All of us will encounter issues with our mouths at some point, and one of the common things patients often experience is a feeling of dry mouth. This is excessive dryness of the mouth most commonly brought on by things like dehydration, stress, and lack of saliva. This is a pretty common condition and not something to be immediately alarmed about. However, persistent, chronic dry mouth can lead to more serious issues, such as periodontal disease.

This is why it is important to gain more of an understanding of what dry mouth is, what can cause it, and how you can treat it. All patients deserve to have a confident smile and healthy and strong teeth. This is why you need to make sure you do as much as you can to get this process sorted out, and understand what it takes to make the most of the services and procedures we offer.

Dry mouth is a condition where the inside of the mouth feels uncomfortably dry. Now, this can happen for a variety of common reasons and usually dissipates after a short time. However, excessive and consistent dry mouth is a condition known as xerostomia, and this can be a cause for concern.

Xerostomia is a condition that occurs when the saliva glands that keep the mouth moist are not working properly. This can, as you might imagine, lead to an array of different issues, and can cause problems with things like eating, swallowing, and chewing. Not to mention the fact that this greatly increases the risk and likelihood of tooth decay. Saliva is a crucial component in preventing oral bacteria from spreading too much in the mouth. This is why you need to address the issues of dry mouth, what can cause it, and look at how it can be treated.

At The Perio Group, we have a skilled and experienced dental team who have a wealth of experience in dealing with issues like dry mouth, and treating these issues before they get worse. Contact us to receive the benefits of our treatments and services which help you try to combat dry mouth in the best possible way.

Now, it is important to gain an understanding of what can cause dry mouth in order to come up with ideas for how you are able to combat and treat it. Xerostomia can be caused by a number of different things. Of course, earlier we touched upon things like dehydration and stress that can lead to this as a problem, but what else can cause excessive dry mouth to occur?

As is often the case, some medications can have side effects, and one of the things that can cause dry mouth is the use of certain medications. Studies seem to illustrate that in the United States, there are over 500 different forms of over the counter and prescription medications that can cause dry mouth as a side effect. If you are taking some of these medications, and you are concerned about the impact of xerostomia, you should consult your doctor to see if there is an alternative.

Some chemotherapy drugs, as well as radiotherapy treatment, can cause dry mouth to occur. Radiation treatment to the head and/or neck can damage the saliva glands, and could well lead to dry mouth, sometimes permanently. Unfortunately, this is something you are going to have to deal with if you are serious about getting the best possible treatment for your cancer.

There are a variety of diseases that can cause problems with things like dry mouth, and its helpful to understand what these are. For instance, some autoimmune diseases can cause a variety of instances where the body attacks its own saliva or moisture glands, and this is something that can cause dry mouth.

A lot of people like to look for their own ways of dealing with treatment for dry mouth, and there are certain things you can do to help with this. Make sure you seek professional treatment if the symptoms progress or get worse, but, if you want to try some home remedy ideas in the meanwhile, then here are a few of the most effective things you can do to help with this.

Of course, we understand that sometimes this is not feasible, but where possible, it is important to try to make sure you avoid certain medications that can increase the risk of dry mouth. This generally includes things like antihistamines.

There are a lot of things that play a part in helping you make the most of this moving forward, and it is important that you come up with some of the best ways of avoiding and reducing the risk of dry mouth. That means things like avoiding smoking and drinking less caffeine and alcohol in the process.

With his unique combination of experience, innovation, academic achievement and community involvement, Stephen Brown is one of Americas most distinguished practitioners in the fields of periodontics and dental implants. At the same time he is dedicated to his patients long term health and to their comfort during and following procedures.

Dr. Brown is a staunch proponent of progress toward treatment options that are more effective, less painful, and require less time to heal for patients. He not only implements these advanced treatments in his own practice, he uses his influence to teach and encourage other periodontists to do the same.

From his private practice in Center City Philadelphia, Dr. Brown specializes in providing periodontal services and dental implants. He started The Perio Group to connect with general dentists throughout the Delaware Valley to provide patients the most advanced periodontal treatments available.

Widely known as an innovator and leader in modern dentistry, Dr. Brown is a pioneer in the use of the laser as an alternative to surgery in treating periodontal disease. He was the first dentist in Philadelphia to offer LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure), an FDA approved, minimally invasive treatment, specifically developed to treat periodontal disease.

In addition to his private practice, Dr. Brown is also an attending in Periodontics at Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he is co-founder of the Dental Implant Team and Director of the Dental Implant Center. He is the Director of the Department of Periodontics at Graduate Hospital, and former Director of Periodontics at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Brown served as a Lieutenant in the U. S. Naval Dental Corps and has been a special consultant to the Army Dental Corps and the U. S. Public Health Service.

A graduate of Temple University School of Dentistry, Dr. Brown earned Certificates of Proficiency in Periodontics and Adult Orthodontics from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, making him the first in the country to acquire this rare double speciality. He continues his education by attending courses on new techniques and technology regularly. He recently completed a course on the Pinhole Surgical Technique for receding gums, which he now offers to his patients.

I was the first person in the entire U.S. to have combined training in periodontics and orthodontics. What it allowed me to do is to get involved in teaching. One of my passions has always been to mentor young people and to teach dentists who are already trained on how to do more advanced procedures. Dr. Stephen Brown

Dr. Brown is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, a Fellow of both the American and International Colleges of Dentists, and the Academy of Osseointegration, a Fellow and Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Throughout his career, Dr. Brown has earned the respect of both his peers and his patients.

Additionally, he has been elected to Fellowship in The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Founded in 1787, The College of Physicians is the oldest professional medical organization in the country. It is an extraordinary accomplishment for a dentist to be honored by election to Fellowship in this prestigious society.

Equally active in professional and scientific circles, Dr. Brown has served as chairman of the Committee on Public and Professional Relations of the American Academy of Periodontology. He is a past president of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Societies of Periodontology as well as the Delaware Valley Academy of Osseointegration. He was elected and served as a member of the Board of Directors, the governing body of the American Academy of Periodontology, representing every Periodontist from Northeastern Pennsylvania to Northern Virginia.

The dentist who teaches other dentists. Dr. Brown is energized by the role of bringing colleagues together, promoting the latest and best techniques, and educating upcoming dentists in the best practices of his field.

As a way to bring together periodontist in his area for training, Dr. Brown founded and is the director of The Cosmetic Consortium, a unique study club for restorative dentists and specialists in the Philadelphia and the tri-state area. His vision in creating it was to provide a forum for shared learning of the latest advances in the art and science of dentistry.

Long active in civic affairs, both Dr. Brown and his wife, Pelley, support the arts as well, through their involvement with The Print Club of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and The Philadelphia Orchestra. An avid skier, Dr. Brown is a certified ski instructor at Elk Mountain, Pennsylvania and a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America.

Gum disease may be passed from parents to children and between couples, according to an article in the September 1997 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. Researchers suggest that bacteria causing periodontal disease are passed though saliva. This means that when a family or couple comes into contact with each others saliva, theyre at risk for contracting the gum disease of another family member. Based on this research, the American Academy of Periodontology recognizes that treatment of gum disease may involve entire families. If one family member has gum disease, the AAP recommends that all family members see a dental professional for a periodontal disease screening.

Your chances of developing gum disease increase considerably as you get older. More than half of people aged 55 and older have periodontitis. The good news is that research suggests that these higher rates may be related to risk factors other than age. So, periodontal disease is not an inevitable part of aging. Risk factors that may make older people more susceptible include general health status, diminished immune status, medications, depression, worsening memory, diminished salivary flow, functional impairments and change in financial status.

If you value your oral as well as overall health, anytime is a good time to see a periodontist for a periodontal evaluation. Sometimes the only way to detect gum disease is through a periodontal evaluation. A periodontal evaluation may be especially important in the following situations:

During your first visit, your periodontist will review your complete medical and dental history with you. Its extremely important for your periodontist to know if you are taking any medications or being treated for any condition that can affect your periodontal care. You will be given a complete oral and periodontal exam. Your periodontist will examine your gums, check to see if there is any gum line recession, assess how your teeth fit together when you bite and check your teeth to see if any are loose. Your periodontist will also take a small measuring instrument and place it between your teeth and gums to determine the depth of those spaces, known as periodontal pockets. This helps your periodontist assess the health of your gums. Radiographs (x-rays) may be used to show the bone levels between your teeth to check for possible bone loss.

Other options include interproximal toothbrushes (tiny brushes that clean plaque between teeth) and interdental cleaners (small sticks or picks that remove plaque between teeth). If used improperly, these dental aids can injure the gums, so it is important to discuss proper use with your periodontist.

A lot of dentists offer dental implants today. While you might think youre getting a bargain from a general dentist, know that just because your implants look the same, it doesnt mean theyre the same quality. Periodontists are uniquely qualified to ensure your dental implants are placed correctly and they integrate with the bone as they should. Here are several reasons you should come to a periodontist for your dental implants.

A periodontist is a specialist in the gums and bones that support the teeth. These are also the structures that will support your implants. This expertise comes in handy especially if you require tissue regeneration or treatment for periodontal disease before implants can be placed. Typically a general dentist will have to refer you to a periodontist anyway if this is the case.

Periodontists like Dr. Brown are required to complete extra schooling that includes dental implantology as part of their course work. This is a primary area of study for them, not something they learn as a supplementary service later in their careers. They also tend to keep their skills sharp by performing this procedure on a more regular basis than dentists who offer a wide range of general dentistry services. Because of this, periodontists understand that thorough planning is essential for successful implants. This includes proper diagnosis, 3D imaging to assess the quality and quantity of the bone, and a complete treatment plan covering the entire process from beginning to end.

While you wont have to worry about cavities in your dental implants, they are subject to many of the same threats your natural teeth are. Implants can fail as the result of poor placement and infection of the surrounding tissue. Many periodontists have the equipment and expertise to save your implant when others cannot. LAPIP is a procedure that utilizes soft tissue laser to target infected tissue around the implant and allows your bone to repair itself and reintegrate with the implant.