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What Causes Dry Mouth and How to Treat it

What Causes Dry Mouth and How to Treat it What is Dry Mouth? Dry mouth = xerostomia Hyposalivation = reduced salivation Dry Mouth is defined as not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. Saliva is an important factor in your oral health; it protects your teeth from getting cavities and can cause someone to have a difficult time speaking, tasting, swallowing, and chewing food. What Can Cause Dry Mouth Disease Medication side effects Age Mouth breathing, such as using a CPAP at night How to Treat Dry Mouth Talk with your Dentist and Hygienist for help treating dry mouth Oral Rinse Oral Spray Prescription-strength toothpaste Saliva Stimulant Systemic Medication
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Gum Disease and Gingivitis

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Gum Disease and Gingivitis What is Gum Disease? Periodontal disease is also known as Gum Disease and is defined as: Peri- meaning around - dontal meaning tooth Disease is any damage or injury that impairs an organism's function What Causes Gum Disease and Gingivitis?  The tissues and supporting bone around a tooth may be attacked by specific bacteria , this can cause the teeth t o become loose and cause tooth loss, t he bacteria cause a gum infection. The specific bacteria that cause Gum Disease, Gingivitis, and Periodontal Disease are Anaerobic bacteria.   This means that they can only survive in an environment without oxygen . 3. How to Prevent This is why flossing and brushing your teeth daily is important, so you can remove the debris, disrupt the biofilm forming, and allow oxygen to reach the pockets between your gums and teeth. 3. Warning Signs of Gum Disease Gums that bleed when you brush your teeth Red, swollen and tendin...
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Location: 1360 Energy Park Dr Suite 140, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
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What is Causing my Cavities?

What is Causing my Cavities? Specific bacteria  such as Streptococcus mutans cause cavities.  These bacteria are  aerobic  meaning they require oxygen to survive; having a  ​ dry mouth increases the chance for cavities.  Cavity causing bacteria are different than the bacteria that cause gum disease, which lives in an anaerobic environment.  Both of these bacteria can be  passed from person to person.   Plaque  is also known as Biofilm.  A microbial biofilm is a layer of prokaryotic organisms which adhere to a surface and are coated with a polysaccharide layer.  ​The biofilm increases the prokaryotic cells survival through increased defense, availability of nutrients, cellular communication, and the ability to transfer genetic material to each other. A polysaccharide is composed of more than one sugar molecule.  Carbohydrates, Starch, Cellulose, and Glycogen are polysaccharides. How the cavity is formed ​...
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Location: 1360 Energy Park Dr Suite 140, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
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Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom Teeth Wisdom teeth, also called your third molars can help you with chewing if your jaw is big enough to handle the extra four teeth. Variations in DNA which are known as mutations when humans reproduced around 2.4 million years ago caused their jaws to become smaller and brains become bigger. This mutated genetic information was passed onto offspring because it was a favorable trait. As the brain grew larger and the jaw became smaller, there eventually was no room for wisdom teeth in the new smaller jaw as the favorable trait of a larger brain was passed on. Currently, we have Oral Surgeons to remove wisdom teeth that are impacted or infected. If you are born without your wisdom teeth, you are at an evolutionary advantage. As of now, we use oral surgeons to remove wisdom teeth, but the genetic mutation of no wisdom teeth is a beneficial trait. Cavity on Wisdom Tooth Unable to clean bacteria and plaque off the wisdom teeth, causing a cavity on a wisdom tooth. ...
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