When was the last time you had your teeth cleaned? It’s a question a lot of us prefer to avoid, rather than going to the dentist. Just the thought still gives some of us goose bumps. But our oral health actually plays a crucial role in our overall health.

If you have been putting off a visit to your dentist, there are some things you should know about the direct correlation between your oral health and your general health. Inflammation and infections in the mouth can be linked to many serious health problems including diabetes, heart disease, strokes, respiratory conditions and problems during pregnancy, just to mention a few. In fact, our teeth have a lot to do with how we feel everyday.

What is Plaque?

We all have heard about plaque since we were children. Remember the red discoloring tablets that helped show us the plaque we left on our teeth, so that we might become more efficient at brushing. If you hadn’t done a good job at brushing when you smiled at your mom, you were sent straight back to brush again.

Plaque is a soft sticky film that forms on our teeth after we eat or drink. The bacteria in plaque can cause gum inflammation, gingivitis and more. The bacteria in plaque, which causes tooth decay as well as bone and tooth loss, are closely linked to other systemic conditions in your body.

In order to keep the bacteria found  in plaque under control, it not only requires good home care and routine dental hygiene visits, it also requires treating tooth decay and infections. One way your dentist detects infection around your teeth is with x-rays.

Did you know you should have a full series of x-rays that include the standard bite x-rays as well as x-rays that radiograph the entire tooth, every 3-5 years? The less common x-rays,which radiograph (or provide an image of) the whole tooth, allows your dentist to check, not only for tooth decay but also infection around the root of the tooth.

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease develops when the space between the tooth and gum, called a sulcus, collects plaque, and the bacteria in the plaque produces a toxin that stimulates an inflammatory reaction causing the gum and bone around the teeth to break down and be destroyed. Your dentist measures the severity of periodontal disease, to determine appropriate treatment based on the amount of bone and gum loss.

By Dr. Kalil Abide, DDS

Q. What could be causing my jaw to be sore when I awake in the morning?

A.  Bruxism, commonly known as tooth grinding, is the clenching together of the bottom and upper jaw accompanied by the grinding of the lower set of teeth with the upper set.

Bruxism is a subconscious behavior.  Although it can occur during the waking hours, bruxism most frequently occurs while we sleep.

Often it is a partner who tells one about the nighttime sounds that they produce. During sleep, the biting force (the force at which the jaws clench together) can be up to six times greater than the pressure during waking hours. Consequently, significant damage occurs with this nighttime habit.

Bruxism can lead to pain in the facial muscles, cause headaches, and even earaches. Facial muscles often feel sore, tender or tight especially in the morning. Bruxism can lead to the following:

• Cosmetic Damage
• Sensitive teeth
• Fractured Teeth and Fillings
• TMJ  Damage

If you suspect that you suffer from bruxism, see your dentist. There are several ways to treat this problem.

Q: I drink bottled water, am I missing out on the benefits of fluoride?

A: Research has shown that fluoride reduces cavities in both children and adults. It also helps repair the early stages of tooth decay.

If bottled water is your main source of drinking water, you could be missing the decay-preventive benefits of fluoride. The majority of bottled waters on the market do not contain optimal levels (0.7-1.2 ppm) of fluoride.

However, the IBWA (International Bottle Water Association) says that there are more than 20 brands of bottled water with added fluoride available to consumers today. When fluoride is added to bottle water, the FDA requires that the term “fluoridated,” “fluoride added,” or “ with added fluoride” be used on the label.

If you feel as though you are missing out on the benefits of fluoride, speak with your dentist. There are many fluoride supplements available, which can be recommended.

So, the next time you drink bottled water, look to see if your favorite brand contains fluoride.

American Heart Association

Due to a great response to our article last week, listed below are the new guidelines set by the AHA for antibiotic prophylaxis before a dental procedure.

Preventive antibiotics prior to a dental procedure are advised for patients with:

1. artificial heart valves

2. a history of infective endocarditis

3. certain specific, serious congenital (present from birth) heart conditions including

• unrepaired or incompletely repaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, including those with palliative shunts and conduits
• a completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device, whether placed by surgery or by catheter invention, during the first six months after the procedure
• any repaired congenital heart defect with residual defect at the site or adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or a prosthetic device

4. a cardiac transplant that develops a problem in a heart valve

If you have any questions or concerns, ALWAYS discuss them with your dentist before your dental procedure.