March 2008, the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) sends out a special mailing to its constituent dentists for their patients titled, "Oral Health is Overall Health." The direct mail piece includes this quote: "...According to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 90 percent of all systemic (overall) diseases have oral health symptoms..." Poor or lacking dental health care may have negative effects on a range of conditions such as pregnancy, diabetes and heart disease. An important component of wellness is dental health.
Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar runs high and is difficult to regulate. Diabetics (people who have diabetes) are prone to heart disease, kidney disease, blindness and circulatory issues that sometimes require amputation of feet or legs. Diabetes reduces the body's resistance to infection, and infection makes it even more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar. Periodontitis (severe gum disease) is an infection. There can be a spiral of diabetes and periodontitis that leads to tooth loss and increasing illness.
Regular dental health care helps prevent heart attack and stroke. Bacteria that cover teeth as dental plaque also cause blood clots that lead to strokes and heart attacks. These same bacteria can infect hearts with abnormal or artificial valves, a life-threatening condition known as bacterial endocarditis.
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, a national organization of gum specialists, bacteria from the oral cavity causes respiratory (lung) infection when the bacteria are inhaled. This is why periodontal disease is associated with a higher rate of lung ailments like chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).
Dental health care can improve the wellness of your unborn child. The direct mail piece from the MDS stresses the evolving link between gum disease and pregnancy. "Recent studies have also shown a relationship between gum disease and pre-term, low birth weight babies. In fact, pregnant women with periodontal disease may be seven times more likely to have a premature baby." Dentists, dental hygienists and even Dental Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts) recommend improving dental health care for expectant mothers. One improvement is to visit their dentist or hygienist for a checkup and cleaning every three months instead of waiting for six.
Many medications have negative oral health effects. The strongest effects may be from the many chemotherapeutic agents taken by people with cancer and rheumatoid factor diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and lupus erythematosis). Dry mouth (xerostomia) is a common side effect of many medications. Xerostomia can lead to irritating fungal infections and a high rate of tooth decay. Other medications cause mouth sores, irritations and a burning sensation. Discomfort may prevent the patient from eating, causing weight loss that they can ill afford. Dentists can prescribe medications and treatments to ameliorate most of these side effects.
Sources:
www.ADA.org
www.massdental.org
Author: Dr. David Leader
© 2008 Associated Content