Did you know that your systemic health depends in large part on the condition of your teeth and gums? Dr. Louis Olberding, dentist in Lincoln, firmly asserts that preventive dentistry keeps your mouth and the rest of you strong. Learn more about the connection between your mouth and your body from the team at Olberding Dental in Lincoln.
What Happens in the Mouth Doesn’t Stay There
The American Academy of Periodontology says advanced gum disease, or periodontitis, and your overall health are linked. Periodontitis is a serious gum infection caused by sticky plaque and hard tartar accumulated at and below the gumline. Plaque and tartar come from what we eat, particularly processed sugars and starches, the favorite foods of oral bacteria.
The signs of of periodontitis include:
- Reddened, puffy, bleeding gums
- Persistent bad breath, or halitosis
- Receding gum tissue
- Deep periodontal pockets (greater than three mm indicates gum disease)
- Jaw bone loss
- A “long tooth” appearance
- Loose teeth
- Widening gaps between teeth
- Tooth loss
- Change in the fit of a denture or bridge
Dr. Olberding says that the inflammation associated with gum disease affect the entire body and contributes to serious conditions such as:
- Stroke
- Cardiovascular disease
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Type-2 Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Lung infections
- Complications of pregnancy, including low birth weight infants
- Osteoporosis
- Asthma
The Solution
The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives states that preventive dentistry protects kids–and adults, too–from poor oral health and its related systemic problems. The organization recommends brushing your teeth for two minutes two times a day with a fluoride toothpaste and soft brush. In addition, it advises flossing around and between teeth once a day. These rules apply to children through senior adults.
Why are regular at-home hygiene habits so critical? These practices prevent accumulation of bacteria-filled plaque and tartar in between teeth and at the gum line. The oral bacteria in this biofilm cause tooth decay and gum disease, a major cause of tooth loss in the United States.
Additionally, the Partnership feels that individuals of all ages should receive professional cleanings and examinations semi-annually with their dentists. Again, preventive dental services keep smiles–and overall health–strong and bright, and your dentist finds small dental problems before they develop into larger and more damaging ones.
Along with practicing good oral hygiene, families should eat nutritious diets, low on processed sugars and high on fibrous fruit, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy and proteins. We all should drink eight glasses of water daily to hydrate oral tissues, cleanse gums and teeth and increase saliva production.
A Healthy You
Keep all of you at your best starting with good oral health. For your semi-annual cleaning and comprehensive oral examination, contact Olberding Dental today for your convenient appointment time.