Being diagnosed with diabetes can be a shock but it is something that many more Americans have to face. Diabetes is very serious condition that can take its toll on your general health and is caused by the body being unable to control the level of glucose in the blood, due to producing insufficient insulin.

Controlling the disease can be quite tricky and in addition to high blood sugar levels, anyone suffering from type I or type II diabetes can end up with other general health complications including neuropathy, heart problems and diabetes arthritis. Unfortunately diabetes also has the ability to affect gum health.

How Diabetes Affects Gum Health

If you have this condition then you do need to take additional care with your oral hygiene routine as there is a strong link between gum disease and diabetes.

People with diabetes are more likely to have gum health problems and to experience early tooth loss. The problem with diabetes is that it increases the risk of glucose in saliva, particularly for anyone who struggles to keep their glucose levels under control.

A higher level of glucose in saliva increases the risk of gum disease as the presence of sugar enables plaque bacteria that cause this disease to thrive.

Gum Disease Symptoms

When you have gum disease, plaque bacteria will gradually infect and inflame your gums, particularly just around the gum line where plaque tends to build up. You may notice your gums look red or swollen or that they bleed slightly when brushed or flossed.

It’s important to make sure that your brushing and flossing routine will remove as much plaque as possible, before it has a chance to infect your gums.

Often it’s very easy to miss certain areas when you brush or floss and plaque can soon harden into tartar (calculus) that can only be removed professionally during a clean at your dental office.

Best Ways to Protect Your Gum Health

Although diabetes will increase your risk of gum disease, there are lots of different things you can do to help protect your gums and to keep them healthy.

The best way is to combine good oral hygiene with professional dental care and you may wish to think about having regular periodontal evaluations with a good periodontist like Dr. Navid Rahmani at Manhattan Periodontics & Implant surgery. Our state of the art periodontal NYC facility equipped with the most advanced periodontal equipment available in USA including latest lasers & high precision microscopes.

His dental office is conveniently located in Midtown, NYC and you don’t need a referral from your general dentist to book an appointment. The advantage of having a regular periodontal evaluation is that Dr. Rahmani will be able to keep a close eye on your gum health from appointment to appointment and can quickly identify any areas of concern.

Gum Disease Treatment in NYC

If you do happen to have any signs of gum disease, a periodontist is always the best qualified dental specialist to see for this problem. Gum disease or periodontal disease often requires specialized treatment and Dr. Rahmani’s dental office is equipped with the very latest dental laser and this can help ensure that treatment is more comfortable and more effective. Dr. Rahmani is also able to provide many different specialized treatments that you simply wouldn’t find in your general dental office, including techniques to help rebuild bone that may have been destroyed by gum disease, and advanced gum grafting techniques.

The great thing about using specialized dental treatment to protect your gum health is that you’ll be helping to protect your general health at the same time, reducing the effect that diabetes can have on your overall health.

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Are You a Nervous Patient? We Can Help…

We use the latest and most advanced sedation techniques to keep you comfortable during treatment. When you first visit our dental office, Dr. Navid Rahmani will gently examine your mouth to assess if you have gum disease and can then recommend the most suitable course of treatment. This initial visit will also give you an opportunity to discuss your dental fears and it is important to remember that no treatment will be provided at this point and that it will be merely an examination that you can stop at any time.

Sedation Dentistry Can Help Fight Dental Fears

Sedation dentistry is a way of ensuring you feel relaxed enough to receive dental treatment. This can also be useful for anyone who intends to have a lot of treatment in one appointment or who is thinking about having multiple dental implants inserted. You might also hear sedation dentistry being called sleep dentistry even though this isn’t quite technically true. While sedation dentistry will keep you relaxed, you should be able to still communicate with Dr. Rahmani and our dental team during your treatment but you are unlikely to remember very much about treatment once the sedative has worn off. It all depends on the degree of sedation provided, as for example you can have minimal sedation where you will be fully relaxed but awake, or deeper sedation where you will feel quite sleepy but we will still be able to wake you during treatment.

Best Treatments for Gum Disease in NYC

If you do indeed have periodontal or gum disease then you can rest assured that you will receive the best possible treatment as Dr. Rahmani is a periodontist in Midtown Manhattan, NYC and is best qualified to treat your gums. We will ensure that every treatment is given in a very gentle manner and it’s quite possible we may recommend laser dentistry as part of your treatment plan. Our dental laser is one of the most advanced on the market and we often recommend this type of treatment as it is very gentle and non-invasive and can be much easier for nervous patients to cope with. Afterwards healing times are faster and there is less discomfort. If you require surgery then we offer a range of the most advanced techniques that will help restore your gum health. Quite often we find patients who were previously nervous about visiting a dentist find it easier as time goes on, particularly as their dental health is restored and they are able to overcome their dental fears and phobias about treatment.

Dental fears are incredibly common and you will find our dental team is extremely sympathetic towards anyone with this problem. There is no need to feel anxious just because you haven’t seen a dentist in a while as we just want to make sure you have healthy gums and a nice smile.

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First Signs of Gum Recession

One of the first signs of gum recession is noticing your teeth look longer than you remember, but you may also notice your teeth begin to become more sensitive to hot and cold. This is because gum recession exposes the root of the tooth which isn’t covered in a hard layer of protective enamel. Instead the tooth root is covered in a much softer substance called cementum that is easily worn away.

Why Do Gums Recede?

It can be due to a variety of reasons including:

• Brushing your teeth too hard, as this can wear away the tooth enamel and the delicate gum tissue. If you are brushing your teeth too hard then we can advise you on the best way to brush them to avoid any further damage, and are likely to recommend you use a soft bristled toothbrush that is kinder to your gums.
• It may be down to your genes, as some people are more likely to develop gum disease. In fact studies have shown that up to a third of the population could be more at risk of developing gum disease, even if they have good dental hygiene.
• If you are lax about your dental care, then you are more at risk of developing gum disease. This causes the gums to become infected and inflamed, gradually resulting in them pulling back from your teeth, creating large pockets around the teeth which are perfect for collecting more disease causing bacteria. We have lots of different treatments available to deal with the effects of gum disease, and to hopefully eradicate all signs of this common condition.
• Grinding and clenching or bruxism can also put pressure on your teeth and gums, causing gum recession. This condition is often easily resolved through wearing a night guard. If you think you might have this problem then ask us about having a custom-made night guard to help protect your teeth and gums from any further damage.
• If you smoke you are more at risk of developing gum disease as tobacco users often have more problems with sticky plaque and calculus that cause this condition. One solution might be to quit smoking, or to book more frequent professional cleanings with one of our hygienists.
• If your teeth don’t bite together correctly then it can place too much force on your teeth and gums, causing gum recession. We can assess your bite and will recommend the most suitable treatment to correct this problem. This might mean crowning or adjusting your teeth, or orthodontic treatment to reposition them.

If you do have receding gums then make an appointment to come and see us as soon as you can. Our dentists at the Manhattan Periodontics and Implant Dentistry Center will diagnose the reason for this issue and can recommend the most suitable treatment options.

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The good news is that you definitely don’t have to lose teeth with age, but healthy teeth and gums do require good professional dental care and home maintenance. One major problem that will be faced by a large percentage of the population is gum disease.

Gum Disease and How Does It Make You Lose Teeth with Age

Gum disease is a bacterial infection caused by plaque building up on your teeth and gums. If you don’t brush thoroughly enough or fail to floss (Read also: Flossing Properly), then not all the plaque will be regularly removed from your teeth and it will soon harden into tartar that will produce toxins, gradually infecting and inflaming your gums. Over time your gums will be destroyed and the infection will spread to the ligaments that are attached to your teeth and to the jawbone. As these structures are destroyed by gum disease, you will notice your teeth gradually becoming loose, eventually leading to tooth loss.

Obviously this doesn’t happen overnight, but gum disease is insidious and the first symptoms can be easy to miss and this is where Dr. Navid Rahmani of Manhattan Periodontics & Implant Surgery can help you to not lose teeth with age.

Specialized Dental Care for Gum Disease in NY

As a very experienced and highly trained periodontist, Dr. Rahmani can ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment for gum disease. Treatment can vary considerably depending on the progression of the disease and you will find Dr. Rahmani can provide customized care for the mildest symptoms of the disease as well as the most advanced and up-to-date surgical treatments for when gum disease has developed into periodontitis, the most severe form of the disease. So why is this better than visiting a general dentist if you don’t want to lose teeth with age?

A periodontist has first qualified as a general dentist before opting to complete several more years of specialized dental training, ensuring you will get the very best available treatment. As you only have one set of teeth, you will probably be interested in preserving them. You will find that Dr. Rahmani will do everything possible to preserve natural teeth, but if periodontitis is extremely well advanced and teeth have already loosened then there may be no other option but to have them removed.

What Happens if You Do Lose Teeth?

While still upsetting, lose teeth with age can be much more easily dealt with these days and you don’t need to be condemned to a life of loose dentures and soft foods. Any teeth that cannot be salvaged will be carefully removed and you can choose to have dental implants. These artificially replace the entire tooth in a way that will make it very difficult for others to detect you have ever suffered from tooth loss. Instead, you can look forward to strong, stable replacement teeth so you can get on with the business of enjoying life.

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Unhealthy Gums Can Lead to Tooth Loss

If you don’t look after your gums then you’re at risk of developing gum disease. This may ultimately cause tooth loss, and just as importantly has been associated with a number of chronic long-term general health conditions. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to maintain healthy gums. You need to gently brush your gums when you brush your teeth, removing that sticky layer of plaque bacteria that build up during the course of the day and which could otherwise cause gum disease.

Maintaining Nice, Healthy Gums

You do need to have a really good oral care routine at home which you must be committed towards maintaining. This doesn’t mean you’ll have to spend ages cleaning your teeth every day, as it will probably only take a few minutes which is a small price to pay to protect your teeth and gums and your general health.

Using the Proper Tools to Clean Your Teeth and Gums

The first thing to consider is your toothbrush. A common mistake is to choose a brush that has very hard bristles in the belief that it will clean your teeth and gums more effectively. In fact the opposite could be true, as brushing too hard will damage your gums, wearing away the delicate gum tissues and causing gum recession. You’ll also damage your tooth enamel and are more likely to end up with sensitive teeth or even decay around the necks of the teeth. Instead of a hard brush, choose a toothbrush with soft to medium bristles. Provided you use it correctly, it will do a very good job at keeping your gums and teeth clean. Use fluoride toothpaste that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. This will have been thoroughly tested for effectiveness and safety.

Don’t Forget to Floss

Dr. Navid Rahmani is well aware many patients find it difficult to floss, and some may only do so just before an appointment at Manhattan Periodontics & Implant Surgery. The thing is, with the proper techniques it really isn’t that difficult to do. A common mistake is to break off too short a length of dental floss, as it needs to be around eighteen inches long so you can use a clean section in between each tooth. Some people find it easiest to tie the ends together so it creates a large loop, while others prefer to wind the ends around their middle fingers so that the forefingers and thumbs can be used to gently slide the floss right down to and just below the gums. Whichever method you use, it is well worth persevering, even if it initially makes your gums bleed a little bit.

Don’t forget, you can always ask any of the dental team at Manhattan Periodontics & Implant Surgery for more information and practical help.

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What Causes Gingivitis?

The most common reason for developing gingivitis is poor dental hygiene. If you haven’t been quite as vigilant as you should have about twice daily brushing and once-a-day flossing then you are far more likely to need gingivitis treatment. Failing to clean your teeth thoroughly will allow plaque to build up on your teeth and gums. Plaque contains bacteria that cause gingivitis and it can soon harden into calculus, which is a very hard substance that can only be removed by having your teeth professionally cleaned. It takes just a couple of days for plaque to harden into calculus and this can also happen if you regularly clean your teeth but are missing out certain areas of your mouth. The longer plaque and calculus are able to remain on your teeth, the greater the risk of infection and irritation in your gums. As well as poor oral hygiene habits, there are a number of other risk factors associated with gingivitis.

Who Is More at Risk of Developing Gingivitis?

You are more likely to need gingivitis treatment if you smoke, are older or have a disease that affects your immunity, for example HIV/AIDS or leukemia. Diabetics are more likely to develop gingivitis and aging can increase your risk (Read also: Diabetes and Gum Health). Women are more at risk of developing gingivitis at certain times due to hormonal changes. Wearing a poorly fitting dental appliance that traps plaque can increase your chances of developing gingivitis, as can taking certain medications that may cause dry mouth, a condition where you can’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth comfortable. The good news is, your gum disease has been caught early enough to be completely cured.

Gingivitis Treatment in New York

Your first step is to visit a good periodontist and you can phone up and make an appointment without requiring a referral from your dentist. You will find Dr. Navid Rahmani is an extremely gentle and thorough periodontist and he will be able to examine your gums to discover the extent of the infection. The next step will be to plan gingivitis treatment which is normally to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums. If the infection is very mild he might suggest a regular scale and clean, but quite often gums will benefit from being deep cleaned, a treatment that will remove more bacteria and which is able to treat any tooth root surfaces that may have become exposed through gum recession. By following his aftercare instructions very carefully, you can ensure the disease will be completely eradicated.

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Common Causes of a Gummy Smile

Your gummy smile could be due to teeth erupting slightly abnormally, where they are covered by excess gum tissue that can make them appear as if they are too short. However underneath the gum tissue they may actually be the proper length. It could also be due to the development of your upper jaw bone, for example if it is bulging out excessively then it can make a gummy smile more obvious. Some people show too much gum tissue because their upper lip is pulled up higher than normal due to hyperactive muscles in this area.

Is the Problem Purely Aesthetic or Due to Something Else?

The amount of gum tissue is shown when you smile is determined by several different factors that include your facial muscles, the shape and size of your lips, and the shape and size of your teeth. Ideally you shouldn’t reveal very much gum tissue at all when smiling, and the contours should be balanced evenly balanced and in harmony with your upper lip. For most people the problem will be purely aesthetic, but it’s also possible for it to be due to some other issue that if not rectified could affect your long-term dental health.

Getting Treatment in Midtown Manhattan

Dr. Navid Rahmani at the Manhattan Periodontics & Implant Surgery in Midtown Manhattan can assess your gummy smile before recommending the correct course of treatment. This will be based on the amount of gum tissue shown and the reason for your gummy smile. During your examination, Dr. Rahmani may need to take dental x-rays or carry out other diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your gummy smile.

The good news is that something can be done about your appearance, often quite easily. Many gummy smiles are due to teeth that are the correct length simply being covered up with too much gum tissue. If this is the case then Dr. Rahmani will probably recommend laser treatment. Using a dental laser, Dr. Rahmani can accurately cut away excess gum tissue, shaping your gums so they frame your teeth far more attractively. Sometimes it might be necessary to treat all the teeth shown while smiling, but it’s also possible that you might only need one or two teeth reshaping in order to achieve great results.

What’s so Great about Laser Treatment for a Gummy Smile?

The use of the dental laser can mean treatment is far more effective, much quicker and your gums will heal a lot faster afterwards. This is because the heat from the laser immediately seals any blood vessels, minimizing bleeding and discomfort. There’s far less chance of infection and the gums will be able to heal more quickly. The final result should be a more natural and attractive looking smile.

If your gummy smile is due to some other cause, then a dental laser can also be used to reshape bone as well as gum tissue although obviously treatment will be a little more complex.

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The Significance of Blood on Your Toothbrush

While it is perfectly feasible any blood on your toothbrush is due to brushing too hard, it can easily be a gum disease signs and symptoms, a condition that is called gingivitis in its early stages. Gingivitis is a bacterial infection that gradually weakens and destroys gum tissue, causing it to bleed easily when it comes under the sort of pressure that should normally not have this effect.

This bleeding is hugely significant, not only for your gum health but also for your general health, because bleeding gums allow the bacteria that caused the infection in the first place to enter into your bloodstream. From there, these bacteria can go on to create new sites of inflammation around your body, increasing your risk of developing general health problems, or potentially worsening any conditions you may have such as diabetes or heart disease (Read also: Diabetes Affects Your Health).

What Can You Do to Treat Gum Disease?

If you do notice your gums are bleeding or blood on your toothbrush then you may have other symptoms such as gums that are tender or which look swollen or red and you might have bad breath. If the disease has progressed from gingivitis into periodontitis, a much more serious form of gum disease, then some of your teeth may have already started to loosen. The sooner you take action and seek professional advice and treatment from a periodontist in NYC the better.

A periodontist such as Dr. Navid Rahmani of periodontal New York clinic is your best option if you care about your gum health and would like to give your teeth and gums the best possible chance of recovering from this disease, as periodontists specialize in treating gums.

You will find Dr. Rahmani can quickly assess your gum health and he will recommend the most advanced treatments to help halt the progression of gum disease. If it has already destroyed some gum tissue, he can suggest suitable treatments to repair and replace these tissues.

The good news is that if caught early on, gingivitis is reversible and treatment is very straightforward and simple. It will focus on removing the infection by deep cleaning your gums so they have a better chance of recovering. If the disease progression is more significant, you might require surgical treatments to help eliminate bacteria and to help regenerate lost gum tissues.

Laser Treatment for Gum Disease in Midtown, NYC

Dr. Rahmani will often use laser dentistry to treat gum disease as this is a very gently way to help eliminate bacterial infections, causing minimal side effects and aiding faster healing. With laser dentistry there are far fewer side effects such as swelling and bleeding and often there is no need for pain relief during treatments which can be very useful for anyone who is nervous of needles.

Please don’t ignore your bleeding gums or blood on your toothbrush and take action now. You don’t need a referral from your general dentist to schedule your appointment to the best periodontist NYC Dr. Navid Rahmani of Manhattan Periodontics and Implant Dentistry.

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If you have been diagnosed with diabetes then you’ll probably already be aware of the way it can affect your general health and the necessity to take care of yourself and to try to control your glucose levels as well as possible. But do you know how it can affect your oral health? In fact taking care of your teeth and gums should be an important part of controlling diabetes gum disease and may help prevent this condition from worsening.

What Does Diabetes Gum Disease Have to Do with My Dental Health?

Diabetes and diabetes gum disease are closely linked and this is at least in part due to the way they are both inflammatory conditions. Gum disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth infecting the gums, and this prompts the body to try to fight back which results in the gums becoming inflamed. As the condition worsens the gums begin to bleed, enabling bacteria to get into the bloodstream and from there they can create new sites of inflammation around the body. It’s thought this inflammatory response can create a number of problems for diabetics.

For a start, it can make it more difficult to control glucose levels which could lead to this disease worsening. At the same time, higher glucose levels can mean more glucose will be present in the saliva, fuelling the bacteria that cause gum disease. Diabetics also find it harder to heal as the condition can cause the blood vessels to become narrower which makes it more difficult for the body to transport essential nutrients to the gums, and to carry waste products away.

Good Dental Care Can Help a Lot

Fortunately good dental care can help a lot in reducing the risk of your diabetes affecting your oral health and vice versa. You’ll find Dr. Navid Rahmani at Manhattan Periodontics & Implant Surgery can provide you with customized preventative dental care to help reduce your risk of developing gum disease, or to manage any symptoms of periodontal disease. For anyone with diabetes gum disease this might mean more frequent trips to the dentist for regular checks and preventative care in the form of professional cleanings.

Reducing Your Risk with Regular Checkups and Professional Cleanings

Regular checkups will enable Dr. Rahmani to assess the condition of your gums and to detect any early symptoms that may require treatment. Early gum disease can often be cured completely, but advanced gum disease or periodontal disease is a different matter. Although it might not be possible to cure it completely, proper dental care can help keep it under control, minimizing the damage to your teeth, gums and general health.

Professional cleanings are very important as these help remove hardened tartar that contains disease-causing bacteria from your teeth. If necessary your gums can be deep cleaned at regular intervals using the latest laser gum treatments. Diabetes can be a life changing condition, but good quality dental care can help minimize its impact.

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1. Learn How Gum Disease Can Develop

Preventing gum disease important as it’s a bacterial infection and is generally caused by poor oral hygiene, although some people with conditions that affect their immune system are more at risk. If you fail to brush and floss, plaque can quickly build up over your teeth and gums and plaque consists largely of bacteria. Even worse, plaque can soon harden into calculus, a substance that is so hard that it can only be removed during a professional cleaning. The bacteria in calculus produce toxins that infect and inflame the gums, initially causing an early form of gum disease called gingivitis. At this stage treatment can still save your gums and your teeth, but soon gingivitis will develop into periodontitis. This is much more serious and at this stage both your teeth and your general health are at risk.

2. Make Sure You Don’t Develop Gum Disease

Preventative dental care is by far your best option and is much more cost-effective in the longer term, and it really is very simple. All you need do is visit your dentist on a regular basis for professional checkups and cleanings, or if you prefer you can have regular periodontal evaluations at a periodontal office, such as Manhattan Periodontics & Implant Surgery.

Regular assessments will help detect any small changes to the condition of your gums so action can be taken straight away for preventing gum disease and clear up any signs of infection. Your dentist or periodontist will carefully probe your gums to measure the depth of the pockets in between your gums and your teeth. These measurements are recorded so any improvements or deterioration in your gum health is easy to see. They will also be looking for any signs of active disease such as receding gums, gums that bleed easily when gently probed, or gums that look swollen or red.

3. Learn About Treating and Preventing Gum Disease

A professional scale and polish is another very important step in preventing gum disease and most people will need to have their teeth professionally cleaned every six months. Some people might need to have their teeth cleaned more frequently, for example anyone with a medical condition that increases their risk of gum disease, or sometimes pregnancy can increase the risk of gum disease or will worsen any signs of this disease that are already present.

Great professional preventative dental care can only do so much and it is essential that you look after your teeth and gums at home. This only involves cleaning your teeth at least twice a day, for two minutes each time and flossing once-a-day, a simple routine that will take less than ten minutes. Your reward will be healthy teeth and gums and quite possibly lower medical bills.

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