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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 2011)
14 in other words october11 2011 Tooth Talk: Can Brushing Every Day Keep the Doctor Away? By Dr. Christopher Scheuerman Did you know that your oral health can offer clues about your overall health? Or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Now more than ever everyone needs to under- stand the intimate connection between oral health and overall health and what you can do to protect yourself. You wake up in the morning and reach for your toothbrush, brush, brush, brush. Hmmm, what’s that? A little blood in the sink, oh no big deal. But wait – if you woke up in the morning and washed your hands only to find blood in the sink – would you still think, no big deal? Your mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of it is good for your overall health, but some of it can cause problems. Normally the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep the good bacteria happy and reduces bad bacteria in the mouth. However, harm- ful bacteria can sometimes grow out of control and cause oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Dental disease is not just a mi- nor ailment of the gums and teeth. It is a disease of the body that happens to begin in the mouth. If left unchecked, it can contribute to other more harmful dis- eases that can seriously affect the quality of life and actually shorten life expectan- cy. For example, recent scientific stud- ies clearly demonstrate the direct and harmful role gum disease plays in many serious and life-threatening diseases. For example, moderate-to-severe gum disease can: • Increase the risk of heart attack by as much as 25%; • Increase the risk of stroke by 10 % • Increase the severity of diabetes • Contribute to low pre-term birth weights • Contribute to re- spiratory disease • Interfere with proper digestion; • Play a role in osteoporosis • Severely stress the immune system • Lower resistance to other infections; and • Actually reduce life expectancy. Let’s Define How Dental Disease Does Its Damage Various forms of dental disease result in infection, which will always af- fect your overall health—to one degree or another. The most serious damage done by dental disease is caused by the more advanced form of gum disease. The body is negatively affected by infec- tion of any kind. The more serious the infection, and the longer it is present, the greater its potential for damaging overall health. Any infection stresses the im- mune system. The extent of its effect on that system is directly related to the ex- tent, type, duration, and location of the infection. But because of its damaging effect on the immune system it can also contribute, make worse, or trigger many diseases and health issues, including such idiopathic (medical term applied to diseases of unknown cause) diseases as Meniere’s, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFIDS) and fibromyalgia. It is also important to understand that periodontal disease does not just in- volve the soft tissue of the mouth. If left unchecked, gum disease will progress until the underlying bone structure of the jaws is infected. As the pocket of dental disease continues to deepen it becomes a haven for many types of harmful bac- teria. Over time, the bacterial infection continues to expand, exposing the cir- culatory system to ever increasing num- bers of virulent bacteria and their toxins. Remember, this is the same blood that travels throughout the entire body and as such, it can carry the bacteria and its tox- ins to other parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. Studies from the Mayo clinic have concluded that periodontitis (the more advanced form of gum disease) has a 25% increased risk of heart disease. Periodontal disease and poor oral hy- giene amongst young men has a nearly threefold increased risk of death from heart disease and a 50% higher risk of hospital admission for stroke. Periodontal disease can affect diabetes. This is important for at least two reasons. First, periodontal disease has been shown to affect the control of diabetes. Second, the American Heart Association now includes diabetes as a major risk factor for heart disease, ranking it with high blood pressure and smoking. Thus, we witness an unfortu- nate connection: diabetes is on the rise; it is a risk factor for heart disease; and periodontal disease is a risk factor in both. Studies on respiratory infections suggest that the oral cavity acts as a res- ervoir for bacteria that can find its way into the lungs. These studies indicate that mouth and throat bacteria pave the way for bacterial respiratory infection. Researchers at the University of Buffalo reported that most people diag- nosed with periodontal disease may be at a higher risk of underlying osteopo- rosis. To date, the most significant rela- tionship between dental disease and gas- trointestinal disorders is from tooth loss. The edentulous (without teeth) patient is the most vulnerable to gastrointestinal and other related problems. One study showed that those with dentures are also subject to numerous health problems, di- rectly related to their inability to proper- ly chew their food leading to a decrease in vitamin A and fiber intake, which was mainly the result of lower intakes of fruits and vegetables. The long-held belief that den- tal disease is a localized, minor disease that only affects the teeth and gums, has not withstood the test of time. Dental disease, and other issues related to the mouth, can and do contribute to serious health problems. They can also interfere with successful medical treatment and healing and can actually shorten life ex- pectancy. As a patient, you cannot af- ford to overlook this relationship when seeking treatment for any disease or for attempting to extend life expectancy and improve the quality of your life. Consequences of ignoring Oral Health are many; certainly now that Vernonia you are aware of the mouth-body con- Coffee Roasters nection. Oral health is no longer a trivial issue anymore and not paying attention to your oral health might not “QUALITP COFFEE ROASTED seem the thing to do anymore. In case TO PERFECTION” you have not paid attention to your oral health for a long time then do get a periodontal evaluation to assess your oral health. A periodontal evalu- ation is a must especially if you suffer from heart disease, diabetes, osteopo- rosis or respiratory disease, or if you are planning to conceive a baby. In our office we have a saying, “Only floss the teeth you intend to Now available at keep.” Now more than ever that say- vernonia sentry market ing is true! WWW.VERNONIACOFFEEROASTERS.COM Dr. Chris
