What Is Your Mouth Telling You?
By Jonathan B. Levine, DMD
The mouth is a window to your overall health. Problems inside your mouth, such as with your gums, teeth and/or tongue, can all be indicators that serious health troubles are lurking beneath the surface. It’s critical to pay attention to any and all signs or symptoms of oral problems. If your mouth is causing even the slightest discomfort, or you’re having trouble cleaning your teeth and gums, it’s time to book an appointment today to see your oral care health practitioner.
One common, yet frequently overlooked, oral issue is bleeding gums. Many people ignore inflamed or bleeding gums or brush it aside as a normal reaction to flossing, but the truth of the matter is that it’s one of the body’s clearest signs that something is awry. Think about gum tissue being similar to the skin on your body. If you developed an open sore every time you washed your hands, you would likely be very concerned and take immediate action to address the issue. The gums should be tended to with an equal amount of attention and care.
There are several, even some surprising, reasons for bleeding gums besides plaque build-up. These include pregnancy and hormonal changes, excessive stress, smoking, challenged immune system functioning, disease and illnesses, such as cancer, HIV and diabetes, and more.
And it’s not just about the bleeding gums alone. When you allow your gums to bleed chronically, your entire circulatory system is more vulnerable to the harmful bacteria in your mouth. If these bacteria gain entry into your bloodstream, it can cause a number of problems. These bacteria can bond to platelets in the blood and cause clots, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, even dementia. As bleeding gums go untreated, inflammation in the mouth can result in the inflammatory process, setting up in other areas of your body and vital organs.
The bottom line is that good oral health is essential to good overall health. Pay attention to clues that your mouth is giving you and follow these tips to be the healthiest you in the new year.
Brush and floss at least twice a day.
Avoid fatty and sugary foods, as these can lead to plaque build-up.
Create a smile-friendly diet by eating foods high in fiber such as fruits and vegetables, which strengthen the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, and take calcium and vitamin C supplements to promote healthy gums. Additionally, fruits and vegetables raise the pH in the mouth which creates a healthier environment for the good bacteria to thrive and the bad bacteria to disappear.
Resolve to manage your stress levels for 2011. Too much stress can overload the mouth and affect the gums.
Care for your teeth, gums and tongue like any other body part, brushing and flossing regularly. Have a professional cleaning at least twice a year – and more if your gums are sensitive or inflamed, or you have had a good deal of dental work.
Small oral care steps you make today can bring a healthier you tomorrow.
For more information about gum disease and it treatment www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Breast Cancer and Periodontal Disease
Breast Cancer May Be Linked to Periodontal Disease -- with a Strange Twist
Sunday December 5, 2010
Shocking. One word that sums up the latest study conducted by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. According to their research, chronic periodontal disease indicated, strangely, by missing molars, appears to be associated statistically with breast cancer.
The study involved 3273 randomly selected subjects aged 30-40 years. Of those selected, 1676 (group A) received an oral examination. Group B, consisting of the remaining 1597 did not receive an examination. 26 subjects in group A and 15 subjects in group B had breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer was 1.75% in subjects who had periodontal disease and/or any missing molars, and 0 in subjects who had periodontal disease but had no missing molars. For periodontally healthy subjects with no missing teeth the breast cancer incidence was 1%. For group B the respective incidence was 0.94%. Female gender (odds ratio (OR) 13.08) and missing any molar in the mandible (OR 2.36) were explanatory variables for breast cancer. Of the subjects with periodontal disease and any missing molars in the mandible 5.5% had breast cancer in comparison to 0.5% of the subjects who had periodontal disease but no missing molars in the mandible (P < 0.02).
Periodontal disease begins innocently enough as gingivitis, but unfortunately, the disease progresses very quickly if it's not treated properly, and promptly. Once periodontal disease becomes irreversible, your risk for losing teeth increases substantially. Taking the above information into consideration, missing teeth, especially molars, appears to be the somewhat strange connection between periodontal disease and breast cancer.
I really strongly advise everyone to take any signs of "pink in the sink" very seriously. The first sign of gum disease is red, bleeding gums. Believe it or not, bleeding gums is not a normal occurrence when you are brushing your teeth. If you are consistently finding your gums bleed while you are brushing your teeth, speak with your dentist about how to halt the progression of gum disease; before it's too late
For more information on treating periodontal disease www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Sunday December 5, 2010
Shocking. One word that sums up the latest study conducted by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. According to their research, chronic periodontal disease indicated, strangely, by missing molars, appears to be associated statistically with breast cancer.
The study involved 3273 randomly selected subjects aged 30-40 years. Of those selected, 1676 (group A) received an oral examination. Group B, consisting of the remaining 1597 did not receive an examination. 26 subjects in group A and 15 subjects in group B had breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer was 1.75% in subjects who had periodontal disease and/or any missing molars, and 0 in subjects who had periodontal disease but had no missing molars. For periodontally healthy subjects with no missing teeth the breast cancer incidence was 1%. For group B the respective incidence was 0.94%. Female gender (odds ratio (OR) 13.08) and missing any molar in the mandible (OR 2.36) were explanatory variables for breast cancer. Of the subjects with periodontal disease and any missing molars in the mandible 5.5% had breast cancer in comparison to 0.5% of the subjects who had periodontal disease but no missing molars in the mandible (P < 0.02).
Periodontal disease begins innocently enough as gingivitis, but unfortunately, the disease progresses very quickly if it's not treated properly, and promptly. Once periodontal disease becomes irreversible, your risk for losing teeth increases substantially. Taking the above information into consideration, missing teeth, especially molars, appears to be the somewhat strange connection between periodontal disease and breast cancer.
I really strongly advise everyone to take any signs of "pink in the sink" very seriously. The first sign of gum disease is red, bleeding gums. Believe it or not, bleeding gums is not a normal occurrence when you are brushing your teeth. If you are consistently finding your gums bleed while you are brushing your teeth, speak with your dentist about how to halt the progression of gum disease; before it's too late
For more information on treating periodontal disease www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Gum Disease
Periodontal DiseaseJanet M. Torpy, MD, Writer; Alison E. Burke, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
KEYWORDS: PERIODONTAL DISEASES.
Periodontal disease (unhealthy gums and teeth) often reflects serious health risks. Mild inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) can be prevented by regularly brushing and flossing teeth to remove plaque (buildup of a film on the teeth). This stops the development of tartar (hardened accumulation of plaque at the gum line), which can only be removed by dental cleaning. More serious infection, called periodontitis, can cause not only disease of the gums, but loss of teeth and the bone structures that support the teeth. Periodontitis may be associated with heart disease, stroke, and systemic (whole body) infections. There is also evidence that premature births happen more often to women who have gum disease before or during their pregnancies. The February 6, 2008, issue of JAMA includes an article about an association between periodontal disease and smoking marijuana.
Next SectionCAUSES•Poor dental hygiene—not brushing your teeth or using dental floss regularly—allows the buildup of plaque and tartar, making the gum tissue unhealthy.
•Smoking causes decreased oxygen delivery to the gum tissue and makes it easier for bacteria to invade the gums.
•Some medications may cause gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of gum tissue) or receding gums.
•Viral or fungal infection
•Poor nutrition, especially vitamin and mineral deficiencies, may cause gum disease or loss of teeth.
•Chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, may lead to greater risk of infections or poor healing in the gums as well as in other body tissues.
Previous SectionNext SectionSIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
•Receding or puffy, swollen gums
•Painful gums
•Bleeding when you brush your teeth
•Tooth loss or loose teeth in adults
•Pus draining from the gums
•Bad breath that is not related to food and does not go away
Previous SectionNext Section
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT•Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
•Use dental floss daily.
•Periodontitis does not cause symptoms initially, so it is important to have regular dental checkups.
•Maintain good nutrition by eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and making sure your diet contains plenty of calcium.
•Do not smoke
•Control chronic medical problems, especially diabetes (maintaining normal blood sugar levels decreases your risk of infection).
•In severe cases of periodontitis, advanced dental treatments may be offered, including gum surgery, bone grafts, or placement of antibiotics into the gum tissue itself.
Previous SectionNext SectionFOR MORE INFORMATION•American Dental Association
http://www.ada.org/
•National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/
•American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/
Previous Section INFORM YOURSELFTo find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA's Web site at http://www.jama.com. Many are available in English and Spanish.
Sources: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, American Dental Association, American Heart Association
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. To purchase bulk reprints, call 203/259-8724.
Dr. James Miller is a Scottsdale, Arizona general dentist who uses the LANAP procedure utilizing the Periolase MVP-7 laser to treat gum disease. For more information www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
KEYWORDS: PERIODONTAL DISEASES.
Periodontal disease (unhealthy gums and teeth) often reflects serious health risks. Mild inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) can be prevented by regularly brushing and flossing teeth to remove plaque (buildup of a film on the teeth). This stops the development of tartar (hardened accumulation of plaque at the gum line), which can only be removed by dental cleaning. More serious infection, called periodontitis, can cause not only disease of the gums, but loss of teeth and the bone structures that support the teeth. Periodontitis may be associated with heart disease, stroke, and systemic (whole body) infections. There is also evidence that premature births happen more often to women who have gum disease before or during their pregnancies. The February 6, 2008, issue of JAMA includes an article about an association between periodontal disease and smoking marijuana.
Next SectionCAUSES•Poor dental hygiene—not brushing your teeth or using dental floss regularly—allows the buildup of plaque and tartar, making the gum tissue unhealthy.
•Smoking causes decreased oxygen delivery to the gum tissue and makes it easier for bacteria to invade the gums.
•Some medications may cause gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of gum tissue) or receding gums.
•Viral or fungal infection
•Poor nutrition, especially vitamin and mineral deficiencies, may cause gum disease or loss of teeth.
•Chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, may lead to greater risk of infections or poor healing in the gums as well as in other body tissues.
Previous SectionNext SectionSIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
•Receding or puffy, swollen gums
•Painful gums
•Bleeding when you brush your teeth
•Tooth loss or loose teeth in adults
•Pus draining from the gums
•Bad breath that is not related to food and does not go away
Previous SectionNext Section
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT•Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
•Use dental floss daily.
•Periodontitis does not cause symptoms initially, so it is important to have regular dental checkups.
•Maintain good nutrition by eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and making sure your diet contains plenty of calcium.
•Do not smoke
•Control chronic medical problems, especially diabetes (maintaining normal blood sugar levels decreases your risk of infection).
•In severe cases of periodontitis, advanced dental treatments may be offered, including gum surgery, bone grafts, or placement of antibiotics into the gum tissue itself.
Previous SectionNext SectionFOR MORE INFORMATION•American Dental Association
http://www.ada.org/
•National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/
•American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/
Previous Section INFORM YOURSELFTo find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA's Web site at http://www.jama.com. Many are available in English and Spanish.
Sources: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, American Dental Association, American Heart Association
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. To purchase bulk reprints, call 203/259-8724.
Dr. James Miller is a Scottsdale, Arizona general dentist who uses the LANAP procedure utilizing the Periolase MVP-7 laser to treat gum disease. For more information www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
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