Category Archives: Oral Care

Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis disease is a multisystemic disease, affecting all the body systems

Sarcoidosis disease is a multisystemic disease, affecting all the body systems

Overview of sarcoidosis disease

Sarcoidosis is a multi-system (affects all systems of the body) granulomatous disease . A granuloma is a localized nodular inflammation of our immune cells which fuse together to form larger cells and finally form large nodules in our body.

This disease usually affects the lungs , but it can affect any other organs. Skin lesions are also common.

Currently there is no known cause for the sarcoidosis disease. It affects young adults and equally occurs in both male and female. Continue reading →

Apical Periodontitis: Symptoms and Treatment

Periodontitis © Enom

Periodontitis © Enom

Periradicular, periapical or apical periodontitis can be defined as inflammation of all the supporting structures of the teeth in the area surrounding the apex of the tooth.  Periapical inflammation is usually due to tooth infection which characteristically causes pain of tooth in its socket. It is often accompanied by destruction of bone and occasionally, the root apex of tooth. However the periapical tissue has the ability to heal if the cause of inflammation is removed. Periapical periodontitis can be divided into acute and chronic apical periodontitis. Continue reading →

Chronic Adult Periodontitis: Treatment and Prevention

Continued from the previous part

Periodontitis © Rolf Attstrom et al

Periodontitis © Rolf Attstrom et al

Management of chronic periodontitis

Treating periodontitis can be by the means of:

1) Control of bacterial plaque – The home remedy for periodontitis is a good oral hygiene regimen. Effective plaque removal is important for the success of controlling periodontitis. Extra care in tooth brushing and the use of interdental cleaning aids for example floss and small brushes to clean in between the teeth are required to resolve gingivitis. Your dentist may advise you to use 0.12% chlorhexidine mouth rinses for chemical plaque control. You can also make your own mouthwash using salt, baking soda or essential oils to reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. Local factors that disrupt proper plaque control should be removed, altered or controlled. Continue reading →

Chronic Adult Periodontitis: Cause and Symptoms

Advanced Periodontitis © PIC

Advanced Periodontitis © PIC

Periodontitis means inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth or also known as the periodontium. Periodontal disease can generally be divided into chronic, aggressive and necrotizing periodontal disease.

Chronic periodontitis can appear at any age but is most prevalent in adults. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the supporting structures of the teeth and loss of gum attachment due to destruction of the periodontal tissues. Prevalence and severity of the disease increase with age. The levels of chronic periodontitis can be classified as: Continue reading →

Top tips to care for adult orthodontic braces

A female mouth with braces.

Adult orthodontic braces care

There is a common conception of adult orthodontic braces being used to straighten teeth but many of us do not actually understand the amount of care required in maintaining them. Adult orthodontic braces care is important as it is also a crucial part of treatment, as much as teeth straightening. Its importance is commonly undermined as orthodontic braces are usually associated with the orthodontist taking a more active determinant role in treatment, rather than the patient. But this is not true as adult orthodontic braces care is as, if not more important due to its responsibility being solely dependent on the patient. This will and can significantly alter or influence the outcome of orthodontic treatment. Continue reading →

HPV Oral Cancer

HPV Oral Cancer Overview

Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV)  is a virus that has been link to many types of disease. Over eighty different types of HPV have been identified. Different types of the Human Papilloma Virus are known to infect different parts of the body.For example, venereal warts affecting the genitals and and cervical cancer affecting the cervix. The virus generally produces warts on the affected areas.

Currently there is a high prevalence rate of Human Pappiloma Virus 16 and 18  found in lesions of oral cancer patients. Therefore, it can be said that this virus is directly or concurrently linked to oral cancer.The reason for this occurrence is due to frequent oro-genital (mouth to genitals)  sexual orientations. However, many other factors also contribute to the cause of oral cavity cancer. Continue reading →

Wisdom Tooth Pain (Pericoronitis)

Pericoronitis © Tooth Club

Pericoronitis © Tooth Club

Ever experienced pain in the wisdom teeth area? Wisdom tooth pain or specifically known as pericoronitis, is the inflammation of the flaps of gum tissue covering a partially erupted tooth (operculum) associated particularly with the third molars (wisdom teeth).  Wisdom tooth pericoronitis may be acute (rapid onset) or chronic (of long duration) in nature. Continue reading →

Know Your Children Teeth As They Grow

Teeth eruption @ tischlerdental.com

Teeth eruption @ tischlerdental.com

We have two sets of teeth. Initially, we have 20 baby teeth. Baby teeth are also known as primary teeth. These baby teeth will exfoliate and be replaced by 32 permanent teeth. There is no replacement if we lost our permanent teeth. Some people may have more or less teeth compared to the norm. This occurrence is usually genetically inherited.

Tooth eruption refers to emergence of tooth from its developmental position in the jaw to its functional position in the oral cavity. A tooth erupts when its root starts to grow. As its root becomes longer, the force pushes the tooth out of the gums. Continue reading →

Teeth Grinding

Worn of tooth due to teeth grinding

Worn of tooth due to teeth grinding

Overview

Are you grinding teeth in your sleep?

Teeth grinding is clinically referred by dentist as bruxism. Patients are frequently unaware of this habit because they are grinding teeth in sleep.This condition is usually referred to by dentist as sleep bruxism. Sleep bruxism is a medical and dental problem as it affects both the teeth and the structures of the face and neck. Most people will not realize that they have this habit until obvious signs and symptoms occur. Continue reading →

How to Prevent Salivary Gland Cancer

The major salivary glands © Reed Group

The major salivary glands © Reed Group

Salivary glands are glands found in the mouth that makes saliva. The glands can be classified into two groups – major and minor salivary glands. Major salivary glands consist of three paired glands – the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands while the minor ones are countless small glands located throughout the mouth. Saliva is essential for the normal functioning and health of the mouth.  Disorder of salivary glands function can lead to oral disease, for example tooth decay and gum disease.

The most common cause of a salivary gland lump is mumps, which usually affects children and typically causes painful swellings on both sides of the face. However there are many other causes of swelling in the salivary glands, for example salivary gland infection, salivary gland cancer, systemic diseases and drugs. Continue reading →