I tell this to every pregnant woman. Maternal periodontal infections can also increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight in infants. It’s really concerning. It’s super important that you come and see your dentist during pregnancy. A lot of mothers don’t realize this as it may not be included in the info packs first-time mothers receive. I’ve had two kids and the only reason I knew about this is because I’m a dentist.
Author: thrive
Bacteria in the mouth, how does it affect our overall health?
We all know how important gut health is to general health but the gut begins in the mouth and the delicate balance of bacteria in the mouth sets the stage for everything downstream. Bacteria in the mouth travels to different sites in the body and inflammation in the mouth can increase inflammation in the rest of the body. Oral inflammation like periodontitis or gum disease in combination with other risk factors has been linked to Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, heart attack, kidney disease increased susceptibility to pneumonia and bronchitis. Oral cancer, as you would imagine has big implications on overall health. Taking care of your mouth and teeth is so important to general health.
Dental teeth aging
Our teeth age just like we do. Incisor or lower front teeth crowding is one of the common signs of aging. With lower jaw growth occurring well into adulthood the lower teeth advance forward against the upper teeth. They’ve got nowhere to go apart from bunching up and crowding against each other. One of the first things we see with teeth over the years of munching and crunching is that the surface of the teeth wears down. This can manifest as flat shaped teeth sensitive teeth, chips and cracks and in more advanced cases changes to the facial structure. Discoloration is another side effect, both from extrinsic changes to the teeth in the form of accumulated stain and internal changes like dentine or sclerosis. The best way to prevent this is through the use of a gentle toothbrush. Dry mouth is another one. Saliva serves so many functions in the mouth. Stimulating this by chewing sugar free gum can help.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a series of custom made clear plastic trays designed to straighten your smile by applying gentle pressure on the teeth gradually and gently moving teeth towards an ideal smile. One clear tray for the top and one for the bottom. Each set of aligners is programmed with specific movements and needs to be worn for 22 hours of the day before moving on to the next set of aligners in the planned sequence. With traditional braces, brackets come off wires dig into the soft tissues. Invisalign does not have these issues. In addition to this the Invisalign ClinCheck software allows both you and the dentist to visualize every stage of the Invisalign treatment, providing you with a clearer picture of how long the treatment will approximately take. With the aligners being removable you can still brush and floss your teeth as compared with braces. This means you can maintain good oral hygiene and optimal dental health throughout your treatment.