HealthCare

What are the key risk factors for dental caries and periodontal disease and how do they interact?

Uncovering the Intricate Link: Bacterial Imbalance & Carbohydrate Impact on Dental Health

What are the key risk factors for dental caries and periodontal disease and how do they interact? So this is a very complicated issue because periodontal disease and dental caries are in fact bacterial infections. We have a bacterial biome and when it's in our mouths and when it's out of balance with certain bacterial strains, that's when we get infections. The second factor is what are we feeding that bacterial biome, namely carbohydrates. Carbohydrates or refined sugars are loved by the caries forming bacteria and when they consume that sugar, they produce acid and an acid environment then dissolves mineral out of our teeth. Similarly, when periodontal disease causing bacteria consume carbohydrates, they create an environment that becomes anaerobic and they like an oxygen hating environment underneath the gum. Third, we have the saliva. The saliva acts as a natural buffer and flusher of the system to raise pH in the mouth and flush away bacteria. As our saliva is reduced either with medication or with age or some sort of auto-inflammatory process then our natural buffering system and natural protector fades and disease rates, disease severity can increase. Finally, as you all surmised, breaking that bacterial biome up off your teeth, i.e. brushing or flossing will reduce your disease risk.

The main risk factors for dental caries and periodontal disease are a bacterial imbalance in the mouth, consumption of carbohydrates, reduced saliva, and inadequate oral hygiene. These factors interact with each other to create an environment that is conducive to the development of these diseases.

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The key risk factors for dental caries and periodontal disease are complex and involve the interaction of various factors. Both conditions are bacterial infections that occur when the bacterial balance in our mouths is disrupted. 

The first factor is the bacterial biome in our mouths. When certain bacterial strains become imbalanced, infections can occur. 

The second factor is our diet, specifically the consumption of carbohydrates and refined sugars. Caries-forming bacteria thrive on these sugars and produce acid as a byproduct. This acid then dissolves minerals from our teeth, leading to dental caries. Similarly, periodontal disease-causing bacteria create an anaerobic environment beneath the gum line when they consume carbohydrates.

The third factor is saliva. Saliva acts as a natural buffer and helps flush away bacteria, maintaining a healthy oral environment. However, reduced saliva production due to factors such as medication, aging, or auto-inflammatory processes can weaken this natural defense mechanism, increasing the risk and severity of dental diseases.

Lastly, maintaining oral hygiene through practices like brushing and flossing helps remove the bacterial biome from the teeth, reducing the risk of disease.

Overall, the interaction of these risk factors contributes to the development and progression of dental caries and periodontal disease.

Does carbonated water damage your teeth and, if so, can I add something nice to raise the alkalinity?

Carbonated Water: Surprising Truth About Teeth Damage & Baking Soda Solution

Does carbonated water damage your teeth and if so, can I add something nice to raise the alkalinity? So as a general rule carbonated water does not damage your teeth. Despite being on the relatively acidic scale, the trouble comes when there are sweeteners added or other things that are added into it for flavor. One of the best ways to raise the alkalinity is plain old baking soda. Just a little pinch of it mixed up in there. It may not taste so wonderful if it really Taste bad. Then you probably added way too much. And really, you're only just using a little bit to try and neutralize that acid in there and balance it up. Baking soda. It's always your friend with your dental health.

Carbonated water does not damage teeth, but adding baking soda can help raise the alkalinity and neutralize acids.

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As a general rule, carbonated water does not damage your teeth. However, issues can arise when sweeteners or other flavor additives are present. To raise the alkalinity, you can add a small amount of baking soda to the carbonated water. Just a pinch should do the trick. If it tastes unpleasant, you may have added too much. The goal is to use a small amount of baking soda to neutralize the acidity and balance the pH. Baking soda can be a helpful friend when it comes to maintaining dental health.

Can a 12 year-old get Invisalign or would they need to get traditional braces at their age?

Clear aligners or braces? Factors to consider for 12-year-olds.

So can a twelve-year-old get Invisalign or what we call? Clear aligners, or would they need to get traditional braces at that age? I think it really depends on the situation if we're trying to structurally correct Foundation issues with the bone or job position or major B discrepancies. Then I think traditional braces are better. The one downside of the traditional braces is very difficult to maintain the hygiene for for the patient. They have to thread the floss underneath. They have to deal with the brackets and the wires to try and get around them. And there's a much higher risk for developing Decay or gum problems. Versus the clear liners or Invisalign, where you can simply pop out the trays. Do your dental hygiene floss brush, get everything nice and squeaky clean so that your risk of Decay and gum problems is much much less. With clear aligners. You have to remember that the patient needs to be very motivated because they can the liner's can get lost. They can get thrown away at lunch with traditional braces. Once they're fixed in place, they're in place and they don't have to worry about it.

It depends on the situation, but usually traditional braces are better for fixing foundation issues. Clear aligners have the advantage of being easy to maintain hygiene, but patients need to remain motivated as they can get lost.

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Can a twelve-year-old get Invisalign or clear aligners, or would they need traditional braces at that age? It depends on the situation. If there are structural issues with the bone, jaw position, or major discrepancies, traditional braces may be more suitable.

One downside of traditional braces is the difficulty in maintaining hygiene. Patients have to navigate around brackets and wires, making it challenging to floss and clean properly. This increases the risk of developing decay or gum problems.

On the other hand, clear aligners like Invisalign can be easily removed for dental hygiene routines. Patients can pop out the trays, floss, brush, and ensure everything is clean. This significantly reduces the risk of decay and gum problems.

However, it's important to note that with clear aligners, the patient needs to be highly motivated. There is a possibility of the aligners getting lost or thrown away during lunch, for example. Traditional braces, once fixed in place, do not require such concerns.

Ultimately, the decision between Invisalign and traditional braces for a twelve-year-old depends on the specific dental situation and the patient's ability to maintain hygiene and follow instructions.

How do you make a new patient feel trust and comfort when starting the process?

Building Trust: Making New Patients Comfortable & Informed

How do you make a new patient, feel trust and comfort when starting the process. So in our dental office, first of all this is fantastic question because trust I think is at the heart of good health care. At our office, we will spend an hour and a half for our new patient. Visit really just listening asking questions and listening to find out what their health experience has been what their goals are, where they expect to go what they want out of healthcare, and what they want out of their oral health care and really just provide some feedback so that we're in Partnership. Ship and team working with them. Rather than us doing something to them and for them. And we give them chance to answer questions and learn about us. Good luck.

We spend an hour and a half with new patients, listening and asking questions to learn about their health experience, goals, expectations and what they want out of their oral health care. We provide feedback and answer questions so that we can work together as a team and provide the best care for them.

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To make a new patient feel trust and comfort when starting the process, our dental office takes several steps. First and foremost, we prioritize listening. During the new patient visit, we dedicate an hour and a half to truly understand their health experiences, goals, and expectations. We ask questions and actively listen to their responses.

By engaging in this dialogue, we aim to establish a partnership and teamwork approach. We want patients to feel that we are working with them, rather than simply doing things to them. This collaborative mindset helps build trust and comfort.

Additionally, we provide ample opportunity for patients to ask questions and learn about our practice. This open communication fosters a sense of transparency and allows patients to feel more at ease.

Overall, our goal is to create an environment where patients feel heard, understood, and valued. By taking the time to listen and engage in meaningful conversations, we strive to establish trust and comfort from the very beginning of the patient's journey.

Can you explain the carbohydrate mouth rinse and how it can benefit performance?

Carbohydrate mouth rinses: Boost performance, but risk tooth decay!

Can you explain carbohydrate mouth rinses and how they can benefit performance? So as a dentist, I'm not a sports physiologist or nutritionist. So I can't really go into a lot of detail. But the theory is this you rinse sugar water in your mouth for five to ten seconds and spit it out during athletic performance there. By the theory is that you'll trick your brain into thinking that it is getting a boost of of fuel and thereby, it will allow you to perform better. The mix. There's mixed results on endurance and it's more seen better results in short duration, short bursts of energy, powerlifting sprinting, that sort of thing. The thing I would caution you though is that using these carbohydrates, it carbohydrate rinses routinely your bathing, your teeth and bathing that bacterial plaque in sugar, and you're giving them a fuel source which thereby creates a very acidic environment in your mouth and can really, really increase your risk for Decay. And I've seen that a lot in a lot of high performance athletes. So, I don't really recommend this unless you're going to rinse with water right afterwards.

Carbohydrate mouth rinses are used by athletes during performance to trick the brain into thinking it is getting a boost of fuel. Though there have been mixed results for endurance, better results have been seen in short bursts of energy such as powerlifting or sprinting. However, caution should be taken when using these rinses as they can increase the risk of tooth decay due to bathing the bacterial plaque in sugar and creating an acidic environment in the mouth.

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Can you explain carbohydrate mouth rinses and how they can benefit performance? As a dentist, I can provide some insights. The theory behind carbohydrate mouth rinses is that by rinsing sugar water in your mouth for a short period of time during athletic performance, you can trick your brain into thinking it's receiving a fuel boost, leading to improved performance. However, the results are mixed, with better outcomes observed in short bursts of energy like powerlifting or sprinting, rather than endurance activities.

It's important to note that regularly using carbohydrate rinses can have negative effects on oral health. The sugar in the rinse can bathe your teeth and the bacterial plaque in your mouth, creating an acidic environment that significantly increases the risk of tooth decay. This is a common issue seen in many high-performance athletes. Therefore, I do not recommend carbohydrate rinses unless you follow up with a thorough rinse with water to minimize the potential dental risks.

Fluoride: Strengthening Teeth & Controversial Misconceptions

His fluoride dangerous. This is one of the most complicated controversial topics in dental, health care, and has been for a very long time in a word. No, fluoride is not dangerous. In fact, it's very beneficial. Our teeth are covered by enamel and enamel is formed when calcium and hydroxyapatite form together to make crystals. Fluoride can replace the calcium and turn into floral appetite. Flora appetite is much stronger and more resistant to the acid insult, which is the basic driver of dental decay. As a child or as a newborn or infant as our teeth are growing, that fluoride is incorporated into the enamel. As we age mineral comes in and out of the tooth through acid and saliva and the process of dissolving mineral and reforming mineral. If we can add some fluoride into our oral system by adding fluoride, I'd topically. We can also increase in Amal and root surface strength which is very beneficial to us as adults and especially as we move on into the elderly years of Our Lives. Remember fluoride is a naturally occurring element and its really all about concentration too. Much of anything can be harmful not enough of something can be also. Harmful what we want to do is get it in the right proportion and that is determined by your age and your special circumstances.

No, fluoride is not dangerous. In fact, it's very beneficial and helps increase enamel and root surface strength. Fluoride is a naturally occurring element and its all about getting the right concentration depending on age and special circumstances.

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The question of whether fluoride is dangerous is a complex and controversial topic in dental healthcare. In short, no, fluoride is not dangerous. In fact, it is highly beneficial. Our teeth are protected by enamel, which is formed when calcium and hydroxyapatite combine to create crystals. Fluoride can replace the calcium and form fluorapatite, which is stronger and more resistant to acid, the main cause of dental decay.

During childhood and infancy, fluoride is incorporated into the enamel as our teeth develop. As we age, minerals enter and leave the teeth through processes of mineral dissolution and reformation influenced by acid and saliva. By topically adding fluoride to our oral system, we can enhance the strength of enamel and root surfaces, which is particularly advantageous as adults and as we enter our elderly years.

It's important to note that fluoride is a naturally occurring element, and the key is to maintain the right concentration. Too much or too little of anything can be harmful. Achieving the proper proportion of fluoride intake is determined by factors such as age and individual circumstances.

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Dr. Dowsett is a third-generation Oregonian and 1995 honors graduate of the OHSU School of Dentistry. He and his wife Dr. Kristi Dowsett have three active teenagers. Dr. Dowsett is a leader in the Complete Health Dentistry movement, specializing in Sports Dentistry and sleep apnea. He is certified as a Team Dentist by the Academy for Sports Dentistry and has been on the medical staff of the Portland Trail Blazers (2000-2013) and Portland Timbers (2010). He currently works with the Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club and consults with Portland City United Youth Soccer Club. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Oregon Dental Association, the Multnomah Dental Society, the Academy for Sports Dentistry, the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health, the International College of Dentists, and the American College of Dentists. Dr. Dowsett is an adjunct professor at the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry.

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Dr. David Dowsett, DMD