Can Kissing Cause Cavities?

Kissing comes with risks. You might fall in love, catch a cold, or be grossed out by bad breath. But did you know that kissing someone with poor oral hygiene could increase your risk for cavities? At my dental office in The Woodlands, we want to explain how this frightening, yet very true, cavity swap can happen.

What Causes a Cavity?

Cavities are caused by the bacteria that naturally form around your teeth and on your gums. Regular cleanings and good oral hygiene keeps that bacteria in check. But when it’s allowed to build up, the bacteria keep multiplying. When this happens, they create acid that eats away at enamel and leads to a cavities. And just like any other virus or bacteria, the ones in your mouth don’t stay put. They can be transferred from one mouth to another. Yep. They are contagious.

It’s Not Just Kissing

Kissing isn’t the only way the bacteria that causes cavities can be transferred from one person to another. People with poor oral hygiene put others at risk doing other activities including:

• Sharing utensils or straws
• Using someone else’s toothbrush (gross!)
• Splitting food

We have heard of people who never had cavities in their lives, suddenly have several after beginning to date someone with gum disease or poor oral hygiene!

Lower Your Risk of Infecting Someone Else

While you can’t necessarily control your partner’s oral health, you can definitely control your own.

• Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day
• Floss at least once every single day
• Don’t use tobacco
• Scrub your tongue
• Maintain regular visits with your Woodlands dentist

Follow these tips and you’re sure to please your partner not only because your kisses will be fresh, but also because you’re not infecting them with cavity-causing bacteria. Now that’s love!

If you keep up with your own oral hygiene, be careful about who you are “swapping spit” with. If you have become a little lax in your habits, show consideration for anyone you might want to share the love with by scheduling a professional cleaning at my dental office in The Woodlands now.

Welcoming new patients from The Woodlands, Spring, and Conroe.

Celebrate Heart Health Month: See Your Dentist in The Woodlands

Why in the world would a dentist be part of your Heart Health Month Celebration? Shouldn't you be seeing a cardiologist for that? Well, maybe. But seeing your dentist is much more important than you may think.

There have been lots of studies over the last few years that show a clear link between your gums and your heart, not only because these organs are part of the same body, but also because of the way inflammation and infection can affect your heart.

Why Gum Infections Can Give You a Heart Attack?

When there is a chronic infection in your body, even in something as seemingly small and insignificant as your gums, the bacteria don’t stay put. They enter the bloodstream and cause your body to produce more proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP), one of the known indicators of cardiovascular disease. Study results published in The New England Journal of Medicine identified elevated CRP levels as an even more accurate predictor of heart attacks than elevated cholesterol levels!

What Exactly is C-Reactive Protein and What Does it Have to Do with Gums?

According to Dr. Thomas Boyden, Jr., the medical director of preventive cardiology at Spectrum Health Medical Group Cardiovascular Services, “Your gums are very vascular, meaning they're full of blood vessels. And your mouth is full of bacteria. If you disrupt the gum layer even a little bit, you're going to get bacteria in your bloodstream, which can go anywhere and trigger inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation is one of the main things that causes damage to blood vessels, including those of the heart."

That’s where C-reactive protein come in. This protein is produced by the liver and goes up in response to inflammation. When high levels of CRP are found in the body, doctors know that infection is present…and more often than not, that infection started in the mouth. In fact, more than 50% of Americans have some form of gum disease, and as a result, an increased risk for heart problems.

What Can You Do?

By following a healthy oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing everyday, avoiding tobacco, and keeping regularly scheduled appointments with your dentist in The Woodlands, you can lower your risk of gum disease and additional whole-body concerns.

I simply do not want my patients to be part of that statistic. If you are due for a checkup and cleaning, please give my Woodlands dental office a call today!

Welcoming new patients from The Woodlands, Spring, and Conroe .

Eating Disorders and Oral Health

Affecting nearly 10 million Americans, eating disorders are dangerous diseases that can also lead to some serious health concerns. Whether anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating, every eating disorder increases the chance of heart failure, decreases bone density, and causes muscle loss. At my dental office in The Woodlands, we want to inform our neighbors of some of the oral health problems also associated with eating disorders.

Teeth and Eating Disorders

When someone has an eating disorder, they’re not getting all of the necessary nutrients the body needs to function properly. This includes your mouth. Oftentimes an eating disorder can cause salivary glands to produce less saliva, leading to dry mouth. Dry mouth is linked to bad breath, decay, and gum disease. A lack of crucial nutrients can also cause sores to develop. These often bleed easily and can be quite painful.

If vomiting is a symptom, a whole host of other concerns arise. The constant exposure to stomach acid can erode enamel and even cause teeth to change color or become translucent. In fact, according to the National Eating Disorders Association, 89% of bulimics experience enamel erosion caused by overexposure to stomach acid.  

Signs & Symptoms

Many times a dentist in The Woodlands may the first to suspect an eating disorder. This is because many signs first show in the mouth, including:

• Enlarged salivary glands
• Chronic dry mouth
• Tooth decay
• Sensitivity

What You Can Do to Protect Your Teeth

When battling a disease like an eating disorder, proper medical attention is always the first step. Trusted professionals can help both diagnose the problem and fix it. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to keep your smile protected.

• Continue to brush and floss like normal, brushing twice a day and flossing once.
• If vomit is a factor, do not brush immediately after it happens. Instead, rinse with water.
• Continue to visit your dentist as often as recommended.

If you have an eating disorder, please seek medical attention as soon as possible. And while you’re working on beating the disease, give my The Woodlands dental office a call and schedule an appointment. We can help protect your mouth from the damaging effects of eating disorders and work with you throughout the healing process.

Serving new patients from The Woodlands, Spring, and Conroe.

Smile More, Stay Healthy

We all smile when we hear something funny, when we’re happy, and sometimes we even fake it when we meet someone new. But a smile is much more than an expression. It can actually help keep you healthy. At my dental office in The Woodlands, we want to talk about the powerful benefits of smiling and why you should do it more.

It’s All About the Endorphins

Endorphins are chemicals in your brain that, when released, create a feeling of happiness. This release is caused by movements in the facial muscles, like smiling. Not only do these powerful neurotransmitters cause us to feel happy, they’re also our bodies’ natural pain killer. This may be where the expression “laugh off the pain” comes from, because it really can work.

Smiling Kills Stress

Endorphins not only help the happy come out, they also squash stress and anxiety. When we’re stressed, our bodies produce more of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol makes us feel all the unpleasant emotions we experience when stress levels are high. Endorphins actually help lower cortisol levels, killing stress.

Boost Your Immune System

One of the biggest ways smiling works in keeping you healthy is by boosting your white blood cell count. Smiling helps our bodies create more white blood cells which then fight off germs and bacteria.

Go Ahead, Get Smiling

As we’ve learned, smiling is a pretty magical thing that can help in so many ways. If you’re not smiling enough throughout the day, try some of these tips to help you get all of the benefits a smile brings.

• Watch a funny movie. Laughing brings a simple smile to a whole other level and boosts the health benefits. Pop in your favorite chuckle-inducing classic and cackle away.
• Fake it till you make it. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between a fake smile and real one. And guess what? A fake one still provides health benefits. So turn the frown upside down and feel the happy.
• Be around people who make you happy. Spending time with those who make us laugh or bring us joy is bound to be smiling-inducing.

If you’re not smiling more because you’re embarrassed by your teeth, give my The Woodlands dental office a call. We can help get you a smile you’re confident about through several cosmetic dentistry options. We’ll talk about your ideal smile and how we can make it a reality so you can smile wide and enjoy the health benefits.

Welcoming new patients from The Woodlands, Spring, and Conroe.