Something to chew on—the importance of maintaining dental health

  • Shelly Webb
  • January 18, 2012
  • 303
                        
Summary— For years many have lived under the misconception that dental health is separate from the rest of the body. Today, however we know that keeping your mouth healthy is closely linked to overall physical health. Story-- “Everyday the health care field is finding more links between the health of the mouth and the rest of the body,” explained local dentist, Dr. Myriam Raber. According to Raber, there are strong links between gum health and cardiovascular diseases and with nearly 18 million Americans dealing with this condition maintaining good dental health is more important than ever. But there are other health links in addition to cardiovascular. “Anyone that is diabetic and is also dealing with an active dental infection can have a more difficult time controlling their blood sugar,” Raber said. “Also patients undergoing organ transplants or receiving artificial heart valves or artificial hips or knees must be free of dental infection at the time of surgery. Even after their surgery is completed, keeping a healthy mouth helps their body accept the new artificial parts (hips, knees, heart valves).” Another underlying link between dental health and physical health is nutrition. If an individual cannot eat health due to poor dental health, they normally eat soft, highly processed foods that are not particularly healthy. Dental health plays a more vital part in nutrition and eating fresh fruits and vegetables than one may think. There are signs and symptoms to poor dental health and if you are experiencing any such problems, it is a wise idea to see a dentist. “Bleeding gums are a big sign of oral disease,” Raber said. “When people have chronic oral infections, the bacteria in the mouth gets into the blood stream and can reach all parts of the body causing all sorts of problems that may not be recognized by a person as coming from their mouth.” Seeing a dentist is the best way to fight unhealthy gums and other oral problems. Raber said that early gum disease can be altered by maintaining good dental hygiene, but more serious conditions need additional care. “Early gum disease (gingivitis) can be reverse by regular dental visit for cleanings and good home care,” she said. “More advanced gum disease requires more aggressive initial treatment and more frequent (3 to 4 times a year) visits to the dentist for the rest of one's life. Moderate to severe periodontal disease is usually something that must be managed for a lifetime. It can usually be stopped but some damage that is done cannot be reversed. It's a silent disease like high blood pressure. By the time someone is bothered by gum disease, irreversible damage has been done in the mouth and as science is finding out more and more, in distant parts of the body as well.” The best way to avoid these types of dental problems and the other health risks they pose is to visit your dentist every six months for a check-up. It may seem like an inconvenience, but it is necessary to maintain good physical health throughout your entire body. Also teaching your children any concept is done through example, if you don’t make dental hygiene a priority, chances are they won’t either. “Parents need to be examples to their children,” Raber said. “Oral disease is a contagious disease. Children receive their oral germs from their caretakers. Parents need to have healthy mouths plus show their kids that teeth and gums are as important as any other body part and definitely more important than hair, beauty products, cable TV, and designer clothes. If adults complain about paying $100 twice a year for a dental check-up and then turn around and spend more than that on designer clothes, hair and nails, hunting or fishing trips, traveling sports team and so forth. Our kids learn an upside down value system sometimes by the way we prioritize goods and services that we purchase.” It is also important to keep your children's mouths healthy regardless of their age. Raber said that by repairing decay even if it’s found in baby teeth is the best investment a parent can make for a child. “Decay is not just contagious from person to person but from tooth to tooth,” she said. “From ages 6 to 16 children's mouth are a mix of baby and permanent teeth. Like weeds and fire, decay will spread if not dealt with in a timely manner.” Seeing the dentist twice a year is a small price to pay for a healthy mouth. There are also things you can do throughout the year that will help contribute to a healthier mouth and healthier body. Eat a diet that is rich in fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Try to cut down on refined sugars and make sure you are using good brushing and flossing skills on a daily basis. What you do every single day contributes to the overall picture of your health.


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load