What You Need to Know About Diabetes and Gum Disease
August 12, 2013
We’ve said it on the blog before—gum disease doesn’t just affect your oral health. It’s also been linked to a variety of health conditions in the rest of the body, including diabetes.
But what exactly is the relationship between gum disease and diabetes? That’s what we’d like to spend some time talking about today.
The true nature of that relationship isn’t fully understood yet, but researchers do know that it runs two ways. On the one hand, the infection caused by caused gum disease raises the body’s blood sugar levels, increasing a diabetic’s chance of experiencing complications. On the other hand, a patient with diabetes is more susceptible to developing an infection because of the differences in his blood sugar. So regardless of whether one causes the other, or vice versa, a link definitely exists between them.
That means regular checkups are essential for monitoring gum health. Even if you’re not diabetic, you may still have a mild form of gum disease.
Dr. Goldstein provides effective periodontal therapy with scaling, root planing, laser and Arestin, a topical antibiotic that can help you fight infection. Are you concerned about your gums?
Call Randolph Dental Care today to schedule an appointment with us. Dr. Goldstein provides excellent periodontal therapy to patients from Randolph, Rockaway, Mendham, Chester, Morristown, Denville, Morris County, and beyond.
The Connection between Hormones and Oral Health
June 4, 2013
When you think about your oral health, do you ever think about what connection it might have to your body’s hormones? In most cases, probably not, but a very real connection does exist.
When the body’s hormones fluctuate, a patient can become more vulnerable to gum disease, one of the most common oral health conditions a patient can face. Women are especially vulnerable because of the hormonal changes they experience throughout life. Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause are all examples of when vulnerability is high, but it doesn’t stop there—women who are taking birth control should also be careful. There’s even an increased risk a day or two before the start of a woman’s next period.
So, what does this mean for patients of Dr. Goldstein?
It means sticking to a good brushing and flossing routine and coming to our Randolph dental office twice a year for checkups and a professional cleaning. What’s more, if you’re taking birth control or are pregnant, it’s important to let your doctor know. Dr. Goldstein can also offer nutrition tips during your next appointment. Foods that are high in sugar or starch can contribute to potential issues with the teeth and gums.
Do you need to schedule your next visit with Dr. Goldstein? Call Randolph Dental Care today to reserve your appointment. Our office serves patients from Randolph, Rockaway, Mendham, Chester, Morristown, Denville, Morris County, and beyond.
Comprehensive Periodontal Therapy from Dr. Goldstein
November 28, 2012
In our last post, we mentioned that in a recent survey completed for the CDC revealed that gum disease is a more prevalent condition than many originally thought. So today, we’d like to talk about the periodontal therapies you’ll find at Randolph Dental Care.
One of the most basic forms of periodontal therapy is scaling and root planing. Often, for patients with milder forms of gum disease, scaling and root planing is the primary—and sometimes the only—treatment needed.
Scaling and root planing is a nonsurgical therapy. The purpose of each is to remove plaque, calculus, and bacteria from either around or underneath the gum line.
Plaque is made from bacteria, and when not removed by brushing, flossing or a professional cleaning, it hardens into calculus. Plaque and calculus combined are what cause the soft tissue irritations responsible for gum disease.
But another nonsurgical tool that is helping Dr. Goldstein provide top-notch periodontal therapy to Randolph and beyond is Arestin. Using Arestin, Dr. Goldstein of Randolph Dental Care can provide more effective healing than he can with scaling and root planing alone. That’s because Arestin fights infection with medicated microspheres of antibiotics, delivering more concentrated care than is possible with a pill. What’s more, it’s painlessly delivered to where you need it and continues fighting well after your appointment is over.
Do you need treatment for gum disease? Explore our periodontal therapy page for more information, and call our Randolph dental office to reserve an appointment.
We serve patients from Randolph, Rockaway, Mendham, Chester, Morristown, Denville, Morris County, and beyond.
Periodontal Therapy from Dr. Goldstein
June 26, 2012
In our last blog past, we discussed the relationship between your oral health and your overall health, noting that inflammation in your mouth can lead to other health conditions. Specifically, the inflammation we were talking about was a common condition known as periodontal disease, or gum disease.
When gums become inflamed, it’s because of bacteria and plaque. When this inflammation isn’t treated, pockets can develop between the soft tissue of the gums and your teeth. That’s what gives bacteria and plaque access to the bloodstream and, from there, other parts of the body.
But the good news is that, at our Randolph dental office, Dr. Goldstein has three great periodontal therapies for patients to take advantage of:
- Scaling
- Root planning
- Arestin
Scaling and root planning are procedures that let Dr. Goldstein clean below the gumline to rid teeth and gums of harmful plaque and bacteria. Arestein, meanwhile, is a topical antibiotic that provides patients with long-lasting protection against bacteria. It’s applied below the gumline in our office and goes to work immediately, releasing powerful medication over time to deliver painless treatment.
Have you noticed a change in how your gums are doing? Don’t put off your next visit any longer. Call Dr. Goldstein’s Randolph dental office today to schedule your next visit. We recommend that you see Dr. Goldstein every six months for a regular cleaning and exam. That way we can help you stay on top of your oral health. Schedule your visit with us today if you live in Randolph, Rockaway, Mendham, Chester, Morristown, Denville, Morris County, and surrounding areas.
