Dental health is overall health

The American Heart Association and the American DentalAssociation have been spreading the word during the month of February, which is national Dental Health Month,about the relationship between your dental health and your heart health. We have had several patients who have seen articles via the internet and various magazines and have asked us about it. Tartar(plaque), gum disease, and decay are all bacteria and when entered into the blood stream via eating, drinking, swallowing, and brushing your teeth, can increase the instances of heart disease and strokes. During your regular dental checkups, there are several ways our office checks for these sorts of potential problems. 

One way is with x-rays. X-rays helps us to detect cavities, but it will also show an abscess, bone loss due to gum disease and tartar that may be below the gum tissue. Periodontal probing is the measuring of the pocket between the tooth and the base of the socket the tooth rests in. If gum disease is present, the pocket will have a number greater than 4mm accompanied by bleeding when brushing, and bone loss which eventually will cause teeth to become loose and fall out. This also means that the infection of the gum tissue is continually being ingested into the blood stream. A deep cleaning by our office will remove the tartar and remove the infection from the gum tissue. While this cleaning will not regenerate bone loss, it will remove the infection, and with diligent home care and regular visits, can reduce the risk of health problems. 

Decay(cavities) are also bacteria, and we get those from the things we eat and drink as well as poor home care. If cavities are left to long, not only will they cause pain and fixing more costly, but again the bacteria is being ingested into the bloodstream. Removing the decay and placing a restoration of some type, be it a filling or crown, will remove the source of bacteria and again will lower the risk of potential health problems. 

While there are many other factors that can contribute to heart disease and strokes, its worth going to the dentist and making sure that your mouth is not what may be causing your health problems. Our office is up to date on all the latest information, resources, and treatment to help prevent heart disease and strokes and keep your mouth healthy. Log on to our website, email, or call our office directly at (414)355-0213 to make your appointment today!

Levine Dental Associates

8860 N 60th St.

Milwaukee, WI 53223

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Smoking and Oral Health

Smoking and your Oral Health

It is common knowledge that smoking is a serious health risk. It increases your chance of heart attack, stroke, and cancer. What is rarely talked about is the effect it has on your oral cavity including your teeth, gums, bones in the jaw, tongue, and other oral tissues. 

Smoking decreases your sense of taste and smell. It also causes bad breath, a condition known as halitosis. A common concern for many is the discoloration of the teeth from smoking. Whitening will work, but if you continue to smoke, the teeth will continue to discolor. 

That is just the beginning, smoking poses serious risks related to your oral health. It can cause inflammation of the salivary glands as well as increased leukoplakia (a white patch on the oral tissue). Smokers have much higher amounts of plaque and tartar in their mouths compared to non smokers. This coincides with a smokers increased risk for gum disease. Smoking interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells. This makes them much more susceptible to periodontal disease which leads to bone loss in the jaw and eventually to tooth loss. 

Delayed healing is also a concern for smokers. Nicotine causes narrowing of the blood vessels, which impairs blood flow to the gums. This becomes problematic in the healing process after gum treatment or after an extraction, and it may lead to a painful condition known as dry socket. And of course, smoking can cause oral cancer. Smokers are six times more likely to develop cancer in the mouth, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tips: First, and most importantly, quit. Talk to your doctor, get a support system, make a plan, and stick to it. Also, be sure to have good oral hygiene. Regular dental visits are important as well as regular oral cancer screenings. Talk to your doctor or hygienist about an advanced oral cancer screening tool called Vizilite. And stay informed, know what to look for. White, red, or dark, patches in your mouth that don’t go away within two weeks, should be looked at immediately by a dental professional.

 for more information about your dental health, log on to LevineDental.com  or contact our office directly at (414)355-0213.

Levine Dental

8860 N 60th St.

Milwaukee, WI 53223

http://www.LevineDental.com

facebook.com/LevineDentalAssoc

twitter.com/LevineDental