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How Antioxidants Can Help Oral and Overall Health

Oxidative stress is a known contributing factor in the development of chronic inflammatory diseases, including periodontitis, or gum disease. Clearwater Periodontist Dr. Todd Britten explains that adding antioxidants to your diet or the use of natural topical antioxidants as part of an at-home care regimen can help improve oral health by preventing or helping repair oxidative damage.

Antioxidant products used in the oral cavity can promote homeostasis, enhance wound healing, and alter microbial flora during medical treatments such as chemotherapy and dental procedures, or by dental materials. Dr. Britten has found that antioxidant products can also have a healthy antimicrobial (germ-killing) effect. They can also be used to help heal ulcers and other types of tissue trauma or injury.

A product that Dr. Todd Britten recommends regularly in his periodontal practice is PerioSciences AO Provantage Gel [www.periosciences.com]. “It is a gel that can be used up to 5 times a day for many conditions. PerioSciences also makes a toothpaste and a rinse which can be used in addition to the gel to improve periodontal health.” Dr. Britten goes on to explain that the essential oils in the mouthwash (menthol and thymol) have an anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis effect without damaging tissue cells and antioxidants (phloretin and ferulic acid) have beneficial effects on the cells and tissues found in the mouth.
“Your dental professional can recommend specific regimens for each type of surgery or any acute conditions requiring antioxidant products. A maintenance program after that is often recommended.”

Dr. Britten also goes on to explain that anti-inflammatory foods incorporated into the diet are also beneficial for oral and overall health. According to the American Heart Association, some foods high in antioxidants or have a high degree of anti-inflammatory effect would be fatty fishes, dark leafy greens, tea, whole grains, nuts, ginger and even dark chocolate.

“Since we know that periodontal disease is connected to variety of other diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, treating inflammation by using antioxidants both in our diet and/or topically may not only help manage periodontal diseases but may also help with the management of other chronic inflammatory conditions.”

Antioxidants for Oral and Overall Health

Adding antioxidants to your diet has been shown to fight inflammation naturally and help protect from disease. Chronic inflammatory diseases are becoming more severe and common and currently contribute to more than half of the deaths worldwide. Inflammation is associated with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and heart disease, lung and airway diseases like asthma, metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, mental illnesses like depression, and some forms of cancer such as colon cancer.

Both for oral health and overall health, it is helpful to regularly take antioxidants and/or natural anti-inflammatory items into your diet to help reduce inflammation systemically.

 Anti-inflammatory foods

Not every food (or antioxidant) works for every person but encouraging your patients to include them in their diet could provide them with an extra line of defense.

According to the American Heart Association, the following foods are high in antioxidants or have a high degree of anti-inflammatory effect.

  • Fatty fishes high in omega-3 fatty acids are well known for reducing inflammation. They include fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel. Some of these can be high in mercury, so eating them more than three times per week is generally not recommended.
  • Dark leafy greens. Generally, the darker or more colorful the vegetable, the higher the antioxidative effect. Remember, patients on certain anticoagulants and those with a specific type of kidney stone disease need to limit their intake of some dark leafy greens.
  • Tea is well known for containing many types of antioxidants. Green tea has been shown to have a higher level of antioxidants, but they are present in black and white teas also.
  • Whole grains. One current diet fad is to go “gluten-free.” Unless you have celiac disease or a medically confirmed gluten intolerance whole grains are an important source of protein and fiber in addition to their anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Examples of healthy whole grains include whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, barley, brown rice, and popcorn (with minimal salt and butter).
  • Nuts are full of antioxidants and reduce inflammation. In addition, they are high in fiber which makes you feel full.
  • Ginger. In addition to its anti-inflammatory effect, ginger helps to settle an upset stomach, reduce the effects of motion sickness, and reduces muscle soreness.

Source: Dr. Robert Winter, Spear Digest

Do You know Your Numbers?

When you have periodontal disease, space begins to form between your teeth and the gum tissue that surrounds them. This space is called a periodontal pocket. The deeper the pocket, the greater the risk of tooth loss.
 
Your dentist or dental hygienist will perform a full periodontal charting at your visit to check for pocketing, infection (bleeding or pus), gum recession, & bone loss or defects in the bone. #brittenperio #clearwaterperiodontist

Periodontal Disease May Be More Serious Than You Realize

A silent disease.

With periodontal disease, you may not feel any discomfort. You may not notice any symptoms. But treating periodontal disease quickly is of the utmost importance.
 
With proper diagnosis and professional instruction from a dentist, you can protect your pearly whites for years to come.
 
Do you think you’re suffering from periodontal disease? Or has it been years since your last checkup?
Then please schedule an appointment with your dentist or periodontist ASAP! #brittenperio #clearwaterperiodontist

How Periodontal Disease Can Progress

Bacteria in our mouths are constantly creating plaque. If bacterial plaque on the teeth isn’t removed, the gums can become infected and inflamed.
 
– Plaque builds up and gum tissue becomes infected. Redness, tenderness, swelling and bleeding may occur, but are not always present.
 
-Pockets deepen between teeth and gums. Gums pull away from the teeth while bacteria begin to damage supporting structures.
 
-Infection spreads around teeth. Bones, gums, and connective tissue can be permanently damaged, and teeth may need to be removed.
If you think that you may be suffering from early, moderate or severe periodontal disease, contact your dental professional ASAP!

What are the consequences of missing teeth?

There are actually several negative consequences of missing some or all of your teeth. First, missing teeth will affect the esthetics of your face. Not only will your smile be affected by the gaps from missing teeth, but if you’re missing too many teeth, the skin around your mouth won’t be supported properly and will start to sag, making your appear older than you are. Additionally, missing teeth will make it more difficult to chew your food properly and may even affect the way you speak. Finally, missing even one tooth may have emotional consequences; many people feel less confident about their smile when they are missing teeth. If you are currently missing any of your teeth, consider replacing them with dental implants, which can look and feel just like natural teeth. For more information about implants, browse perio.org or talk to your periodontist.

–Perio.org

Why Choose a Dental Implant Specialist

Dental Implants, explained:
While regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can’t keep up. If you’ve lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health.

An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium (the same material used in many replacement hips and knees), a metal that is well suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.

Implants often require planning through the use of CT scans performed in our office, or surgical implant guides, such as the one shown in this video.

When it comes to Dental Implants, Why Choose a Specialist?
We get this question a lot, especially since a lot of general dentists are starting to place more implants. Placing dental implants is often not part of the normal general dentist curriculum. Many general dentists received their training in implant dentistry after graduation where they attend weekend courses or classes and get to place around twenty implants before they begin to implement implant placement in their office.

A graduate periodontal program or residency includes three years of training beyond dental school. During that time periodontal residents are taught the history, science, healing, and proper placement and management of dental implants. An average periodontal resident will place upwards of 100 dental implants during their residency, and are trained to manage surgical complications, including, bleeding, infection, and bone grafting procedures to enhance the success of the procedure.  Because of their advanced training, periodontists are often more equipped to provide the success and deal with the complications that may arise when evaluating a patient for implant placement.

Dental implants may be the best choice for an individual whose gum disease has reached the point of infection that can not be treated, and periodontists are the most highly-trained specialist for treatment of gum disease.

Periodontists are also highly trained in the following procedures and skills:

  • Removing infection from the implant site – removing infection is one of the most important steps of a dental implant procedure. If an implant becomes infected, the patient may experience extreme levels of pain. Periodontists are able to adequately prepare and treat periodontal disease prior to the implant procedure.
  • Implant site monitoring – periodontists are also able to monitor the implant site following the procedure. They are able to recognize any signs of infection, if the implants are successful in integration, and any other issues that may arise with the implant itself.
  • As an implant specialist, Dr. Britten is highly trained and experienced in the most advanced and current technologies used for long-term implant health and success. He believes in using the best diagnostic tools as well as the highest quality implants in his practice. Dr. Britten works closely with the best restorative dentists in the Tampa Bay area to obtain the best possible outcome for his patients’ implants. For more information, contact us at 727-586-2681.

Q: My periodontist informed me that I need implants, but I can’t afford them at this time. Is there any financial assistance for periodontal treatments?

There are a few resources you can research for financial assistance. The first is your periodontist. Many periodontists are willing to set up financing options, such as a payment plan. They also may know of insurance plans that can help cover the cost of your implants.

Another resource is your state dental society. They may be able to give a listing of organizations or individuals that may help subsidize the cost of your implants. Find the contact information for your state society.

Finally, contact a local college or university. Many universities have dental schools that offer clinics that provide care at a reduced cost. Select from a list of schools that have periodontal programs.

–Perio.org

Netflix and… Floss?

We encourage our patients to find ways to incorporate taking care of your teeth into your day, however you can! Even while watching Netflix, if that is what works for you!

“Interdental cleansing (cleaning between the teeth) is necessary for … optimal oral health. Since most toothbrushes have limited access to proximal (in between) surfaces of teeth… interdental cleansing must be included in dental hygiene care plans. Interdental spaces are areas where bacteria can accumulate, multiply and remain undisturbed.
Undisturbed plaque biofilm can cause gingival inflammation and bleeding and increase the risk for and progression of periodontal disease.” Source: “Interdental Cleansing” by Jacquelyn L. Fried, RDH, MS
Actually, cleaning between your teeth with floss, proxabrushes, softpicks, rubber tip stimulators and watching Netflix at the same time is just fine with us. Dr. Britten and his hygiene team encourage patients to find ways to incorporate taking care of your teeth into your day, however you can!

Other than diagnose and treat gum disease, what else have periodontists been trained to do?

Most periodontists spend the majority of their time diagnosing and treating gum disease, but there are a variety other procedures that they are able to perform. Periodontists place dental implants when natural teeth cannot be saved. They also monitor the implants to make sure that they’re properly doing their job. Periodontists may also correct gum recession and cover up exposed root surfaces which can be unsightly as well as sensitive to hot and cold. These procedures are often used to lay the foundation for additional cosmetic procedures to help create a beautiful smile. Finally, periodontists can be integral in the comprehensive planning of your oral care, along with your general dentist or other dental professional.

-Perio.org

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