your face. Once teeth are lost or removed over time, the face starts to take on a sunken appearance. The overall rigidity and structure of the skin are both maintained by the teeth. Smile Restoration techniques, including Dental Implants can help in restoring a more youthful smile.
Dental implants are fixed and fused into the jaw-bone and serve as anchors that support the new teeth and also prevent bone loss. Bone needs to be stimulated so that it can stay healthy. Whether a single implant-supported tooth is required, or a number of teeth, the dental implants will fuse to the bone, so stabilizing and stimulating it so that no more bone loss takes place.
Bridges and dentures do not stop bone loss on their own
As more teeth fall out, the jawbone starts to atrophy more noticeably and the face will appear sunken. The loss of bone makes a person’s face look older than his or her real age. Bridges and dentures, which are used commonly as substitute teeth, do not stop this loss of bone.
Dental implants are an important dental advancement as they are firmly anchored in the jawbone, without having to depend on neighboring teeth. They act quite naturally and enhance healthy bone. Once a lost tooth has a replacement in the form of a dental implant, the fusion that takes place between the implant and the bone offers stability in the same way as a natural tooth.
Dental Implants provide stability
Bridges and dentures certainly do help you to chew and eat food, but dental implants go just one step further, as they are placed into and are fused with the jawbone. This offers stability and prevents bone loss and atrophying that normally occurs when teeth are missing. Dental implants really do help to allow your face to retain a more natural shape.
If you are worried about bone loss and would like to know more about the benefits of dental implants, then arrange an appointment by calling Advanced Dental Care today at (217) 546-3333.
You can also attend one of our informative seminars held regularly in the Springfield area. There is no cost or obligation to attend. Click here for more information on our Dental Implant Seminars.