Gum Disease Fort Lee NJ Gingivitis, Periodontics, Heart Disease Palisades Park NJ, Leonia NJ Kidney Failure DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Many people consider dentistry to be just about teeth. Keeping them clean, white, and free of cavities. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT I would agree with that. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ That would be incorrect. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Bummer. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Dental problems can also include gum disease. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Gum disease. I know what that is. It is when your gums get all pink and puffy. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Pink and puffy? Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Am I wrong about the puffy? DENTIST Fort Lee NJ You could say puffy. We probably would say inflamed. But gum disease can actually be much more serious than pink and puffy. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Serious how? DENTIST Fort Lee NJ First off, if gum disease, which is also called periodontal disease, goes on too long, it can weaken your gums, make them recede, and you can lose all your teeth. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Yikes! Losing teeth sounds a lot more serious than pink and puffy. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ That is my point. Any missing teeth can ruin your bite, make chewing difficult, and give you recurring headaches. But the problem is bigger than teeth. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Bigger than teeth? DENTIST Fort Lee NJ The biggest problem with gum disease is you have a disease in your mouth that is spreading throughout your body. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Spreading throughout my body? DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Every minute. This can have many adverse affects. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Yuck. I would think so! DENTIST Fort Lee NJ You have to understand, the mouth is a gateway to the entire blood supply. The mouth has an amazing number of blood vessels in it. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Is that why some medicines are placed under the tongue to absorb faster into the system? DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Exactly. It is also why a critical part of dental health is preventing gum disease. Sadly, even though we estimate up to 80 percent of people are affected by gum disease, most don't take periodontal disease very seriously. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT I actually had it once. All I knew was my gums felt more sensitive and they tended to bleed easily. And I learned it can contribute to bad breath too. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ All of that is true. Realize there are always bacteria in the mouth. And food particles from what we eat can settle in areas between the gums and teeth. These particles will decay to cause infections too. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT I had not thought of that. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ And here is the big one. Because of this bleeding that accompanies gum disease, those bacteria in the mouth are in contact with the blood vessels. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT That is how it travels through the body! DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Yes! One of the first things we discovered is it can contribute to heart disease. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Heart disease? You are kidding me. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Bacteria entering your blood vessels from your mouth can raise the body's immunity response, which can create inflammation in the heart and arteries. It not only can harm the heart, it can also thicken the walls of arteries which hinder the blood flow and make the heart work harder. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Okay, really not good. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ This also increases chances for plaque to form in the arteries. If plaque lodges someplace that obstructs blood supply to the heart, there is a heart attack. If it obstructs blood flow to the brain, there is a stroke. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Really really not good. I am giving gum disease some serious respect. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ There are many reasons to pay it attention. There is also a link between gum disease and diabetes. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Diabetes? DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Gum disease doesn’t cause diabetes, but it can make it worse. Plus, if someone has diabetes, it can make them more likely to get gum disease. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT So you have diabetes, you have to be extra careful about gum disease? DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Exactly. It is also known that pregnant women with serious gum disease may be seven times more likely to give birth prematurely. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Mamas beware of gum disease. My new motto. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Don’t stop there. We now believe there’s also a connection between severe gum disease and increased risks of pancreatic cancer - which is the fourth highest cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT I had no idea gum disease could be so serious! DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Most people don’t. Bacteria circulating in blood can also put a strain on the immune system. You might get colds more often. Or they last longer. Of it is just that something always seems wrong. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Yucks! DENTIST Fort Lee NJ before many surgeons perform transplants or other major operations, they first demand patients get a dental clearance from their dentist. Surgeons know if the body is weakened from gum disease, it could compromise the surgery. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Wow. People are taking this seriously! DENTIST Fort Lee NJ They should. But even if gum disease isn’t so advanced to cause major illnesses, it can still make you sleep poorly. Or your digestion might be off. Or your brain may not think as well. You may just feel tired all the time. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT I hate feeling tired all the time. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ I can understand that. Someone who is always tired has a harder time with life. They don't get what they want or need done. They get depressed. They may even turn toward drugs for depression. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT It just keeps on getting better and better. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ The truth is, it can get better. With help from your dentist. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT This part I want to know. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ To avoid gum disease in the first place is to keep up with good brushing and flossing. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT I can do that. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ Next, make regular visits to your dentist and hygienist so they can help keep your gums and teeth clean and in good condition. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT I can do that. DENTIST Fort Lee NJ If it is more serious, we can still help with deep cleaning like scaling and root planing. Plus if you would need gum surgery, we now can use lasers which are less painful and heal faster. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT Lasers. I love lasers! DENTIST Fort Lee NJ We always advise patients that their gums are perhaps the most important thing to take care of. Not just for their mouth, but overall health. Fort Lee DENTAL PATIENT I am really beginning to see that! Gum Disease Fort Lee NJ, Dentist Fort Lee NJ, Periodontist Fort Lee NJ, Periodontal Disease Fort Lee NJ, Gingivitis Fort Lee NJ, Kidney Failure Fort Lee NJ, Heart Disease Fort Lee NJ, Prenatal Care Fort Lee NJ, Pregnancy Gum Disease Fort Lee, Premature Baby Fort Lee NJ, Periodontics Fort Lee NJ