Sorry to say, it can. In fact, anything involving contact with saliva—a kiss, parents tasting their babies’ food, sharing of tableware and toothbrushes—can transmit decay-causing bacteria. Soon after birth, infants start to get those bacteria that inhabit the mouth and cause cavities. These germs are usually transferred by the babies’ mothers or other family members. […]
Tag Archives | bacteria
Scaling and Root Planing
When Elbow Grease Counts Most periodontal patients in our practice become very familiar with the two primary therapies we rely on to treat gum disease: scaling and root planing. Sounds a little disagreeable, yes. But scaling and root planing are the beginning of the end of periodontal problems. The treatment is tried and true, with […]
Getting An Electric Toothbrush
Should I switch to an electric toothbrush? Or is my old toothbrush doing the job? For many people, making any change is a big decision. Maybe you make a list of pros and cons, carefully weighing benefits and potential drawbacks. Especially for significant changes that will affect your long-held daily habits, we understand that change […]
Periodontal Pockets
What Are Periodontal Pockets? Measuring periodontal pockets — depths and implications. Healthy gum tissue fits tightly and firmly against teeth. However, with age and/or declining oral health, this tissue can loosen and sag, forming periodontal pockets around the teeth. When this occurs, it can often become an ever-increasing problem, as it becomes easier and easier […]
Bacteria That Cause Cavities
Which Bacteria Causes Cavities? Looking Inside Your Mouth You probably know that bacteria in your mouth cause cavities, plaque, and tooth decay. And you also probably know that proper at-home care such as brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent cavities and more serious problems. (Combine with regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings […]
Cleaning Your Tongue
Tongue, Brushing, Scraping, Etc. Cleaning Your tongue to prevent bad breath & improve oral health. One of the best ways to make sure your breath is fresh and clean is to make sure that your tongue is healthy and clean as well. The tongue may seem like a smooth surface, but nothing could be further […]
Sterilization: Protecting Our Patients
Sterilization Limits Exposure to Germs and Bacteria During regular day-to-day life, germs and bacteria typically get a bad rap. When sterilization gets taken too far, we’re missing out on the benefits of a healthy and tested immune system. However, when it comes to dentistry and any medical facility, nothing could be further from the truth. […]
The Benefits of Probiotics
When thinking about bacteria, a good analogy is bugs in your garden. The bad ones eat your cherished plants and can carry diseases, but good bugs like bees and ladybugs exist as well. They help to undo the damage done by the bad bugs. With bacteria, it is much the same. The harmful bacteria spreads […]
Kids Can Get Gum Disease Too
It would be comforting to think that gum disease afflicted only adults. But adolescents and even pre-adolescents are especially at risk for what is often called Localized Juvenile Periodontitis (LJP). We usually think of periodontal disease as a result of plaque and calculus build-up. But the real culprit is bacteria that can spread from site […]
Frank Talk About Bad Breath
Social embarrassments come in many sizes. But chronic bad breath is near the top of the list. It affects those nearest and dearest to us and may limit the close social contacts we treasure most. Worse yet, a person with bad breath may be unaware he’s offensive—we “turn off” our sensitivity to bad odors over […]
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