Do your gums often get red, swollen, and tender or do they bleed easily? Have your gums pulled away from your teeth at all? Are your teeth loose or separating? Do you suffer from chronic bad breath (halitosis) or a bad taste in your mouth? Have you experienced any changes in your bite?

If your answer was yes to any of these questions you may have gum disease, also known as periodontal disease.

Gum disease is essentially an infection of the teeth’s supporting tissues. Gum disease targets the area just below the gum line, where it can break down the attachment between the tooth and its supporting tissues. As the tissues are damaged, pockets are created where bacteria can thrive and impact your oral health.

Did you know it’s possible to have gum disease without any symptoms or warning signs? Gum disease has two main stages known as gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the less severe and reversible form of gum disease, which affects the gums only. If Gingivitis is neither identified nor reversed it will likely lead to periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease which in turn affects your overall health.

The dental experts at Atlantis Dental assess the health of your teeth and gums at every appointment, checking for the signs of gum disease and performing professional cleaning to ensure that pockets of bacteria and plaque don’t build up in your mouth.  Your hygiene professional will provide personalized guidance on how often you should visit to prevent gum disease or what is required to get rid of active infection.  They will also instruct you on how best to care for your teeth between visits.

Contact Atlantis Dental to book your preventative dentistry appointment today, and we will work with you to ensure that your smile is healthy and your energy levels high to support your active lifestyle.

July 28, 2011 in Blog by Admin

Summer days means lazy afternoons by the pool and busy evenings at sporting events, concerts or on the road traveling with the family.  Concession stands and snack bars tempt us with a variety of sweets and sugar-filled soda and juices, so parents must create strategies that will protect your children’s dental health and counteract tooth decay!

Here are five easy-to-follow summer tips that will help protect your child’s teeth from decay:

Nothing beats H20. Bacteria are attracted to sugar and together they create an acid, which causes tooth decay and deterioration.  Water rinses your mouth of bacteria and acid in addition to increasing the formation of your saliva.

Be sure to read all labeling on food and beverages you are choosing for your family at the supermarket. Consider your family’s usual selection of beverages… Are they full of sugar? Stay away from beverages loaded with sugar and acid.

A straw can save your child’s smile. If your kids are going to drink a sugary beverage, using a straw can keep sugar away from their teeth. It’s best to drink sugary beverages with a meal rather than permitting kids to sip on them throughout the day.  Acid penetrates tooth enamel – so follow up sugary beverages with water to rinse your mouth until brushing time!

Consider the length of your snack sessions. We all want to have a treat now and again – the key is moderation. If your children are sucking away on sour candy keys or chewing Swedish berries throughout the day, acid is given the opportunity to erode their teeth. Snacks that can be eaten in one session, like popcorn or baked chips are a better alternative – teeth are exposed to food for a shorter time, and these snacks encourage saliva production to rinse away the food particles.

Protect your kid’s teeth with protein!   Dietary Protein works remarkably well as a guard against acid, so feeding your kids nuts, cheese, and cold cut sandwiches is an excellent alternative to the unhealthy fast food choices your kids may make on their own. The same is true for fruits and vegetables that have high water content.  Apples, pears, and celery are excellent choices to help rinse bacteria from your mouth.

In addition to the above tips it’s important to maintain oral health habits like daily brushing and flossing throughout your summer vacation.  It’s easy to get off track when away from home or when your children are off their usual schedule.

Summer is also a great time to bring your children to Atlantis Dental.  It won’t be long before back to school season begins, so take advantage of your child’s free time to book a routine dental checkup and examination.

Call us today to book a summer appointment for your kids – you’ll be glad you did!

July 21, 2011 in Blog by Admin

The American Diabetes Association recently announced that studies have identified and confirmed a direct correlation between diabetes and gum disease. Not only are diabetics more prone to gum disease, but oral health problems such as gingivitis can also affect blood glucose stability, leading to the advancement of diabetes.

Our experts at Atlantis Dental share a passion for staying at the forefront of the healthcare field as the industry evolves in knowledge, treatments and technology. New research has confirmed that excellent oral health is integral to the maintenance of excellent whole body health.  Evidently, this link is vital to our patients who are diabetic.

Diabetes and unstable blood glucose levels increase your risk of developing serious gum disease and losing teeth. Furthermore, recent and potentially groundbreaking studies have found that gum disease can contribute to a rise in blood sugar and thus make diabetes harder to control.

If you suffer from a diabetic condition, you can effectively increase your chances of related complications by neglecting to care for your teeth and gums. The most important ways for our diabetic patients to maintain optimal oral health include: 1) Controlling glucose levels, 2) Visiting Dr. Ezzati every six months for your professional cleaning, 3) Keeping us aware of how you are managing your diabetes, 4) Brushing your teeth at least twice daily after meals, flossing daily, and using mouthwash, 5) Quitting smoking, 6) Becoming more aware of warning signs such as receding, tender or bleeding gums, and loose teeth.

Atlantis Dental is concerned with every aspect of our patients’ health, and would like to partner with you to restore and revitalize your overall heath. If you have diabetes, speak to one of our team members about how we can best protect your oral health.

July 13, 2011 in Blog by Admin