Oral Health Topics.

Introduction
Age and Ofal Health
Oral Piercing
Tabacco
Gum Disease

Introduction

Does mercury in the silver fillings in your mouth pose any long-term health risks?

Does fluoride, in spite of everything we've been told since childhood, actually cause more harm than good?

What does the latest research reveal about tobacco use on your overall oral health?

This section is dedicated to the latest information about these and other oral health topics, pulled from

Age and Oral Health

Oral changes with age.
Is tooth loss inevitable in your later years? How much should adults be concerned about cavities? Here you will find helpful answers to some frequently asked questions about oral health questions you may have as you get older.

National survey reveals baby boomers miss links between oral and overall health.

Baby boomers looking for the warning signs of adult-onset diseases may be overlooking key symptoms in their mouth that should signal alarms about their overall health. According to a survey commissioned by the Academy of General Dentistry, 63 percent of baby boomers (ages 45-64) with an oral symptom considered to be a key indicator of a more serious health condition, were unaware of the symptom's link to the condition. Boomers' failure to recognize that oral health holds valuable clues could negatively impact their overall health.

Oral Piercing

Oral piercing: So you want to pierce your tongue?

Oral piercing can cause pain, swelling, infection, drooling, taste loss, scarring, chipped teeth, and tooth loss, according to the Academy of General Dentistry. Most dentists discourage oral piercing because of these risks. Regulations vary in each state, so use caution when deciding whether you want any kind of piercing. To avoid serious infections such as HIV or Hepatitis, make sure that you ask the person performing the piercing about care after the piercing, possible side effects, cleanliness, and other concerns you may have.

Frequently asked question: How can oral piercing be bad for your health?
Because your mouth contains millions of bacteria, infection is a common complication of oral piercing, according to the American Dental Association. Pain and swelling are other side effects of piercing. Your tongue - a popular piercing site in the mouth - could swell large enough to close off your airway. Piercing also can cause uncontrollable bleeding or nerve damage. The jewelry itself also presents some hazards. You can choke on any studs, barbells, or hoops that come loose in your mouth, and contact with the jewelry can chip or crack your teeth.

Tabacco

The American Dental Association has long been a leader in the battle against tobacco-related disease, working to educate the public about the dangers inherent in tobacco use and encouraging dentists to help their patients break the cycle of addiction. The Association has continually strengthened and updated its tobacco policies as new scientific information has become available.

Frequently asked questions: What effects can smoking have on my oral health? Are cigars a safe alternative to cigarettes? Are smokeless tobacco products safe?
The American Dental Association has some alarming news that you should know.
Recent studies have shown that there is a direct link between oral tissue and bones loss and smoking.

Tooth loss and edentulism are more common in smokers than in non-smokers. In addition, people who smoke are more likely to develop severe periodontal disease.

Many studies have shown that smoking can lead to higher rates of dental implant failure. In general, smoking cessation usually leads to improved periodontal health and a patient's chance for successful implant acceptance.

Gum Disease

Recent studies have shown that periodontal disease is a site-specific disease, not the generalized destructive process it was once thought to be. Systemic treatment has been successful for specific types of periodontal disease where specific bacteria have been identified as a causative agent. Generalized adult periodontitis has not been treated successfully with systemic antibiotics and the potential for the production of resistant bacterial strains exists. Local treatment of bacterial populations with tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, and metronidazole has been effective.

In the early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, the gums can become red, swollen and easily bleed. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by daily brushing and flossing.

Like some diseases, gum disease isn't painful until it reaches a more critical stage, in which treatment options narrow. If it goes unchecked, inflammation begins to allow surrounding bone to demineralize and dissolve. As the bone dissolves around the teeth in the more advanced stages of gum disease, called periodontitis, the gums and bone that support the teeth can become seriously damaged. The teeth can become loose, fall out or have to be removed by a dentist.

If you have persistent bleeding gums, seek treatment as soon as you can.