CONNECTING THE DOTS BETWEEN YOUR MOUTH AND YOUR OVERALL HEALTH
Most folks think caring for your oral health means brushing, flossing and seeing the dentist twice a year. After all, that is what we’ve been taught…. That is what our insurance pays for….Right?
Believe it or not, your overall health is connected to how you think, feel and take care of your mouth.
Most people do not even give their mouth a second thought when considering developing a health plan. They think about diet and exercise not also considering that they may have an infection in their mouth that is keeping them from being healthy.
How you would treat your overall health is how you should treat your dental health.
If you had a cut on the back of your hand that bleeds every day and did not heal would you ignore it?
Bleeding in your mouth is not healthy. Bleeding in your mouth does not just go away without changing your habits. Gingivitis is red, swollen, bleeding gums, you can have it in only one area of your mouth or your whole mouth.
You need to know you have it and where so you can adjust your oral habits accordingly to reverse the disease before it progresses.
When you go to the Dentist, they should measure your gums with a periodontal probe; it measures in millimeters. Your dentist or hygienist will call out the #’s so you can hear where you stand. 1-3 are normal healthy measurements as long as there is no bleeding. If you have 4-5 millimeters you could have either Gingivitis or gum disease, which one you have depended on if there is bone loss on the x-rays or not. If it has been a while since your last visit chances are you will need more than just a standard cleaning, If you have inflammation you may need two appio0ntments if you have a lot of buildup you may need four or five appointments.
If you are sensitive and have a lot of build-up below the gums, you may need to be numb for the cleaning or need a is called a periodontal cleaning (deep cleaning) scaling and root planning to remove all of the plaque, biofilm and calculus build up in order for your gums to be healthy and not bleed.
You can prevent all of this from happening by taking your time when you brush and use the tool correctly to remove plaque and disrupt the biofilm from the teeth and surrounding tissues.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of periodontal disease – Gingivitis is an infection that affects the gums and is reversible by you, with brushing and good oral home care.
Periodontal (gum) disease
Periodontal disease is an infection of the structures around the teeth, which include the gums, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. In more severe forms of the disease, all of the tissues are involved. If left untreated can lead to disease in your body.
Periodontal (Gum) disease has been linked to:
- Heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Respiratory Problems
- Ulcers
- Pregnancy Low term birth weights, preterm delivery, stillborn
- Some Cancers
Plus, you can pass the bacteria in your mouth to your family members.
We have had cases where we get one spouse healthy, and it only lasts for a few short months because we have not treated the spouse.
When we test the bacteria on both of them, it is the same.
The test lets us know which antibiotic is most effective for that strain of bacteria you have.
Bacteria in your mouth can be transmitted between spouses and parent to child.
The health of your mouth can affect not only your health but the health of your family’s mouths also.
You may need to test everyone to see what bacteria are present in your mouth and your family’s mouth. Also, so you know how to treat it.
These are just some of the reasons you need to know the health of your mouth not only for your overall health but the health of your family and for your livelihood.
Many workers have not been considered for jobs due to the health of their mouth or lack of health of their mouth.
Like it or not people judge you by how you look. One of the first things people notice when they look at you is your smile and your teeth.
The health of your mouth, depending on the position you are interviewing for could be a deal breaker as to whether you get the job or not. Especially you will be in direct customer service. Good oral health and healthy teeth make you more employable.
People judge your health and intelligence by the appearance of your teeth.
With oral health being linked to overall health every day many employers, subconsciously interpret poor oral health as an indicator of poor general health. The health of employees can have an effect on the businesses bottom line. They feel you will have more sick days.
So, these are just a few things you may not have known or thought about. Just because you have no pain does not mean your mouth is healthy.
Do you know the condition of your Oral Health? Is your mouth healthy?
