Recently I went to the dental office. It’d been 7-8 years after my last visit. Going to the dentist just did not become a top priority once the kids of mine were born. Living kind reviews of power bite got a little busy along with the focus became more concerning the kid’s overall health rather than my own. Besides, my last dental check up was great. I was told I had healthy strong teeth.
I fully expected another glowing report this time – I am unsure exactly why. But there I went, with confidence into the chair. If the dentist came in to talk with me, I was shocked by what she said. To begin with, she was talking to be about oral cancer. Then she talked to me about periodontal health. I paused for a moment to make totally sure I was at the appropriate place.
I thought dentists simply cleaned the teeth of yours, took x rays and filled cavities. This was the very first time a dentist was snapping an active interest in to the general health of my mouth. I actually did not know how to react. In the beginning, I thought she was simply seeking to create a few extra bucks from me and the insurance of mine. But as I have talked to folks about the experience of mine, they echoed my story.
It seems, the dental world has changed within the last ten years. It’s starting to be far more of, how can I say this, a complex science? I was amazed at the conversation my dentist and I had. We talked about heart conditions, oral cancer screening, bone loss, gum disease, etc. Following my visit, I understood the reason why my parents each had about 4-5 crowns and rather fragile teeth.
As I’m a respiratory therapist, the conversation turned to smoking and exactly how smoking is such a problem with oral health. Not only does smoking discolor tooth and cause bad breath, though additionally, it leaves the gum tissue in a continuous state of inflammation. This is extremely parallel to what goes on in COPD/emphysema in which the lung tissue stays inflamed. Normal healthy tissue wasn’t intended to stay inflamed. This basically changes all areas of the dynamic of the way the tissue relates to it is bony structures and it’s normal bacteria flora.
Smoking also worsens tooth decay and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease occurs once the tooth exhibits bone loss in the gum. This results in a pocket round the tooth by which bacteria can erode at the tooth even more. Sooner or later, this could result in heart disease. I know, you are wondering, “heart illness, how?”. Certainly, the bacteria can go into the bloodstream within the tooth. Just once in the bloodstream, it can go virtually wherever. It’s been recognized to end up in the heart tissue and/or on the heart valves, plus don’t believe for a minute that the danger is a remote one. As I said, dental science is starting to be ever stronger and far more compelling.