Friday , March 29 2024

Gingivitis, Heart Disease and Other Health Conditions Can Be Interrelated

By Dr. DeLuca
Gingivitis, Heart Disease and Other  Health Conditions Can Be InterrelatedWhen it comes to oral hygiene and dental health, men and women aren’t quite the same. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, nearly 57% of men will develop some form of periodontal disease compared to only 38.4 % of women. In more severe disease states, men have a much higher incidence of heart disorders than their female counterparts. Also, in an unfortunate catch 22, some forms of cardiac medications can cause dry mouth, which therefore elevates the risk factors for periodontal bacteria and disease to form. In addition to cardiovascular disorders being interconnected to periodontal disease, diabetes is also more prevalent in men than women and is also linked to both heart disease and periodontal disorders.
Individuals with diabetes are one of the principal groups that are affected by gum disease, especially men. People with diabetes have numerous comorbidities that correlate to the issue of their high blood sugar. But in the case of periodontal disease, it’s multifocal. Diabetics are at increased risk of infection and bacterial growth because of their blood sugar levels, and they also are at higher risk for high blood sugar because of the periodontal disease. Researchers suggest that periodontal disease increases high blood sugar, making individuals with uncontrolled diabetes at greater risk of infections and complications of their condition.
If you have any form of gum discomfort, bleeding or bad breath, it’s important to consult with your dentists about getting your conditions treated right away. Often, just getting a deep scaling, which is a cleaning that goes above and below the gum line, will correct mild to moderate periodontal (bone) disease. Loose teeth and infection in your gingival tissues, are easily treated by a periodontal specialist, as they can provide you with options to get your mouth healthy again. These include deep scaling’s, gingival grafts, laser treatment (LANAP) and pocket reduction procedures. Periodontists must complete three more years of specialized training along with their DMD to become a specialist.
How To Prevent Gum Disease
Brushing your teeth efficiently for a full two-minutes is often neglected. We need to brush correctly to clean each surface of every tooth and gumline gently. Rinsing with, then ‘brushing your gums’ with Listerine (any flavor) for 90 seconds is one of the best ways to remove most of the bacteria and sticky plaque that accumulates on teeth and gums. Also, the importance of flossing cannot be stressed enough. Dentists and Hygienist convey this message regularly to their patients, but unfortunately, in our fast-paced world, many people find it too time-consuming to floss daily, but in reality, it only takes a minute to floss your teeth. When this step is avoided, food and bacteria harbor in the interproximal space between teeth, and that’s where the periodontal infection begins. That is 30% of all tooth surfaces. It is like taking a shower without cleaning your ‘pits’ or private parts. What is the point?
Staying on top of your dental health through regular dental cleanings, x-rays, and dental examinations are critical to avoid more expensive procedures and maintain a healthy smile, that’s free of decay, infection, and oral cancer. There are multiple treatment options; however, if you need to replace missing teeth, getting dental implants is the best solution for overall health.
Whether you have heart disease, diabetes or another medical conditions it is important to keep your dentist informed. Many individuals fail to tell their dentist about their current health issues and changes; but with all of the evidence pointing to strong oral – systemic health connections, it’s imperative to let them know about changes in your health and any new medications that you’re taking; so that they can best educate you on prevention of disease.
IMPECCABLE SMILES (Lutz, FL)
Dr. Vivian DeLuca, DMD, FAGD, FADIA
“Your overall health is much more dependent on your dental health than most people understand. My passion is helping people live healthier lives by taking care of their teeth!”
With Dr. DeLuca and her team, you will love coming to the dentist! Their unique caring team will put you at ease and have you laughing in no time! Their office was designed to provide you with the latest state-of-the-art dental technology in a comfortable, home-like setting.
Dr. Vivian DeLuca attends monthly training to be able to offer you the latest advancements in dental treatment options that will suit your exact needs. She regularly performs permanent tooth replacements, single dental implants, implant-supported dentures, mini-implant supported dentures, and custom-fit natural look dentures. Their gentle quality care brings people from all areas of Florida.
Impeccable Smiles uses only the best equipment because they believe that their patients deserve the latest state-of-the-art technology. They are one of the only offices around that uses the Vatech Green CT Implant Scanner due to its extremely low dose x-ray capability, and they also use a groundbreaking digital impression scanner for their dental implant patients.
To schedule a dental appointment, please call Impeccable Smiles today at (813) 365-3552.
impeccablesmiles.com | (813) 365-3552
4945 Van Dyke Rd., Lutz, FL 33558

Check Also

Malnourished

Many Seniors are Malnourished

Wisdom may come with age but getting older has its set of challenges. People are …