21
The Systemic Connection
The same harmful bacteria
that cause tooth decay, if left
untreated, can lead to an even
more severe oral health prob-lem
called periodontal disease.
Also known as gum disease,
periodontal disease is a serious
bacterial infection of the gums
and tissues supporting the
teeth. These oral bacteria can
enter the bloodstream through
infected gums and travel to
other major organs in the
body, such as the heart and
lungs, creating new infections.
Dr. Phyllis B. Cook, a
board-certified periodontist
in Wilmington, stresses this
connection between oral and
overall health. “Systemically,”
she says, “if your gums aren’t
healthy, the rest of your body
isn’t healthy.”
A 2002 study in the Journal
of Periodontology found that
patients with severe periodon-tal
disease had approximately
four times more harmful bac-terial
products in their blood
than those with moderate or
no periodontal disease. Other
recent studies have linked oral
infections to higher risks of
cardiovascular disease, respira-tory
disease, diabetes, stroke,
heart attack and even adverse
pregnancy outcomes.
Common signs of periodon-tal
disease include persistent
bad breath, loose or separat-ing
teeth and gums that are
red, swollen or bleed easily.
“I’ve heard people say, ‘Well,
my gums always bleed when
I brush or floss,’” says Dr.
Cook. “But they’re not sup-posed
to. Just imagine if you
washed your arm and it started
to bleed. Would you not
immediately think something
Practicing good oral hygiene, including daily
brushing and flossing at home, is the first
step toward maintaining a healthy mouth.
Seeing a dental professional regularly is
also an important investment in your oral
and overall health. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans make about
500 million visits to the dentist each year. Most experts
recommend a dental check-up every six months in order
to prevent cavities, gum disease and other oral health
problems.
Dr. Stephanie Gray Hackney, a general dentist who has
been practicing in Wilmington since 1996, agrees. “In
general, we recommend coming in twice a year,” she says.
“However, we do have patients who need to be seen more
frequently, depending on their rate of dental caries.”
Commonly known as a cavity, dental caries — local-ized
destruction of tooth tissue by microorganisms — are
caused by plaque — a sticky film of bacteria — that can
accumulate and eventually cause damage to the hard
enamel surfaces of teeth. A person’s caries rate — the rate
at which they experience tooth decay — can be influ-enced
by a number of factors, including age, gender and
ethnicity. “Some people get cavities more frequently than
the average person,” says Dr. Hackney, “so we want to see
them more often to ensure their teeth are in good health.”
“if your gums aren’t healthy, the rest
of your body isn’t healthy.”
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