Ann-Marie Banks, from Apollonia House Dental and Health Care in Grasscroft, gives you some tips on how keep healthy gums and a healthy body
THERE ARE new findings that support something that 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 and respiratory (lung) 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 and produce protein.
This can then affect the heart by causing the platelets in the blood to stick together in the blood vessels of the heart, making clots more likely to form and 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.
Several studies have also found that people who have had a stroke are more likely to have gum disease than people who have not had one.
The protein in the bloodstream can cause inflammation of the blood vessels and block the blood supply to the brain. This can cause a stroke.
Always tell your dentist and Hygienist about any changes to your general health. 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 usually give your teeth a thorough clean, and this may take a number of sessions. The hygienist will also show you how to remove the soft plaque yourself by cleaning all the surfaces of your teeth thoroughly at home.
Not all dental practices have an in-house hygienist. New “direct access” rulings now mean that anyone can book an appointment to see a hygienist, even 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 friendly hygienists.
