Gum Disease Portage IN Gingivitis, Periodontics, Heart Disease Lake Station IN, Gary IN Kidney Failure DENTIST Portage IN Many people consider dentistry to be just about teeth. Keeping them clean, white, and free of cavities. Portage DENTAL PATIENT I would agree with that. DENTIST Portage IN That would be incorrect. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Bummer. DENTIST Portage IN Dental problems can also include gum disease. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Gum disease. I know what that is. It is when your gums get all pink and puffy. DENTIST Portage IN Pink and puffy? Portage DENTAL PATIENT Am I wrong about the puffy? DENTIST Portage IN You could say puffy. We probably would say inflamed. But gum disease can actually be much more serious than pink and puffy. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Serious how? DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Yikes! Losing teeth sounds a lot more serious than pink and puffy. DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Bigger than teeth? DENTIST Portage IN The biggest problem with gum disease is you have a disease in your mouth that is spreading throughout your body. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Spreading throughout my body? DENTIST Portage IN Every minute. This can have many adverse affects. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Yuck. I would think so! DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Is that why some medicines are placed under the tongue to absorb faster into the system? DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage 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 Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT I had not thought of that. DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT That is how it travels through the body! DENTIST Portage IN Yes! One of the first things we discovered is it can contribute to heart disease. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Heart disease? You are kidding me. DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Okay, really not good. DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Really really not good. I am giving gum disease some serious respect. DENTIST Portage IN There are many reasons to pay it attention. There is also a link between gum disease and diabetes. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Diabetes? DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT So you have diabetes, you have to be extra careful about gum disease? DENTIST Portage IN Exactly. It is also known that pregnant women with serious gum disease may be seven times more likely to give birth prematurely. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Mamas beware of gum disease. My new motto. DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT I had no idea gum disease could be so serious! DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Yucks! DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Wow. People are taking this seriously! DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT I hate feeling tired all the time. DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT It just keeps on getting better and better. DENTIST Portage IN The truth is, it can get better. With help from your dentist. Portage DENTAL PATIENT This part I want to know. DENTIST Portage IN To avoid gum disease in the first place is to keep up with good brushing and flossing. Portage DENTAL PATIENT I can do that. DENTIST Portage IN Next, make regular visits to your dentist and hygienist so they can help keep your gums and teeth clean and in good condition. Portage DENTAL PATIENT I can do that. DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT Lasers. I love lasers! DENTIST Portage IN 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. Portage DENTAL PATIENT I am really beginning to see that! Gum Disease Portage IN, Dentist Portage IN, Periodontist Portage IN, Periodontal Disease Portage IN, Gingivitis Portage IN, Kidney Failure Portage IN, Heart Disease Portage IN, Prenatal Care Portage IN, Pregnancy Gum Disease Portage, Premature Baby Portage IN, Periodontics Portage IN