Our Buckhead dental office’s philosophy of patient care revolves around keeping our patients healthy, and not just in their mouths. Many whole-body concerns are associated with oral health problems, including heart disease. This February, in celebration of Heart Health Month, we’d like to educate our patients on the oral health and heart health connection and how keeping your mouth healthy can protect your entire wellbeing.

Gum Disease and Its Link to Heart Disease

One of the main areas we’re going to explore is how gum disease can affect someone’s heart health. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection in your gums caused by a buildup of plaque on your teeth. When there’s an infection in your mouth, it can very easily be transferred into your bloodstream. If this occurs, your body produces more C-reactive protein (CRP), which is one of the known indicators of cardiovascular disease. Elevated levels of CRP can lead to some serious health issues including:

• inflamed arteries
• blood clots
• heart attacks
• strokes

Signs of Gum Disease

Gum disease is treatable, and treatment is easier and more successful if it’s caught early. If you notice any of the signs below, schedule an appointment with your dentist in Buckhead as soon as you can.

• Bleeding when brushing or flossing
• Puffy, tender gums
• Bad breath
• Teeth that feel loose

Keep Your Mouth Healthy

There are things you can do to keep your mouth and gums free of disease. We recommended maintaining appointments at our dental office in Buckhead at least twice a year. But that’s not all. It’s also important for you to follow a proper at-home oral health care routine at home. Make sure you brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day, everyday.  

If you notice any signs of gum disease, or if you’re looking for a new dentist, we welcome you to schedule an appointment with us today. After all, your dentist is an important member of your health care team and can protect your body from serious diseases, like heart disease.

Welcoming patients from Buckhead, Atlanta, Sandy Springs.

Bad breath, also known clinically as halitosis, is embarrassing. But you don’t have to be self-conscious of your breath if you can identify what may be causing it, and work with your Buckhead dentist to fix it. So what may be contributing to your bad breath? Let’s check out the top four causes.

The Foods You Eat

This cause is less likely to cause chronic bad breath, but it’s still a viable culprit. Some stinky foods like onions, garlic, and coffee can leave an unpleasant stench behind, even after brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. Die-hard dieters may also experience bad breath from not eating often enough.

The Foods That Linger Around

The main cause of bad breath is food particles that get left behind. These pesky pieces usually get wedged in between teeth and up under the gum line and can be removed through proper brushing and flossing. But when food isn’t completely eliminated from the mouth, bacteria accumulates and results in bad breath.

Dry Mouth

Saliva helps rinse away bad breath causing bacteria and neutralizes damaging acid, which protects teeth from decay. When the mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva, it’s left unprotected and more vulnerable to acid attacks and bad breath.

Tobacco Use

Tobacco use can not only cause stinky breath, it can also lead to some really serious health issues. Your chance for oral cancer is greatly increased, the likelihood of losing teeth nearly doubles, and your body’s ability to fight off infection is reduced. And it’s not just smokers who are at risk. Smokeless tobacco users are 50 times more likely to suffer from oral cancer than non-tobacco users. If you currently use tobacco, ask your doctor or dental team for tips that can help you quit.

It’s Not Just a Mouth Problem

Bad breath isn’t something that only affects the mouth. It may be a sign of a larger, whole-body concern. In fact, bad breath is a symptom of liver disease, diabetes, and even kidney failure. This is why the team at my dental office in Buckhead encourages all of our patients to take bad breath seriously, and to talk with us if it’s a chronic problem.

If you’re self-conscious about your breath or concerned for your dental and overall health, call my Buckhead dental office to schedule an appointment today. We’ll review your health history, habits, and perform a thorough exam. Together, we’ll find a treatment that’s appropriate for you.

Welcoming patients from Buckhead, Atlanta, Sandy Springs.

We’ve all experienced the unpleasant sensation that goes along with biting our tongues, but the positive (if there is a positive to something so painful) is that we can usually identify how we did it. However, there are some people who experience the annoying aftermath of tongue biting and have no idea how it even happened. Usually this occurs when someone bites their tongue in their sleep. But how and why does this happen? My Buckhead dental office has some answers.

Possible Explanations

There are several potential reasons you bite your tongue in your sleep. Some common causes can include:

• Braces
• Sleep Apnea
• Trying to use your tongue as a splint between your teeth

However, if nighttime tongue biting is chronic, there are three typical conditions that usually point to a more serious concern.

Nocturnal Seizures

While seizures can generally occur at any time, there are instances when there are no daytime signs at all and symptoms are experienced during sleep alone. These are referred to as nocturnal seizures. Like any other seizure, nocturnal seizures cause individuals’ muscles to tighten and they experience erratic, uncontrollable movements, including tongue biting. Medication can help control seizures and limit tongue biting.

Rhythmic Movement Disorder

More common in children, rhythmic movement disorder causes sudden jerks and other sharp movements during sleep. Usually the head and neck are affected and can cause someone to bite their tongue. Kids normally grow out of the disorder, but medication may be appropriate.

Bruxism

Bruxism, more commonly referred to as teeth grinding, is characterized by the continual grating of the top teeth against the bottom or consistent clenching of the jaw muscles. While this can happen while someone is awake, it’s commonly experienced subconsciously during sleep. The act of grinding your teeth can cause chronic tongue biting as well as additional dental concerns such as chipping or breaking of teeth. Usually, your dentist in Buckhead can make an appliance to protect your teeth, and your tongue, from the effects of bruxism.

Have you been experiencing unexplained tongue trauma? Call my dental office in Buckhead to schedule an appointment. If signs point to teeth grinding, we’ll work with you to determine the treatment that’s appropriate for you. If something else is suspected, we’ll recommend that you speak with your physician.

Welcoming patients from Buckhead, Atlanta, Sandy Springs.

Dry mouth is an annoying, sometimes sporadic occurrence that can be caused by any number of things. But no matter how annoying it is, it’s concerning to everyone at my dental office in Buckhead when dry mouth lasts for a prolonged period of time. Dry mouth isn’t just an obnoxious, uncomfortable thing that happens…it can be dangerous to the health of your smile.

Why Is Dry Mouth Bad?

When dry mouth happens, it means your salivary glands aren’t producing enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. Mouths need saliva to protect teeth and to stay healthy. Although it seems like a minor thing, saliva is key to defending teeth against bacteria, neutralizing dangerous acids, and washing away leftover food particles that otherwise would stick around. Without saliva, mouths are at increased risk for tooth decay and other intraoral problems.

Causes of Dry Mouth

Like we mentioned, dry mouth can be caused by numerous things, some creating temporary uncomfortableness, others leading to a chronically dry mouth.

Dehydration – One of the most common reasons we experience dry mouth is due to dehydration. Maybe you just worked out for a long time and didn’t replenish your body, maybe you had a crazy day at work and just didn’t have time to drink enough water, or maybe you’re getting over a stomach bug that ridded your body of essential fluids. Either way, your body and your mouth need water to function properly. Make sure you’re getting enough throughout the day to keep dry mouth at bay.

Medications – Certain medications, both prescription and over the counter, can cause dry mouth. Make sure you read the precautions and common side effects of any medicine you take. If you have to take a medication daily that may lead to dry mouth, talk with your dentist in Buckhead to plan out how you can combat it.

Disease – Some diseases and medical conditions can also lower your amount of saliva, leading you to experience the symptoms of dry mouth. Some common diseases that have been linked with dry mouth include diabetes, Parkinson’s, HIV/AIDS, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

Treating Dry Mouth

Each case of dry mouth is different, and effective treatment can vary from person to person. There are several solutions available including ensuring you’re drinking enough water and avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and smoking. If more in depth treatment is needed, your doctor may adjust your medication or recommend a saliva producing prescription medicine.

If you’re concerned dry mouth may be causing dental problems, or you’d like to talk to someone about getting some relief, call my Buckhead dental office to schedule an appointment today. We’ll be happy to help.

Welcoming patients from Buckhead, Atlanta, Sandy Springs. 

When patients visit my dental office in Buckhead, we make it a priority to go out of our way to make sure they feel like they’re part of our family. I truly enjoy helping patients achieve and maintain a healthy smile, while feeling comfortable and at ease.  Below is a couple of the many things that make being a dentist so incredibly rewarding.

I Care For You and Your Smile

As your Buckhead dentist, I care about getting to know patients personally, to really understand them as a person.  I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to help people feel better about themselves on a daily basis. It is also important for me to take the time to help my patients truly understand their present condition and help facilitate a process for them to choose what is best for them individually.  I care deeply about not only making sure you have healthy teeth, but also making sure you have a healthy system that functions well and has no problems or will not develop problems in the future. This involves assessing many things beside just your teeth, including your joints, muscles, and bone and gum support surrounding your teeth.  Why?   Because it is gratifying to get my patients healthy and help maintain them that way long term.  It is fun to see my patients at their continuing care appointments with our hygienist and see their mouths looking, functioning, and feeling great.  I helped them get healthy and now all they need my help with is maintaining that health.

I Get to Work With Great People Everyday

I am fortunate to work with a great team of individuals who truly care for my patients, not just their oral health but as people.  Thelma, my incredible assistant, and I have been together for 16 years. Getta and Theresa, who are the hygienists, have been taking exceptional care of our patients for over 6 years apiece.  We all agree our patients are great people and we feel  privileged to serve them and have long-term relationships with them.  We look forward to seeing our patients daily.      

We are always excited to have patients visit my Buckhead dental office for so many reasons, beyond what we’ve shared with you here. Please never hesitate to call the office if you or someone in your family is need of our help. We’re always ready to help no matter what your dental care needs may be.

Welcoming patients from Buckhead, Atlanta, Sandy Springs.