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What is gum recession?

January 18th, 2023

Gum (gingival) recession occurs when gums recede from the tops of the teeth enough to expose sensitive roots. People typically experience increased sensitivity to sugary or cold foods when gums no longer cover and protect teeth roots. In addition, untreated gum recession may lead to loosening of teeth and accelerated tooth decay, something Dr. Jenny A. Kanganis see all too often.

Causes of Gum Recession

Periodontal gingivitis may also cause causing drooping of the gums instead of gum recession. A gingivectomy removes excess gum tissue weakened by bacterial decay while a gingivoplasty can reshape gums around the teeth. If sagging or receding gums are left untreated, they may develop pockets (gaps) that provide hiding places for food particles, mucus and other mouth debris conducive to anaerobic bacteria growth. As the most destructive type of oral bacteria, anaerobic bacteria is responsible for tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and chronic halitosis.

Treatments for Gum Recession

Corrective actions need implemented as soon as possible to reverse gum recession by addressing the cause. For example, people who brush with hard-bristled toothbrushes should switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush more gently. If gum recession is the result of poor oral hygiene, improve oral hygiene habits by brushing after meals, flossing, rinsing with non-alcoholic mouthwash, and getting dental checkups and cleanings every six months. For severe cases of gum recession, soft tissue grafts can add gum tissue to exposed roots by removing tissue from the person’s palate and attaching it to existing gums at the area of recession via laser surgery.

If you’re worried about gum recession, visit our Bronxville office and talk to a member of our team.

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Going Green for the New Year

January 4th, 2023

Does your list of New Year’s resolutions for the coming months include reducing your ecological footprint? If so, let’s ring in the year with some basic—and some innovative—dental ideas to help you meet your goal.

This is probably the easiest –and most cost effective!—item on our list. If you leave the water running while you brush, you are watching gallons of water go down the drain every day. Luckily, toothbrushes rely on wrist power rather than water power. Wet your brush before you begin, and use water only as needed to rinse. You’ll save hundreds of gallons of water every year.

And while we’re near your sink, if you like to rinse after brushing and flossing with disposable plastic cups, consider using compostable paper products or a regular drinking glass that you can clean after using.

Some brushes promise to be completely compostable, with handles manufactured from sustainable woods or bamboo, and heads fitted with biodegradable boar bristles. Investigate before you buy, because boar bristles aren’t for everyone. Some users complain about the taste, and boar bristles are harsher than the soft bristles we recommend to protect your enamel and gums. Organic bristles are also more prone to bacteria growth.

If you prefer the consistency and texture of regular synthetic bristles, or wish to avid animal products, you can still opt for a brush with a handle of sustainable wood or bamboo. These brushes also offer PBA-free bristles, bristles made largely from castor oil, or bristles that use natural ingredients in combination with synthetics.

And don’t forget recycling as a possibility to cut down on your plastic use. Toothbrushes are available with handles made from recycled plastic. And once you’re finished with them, these brushes can be recycled again.

This is another innovative take on dental supplies, and one that offers lots of new options. Regular dental floss is usually made from waxed nylon. Biodegradable floss, on the other hand, can be made of silk or plant materials, and coated with beeswax or plant-based wax. Some of these biodegradable flosses even come in refillable or compostable packaging.

If you’re incorporating organic foods into your diet, you know that organic options are more easily available than ever before. And now there are more organic toothpastes available, as well. Natural toothpastes can be found which are vegan, fair-trade sourced, and preservative- and artificial ingredient-free.

Before you buy, though, do discuss your choices with Dr. Jenny A. Kanganis. Why? Because many natural toothpastes are formulated without fluoride, a mineral shown to prevent cavities in study after study. Which leads us to . . .

Along with your daily dental hygiene routine, don’t forget to make regular appointments for examinations and professional cleanings at our Bronxville office. Dr. Jenny A. Kanganis can help you discover the best ideas for products and practices which are good for you and good for the planet, for a lifetime of natural, sustainable smiles.

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Healthy Resolutions for Healthy Teeth

December 28th, 2022

Every January 1st, you have your resolutions ready. No more nail biting. Lose ten pounds. Stop smoking. None of us are happy about those annoying bad habits we’ve picked up over the years. But if nothing else has helped you keep your resolutions, maybe seeing how they can improve your oral health will give you some extra willpower.

You can easily see how nail biting affects your fingernails, but its effects are more than cosmetic. The pressure this habit puts on tooth enamel can lead to cracks, chips, and enamel erosion. Nail biters have a greater risk of bruxism, or teeth grinding. (More on that below.) And the transfer of germs from fingers to mouth and mouth to fingers is a vicious circle that can lead to illnesses and infections in both fingers and mouth.

Sugars and carbs help pack on the pounds, no doubt. Did you know that they can also help create cavities? Sugar is a favorite food for oral bacteria, which allows them to produce acids which attack and weaken tooth enamel. And carbs? They convert easily to simple sugars. Choose nutritious snacks and beverages, and you will keep those teeth healthy. You might even lose a few pounds!

If your partner complains about sleepless nights thanks to your nocturnal teeth grinding, or your friends ask you to quit chewing on that cup of ice while they’re trying to watch a movie with you, listen to them! (If you can hear them over the grinding and chewing.) Bruxism can fracture teeth, cause headaches and jaw problems, and might even lead to loose teeth. Chewing hard foods can have the very same effects. Too much pressure from any source can damage your teeth. Grinding, chewing ice, crunching down on hard candies—any habit that’s loud enough to annoy others could be a warning to be more careful of your teeth.

Helping you eat and chew nutritious foods—of course. Smiling—absolutely. Ripping off a piece of duct tape, tearing open a potato chip bag, holding your dog’s leash while you look for your keys, opening a tight bottle cap—no, no, no, and really no. Fractures and chips are common injuries when you use your teeth as tools. Your teeth have a crucial job to do, but that job description never includes “scissors” or “nutcracker” or “bottle opener.” Take that extra minute and find the tool you need!

Along with all the other consequences of over-indulging, too much alcohol in your diet can be bad for your oral health. Alcohol, especially paired with sugary drinks, helps create that acidic environment that leads to weakened enamel. More than that, it’s dehydrating. Without sufficient hydration, we don’t have the optimal saliva production we need to fight cavities. After all, saliva helps wash away food particles and bacteria, neutralizes acids, and strengthens enamel through remineralization. Ring in the New Year—moderately!

Cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco—there is no tobacco product that is healthy for your body or your teeth! We’re all familiar with the discoloration tobacco can cause, but it also has serious oral health consequences. Oral cancer, gum disease, early tooth loss—all these conditions have been linked to tobacco use. Today there are more methods than ever before to help you quit. Make this your year!

You don’t have to wait for the New Year to start working on healthier habits. If you’d like to tackle teeth grinding, banish nail biting, stop smoking, or work on any other habits that can damage your health and your teeth, talk to Dr. Jenny A. Kanganis at your next visit to our Bronxville office. And, don’t forget—resolving to see us twice a year for a checkup and a cleaning is a resolution that’s extremely easy to keep!

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Is it just SNORING or could it be SOMETHING ELSE?

December 16th, 2022

By:    Jenny A. Kanganis, D.D.S. and Pankaj P. Singh, D.D.S., M.D.

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Are you like 90 million other adults that suffer from sleep deprivation and chronic fatigue? Do you wake up multiple times in the middle of the night trying to catch your breath, gasping for air or choking? Do you feel tired and sluggish during the day? Do you have trouble focusing and concentrating? Do you clench or grind your teeth during sleep? If so, you may be suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which is a serious sleep disorder that can negatively impact your health if left untreated.

So what is the difference between snoring and sleep apnea? Snoring is a hoarse or harsh sound from the nose or mouth that occurs when breathing is partially obstructed while sleeping. This can be caused by an enlarged tongue, a low draping soft palate, a deviated septum, being overweight, a large neck size (greater than 16 inches for women and greater than 17.5 inches for men), enlarged tonsils, or congestion. Sleep apnea, however, is a sleep disorder with serious medical and health complications, where an individual stops breathing anywhere from a few seconds up to a minute and a half or more, sometimes hundreds of times each night. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea; however, one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is snoring. The only way to truly diagnosis sleep apnea is with an overnight sleep study, either at a Sleep Center or with a comfortable at-home study.

During episodes of sleep apnea, blood oxygen levels can decrease significantly, increasing one’s resting blood pressure and causing an irregular heart rate. Additionally, after multiple apneic episodes, one can wake up feeling unrested, with headaches and tightness in the jaws from clenching all night. Untreated sleep apnea can also lead to unexplained weight gain, fatigue, memory loss, depression, loss of libido, and cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, stroke, and heart attack.

The good news is that sleep apnea can be treated. Once a diagnosis is made, the appropriate treatment is determined, depending on the severity of the sleep apnea. For severe cases, a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine might be the most suitable treatment. Essentially, this device generates a steady flow of pressurized air that travels from the air compressor through a flexible hose connected to a facial or nasal mask, which then maintains an unobstructed flow of oxygen to your lungs. The pressure of this steady movement of air keeps the compressed or blocked airways continuously open, so that you are getting the necessary oxygen as you sleep.

Another successful treatment for mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea or for those who were unsuccessful with CPAP therapy, is Oral Appliance Therapy. This is a custom-fit appliance, made by a specially trained dentist, which moves your lower jaw forward, so that it prevents your tongue from blocking your throat. One of the biggest advantages of an oral appliance is that it is significantly less cumbersome and much more comfortable to wear than a traditional CPAP machine, as it does not involve a facial or nasal mask. Another plus of an oral appliance is that it is not noisy, significantly easier to travel with, and much more hygienic than a CPAP. If not properly cleaned, a dirty CPAP could potentially lead to sinus and other respiratory infections, including pneumonia and bronchitis.

When being fit for an oral appliance, one size does not fit all. And while there are many methods to determining the proper position of the mandible, the most accurate, scientific method for a perfect fit and ideal position can be done with a process that uses a predictive algorithm to determine ideal jaw position for effective airway management.

In summary, speak to your dentist or your physician if you snore or if you feel you may have sleep apnea, so that you can be properly screened, diagnosed, and treated. It can literally save your life.

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