To ensure that you maintain great oral health, Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro and Dr. Thomas Chung want to make sure that your personal oral hygiene routine is at its highest quality.
Most of us are aware that poor dental hygiene can lead to bad breath, gum disease and tooth decay, but not brushing your teeth may also lead to more serious illnesses.
Like many areas of the body, your mouth is flooded with bacteria – most of them harmless. Normally, the body’s natural defenses can keep these bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, including abcesses, gingivitis and periodontal disease. This in turn may lead to episodes of "bacteremia," where bacteria in the mouth enter the bloodstream and may spread to other parts of the body.
Bacteremias may cause serious consequences. The immune response to the bacteria in the bloodstream can cause inflammation, sepsis and septic shock. Bacteria can also use the blood to spread to other parts of the body, causing infections away from the original site of infection. Examples include endocarditis or osteomyelitis.
While still under study, more and more research suggest significant links between poor oral health and such systemic conditions as cardiovascular disease, stroke,and diabetes, in additon to adverse affects on pregnancies.
Several studies have found that gum disease is associated with an increased risk for heart attack. It may be that oral bacteria enter the bloodstream, attach to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries, increases inflammation and plaque buildup, and cause clots to form. A 2007 study showed that periodontal disease (associated with bleeding gums and bacteremias) increased the risk of heart disease in men by one third and doubled it in women, even after controlling for smoking.
To protect your oral health, practice good oral hygiene every day and utilize these tips: brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks, replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed and last but not least, schedule regular dental checkups.
If you wish to improve your dental hygiene routine, or you are due for a checkup, give us a call so we can assist you! To learn more about dental hygiene, visit www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro or Dr. Thomas Chung, DDS in New York, NY, call 212-988-1089.
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