What Are Your Gums Saying About Your Health, Douglasville?

In our last blog, we discussed what periodontal (gum) disease is, some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate the disease, and how important it is to come see us at our Douglasville dental office as soon as possible if you’re experiencing any of those symptoms. Today we’re going to tell you why a quick diagnosis and early treatment of periodontal disease is so important.

Your gums are the window to your overall health. They not only let us know if there is an issue in your mouth, they can also indicate other problems within your body. And when they’re infected, they can make you more susceptible to serious health issues and diseases.

In fact, people with gum disease are more prone to strokes, heart attacks, heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes, among other severe health concerns.

How can a disease in your mouth cause problems in the rest of your body?

There are four main ways that periodontal disease can lead to other serious health concerns.

1. Bloodstream – Chewing food injects infectious bacteria into your bloodstream, which is then carried throughout your body.

2. Breathing – Periodontal bacteria can be breathed into the lungs and increase the chance of lung disease.

3. Transmission – Periodontal infection can be transferred directly from spouse to spouse and parent to child through a simple kiss.

4. Immune System – Gum disease can lower your immune system, making you less effective at fighting off infections.

While we know that gum disease can lead to serious medical problems and diseases, at Jim G. Williams, DMD, we also know that early diagnosis and proactive treatment can keep gum disease from causing any of these major health concerns. That’s why keeping up with your regularly scheduled visits is so important.
If you’re due for an exam, call our Douglasville dental office today at 855-410-2757 to schedule your appointment. We look forward to seeing you!

Who Cares About Gum Disease in Douglasville?

At Jim G. Williams, DMD, LLC in Douglasville, we do! In fact, we’re going to devote the next few blogs to gum disease. We want all our patients to be aware of the signs of gum disease, and how important it is to prevent it, or treat it at the first signs.

Periodontal Disease

“Periodontal disease” is the technical name for gum disease, an infection of those tissues that support and surround your teeth. Gingivitis is early-stage gum disease and periodontitis is a more advanced and serious infection. Periodontitis can lead to loose, or even lost teeth.

Signs of gum disease include:

• Gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing

• Red, swollen or tender gums

• Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth

• Receding gums

• Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums

• Loose or shifting teeth

If you notice any of these symptoms, call us ASAP! At Jim G. Williams, DMD, LLC, we will determine if you have periodontal disease and recommend treatment options for you. Our first priority is to save your natural teeth. Restorative dentistry can work wonders, but there’s nothing like smiling with your own teeth.
If you’re due for a regular visit, or have any concerns about your dental health, give us a call at our Douglasville dental office.

Basics of Root Canals in Douglasville

Sure you’ve heard of root canals. But do you know what they are, and why we perform them at Jim G. Williams, DMD in Douglasville? You may be surprised by some facts about root canal treatment!

Why would I need root canal treatment?

Root canal therapy involves treating the tooth’s pulp and root canals when the tissue, or pulp, becomes diseased or infected. This pulp contains the blood vessels and nerves the tooth needs to function and thrive. Any damage or disease in this area can cause an infection and needs to be treated.

How is root canal therapy performed?

We first clean the root canals by removing any disease and cleaning out bacteria, debris, or anything else that could cause infection.

Once the root canals are cleaned and free of bacteria, we fill the canals with a sealant. This is so no bacteria can get in and create more infection or problems. A root canal will help save your natural tooth. That’s always the best solution, when possible.

In many cases after root canal treatment, the tooth will be weakened and need to be restored. option we most recommend is to protect and strengthen the tooth through teh placement of a porcelain crown

If you’re experiencing recurring discomfort and inflammation, please contact our Douglasville dental office at 855-410-2757 to see us as soon as possible. In some cases, you may not feel any symptoms, but a general exam and x-rays might show us a problem before it becomes painful. So remember to keep up with regular checkups too!

Broken Baby Tooth in Douglasville? Yes, It Matters!

Those first baby teeth are an important milestone in your child’s development. They’re important to help her start to talk and chew food, and be a placeholder for her permanent teeth. Losing baby teeth is a natural process, but accidents will happen, especially as your baby becomes a toddler.

Despite your best efforts, baby teeth can crack or chip, or even be knocked out in a fall or accident. Don’t ignore it, even though it will be replaced by a permanent tooth. If it’s badly cracked, chipped, or lost completely, get to the dentist right away. You might want to use some ice covered with a cloth to prevent swelling.

If your child damages or loses a permanent tooth, find the tooth or fragments if you can and bring them with you to your dentist in Douglasville. If you can’t get to a dentist right away, put the tooth in milk until you can. If the tooth is intact, you could try rinsing it gently (don’t scrub) and try to place the tooth back in the socket until you can get to the dentist.

Don’t panic! A baby tooth will soon be replaced with a permanent tooth and damage to a permanent tooth can be repaired with a crown or dental bonding and look as good as new!

Your family keeps you busy, but don’t neglect your own dental care! Call us at our dental office in Douglasville at 855-410-2757 for all your dental care needs. We want to help keep everyone in your family healthy and well!

Wise Up About Wisdom Teeth, Douglasville!

Wise Up About Wisdom Teeth, Douglasville!

Wisdom teeth come in during our late teens or early 20s. They can cause problems, such as coming in unevenly,partially, or not at all. When this happens, they’re called partial or fully impacted wisdom teeth. Most of the time, the solution is to extract them, and at Jim Williams, DMD in Douglasville, we are here to make the experience as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

There are some interesting facts about wisdom teeth that you might not know.

• In some regions in the world, the population never develops wisdom teeth, and in others nearly 100% of people do develop their wisdom teeth! Scientists don’t know why although the phenomenon is being studied.

• Wisdom teeth can grow in at almost any angle, towards the next tooth, towards the back of the mouth, even at a right angle to other teeth!

• Impacted wisdom teeth are an ancient problem. The oldest known impacted wisdom tooth belonged to an unfortunate European woman who lived roughly 15,000 years ago.

The most important fact about wisdom teeth is that if you experience any pain or soreness, call our dental office in Douglasville at 855-410-2757 as soon as possible. Additionally, keeping up with regular dental visits can help us determine if there are any potential problems with your wisdom teeth and if extractions are necessary. If you’re due for a dental checkup, give us a call today!

These Teeth in Douglasville Were Made For…

…biting and chewing food, talking, giving your face its structure. Period! Tooth enamel seems like a hard surface, but it’s not made to withstand excess pressure or habits that erode it.

At Dr. Jim Williams’ dental office in Douglasville, we hear a lot of bad habits! Do any of these actions sound familiar?

●      Crunching and sipping

Now that may sound like what teeth are made for, but we’re talking about crunching things like ice cubes, or even popcorn kernels. Bite down on them the wrong way, and you could end up with a cracked tooth.

Sipping? Yes! Soda (even diet), tea, and other acidic beverages can eventually erode your teeth, especially if you habitually consume them.

●      Using teeth as tools

Teeth aren’t nutcrackers or bottle openers! Or any other tool!

●      Tooth grinding

If you grind your teeth, even in your sleep, you can wear them down without even noticing! You may need a night guard or other appliance to help stop grinding, and if your teeth are worn down, you may need further dental treatment.

●      Hard-bristled toothbrush

A toothbrush with hard bristles might seem like a good idea, but it’s better to use a soft- or medium-bristled brush, and brush regularly and longer! Set the timer for two minutes to make sure you are brushing long enough to get your teeth clean.

●      Not brushing or flossing enough

Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning after breakfast and before bedtime. If you can’t brush during the day, try to drink plain water so you can at least “rinse” out any food particles or acidic drinks.

If you have any of these habits, it’s never too late to change! If you have any tooth or gum pain for any reason, please call our dental office in Douglasville as soon as possible!