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