periodontal disease

Some Important Tips For Flossing With Braces

October 2nd, 2015

IF YOU HAVE BRACES, you still need to floss. Flossing is important in the prevention of cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease—especially while wearing braces.

Tips For Flossing With Braces

To help you floss with braces, here are some helpful tips:

  1. Use enough floss! The amount of floss should be equal to the length from your fingers to you elbow.
  2. Thread floss between your wire and the contact of two teeth with your fingers or use a floss threader.
  3. Wind floss around one finger of one hand and one finger of your other hand.
  4. Waxed floss is less likely to tear. Oral B Glide floss is our favorite.
  5. Help Youngsters Out!

    If you or the little ones in your life who don’t wear braces are having trouble flossing, consider Crest Glide Floss Picks.

    We Want To Help Keep Your Smile Bright

    We at Gorczyca Orthodontics hope that these flossing tips were helpful and keep you excited about flossing and maintaining excellent oral hygiene. If you have questions about your teeth or oral hygiene, visit us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000.

    Thanks for flossing and letting us be part of your beautiful smile.

    Top image by Flickr user Alan Light used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

Don't Be Haunted By Periodontal Disease and Malocclusion

September 4th, 2015

IT’S SHOCKING. Blood on your floss. Red gums bleed while you brush your teeth. You're spooked by halitosis, or bad breath. Frightening plaque and calculus accumulate on your teeth like cement. These are the scary signs of periodontal disease. And malocclusion, or crooked teeth, make it worse.

Malocclusion Affects A Majority Of Adults

Malocclusion affects 74% of American adults. If you have severely crooked and crowded teeth, it may affect your periodontal health by making it difficult to remove plaque when teeth are not aligned.

Gingivitis Can Affect More Than Your Gums

If not treated, gum inflammation, gingivitis, will lead to soft tissue damage. Receding gums, and the formation of pockets between your teeth produces bone loss. Eventually, your teeth may even fall out!

Your teeth can be saved by periodontal treatment and orthodontics. Properly positioned teeth can help gums "fit" tightly around teeth and lead to peiodontal health.

This case was treated by board certified orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Antioch, California. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary exam. To find an orthodontist near you, visit www.mylifemysmile.org. To find a periodontist near you, visit American Academy of Periodontology at www.perio.org.

Don't let your mouth be haunted. Change malocclusion and periodontal disease to oral health.

Drifting Teeth

March 4th, 2015

DRIFTING TEETH, TEETH MOVING OUT OF POSITION to the side or even further into the mouth, may be a sign of active periodontal disease. If you are an adult and have spaces between your teeth where spaces previously did not exist, you may need to be checked by a periodontist for periodontal disease.

Periodontal Disease Is Acute Inflammation Of Gums

Periodontal disease is characterized by episodes of acute inflammatory attack on bone and gums surrounding teeth. When dental bone is lost, it can lead to mobile teeth which easily move out of position. If your gums have persistent bleeding on gentle probing, you may need treatment by a periodontist for periodontal disease.

Once The Disease Is Under Control, Orthodontic Treatment Can Repair Your Smile

Adults who have had periodontal disease and bone loss can be orthodontically treated to have the dental spaces closed and teeth straightened as long as the disease has been brought under control.

Following your orthodontic treatment, a small wire, a lingual splint, may be placed on the tongue side of your teeth to eliminate tooth mobility and hold your straightened teeth in place where there has been bone loss.

Do You Have Questions? Give Us A Call

To find out more about drifting teeth, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, CA. Call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Move your drifted teeth back together with orthodontic treatment for a strong and healthy smile.

How Does Diabetes Affect Orthodontic Treatment?

December 19th, 2014

347 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE have diabetes, and that number grows every year. Diabetes affects all areas of people’s health, from the skin to the kidneys. Diabetes can also cause severe dental health issues.

Diabetes Increases Gum Disease Risk

Research has shown that people with diabetes are more likely to develop periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a serious health problem that can lead to bone and tooth loss if not properly managed.

Periodontitis Can Also Reduce One’s Ability To Control Blood Sugar

Periodontitis (an advanced stage of gum disease) can make blood sugar levels spike and fluctuate. Additional research suggests that when diabetic patients gain control of gum disease, they can also gain better control of their diabetes.

Can Periodontal Disease Affect Orthodontic Treatment?

Many patients with diabetes needs orthodontic treatment. When bone is lost surrounding teeth, often these teeth move into undesirable positions. Bone loss in the presence of inflammation, as found in periodontitis, can result in unpredictable orthodontic tooth movement during orthodontic treatment.

That’s why, at Gorczyca Orthodontics, we send every adult orthodontic patient for a thorough periodontal examination with a periodontist prior to starting active orthodontic therapy.

Periodontist, Dr. Nancy Dubuk of Deer Valley Professionals, 5201 Deer Valley Road in Antioch, California says:

“A diabetic patient seeking orthodontic treatment can be stable with blood sugars under control with proper monitoring. These patients can maintain their periodontal health well, as long as they are on a good oral hygiene maintenance schedule, both at home and professionally. Once these are established, they can begin orthodontic treatment.”

Help Us Raise Awareness About Diabetes-Related Periodontal Disease

What Can You Do To Prevent Periodontal Disease?

Patients can brush and floss twice per day to prevent periodontal disease. Be sure to have professional cleanings done at least twice per year with your dentist. Ask your dentist to complete a thorough periodontal exam, which includes pockets probing measurements and full mouth series radiographs. If bony pockets deeper than 4 mm exist, early treatment by a periodontist can help prevent further bone loss.

For more information about periodontal disease, contact the American Academy of Periodontology at www.perio.org. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Oral hygiene maintenance and beautifully white straight teeth will help you prevent the danger of of diabetes associated periodontal disease. Let your periodontist and orthodontist help you achieve a beautiful smile.

To learn more about adult orthodontics, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Share This Information With Someone You Know

Most of us know at least one person who is affected by these diseases. If you have a friend, family member, neighbor, or coworker who has diabetes or periodontitis, share this information with them! It’s essential that they understand the relationship between these two things—and, what they can do to help improve their situation.

Thank you for your trust in our practice!

More Topics
diplomate american board of orthodontics Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists advanced education in orthdontics
member american association of orthodontists seattle study club american dental association california dental association
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