Having healthy gums is good for your heart, a new study says.
Researchers found that as people’s gum health improved, the buildup of plaque in their arteries slowed. This narrowing of the arteries, called atherosclerosis, is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and death.
The study included 420 adults who underwent tests to assess their gum health and plaque buildup in their neck (carotid) arteries. Over a follow-up of roughly three years, improvements in gum health and a reduction in the proportion of bacteria linked with gum infection (periodontal disease) was associated with a slower rate of plaque accumulation in the neck arteries.
The findings were published online Oct. 28 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“These results are important because atherosclerosis progressed in parallel with both clinical periodontal disease and the bacterial profiles in the gums,” study lead author Dr. Moise Desvarieux, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, said in a university news release. “This is the most direct evidence yet that modifying the periodontal bacterial profile could play a role in preventing or slowing both diseases.”
Gum disease-related bacteria may contribute to atherosclerosis in a number of ways. For example, animal studies suggest that these bacteria may trigger inflammation associated with atherosclerosis.
“It is critical that we continue to follow these patients to see if the relationship between periodontal infections and atherosclerosis carries over to clinical events like heart attack and stroke, and test if modifying the periodontal flora will slow the progression of atherosclerosis.
By Dr. David Pereira
Probing; It’s a dental thing. It is one of several diagnostic techniques that dentists use to diagnose the oral habits of our patients. Most dentists relate probing to the medical equivalent of taking your blood pressure. When was the last time you went to see your doctor for an annual check up and they didn’t take your blood pressure? Hopefully the answer to that question is never. Yet, in dentistry probing is often skipped due to perceived time constraints. So what is probing? It is when your dentist or hygienist measures the depth between the tooth with a periodontal probe measuring a minimum of 6 locations along the edges of the tooth. Why is that? It is how we diagnose for periodontal disease. All patients who come to Greenwich Cosmetic Dentistry have annual periodontal evaluation and that includes probing.
You might ask, why should I care Doc? That’s easy; probing is the main diagnostic tool to diagnose the clinical attachment level. What is that you say? The Clinical Attachment level is the amount of space between where the tooth and the connective tissue meet. This measurement ranges from the theoretical 0 millimeters to the more serious 10 plus millimeters. That means that the space between the top of the gum line and the bottom of the pocket that attaches to the tooth is able to be measured.
Ok, that’s great, so what does that even mean?
Well, people lose teeth for a variety of reasons, however the three most common reasons are
- Periodontal disease
By measuring or rather probing on an annual basis we are able to monitor changes in the clinical attachment level of your dentition, if caught early there are several options available to try and prevent the periodontal condition from getting worse.
So, what is normal?
Good Question. Traditionally dentists prefer lower numbers. Numbers between 0-3 are good, when you go above 4, then we need to start thinking about treatment options. These options include treatments such scaling and root planning, selective application of local antibiotics and possibly bone grafting, among others. However, all these options can be potentially avoided by a regular visit to our office with regular cleanings and annual periodontal evaluations including probing.
So, if your dentist is not measuring your probing depths, maybe its time to change to the holistic care that is offered at Greenwich Cosmetic Dentistry. What are you waiting for?
By Dr. David Pereira
Do you smoke cigarettes or cigars? Drink coffee or tea? Do you love red wine? Have you been doing these for awhile? Sometimes regular dental cleanings can only go so far. A nice white smile is something that is perfect for everyone. It’s the ideal accessory to every social event. The tooth whitening options available in today’s market have a large range. Radio advertising claims of bright white teeth using baking soda and we have seen those Facebook advertisements claiming a white result with special formulations of unknown agents. Then there is also the grocery store approach of white strips from the toothpaste manufacturers, however none of those approaches have the clear, consistent results that a board certified dentist can deliver.
When you decide that what you want is a healthy white smile then a reservation at Greenwich Cosmetic Dentistry is what you need. Our Doctors, Gerald Cohen and David Pereira, utilize the most up to date products available to get you a nice healthy white smile. In as little as 30 minutes we can get you several shades whiter, getting rid of those bothersome teeth stains that have been there for years. We also give our patients the ability to choose from different whitening options including in office express whitening and long term at home whitening.
Many of our patients contact us before big life events such as weddings, births, engagements or any other photographed family event. When you want to look your best, don’t forget to include a nice white smile. At Greenwich Cosmetic Dentistry we love to say that you are never completely dressed without a beautiful smile. Give our office a call to schedule your visit.
We can be reached at 203-869-2659.