Manual Toothbrushing or Electric Toothbrushing

There is always a debate as to which type of toothbrushing is best. As dental professionals we hear both sides of the debate. So what are some of the things that should be considered when deciding between manual and electric.

First and foremost should be the overall size of your mouth. This determines the brush head size, whether you choose an electric or manual brush. Using too big of a brush head will not necessarily cover more surface area but could pose more difficulty in doing a thorough job as it may be more challenging to manuever. So if you have a small mouth, use a smaller headed toothbrush. If you tend to have a bigger mouth, then use a larger brush head.

It used to be that “natural” bristles were the best. Studies have shown that “natural” bristle brushes, those made from hair, are somewhat porous and can actually harbor bacteria. So, we at Dr. Mangelson’s office strongly encourage our patients to use a synthetic brush.

The type of brush matters as well. The texture of a toothbrush matters just as much as the proper technique used when brushing your teeth. Using the proper technique with a soft bristle brush protects the more delicate tissue, preventing recession, Some patients feel that their teeth are not clean enough when using a soft bristle brush. Thorough manual brushing requires a minimum of 5 minutes and a technique that includes angling the brush 45 degrees at the junction of the teeth and gums. Instead of “scrubbing” it is recommended that brushing in a small circular motion with a manual brush is best. This prevents tissue damage and stimulates the blood flow to the gum tissue.

It is a well known fact that toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months and they should be replaced after an illness,  like the flu or the common cold.

Now, what about those electric toothbrushes that we see advertised everywhere. There has been a great deal of clinical research devoted to proving that electric toothbrushes are far superior than manual brushes when it comes to eliminating dental plaque and preventing gum disease.  Electric toothbrushes are designed to vibrate at high speeds therefore producing more brush strokes per minute than manual toothbrushes. Some have different cleaning modes, timers and pressure sensors.

How do you decide between the different electric brushes on the market? Actually there are just 2 types: a normal power electric brush and a sonic electric brush.  Most normal power electric brushes have rotary heads that spin in a circular motion or pulsating heads which vibrate in a horizontal forward-and-back motion.In the past these types of electric toothbrushes did not have extra features but they now have similar features to the sonic brushes.

 The sonic toothbrush is similar to the power toothbrush except the key difference is brush speed and power. The mechanism of action is by sound waves or by vibrating water moloecules which are more effective in cleaning the teeth and gums.

Even with electric toothbrushes the brush head size does make a difference in the effective use and efficiency of the one’s brushing. Another key factor when purchasing an electric toothbrush is the warranty. One should consider the purchase of an electric toothbrush as a long term investment. Most last about 3-5 years, with the recommended twice daily brushing. Many of the electric toothbrushes purchased in a dental office come with a longer warranty. Some come with a money back guarantee. Another thing to consider is the batery life. Most come with battery life indicators that tell you when to recharge the brush. Be sure to purchase an electric toothbrush with rechargable batteries. Most batteries will last about a week with the regular recommended brushing. Some SONICARE models come with a UV sanitzers. Dr. Mangelson and his hygienists highly recommends this brush as the UV sanitizer works to kill any existing bacteria or germs that may grow on your brush head while it is sitting in the bathroom.

Dental health is extremely important to our overall health. If you hae any questions about what type of toothbrush is best for you please contact our office.

Gum Tissue Grafting…More Than Just an Esthetic Benefit

Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed that your tooth was “growing”? That is not actually the case but it might trigger some concern about gum tissue recession. We are usually concerned about how nice our smile looks. But even if our smile looks nice we still need to have the support of both the surrounding bone and healthy strong durable gum tissue.

At the time of your dental cleaning and exam your dental professional should be taking note about both the health of your tissue and bone, any evidence of cavities, and how your gum tissue recession measures up. Tissue that has receeded can be surgically grafted to cover the exposed root surface providing both an esthetic benefit and support for the tooth. A bone graft can also be done at the same time to add more support and further enhance the root coverage from the graft.

So, what causes gum tissue recession? There are many professional opinions as to what the “true” causes of recession are. Typically brushing too hard with a toothbrush can cause us to wear away the delicate tissue. For this reason we recommned the use of a SONICARE toothbrush or the use of a soft manual brush. Patients sometimes state that they do not feel like their teeth get cleaned well with a soft toothbrush. Actually, brushing with a soft brush, in the proper way, for at least 5 minutes usually provides a thorough cleaning. Tissue recession can also be caused by the natural biting forces of your dentition. Often times tooth movement through orthodontics can lead to some sort of recession. This is easily corrected and should not be cause for shying away from orthodontics and getting the most beautiful smile. Gum tissue recession can often make our teeth sensitive to sugar, hot and cold temperatures and sometimes even to the touch.

Gum tissue grafts work best when using your own tissue. This tissue is taken from a small area on the roof of the mouth. It is then surgically placed over the area where there is recession and over about a 2 week period new tissue begins to develop covering the exposed root of the tooth. A patient goes from having no strong tissue attatchment to having a strong durable tissue attatchement that can be maintained with correct brushing for many years. If there is an area that has several teeth that need grafting we can use a collagen tissue that stimulates our body to produce new gum tissue cells and provides root coverage. Using our own tissue usually has the best outcome but it is always nice to know that there are other options when needed.

So the next time you take a good look at your smile in the mirror, look for areas that you think might be gum tissue recession and be sure to ask your dental professional about it and what can be done to prevent it, improve it or for a referral to a Board Certified Periodontist for some tissue grafting.

Staying Current…Keeping up with Changes in the Dental World!

It seems that almost within minutes the world around us is changing. We no sooner purchase a computer with all the latest,  greatest technology. We get it home. We set it up and poof…it is obsolete. There is already something better, faster and has more memory than what we just purchased.  Well keeping up with modern dental technology and periodontal advances requires a dental professional to be proactive in many ways. There are all types of avenues that allow a dental professional to be informed. Journals share  published articles and studies that have been written and conducted by reputable dental professionals that hold key information which often times we use in the treatment of patients. Dr. Mangelson subscribes to many professional dental and medical journals. He likes to read them and use them to support his periodontal treatment philosophy. He uses the articles as a good source of reference when doing presentations to other dental professionals and when asked questions about new advances.

Many drug and dental product representatives make “in office” visits.  They frequent our office and tell us about what new products are available, how to use the products, and provide literature to support the claims made by the manufacturer. Our office supports products and techniques that have significant unbiased research associated with it.

Dental professionals are held to complete a specific number of continuing education hours that is designated by the state where the professional is licensed.  Utah requires dental professionals to complete 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years. As an ongoing part of our efforts to comply with the states requirements we attend the annual Utah Dental Association Convention. At the convention we attend courses that relate to our specific field of dentistry, periodontics. While attending we are able to explore new products first hand and interact with other professional colleagues who may have used the products in their practice. In association with the UDA, Dr. Mangelson also participates in the Intermountain Society of Periodontists. Periodontists from neighboring states gather for an entire day of continuing education that is exclusive to their specialty.

As a Board Certified Member of the American Academy of Periodontology, Dr. Mangelson, is required to attend the annual meeting at least every two years.   At these meetings periodontists from around the globe gather for lectures and presentations that include all the latest advances in implants, bone regeneration and new surgical techniques. Being a member of  the AAP requires 3 years of post doctoral study, comprehensive oral and written exams, and a detailed report on a broad range of actual treatment personally performed by the periodontist. Dr. Mangelson has been a Diplomate of the AAP since 1997, therefore he is held to a higher standard of continuing education than a general dentist. Also, being an active member of the AAP allows the periodontist to have access to its website and internal resources for information relating to periodontics. The AAP has great resources globally and we often find some very interesting articles and studies on their website.

Continuing education can certainly make dentistry more interesting, less mundane and enlighten a practitioners  view on helping patients and getting more informed and excited about what is in store for the future of dentistry.

Holiday Stress and Your Mouth

 The Holiday Season is upon us. ! It can be a time of joy, excitement, and fun, but if you’re not careful, it can also leave you feeling very stressed and overwhelmed. Keep these tips in mind to reduce stress during this holiday season and welcome the New Year in a more healthy state.
Some things that contribute to holiday stress are the fact that we have more obligations. There are more parties, a house to decorate, sometimes travel, house guests, and of course the fabulous holiday cooking that comes with it all.
Because of these extra activities we tend to get less sleep and can feel more fatigued. We are more susceptible to illness when we are run down and tend to pay less attention to our own personal details as we get things in order to celebrate.
Holiday purchases for gifts and food can also stress our budgets which in turn can stress our immune system. We often tend to overspend and that can create some anxiety.
One way to avoid holiday stress is to make a list and try to stick to it. Isn’t it always a relief to accomplish something and cross it OFF your list. Shopping early or making on-line purchases may help reduce the stress of crowds and gift buying. Learn to delegate responsibility and give others an opportunity to participate in the festive plans and preparations.

Taking time for ourselves during the holidays can be tough. But getting some regular exercise is important. There are ways of fitting that into our holiday plans by taking the furthest parking space instead of the closest. Making several trips to and from the car to unload packages is a great way to get in a few more steps. Walks around the block can be a big tension reliever too. Consider taking a warm bath or just taking a few minutes a day to get some reading done. These suggestions can  make a stressful day seem very passé. Spending quality time with family in the comfort of your own home can bring laughter and light to all the excess challenges and put things into perspective that the holidays can be joyful.
Keep your smile looking terrific with good oral hygiene. We eat and drink more casually during these times. Holidays invite sugary foods and high calorie treats. Don’t let a busy schedule cause you to neglect your focus on oral health. Good brushing and flossing are important aspects of staying healthy. Because stress can play havoc with our mouths, regular dental appointments should not be ignored. Often canker sores will appear as the result of stressful situations. Keep lips moist and try not to put your hands on your mouth too often.

Remember to smile despite the stress of the season. A beautiful smile can alleviate another’s stressful day too!

What is a Dental Implant?

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that a periodontist places into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason. Dental implants can also be used to support and stabilize a denture.

Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling, you may forget you ever lost a tooth! The way you feel about yourself is associated to how your teeth look and feel. Perhaps you hide your smile because of spaces from missing teeth, or maybe your dentures don’t feel secure. You may have difficulty chewing your favorite foods. If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to smile, speak, and eat again with comfort and confidence, there is good news! Dental Implants are teeth that can look and feel just like your own! Under proper conditions, such as placement by a periodontist and diligent patient maintenance, implants can last a lifetime. Long-term studies continue to show improving success rates for implants, and while dental implants are high-tech in nature; they are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework because they do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.

 

What Dental Implants Can Do?

• Replace one or more teeth without affecting bordering teeth.
• Support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture.
• Provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable.

 

Types of Implants in Use Today

• Endosteal (in the bone): This is the most commonly used type of implant. Each implant holds one or more prosthetic teeth. These types of implant are generally used as an alternative for patients with bridges or removable dentures.

• Subperiosteal (on the bone): These are placed on top of the jaw with metal framework’s posts to hold the prosthesis. These types of implants are used for patients who are unable to wear conventional dentures and who have minimal bone height.

 

Advantages of Dental Implants Over Dentures or a Bridge


Every way you look at it, dental implants are a better solution to the problem of missing teeth.

 

◦   Esthetic- Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth! Since dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompany bridgework and dentures. No one will ever know that you have a replacement tooth.

◦  Tooth-saving– Dental implants don’t sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your oral health!

◦  Confidence- Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence! They are secure and offer freedom from the irksome clicks and wobbles of dentures. They’ll allow you to say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures and messy pastes and glues.

◦ Reliable- The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement.

 

Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?


The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease. 
Dental implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Since periodontists are the dental experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team. Not only do periodontists have experience working with other dental professionals, they also have the special knowledge, training and facilities that you need to have teeth that look and feel just like your own. Your dentist and periodontist will work together to make your esthetic outcome the very best.

 

What Is Treatment Like?


This procedure is a team effort between you, your dentist, and your periodontist. Your periodontist and dentist will consult with you to determine where and how your implant should be placed. Depending on your specific condition and the type of implant chosen, your periodontist will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs. Click for more information about the treatment options described below.

◦  Replacing a Single Tooth: If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it. A dental implant replaces both the lost natural tooth and its root.

◦  Replacing Several Teeth: If you are missing several teeth, implant-supported bridges can replace them. Dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots.

◦  Replacing All of Your Teeth:  If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant-supported full bridge or full denture can replace them. Dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots.

◦  Sinus Augmentation: A key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. The upper back jaw has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants due to insufficient bone quantity and quality and the close proximity to the sinus. Sinus augmentation can help correct this problem by raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants.

◦ Ridge Modification Deformities in the upper or lower jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which to place dental implants. To correct the problem, the gum is lifted away from the ridge to expose the bony defect. The defect is then filled with bone or bone substitute to build up the ridge. Ridge modification has been shown to greatly improve appearance and increase your chances for successful implants that can last for years to come.

 

What Can I Expect After Treatment?


As you know, your own teeth require conscientious at-home oral care and regular dental visits. Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing still apply! After treatment, your periodontist will work closely with you and your dentist to develop the best care plan for you. Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy.

The FACTS! What YOU should know about Periodontal Disease

Have you ever heard of Periodontal Disease? If you have, do you know what it is and how serious the aftereffects can be if left untreated? It is important to know the facts about Periodontal Disease; what leads up to Periodontal Disease, what are the warning signs, how do I know that I have an infection, and most importantly how can it be treated?

 

Question: Is tooth loss a natural part of aging?

FACT: With good oral hygiene and regular professional care, your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. However, if left untreated, periodontal (gum) disease can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal Disease is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults 35 and over.

 

Question: Are bleeding gums normal?

FACT: Bleeding gums are one of nine warning signs of gum disease. Think of gum tissue as the skin on your hand. If your hands bled every time you washed them, you would know something is wrong. Other signs of gum disease include: red, swollen or tender gums; sores in your mouth; gums that have pulled away from the teeth; persistent bad breath; pus between the teeth and gums (causing bad breath); loose or separating teeth; a change in the way the teeth fit together; and a change in the fit of partial dentures.

 

Question: If gum disease is easy to identify, even in its early stages, wouldn’t my dentist would tell me if I had it?

FACT: Millions of people don’t know they have this serious infection that can lead to tooth loss if not treated. You should always get involved in your dental care, so that problems are detected in the early stages. You should inform your dentist if any signs of gum disease are present; or if any changes in your overall health or medications occurred in between visits. Most importantly, you should ask your dentist about your periodontal health and what method was used to evaluate its condition. This level of participation enables you to identify subtle changes that may occur in the oral cavity and work in a team approach with your dentist to catch the disease at an early stage.

 

Question: Can Gingivitis lead to periodontal disease?

FACT: If untreated, gingivitis can advance to Periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow beneath the gum line. The toxins that are produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. This in turn stimulates a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. The gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Because this destructive process has very mild symptoms, many individuals don’t realize how serious their current condition is. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

 

Question: Are all teeth cleanings are the same?

FACT:  All teeth cleanings are not the same. Teeth cleanings provided by periodontal specialists can address specific needs to patients suffering from different stages of periodontal disease. Special care should be taken when cleaning near dental implants (special tools are needed), when gum pockets need to be reevaluated, and when deep cleanings below the gum line are performed. While non-surgical therapies such as regular cleanings and scaling can address many periodontal issues, they do have limitations. When non-surgical gum disease treatments do not achieve periodontal health, periodontal surgery may be indicated to restore periodontal anatomy damaged by periodontal diseases and to facilitate oral hygiene practices. Taking an active role in your dental care and seeing a Periodontist for an evaluation should be just as important as your regular dental checkups.

Bone Regeneration

Doctor Mark Mangelson has been practicing bone regeneration techniques for the past twenty years. New advances in dental technology have made saving teeth from Periodontal Disease far more predictable. Emdogain is one of the available products used by Dr. Mangelson to treat vertical bony defects and save teeth.

Proper flossing and brushing can make a huge difference. Bacteria collects in between teeth and gums, causing plaque and tartar to form. The result is inflamed gums and bad breath. Inflamed gums destroy the delicate dental fibers that anchor your teeth to the  jaw bone, causing bone loss or Periodontal Disease. Healthy fibers and bone are necessary for preserving your teeth.

One of the predictable means of treating vertical bone loss is through the use of Emdogain. Dr. Mangelson performs this surgical procedure by accessing the diseased periodontal pocket, detoxifying the root surface, and applying the Emdogain gel. Over a period of time the Emdogain gel dissolves, stimulating your body to reproduce its own healthy bone cells and fibers. This regeneration process can occur for up to three years resulting in new bone support for a once periodontally compromised tooth.

Emdogain can also be used for treating gum recession associated with bone loss. When the gums are inflamed they naturally pull away from the tooth causing recession and sensitivity. When Dr. Mangelson performs an exam and diagnoses gingival recession, he recommends a gum graft to cover the root surface. Grafting helps by  providing tissue support and a nice esthetic outcome. Emdogain gel can also be placed below the gum graft stimulating new bone regeneration and aiding the overall outcome of the surgical grafting procedure. The result is a beautiful, healthy smile!

Periodontal Health and the Battle of the Sexes

Periodontal disease and its associated complications affect both men and women, so it’s important that both sexes are doing everything they can to maintain their periodontal health. However, research1 published in the Journal of Periodontology suggests that women are more proactive in maintaining healthy teeth and gums than men. In fact, the study found that women are almost twice as likely to have received a regular dental check-up in the past year, and women in the study also had better indicators of periodontal health, including lower incidence of dental plaque than men. Overall, the study suggested that women have a better understanding of oral health, as well as a more positive attitude towards dental visits. This understanding is important for women, as hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life may affect her periodontal health and, therefore, overall health. Certain life stages may increase women’s susceptibility to periodontal disease, which may require special attention:

Puberty: Studies show that elevated hormone levels may cause an increase in gum sensitivity and lead to a greater inflammatory reaction, which can cause gums to become swollen, turn red, and feel tender.

 Menstruation: During menstruation, some women may experience menstruation gingivitis, which may cause gum bleeding, redness, or swelling of the gums between the teeth.

 Menopause: Hormonal changes may cause women to experience discomfort in their mouths, including pain, burning sensations in the gum tissue, or mouth sores. Men have special periodontal health considerations, as well. A June 2008 Lancet Oncology  study found that men with periodontal disease may be more likely to develop kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, and blood cancers. Periodontal disease has also been linked to higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

Both men and women should strive for periodontal health by brushing twice each day, flossing at least once each day, and seeing a dental professional, such as a periodontist, regularly. Additionally, it’s a good idea to get a comprehensive periodontal evaluation every year. A dental professional, such as a periodontist, can conduct this exam to assess your periodontal disease status.

 Visit www.perio.org to learn more about Periodontal Disease.

 

 

What YOUR Dental Health Says About You!

It’s easy to ignore the effects of poor oral hygiene because they’re hidden in your mouth. But gum disease produces a bleeding, infected wound that’s the equivalent in size to the palms of both your hands, says Susan Karabin, DDS, a New York periodontist and president of the American Academy of Periodontology.

“If you had an infection that size on your thigh, you’d be hospitalized,” Karabin says. “Yet people walk around with this infection in their mouth and ignore it. It’s easy to ignore because it doesn’t hurt … but it’s a serious infection, and if it were in a more visible place, it would be taken more seriously.”

You may think that the worst consequence of poor dental health would be lost teeth and painful times in the dentist’s chair. But some studies have linked common oral problems to illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, premature birth, osteoporosis, and even Alzheimer’s disease. In most cases, the strength and exact nature of the link is unclear, but they suggest that dental health is important for preserving overall health.

“We need to educate the public that the mouth isn’t disconnected to the rest of the body,” says Sally Cram, DDS, a periodontist in Washington, D.C., and spokeswoman for the American Dental Association.

How Gum Disease Spreads
Periodontal disease is an infection caused by unhealthy bacteria that lodge between the teeth and gums. Simply brushing your teeth is enough to put some of those bacteria into your bloodstream, says Robert J. Genco, DDS, PhD, an oral biologist at the University of Buffalo. The bacteria then travel to major organs where they can spur new infections.

Inflammation also plays a role in spreading the effects of bad oral health. Red and swollen gums signal the body’s inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria. “If you have inflammation in your mouth, certain chemicals are produced in response that can spread [through the bloodstream] and wreak havoc elsewhere in the body,” Cram says.

Evidence is mounting of the importance of the “mouth-body connection,” as it is known, as dental problems are being linked to a growing list of other ailments.

Oral Health and Diabetes
Karabin has diagnosed several cases of diabetes from her dentist’s chair. “When I see a patient with multiple abscesses in their mouth … I immediately think ‘diabetes.’ I will send that patient for a glucose tolerance test.” Nearly one-third of people with diabetes are unaware that they have it, and dentists can play a big role in diagnosing these patients, Genco says.

Diabetes and gum disease can interact in a vicious circle. Infections of any kind, including gum disease, cause the body to produce proteins called cytokines, which increase insulin resistance and make blood sugar more difficult to control, Karabin says. Conversely, uncontrolled diabetes impairs the body’s healing mechanism, which makes it harder to control gum disease, Cram says.

Diabetic patients who avoid dentists out of fear or anxiety will have problems that go beyond tooth loss, says John Buse, MD, PhD, director of the Diabetes Care Center at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. “You probably won’t be able to do a good job taking care of diabetes unless you go to a dentist.”

Gum disease may also speed the progression to full-blown diabetes in the 54 million Americans who are classified as prediabetic. According to the American Diabetes Association, many people first become aware they have diabetes when they develop dental disease.

In a 2007 study, Danish researchers compared prediabetic rats with gum disease to prediabetic rats without gum disease. The rats with gum disease soon displayed increased insulin resistance and other signs of progression toward type 2 diabetes.

Oral Health and Heart Disease

People with periodontal disease are nearly twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. One theory is that oral bacteria attach to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries and contribute to the clots that can lead to heart attacks. Another is that inflammation increases plaque buildup.

Although evidence has been mixed, more than 20 “good-sized” studies have demonstrated the relationship between gum disease and heart disease, Genco says. But that relationship is still not confirmed as with other known risk factors such as smoking or obesity. Genco is planning a major study to see whether treating gum disease can forestall a second heart attack in people who have already had one.

Recent analysis suggests that common oral problems could increase the risk of cardiac problems. Indra Mustapha, DDS, a periodontist who teaches at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and colleagues analyzed the results of other research studies and found that periodontal disease with signs of bacterial exposure was associated with greater risk of heart disease.

The American Heart Association states, “At this time, promoting dental treatment expressly to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and/or acute cardiovascular events is not recommended.”

Oral Health and Premature Birth

“Ob-gyns always knew that preterm and low-birth-weight births could be triggered by infections in the body,” says Karabin. “They looked for urinary tract infections and throat infections, but never really thought about the mouth until a periodontic researcher looked into it.”

Karabin says that severe periodontal disease in the mother may lead to an increase in the risk of premature birth. Remember those cytokines? Turns out they also increase the level of the hormone prostaglandin, which triggers labor, says Karabin. Fortunately, studies show that early treatment of gum disease and improved oral hygiene in women can reduce their risk of premature birth.

Other conditions that indicate a link between dental health and overall health include:

• Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis and tooth loss often go hand in hand because the same decrease in mineral density that boosts the risk of hip and other fractures affects the jawbone and teeth. Measures taken to prevent or treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women are likely to also help prevent severe gum disease, Genco says.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. A study released in June 2008 found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were nearly eight times more likely to have periodontal disease. RA, like periodontal disease, is an inflammatory disorder, which may help explain the link, Karabin says.
• Alzheimer’s disease. A 2005 study of identical twins showed that in twin pairs where one had dementia and the other didn’t, the ones with dementia were four times more likely to have gum disease by midlife. The study doesn’t say that good oral heath prevents Alzheimer’s, but that inflammation early in life can have severe consequences later. 

With the mouth and body so closely linked, dentists and physicians should collaborate more closely, Karabin says. “Physicians need to be trained to examine the mouth, and dentists need to understand more about systemic disease so they can pick up on some of the cues.”

• The findings also serve to bring home the importance of oral hygiene. Brush twice a day with a toothbrush with soft or medium bristles, Genco says. Clean between your teeth daily with floss, or try some of the interdental picks available at drugstores. If your gums bleed with flossing and don’t stop after three to four days, see your dentist.In most cases, gum disease isn’t painful. So even if you’re feeling fine, visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams. You may find out more than you ever expected. “Today, more dentists aren’t just looking at teeth and gums,” says Cram. “They’re giving you a good medical exam.”