Nov 23, 2020
Did you know that saliva is the mouth’s primary defense against tooth decay? We speak the truth…saliva is a really big deal! Saliva helps wash away food, fortify your teeth with minerals, and neutralize acids produced by bacteria in the mouth. It is crucial to your oral health, which is why if you experience dry mouth, Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos want to know. Dry mouth, also known xerostomia, can be a symptom of another medical issue or a side effect of certain medications. It can be a particular issue for patients over 60. So, what causes dry mouth? And what are the complications that can result from it? Let’s take a closer look:
Causes of Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is not a disease, but can be a symptom of other medical conditions. One example is Sjogren’s Syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own moisture producing glands. Other conditions that can cause dry mouth include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and cystic fibrosis. Hormonal changes in the body like women experience during pregnancy and menopause can also impact saliva production. Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos are part of your health care team, and if you have a medical condition that impacts your saliva or mouth, it is helpful to keep us in the loop. Share your medical history with us so we can help you be proactive about your symptoms and your oral health.
Along with your medical history, it is also important to share what medications you take with Dr. Bruncini and Dr. Karagiorgos. Certain medications can have dry mouth as a side effect. These medications can range from chemotherapy to antidepressants to over-the-counter antihistamines. Dry mouth is one of the most common adverse side effects and fortunately there are options to help restore moisture to your mouth. Sharing your medication list with us helps us know all the factors contributing to your oral health so we can help design a treatment plan that is right for you.
Complications of Dry Mouth
It can be uncomfortable to experience dry mouth and problematic to your dental health. You may experience complications such as a sore throat, trouble speaking, difficulty chewing and swallowing, or notice that your saliva feels sticky and that you have bad breath. Mouth sores and yeast infections are other complications that may arise. If you wear dentures, you may experience issues with their fit and comfort without proper saliva production. Your mouth will also be exposed to more bacteria which puts you at a higher risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
Don’t worry, if you’re experiencing some of the discomfort associated with dry mouth, we can help! Talk to Dr. Brunacini, Dr. Karagiorgos, or your hygienist. We will have tips and recommendations to help you find relief while you care for your teeth and mouth. For example, we can help you find a sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva and restore moisture, or steer you towards oral rinses that will replace moisture. As always, remember to keep brushing twice a day and flossing once a day! If you have more questions or concerns about your oral health or would like to schedule an appointment or consultation, give us a call at 207.781.5900.
**Image courtesy of www.thedoctorweighsin.com
Aug 14, 2018
What do you think when you hear the word saliva? Cute baby drool-bubbles? Gross spit on the sidewalk? An amazing bacteria-fighting superhero in your mouth? Get ready to get excited about saliva, one of the most important fluids in oral health! It plays a significant role in maintaining not just your teeth and gums, but also your overall health. Here are five fun facts about your mouth’s little helper that will make your mouth water:
1. You produce a lot of saliva each day. According to one study, people can, on average, produce up to almost 3 cups of saliva daily!
2. Saliva is critical to maintaining your oral health:
- It helps protect the gums and teeth by diluting and eliminating sugars.
- It is an anti-microbial and stops the growth of bacteria.
- It helps balance the mineral content and pH of your mouth.
- It contains proteins, which help your mouth heal from minor injuries and prevents cavities.
3. Saliva aids in digestion. Since saliva is mostly water, it helps dissolve food molecules and makes it easier to swallow.
4. You need saliva to taste your food! Your taste buds have cells called chemoreceptors that require a liquid for the flavor molecules to bind to the receptor molecules. Saliva also contains enzymes that affect how you experience sweet and starchy foods. Do a test at home! Dry off your tongue with a paper towel and place some salt on it. Next, rinse your mouth with water and taste the salt again. You will notice a difference!
5. Saliva can be used to test for and diagnose disease! According to the ADA, salivary diagnostics is currently one of dentistry’s most promising areas of research. Saliva contains various proteins as well as RNA molecules that contain the biomarkers for certain diseases or conditions. Since saliva can be collected easily and non-invasively, this is an exciting development in the field of diagnostics. Currently, saliva can be used to help diagnose HIV, diabetes, and some oral cancers. More research needs to be done, but this also means that in the future dentists may be able to assist in their patient’s primary care and identify potential systemic diseases earlier so patients can get treatment sooner.
Who knew that saliva was so busy working your mouth! Keep your mouth happy and healthy by coming in for regular cleanings. Give us a call at 207.781.5900 if you need to schedule your next appointment!
*Image courtesy of https://diabeticfootonline.com/
May 23, 2017
As dentists, we spend lots of time educating our patients about the importance of taking care of their mouth, teeth, and gums. On the surface, we want to help you prevent bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease—all with the goal of helping you protect your teeth as you grow older. In addition to our work, researchers are discovering new reasons to brush, floss, and visit your dentist regularly. They are learning that having a healthy mouth can ward off more serious medical conditions at any stage in your life. An unhealthy mouth may increase your risk of health problems such as preterm labor, poorly controlled diabetes, and even heart attack and stroke.
Take it from Ashley, RDH, one of FDA’s own dental hygienists: “The mouth is a window to the rest of the body,” Ashley explains. “Oftentimes we see changes arise in the mouth before they are evident elsewhere in the body. Maintaining optimal oral health is crucial to overall health. Since the mouth is connected to the body we recognize that chronic inflammation or presence of disease isn’t just localized to the oral cavity, but has the potential to be linked to underlying conditions.”
Just as Ashley explains, your mouth can play a crucial role in learning more about your overall health. In fact, saliva is a great tool that can help detect a variety of substances such as certain cancer markers, cortisol levels, and can even be used to monitor bone loss in those prone to osteoporosis. Saliva is also a main defense against disease-causing organisms as it contains antibodies that can attack both viral pathogens and bacteria. However, saliva can’t always get the job done completely. Over 500 different species of bacteria thrive in your mouth at any given time and constantly form dental plaque. If you don’t brush and floss regularly, this plaque builds up along your gum line, opening the door for additional bacteria to accumulate in the space between your gums and teeth. This build-up leads to gingivitis, and can potentially lead to periodontitis.
Our gums are vascular and full of blood, so infections such as gingivitis and periodontitis can happen quickly. Once that gum layer is disrupted due to brushing, flossing, or an invasive dental treatment, bacteria can enter in the bloodstream, travel to any area of the body and potentially cause inflammation. Inflammation in the heart causes hardened arteries, or atherosclerosis, making it harder for blood to flow to the heart, increasing one’s chance of heart attack and stroke. Oral bacteria can also enter your bloodstream and stick to the lining of diseased heart valves, causing infective endocarditis.
Another important connection between oral health and overall health is that the bacteria connected to periodontal disease, streptococcus sanguis, plays a role in strokes. This bacteria can quickly spread to the heart through the gums, potentially causing a stroke. There is research to suggest that people with gum infections are at an increased risk of stroke and researchers mention that the more severe the infection, the greater the risk of stroke appears to be.
While the American Heart Association says there is no definitive, direct evidence that heart disease can be prevented by working to prevent gum disease, that doesn’t mean that it can’t help. That’s one reason why regular dental check-ups are important at any age.When was the last time you visited us? Schedule an appointment to get your gums checked out today!
Dec 13, 2012
‘Tis the season for holiday gatherings and close encounters with friends and family. Before you stand under the mistletoe this Christmas, we want you to think about how kissing affects your oral health. There’s a great article from WorlDental.org that explores this subject.
The article notes that while kissing has some benefits, including the act of cleaning out your saliva, it also helps transmit a small number of disease-causing bacteria. For example, colds and mononucleosis can be spread by kissing. So can cold sores and chickenpox. And did you know that periodontal disease can be transmitted through saliva?
Of course, practicing good oral hygiene will lessen these risks. And you don’t have to let these potential dangers ruin your kissing opportunities. The article suggests you try to:
- Avoid kissing when you or the other person is sick.
- Avoid kissing anyone on the lips when you, or they, have an active cold sore, warts or ulcers around the lips or in the mouth.
- Cough and sneeze into a hanky if you have a cold.
- See your doctor about immunizations. Vaccines are available to prevent some infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, hepatitis B and group C meningococcal infection.
Read the full article
