Posts Tagged ‘gingivitis’

• Your Dentist Might Stop Your Next Heart Attack

  Date: 2007.04.08 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  As the Webmaster for a site dedicated to helping people save money when they go to the dentist, I find myself having to consistently fight two different and distinct battles; one against the average Americans reluctance to pay the high cost of modern dental care and the other is the same Americans belief that seeing a dentist regularly just isn’t that important.

  The first battle I have a decent chance of winning but the second battle I’ve had to throw my hands up in surrender; I mean if someone doesn’t care about their teeth enough to have them taken care of by a dentist, what can I possibly say to convince them otherwise?

  How about this; “Did you know that your next visit to the dentist could prevent a heart attack?”

  Medical researchers have known for years now that there’s a definite link between gum disease (i.e. gingivitis) and persons’ risk for a heart disease (see http://discountdental4u.net/gumdisease.htm). Evidence is mounting, however, that information gleaned from a routine panoramic dental X-rays-wide-angle frontal images – taken to establish the baseline condition of teeth and surrounding bone – may serve as an accurate early-warning system of risk of dying from heart attack or stroke.

  According to researchers at the University of Buffalo School of Dental medicine, a study of 818 teeth and jaw x-rays of Pima Indians in Arizona found that those who had a build-up of calcified plaque in the carotid arteries were twice as likely to die from heart attack or stroke. Normally, calcified plaque is present in only about 3 percent of the general population.

  An earlier study of 2,700 dental patients showed calcium deposits on each side of the carotid arteries can be spotted in x-rays of the teeth and jaw bone.

  It makes sense that the dental x-rays would see the carotid artery -which carries blood from the heart to the brain and back – so dentists should be aware that it is screening tool for cardiovascular disease. If they see signs of calcification in dental x-rays, they tell the patient to see his or her doctor ASAP.

  BOTTOM LINE: Most dental insurance plans allow you a yearly dental exam at little or no cost so schedule a complete check-up, including x-rays, with your dentist ASAP. If you don’t have dental insurance, consider enrolling in a discount dental plan that fits your budget and then go see a dentist ASAP.

  Kenneth Kowalsky is the webmaster of DiscountDental4U.net, a web site devoted to helping people to save money on dental care, including advice on choosing the best dental plan for you, inexpensive tips on easing toothache pain, little-known ways to lower your dentist bills, etc. You can contact him via e-mail at DiscountDental4U@yahoo.com or via this toll-free number 1-877-534-4808.

  discountdental4u@yahoo.com

  Written By: Ken Kowalsky

• Oral Hygiene And Heart Disease

  Date: 2007.01.13 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  There are many obvious reasons to take good care of youre teeth and gums, for instance having white, attractive teeth, fresh breath, no cavities, less dental trips, gum disease, and gingivitis. However, researches have discovered recently that having good oral hygiene can also lead to a healthy heart.

  Research has shown that people who have periodontal also have a much increased risk of having thicker carotid arteries which can lead to heart disease and stroke. This means that, the higher amount of plaque you have in your mouth is going to equal higher amounts of plaque in your heart and arteries. The connection between these two diseases is not entirely known, but scientists speculate that periodontal disease may start a surge of chemical reactions that can cause inflammation throughout the body.

  In order to protect yourself from the scary proposition of heart disease you should not only be more active and eat a healthy diet, but you should also start taking better care of your teeth. Did you know that there are more bacteria in your mouth than there is on the surface of the earth? And the if that bacteria is not cleaned out regularly it will settle in your mouth and cause gum disease. Most people dont want to admit that they are at risk for having gum disease but in fact, about 90% of adults are in at least the beginning stages of gum disease, and those people (including children) who are diabetic are at an even higher risk for contracting the disease. But, not all the news is bad, there are many ways you can prevent gum disease, and consequently, also help prevent heart problems. The steps you should take are as follows: brush your teeth twice a day, floss your teeth once a day, visit your dentist twice a year, and learn about and look for the early stages of gum disease.

  Maybe you are worried that you might already have gum disease. If that is the case, you should be looking for the following warning signs. Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, red, swollen, and tender gums, gums that have pulled away from the tooth, exposing part of the root or making the teeth appear longer, bad breath, and permanently loose teeth. If you do have any of the above symptoms, please contact your doctor as soon as possible because if gum disease is left untreated in will only get worse.

  About the Author:

  Barney Garcia writes about many different topics. www.the-tooth-brush.info and top-cosmetic-dentistry.info and diseased-heart.info

  Written By: Barney Garcia