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The mouth is home to about 700 species of bacteria, including those that can cause periodontal (gum) disease. A recent analysis led by NIA scientists suggests that bacteria that cause gum disease are also associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, especially vascular dementia. Bacteria and the inflammatory molecules they make can travel from infections in the mouth through the bloodstream to the brain. The results were reported in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2020.

Therefore, maintaining good habits throughout the life cycle may prevent the onset of cognitive decline observed in aging adults.

Next month we will cover how to help improve oral health in individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Our non-profit dental clinic, Healthy Smiles Forever, is here at the facility. If you need any dental care, information, or dental supplies we are happy to help.  Please call us at 931-0484 or let the court nurse or front desk know to contact us to make an appointment.

Every Fourth of July, we Americans celebrate the day we declared ourselves an independent nation. This Independence Day, why not add another pledge: freedom from dental disease.

Tooth decay or gum disease have the same worst case scenario: tooth loss, something that could impact your overall health and nutrition and your appearance. But neither of these harmful conditions has to happen—you and your family can be free of dental disease by consistently following these guidelines:

Brush daily. The root cause for all dental disease is a thin film of bacteria and food particles on tooth surfaces A daily oral hygiene routine is the single best thing you can do to avoid dental disease.

Eat a tooth-friendly diet. The foods you eat can affect your dental health, for good and for ill. Diets heavy in refined sugar and other processed foods are a veritable feast for harmful oral bacteria. 

See your dentist regularly. Dental visits further enhance your chances of healthy teeth and gums. Healthy Smiles Forever here at the facility can help detect dental disease in its earliest stages, which can minimize long-term damage. If you need any dental care, information or dental supplies we are happy to help.  Please call us at 931-0484 or let the court nurse or front desk know to contact us to make appointment.

 Time to Water the Garden?

Time to Rinse your Teeth?

Using a mouth rinse does not take the place of optimal brushing and cleaning between the teeth.  Mouth rinses may offer additional benefits for the following conditions:

Reducing bad breath:

Mouthwash only gets rid of bad breath temporarily, usually stops working in under an hour! It can help to remove food particles between the teeth.

Helping to reduce cavities:

Fluoride mouthwash contains sodium fluoride which may help prevent cavities.  Rinses with xylitol can help reduce bacteria accumulation on the teeth to prevent decay.

Helping to reduce gum disease:

Chlorhexidine mouth rinses are used to treat gingivitis by destroying the oral bacteria. It helps to reduce the inflammation (redness) and swelling of your gums and to reduce gum bleeding. These mouth rinses can only be prescribed by a dentist and should be used for a limited time. OTC rinses only reduce bacteria and should not be used in place of cleaning your teeth to treat gingivitis.

Relief of dry mouth:

 There are many rinses made to help relieve dry mouth. If you suffer from dry mouth, use an alcohol-free mouthwash. Alcohol is a drying agent, and if your mouth is dry mouthwashes that contain alcohol can actually make dry mouth much worse.

Relief of pain from oral sores: 

Saltwater rinses can speed healing.  OTC rinses are formulated to soothe tissues and promote healing and may be helpful to use until the lesion is resolved.