If you take excellent care of your teeth—brushing and flossing properly twice a day, visiting the dentist for regular cleanings and exams, and avoiding foods that could harm your teeth—you might feel frustrated when your dentist tells you that you have a dental issue. While practicing oral hygiene is a vital component of keeping your mouth healthy, genetics sometimes come into play.

Just as your genes affect traits like your eye color and height, they can also affect your teeth! Here are a few situations when your genetics could negatively impact your oral health.

Weak Enamel

Some people have naturally weak tooth enamel, making them more susceptible to issues like cavities, tooth discoloration, or sensitivity. Enamel is the protective outermost layer of your teeth. When enamel is weak, your teeth are more vulnerable to damage and decay. If your parents have weak tooth enamel, there is a chance that you’ve inherited the same condition, so be extra vigilant about your oral hygiene and diet to keep your smile healthy.

Tooth Alignment

Genetics can also determine physical characteristics that can affect the alignment of your teeth. You can inherit things like crooked teeth, an underbite, and small jaw. Such issues can make it difficult to keep your teeth clean and cause excessive wear and tear, which may lead to more serious dental issues down the line.

Gum Disease

You might be more likely to develop gum disease if you’ve inherited a weaker immune system. When the body produces a less robust response to dangerous bacteria in the mouth, it can lead to gingivitis or more advanced periodontal disease. Additionally, some people can be genetically more susceptible to inflammation, which is a key factor in gum disease development.

Personalized Dental Care in Frisco, TX

Even if you suspect that genetics may be negatively affecting your teeth and gums, it’s still possible to maintain good oral health. Be sure to schedule routine checkups and cleanings at Serenity Dental Studio. At your appointments, Dr. Kengskool will discuss any issues you’ve noticed recently and provide personalized care based on your unique needs. Contact us today!

Gum disease is inflammation and infection in the gums, the soft tissue in the mouth that surrounds the teeth. It most commonly occurs due to a buildup of plaque and tartar. Plaque is a sticky film of harmful bacteria and food debris, and tartar is hardened plaque. These accumulate with a lack of proper oral hygiene care, which causes irritation of the gums.

Irritated gums can be tender, swollen, and prone to bleeding, and can form pockets as they pull back from the teeth. These pockets can trap additional bacteria and food debris, resulting in infection. This infection can spread to your jawbone and cause bone loss and eventual tooth loss.

Signs of Gum Disease

Some of the most common signs of gum disease are:

• Bleeding gums
• Chronic bad breath
• Darkened gums
• Gum recession
• Tooth sensitivity and pain
• Tender, puffy gums
• Teeth loosening

Treatment Varies Based on the Severity of Gum Disease

Gingivitis is early-stage gum disease. It is characterized by mild inflammation. This can often be reversed with improved oral hygiene, a healthier diet, and a professional cleaning at the dentist.

Periodontitis, when the gums have become infected, is more severe gum disease that can cause permanent tissue loss without treatment. Treatment can include a deep cleaning that involves scaling and root planing, antibiotics, and/or laser gum therapy to remove diseased tissue and control the infection. Periodontitis cannot be treated at home and may require multiple treatments at the dentist to combat the issue.

Schedule Your Biannual Dental Cleaning & Exam!

If you struggle with consistent brushing and flossing, gum disease can creep up on you. Gum health is just as crucial as your tooth health because your gums help anchor your teeth in place. We recommend getting biannual dental cleanings and checkups so your dental team can identify signs of gum disease early. The sooner you catch gum disease, the easier it will be to treat and potentially reverse altogether!

At Serenity Dental Studio, we provide comprehensive dental care, including periodontal treatment, to help patients enjoy excellent oral health. Please contact our office to schedule your next checkup!

Brushing, flossing, and routine visits to the dentist are essential for healthy teeth and gums. A nutritious, vitamin-rich diet is also important! Vitamins are organic compounds that keep our bodies strong and healthy. The following vitamins are especially good for your oral health:

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is necessary for healthy gums. Gum disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss in adults. The bacteria associated with the infection can cause damage to your body’s blood vessels. Vitamin C helps repair these blood vessels, as well as form new ones. Vitamin C is found in foods like oranges, kiwi, tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and berries. Bear in mind that some foods with vitamin C are also acidic. The presence of acid increases your risk of enamel erosion. It’s best to consume a wide variety of whole foods that contain vitamin C, instead of juice or only citrus, and rinse with water during your meal.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps with tooth mineralization and reduces your risk for cavities. It also helps your body absorb calcium, a mineral that builds strong bones and teeth. You can obtain vitamin D from salmon, sardines, cheese, egg yolks, fortified breakfast cereals, and fortified milk.

Vitamin A

While vitamin A is well-known for its benefits to eye health, it’s also healthful for your smile. Vitamin A encourages your mouth to produce saliva, which helps rinse food debris and plaque from your teeth. Orange foods like carrots, orange bell peppers, sweet potatoes, and salmon contain lots of vitamin A.

Vitamin K

Like vitamin D, vitamin K helps the body use calcium to build strong teeth. It also keeps your immune system strong so the proper amount of K can help you heal faster if you have gum disease. Get vitamin K by eating green vegetables like kale, spinach, parsley, and broccoli.

Maintain a Healthy Smile at Serenity Dental Studio in Frisco, TX!

A healthy diet will contribute to good overall health, as well as strong teeth and gums. If you’re experiencing dental problems or other health issues, a vitamin deficiency could be a contributing factor. A healthcare professional can help you identify what vitamins you may need more of.
At our office, Dr. Kengskool and our team are proud to offer dental services like preventive dentistry, restorative dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry. If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment at Serenity Dental Studio, please reach out today!

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Do you find yourself getting frequent headaches? Headaches can be associated with certain dental issues. For example:

Dental Injuries

Any dental injury that damages a tooth can potentially cause chronic headaches. For example, if your tooth is broken and the nerve is exposed, it can irritate the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V). This nerve is connected to special sensors throughout your face, including your teeth. Abnormal activation of this nerve is associated with migraines and headaches. Other common dental injuries that can lead to headaches are cracked teeth, broken tooth restorations, and chipped teeth.

Tooth Infections

If a tooth becomes infected, the infection can cause a buildup of pus, bacteria, and debris that results in severe nerve pain and discomfort. Infected teeth can result in headaches, nausea, and vomiting. The infection can also spread to other teeth, jaw, and your bloodstream, increasing your risk of tooth loss and sepsis.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

The temporomandibular joints are the joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull and give the jaw its mobility. TMJ dysfunction, or TMD, is when these joints are damaged or malfunctioning. This is sometimes associated with chronic teeth grinding and clenching. These conditions are linked to headaches from the tension and stiffness in the jaw.

Schedule Your Dental Consultation!

Are you suffering from regular headaches? Headaches can be extremely uncomfortable to manage and can also negatively impact your memory, mood, relationships, productivity, ability to concentrate, and enjoyment of daily activities. The sooner you identify the source of your headaches, the sooner you can get the relief you deserve.

At Serenity Dental Studio in Frisco, our experienced team is committed to helping patients achieve superb oral health, which will thus contribute to a healthier body. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, can have serious consequences not just for your dental health but your overall health. If you notice any of the following warning signs, we recommend scheduling a visit with our team!

Change in Gum Color

Healthy gums are supposed to be pink, so if you start to notice that your gums appear bright red, dark red, or even purplish, that can be a sign that they are not as healthy as they should be.

Gum Bleeding

It’s normal to accidentally brush too hard every once in a while and notice a little blood. However, if your gums bleed frequently or every time you brush, that is not a sign of healthy gums. Sores or pus on the gums or in between teeth can occur as well. You should be able to gently brush your teeth and gums without noticing any blood.

Inflammation

If your gums look puffy or swollen or if they are tender to the touch, these indicate they are irritated and inflamed.

Receding Gums & Loose Teeth

As tartar begins to collect underneath the gumline, the gums can begin to pull away from the teeth and expose more of each tooth. Should the gums recede too much, the teeth will not be as stable as they should be, and they can begin to feel loose. When periodontal disease becomes advanced, it can actually lead to one or more teeth falling out.

Persistent Bad Breath

If you notice that your breath is not as fresh as usual or you often have a bad taste in your mouth, it could indicate gum disease.

Periodontal Therapy & More at Serenity Dental Studio

Treating your gum disease and improving your oral health habits is critical to preserve your natural teeth and jawbone and protect yourself from infection. We recommend improving your oral care routine, drinking more water, consuming a balanced diet, and visiting us here at Serenity Dental Studio for help improving your gum health. Contact us to schedule a visit with our team so we can examine your mouth and develop a personalized care plan based on your unique needs!

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