Ann-Marie Banks, from Apollonia House Dental and Health Care in Grasscroft, looks at the links between healthy gums and a healthy heart.
Please feel free to call Apollonia House Dental and Health on 01457 821800 or email info@apolloniahouse.com for any dental questions or concerns you have. You can also visit their website.
THERE ARE new findings that support something dental professionals have suspected for a long time: infections in the mouth can cause problems in other parts of the body.
Problems which may be caused or made worse by poor dental health include heart disease, strokes, diabetes, giving birth to a premature or low birth-weight baby or respiratory disease.
People with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease than people without gum disease.
When people have gum disease, bacteria from the mouth can get into their bloodstream. The bacteria produce protein which can problems.
The protein can affect the heart by causing the platelets in the blood to stick together and clots more likely to form.
Blood clots can reduce normal blood flow, so the heart does not get all the nutrients and oxygen it needs. If the blood flow is badly affected this could lead to a heart attack.
There is also a connection between mouth infections and strokes. People who have had a stroke are more likely to have gum disease than people who have not had one.
The protein can also cause inflammation of the blood vessels, and this can block the blood supply to the brain, which can cause a stroke.
Always tell your dentist and hygienist about any changes to your general health. Tell them if you are pregnant or have heart disease, diabetes, lung disease or have ever had a stroke.
You also need to tell them about any medicines you are taking as these can affect both your treatment and the health of your mouth.
If you have gum disease, your dentist may refer you to a hygienist who will treat you and work with you to eliminate the active disease and control it in the future.
‘Direct access’ rulings now mean that anyone can book an appointment to see a hygienist, without a referral from a dentist.
If you would like to see a hygienist to discuss any of the above and have your teeth and gums professionally cleaned, please call Apollonia House on 01457 821800 to make an appointment with one of our professional and friendly hygienists.
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