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- How to Stay Healthy and Keep Your Unique
Smile:
- Identification, Prevention and Understanding
of Oral Health
- By
Kathy Shierling, RN, MS, CNAA, BC
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- Oral health goes far beyond having sound white
teeth and no cavities. Major issues of concern for women include gum
disease, dry mouth, canker sores, tooth loss and tooth decay. As you
have probably learned by now there is a direct link between gum
disease and heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory problems
and premature, low-birth weight babies.
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- But did you know, new research has shown a link
between obesity and gum disease, especially in young women between
18 and 34. The culprit here seems to be a deficiency of calcium and vitamin
C in the diet.
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- Another late breaking find is the association
between a particular cancer and gum disease--- pancreatic cancer.
The Journal of the National Cancer Institute cited research that
directly linked gum disease with a 64% increase in the likelihood to
have pancreatic cancer. The worse the gum disease, the higher the
risk. While it is not clear why gum disease is linked to cancer
risk; it is suggested that long-standing gum infections trigger a
body-wide immune response: inflammation. It is believed that
inflamed tissues give off chemical signals that promote tumor
growth.
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- Gum disease is usually painless—with many women
not realizing they have a problem until it reaches the advanced
stages. (Some warning signs are persistent bad breath or bad taste
in the mouth.) In the advanced stages teeth may become loose and
need to be extracted. If you have gum disease, the bacteria that are
present in the “pockets” are pumped into the bloodstream every time
you chew.
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- Protecting your pearly whites is not a
complicated task or a particularly expensive one if routine
maintenance is adhered to.
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- Routine maintenance includes:
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Daily brushing and flossing (review
your technique with your hygienist) It has been found that plaque
can be cleaned better by using a low-cost battery operated tooth
brush or an “electric” tooth brush. Hand held toothbrushes should be
changed every 3 months to guard against worn bristles and bacteria
accumulation.
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Scraping tongue daily
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Practice healthy eating
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Limit sweet snacks
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Drink water. Water is better than soda
and it also dilutes and flushes the sugar, acid and toxins from the
mouth.
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Time your eating. Foods eaten as part
of a meal cause less harm to your teeth. More saliva is released
during a meal which helps wash foods from the mouth and lessen the
effects of acids.
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Chew sugarless gum. Chewing gum helps
to eliminate food particles caught between teeth after a meal and
also helps to prevent plaque build up by stimulating saliva
production. Xylitol, a natural sweetener found in plants and fruits,
is used in sugar-free gums, mints, and toothpaste. Approved by
the Food and Drug Administration as a food additive, research has
shown that Xylitol helps reduce and prevent cavities by inhibiting
the growth of oral bacteria, which causes cavities.
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Visit your dentist/hygienist regularly
for a checkup—the checkup includes: a through examination of the
oral structures (teeth, bone, and soft tissues), oral cancer
screening, assessment of the gum health, x-rays, oral hygiene
instructions, and removal of plaque, calculus, stain and food debris
from the teeth.
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- If you find yourself with any of these persistent
symptoms it is an indication to see your dentist soon:
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Bleeding gums when brushing
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Red, swollen or tender gums
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Gums that have pulled away from the
teeth
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Persistent bad breath
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Pus between the teeth and gums
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Loose or separating teeth
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A change in the way your teeth fit
together when you bite.
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- These symptoms do not have to end with tooth
loss, with proper intervention you can arrest the progress of the
disease and keep that special smile that is uniquely yours.
• How to Stay Healthy and Keep Your Unique Smile • Oral Health Protection •
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