Fluoride – Good or Bad?

If only the answer was easy. Fluoride is a chemical that has been used in toothpastes, some rinses, applied by your dentist and is many times added to water. Studies show that fluoride does prevent dental decay – and that is a good thing. But we also know that fluoride is considered a toxic substance and since the late 1990’s, the FDA has required toothpaste to carry a warning stating that fact.

While ingesting fluoride is now in some circles considered questionable, the use of fluoride in toothpastes, and oral rinses is still seen as posing a reduced risk while providing a larger benefit.

You may find that when you visit your dentist, she will make the recommendation for additional in-office fluoride. This fluoride can be given to the patient in gel form, an oral rinse or in some instances as varnish. When you are given a fluoride treatment in the dental office, your care provider will be careful to make sure that all excess fluoride is removed from the teeth and mouth. All fluoride applied or given in the dental office is done so with recommendations for withholding food and drink for a period of time after application. This ensures that the fluoride adheres to the teeth and is minimally ingested.

“Fluoride along with brushing and flossing is the best way to keep your smile its brightest for a lifetime,” says Dr. Judith Ko, your Top Dentist in the Inland Empire.

Is Periodontal Disease Contagious?

Is periodontal disease contagious?

“Not really, but it is infectious,” says Dr. Judith Ko from her Hemet Valley Cosmetic and General dental practice. “Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth, and yes this bacteria can be spread person to person through kissing or the sharing of a toothbrush. While these are some ways in which you could be infected, there are other things that could cause the disease.”

Diabetics or those with other chronic systemic diseases have difficulty in general fighting infections and so they are more prone to periodontal disease.

People who use tobacco also have a greater chance of having the disease. Smoking inhibits the ability to fight the disease and increases inflammation.

Genetics can play a role, especially when we see the disease in younger adults.

“Another factor is oral hygiene or home care,” adds Dr. Ko, voted one of Hemet’s and the Inland Empire’s Top Dentists by her patients and peers. The bacteria establishes in the mouth and these colonies need to be disturbed frequently so as not to increase in numbers and do significant damage to the tissue and bones of the mouth. This can be done with regular brushing and flossing.

Finally, irregular or non-existent visits to your dentist could cause you to have the disease. No matter how well you brush and floss, being seen by a professional is important to controlling the oral bacteria.

Periodontal disease is thought to affect between 80-90% of the adult population. If you have not been evaluated for periodontal disease, set your mind at ease and call today for an appointment.

A Visit to Your Dentist is More Than Just A Cleaning

A routine visit to your dentist should never be for “just a cleaning.”

“When a patient is seen in our office for a routine visit we are checking for a wide variety of things,” says Dr. Judith Ko. Voted one of the Inland Empire’s and Hemet’s Top Dentists by her patients and peers, Dr. Ko wants to make sure each patient is healthy. “The mouth is the window to the body’s condition. So not only are we checking for periodontal disease, oral cancer, bite issues, mandibular joint problems and decaying teeth, we are also looking at a patient’s blood pressure, checking their medications to see if they may be contributing to dry mouth or xerostomia, and also looking for other conditions that may present first in the mouth.”

That’s why a visit to your dentist is so important to not just your oral health but to your body health.

“And yes, the visit may include a cleaning, but that is also not just a polish,” adds Dr. Ko. “During your hygiene procedure the hygienist is working to disturb bacteria that can cause periodontal disease.”

So in other words, your routine visit to the dentist is one of the most important appointments you can make. To schedule yours, call us today.