Sjögren’s (pronounced SHOW-grins) syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own moisture-producing glands, the tear-secreting and salivary glands as well as other organs.

Nearly 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases affect people in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With these highly preventable diseases often come symptoms that affect your entire body – including your mouth. Not all people who are infected will go on to have symptoms. If a person with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) develops symptoms, they are then considered to have a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

A tongue scraper is a tool used to help clean your tongue. Tongue scrapers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and work by starting at the back of the tongue and pulling the scraper forward. Some people choose to clean their tongue by using their toothbrush as well.

Dental X-rays are a useful diagnostic tool when helping your dentist detect damage and disease not visible during a regular dental exam. How often X-rays should be taken depends on your present oral health, your age, your risk for disease, and any signs and symptoms of oral disease. For example, children may require X-rays more often than adults because their teeth and jaws are still developing and their teeth are more likely to be affected by tooth decay than those of adults. Your dentist will review your history, examine your mouth and then decide whether or not you need X-rays.

Inflammation is central to periodontal disease, triggered by the body’s response to periodontal pathogens in the biofilm. When the inflammatory response to bacterial infection becomes chronic, it causes damage to the supporting structures of the teeth (the root cementum, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone), causing the well-known process of bone loss and eventually even tooth loss.

Pregnancy gingivitis refers to the specific condition where inflammation of the gingiva is clearly tied to a woman’s pregnancy. As is the case for “classic” gingivitis, increased bleeding is one of the main symptoms of this condition. Pregnancy gingivitis often first occurs late in the first trimester, and peaks in the eighth month, dissipating shortly after delivery.

Regrettably, compliance with a daily oral hygiene routine at home is one of the greatest issues in dental care as patients often do not follow recommendations from healthcare providers. In fact, studies of patient adherence to recommended regiments show that approximately 30-60% of health information is forgotten within 1 hour, and that 50% of health recommendations are not followed.