Many people know that good dental habits include brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. However many more people tend to forget their tongue.  Using germ killing mouthwash helps you want to include brushing your tongue with either your toothbrush or a tongue scraper.  Bacteria that settle on you tongue can cause halitosis otherwise know as bad breath.

According to Japanese researchers, older adults with more gum inflammation are at risk for kidney problems. The study was done on 317 people who where all 75 years old.  At the start of the study each person had an oral exam. The researchers calculated how much of each person’s gum tissue was inflamed. The people were followed for 2 years. During that time, 45 of them developed kidney problems. Those with the most inflammation were more than twice as likely to develop kidney problems as the rest of the people in the study.

Other studies have suggested a link between periodontal disease and kidney disease. A 2010 study focused on people with both conditions. It found that by having periodontal treatment also improved kidney disease symptoms  This study appears in the October 14th issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

Unfortunately having bad oral habits can lead to poor oral hygiene which can cause bad breath, tooth discoloration and red, swollen gums, dental decay, gum disease and ultimately tooth loss.  Having poor dental care habits can also start to effect your chewing and speech due to tooth loss, you self esteem due to bad breath, stained teeth, gaps etc. Large amounts of research shows that poor oral health can also effect your overall health care.

In addition having bad dental care habits can also have a large effect on your finances. Delaying needed dental treatment by not seeing a dentist regularly can lead to having to need larger dental care services in the future, which will effect not only your dental health but your wallet.

We talk a lot about the benefits of having good oral habits and how to go about maintaining proper dental health care habits.  One may not think much about missing a day or two of flossing or going a day here or there with out brushing yet doing so can have a bad effect on your dental health. It does not stop there did you know that eating too many sweets or using your teeth as tools such as opening a bag of chips also can have a negative effect on your teeth.

One way to help or avoid dry mouth is to drink plenty of water throughout your day. By being dehydrated, can be enough to dry out the mucous membranes in your mouth, decreasing your saliva. If you tend to develop dry mouth with physical activity, it is important to carry a water bottle with you at all times to combat dry mouth and nose.

People that ware dentures needs to make sure they maintain there oral health care habits, in addition to adjust, and aline their dentures whenever needed. Denture induced stomatitis is caused by ill fitting dentures, poor dental hygiene, or a buildup of the fungus Candida albicans cause this condition, which is inflammation of the tissue underlying a denture.

Wine may get better with age but did you know it also ages your teeth? With high acidic content wine start to wear down on your teeth’s enamel almost immediately. Wine also stains teeth and can cause dry mouth.

Two more small studies have strengthens the evidence that links periodontal disease with other health conditions. One Study focused on atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).  The researchers took samples of diseased arteries from 53 people.

They also took samples of healthy arteries from 21 other people. They tested the arteries for bacteria that cause periodontal disease. The study found that 53% of the diseased arteries had periodontal bacteria in them and only 24% of the healthy ones did. The other study focused on people with type 2 diabetes which included 60 people. Twenty had periodontal disease and diabetes. Another 20 had periodontal disease, but not diabetes. The last 20 had diabetes, but not periodontal disease.

People with diabetes and periodontal disease had higher blood sugar levels and poorer blood-sugar control than people who had diabetes only. The  people with both conditions also had more of a protein called C-reactive protein. Higher levels reflect more inflammation in the body. This group also had the lowest levels of HDL. The study is in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

Gum disease is can be caused by plaque build up, use of tobacco products, poor fitting bridges partials and dentures, poor diet and certain diseases such as anemia, cancer, and diabetes. However by having good oral hygiene habits and by seeing a dentist regularly you can help to lower the risk of gum disease.

Although it can be hard to avoid flour-based, white starchy foods, for good dental health try limiting your refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates are correlated with increased inflammation, which in turn causes complications like gingivitis.

When humidity levels are low, dry air can shrink mucous membranes and leave you parched. It is vital to keep your mouth and nose moist so that you are not prone to colds, flues, and allergies. So wisely invest in a humidifier and drink water throughout the day

In a prior post we talked about how seniors have a greater risk for root caries.  Although root caries is the major cause of tooth loss in older adults prevention is still the best solution.  If your gums have started to recede you should make sure to take measures to prevent root decay.

Some ways of doing this is to avoid sweets since sugar will promote dental plaque causing bacteria found on your roots.  Dry mouth is also a factor that can increase your chances of getting root decay. Make sure to treat dry mouth if you have it. By drinking lots of water, sucking on sugar free candy or chewing on sugar free gum are some ways to help relive dry mouth.

Make sure to maintain regular dental visits, by doing it will allow your dentist to check for tooth rood decay.  Other preventive measures that a dentist can do is gum disease treatment, dental cleaning, and if necessary gum grafts.  Also remember that preventive care starts at home by having proper dental and oral health care habits.  Brushing  you teeth twice a day, flossing daily and using a mouthwash that fights against plaque.

Although one of America’s favorite morning and afternoon beverages may be coffee and tea, they have compounds called tannins, which can cause unsightly stains and discoloring of your teeth. Therefore to avoid staining your teeth try and limited the amount of coffee and tea drinking throughout the day.

If you are going to be drinking coffee and tea do so with a straw to limited contact with your teeth. Avoid slowly drinking these types of drinks, it can be fun to hang out at the local coffee house and babying the one cup of coffee during your hour or more stay but it is not so fun for your teeth.

A recent study suggest that no enough dentist are using dental sealants to help protect back teeth.  Temple University’s dental school researchers who did the study, surveyed 595 general dentists and 176 pediatric dentists. The dentist were asked about whether they would use sealants on teeth with different signs of early decay. They also were asked how they felt about using sealants in different groups of people. In 2008 the ADA endorsed the use of sealants n teeth with the earliest stages of decay.

In these stages, a molar or premolar is discolored on its chewing surface, but there is no cavity in the tooth yet. Research has shown that sealing teeth like this can prevent cavities. However the new survey found that many dentist do not either know about the ADA panel’s advise or the dentist that do know do not agree with it.  It also show that Pediatric dentist were more likely to follow the recommendations then general dentist. This study appears in the September issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.

Root caries (decay) is caused by exposure of the tooth root to decay-causing acids. This happens when the tooth roots becomes exposed as gum tissue recedes from the tooth.  Root decay is one of the more significant dental issue facing older adults.  Some of the reasons for this is due to dentures, lack of dexterity, a shift from complex to simple sugars, and poor oral hygiene.  Root caries is the major cause of tooth loss in older adults, and tooth loss is the most significant oral health-related negative variable of quality of life for the elderly

For good dental care try not to drink to much fruit juices. Even though some fruit juices have some good benefits they typically contain plenty of processed sugar, high fructose corn syrup and other adverse ingredients. Instead of drinking these types of fruit juices drink eating more whole fruit instead. Whole fruit is much more filling and has the essential nutrients, vitamins and fiber you may be looking for.

Diminished sends of tastes can be an issue for some seniors. While advancing age may impair the sense of taste other reasons can include diseases, medications, and dentures.

A poor diet along with bad dental hygiene habits can lead to cavities and decay along he gum line.  This gradual dental decay will result in reduced saliva production beneath the tongue, and eventually chronic and uncomfortable dry mouth, which will exacerbate tooth and gum rot even further.  Make sure to visit your dentist regularly and maintain good dental habits in order to maintain good dental health and avoid dry mouth issues.

One good way to assure that your child has a good experience at their dental appointment is by talking to him or her about what to expect. Children are sometimes frightened by new places, sounds, or people. You may want to bring your child with you on one of your dentist check ups so it can help dispel anxiety and get them accustomed them to the atmosphere of a dental office.

In a prior post we talk about how dry mouth often times can effect seniors. However dry mouth can be treated. Your doctor can prescribe artificial saliva, which will help keep your mouth less dry.  You can go over your medication and see if they can be switched to ones that will not cause dry mouth.  There are also some home remedies that may help reduce dry mouth such as the use of a humidifier, chewing sugar free gum, drinking more water, and munching on such waterlogged snacks as celery sticks which helps stimulate the saliva glands and adds moisture to your mouth