Dental Solutions
“I love my teeth and my smile. The work was done very softly and pleasant, and Dr. Gross and his team really cared and even worked on “odd” hours as I was a bit pushed for time leaving USA for Europe. Thank you Dr. Gross – Thank you Renee and the rest of the team – You are great!”
- Pernilla
Dental Health and General Health
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
If you think about it, it stands to reason that dental health would be linked to general health. The mouth is part of the body, sharing the same bloodstream. Bacteria in one part of the body can easily travel in the blood circulation to other parts of the body. The most important element in prevention of gum disease is good dental hygiene. Just as we have a shower each day, wash our hair, clean our nails, etc., so we should also clean our teeth.
Once gum disease begins, it will progress indefinitely if not stopped by dental intervention.
How Gum Disease Progresses
Gingivitis – the plaque (biofilm) has built up on the teeth and gums and begun turning into tartar. Plaque (biofilm) can be brushed off, but tartar must be removed by a dental hygienist. Plaque (biofilm) consists of bacteria and their acidic excretions. It’s the acid that eats into tooth enamel, causing cavities, just as any acid will, such as sugars remaining on the teeth for too long. The food particles left in the mouth by poor dental hygiene cause halitosis (bad breath) as they decompose.
Also part of gingivitis is inflammation and swelling of the gums. Plaque (biofilm) has tiny sharp edges which cause bleeding in the swollen gums when you brush or floss. Bacteria have multiplied into every nook and cranny available by this time, especially the pockets between each tooth and the surrounding gum tissue. They enlarge these pockets, which makes even more room for them to multiply, which enlarges the pockets further … This is a vicious cycle that’s hard to break once it’s established.
Periodontitis – now the bacteria have spread below the gumline into tooth roots (causing toothache), and even into the jawbone. If no treatment is done, they will continue spreading and excreting acid toxins, destroying bone and gum tissue and causing teeth to loosen and fall out.
Gum Disease and Heart Attacks
Various studies have connected gum disease and an increased risk for a heart attack. The gum inflammation is apparently linked to inflammation markers in heart disease. It isn’t known yet exactly how this happens. It is speculated that oral bacteria in the bloodstream attach themselves to plaque that has built up in the coronary arteries, causing clots to form. One study done in 2007 showed that gum disease raised the heart disease risk in men by a third, and doubled it in women. You can read more about this on our Periodontal Health and Heart Attacks page.
Gum Disease and Stroke
Plaque build-up in blood vessels leading to the brain causes stroke. The same link has been found between gum disease and increased risk for stroke, perhaps through the same process of oral bacteria contributing to the formation of clots or increase of arterial plaque.
Oral Cancer
In the U.S., about 34,000 people are diagnosed each year with oral cancer and about 8,000 of those die. That is far more than the number who die from cervical cancer. Major causes of oral cancer are smoking and alcohol abuse, yet about 25 percent of those diagnosed with oral cancer have never smoked or abused alcohol.
Most cervical cancer is thought to be caused by the human papilloma virus which is spread through sexual intercourse. Some types of this virus have been connected both to cervical cancer and to oral cancer.
Early Detection is Crucial
Often, the first sign of oral cancer is a small red or white spot in the mouth. But that development is not a prerequisite to detection of the cancer. In recent years, more noninvasive devices have been manufactured which detect abnormal tissue invisible to the naked eye.
We offer a cancer screening as part of your regular check-ups, and if there is any suggestion of oral cancer beginning to develop, we will refer you to an oral pathologist for confirmation and further treatment.
So while brushing and flossing is central to good dental health, so are regular check-up visits for catching any new problems early. These are important for your dental health, and for your general health. Please call or email our office to learn more, and to schedule a complimentary consultation. Our offices serves the Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton areas of Florida.
