5B — Friday, October 11, 2019
Dental care can help prevent periodontal disease
Routinely visiting the dentist for cleanings and other checkups is one way to prevent periodontal disease, which is usually unrecognizable in its early stages.
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ids often lament daily dental care. Mom and Dad might insist kids brush their teeth each morning and before bed, but that doesn’t mean kids enjoy these daily dental rituals. While it’s notoriously difficult to get kids to take dental care seriously, many adults also approach dental care with something less than an enthusiastic effort. Dental hygiene routines or visits to the dentist might not be welcomed with open arms, but their importance, especially with regards to preventing periodontal disease, is paramount. To understand that connection better, it can help to get a firmer grasp on periodontal disease, its potentially negative consequences and how to prevent it. What is periodontal disease? Periodontal disease is commonly referred to as gum disease. An infection of the tissues that surround and support the teeth, periodontal disease is a major cause of adult tooth loss. According to the American Dental Association, periodontal disease is often painless, and many adults may have it without even knowing it. What causes periodontal disease? Periodontal disease is caused by a sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth. This film is called plaque, and the bacteria that forms creates toxins that can damage the gums. Are there signs of periodontal disease? There are signs that indicate the presence of periodontal disease, and anyone who notices these signs should see a dentist immediately. Indicators of periodontal disease include: • gums that bleed when your brush your teeth • red, swollen or tender gums • persistent bad breath • pus between the teeth and gums • gums that have pulled away from the teeth • loose teeth
Can periodontal disease be prevented? As harmful as periodontal disease can be, men and women should know it can be prevented. Taking good care of your teeth and making those dental appointments, no matter how much you might fear the dentist’s chair, are great ways to prevent periodontal disease. Keeping gums and teeth healthy requires a daily commitment, but that commitment is easy to make. The following are a few daily routines that can help prevent periodontal disease. • Brush twice per day. Brushing twice daily removes plaque and reduces the risk for damaged gums. When brushing, the ADA recommends a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpastes that contain fluoride, which strengthen the teeth and help prevent decay. • Clean between the teeth every day. Floss or interdental cleaners remove bacteria from those areas a toothbrush just can’t reach, such as between the teeth. Flossing is important, as the ADA notes that early periodontal disease can be reversed by daily brushing and flossing. • Don’t skip dental visits. Fear of the dentist’s chair is not uncommon. Be it kids or adults, many people harbor a fear of going to the dentist, no matter how irrational that fear might be. But skipping dental visits is a recipe for disaster. When detected early, periodontal disease is rather easily reversed. But the longer men and women go between dental visits, the more time periodontal disease has to advance, and serious damage can result. When gum disease has progressed to an advanced stage, this is known as periodontitis. At this point gums can be seriously damaged, possibly resulting in loose teeth or tooth loss. So no matter how much you might fear the dentist’s chair, those trips are necessary. Periodontal disease often goes unnoticed, placing great emphasis on the individual to be proactive and take care of his or her teeth while visiting the dentist at least twice annually. More information on periodontal disease can be found at www.ada.org.
BUCKHANNON FAMILY DENTAL
Coffman & Hinkle, Inc.
Why dental hygiene is essential for overall health
The health of teeth and gums can impact other parts of the body.
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he importance of maintaining clean teeth and healthy gums goes beyond having fresh breath and a white smile. Many people are surprised to discover that oral hygiene plays an integral role in overall health. Research indicates that oral health mirrors the condition of the body as a whole. Also, regular dental visits can alert dentists about overall health and pinpoint if a person is at a risk for chronic disease. An oral health check-up also may be the first indication of a potential health issue not yet evident to a general medical doctor. Heart disease According to the Academy of General Dentistry, there is a distinct relationship between periodontal disease and conditions such as heart disease and stroke. Joint teams at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom and the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, found that people with bleeding gums from poor dental hygiene could have an increased risk of heart disease. Bacteria from the mouth is able to enter the bloodstream when bleeding gums are present. That bacteria can stick to platelets and subsequently form blood clots. This interrupts the flow of blood to the heart and may trigger a heart attack. Brushing and flossing twice daily and rinsing with mouthwash can remove bacteria and keep gums healthy. Facial pain The Office of the Surgeon General says infections of the gums that support the teeth can lead to facial and oral pain. Gingivitis, which is an early stage of gum disease, as well as advanced gum disease, affects more than 75 percent of the American population. Dental decay can lead to its own share of pain. Maintaining a healthy mouth can fend off decay and infections, thereby preventing pain.
Pancreatic cancer In 2007, the Harvard School of Public Health reported a link between gum disease and pancreatic cancer. In the ongoing study, 51,000 men were followed and data was collected beginning in 1986. The Harvard researchers found that men with a history of gum disease had a 64 percent increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared with men who had never had gum disease. The greatest risk for pancreatic cancer among this group was in men with recent tooth loss. However, the study was unable to find links between other types of oral health problems, such as tooth decay, and pancreatic cancer.
Alzheimer’s disease Various health ailments, including poor oral health, have been linked to a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In 2010, after reviewing 20 years’ worth of data, researchers from New York University concluded that there is a link between gum inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease. Follow-up studies from researchers at the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom compared brain samples from 10 living patients with Alzheimer’s to samples from 10 people who did not have the disease. Data indicated that a bacterium — Porphyromonas gingivalis — was present in the Alzheimer’s brain samples but not in the samples from the brains of people who did not have Alzheimer’s. P. gingivalis is usually associated with chronic gum disease. As a result of the study, experts think that the bacteria can move via nerves in the roots of teeth that connect directly with the brain or through bleeding gums. These health conditions are just a sampling of the relationship between oral health and overall health. Additional connections also have been made and continue to be studied.
Kevin M. Conde, D.D.S. Residence: 304-472-6895
Jeffrey D. Coffman D.D.S Mary Beth Hinkle D.D.S Ann Jackson D.D.S
Matthew J. Malone, D.D.S.
14 N. Spring Street
johnscondemalone.com 546 Rt. 20 South Road • Buckhannon
Cell: 509-793-5803
304-472-2774
Buckhannon
(304) 472-1122
Strong Healthy Smiles
STEPHEN H. JERAN, D.D.S.
Wilson Martino Dental Associates
61 South Kanawha Street Buckhannon, WV 26201
472-4954
jerandds@frontier.com www.jerandental.com
Start Here
19 E. Main St. Buckhannon wilsonmartinodental.com
GENERAL DENTISTRY
86 East Main St. • Suite A • Buckhannon
304-472-8598