Gum Disease | Loveable Smiles Dentistry

Nov 11

How is Diabetes related to your mouth?

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and we want to educate Diabetics on oral care and gum disease.

This blog post is part of a series of Total Health Dental Care articles to inform our readers about the connection between your oral health and your overall health.

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host of other conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

So, how is Diabetes related to your mouth?

If you have gum disease you’re sending bacteria and inflammation by-products through your blood vessels, damaging the vessels and exacerbating your diabetes condition.

The startling news is that 80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Many gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist.

Additionally, this is how gum disease affects Diabetics:

Uncontrolled Type II Diabetics are at a higher risk for gum disease.
Severe gum disease can affect blood sugar.
Diabetics have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums.
Medication can cause dry mouth which can cause soreness, ulcers, infections and cavities.
A dry mouth can exacerbate the side effects of diabetes, which will then lead to an increase in glucose levels, wreaking havoc on the body.
Having a dry mouth, especially as a diabetic, can lead to rampant tooth decay, which means blood sugar increases as the body tries, and fails, to fight infection.
Sometimes if the blood glucose levels are higher than they should be, the result is dry mouth.

Your gums are the “foundation of your house” and if the foundation crumbles, the house crumbles with it. *

Medications and Dry Mouth

Medications that treat high blood pressure or other heart problems, including diuretics, are often used by many patients to manage complications of diabetes. A very common side effect of these medications is Dry Mouth.

The combination of two or more of these medications dramatically increase dry-mouth effects.

Dry mouth is a growing problem in dentistry. On a daily basis, Dr. Korenman and his staff see patients who suffer from dry mouth and the issues associated with dry mouth including tooth decay, gum disease and mouth sores.

The Good News for Diabetes Patients

The good news is that Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you overcome it and then to keep it under control.

Additionally, if you suffer from Dry Mouth, Dr. Korenman provides the following tips for treating this dangerous condition:

Swish with water in addition to drinking it.
Chew sugarless gum.
Patients with dry mouth should have regular dental checkups with Dr. Korenman and his staff for evaluation and treatment. Please bring up-to-date medication list with you to your appointment at Loveable Smiles.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

This is just one of many examples of how we treat people, not just teeth.

#DiabetesMonth

#ThisIsDiabetes

Sep 05

Type 1 Diabetes and Oral Health

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, lifelong disease that is typically diagnosed in children and teenagers. If the blood glucose levels aren’t controlled properly, the risk of developing gum and teeth problems increases for them.

A few oral health problems associated with Type 1 Diabetes are thrush, dry mouth, cavities and gum disease.

How Diabetes affects gum disease:

Uncontrolled Type I Diabetics are at a higher risk for gum disease.
Severe gum disease can affect blood sugar.
Diabetics have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums.
A dry mouth can exacerbate the side effects of diabetes, which will then lead to an increase in glucose levels, wreaking havoc on the body.
Having a dry mouth, especially as a diabetic, can lead to rampant tooth decay, which means blood sugar increases as the body tries, and fails, to fight infection.
Sometimes if the blood glucose levels are higher than they should be, the result is dry mouth.

Preventing Dental Complications Linked to Diabetes
The first step is keeping the child’s blood glucose level under control. If blood sugar is high, the sugar can appear in the saliva. Sugar is a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause gum disease and other oral health problems.

According to the American Dental Association, it’s recommended to brush teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste because that helps protect the teeth against tooth decay Flossing at least once a day is recommended as well because it helps remove the plaque and food particles between the teeth. Lastly, make sure to make a trip to the dentist twice a year to ensure there are no problems arising with the teeth and/or gums. Be sure to notify the dentist that your child has diabetes so that they can check the mouth for swollen gums, dry patches, bleeding and more.

If you’re looking for a gentle children’s dentist, contact the team at Loveable Smiles today. 972-231-0585

Mar 14

World Oral Health Day

In March, we celebrate Word Oral Health Day.

Dr. Larry Korenman is dedicated to improving your overall health through dentistry.

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host to other conditions including migraines, Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

Poor dental health is often caused by gum disease.

80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Many gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist.

Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment where we will check you for gum disease at 972-231-0585.

May 05

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Baby

Quite often Dr. Korenman hears a common “myth” or wives’ tale about cavities and pregnancy.

Women share with him that they had perfect teeth until they got pregnant. That all of their calcium leached out of their teeth and into the baby’s bones causing all their cavities.

The reality is that the calcium does not leach out of teeth.

There are several reasons why many pregnant women and new moms get tooth decay:

Hormones change during pregnancy causing the gums to be more susceptible to infection.
Many women experience nausea during pregnancy not allowing them to eat let alone put a toothbrush in their mouth. So the teeth aren’t getting cleaned.
Many women can only stomach certain foods and often give in to cravings that contain a lot of sugar and/or carbohydrates. These foods can cause tooth decay.

If you are pregnant, one of the most important medical appointments you can make is to call your dentist.

Why? Because the bacteria that cause gum disease may increase a mom’s risk for delivering prematurely.

Gum Disease & Developing Babies

There is a link between uncontrolled gum disease (and the mom may not even know she has gum disease as 80% of people have it) and pregnancy complications such as premature labor and preeclampsia (rise in blood pressure).

A study exploring the possible link between gum disease and preeclampsia found that 50% of the placentas from women with preeclampsia were positive for one or more periodontal pathogens.

Scientists believe these infections cause a rapid increase in certain fluids in the body that, in turn, induce labor. It’s not necessarily the infection itself but the body’s response to the infection that causes the premature birth.

Mom’s Hormones and the Baby’s Teeth

Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase the risk of developing gum disease, which can affect the health of their babies.

Studies have shown that bacteria responsible for tooth decay are passed from the mother to the child in utero. The more frequently you give in to the craving for sugary snacks, the greater the chance of developing tooth decay.

Additionally, pregnant women with acid reflux are also at a greater risk of tooth erosion and

periodontal problems as the acid dissolves away the protective coating of teeth (enamel) leaving them weakened and at a very high risk of needing extensive (and expensive) restorations.

Dr. Korenman recommends that women visit his office as soon as they learn or their pregnancy. Dr. Korenman and his team will test for any dental health problems that might affect your baby.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a safe treatment plan to treat it and to help you keep it under control.

For the health of your unborn baby, we urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

This is just one of many examples of how we treat people, not just teeth.

Feb 26

World Oral Health Day in Richardson, TX

In March, we celebrate Word Oral Health Day.

Dr. Larry Korenman is dedicated to improving your overall health through dentistry.

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host to other conditions including migraines, Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

Poor dental health is often caused by gum disease.

80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Many gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist.

Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment where we will check you for gum disease at 972-231-0585.

Feb 01

Gum Disease Can Be Transmitted To Your Valentine

A Valentine’s warning from Dr. Larry Korenman of Loveable Smiles: Gum (Periodontal) Disease can be transmitted through kissing.
Gum Disease is an ongoing bacterial infection deep in the gums and bone around your teeth.
Studies show that this bacteria can travel from the pockets around your teeth into your saliva.
Why is Gum Disease So Serious?
• 80% of patients have it and don’t even know it. There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration.
• Gum Disease is responsible for 75% of all adult tooth loss.
• The #1 cause of death in the world is inflammation and the entire body reacts to this negatively.
• Gum Disease has been shown to increase the risk of Heart Disease, Heart Attack and Stroke.

How Can I Protect My Valentine?
1. Visit Loveable Smiles For Your Total Health Dentistry Appointment – We are dedicated to educating our patients about the mouth/body connection. Specifically, how inflammation in your mouth (gum disease) can lead to heart disease. Please call 972-231-0585
2. Complete all recommended periodontal treatment. If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control. Studies show that periodontal treatment gets rid of (or greatly reduces) the level of periodontal bacteria in your saliva.
3. Keep your periodontal cleaning appointments. Without periodontal cleanings, some bacteria in the saliva can return to pre-treatment levels within six months. You can significantly reduce your risk of re-infection of yourself and family members through frequent periodontal cleanings.
4. Get your family screened. Since gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist, we highly recommend that family members get screened for gum disease.

Here at Loveable Smiles, we check our patients for Gum Disease on a regular basis.

Please call our office at 972-231-0585 for your Total Health Dental appointment to have a healthy Valentine’s Day!

Feb 01

American Heart Month: Heart Disease & Dry Mouth

February is American Heart Month and Dr. Larry Korenman of Loveable Smiles in Richardson has some important information for you.

If you take medication for heart disease you are probably experiencing a very dangerous side effect: Dry Mouth.

Dry Mouth is a side effect of popular heart medications including:

Blood pressure medications
Anti-depression/Anti-Anxiety
Diuretics
Cholesterol medication

The combination of two or more of these medications dramatically increases dry-mouth effects.

If you take any type of heart medication, it’s very important for you to take care of your dental health because Dry Mouth can lead to the following:

Tooth decay
Gum disease, including bacterial infections.
Fungal infections
Mouth sores
Bad breath

Additionally several theories exist to explain the link between periodontal (gum) disease and heart disease.

Oral bacteria can affect the heart via the blood stream and then attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) and contributing to clot formation.
Another possibility is that the inflammation caused by periodontal (gum) disease increases plaque buildup, which may contribute to swelling of the arteries.

Researchers have found that people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease.

Treating Dry Mouth

While there isn’t any cure for dry mouth, the sooner it gets diagnosed the less damage it does to your teeth. Here are some tips for treating your dry mouth.

Korenman highly recommends Effervess Oral Care products, which can help relieve the symptoms of dry mouth caused by medications. (Available at Loveable Smiles and Amazon.) The line includes toothpaste and a whitening gel.
Swish with water in addition to drinking it.
Chew sugarless gum.
Patients with dry mouth should have regular dental checkups with Dr. Korenman and his staff for evaluation and treatment. Please bring up-to-date medication list with you to your appointment at Loveable Smiles.

If you are experiencing a dry mouth as a side effect of your medication, please call Loveable Smiles at 972-231-0585

Oct 05

How often should you see your hygienist for dental cleanings?

October is National Dental Hygiene Month.

How often should you see your hygienist for dental cleanings? Some people may say that you should go every six months, some people may say every 3-4 months, and others may only visit the dental office when they are experiencing pain.

So, which one is right for you?

The answer is not as black and white as you may think…

Dental cleaning frequency is completely dependent upon the patient and their individual needs.

It is the same concept as when someone goes to physical therapy or rehab and the therapist creates a custom program for each individual in order to get them back to health (there is no blanket solution).

Patients who have seen the dentist regularly and practice good oral home care may only need to have a dental cleaning every six months because they have minimal build up and little to no bleeding in the gums. On the other hand, some patients who have not seen the dentist regularly and/or do not practice good oral home care may need to have their teeth cleaned every 3 to 4 months because they have moderate to severe build up and bleeding in the gums or they have been previously diagnosed with periodontal disease (loss of bone around the teeth).

The goal is to get your teeth cleaned frequently enough to keep the bacterial plaque build up at a minimal level so that either healing can occur or so that the tissues can stay in an optimum state of health.

In order to see what frequency is right for you, you should see your hygienist and discuss what treatment cycle will give your teeth and gums the best outcome.

Call for your dental hygiene appointment! 972-231-0585

Jan 09

Get Healthy In 2020! Start with A Dental Appointment

Your dental benefits have renewed.

Time to do the dentistry that you’ve been putting off.

Dr. Korenman and his staff are dedicated to improving your overall health through dentistry.

Let us partner with you regarding your New Year’s resolution to get healthy!

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

Sep 06

How Important Is it to Keep Your Hygiene Appointment?

I am married to Dr. Korenman and I work in the office everyday with our Loveable Team.

Cindy Korenman

I confirm appointments and tell all of you the importance of coming to clean and check your teeth on a regular basis.

It had been since last October that I personally had Tray our hygienist clean and check my teeth.

I am an avid flosser and brusher. I’m OCD about it. I floss every time I eat anything. I like eating about every two hours as I claim to be a health fanatic.

Today there was an opening and I had my dental cleaning.

I do have beautiful teeth, thanks to Dr. Korenman and I feel that I take excellent care of them.

But I didn’t get my dental work cleaned and checked for a while.

Thank God I did it today as right at the gum line on two of my beautiful teeth, Tray and Dr. Korenman confirmed I had the beginning of decay.

Good old stress got the better of my teeth. Maybe if I had done my cleaning timely it could have been prevented.

Thanks to Tray, who by the way is an excellent hygienist, is the best who has ever cleaned my teeth. He’s very kind, gentle and knowledgeable about teeth. I am so grateful for him to be part of our team.

Thanks Tray for your service and for keeping me healthy! Learn more about Tray here.