Dentist Downers Grove | General & Cosmetic Dentistry | Dentist Woodridge,IL

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Aurora (630) 884-8194

Downers Grove (630) 884-8174

Office Hours: Mon–Thu: 9:00am–4:00pm; Sat:9am-2pm

Archives for February 2016

Diabetes and Gum Disease, Related?

Diabetes dentist Downers Grove

Diabetes dentist Downers Grove

DOES DIABETES AFFECT ORAL HEALTH?

If you have diabetes, it can affect many parts of your body. This includes your teeth and gums. The effect is even greater when your blood sugar is not well controlled, making it harder to fight bacterial infections.

Plaque buildup

Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria that forms on teeth. If it is not removed, it can lead to infections such as gum disease.

If your high blood sugar is not controlled, you may have more plaque bacteria than most people. That means you are more at risk for oral health problems.

Gingivitis(Red, swollen gums)

Gingivitis is a form of gum disease. It is caused by a buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth and gums.

If you have diabetes, it is harder for your body to control plaque bacteria. That is why people with diabetes are 3 to 4 times more likely to get gum disease.

Be sure to see your dental professional if you have any of these symptoms:

  • Red gums
  • Swollen or
  • Tender gums
  • Gums that bleed easily

Periodontal disease

If gingivitis is left untreated, it can turn into periodontitis. This is a more serious form of gum disease. Over time, it can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth, causing teeth to become loose.

Oral health can affect diabetes, too. Having an infection like gum disease can affect your blood sugar. That’s why it’s vital to practice good oral care habits at home. It can help you protect your oral health, as well as manage your diabetes.

Be sure to use your blood glucose meter! It can help you control your blood sugar levels and protect your oral health.

For more information on diabetes and oral health, call our office today.

Call Alivio Dental to schedule an appointment today! Proudly serving patients from Downers Grove, IL, Lisle, IL, Darien, IL, Lombard, IL, Clarendon Hills, IL, Bollingbrook, IL, Woodridge, IL, Westmont, IL, La Grange, IL and Wheaton, IL communities now.

Credits: Oral-B

Dental exam school form

Dental exam form Downers Grove Woodridge Dentist

Dental exam form Downers Grove Woodridge Dentist

Tooth grinding or Bruxism, what is it?

Grinding teeth Mouth guard dentist

Grinding teeth Mouth guard dentist

Bruxism: Are You Experiencing It?

The term “bruxism” refers to tooth grinding and tooth clenching that many children and adults experience throughout their lifetime. Bruxism occurs when the teeth contact each other in a forceful fashion, this can be silent or cause a loud sound especially when sleeping.

Why Does it Occur?
Many medical and dental professionals may not always know the exact cause, but bruxism can occur due to psychological stress that people may be dealing with during the week. Stress can be categorized in two ways — by internal and external factors.

Internal factors could be the foods you consume, your level of fitness, your emotional stability, overall health and well-being, and the amount of sleep you get each evening. External factors of psychological stress include the environment you are in each day, interaction with others, when you are at home and how you deal with challenges on a daily basis.

Bruxism’s Impact on the Mouth
There are several elements that can occur in the mouth when people are experiencing bruxism:

  • Wearing away the tooth enamel and possibly the dentin
  • Cracking or chipping teeth, bridgework or implants
  • Tooth sensitivity can occur
  • Teeth can become painful or loose
  • Facial pain due to clenching of jaw muscles
  • Headaches
  • Overall facial fatigue
  • Pain in the temporomandibular joint (jaw bone on either side of the mouth)

Treating the Problem
Most individuals suffering from bruxism should see their dental professional/specialist to determine why they are experiencing this problem. Your dental professional may recommend that you wear a mouth guard or a night guard to cushion the clenching or tooth grinding during sleeping. Additionally, your dental professional may suggest ways to reduce stress so you can decrease the level of bruxism. You should consider avoiding foods such as chocolate and drinks that contain caffeine and alcohol. Avoid chewing forcefully and your dentist or oral maxillofacial surgeon may suggest conducting exercises to relax your jaw muscles during the day. If your bruxism is more severe, an occlusal splint may be recommended as well as medication prescribed to help relax you or make you sleep more soundly. Your dental professional will be able to work with you to find the cause and the solution to alleviate this problem.

Call Alivio Dental to schedule an appointment today! Proudly serving patients from Downers Grove, IL, Lisle, IL, Darien, IL, Lombard, IL, Clarendon Hills, IL, Bollingbrook, IL, Woodridge, IL, Westmont, IL, La Grange, IL and Wheaton, IL communities now.

Credits: Colgate-Palmolive Company

Teeth Alignment with Braces…

Downers Grove Dentist Braces

Downers Grove Dentist Braces

Bringing Teeth into Alignment with Orthodontic Treatment

The American Association of Orthodontists reports that in the United States 4.5 million people are wearing braces or other dental appliances to straighten teeth and provide a healthy, beautiful smile.1. As many of us know, an orthodontist is a dentist with additional clinical training to treat malocclusions (improper bites), which may result from tooth irregularity and jaw issues.

Why Do Teeth Become Crooked?

Terry Pracht, DDS, past president of the American Association of Orthodontics says that both heredity and environmental factors can create crooked teeth and bite problems. Dr. Pracht mentions that hereditary factors include crowded teeth, teeth where there is too much space and malocclusions. He also mentions that crooked teeth can be caused by thumb sucking and tongue thrusting as well as accidents occurring to the jaw.1

What are Treatment Options to Straighten Teeth or Malocclusions?

There are three stages of orthodontic treatment. The first is when appliances are used to gain space in the mouth. For example, palatal expanders are used to expand the width of the palate and lingual bars are used to expand the lower jaw. The active corrective stage is next when the braces are placed on the teeth. The teeth are then adjusted and then straightened and malocclusions are corrected over a period of time based upon the severity of the irregularity of the teeth and jaw issues. The third stage is the retention stage after braces are removed and when the teeth are monitored through the use of a retainer (removable or fixed) and semi-annual orthodontic visits are conducted to maintain the straightened smile.

Types of Braces

Braces from over 30 or so years ago included large metal bands that were enclosed and cemented around each tooth. Braces can be attached to the cheek side of the teeth as well as the tongue side of the teeth depending on what your orthodontist recommends to you for treatment. Braces, arch wires and bands can be colorful and a lot of fun for children, adolescents and teenagers to choose from.

Today, tiny brackets are placed onto the front surface of the tooth and are made of metal or ceramic. The brackets are bonded to the front tooth surface with a glue-like material and metal bands can be used on the back teeth. Arch wires are placed inside the brackets and are made of a heat-activated nickel-titanium source that can become warm due to the temperature in the mouth, which will allow it to apply constant pressure on the teeth as well as when the arch wires are adjusted at the orthodontist’s office.

Another newer alternative to braces is the Invisalign® system which uses a series of clear removable aligners that are worn during the day and night to help in moving teeth into the correct alignment. When eating or brushing and flossing, the aligners may be removed.

Caring for Braces

Your orthodontist, dentist or dental hygienist will provide you with thorough instruction of how to properly clean your braces. There are many toothbrushes you can use both manual (specifically designed for orthodontic patients), power, electric or sonic. Ask your dental professional which is be best for you. Brushing should be conducted at least 2-3 times per day at a 45 degree angle in a back and forth motion. Be sure to remove plaque at the gum line to prevent gingivitis (inflammation of the gum tissue). Be sure to angle the toothbrush at the gum line and then gently brush around the brackets to remove plaque and food debris.

It is very important to clean in between your teeth with a floss threader and floss, a stimudent (tooth pick cleaner) or a proxabrush (interproximal cleaning brush) may be used if there is space between the teeth. Oral irrigators may be recommended to remove food debris and irrigate the gum tissue to remove disease and odor-causing bacteria that may be there if you have gingivitis. An antibacterial toothpaste and over-the-counter antimicrobial mouth rinses could also be used with the oral irrigator or alone.

How to Maintain a Smile After the Braces are Off

After your orthodontist has determined that your braces can be removed, it is very important that a retainer (a plastic appliance) be worn during the day or night as recommended by them. The retainer can be cleaned with warm water or toothpaste and a toothbrush after you wear it and placed in a plastic container when not in use.

See your dental professional for a twice a year professional cleaning and the orthodontist for regular maintenance appointments.

Call Alivio Dental to schedule an appointment today! Proudly serving patients from Downers Grove, IL, Lisle, IL, Darien, IL, Lombard, IL, Clarendon Hills, IL, Bollingbrook, IL, Woodridge, IL, Westmont, IL, La Grange, IL and Wheaton, IL communities now.

Credits: Colgate-Palmolive Company