After I graduated from undergraduate school, I was making decisions as to which way I would go to further my education. One thing I did consider was dentistry. I actually took the dental admission test and was accepted to one dental school. Unfortunately, and I mean no offense to my friends in the dental community, I did not enjoy the likelihood of looking in people’s mouths for the rest of my professional career. Therefore, I chose another path. However, I am very sensitive and understanding of the importance of proper dental hygiene on your overall health and well being. Therefore, I am a strong advocate of regular dental checks and cleanings. I am also a strong advocate of appropriate timely and accurate treatment of any periodontal disease or disorders of the gums. I mean diseases of the gums and not necessarily the tooth itself. I have personally undergone treatment for this malady myself.
Recent research has shown a direct relationship between periodontal disease or infections of the gums and risk of cardiovascular disease. Periodontal diseases are relatively easy to correct and once corrected will have a dramatic effect on your overall health. This will also reduce the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. The overall bacteria load in your system will be reduced significantly when proper periodontal techniques are applied to correct diseased gums, not to mention better smelling breath! Diseased gums generate putrid smelling breath, which is often one of the ways to diagnose a disorder. Also visually evaluating your gums will help to detect problems. If you look at the base of your teeth and see a great deal of yellowish or brownish tartar, this is an indication that you may be developing periodontal disease. The color of the gingivae or gums is also an indicator. Extremely red, inflamed or irritated, swollen gums, is a strong indicator of periodontal disease.
What I think is important for you to understand and perhaps to change your thought process in regard to periodontal disease is that this is not merely a cosmetic issue. It is a systemic issue, where your entire body can be affected by periodontal disease. Since you are swallowing the bacteria and the inflammatory byproducts on a daily basis from this process, you will invariably overload your body’s defense mechanisms, and cause other problems.
Substances you are swallowing include toxic waste products from the inflammatory infection process, as well as bacteria and other pathological organisms. These are ultimately absorbed into your bloodstream in many instances through the gastro- intestinal tract. These toxins and bacteria can cause inflammation of the walls of the arteries and lead to plaque, blockage, heart attack, and even ultimate death. This is aside from the fact that your body’s immune system is constantly working overtime to try and deal with this bacteria load that is being dumped into your system. This, in and of itself, can cause fatigue for you due to this constant drain on your immune system.
So, if you’re brushing your teeth and notice blood when you spit, and if your gums are red, swollen, inflamed, tender, puffy, or if you notice a great deal of plaqueing – yellow, brown material at your gum line at the base of your teeth, please have this addressed as soon as possible. Not only will your teeth remain healthier for a longer period of time, but your body will regain its strength, and the likelihood of you having cardiovascular disease will be reduced.
Having just gone through periodontal work myself, I understand how important it is to address this issue promptly. Talk to your dentist about this problem if it is something you feel you may be experiencing. Have them show you how to properly clean your teeth, including flossing on a regular basis.
I trust that you will add this bit of information to your overall health and wellness regime, so that you may live a longer, healthier life. Don’t forget to visit our website to review my previous articles at www.upchiropractic.com.