Watch Your Mouth: Poor Oral Health Can Kill You

Dental Guide
Watch Your Mouth: Poor Oral Health Can Kill You

Lots of Canadians neglect their teeth. Big mistake. Aside from the cosmetic and aesthetic positives of having attractive teeth, poor dental hygiene leads to more than gum diseases like gingivitis. Poor dental hygiene also increases the severity of other diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

For a long time, there was a general tendency to look at dental hygiene problems separately from periodontal disease and general health. Not only are poor dental hygiene habits related to gum diseases, but neglectful dental hygiene has been shown to increase the severity of a variety of pathological and often fatal diseases. Inflammation caused by rampant bacteria coursing through the bodies of pregnant women has been linked in some studies to preterm and low birth-rate babies.

Inflammation of the gums is caused by poor dental hygiene which allows bacteria to flourish and plaque to form. Plaque should be a familiar concept to people suffering from heart disease. The plaque which forms around the carotid and other arteries is biologically the same material as that plaque which forms on teeth and leads to gum disease. Inflammation is the key and common factor, the link between the increased threat to health for people suffering from diabetes, osteoporosis or respiratory diseases.

Lack of dental insurance is often a primary reason for poor oral health. But there are signs of gum disease just about anyone can recognize. Do gums bleed when brushing your teeth? Are they loose? A sight check can tell if the gums are receding. Teeth will appear longer if gum disease has begun and gums have receded.

Unfortunately, these symptoms are only obvious in later stages of gum disease. A scheduled examination with a periodontist is worthwhile to detect early signs of gum disease or inflammation. Early detection and treatment is much less expensive than gum surgeries or the implanted replacement of teeth. A periodontal exam will measure two things: the depth of gum pockets and the level of bone loss. Both are painless and routine procedures which require little more than opening your mouth. Gum pocket measurements are taken by small tools of various sizes which measure the amount of tooth recession. A simple x-ray will determine how well the teeth are anchored into the bone. A periodontal exam will also indicate whether or not there has been bone loss or shrinkage due to osteoporosis. Both these conditions, if discovered early enough, can be ameliorated by better dental hygiene, oral antibiotics and gels, and calcium replacement therapies. In more advanced cases of periodontal disease, treatments include ‘scaling’, an intensive cleaning procedure within the gums which is made less painful with anesthesia. In extreme cases, doctors may have to graft tissue onto deteriorated gums.

Whether young or old, it is important to remove bacteria and plaque buildup from the mouth. Brush and floss after eating. Don’t hesitate to take along an extra tooth brush even on short car trips. Plastic brush pics are a good item to have in your pocket or purse and are less obtrusive than other tooth care tools. Several mouthwash products slow plaque buildup though they should not be the sole dental hygiene practice used. Dental cleanings should be scheduled with a dentist at least twice a year. For those lacking in dental insurance, it will be money well spent. You ignore oral hygiene at great peril to your general health.