If Your Mouth Could Kill You...

The #1 chronic inflammatory disease could be contributing to your death but what are we doing about it?

It’s no secret our mouths are an infestation of microbes and bacteria. For many years the mouth has been seen as a separate part of the body. Current research not only indicates a massive link to overall health, scientists now believe the mouth may be causing many health conditions we are trying so desperately to reduce through treatment and medications but what if the problem is right under our nose (literally).

Oral Health vs Overall Health

Where does it all begin?........The oral bacteria sitting on the gums for a period of 24 hours or longer causes the immune system to be alarmed which it turn creates inflammation (site of injury/wound). The inflammation provides a gateway for oral bacteria to enter the bloodstream and attach to other parts of the body and organs. This process is occurring 24/7 for those individuals with inflammation in the mouth. It becomes chronic when the site is left untreated and inflamed for long periods of time. With the body in a state of distress from the presence of bacteria in the blood on an ongoing basis other medical conditions can become more prominent as the immune system is fighting the mouth.

Inflammation is a normal immune response in your body. Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth are all signs of inflammation arriving at the site and helping your body with the healing process. Although is not true for the oral environment. In fact, most people don’t even realize there is a problem until treatment is required. Why is this? The mouth is designed to withstand a multitude of abnormal invaders and therefore responds to ailments differently than our body as a whole. Our last

Acute inflammation is a brief inflammatory response to an injury or illness that only lasts a few days.

Chronic inflammation is when your body no longer has the ability to turn off the inflammatory response and it starts damaging healthy tissue in your body. It could damage the intestinal lining in your gut and cause digestive problems, it could damage the arteries in your heart and cause heart disease, it could damage your joints and cause rheumatoid arthritis or it could damage your oral tissues and cause periodontal disease.

Some medical conditions we currently know the mouth is contributing to include: Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes, Immune Suppression, Auto immune diseases, Alzheimers disease and Dementia, Respiratory Disease and Pre-Term Birth. This list continues to grow. Signs You Have Chronic Inflammation. The red flag for Chronic inflammation comes when a disease associated with it shows up, like heart disease, cancer, or autoimmune disease like MS, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohns Disease or Rheumatoid Arthritis. Could this mean if your oral chronic inflammation goes untreated and undetected, it could in turn cause these health conditions?

Why now?

Adults-stress levels leading to clenching/grinding, change in diet, mental health conditions at an all-time high, unable to see an oral health professional on a regular basis due to time and finances, nutrition is poor with more people eating high sugar diets and processed foods, poor gut health (due to diet and lack of bacteria present in the gut) causing immune system to be in a state of havoc.

Children-Orthodontics early (difficult to clean routinely), lack of knowledge and acceptance, improper treatment planning and home care routine, stress in school and at home, poor nutrition and daily habits, and time restraints due to busy schedules (extracurricular/sports)

How do we take Oral Healthcare into the future?

It’s very simple….education, education, education. Over the past 9 years we have seen the dental hygiene profession shift into the role of primary oral health care provider. Dental Hygienists are an integral part of the medical team. Preventing dental disease and treating periodontal disease through in-office techniques/tools and preparing home care regimens to maximize treatment plans. Not only are dental hygienists continuing to develop new methods to assist the public in maintaining overall health, they are forming networks of medical professionals to refer their current patients to when a medical concern arises. As a profession we have to look at the entire being of a client not just their oral condition. Digestive health, stress, hormones, mental health, systemic health, etc. Looking into the future of preventative oral health care means looking deeply into the broken aspects of health and restoring immune function. Detailed examinations and scans which would include saliva testing, bacterial analysis, and nutrition and gut health as well as stress management are the next generation in oral health.

Better health for life: A guide to oral health success

In-Office

• Full mouth debridement (cleaning) on a time scheduled advised by your oral health specialist
• Examinations of the teeth, soft tissue and gums annually
• Oral cancer examinations with every visit to the office
• Demineralization Scan to determine any early lesions in the teeth (prevent cavities) annually
• Fluoride when indicated
• Nutrition guidance
• Oral health tips and treatment plans to suit your needs
• Other preventative services as needed

At Home

• Perform oral cancer exams at home
• Seek guidance towards good nutrition and diet
• Reduce sugar, carbohydrates, starches and sticky foods
• Cleanse your teeth, tongue and tissues at least 2-3xdaily (up to 10 minutes daily)
• Clean between your teeth, along the gum line and massage your gums
• Use SPF sunscreen for your skin and lips

In conclusion, with the increasing amount of research and information on oral health care and its link to overall health and wellness, we must evaluate our own oral care practices and as a society ask ourselves, “Am I getting the best oral health care?”. Preventative oral health care is entering into the new generation of medical health and advancements. As a thriving profession, we are look forward to assisting Canadian live healthier lifestyles one mouth at a time.

“THE BEST PROTECTION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IS PREVENTION, NOT CLEAN UP”

~John McNabb

“AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE”

~Benjamin Franklin

References:

1. The Silent Saboteurs; Unmasking Our Own Oral Spirochetes As the Key to Saving Trillions in Health Care Costs; William D Nordquist DMD, David J Krutchkoff DDS MS

2. Health Canada: Summary Report on the Findings of the Oral Health Component of the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2007 2009. Ottawa, Ontario: Publications Health Canada; 2010

3. Canadian Institute for Health Information. Exploring the 70/30 split: how Canada's health care system is financed. Ottawa: CIHI; 2005.

4. Canadian Institutes for Health Information. National Health Expenditure: 1975 to 2011. Ottawa: CIHI; 2011

5. Petersen PE (2008) WHO global policy for improvement of oral health. International Dental Journal 58(3): 115-121

written by Karyn Steinhoff R.D.H, Owner of Norfolk Dental Hygiene

Oral Health Did You Know Facts

• ·         62% of Canadians have private dental insurance
• ·         6% have public insurance
• ·         32% have no dental insurance
• ·         12% of Canadians avoid certain foods because of problems with their teeth or mouth in the  past year.
• ·         12% of Canadians report that they had ongoing pain in their mouth in the past year.
• ·         74% of Canadians have seen a dental professional in the last year.
• ·         17% of Canadians avoided going to a dental professional in the last year because of the cost.
• ·         16% of Canadians avoided having the full range of recommended treatment due to the cost in  the last year.
• ·         An estimated 2.26 million school-days and 4.15 million working-days are lost annually due to  dental visits or dental sick-days.
• ·         57% of 6-11 year olds have or have had a cavity.
• ·         59% of 12-19 year olds have or have had a cavity.
• ·         The average number of teeth affected by decay in children aged 6-11 and 12-19 year olds is  2.5.
• ·         Although cavities are largely preventable, 96% of adults have a history of cavities.
• ·         6% of adult Canadians no longer have any natural teeth.
• ·         21% of adults with teeth have, or have had, a moderate or a severe periodontal (gum) problem.
• ·         73% of Canadians brush twice a day
• ·         28% floss at least 5 times a week
• ·         32% of children aged 6-11 have one or more sealants.
• ·         The average number of teeth that were sealed in children aged 6-11 years old age is 2.88.
• ·         The average number of teeth that were sealed in adolescents (12-19 years of age) is 3.51.
• ·         Sealants were found in 51% of adolescents (12- 19 years of age).
• ·         34% of Canadians ages 6-79 years of age (who have teeth) had some sort of treatment need  identified by the dentists.
• ·         The World Health Organization defines oral health as being free of chronic mouth and facial  pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, periodontal  (gum) disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that affect the  mouth and oral cavity.
• ·         Oral diseases are among the most prevalent chronic diseases.
• ·         Oral cancer leads to pain, tooth loss and premature death if not detected early on.
• ·         Oral diseases—once considered localized infections—are now associated with other diseases  such as diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
• ·         Oral disease and pain can have a significant negative impact on your ability to learn, work,  socialize, speak and eat foods that you need.
• ·         You can't be healthy without good oral health.
• ·         Tooth decay is the most common disease of childhood—decay in children's primary teeth  predicts future decay in adult teeth.
• ·         Tooth decay can continue throughout your lifetime.
• ·         In some areas in Canada, dental procedures under general anesthesia are the most common  surgical procedures that children receive in hospitals.
• ·         Canadians spend 13 billion dollars a year on oral health care, diseases, and injuries that are  almost all preventable. In terms of costs associated with disease categories, oral health care  follows cardiovascular disease and exceeds costs for respiratory disease and cancer.
• ·         About 32% of Canadians have no dental insurance and this number increases with age.
• ·         If you smoke, drink alcohol excessively, or have diabetes, then your chances of developing  gum diseases are higher. Smoking, alcohol consumption and oral sex also increase your risk  for oral cancer.
• ·         Limited income and education are risk factors for high rates of oral disease.
• ·         Government spending on oral health has decreased from 11% in 1984 to 8% in 2011, resulting  in a greater cost for the individual.
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