Oral Care

Dental care is not only about preserving a wonderful smile! Research has found there is a connection between oral health and overall health. Chronic oral infections like periodontal disease can be indicators of stroke, diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and even lead to low-weight pre-term births.

How does the connection work? The connection works in two ways. Oral disease can be an early symptom of diabetes, stroke, or other serious disease. It can also provide dangerous bacteria with easy access to the blood stream (through inflamed gums). If it goes unchecked, it can increase the possibility of developing health complications later in life, or worsen current health conditions.

The good news is that if caught early, most oral diseases are easily treatable. Seeing a dentist every six months not only lowers the risk of developing an oral infection, it may lead to an early diagnosis of a more serious disease.

What's the Big Deal with Periodontal Disease?

There are many good reasons why the media keeps reporting on new findings on periodontal disease. Recent research has shown that people with periodontal disease are more likely to develop heart disease, and pregnant women with gum disease were more likely to deliver pre term, low birth weight babies.

Just recently, microbiologists identified how bacteria found in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause endocarditis (heart disease).

Research continues to be done to determine if periodontal disease is a symptom of another more serious disease, or if it is the root cause of other diseases. In either case, science has proven that the health of our gums is a serious matter.

What causes periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is the inflammation of gums that is left untreated can cause major irreversible damage to the soft tissue and bone that support our teeth, and can lead to tooth lost.

Periodontal disease is caused by plaque and tartar that is not properly removed from our teeth. Bacteria naturally lives in our mouths and constantly creates a sticky, colorless "plaque" on our teeth. If we do not brush and floss to remove the plaque, it will harden and form "tartar". Brushing does not remove tartar, which is why we go to the dentist to get tartar removed from our teeth.

Tartar can also irritate our gums and can cause inflammation if we let it stay on our teeth. This is called "gingivitis", when gums become red, swollen and bleed easily. Gingivitis can be treated easily with more brushing and flossing and regular visits to the dentist.

However, if gingivitis is not treated, then it can become "periodontitis". This can cause gums to pull away from the teeth and to form spaces ("pockets") that can become infected and allow bacteria to enter our bloodstream. The toxins released by the bacteria and our body's immune system's response to the infection can cause the bone, tissue and gums to break down, resulting in tooth loss.

Factors that increase our risk for periodontal disease

Factors, other than not brushing can increase our risk for developing periodontal disease and include:

Hormonal changes in girls and women. Hormones can make gums more sensitive to tartar, making it easier to develop into gingivitis.
Diabetes. Diabetes slows down a person's ability to heal, making it easier for bacterial infections to take place.
Smoking. Smoking significantly increases the risk of developing periodontal disease, and is known to lower the chances of successful treatment, too.
Medications. Prescription and over the counter drugs can interrupt the flow of saliva that normally protects the mouth from bacterial infections.
Illnesses. Diseases that lower the immune system's ability to fight infection can also allow the development of gum disease.
Genes. Some people are just naturally more susceptible to gum disease.
Stress, anxiety and depression. Our bodies release hormones when we experience any of these three emotions, which may negatively correspond with our immune system and our ability to fight gum disease.

Preventing Periodontal Disease

Preventing periodontal disease is as easy as

Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
Flossing every day
Getting routine check-ups at the dentist
Avoid smoking

If, upon evaluation, you are diagnosed with periodontal disease, your dentist will recommend a treatment plan based on the severity of the disease.

Young Children with Dental Cavities are a Rising Trend

According to a federal survey studying oral health among children from 1999-2004, nearly 28% of children ages 2 to 5 had at least one cavity. This represents a 4% increase from the previous 1988 to 1994 survey.

Continual snacking and the use of non-fluoridated bottled water were attributed to the increase of cavities, both of which have been on the rise in recent years. Immigrants who have never been educated on preventive dental care are also another attribute. On a positive note, the survey reported a steady decline in overall tooth decay among children ages 6 and up.

The survey demonstrated a need for parents to ensure that their young children are being provided with enough fluoride. The results were released in April 2007 by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Oral Health and Work Productivity

When it comes to work productivity, it pays in more than one way to maintain healthy teeth. Oral health can affect how well you perform at work, how many hours you spend in the dentist’s chair, and ultimately determine your future dental costs.

Good oral health can help bolster your job performance. Being comfortable and confident at work can directly impact how you are perceived as an employee. By not taking good care of your teeth you are opening yourself to the need for emergency care, and possible problems with speaking, chewing, and swallowing. All or any of these can jeopardize your confidence and bring discomfort to the job. Additionally, if you are uncomfortable with the appearance of your teeth, research shows that you are less likely to smile … and that could also hamper the self-assurance you need to perform well at work.

Spending too much time at the dentist’s office? The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2000 report on oral health estimated that working Americans lose about 164 million hours annually due to dental disease or dental visits. That includes the time parents took to attend to the needs of children with dental-related illnesses.

Instead of using up all that personal time in the dentist's office, encourage good oral hygiene at home. With regular preventive care visits to the dentist, you and your family can save that personal time for a more rewarding family vacation.

Getting preventive care today will save you money tomorrow. Another good reason to maintain a healthier mouth is cost. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association estimates that every $1 spent on prevention in oral health care saves $8 to $50 on restorative and emergency procedures. Restorative and emergency procedures can be very costly, and may even require more than one visit to the dentist to be completed.

Preventive care can help lower the risk of developing an oral illness and reduce the need for restorative or emergency procedures -- and it’s cheaper, too.

Oral Cancer

Have you had an oral cancer screening recently? Oral cancer is no joke. According to the National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov), 29,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year.

Most doctors and dentists can provide oral cancer screening (where they check your entire mouth for signs of cancer). Make sure you ask to have a screening included as part of your next routine exam.

Free screenings are also provided by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. Visit www.headandneck.org for a complete list of locations.

If you have any of the following, you may want to contact your dentist or health care professional for a diagnosis.

Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Persistent mouth pain
Mouth sore that doesn't heal or increases in size
Lumps or white, red or dark patches inside the mouth
Thickening of the cheek
Difficulty chewing or swallowing, or moving the tongue
Difficulty moving the jaw, or swelling or pain in the jaw
Pain around, or loosening of teeth
Numbness of tongue or elsewhere in mouth
Lump in neck
Bad breath

Research has linked the following high risk factors to oral cancer:

Tobacco use
Alcohol
Sun
Diets low in fruit and vegetables may also be factor
Personal history of head and neck cancer

Oral Care

Research continues to support the idea that one's oral health is connected to the overall health of the body. Oral health is easily susceptible to genes, stress and hormonal changes, which is why it is important to take good care of our mouths.

Table of Contents

A Little Preventive Care Goes a Long Way

What's the Big Deal with Periodontal Disease?

Young Children with Dental Cavities are a Rising Trend

Oral Health and Work Productivity

Oral Cancer