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People who have diabetes are usually familiar with many of the other health risks they face, including damage to the nerves, eyes, heart, and kidneys. But did you know that if you have diabetes you also have a much greater chance of developing gum disease? It's true, and like other diseases related to diabetes, the risk potential severity of gum disease is directly related to how well blood sugar is controlled.

The Causes

In diabetics, there are two primary mechanisms that increase the risk of developing gum disease, also called periodontal disease:

• Bacterial growth: Bacteria love sugar including the glucose found in blood and bodily fluids. Elevated levels of sugar in saliva can provide a very hospitable environment for bacterial growth. The risk may be elevated if your gums bleed.
• Circulatory changes: In diabetes, the blood vessels become thick, making it more difficult for blood to carry oxygen to the gums and to carry away harmful waste products. This decrease in circulation can weaken the mouth's natural resistance to decay. If you smoke, circulation can become even more compromised, significantly increasing your risk of periodontal disease.

Preventing Gum Disease

If you're diabetic, the number-one key to preventing gum disease is to make sure you do all you can to keep your blood sugar under control. In fact, studies show diabetics who have excellent control of their blood sugar levels have no more risk for gum disease than those who don't have diabetes. Here are some other tips to keep your gums healthy:

• Floss your teeth gently, curving the floss so it can gently reach just below your gum line to remove plaque and food particles. Rinse your mouth when you're done flossing.
• Use a soft-bristle brush to brush teeth twice daily, using small circular motions. Avoid pressing too hard on tooth surfaces.
• Brush your tongue gently to remove germs that can hide there.
• Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash to kill germs that are hard to reach.
• Keep track of how well your blood sugar is controlled and let Dr. Jorge Torrejon and Dr. Alvaro Torrejon know at each visit.
• Be aware that having diabetes may mean it takes you longer to heal after undergoing oral surgery.

Most importantly, be sure to visit our Boynton Beach office for regular checkups and tell Dr. Jorge Torrejon and Dr. Alvaro Torrejon about your diabetes so you can be sure to get the care you need. Follow these steps, and you can enjoy healthy teeth and gums for years to come.

Toothpastes come in many forms and boast different flavors, benefits, and endorsements. All are designed to remove surface bacteria and prevent the buildup of plaque that can cause tooth decay. With so many choices, Dr. Torrejon and our team at Torrejon Dental know that selecting the right toothpaste can be intimidating. After all, some benefits are welcome bonuses, while others are absolutely essential. So how can you know which toothpaste is best for you?

ADA Seal of Approval

While all toothpastes must first be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale to consumers, the American Dental Association puts these products through further rigorous tests for safety and effectiveness. Toothpaste that boasts the ADA Seal of Approval can be trusted to do exactly what it claims.

Fluoridated

Fluoride is an essential ingredient in a daily toothpaste. It helps to protect the tooth from decay by removing plaque and strengthening the enamel. Although fluoride is found in many public water supplies, many people are deficient in it due to the consumption of bottled water instead of tap water. All toothpastes with the ADA Seal of Approval contain fluoride.

Other benefits

If a toothpaste meets the ADA’s standards and contains fluoride, the next step is to clear it with your dentist. This is especially true if you decide to use a whitening toothpaste, which often contains abrasives to remove surface stains. Though abrasives are an effective aid in tooth whitening, they may not be recommended if you have weak tooth enamel.

Specialty toothpastes

In certain situations, Dr. Torrejon may suggest or prescribe specialty toothpaste, depending on your oral health needs. For example, patients who are prone to tooth decay and cavities despite frequent brushing and flossing may benefit from prescription-strength fluoridated toothpaste to help prevent the weakening of tooth enamel. Others who suffer from tooth sensitivity may benefit from the use of desensitizing toothpaste. Talk with Dr. Torrejon if you think a specialty toothpaste could be right for you by scheduling an appointment at our Boynton Beach office.

Every tooth packs a lot of layers in a very small area. The outer, visible part of our tooth, the crown, is covered in protective enamel, and the lower root area is protected by a similar substance called cementum. Inside these very hard layers is dentin, a hard but more porous tissue which surrounds the pulp. In this central pulp chamber, we have the blood vessels which nourish the tooth and the nerves which send our bodies signals from the tooth. And if one of those signals is persistent tooth pain, you may need a procedure called a root canal.

There are a number of reasons that a tooth may cause you pain, including:

• Fracture—a cracked or broken tooth can allow bacteria to enter the pulp chamber and cause inflammation and infection
• Cavity—an untreated cavity can leave an opening where bacteria can reach the pulp of the tooth, and again lead to infection
• Gum Disease—bacteria can attack from the root area of the tooth if gum disease has become serious
• Injury—an accident or injury to a tooth can damage the nerve or the blood supply which nourishes the pulp
• Abscess—if infection is left untreated, an abscess may form under the root

While a damaged tooth may sometimes be symptom-free, usually there are signs that the pulp has been injured or infected. What symptoms should lead you to give Dr. Torrejon a call?

• Persistent pain in the tooth
• Long-lasting sensitivity to heat or cold
• Gum tissue adjacent to the tooth that is sore, red or swollen
• A cracked, broke, darkened or discolored tooth
• A bump on your gums that persists or keeps recurring—this might indicate an abscess

A root canal is performed by a trained dentist or endodontist. After an anesthetic is used to numb the area, the damaged tissue, including pulp, blood vessels and nerves, is removed from the pulp chamber and each root. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned and shaped, and filled and sealed with a temporary filling. The tooth is filled again permanently, usually on a second visit, and might require a crown in order to protect it from further damage.

The most painful part of a root canal is far more often the time spent suffering before the procedure than the procedure itself. Delaying action when a root canal is necessary can lead to infection, abscess, and even tooth loss. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, please give our Boynton Beach office a call!

As the school year gets under way in Boynton Beach, you’ve got a lot going on. New classes. New teachers. New activities. New books and supplies and . . . well, it’s a lot! Luckily, you have some familiar skills you can rely on to help you enjoy all these new experiences with a healthy, confident smile.

You may not have realized it, but the skill sets you’ve developed for school are useful beyond the classroom. Let’s put those skills to use with our dental study guide:

Do Your Homework

Dental care begins at home! Brush for two minutes twice each day and floss once a day to remove cavity-causing plaque.

If you’re in orthodontic treatment, you might need to brush and floss more often, whether several times a day or after each meal or snack. Follow your orthodontist’s recommendations and use orthodontic friendly tools like interproximal brushes and floss designed for braces.

If you have trouble with getting your teeth their cleanest, electric toothbrushes and water flossers can be a game changer when it comes to removing plaque and food particles from tricky spaces. Talk to Dr. Torrejon to see if these tools are right for you.

Essential Supplies

Put together a kit for your backpack or locker so you’ll always have the smile-approved supplies you need on hand. These tools will help you manage any expected—and unexpected—dental challenges while you’re away from home. Your bag might include:

• Travel toothbrush in a ventilated case (bacteria aren’t fans of fresh air!)
• Travel size toothpaste
• Small mirror to make sure your smile is food-free
• If you wear braces, add orthodontic floss and interproximal brushes, dental wax to prevent irritation from loose wires or brackets, and extra rubber bands as needed
• If you have a retainer or aligners, bring your appliance case to prevent damaging or losing them
• Your dentist’s and orthodontist’s phone numbers for emergencies

Add any other items you think will be helpful, and you’ll be prepared to handle any dental-related issues throughout the day.

Follow Directions

Your dental team at Torrejon Dental has the best recommendations for a healthy smile—but these recommendations only work if you follow them!

• See Dr. Torrejon for regular checkups. These appointments are the time to learn about better brushing techniques, a dental-healthy diet, and other ways to help prevent cavities. Bonus: Regular cleanings will keep your smile sparkling!
• If you’re an orthodontic patient, wear your aligners, appliances, or elastics for the recommended number of hours each day. If you don’t, your treatment could take longer.
• If you wear aligners, it’s important to change your trays on schedule. Changing to a new set of aligners too soon can cause stressful pressure on your teeth and jaws. Changing trays later than recommended can delay your progress.

Any Questions? Ask!

Asking questions is one of the best ways to learn. Your dental team at Torrejon Dental has years of education and experience to help you answer some of the questions you have about navigating your school day.

How can you keep your smile clean and fresh throughout a long day of school? Which cafeteria foods are orthodontic-friendly? Why are mouthguards so important when you play sports?

Your dental team has the answers—or knows how to help you find them. Work with your team to make sure that you’re able to enjoy all the possibilities of the school year, from classroom to lunchroom to extracurriculars, with a healthy confident smile!