E-Cigs and Your Smile: How Does Vaping Affect Your Teeth?

As many cigarette smokers turn to electronic cigarettes to get their nicotine fix, the topic of how these popular products affect oral health inevitably comes up again and again. While it is common knowledge that smoking cigarettes can cause a variety of oral health problems – including oral cancer, periodontal disease, and substantially stained teeth – not much is yet known about how e-cigs impact a person’s smile. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA, our doctors are happy to share valuable oral health information with our patients, including how the mouth is affected by smoking vs. vaping e-cigarettes.

Being an Informed Consumer

Though research is still ongoing regarding how e-cigs affect oral health, there are a few things that medical studies have been able to tell us so far. One of these factors involves the manner in which vaping dehydrates the mouth. A dry mouth is an excellent environment for bacterial imbalance and the development of periodontal disease. Patients who experience chronic dry mouth – whether it is caused by using electronic cigarettes or not – should contact our office for a consultation to determine the underlying issue, as well as to seek treatment.

Other concerns regarding e-cigs and oral health revolve around the ingredients used to create the liquid, or “juice,” these products use to deliver nicotine. More research is needed to determine how these ingredients, including propylene glycol and the flavorings used, impact the teeth and soft tissues of the gums, cheek lining, and tongue.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Whether you are currently a smoker, an e-cig user, or simply someone who would like to learn more about how these behaviors affect your oral health, we are here to help. Our doctors and caring, compassionate staff are always happy to share vital oral health information with our patients because we want you to have the happiest, healthiest smile possible. Contact our office today to schedule a visit to our Virginia Beach office and discover the difference that our patient-centric approach can make in your life. We also happily serve patients in Norfolk, Sandbridge, Fort Story, Portsmouth, and beyond. 

What is Periodontitis?

When most people think of gum disease, the first images that come to mind typically include swollen gum tissue and bleeding gums when the teeth are brushed or flossed. While these are certainly common symptoms associated with periodontal disease, the consequences of leaving this condition untreated can actually be far worse. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA, Dr. Vinita John Folck and Dr. Stephanie L. Santos offer comprehensive periodontal therapy to treat gum disease before it results in more severe complications.

Gum Disease and the Body

Periodontitis is a severe infection of the gums and the gingival tissues that hold the teeth in their proper places. When these tissues become inflamed and infected, the structural integrity of the jaw and teeth is compromised. In addition to causing gum sensitivity, swelling, and bleeding, periodontitis can eventually lead to loose teeth and even teeth that fall out.

Other complications that arise from untreated gum disease include an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections, dementia, and low birth weight in infants of mothers with the condition. With periodontal therapy from the team at Smile by Design, we’ll develop a treatment plan that suits your individual situation. Our primary goal is to help you achieve and maintain a smile that is as healthy as it is beautiful.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you suspect that you or anyone in your family may be suffering from any level of gum disease – even if it consists of occasional bleeding when you brush or floss – contact our office in Virginia Beach, VA today. Our doctors and caring staff look forward to helping you stop periodontitis in its tracks, giving you the healthy, gorgeous smile you want and deserve. Our family-friendly office gladly welcomes patients from throughout Virginia Beach and the surrounding communities, including the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and beyond.

Periodontal Therapy for Virginia Beach

In our last post, we talked about the connection between oral health and overall wellbeing. Today we’d like to talk a little more about gum disease, its symptoms, and how it can be treated.

The symptoms of gum disease include:

• Red or swollen gums
• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Loose or shifting teeth
• Pockets between the teeth and gums

Regular checkups at Smile by Design are important because they give Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck a chance to look for symptoms like these. Regular appointments are also important because not every patient who struggles with gum disease will exhibit all of them.

If our Virginia Beach team finds anything, we can put together a treatment plan designed around your specific needs. One of the most common treatments for gum disease is scaling and root planing. Using a combination of scaling and root planing plus extra homecare, Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos can help you gain control over your symptoms and enjoy better oral health and overall wellbeing.

Are you struggling with gum disease? Data indicates that a majority of American adults will at some point. Call Smile by Design today to schedule an appointment. Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos are happy to serve patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and surrounding areas.

Oral Health and the Health of Your Heart

In just a few days, couples across the country will be celebrating Valentine’s Day. Given how much the heart figures into Valentine’s cards, candy and decorations, now seems like a good time to make you aware of the connection between your oral health—and specifically gum disease—and your overall health. Are you surprised to hear that there’s a connection at all? Many people don’t realize that one exists, but according to recent data, it does.

Gum disease starts with the accumulation of bacteria and plaque around the gum line. Over time, as these two irritate the mouth’s soft tissues, an infection will develop, resulting in symptoms like bleeding, sensitivity, swelling and more. Given enough time, gum disease creates pockets between the teeth and gum line. From these pockets bacteria and plaque can gain access to the body’s bloodstream, traveling to, among other places, the heart, where they can contribute to clotting and even heart attacks.

Gum disease has also been linked to other kinds of health problems, including:

• Alzheimer’s
• Stroke
• Pre-term birth
• Diabetes
• Pneumonia

How can you prevent health problems related to gum disease? By following a few simple steps.

First, make sure you’re following a good brushing and flossing regimen. Brushing twice a day—or after every meal, if you can—will help you keep bacteria and plaque from building up around your teeth, while flossing once a day will help you clean between your teeth. You can also add an antibacterial mouthwash to your routine to make it more effective.

The next step you can take is to see Dr. Folck or Dr. Santos on a regular basis for checkups and cleanings. Checkups will help us spot gum disease before it develops into a serious problem; cleanings give us a chance to remove bacteria and plaque you couldn’t get by yourself at home.

Do you have questions about the oral health-heart health connection? Is it time for your next checkup and cleaning? Call Smile by Design today for an appointment. We serve patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and beyond.