Oral Bacteria in the Bloodstream

Gum disease weakens your gum tissue and creates an opening for bacteria to enter your bloodstream. As these bacteria travel through your body, they can inflame other cells and tissues. In fact, patients who have heart attacks or strokes often have the same bacteria that cause gum disease accumulated in their arteries. Here are some ways that oral bacteria can contribute to a stroke as it travels through your bloodstream:

• Oral bacteria can cause blood cells to swell, which narrows passageways and contributes to blood clots.
• Bacteria stick to fatty plaques in your bloodstream and block pathways.
• Gum disease is a chronic condition, and chronic inflammation is associated with hardening of the arteries.
• Oral bacteria can damage blood vessels and cause brain hemorrhaging—both of which contribute to a stroke.
• Poor oral health is often associated with poor diet, exercise, and other unhealthy heart habits.

Stroke Prevention

At your regularly-scheduled cleanings and checkups with Dr. Pate, your dental hygienist will clean your gums and periodontal pockets to remove the bacteria that cause infection. Additionally, Dr. Pate will examine your mouth for signs of gum disease so we can detect and treat the condition in its early stages.

Heart disease can be difficult to catch because you can’t feel your arteries hardening.  However, you will likely notice bleeding gums, which is a sign of infection. If you have any changes in your oral health, visit Dr. Pate to examine your condition. Your Atlanta dentist can help keep your mouth—and your heart—healthy. Contact Dentistry in Buckhead at (404) 266-9424 to request a checkup or cleaning. We welcome patients from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Lenox, Brookhaven, Atlanta, and surrounding communities.

1. How long should you brush your teeth?

A. One minute
B. Three minutes
C. Ten minutes

2. How often should you floss?

A. Every day
B. Once a week
C. Only before my dental appointment

3. True or False? Rinsing with mouthwash replaces the need to brush and floss.

4. How often should you replace your toothbrush?

A. Once a week
B. Once a year
C. Every three months

5. When should you visit your Atlanta dentist?

A. Only when something hurts
B. At regularly scheduled visits, at least every six months
C. Every few years

Proper Oral Care

1. B. The average person brushes for less than a minute, but you need to brush for at least three minutes, twice a day, to properly clean your mouth.
2. A. Brushing removes food that is stuck on your teeth, but flossing removes particles that are stuck between your teeth. Flossing also helps strengthen your gum tissue and circulates blood flow to your gums to help fight periodontal disease.
3. False. Mouthwash is an accompaniment to brushing and flossing—not a substitute! Mouthwash helps kill germs that are lingering in your oral cavity after brushing and flossing.
4. C. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your brush every three months, after a cold or flu, or when the bristles become frayed. Following these replacement guidelines will prevent bacterial buildup and keep the bristles strong enough to effectively clean your teeth.
5. B. You need to maintain routine checkups and cleanings with Dr. Pate to make sure your mouth is healthy. Dr. Pate will check for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, sleep apnea, misalignments, and other oral issues. Visit your Atlanta dentist regularly to allow for early detection and treatment.

If you have any questions about how to properly take care of your mouth, contact Dr. Pate at Dentistry in Buckhead at (404) 266-9424. We welcome patients from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Lenox, Brookhaven, Atlanta, and surrounding communities.

Smile Makeover

If your mom wishes for youth this Mother’s Day, Dr. Pate recommends refreshing her image with a smile makeover. Stress and aging may be wearing out your mom’s grin. If she has chips, stains, or misalignments, porcelain veneers can improve and reshape her smile. In addition, professional teeth whitening can take years off her appearance and help your mother look younger. If she feels confident in her smile, she will want to smile more—thereby lifting up her facial muscles to appear more energetic, friendly, happy, and youthful.

Sleep Therapy

Mom’s busy schedule drains her energy, but a sleep disorder may keep her up at night. Sleep apnea contributes to high blood pressure, fatigue, stroke, and depression. Help your mother sleep better and improve her health by scheduling a sleep apnea analysis with Dr. Pate.

A bright smile will help brighten your mom’s day and her oral health. Contact Dentistry in Buckhead at (404) 266-9424 to schedule an appointment for your family. We welcome patients from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Lenox, Brookhaven, Atlanta, and surrounding communities.

Dehydration

The human body is made up of 55-75% water. Your body loses water through sweating, urination, and exhaling. When you don’t replace the water your body is losing, you may become dehydrated. Dehydration can cause muscle weakness, cramping, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and other body weaknesses. However, dehydration affects your mouth, too. A lack of moisture in your mouth can lead to dry mouth and dry lips.

Oral Health Benefits of Water

Drinking water strengthens your body and flushes out toxins. It also helps keep your mouth and smile healthy. Water helps moisturize your skin to leave your lips soft.  Moisture in the mouth is necessary to rinse your mouth of food and bacteria and neutralize the pH level in your mouth, which helps fight tooth decay, enamel erosion, gum disease, and bad breath. Furthermore, tap water often contains fluoride, which is necessary for remineralizing your tooth enamel. Many of your favorite fruits and vegetables contain a lot of water and nutrients. For example, oranges are a great source of vitamin C to strengthen your gums, but they’re also about 87% water!

The general rule for water intake is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. However, hot weather, humidity, illness, and vigorous physical activity will increase the amount of water your body needs to stay healthy. Dr. Pate can help you maintain a healthy and hydrated mouth this summer.  Contact Dentistry in Buckhead at (404) 266-9424 to schedule an appointment.  We welcome patients from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Lenox, Brookhaven, Atlanta, and the nearby areas.

What are Digital X-rays?

Dental x-rays are essential in helping Dr. Pate diagnose tooth decay, gum disease, alignment issues, and other dental problems in their early stages. However, many people are concerned about the radiation exposure in traditional x-rays. Instead, we offer digital radiography technology. Digital x-rays produce 90 percent less radiation to help keep our patients and our environment safe and healthy. Additionally, digital x-rays give us instant high quality images of your teeth that can be organized electronically.

What are Intraoral Cameras?

Dr. Pate uses an intraoral camera to provide a “tour” of your mouth and to help walk you through diagnosis and treatment. An intraoral camera is a small wand that takes full-color images of your oral cavity. These images are available immediately for viewing on a TV screen, which means we can spend more time discussing your oral condition and treatment plan. Your digital images can be magnified, rotated, and adjusted so we can thoroughly explain all angles of your mouth.

What are Chairside Monitors?

Chairside monitors are flatscreen TV screens that are placed near the dental chair. Chairside monitors serve two purposes. First, you can choose to watch your favorite television show during your appointment to help relax your body. Additionally, the monitors display your digital images and intraoral photos. You can recline in the dental chair while viewing full-color visuals of your mouth.

A better understanding of your oral health will lead to better care. Our digital technologies keep you informed so you can make the decisions necessary for a healthy smile. To experience digital x-rays, intraoral cameras, or chairside monitors in Atlanta, contact Dentistry in Buckhead at (404) 266-9424 to schedule an appointment.  We welcome patients from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Lenox, Brookhaven, Atlanta, and surrounding communities.

Brushing at the Office

More than three-quarters of professionals eat at their desk at least twice during the day. However, only 53% of women and 37% of men brush their teeth after eating at work. The Academy of General Dentistry suggests leaving an extra toothbrush at the office to increase your likelihood of brushing by about 65 percent. Research also shows that people who practice healthy hygiene behaviors are more motivated and more likely to pay attention to details, thereby improving work efficiency.

Snacking on the Job

Eating a mid-morning snack will keep your body healthier. Snacking can keep you full enough during the day so you can make better decisions. For example, if you’re starving at lunchtime, you’ll probably just choose the first meal you see—whether it’s healthy or not. Hunger can also impair your focus and concentration. Eating a mid-day snack, on the other hand, will keep your stomach from rumbling so you can make better food decisions during the day. Keep in mind that the more often you eat, the more opportunities you are giving your oral bacteria to feed, so be sure to rinse your mouth after snacking.

The Importance of a Beautiful Smile in the Workplace

It’s important to arrive at the office showered and well-groomed, but about 40 percent of people notice a smile before clothing and hair. In fact, 96 percent of people think that smiling can greatly improve a person’s appearance. A bright smile makes you look younger, enthusiastic, energetic, and friendlier. About 42% of employees admit that the least attractive feature about their colleagues is “not smiling,” while 32% of professionals are most disgusted by their co-workers’ bad breath. Furthermore, adults miss about 164 million hours of work each year due to dental troubles. Keeping your mouth healthy will improve your well-being and your attendance.

If you need help protecting your smile at home or at work, contact Dr. Pate at Dentistry in Buckhead at (404) 266-9424.  We welcome patients from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Lenox, Brookhaven, Atlanta, and surrounding communities.

Common Causes of Morning Breath

• Poor hygiene: Bacteria and food particles that sit in your mouth all night can produce a bad odor when you wake up. It’s important to brush and floss your teeth thoroughly before going to bed to help clear out any lingering microbes. Cleaning your mouth will also help reduce your risk of decay because oral bacteria won’t have as much material to feed on overnight. Additionally, alcohol further dries out your mouth, so make sure your mouthwash has little to no alcohol content.
• Tongue neglect: Keep in mind that half of the bacteria in your mouth live on the surface of your tongue. As you sleep, your muscles relax and your tongue rests against your throat, roof, or floor of your mouth—spreading the bacteria all over your oral cavity. Make sure you clean your tongue to remove harmful bacteria.
• Snoring: If you breathe through your mouth, the constant air flow will dry out your palate, tongue, and throat. Dr. Pate’s sleep therapy can help prevent snoring and sleep apnea. Additionally, try changing your sleep position or using a humidifier to clear your nasal passages so you can breathe through your nose.
• Natural dry mouth: When you sleep, your salivary glands slow down, so there is less saliva available to moisten your mouth. Oral bacteria thrive in this dry environment all night long. Unfortunately, your mouth naturally dries out while you sleep, but keeping a glass of water next to your bed can encourage hydration during the night.  Also, Dr. Pate recommends trying an oral mist to keep your mouth hydrated, like RAIN Oral Mist Spray with xylitol.
• Constant halitosis: While morning halitosis is normal, constant bad breath is not. If you always have a dry mouth, bad breath, or a bad taste in your mouth, the sensations will be worse upon wakening. Visit Dr. Pate to determine what’s causing your oral odor.  Possible causes could include sinus drainage, dehydration and acid reflux.

Dr. Pate can help keep your mouth healthy at all times of the day and night. Contact Dentistry in Buckhead at (404) 266-9424 to evaluate your oral health.  We welcome patients from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Lenox, Brookhaven, Atlanta, and the nearby areas.

1. What color are Invisalign braces?
a. Silver
b. White
c. Clear

2. How long do you wear each set of aligners?
a. One month
b. Two weeks
c. One week

3. When should you remove Invisalign?
a. For eating and cleaning
b. For sleeping
c. Only at the end of treatment

4. Which of the following is associated with Invisalign?
a. Wires
b. Brackets
c. A custom fit

Answers and Explanations

1. C. Invisalign braces are clear, acrylic aligners. They are virtually invisible, so they won’t affect your appearance and nobody will know you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.

2. B. You will wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, and then switch to the next set. This step-by-step process will gradually shift your teeth into proper position. The whole treatment takes about nine to 18 months to properly align your teeth, and you will visit Dr. Pate regularly to check your progress.

3. A. Invisalign braces are completely removable. You can take them out when you eat food and clean your teeth. You can also slip them off for special occasions, if necessary. However, your treatment will only be effective if you wear your aligners as directed and as often as possible.

4. C. Dr. Pate will take impressions of your mouth so a special lab can generate your customized aligners. Invisalign fits comfortably over your teeth. You don’t have to worry about wires and brackets that poke, cut, and irritate the inside of your mouth.

Invisalign is ideal for image-conscious adults and teens. To beautifully straighten your smile, call Dentistry in Buckhead at (404) 266-9424 to schedule an Invisalign consultation with Dr. Pate.  We welcome patients from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Lenox, Brookhaven, Atlanta, and surrounding communities.

Stay Sterile

More than half of the bacteria in your mouth live on the surface of your tongue. When your tongue is punctured, your oral bacteria can enter your bloodstream, increasing your risk of heart problems and other oral-systemic conditions. Additionally, if not sterilized properly, the piercing needle can carry bacteria and increase your risk of toxic shock syndrome, blood poisoning, hepatitis, and other health problems. Furthermore, research shows that stainless steel studs collect more bacteria than plastic studs. To prevent infection, be sure your piercer is using a clean needle and practices proper oral hygiene to keep your mouth clean.

Healthy Healing

A piercing takes a long time to heal. It’s important to take proper care of your mouth during the recovery process to prevent infection and restore the healthy tissues. Immediately following your piercings, your tongue, lips, and gums may swell. Swelling can make it difficult to speak, eat, drink, and swallow properly. Furthermore, excessive inflammation may block your airway. To promote quick recovery, consume plenty of vitamin C, rinse your mouth with an antiseptic, and avoid acidic items that could irritate your mouth. You should also visit Dr. Pate to check that your piercing and oral tissues are healing safely.

Strong Smiles

When you eat, talk, and swallow, your jewelry is going to hit the back of your teeth, which can chip your enamel. If you accidentally bite down on a stud, you could crack your teeth. Furthermore, when the piercing touches your gums, it can irritate and injure your gum tissue. Oral piercings can also create a speech impediment as you become accustomed to the new feeling.

If you choose to have an oral piercing, please ensure that your mouth is healthy prior to doing the deed.  Although Dr. Pate doesn’t encourage tongue or lip piercings, he can still help keep you on track with proper oral health and monitoring the healing process.  Contact Dentistry in Buckhead at (404) 266-9424 to request an appointment.  We welcome patients from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Lenox, Brookhaven, Atlanta, and the nearby areas.

Body Development

As your body develops, so does your mouth. Your teeth may shift and become crooked, or your bite may become misaligned. Braces are a common option to restore your alignment. However, if you’re worried that a mouth full of metal will hinder your adult image, Dr. Pate offers Invisalign clear braces to straighten your smile without wires and brackets. As a bonus, they are removable so you can take them out during your prom or graduation ceremony. Additionally, your wisdom teeth begin to develop and erupt in the late teen years. Third molars often don’t have enough room to grow in properly, creating pain and crowding that cause the need for an extraction. Summer is a great time to schedule your extraction so you have enough free time to recover. Furthermore, puberty and menstruation cause hormonal changes in your bloodstream. These changes can increase blood circulation to your gums and may cause tender, sore, or swollen gums.

Social Acceptance

Many teens experiment with different social situations in the hopes of fitting in. Smoking and alcohol consumption can dry out your mouth and increase your risk of gum disease, bad breath, and oral cancer. Oral piercings may irritate your oral tissues or crack your teeth. Eating disorders and frequent purging can lead to enamel erosion and stained teeth. If your social behaviors have stained or worn out your teeth, Dr. Pate can brighten your smile with whitening, veneers, or bonding.

Stress

Homework, parents, college applications, and other stressful situations can increase the tension in your life. As a result, you may unconsciously clench or grind your teeth. Bruxism leads to headaches, neck pain, jaw pain, tooth wear, and many other dental conditions. Additionally, stress and busy schedules may shift your focus to other activities so you tend to neglect your dental health. To cope with all-nighters, you may change your eating habits to include more junk food. Visit Dr. Pate during times of stress to keep your mouth healthy.

To start your college life off with a beautiful and healthy smile, visit Dr. Pate to restore your dental health and brighten your smile. Contact Dentistry in Buckhead at (404) 266-9424 to schedule an appointment.  We welcome patients from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Lenox, Brookhaven, Atlanta, and the nearby areas.