Pregnancy Gingivitis

Gum disease is common, and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to it. While this is expected, it is still a potential threat to a woman’s oral health. We at Bridge Smiles Dental Group care for whole families and want our patients to be as comfortable as possible during pregnancy, so we thought we’d explain a bit more about what causes gingivitis.

Plaque contains acid produced by bacteria in the gum pockets. It is sticky and hardens into tartar. When gum tissue is irritated by acid and tartar, it triggers the body’s inflammatory response. Swelling makes it harder for infectious materials to flow to the rest of the body and easier for antibodies to move through membranes, but the gum tissue also becomes painful and red. When a woman is pregnant, her body will produce large amounts of the hormone progesterone, which triggers the growth of new blood vessels. Progesterone will make the gums particularly responsive to irritants.

Pregnancy gingivitis usually ends with the pregnancy, but it may develop into a more serious infection. As always, brushing and flossing are a patient’s best defense, although she may also want to try non-alcoholic mouthwash. If a woman is snacking more, she’ll also need to clean her teeth more frequently, or at least chew on sugar-free gum after meals. We can provide patients with deep cleanings to remove tartar from their gum pockets and give them refreshers on oral hygiene.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.

 

Importance of Flossing

At Bridges Smile Group P.A., we advise our patients to floss daily for good oral hygiene. Flossing helps you clean the areas of your teeth that a toothbrush can't’ reach. Brushing daily will help to fight gum disease and prevent cavities.

A lot of patients don’t floss because they think it is too time-consuming. While brushing is important, flossing does the dirty work and gets rid of 40% of debris in your mouth. When food gets stuck in between your teeth, it allows plaque to build up if you don't floss.

Remember to use floss that is 15-18 inches long and curb the floss around each tooth while rubbing it up and down to scrape away any plaque. It is normal for your gums to bleed because they are inflamed from poor dental hygiene. There will be less bleeding the more you consistently floss. 

We want all of our patients to floss daily to prevent cavities and have a greater chance of healthier teeth and gums.

If you have any questions or concerns about flossing, please give us a call. To learn more about all of the services we provide at our office, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Water Flossing with Orthodontics

Flossing is crucial when it comes to maintaining great oral health. Cleaning between the teeth is an important step to remove food particles that have been left behind after brushing. Flossing can significantly reduce periodontal disease and cavity-causing causing bacteria that leads to tooth decay, but sometimes the act of flossing is difficult for a patient with orthodontics. Bridge Smiles Dental may suggest using a water flosser for those hard to reach places!

A safe, easy, and effective way to remove plaque around dental braces is to use a water flosser. A water flosser is a handheld device that sprays streams of water in steady pulses. Not only is this beneficial to patients with traditional braces, water flossers are also an option for people who have trouble controlling traditional floss by hand. It’s important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to reap the maximum benefits of a healthy mouth!

To learn more about orthodontics and the treatments we provide, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

National Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes poses particular challenges to people with gum disease. At Bridge Smiles Dental Group, we want our patients to do their best to maintain their oral hygiene, but we understand that there are complicating factors. Since November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, we thought it would be a good time to educate people about the oral health-blood sugar connection.

Gingivitis refers to inflammation of the gum tissue. Inflammation is a natural immune system response that isolates diseased material from the rest of the body, but chronic swelling can damage tissues, too, and ultimately inhibit the immune response. One of the results of uncontrolled blood sugar is increased inflammation. People with diabetes have significantly higher odds of having gum disease than the general population. There is also some evidence that people who develop gum disease may be at higher risk of developing uncontrolled blood sugar.

It is especially important for people with diabetes to maintain regular dental check-ups and to avoid behaviors linked with gingivitis, such as excessive alcohol use. At our examinations, we can clean calculus out of the gum pockets. The good news is that treating gum disease can help to control blood sugar. We’re also happy to teach our patients better oral hygiene techniques.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.

 

Hygiene with Fixed Bridges

You could probably guess that at the Bridges Smiles Dental Group, we make a point of ensuring our patients are satisfied with their bridge restorations. Bridges can last a lifetime, but they need to be cared for. Getting used to them will require patients to make a few changes to their oral hygiene habits, but the process is simple.

The biggest change is that patients have to keep the gap beneath the bridge clean. Flossing is crucial to this, so patients should know there are a few tools available to help them. Some companies manufacture specialty floss which has a stiffened tip, allowing it to be pushed beneath the bridge and drawn back out. More often, patients use a threader, which is like a flexible sewing needle for floss. People who have worn braces are already familiar with this device, which allows normal floss to be looped around a horizontal structure.

Another hygienic device common to orthodontics is the proxy brush, or Christmas tree brush. Fixed bridges supported by implants may have more space between them and the gum line, allowing this device to be used to dislodge debris. In order to clean this space better, electric toothbrush and water pick manufacturers are now providing tips for their devices to be used with implants.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit BridgeSmilesDental.com.

 

Dental Health Basics

Bacteria can live in your mouth in the form of plaque, causing cavities and gingivitis, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease. In order to keep your mouth clean, our staff at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. encourage you to practice good oral hygiene every day. In between your six-month dental checkup your smile depends on simple dental care habits, such as brushing and flossing. But are you using the right techniques? Follow these steps to protect your oral health.

• Spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth two times a day. Use a timer if you have to ensure that you’re spending enough time on your oral care routine.


• Use floss at least once a day every day to clean between your teeth.


• Buy American Dental Association (ADA) approved dental cleaning tools and toothpaste.

If you already notice red, inflamed, swollen gums, the good news is that being diligent about your home dental care routing and getting regular dental checkups can prevent plaque from forming and even reverse early signs of gum disease.

If you need assistance maintaining your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.