Health Concerns
Dentists need to know the chemical makeup/action that occurs in the mouth to prevent and treat problems for the future. Oral health has been shown to be connected to overall health. Dentists are able to detect signs of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, respiratory disease, arthritis, and more.
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Plaque is a soft white/yellow layer, which forms on teeth, containing bacteria acids, food pieces and saliva. Certain bacteria in the mouth live off the remains of food, especially sugars. In the absence of oxygen they produce lactic acid, which dissolves the calcium and phosphorus in the enamel, this process is call demineralization and not to be confused with fermentation (which instead uses heat), although similar. For this to happen, it must be below the pH of about 5.5 on the tooth surface. Usually if plaque is left on a tooth for more than 20 minuets, the tooth will start to decay, and cavities will form over time, sometimes causing gingivitis if not treated immediately. Fluoride helps prevent this, making the tooth stronger and less prone for this to happen. Saliva is the most natural way in which the mouth can prevent plaque from creating a cavity.
Saliva is made of 99% water (H2O), while the other 1% are elements which are able to aid digestion and protect the tooth enamel from plaque. Saliva wets food and permits swallowing and protecting the mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity from becoming dry. Saliva gradually neutralizes the acids causing the pH to lower.
Fun Fact! In a single day an average adult produces about 500mL of saliva.
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Plaque is a soft white/yellow layer, which forms on teeth, containing bacteria acids, food pieces and saliva. Certain bacteria in the mouth live off the remains of food, especially sugars. In the absence of oxygen they produce lactic acid, which dissolves the calcium and phosphorus in the enamel, this process is call demineralization and not to be confused with fermentation (which instead uses heat), although similar. For this to happen, it must be below the pH of about 5.5 on the tooth surface. Usually if plaque is left on a tooth for more than 20 minuets, the tooth will start to decay, and cavities will form over time, sometimes causing gingivitis if not treated immediately. Fluoride helps prevent this, making the tooth stronger and less prone for this to happen. Saliva is the most natural way in which the mouth can prevent plaque from creating a cavity.
Saliva is made of 99% water (H2O), while the other 1% are elements which are able to aid digestion and protect the tooth enamel from plaque. Saliva wets food and permits swallowing and protecting the mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity from becoming dry. Saliva gradually neutralizes the acids causing the pH to lower.
- Enzymes in the saliva break down food and are essential in digesting starches and fats
- Electrolytes in saliva include: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate and iodine
- Antibacterial compounds in the saliva include: thiocyanate, hydrogen peroxide, and immunoglobulin A
Fun Fact! In a single day an average adult produces about 500mL of saliva.
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Dentists are able to see the first signs of health problems including cancer. It is important for dentists to recognize these situations and causes of them in order to prescribe the right medication or instruction to and for the patient. Today we will talk about a constantly occurring disease.
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Gingivitis is a form of periodontal disease, which is an inflammation and infection that breaks down the tissues that support the teeth, gums, tooth sockets, and periodontal ligaments. It is caused by plague that has lingered on a tooth, creating crevasses (demineralization) of the tooth, also known as tartar. The bacteria and acids in the plaque irritate and inflame the gums from the toxins they create. If a dentist notices a patient with the symptoms of gingivitis: bleeding, bright red, tender to the touch, shiny gums, then he must also be aware that the patients cause for it could be of a systematic disease, poor dental hygiene, pregnancy, diabetes, medications (including bismuth, phenytoin, and birth control pills), or smoking. In relation to dentistry, smoking can also lead to mouth cancer. Dentists will use chemistry to prescribe the right treatment and perform the removal procedure. This shows that knowledge of chemistry as well as biology (biochemistry) is used to see the relations of diseases in part with dental hygiene.
Dentists are able to see the first signs of health problems including cancer. It is important for dentists to recognize these situations and causes of them in order to prescribe the right medication or instruction to and for the patient. Today we will talk about a constantly occurring disease.
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Gingivitis is a form of periodontal disease, which is an inflammation and infection that breaks down the tissues that support the teeth, gums, tooth sockets, and periodontal ligaments. It is caused by plague that has lingered on a tooth, creating crevasses (demineralization) of the tooth, also known as tartar. The bacteria and acids in the plaque irritate and inflame the gums from the toxins they create. If a dentist notices a patient with the symptoms of gingivitis: bleeding, bright red, tender to the touch, shiny gums, then he must also be aware that the patients cause for it could be of a systematic disease, poor dental hygiene, pregnancy, diabetes, medications (including bismuth, phenytoin, and birth control pills), or smoking. In relation to dentistry, smoking can also lead to mouth cancer. Dentists will use chemistry to prescribe the right treatment and perform the removal procedure. This shows that knowledge of chemistry as well as biology (biochemistry) is used to see the relations of diseases in part with dental hygiene.
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The treatment of gingivitis includes various forms of scaling, root planning, flossing , and mouthwashes containing hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine. The following will inform you on the chemical agents used to stop gingivitis as well as their other chemical uses in dentistry (also follows "Materials").
Hydrogen peroxide is calmly used by dentists as a whitening agent, but can also be used in a mouthwash form to treat gingivitis. Dentists will use the proper amount of hydrogen peroxide to whiten a patients teeth, but tooth whitening stripes are known to have too much hydrogen peroxide, thus dissolving tooth enamel, making teeth prone to cavities. The inexpensive $3 brown bottles you can get at grocery stores don't whiten teeth, don't dissolve tooth enamel, but can soften tooth enamel if misused - causing cavities and gingivitis, and at the same time can kill the germs that cause gingivitis and the germs that cause cavities. It is not safe to put it in your mouth often , especially in large increments. It is found that swishing it around your mouth to kill bacteria for more than 5 seconds will be corrosive to the teeth and cause damage.
Bacteria causes gingivitis, by breaking down the tooth. The immune system surrounds bacteria with water (inflammation) to make it difficult for the bacteria to move and easier for the immune cells to find bacteria. The pressure of inflammation slows the blood flow in small blood vessels, causing the reddening of the gums. Hydrogen peroxide cannot go into the gums but rather kills the bacteria surrounding the gums to prevent anymore inhibiting bacteria. Gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, where the bacteria infects the jaw bone causing bone loss in sockets that anchor teeth to the jaw. This causes irreversible symptoms of tooth loss. Hydrogen peroxide cannot reach the bacteria that have reached bone, but the immune system can. If the supply of bacteria form gums to bone is stopped, the immune system will have time to remove the bacteria that has reached the bone.
The treatment of gingivitis includes various forms of scaling, root planning, flossing , and mouthwashes containing hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine. The following will inform you on the chemical agents used to stop gingivitis as well as their other chemical uses in dentistry (also follows "Materials").
Hydrogen peroxide is calmly used by dentists as a whitening agent, but can also be used in a mouthwash form to treat gingivitis. Dentists will use the proper amount of hydrogen peroxide to whiten a patients teeth, but tooth whitening stripes are known to have too much hydrogen peroxide, thus dissolving tooth enamel, making teeth prone to cavities. The inexpensive $3 brown bottles you can get at grocery stores don't whiten teeth, don't dissolve tooth enamel, but can soften tooth enamel if misused - causing cavities and gingivitis, and at the same time can kill the germs that cause gingivitis and the germs that cause cavities. It is not safe to put it in your mouth often , especially in large increments. It is found that swishing it around your mouth to kill bacteria for more than 5 seconds will be corrosive to the teeth and cause damage.
Bacteria causes gingivitis, by breaking down the tooth. The immune system surrounds bacteria with water (inflammation) to make it difficult for the bacteria to move and easier for the immune cells to find bacteria. The pressure of inflammation slows the blood flow in small blood vessels, causing the reddening of the gums. Hydrogen peroxide cannot go into the gums but rather kills the bacteria surrounding the gums to prevent anymore inhibiting bacteria. Gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, where the bacteria infects the jaw bone causing bone loss in sockets that anchor teeth to the jaw. This causes irreversible symptoms of tooth loss. Hydrogen peroxide cannot reach the bacteria that have reached bone, but the immune system can. If the supply of bacteria form gums to bone is stopped, the immune system will have time to remove the bacteria that has reached the bone.
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Chlorhexidine is often used as an active ingredient in mouthwash, reducing plaque and bacteria in the mouth. It belongs to a group of medicines called antiseptic antibacterial agents. If it is not deactivated, chlorhexidine lasts longer in the mouth than other mouthwashes and this is partly why it is preferred over other treatments for gingivitis. Anionic compounds deactivate chlorhexidine, including anionic surfactants used as some detergents in toothpaste. That is why chlorhexidine rinses should be used 30 minuets after using other dental products, so it will stay active. It is also used as another rinse, know as chlorhexidine-gluconate solution, which is a salt of chlorhexidine and gluconic acid (pH 5-7) dissolved (aq), used after a wisdom tooth extraction, oral cysts, dental traumas, and more to heal and regenerate oral tissues.
Chlorhexidine is often used as an active ingredient in mouthwash, reducing plaque and bacteria in the mouth. It belongs to a group of medicines called antiseptic antibacterial agents. If it is not deactivated, chlorhexidine lasts longer in the mouth than other mouthwashes and this is partly why it is preferred over other treatments for gingivitis. Anionic compounds deactivate chlorhexidine, including anionic surfactants used as some detergents in toothpaste. That is why chlorhexidine rinses should be used 30 minuets after using other dental products, so it will stay active. It is also used as another rinse, know as chlorhexidine-gluconate solution, which is a salt of chlorhexidine and gluconic acid (pH 5-7) dissolved (aq), used after a wisdom tooth extraction, oral cysts, dental traumas, and more to heal and regenerate oral tissues.
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There are many other ways to prevent and treat oral health problems by using chemistry. A knowledge of biochemistry is important in that they both help dentists understand the underlying facts to treat patients.
There are many other ways to prevent and treat oral health problems by using chemistry. A knowledge of biochemistry is important in that they both help dentists understand the underlying facts to treat patients.