The Importance of Regular Saliva Flow – Peterborough Periodontist

Saliva, or spit, plays a significant role in maintaining oral health. It is derived from blood and acts as the bloodstream of the mouth. What this means is, like blood, saliva helps build and maintain the health of soft and hard tissues. When saliva flow is reduced oral health problems such as tooth decay and other oral infections can occur. Chewing is the most efficient way to stimulate salivary flow. It causes muscles to compress the salivary glands and release saliva.

Saliva also:

• Washes away food and debris from teeth and gums
• Helps moisten and break down food to ease swallowing and enhances ability to taste
• Provides disease-fighting substances throughout your mouth to help prevent cavities and other infections
• Helps keep the surface of your teeth strong by providing high levels of calcium, fluoride and phosphate ions at the tooth surface.

In addition to keeping your mouth healthy, saliva may contain indicators of health concerns as well. Since it shares many properties with blood, the use of saliva to detect and diagnose oral diseases and other diseases that could affect your general health is being studied. Researchers have reported promising results in the use of saliva for the diagnosis of breast cancer, oral cancers, gum disease and viral hepatitis. Saliva is already used for rapid HIV testing.

Dr. Annabel Braganza

Peterborough Periodontics
705-741-1885

Do you have irregular saliva flow?

Saliva, or spit, plays a significant role in maintaining oral health. It is derived from blood and acts as the bloodstream of the mouth. What this means is, like blood, saliva helps build and maintain the health of soft and hard tissues. When saliva flow is reduced oral health problems such as tooth decay and other oral infections can occur. Your dentist/periodontist can recommend verrious methods to restore moisture. Sugar-free candy or gum stimulates saliva flow, and moisture can be replaced by using artificial saliva and oral rinses. Chewing is the most efficient way to stimulate salivary flow. It causes muscles to compress the salivary glands and release saliva.

Saliva also:

• Washes away food and debris from teeth and gums
• Helps moisten and break down food to ease swallowing and enhances ability to taste
• Provides disease-fighting substances throughout your mouth to help prevent cavities and other infections
• Helps keep the surface of your teeth strong by providing high levels of calcium, fluoride and phosphate ions at the tooth surface.

In addition to keeping your mouth healthy, saliva may contain indicators of health concerns as well. Since it shares many properties with blood, the use of saliva to detect and diagnose oral diseases and other diseases that could affect your general health is being studied. Researchers have reported promising results in the use of saliva for the diagnosis of breast cancer, oral cancers, gum disease and viral hepatitis. Saliva is already used for rapid HIV testing.

Peterborough Implant and Gum Specialist

Dr. Annabel Braganza – Peterborough  Periodontics and Implant Specialist

705-741-1885

 

THE BENEFITS OF GUM CHEWING – Peterborough Periodontist and Gum Specialist

Most of us think of gum as a breath freshener or a type of candy, however the proper gum may help in protecting your teeth.

Chewing gum increases the flow of saliva in your mouth and when chewing gum after eating, the increased salivary flow can help neutralize and wash away the acids that are produced when food is broken down by the bacteria in plaque on your teeth.  Over time, acid can break down tooth enamel, creating the conditions for decay. Increased saliva flow also carries with it more calcium and phosphate to help strengthen tooth enamel. Studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.

Although this all sounds great chewing gum does NOT in any way replace brushing and flossing.

As there are a very small number of gums approved by the American Dental Association and only two by the Canadian Dental Association, always be sure to look for the CDA Seal of Recognition.

The two gums currently recognized by the Canadian Dental Association that carry the Seal of Recognition are Trident Xtra Care Gum – Spearmint and Peppermint by Cadbury Adams Canada Inc.

When purchasing any dental products always be sure to look for the CDA Seal of Recognition for the best oral health care. (Photo Below).

Dr. Annabel Braganza – Peterborough Periodontist, Implant and Gum Specialist

705-741-1885

Brampton Dentist