November is National Diabetes Month!

November 2nd, 2023

Keeping a healthy mouth is important to everyone.  Diabetes can make it harder to keep your mouth healthy.  This month, Dr. Mary Rose discusses how to avoid oral health issues while living with diabetes.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you are at a higher risk for both gingivitis (early stage gum disease) and periodontitis (advanced gum disease).  Both of these conditions start with plaque, a soft, sticky substance that accumulates on your teeth as you eat and is made up mostly of bacteria.  Diabetics not keeping their blood glucose levels in the target range will have more of an inflammatory response to the bacteria.  High blood sugar can weaken white blood cells.  These white blood cells is your body’s main way to fight infection.  Managing your diabetes helps your body prevent gum disease and other infections in your mouth.

A common oral condition with diabetes is dry mouth.  Aging and some medications can cause dry mouth but for diabetics there is a higher risk of developing dry mouth.  Whatever the cause, the lack of saliva from dry mouth means food debris, acid, bacteria and sugar do not get washed away as easily.

The good news is that diabetics can follow Dr. Mary Rose’s advise to help prevent gum disease!

Brush twice a day: Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste.  Dr. Mary Rose recommends a toothbrush with soft bristles.  Firm bristles tend to wear away the enamel on your teeth. 

Floss once a day: Flossing removes the plaque and food debris between your teeth and along the gum line.  If you are not a fan of flossing, Dr. Mary Rose suggests an interdental device.  The tiny brush is designed to reach areas a regular toothbrush is unable to reach.

Visit your dentist regularly: Depending on the health of your gums, Dr. Mary Rose may recommend hygiene appointments every 3, 4 or 6 months.

Dr. Mary Rose is aware of the needs of diabetics.  When you come to your dental appointment, please communicate any issues you may be having keeping your diabetes under control.  Dr. Mary Rose suggests eating normally and taking your medications on your usual schedule prior to your dental appointments.   Lastly, if you have any concerns regarding your oral health, Dr. Mary Rose would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Can Food and Drink Choices Affect Your Oral Health?

October 4th, 2023

Can Food and Drink Choices Affect Your Oral Health?

Various foods and drinks can affect the risk of developing cavities, dry mouth and dental erosion.  This month, Dr. Mary Rose discusses ways to build a healthy diet.

CAVITIES, also called tooth decay, are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your tooth. Anyone who has teeth can get cavities, including infants.  Plaque is a sticky substance made from food particles and saliva. If you do not brush properly after meals, the bacterium in the plaque uses the sugar from the foods you eat and produces acids that can cause cavities.  Sugar is added to many of our everyday favorite foods and drinks but also products we may not even be aware of such as chewable vitamins, frozen meals, and condiments like ketchup.  Infants sipping or sucking on fruit juice or formula for long periods of time will increase their risk for cavities as well.  Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables are always a good choice to add to your diet.  Dr. Mary Rose suggests starting to read the food labels on your favorite foods to see if sugar has been added.  Limiting those foods with added sugar and brushing after meals will improve your oral health.  Chewing gum with xylitol increases saliva which can reduce the acid in your mouth.

DRY MOUTH, or Xerostomia, is a condition where your salivary glands in your mouth do not make enough saliva to keep your mouth wet.  Certain medications, radiotherapy to the head and neck, and breathing through your mouth while you sleep are some of the causes of dry mouth.  Saliva helps neutralize acids and wash away food particles.  Dry Mouth limits your ability to taste and makes it difficult to chew and swallow.  If you suffer from dry mouth, Dr. Mary Rose suggests limiting alcohol, snacks like chips, acidic foods or beverages, and caffeinated drinks.  Adding crunchy vegetables and fruits like carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, apples, and pears will help with saliva production.  Sugar free candy or gum containing xylitol will help increase saliva as well.

Dental Erosion, occurs when acids dissolve away part of the enamel surface of your teeth.  Acidic food and drinks, certain medications, acid reflux or excessive vomiting can increase the risk of dental erosion.  Dental erosion can occur at any age.  Dr. Mary Rose suggests drinking water especially after eating acidic foods.  Dr. Mary Rose also recommends adding foods like milk and yogurt which may reduce the acid in your mouth.

If you have any questions regarding your food and drink choices, Dr. Mary Rose would be happy to discuss your diet during your dental visit.

Got Fluoride? This month Dr. Mary Rose discusses what benefits fluoride has on your oral health.

September 5th, 2023

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water.  Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making your enamel more resistant to acid attacks.  Every day, your enamel (the protective outer covering of your tooth) gains and loses minerals.  You lose minerals (demineralization) when acids that are formed from bacteria, sugars, and plaque attack your mouth. You gain minerals (remineralization) when you consume food and water that contain fluoride, phosphate, and calcium.   Tooth decay is a result of too much demineralization without enough remineralization.

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces your risk of cavities by approximately 25%.  Fluoride bonds to areas of decay and attracts other minerals, like calcium, to the area.  Fluoride stimulates the production of fluorapatite, a type of tooth enamel that is highly resistant to acids and bacteria.  Fluoride cannot reverse cavities, but it can slow the rate at which they develop.

While fluoride can be harmful in large quantities, it is difficult to reach toxic levels due to the low amount of fluoride in over-the-counter products like toothpastes and mouth rinses.  For young children, Dr. Mary Rose recommends using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste at each brushing.  Children need to spit out rather than swallowing the toothpaste.  Dr. Mary Rose also suggests not giving fluoride-containing dietary supplements to children under 6 months of age. 

Adults can benefit from fluoride especially if you have dry mouth, gum disease, history of tooth decay, or you have crowns, bridges, braces, or removable partial dentures.

What is Burning Mouth Syndrome?

August 1st, 2023

Have you ever experienced a burning discomfort in your mouth?  This month Dr. Mary Rose discusses the causes and treatment for this uncomfortable condition.

Burning Mouth Syndrome is the medical term for ongoing or recurring burning in the mouth without an obvious cause.  Acid reflux, emotional stress, anxiety and depression, hormonal deficiencies in post-menopausal women and neurological abnormalities have been identified as possible contributors of burning mouth syndrome.  Other factors include medications, Type 2 Diabetes, allergies or reactions to foods, food flavorings, and other food additives, and vitamin deficiencies.

Symptoms of Burning Mouth Syndrome include a dry mouth with an increased thirst, loss of taste, or a bitter or metallic taste, burning sensation on lips, tongue, or surface of the mouth between the gums and lips.  It can appear suddenly and can be severe, as if the mouth was scalded.

Dr. Mary Rose Twohig recommends making an appointment if you are suffering from any form of oral burning for a proper diagnosis.  Treatment for Burning Mouth Syndrome begins with avoiding spicy foods, alcohol, and tobacco.  Alcohol-free dental products with minimal additives and flavoring are recommended.  Other therapies to decrease the pain include stress management, yoga, and moderate exercise.  Dr. Mary Rose Twohig recommends making an appointment if you are suffering from any form of oral burning for a proper diagnosis.

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