Teeth & Gums
Question: I have been using smokeless tobacco for
almost 10 years and am still trying to quit. Will my gums, teeth, and throat
repair themselves after I quit?
Answer: When you quit using smokeless tobacco,
your body will, indeed, begin to repair itself. What's more, the benefits of
quitting will extend beyond your gums, teeth, and throat.
Your stained teeth and damaged
gums will begin to repair themselves as soon as you quit. See your dentist or
oral surgeon to treat any problems you have already, and to check for any
pre-cancerous changes in your mouth.
Smokeless tobacco does not cause
lung cancer, but it can lead to cancer of the mouth, throat, stomach, and
bladder. Quitting the tobacco habit will lower your chances of getting these
types of cancer. Using smokeless tobacco may also increase your risk of a heart
attack or stroke. Although the link between smokeless tobacco and heart disease
has not been well researched, quitting smokeless tobacco may help decrease your
chance of developing the illness.
Question: Can bad teeth affect your sinuses?
Answer: Maybe.
Poor oral hygiene can cause an
increased growth of bacteria along the teeth and gums. This buildup may
increase the chance that bacteria will get into the sinuses and cause infection.
In the case of very bad teeth, an abscess can form below the gum line.
Untreated, the bacteria causing the abscess can burrow up into the sinus and
cause an especially severe infection. These cases sometimes require surgery.
If you continually have sinus
problems and have not yet been to the dentist, a visit could be very
worthwhile.
Question: I was recently diagnosed with gingival
hyperplasia. My doctor says it is caused by one of my medications. Are there
any serious health risks associated with this condition?
Answer: Gingival hyperplasia is a condition in
which there is uncontrolled growth of the gums. For many patients, it is an
uncomfortable and socially embarrassing problem. In true gingival hyperplasia,
the gumline appears inflamed and may extend to cover nearly the entire surface
of the teeth.
Gingival hyperplasia results
from overly sensitive gum tissue responding to the irritants that are present
in every person's mouth--including bacteria and small particles of food that
remain after brushing and flossing. This hypersensitivity may be caused by a
number of things. For some people, it is an inherited condition passed on from
one generation to the next (it may be worthwhile to check out your parents'
gums before you call the dentist about your own). In another very small number
of cases, gingival hyperplasia is the result of a serious underlying disease.
For most people with gingival
hyperplasia, however, the condition is caused by one or more medications
prescribed by a doctor. This was first described with phenytoin, a medicine
used to treat and prevent seizures. In fact, nearly half of all people who get
this medicine will experience some amount of hyperplasia. Perhaps more
importantly, gingival hyperplasia has now been linked to one of the most
commonly prescribed classes of blood pressure medications: the calcium channel
blockers.
When caused by a medication,
gingival hyperplasia need not pose any threat to your overall health. If the
medication is stopped, the hyperplasia will improve fairly quickly. If this is
not possible, simple dental hygiene will prevent any problems that result from
gingival hyperplasia. The gums should be gently cleaned with a water pic in
addition to usual brushing of the exposed tooth surfaces. This should help remove
the irritants that cause gingival hyperplasia in the first place. Rarely, in
severe cases, surgery can be performed to remove the excess gum tissue.
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