Prevent Periodontitis

Healthy gums are firm, pale, and pink in color. When comes become inflamed, they may appear red or purple in color, depending on the severity of the inflammation. If your oral care routine isn’t up to par, or if you aren’t brushing or flossing properly, these poor habits can lead to gingivitis. When gingivitis is left untreated, it will advance into a condition called periodontitis, which our doctors at Evans Dental Care will work hard to help you treat.

Periodontitis is caused by bacterial plaque that hasn’t been removed through proper brushing and flossing. When plaque builds up on the teeth and isn’t brushed away, it will turn into tartar which only a dental professional is able to remove. If periodontitis isn’t treated, the gums will recede and the tooth (or teeth) may become loose. Other problems that patients may experience are dental abscesses, exposure of tooth roots, and difficulty chewing. If you experience gum inflammation of any kind, schedule a dental appointment to get the situation under control.

If you have questions or concerns regarding preventive dental care or periodontal disease, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.evansdentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, VA, call 757-349-8877.

Preventing Dry Sockets

When a tooth extraction becomes necessary, we at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg do everything within our power to make it go as quickly and painlessly as possible. There is one major issue which we need the patient’s cooperation to prevent, and that’s a dry socket.

Teeth extractions are typically done by wiggling a tooth while pushing it upwards or pulling it, although incisions into the gum are sometimes necessary for complex cases. After the tooth is out, there will be an empty socket left behind with a bit of blood in it. The socket is vulnerable to infection, particularly if it dries out, but the blood will form a scab, sealing it off. We want to prevent the clot from being dislodged until the socket closes, which in simple cases, takes about a week.

Patients undergoing extractions are warned not to sip from a straw following the procedure, or else the suction may dislodge the clot. They should also avoid smoking, eating sticky foods, or brushing too hard near the extraction site. If the patient is in pain more than two days after the extraction, they should request an emergency appointment. We can provide medication to heal a dry socket and monitor its progress more closely.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.

 

Diet and Dental Health

If you have ever heard the phrase, “you are what you eat,” Dr. Peter S. Evans DDS of Evans Dental Care is here to explain why there is some truth to that. Having proper nutrition means eating a well-balanced diet of foods that provide nutritional value to your body while having a poor diet can cause your body to resist fighting infections and may lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Eating patterns play a role in your overall health, so if you aren’t eating healthy, it’s time to start.

Foods that contain sugars of any kind will cause enamel to wear down and become prone to cavities. If your diet lacks certain nutrients, such as calcium, and vitamins, it may be difficult for your gums to resist infection, making them more prone to periodontal disease. To maintain a balanced diet, for your smile and your overall health, be sure to consume foods from each of the five major food groups, such as cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, and fruit. Avoid foods and beverages that contain added sugar, to reduce acidity in the mouth.

If you have questions or concerns regarding preventive dental care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.evansdentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, VA, call 757-349-8877.

Oral Cancer Awareness Month

As part of our holistic practice at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, we want our patients to know how to protect themselves from oral cancer. Each April is designated by a number of dental and cancer groups as Oral Cancer Awareness Month, so this seemed like a good time to talk about this disease’s causes and how to detect it.

About 60% of people diagnosed with oral cancer survive for more than five years, but this low number is partly due to cancer often not being detected until it has reached an advanced stage. Cancer in the oral cavity is usually caused by smoking, tobacco use, or heavy use of alcohol. Further back in the mouth, in a region called the oropharynx, it can be caused by a strain of HPV. Some of the warning signs patients should be on the look-out for are red or white discoloration, persistent pain, irritation, numbness, and difficulty swallowing.

Scans of the oral cavity are done with a special light which can detect suspicious growths beneath the tissue surface. If something suspicious is found, a sample of tissue, called a biopsy, will be sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.