Senior Dental Care With proper care and regular dental visits, there's no reason Seniors can't keep their teeth for life. Tooth loss is simply the result of oral disease - not the aging process. Here's what Seniors should be aware of to have super oral health:   Periodontal (gum) disease This starts as gingivitis, caused by the bacteria present in plaque. Gums may be red, swollen and bleed with brushing. If left untreated, this can progress to receding gums and periodontal pocketing (gaps between the teeth and gums), which weaken the teeth and bone and could eventually result in tooth loss.  Dry mouth, or Xerostomia Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva. Many cases of dry mouth are side effects of many over the counter and prescription drugs. Saliva is nature's way of helping us clean our teeth. The lack of normal salivary flow can lead to an increase in cavities, gingivitis and other mouth infections. Dry mouth can be helped by staying well hydrated. Biotene offers a full line of products that can help alleviate dry mouth symptoms triggered by medications, diabetes, Sjögren’s Syndrome or a variety of other causes.  Difficulty brushingIf you have arthritis, you may find it difficult to brush and floss for good oral health care and prevention of disease. Electric toothbrushes can help by doing some of the work for you.  Oral Cancer If you notice any red or white patches on your gums or tounge, or sores that do not heal within a few weeks, see your dentist for an oral cancer screening.  Travel and Mobility If you're not currently driving, ask family members for a ride to your dental visits. Seniors planning to enter a nursing home should inquire about on-site dental care.  Overall HealthStudies have shown that maintaing a healthy mouth may keep your body healthier and help you avoid diabetes, heart disease and strokes. We'd be happy to put together an individualized dental wellness plan for you at your next visit.

Top Ten List: Cavity Causes We have some good news and some bad news for you this month. The bad news is everyone has hundreds of types of germs in their mouths. Yuck. The good news is that only one type causes cavities, and your risk for cavities can be minimized by avoiding some bad cavity-causing habits. Here's a top ten list of some of the things you may be doing that put you at a high risk for cavities.10. Snacking after brushing before bed Unless you're only eating celery, if you eat before you go to bed, your teeth are being exposed to the debris in your teeth all night long. It's the length of time your teeth are exposed to sugars that really causes the problem!9. Coffee with sugar It's not the coffee, it's the sugar. Lots of people drink coffee all day long, making for long periods of exposure to the sugar in their coffee. Coffee with no sugar or artificial sweeteners are just fine and dandy.8. Sports drinks Both kids and adults love to drink sports drinks while being active. They're marketed as being good for you, but they are not good for your teeth. Beyond the sugar, they have acids that make your teeth susceptible to the cavity germ. It's a double whammy!7. Hard candies Altoids and lemon drops stay in your mouth for a long time. Breath Savers are fine because they don't contain any sugar.6. Sweet cocktails Now that the Summer has wound down you may not be sipping on a margarita as you read this, but next time you order a sweet cocktail remember to brush as soon as you get home - but don't drive!5. Prescription medications They're probably hundreds of prescriptions like anti-depressants, anti-anxiety pills and blood pressure medications that share the side effect of "dry mouth". Dry mouth is caused by low salivary flow. Saliva helps protect teeth from cavities by neutralizing acids, so the less saliva, the more prone you can be to cavities.4. Over the counter medications Many medications like allergy medications have the same effect as prescription medications. After all, medications like Allegra and Claritin, are meant to dry you out! Remember, the medications don't give you cavities - they make you susceptible to cavities when you eat sugar.3. Old dental work trapping food If you have old dental work, it could have aged enough to break down and allow gaps for food to hide in your teeth and expose them to sugar for long periods of time. A quick check-up with your dentist can save you a long trip to the dentist in the future.2. Braces It's a part of life for many of us. The good ol' metal mouth traps food like little magnets. It's important to follow your Doctor's advice on how best to keep your teeth clean during this time in your dental life.1. Avoiding your dentist! If you don't see your dentist for your regularly schedules appointments you're just begging to get cavities. Flouride treatments, regular cleanings and check ups are the best thing you can do to keep yourself cavity-free.

What Causes Cavities? Dr. Andy on WATD-FM


Recently I returned to the air waves on WATD-FM. I talked about what exactly a Prosthodontist does, and talked about what causes cavities - so you can avoid getting them! Please have a  listen...

Dr. Andy on WATD-FM!

This week I had the pleasure of giving a fun and informative interview on WATD-FM. Please have a  listen...

Stop Grinding Your Poor Teeth!

Many of us grind our teeth, a condition known as bruxism, yet most of us have no idea we are doing it. Teeth grinding and clenching can lead to loss of enamel, receding gums, sensitive teeth, poor occlusion, fractured teeth, sore jaws, headaches, neck aches, and ear aches. Most people grind at night while they are sleeping, some do it all the time and some only do it when they are feeling stressed.

An occlusal guard (also called a night guard) is the best way to provide teeth grinding protection for your worn teeth, receding gums, stressed jaw joints (TMJ) and tired jaw muscles. Occlusal guards are removable dental appliances custom made just for you by a dentist to fit the upper or lower arches of your teeth. Soft plastic night guards that you can buy in the drugstore are less expensive, but a hard acrylic version has proved to be more effective and more comfortable to wear. A dentist-made custom night-guard opens the bite, separates the teeth and provides a surface that prevents bruxism, so it can break the cycle of tooth-grinding.

Please protect your teeth. The doctors at Wiemeyer Dentistry can help you. To get started, we would need 30 minutes to take an impression of your teeth. The night guards are made off site at a lab and are ready in 2 weeks. Please contact us if you have any questions!.

Welcome to Wiemeyer Dentistry

MWiemeyer Dentistry is a leading dental care practice located in Duxbury MA. Our services include General Dentistry, Endodontics and Periodontics.