More and more evidence points to the relationship between strokes and periodontal (perio) disease. Studies in the Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Luigi Sacco, Milan, Italy have reported that the thickness of the carotid arteries was reduced after treatment for mild to moderate gum disease.
 
Strokes are caused by blockage in a blood vessel (most common) or bleeding of a vessel. The studies that were conducted showing a link between strokes and periodontal issues were those strokes caused by blockages. These occur when there is a thickening of the carotid and other arteries. Deposits of calcium and cholesterol – that are in blood vessels and arteries – break off and block the blood from reaching the brain. (The deposits are often referred to as plaque deposits. This is not to be confused with periodontal plaque.)
 
The bacteria found in periodontal disease are the perpetrator. The protein in the bacteria is similar to that found in periodontal disease. While the bacteria are in the mouth, the body sets up a defense mechanism to attack the disease. The chemical given off by the body first attacks the periodontal disease then attacks the proteins in the blood vessels. This in turn builds up the deposits in the arteries. When the fatty substances break off the lining of the blood vessels they can travel to the brain and block the blood, causing the stroke.
 
There are about 800,000 strokes in the US each year, with over 140,000 deaths. It is the third leading cause of death. Strokes strike both men and women and can occur at any age.
 
Perio disease is a chronic infection of the soft tissue around the teeth. The gum tissue is destroyed and pockets are formed around the tooth. Symptoms include loose teeth, deep pockets, bad breath that won’t go away, painful or bleeding gums and red or swollen gums. There are no symptoms in the early stages of periodontitis. Professional dental visits are necessary to insure the disease is caught early. Periodontitis is caused by the plaque (in this case dental plaque) build up from not keeping the area around the teeth and in between teeth clean.
There are risk factors for stroke that one cannot control. These include age, gender, and family history. There are risk factors, however, that can be controlled. One factor is periodontal disease. This can be managed successfully by individuals. Although oral surgical procedures may be necessary for severe cases, most treatment requires good oral hygiene. The American Dental Association (http://www.ada.org/public/topics/cleaning.asp) recommends brushing teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and professional cleanings twice a year.
 
The National Center for Biotechnology Information who published the study showing the link between strokes and periodontal disease, reported that the thickening of the carotid arteries “are positively influenced by periodontal treatment.” (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19074511?dopt=Abstract)
 
This information reinforces the belief that many in the dental profession have known for years, that there is a significant link between oral health and overall health.

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Chances are high that you will have periodontal disease or gum disease in your lifetime. Over 80% of adults do. With those odds, it may seem inevitable that you will have it, but why not be in the 20% that don’t? You can, all it takes is diligent, thorough and proper oral care.  

First – THE DESCRIPTION: periodontal disease is the chronic infection of the soft tissue around the teeth caused by plaque producing bacteria. The gums hold the teeth in place. As the gums become infected, they loosen their hold on the teeth and pockets are formed. These pockets collect debris and cause more infection and bone loss to the tooth. Imagine the tooth as a fence post in the ground, cemented in place. The post starts out sturdy and strong with no movement. The cement is doing its job. Now imagine that chemicals (from acid rain or blowing debris or winter salt trucks) start to erode the cement. Soon the post becomes wobbly and the wood under the ground starts to rot. The cement in this example is the gum tissue and the post is the tooth. Unfortunately, gum disease is worse than one rotting fence post. It is infectious and contagious. It can spread from tooth to tooth in the mouth and from one person’s mouth to another through saliva.  

Second – THE SYMPTOMS: This is not so easy. Often gum disease has no symptoms so it is left untreated until it becomes so bad irreparable bone loss occurs. Outward signs of periodontitis are:

• Bad breath that won’t go away
• Red or swollen gums
• Bleeding gums especially after tooth brushing
• Tender or sore gums
• Loose teeth
• Receding gums

 Third – THE DIAGNOSIS: During regular six month cleanings, a dentist can diagnose periodontal disease in its very early stages. Xrays determine if any bone loss has occurred. Periodontal probing determines the depth of the pockets or space that the gums have loosened around the tooth. High levels of plaque or tartar build up that have spread to below the gum line is another indication.  

Fourth – THE TREATMENT: If you have perio issues, there are several steps that a dentist may recommend depending on the severity of the case. The most important action is meticulous at home daily oral care. Teeth must be brushed twice or more times each day for at least two minutes and flossed at least once per day. Other treatments include prescription oral rinses, three month perio cleanings, scaling and root planing (SRP) and surgery.  

Last but not least – PREVENTION: The most important preventative measure to avoid the insidious gum disease is to take excellent care of your teeth. Proper cleaning at least twice a day is imperative. The goal is to keep the bacteria that cause the plaque at very low levels.   Not everyone gets gum disease, make sure you are among those that don’t.

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Respiratory infections can be caught at any time of the year. The standard advice for the prevention of these sicknesses is to wash your hands and keep your immune system healthy by eating properly and exercising regularly. Washing your hands is one way of keeping the hundreds of different bacteria and viruses from getting into your system. Individuals with lower immune systems are more susceptible to infections, since your immune system helps to defend the body, if and when a virus slips in.

In addition to the standard advice, a less publicized approach to healthy living and avoiding a respiratory infection is to keep your teeth clean. Here’s why:

1.   There are 400-500 species of bacteria that live in your mouth. Viruses can use bacteria as “factories” to grow and multiply. If a virus makes its way into your mouth (usually from touching your hands to your mouth or biting your nails), the fewer bacteria in your mouth, the less likely the virus will grow.

2.  Periodontal disease is caused by plaque producing bacteria. The body in defense of the periodontal disease releases cytokines. These cytokines trigger your blood-making organs to constantly fight or defend themselves, thus weakening the body’s immune system to fight other infections.

3.  Periodontal disease is a potential contributing factor for respiratory diseases, according to the American Academy of Periodontology.

The bacteria that cause periodontal disease and are taxing your immune system are breeding right now in the perfect environment of your mouth. They love the cozy, moist, dark, warm and acidic ecosystem, which is constantly being fed by carbohydrates. The areas between the teeth are particularly good breeding grounds because the damaging bacteria thrive in the absence of oxygen. The bacteria grow rapidly – actually doubling their count every hour. There are more bacteria in your mouth than people on the planet Earth. The excrement or bi-product of the bacteria is what forms the sticky film that is a constant challenge to remove and what is called plaque.

Symptoms of periodontal infection are often not noticeable until the disease is advanced. Some of the symptoms include: bad breath that will not go away, red or swollen gums, tender or bleeding gums, loose teeth, or sensitive teeth. A dentist can diagnose the disease in the early stages, prior to individuals realizing they have it. Because 85% of the population have some degree of periodontal disease, it is extremely important to get regular dental check ups. Professional cleanings at a dental office are recommended every six months. Periodontal disease is the most widespread disease on earth.

Visiting a dentist is only one half of the prevention equation. Daily home care is as important. Periodontal disease is prevented by thoroughly cleaning your teeth, requiring the removal of the resilient bacteria. A toothbrush does a good job in removing the bacteria from the high spots, but unfortunately, not in between teeth. In addition, most conscientious individuals who try to do a “better” job at cleaning their teeth, end up with toothbrush abrasion. This ridge between the tooth and gum line expose the root. The area then is sensitive to hot, cold, sweets and acids, and requires composites that must be repeatedly replaced.

Flossing is important both in the prevention and the control of periodontal disease according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Because it is a laborious task to floss, most people don’t. The ADA reported that only about 5% of the population actually flosses. In addition, only 18 – 35% of the plaque between teeth is removed when one does floss, according to The Journal of Clinical Periodontology. Flossing can also move the contagious periodontal disease from an infected site to an uninfected site. Although oral irrigators are meant to replace flossing, they can’t cut through plaque’s sticky biofilm since they only use water.

Once afflicted, patients with periodontal disease control it by a disciplined and meticulous oral cleaning regimen, both at the dental office and at home. Professional treatment may require below the gum line scraping, three-month check ups instead of the traditional six-month, and a prescription oral rinse.

Oral health is critical to total health. There is evidence that point to a link between periodontal disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), among which is emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Sixteen million Americans suffer from COPD and it is the 6^th leading cause of mortality in the US. Studies published in the Journal of Periodontology found that patients with periodontal disease have a 1.5x greater risk of COPD.

The American Academy of Periodontology reported that, “Bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lung to cause respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease.” The bacteria that are multiplying in the mouth are not only being used as factories for the viruses but are also being breathed into the susceptible lungs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that there are over 1 billion respiratory infections each year in the US. Avoid illness – wash your hands, keep them out of your mouth, eat healthy, exercise AND clean your teeth.

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“I tell my clients that they are not going to see drastic changes in their weight and appearance over night. So it is important to stay motivated by adopting smaller, easy habits that give them the reward of feeling more healthy and beautiful along the way,” says Lyons who just released her new book, “Your Body, Your Life.”

Here she offers some unique tips to help you shape up inside and out:

* Take notes – Purchase a small notebook that fits in your purse or briefcase, and get in the habit of keeping a “compliment journal.” Record compliments you receive and browse through it once a day for motivation to stick to your healthy, beautiful habits.

* Brush up – Just like your body, your smile should be not only beautiful on the outside but healthy on the inside too. Try new Crest Healthy Radiance, a system of daily fluoride toothpaste and weekly deep clean strips that strengthen enamel below the surface and deep clean to whiten. It whitens four times better than the leading whitening toothpaste for results that will motivate you to keep going.

* Weigh in – After you start your fitness program, step on the scale one time each week to monitor your progress. You will be able to track your progress and remind yourself that you are getting there.

* Choose one – If getting healthy seems too overwhelming, pick one small bad habit and focus on eliminating it for one week. Then pick another for the next week. Do this for 12 weeks and before you know it you will have twelve new healthy habits.

* Celebrate – Take time to reward yourself for your healthy habits each week. When you reach a major goal, take a day off and go to the beach or treat yourself to an evening out.

Adopting these simple routines will keep you feeling healthy on the inside and beautiful on the outside from start to finish of your fitness program.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Floss Your Teeth And Brush Them Regularly

The obvious things that you need to do well in order to ensure your proper dental health are to floss your teeth as well as brush them regularly and thoroughly, especially if you don’t want to have to pay your dentist a visit to get your dental diseases treated. It simply cannot be overstated that brushing your teeth well will help you avoid bad dental health and brushing your teeth at least twice in a day is certainly worth considering.

Also, while brushing your teeth, you need to use toothbrushes that have soft bristles since they will be much gentler on your gums and then you must also make it a point to brush where you chew the most, and give your tongue a good going over as well and ensure that you don’t irritate the gums through too inconsiderate scrubbing.

Besides flossing and brushing your teeth to ensure proper dental health, you can also use other means including using mouth rinse that will rid you of plaque formations and using a toothpick will ensure that your teeth remain cleaner, and anytime you feel your teeth beginning to hurt or you notice any other problems, you should show your teeth to the doctor without further delay even if the costs of such a visit may dissuade you from visiting a dental clinic.

You will only suffer more as the teeth will deteriorate further and thus you will end up paying considerably more for your dental care and in any case, taking good care of your dental health will help you avoid having to use dental care plans and in this regard besides cleaning your teeth well, you should also pay your dentist a visit once or twice in a year so that you don’t fall prey to gum disease or other dental problems. It pays to keep your teeth and oral health in top condition and a good smile will only reflect the condition of your oral health which can only be preserved through the practice of regular and recommended dental hygienic methods.

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What About Teeth?

But our teeth need good nutrition as well. The relationship of nutrition and dental health has been studied and found significant. Some of the implications are obvious. First and foremost, the fuels for tooth decay are simple sugars. Foods such as sweets, chips, soft drinks and other carbohydrate rich foods break down and produce acids that can and do damage tooth enamel. But this is not the only factor in the relationship of nutrition and dental health.

One must be aware of hidden sugars in foods such as breads and pastas, bananas and processed foods. These foods provide carbohydrates and they too build up acids in the mouth. These foods should be taken in moderation.

Eating Tips

Since the relationship between nutrition and dental health has been well established, some simple eating advice can save us from tooth decay. First of all, one should have a diet high in fiber and also high in fruit and vegetable consumption. These foods break down more easily and do less to provide acid.

Also, one should not consume sweets between meals. If sweets are consumed, it should be during meals when more saliva is produced. Saliva is the effective agent that breaks down sugars and acids and protects the teeth from tooth decay.

Hard foods such as nuts are good for teeth because they too produce more saliva and their consistency actually helps the mouth self-clean. Sticky and soft foods do the opposite. Also, dairy consumption is important for teeth. This relationship between nutrition and dental health is a relationship that can either be harmful or constructive depending on the choices one makes.

Starting Right From the Start

Studies have shown that the mineralization of teeth begins within the third or fourth month of pregnancy. This means, the relationship between nutrition and dental health starts at the very beginning of life and holds consistent throughout the human life span. If a pregnant mother who eats right gives her baby a head start. Her breast milk is more nutritious and provides more protection to forming teeth.

Also, if one gives healthy snacks from the beginning, the child is more likely to make good choices in later life. Eating right is the key to long life and good dental health. One should need little more incentive than this understanding to do good by their body and their teeth.
 

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A person who has had limited or no dental health throughout their life may also end up with diseases such as gingivitis as well as severe cavities and rotting teeth. While the teeth may affect their appearance gum diseases can lead to complications in other health care concerns. Plaque is made up of colonies of bacteria and poor oral hygiene allows the bacteria to grow and infect other parts of the body. It is also a major contributor to bad breath.

While bad breath is often attributed to poor dental health, it is not the only cause. Food, such as onions, is digested and put into the blood stream. As the blood returns to the lungs to be re-oxygenated, it puts the odor of the food back into the lungs where it is released as bad breath. This also happens to others such as smokers and no amount of brushing, flossing or scraping of the tongue will eliminate this source of bad breath.

Oral Hygiene Is Big Business

Taking care of the teeth is so important to most people and the country spends over $3 billion a year on dental health products such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss and tongue scrapers as well as breath mints and gum. While many will spend hundred of dental health products, they shy away from trip to the dentists and have a feeling of pain before they enter the dentist’s office.

In part, dentists may be to blame for some of the reluctance of people to seek professional help with their dental health. Previously, many dentists were judgmental in their approach with patients, which made them feel even more uncomfortable than the actual work being done. Today’s non-judgmental approach to dentistry is having a positive effect on good dental health.

Recent studies have also concluded that that poor dental hygiene can be a contributing factor to ischemic stroke, one of the most common types of stroke in the United States. The plaque buildup can cause release of plaque which can settle into small blood vessels more common in the brain.

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History

The children’s dental health month began in 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio. At that time, there was only a one day observance, which grew into a week long observance and then in 1981, it became a month long observance. It has also grown from a two city event into a nationwide program. Local programs for dental health month include free dental screenings, classroom presentations, dental office tours, health fairs, essay contests and poster coloring contests.

Each year there is a new slogan for dental health month and parents and children can download coloring and activity sheets related to dental health month. The ADA produces program planning kits for state and local dental alliances to assist them in their local promotions. The planning kits may include workbooks, resources, handouts, posters and publicity information. The posters are readily available for classrooms to display during the month.

National Children’s Dental Health Month is promoted to increase the awareness of good dental health. People get so busy with their lives that they sometimes forget about their teeth. The majority of people do not make regular dental visits. Ninety percent of adults usually quit their regular dental checkups by the time they are 25. Dentists feel that by raising awareness during dental health month, the on-going problem of gum disease could be eliminated. Dental health month also makes aware the age old problem of sugar and cavities. If children learn to equate good nutrition with good teeth, than many cavity issues can be cleared up as well.  Dental health month gives everyone a jump start into getting control over their dental health issues. The media provides all kinds of resources and TV programs are geared towards good dental hygiene during dental health month.   

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