Gum Disease and Your Overall Health Risks

Gum disease can impact your overall health status. Now add to that idea the fact that 50% of the population has some form of gum disease. The implications cannot be ignored.

The mechanism that links gum disease to the health of the rest of your body is the bacteria that causes gum disease. This bacteria can enter your bloodstream and can cause some serious medical problems.

Like What?

1. A suspected link to pregnancy and premature births.

Please read the 1-22-2010 news report: "Mother's Gum Disease Linked to Infant's Death"

Bacteria from the mother's gums was traced to the placenta. Her baby was full-term, but stillborn. This is only one case, but a direct link was demonstrated. Dentists has long suspected the possibility of premature births and low birth weight to be correlated with gum disease.

2. A suspected link to cardiovascular disease.

In 2009, the American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of Periodontology acknowledged a strong association between gum disease and heart disease.

This article noted: "those patients with moderate-to-severe periodontitis [gum disease] should be informed that they might be at an increased risk of atherosclerotic CVD [cardiovascular disease]. Cardiologists and family physicians should be sensitive to this and refer CVD patients to their dental care providers for a complete periodontal assessment."

3. A suspected link to diabetes.

While more research is needed, we know that poorly controlled diabetics are more likely to have gum disease than well controlled diabetics or non-diabetics.  We also know that diabetic patients with gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels.

So, you see, good oral hygiene, and routing dental checkups and cleanings, can do more for your overall  health than you thought!

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Help for Your New Year's Resolution to FLOSS MORE!

We know flossing more will help keep our teeth and gums clean and healthy, our breath fresh, and the general level of inflammation in our bodies lower - all good things! The problem for a lot of people is just getting themselves to do it.

At night, before bed, and after your last meal or snack, is the best time to floss. Having said that, what if your routine is to fall asleep in front of the television and then crawl into bed? Think you will stop and floss on the way to your head hitting the pillow? I think not!

So, for those of you who "lack the time" to floss at night before bed, here are some suggestions for finding extra time in your day to floss:

1. Floss after breakfast or lunch;
2. Floss in the car at traffic stops;
3. Floss at commercial breaks on television;
4. Floss at school or work;
5. Floss at the gym; or
6. Floss while surfing the web.

If these hints result in flossing more than once in a day, your bonus will be a dazzling smile in 2010!

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Is There a Difference Between Plaque and Tartar? Absolutely!

Patients often confuse plaque and tartar buildup in their mouths. What is the difference?

Plaque is:
Soft;
Sticky;
Made up of bacteria and their byproducts;
Made up of Food Debris;
Harmful to the Teeth and Gums; and
Easily Removed with Brushing, Flossing and Rinsing.

Tartar is:
Hard;
Non - sticky;
Porous (bacteria attach to the rough surface easily);
Made up of mineral deposits from saliva;
Harmful to the teeth and gums because of the bacteria it harbors; and
Can only be removed professionally during your checkup and cleaning visits with the dentist.

The good news is that patients can exert a great deal of control on the plaque in their mouths through good home oral hygiene techniques. On the other hand, since tartar is a hard deposit it will continue to build until removed by a dentist or dental hygienist. So, stick with your biannual checkups and cleanings, and you will keep your mouth clean and healthy!

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Start the Week Off Right

Brush, Floss and Rinse!

• Brush with a soft brush, twice daily, for two minutes each brushing. Remember that two minutes is the length of a typical radio song. A little longer than it seems when brushing in a hurry as you run out the door in the morning. A manual brush will do well in keeping your teeth clean, but an electric or battery operated brush is better. 

• Floss once daily, ideally at night, but anytime at all is still beneficial. Remember that the floss should clean under the gumline, not just snap through the tooth contacts.

• Rinse with a mouth rinse twice daily - morning and night. You can alternate between an anti-cavity fluoride rinse (good options are the pink/purple Listerine® or ACT®) and an antibacterial antiseptic rinse (Listerine® or Crest ProHealth®). The anti-cavity rinse strengthens the tooth enamel and the antibacterial rinse will help prevent gingivitis. Both are important!

• 6 month check-ups and cleanings will help catch any areas you may be missing in your daily cleaning routine at home. 

Following this routine should help you maintain a healthy vibrant smile!

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