Dental Care: Are Your Gums Placing You At Risk For Heart Disease?

Gingivitis (gum disease) and the advanced stage, periodontitis, is one of the most common infections of the mouth and occurs more often than the common cold. Symptoms include bleeding gums or pus between the teeth, destroying the bone that supports the teeth leading to tooth loss. Research identified the accumulation of gum disease as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Early warning signs of heart disease are less obvious than those that indicate that there is a problem with the gums. Now, doctors have to manage the disease with the hope of reducing the risk that might occur in the other.

Any time there is bleeding in the mouth, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart. The bacterium that causes gum disease is associated with heart disease. The common risk factor in both cardiovascular and periodontal disease is inflammation. While the formation of blood clots is an important defense against cuts and bruises it become a serious problem if it occurs in the heart.

How Does Bacteria Affect The Heart?
The theory is that bacteria in the gums have the ability to travel throughout the body. Once the bacterium enters the bloodstream, it sticks to the inside of the arteries in the heart. This may lead to irritation as the body’s defense system tries to protect the area through the use of cholesterol (as a scab or plaque). The result is that the artery becomes narrowed as a “scab” forms. Sometimes the scab closes the blood flow to the heart, which generates pain in the chest as the heart struggles to get enough oxygen to keep beating. In some cases, the plaque will flake off and shut off the blood flow to the heart. If this happens inside the muscle of the heart, a heart attack will occur. In fact, it has been learned that the degree of gum disease is a better predictor of a heart attack than cholesterol levels.

What Can You Do?
The threat of periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease is serious. If in doubt,

• Visit a periodontist and a full mouth periodontal evaluation, including X-rays for the detection of periodontal disease. If you have a family history of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes you should consider selecting a periodontist as their primary care dentist. To increase the likelihood of early diagnosis, the visit is crucial because patients are often asked about any heart conditions and family history.
• Periodontal disease can be easily avoided by brushing and cleaning between teeth with floss or toothpicks. However, brushing and flossing alone cannot cure periodontitis and it is very difficult to stop once it starts and is usually painless. The first sign of periodontal disease is bleeding gums, the last sign of periodontal disease is no teeth.
• Make regular visits to your dentist to help reduce your risk of periodontitis. Proper dental care includes many heart-healthy recommendations, such as smoking cessation and a healthy diet. Good dental hygiene is essential to achieve and maintain optimal health.
• Due to a procedure approved by the FDA using the LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure), which is an alternative to traditional surgery of the gum. The laser eliminates harmful bacteria and diseased tissue in the gum by a laser light that passes between the gums and teeth. Patients do not hear or feel it – except for a little heat. The LANAP reduces pain and recovery time associated with traditional surgery of the gum.

Brushing teeth is a good reason to help reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. With heart disease being identified as the number one killer of people in the world, claiming upward of 17 million people each year. The usual culprits share responsibility: smoking, obesity and high cholesterol levels are not only the most obvious risks, but now gum disease has been added as a risk factor to consider. It seems now that no matter if you are in shape or appear to be healthy, gum disease can affect your overall health more than you know.

Dental Care: Periodontal Disease – The Silent Dental Killer

Hypertension has been known for years as the silent killer, because most people who have high blood pressure are unaware they have the disease. The same can be true in the case of periodontal disease, which is also known to show no signs until it has progressed to the stage where the individual is losing their teeth.

The warning signs include bleeding and inflammation of the gums and tenderness, while brushing, flossing and eating hard foods. When your gums recede or pull away from your teeth is when one of those dreaded trips to the dentist is warranted. If left unattended plaque will spread and grow below the gum line.  The toxins produced by bacteria in plaque stimulate an inflammatory response in
which the body turns on itself. Tissues and bones that support the teeth are
broken down and destroyed.

The gums begin to separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Eventually, teeth become loose and may have to be removed.

At this point, you really need to see a periodontist. This is a dentist who is trained in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum disease. If you value of your oral hygiene and health, an evaluation is in order for peridontal disease especially in the following situations:

• gums that bleed easily, such as during brushing or flossing
• red, tender and swollen gums
• gums that have been separated from the teeth
• persistent bad breath
• pus between the teeth and gums
• loose or separating teeth
• a change in the way your teeth fit when biting
• pain or irritation in the mouth that does not heal

If you are diagnosed with periodontal disease, the periodontist may recommend surgery. This is a last resort when it is determined that the tissue around the teeth is unhealthy and cannot be repaired surgically.

What can you do to prevent periodontal disease?

• To keep your teeth for a lifetime, you must remove the plaque from your
  teeth and gums every day with proper brushing and flossing. This is the
  golden rule of personal dental care.

• Regular dental visits are a necessity. It is recommended to see a
  dentist at least twice a year for monitoring.

• Daily cleaning will help keep stones from forming to a minimum, but not
  completely avoided. A professional cleaning at least twice a year is
  necessary to eliminate the calculation of the areas can lose with flossing
  and brushing teeth.  If  plaque is not removed through regular brushing and
  flossing can harden into tartar (also called tartar). Calculus is plaque
  that has been mineralized, forming a tough, crusty deposit that can only be
  removed by your dentist or hygienist.

• Researchers have found that drinking a daily cup of green tea reduces
  the instance of peridontal disease. This could be explained by the ability
  of tea to reduce the symptoms of the disease because of the antioxidant
  catechin in green tea.

  Antioxidants have the ability to reduce inflammation in the body and the
  symptoms associated with bleeding gums. Green tea may be useful in promoting
  oral health and ward off other diseases. By interfering with the body’s
  inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria, green tea can help promote
  periodontal health, and warding off further illness.

Researchers have shown that bacteria associated with periodontal disease can travel into the blood stream and pose a threat to other parts of the body.  Maintaining healthy gums is essential for a healthy body.

Dental Care: How To Treat Gingivitis Naturally In 10 Ways

Gingivitis
or bleeding gums is an inflammation caused in the mouth. If left untreated, it
can lead to bone loss and eventually your teeth. It is caused by the
accumulation of plaque, bacteria and food particles between the gums and teeth.
Unfortunately, some people do not take this very seriously because the affects
of the condition on the gums and teeth goes unnoticed until the symptoms become
more severe.

Some of the symptoms of gingivitis are painful, bleeding, tender and swollen
gums. Additionally, some people have been known to have bad breath and a bad
taste in their mouth once they reach the advance stages of gingivitis. However,
gingivitis can be treated at home if you practice the following natural
remedies.

• Brush your teeth twice regularly using herbal toothpaste and mouthwash.
• Rub gums with clove oil, some burning may occur or you could chew a
  piece of the clove.
• Toothpaste containing mint, babool, neem, holy basil not only assists in
  avoiding the spread of infection, but also reduces swelling and
  inflammation.
• Gargle twice a day with a glass of lukewarm water containing a pinch of
  salt. Also, instead of salt you can use a teaspoon of triphala powder.
• Gently rub aloe vera pulp onto your gums, after rubbing once, gargle
  with water and repeat the process.
• Combine two teaspoons of white oak bark herbal powder, one teaspoon of
  myrrh herbal powder,3/4 teaspoon of peppermint leaves’ powder, 1/8 teaspoon
  of clove powder. Grind this mixture and store it in an air tight container.
  Take one tablespoon of this mixture and apply it to the affected area twice
  a day.
• Mix baking soda and water together, dabbing the affected area with your
  finger and then brush with the herbal powder. This will heal and also
  neutralize the acidity of the bacteria to keep it in check.
• Combine equal amounts of a 3% solution of Hydrogen Peroxide and water
  and gargle with it.
• Increase your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Include foods
  rich in fiber and vitamin C and low saturated fats. Unsweetened cranberry
  juice has proved to successful in the natural treatment of gingivitis.
• Find toothpaste and mouthwash products that contain sage oil, peppermint
  oil, menthol, chamomile tincture all of which have been known to assist in
  treating gingivitis.

To prevent gingivitis, it’s important to see your dentist, brush at least
twice a day, floss and examine your mouth for any changes that may not appear
normal. The faster you pursue your dental care, the more likely you will be to
save and maintain your perfect smile.

Bleeding Gums Turning Your Toothpaste Red?

Bleeding gums are something that many people suffer from when people brushing their teeth vigorously or flossing their teeth. While some people may see this as a normal event, it can also be a sign of something more serious. The symptoms are very similar to those of swollen gums, and usually when one is present, so is the other. In this case, not having good oral hygiene habits may be the culprit.

This type of infection occurs when bacteria grows and forms a sticky film on the surface of the teeth and under the gumline called plaque. If not, treated it can progress to gingivitis, the top dental problem for people over 18 years old, or turn into a more serious medical condition where the symptoms may occur in the mouth.

The immune system sends white blood cells to the affected area that causes the inflammation that leads to bleeding, swelling and, in some cases, receding gums. If ignored, plaque will harden when allowed to accumulate and, periodontitis, a chronic disease can occur and result in a separation of the gums from the teeth.

Moreover, when this occurs, pockets of infection develop in the spaces created that leads to bone loss and loosening teeth which eventually causes them to fall out. Inflamed gums are usually the cause of tooth loss more so than through tooth decay. Either way you need to see a dentist at the first sign of persistent gum bleeding.

Causes of bleeding gums can be traced to neglected gums, teeth and mouth. Bleeding gums are a sign of an unhealthy mouth, because there is no known natural cause. If you are suffering from this and prefer a non-medical approach to help with your gums, try changing your eating habits such as eating three meals a day, including adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables and most importantly, if you snack between meals, avoid carbohydrates.

If you are someone who does not enjoy fruit, as an alternative it is important to maintain a good level of vitamin C in your body that helps keep the gums healthy. An additional supplement, co-enzyme Q10 is also known to be useful in some cases for people with bleeding gums.

Unfortunately, the most common reason for development of bleeding gums is simply because people do not follow a consistent routine for cleaning their teeth and gums. This involves more than brushing two or three times a day, but also the use of dental floss, mouthwash and regular cleaning of the teeth from a dentist. It is imperative that you make it a habit to practice good oral hygiene habits that are essential for preventing the accumulation of plaque, which is a serious threat to the gums and the teeth.