Diabetes and Thrush

At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, Colorado, we provide general dental care for people of all ages and facing all kinds of oral conditions. People with diabetes are especially at-risk for a host of oral health problems, and in the past, we’ve described how we help them to combat gum disease and to qualify for the placement of dental implants. But people with diabetes are also at risk for the development of thrush, particularly if they have removable dentures, so we wanted to give that a bit of focus and help our patients to recognize it.

We always have a variety of microbes growing in our mouths, and for the most part, these are harmless or even helpful. But when fungus called candida grow out of control, a patient develops a yeast infection, or thrush. A person suffering from thrush may experience cracks in the corners of their mouth, as well as the development of painful white or red patches and the loss of taste. Thrush is especially common in places covered by the ridges of dentures, which people sometimes have difficulty cleaning.

Thrush rarely develops in healthy adults, but it can appear in people with uncontrolled diabetes. Why is unclear, although people with diabetes have more difficulty fighting off infections in general, and their saliva contains elevated levels of sugar, making it a better food source for candida. There are oral antibiotics to combat thrush outbreaks, but people can also practice prevention by brushing their teeth twice a day and drinking enough water to wash away sugary residue. People with dentures may also want to look into using an American Dental Association-approved cleaning solution and to be sure they’re using specialized toothpaste to avoid scratching their dentures’ plastic.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Gum Disease and Heart Disease at Ardas Family Dental

Dental care from an early age is essential for health throughout life. At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, Colorado, we accept Medicaid and treat patients of all ages. Part of the reason for this is that poor oral hygiene not only puts people in pain, but also increases their risk for other diseases. Recently, scientists have been examining the correlation between gum disease and heart conditions, and we thought it would be good for our patients to understand the possible links.

Childhood dental habits influence children’s adult oral health, with children who have cavities being likelier to lose permanent teeth. A recent study also found that children with dental infections are likelier to develop thickened blood vessels. Another recent study found that people with gum disease are likelier to have high blood pressure, and a third found that people who lost teeth to gum infections are likelier to have angina, strokes, and heart attacks.

It’s too soon to say that gum disease and heart disease directly cause each other, and they share common risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol. But we are learning more about how oral bacteria are able to travel to other parts of the body and trigger inflammation. We also know that infections of tooth root tips and dental pulp can lead to blood poisoning. During regular cleanings, we provide scaling to remove bacterial build-up below the gum line. We can also do scalings on people with outbreaks of gum inflammation, and if we are able to intervene quickly enough, we may be able to save their teeth and implants. 

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Combating Acid Reflux at Ardas Family Dental

If you suffer from acid reflux, your teeth may be in danger. We pride ourselves on patient education at Ardas Family Dental in Parker, which is why we want to inform the public of this often-overlooked cause of tooth sensitivity.

Acid removes minerals from enamel, the hard outer surface of teeth. Without enamel, the sensitive inner layers of the teeth are more exposed to heat and coldness. In people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the sphincter separating the stomach from the esophagus opens when a person swallows, allowing stomach acid to escape. Stomach acid is highly corrosive—the sensation of it burning the esophagus is misleadingly called “heartburn”—and it damages teeth it comes into contact with. Because of their position, the upper back teeth are the most vulnerable.

Dentists can recognize acid reflux by its distinctive pattern of erosion. It causes the teeth to appear glazed and white before becoming pitted. Dental sealants can help protect enamel, but once enamel mass has been lost, it can only be restored with prosthetics such as partial crowns. To reduce their chance of developing GERD, patients should avoid smoking and consuming large amounts of foods such as red meat, onions and garlic, and citric acid before lying down.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

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Support for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gum Disease at Ardas Family Dental

Ardas Family Dental has long provided quality dental care to people in the Parker area with oral health complications. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a serious threat to oral health that the public isn’t always aware of, which is why we want to educate our patients about its consequences.

RA is an autoimmune disease, which means it causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissues. Specifically, it targets synovium, the soft tissue that lines the joints. People with RA have higher than average rates of periodontal disease, with one study finding 70% of people with RA have at least moderate gum disease. This had long been thought to be due to arthritis preventing people from brushing their teeth properly, but evidence suggests that’s not the whole story. Gingivitis often sets in before people with RA lose control of their motor skills and scientists have discovered that synovium and gum tissue share similar cellular structures.

People with RA need to be careful about their oral hygiene, but gum disease is not inevitable. Although RA is caused by genetic and environmental factors, people can reduce their risk for it by not smoking. Patients with RA should also ask us about preventing dry mouth, which is commonly caused by autoimmune disorders.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. To learn more about periodontal disease, call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

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