Posts Tagged ‘heart disease’
Something We Can Agree On
Friday, August 7th, 2009
On June 22, the government passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Public health organizations from all sides had nothing but praise for this measure. According to ADA President, Dr. John S. Findley, “Dentists are the first line of defense in the war against cancer and many other tobacco-related diseases. The American Dental Association heartily commends Congress for passing the FSPTC Act.”
Tobacco is responsible for a myriad of diseases, from emphysema, heart disease and severe peripheral artery disease, to lung cancer and probably the most fatal of all, oral cancer. One person dies every hour from oral cancer in the U.S. Other diseases manifested in the mouth, such as gum disease, decay, leukoplakia and diabetes are either aggravated or caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. Dr. Kathleen O’Loughlin, the ADA executive director, was invited to attend the signing of the bill, and had this to say: “The passing of this bill speaks to the power of broad-based support from very different and unique advocacy organizations coming together from different places and perspectives yet united by a common urgent public health issue.”
The mantle of the control of tobacco will now pass to the FDA from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, BATF ( I suppose now they will just be the BAF). So what will the FDA do with their new responsibilities? At least for now, they are inviting health agencies and even public opinion to help implement the new laws. It’s nice to see everyone on the same page. Of course, this will mean much higher tobacco taxes. I’m never in favor of higher taxes, but maybe we could just call this one “tough love.”
Tags: ADA, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, chewing tobacco, decay, Dr. John S. Findley, emphysema, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobcco Control Act, FSPTC Act, gum disease, heart disease, Kathleen O'Loughlin, leukoplakia, lung cancer, oral cancer, severe peripheral artery disease, smoking, tobacco, tobacco taxes, tobacco-related disease
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The New Order
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
In the olden days, there seemed to be an order of things that would prompt a person to go see their dentist for care.
The first concern for most patients was pain, followed by appearance, decay, gum disease, and missing back teeth, respectively. Many patients would only seek dental treatment when they were experiencing extreme pain, or if they were not happy with the look of their front teeth. Cavities, gum problems, and spaces where teeth were extracted were often ignored.
With all of the new information we know about gum disease, it is necessary to change our list of priorities.
Pain is still the front-runner and greatest cause for concern. If a patient has a tooth-ache, it often means that there is an infection present, whether it is within the tooth itself, or the gums that surround the tooth. Dental infections can be very serious and should be taken care of immediately.
Periodontal, or gum disease, is the second most important priority. According to recent studies, more than half of all people over 18 have at least the early stages of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is an infection that destroys the gum surrounding your teeth and also destroys the supporting bone that holds your teeth in place. Unlike most diseases that give us early warning signs, gum disease progresses silently, often without pain. It may develop slowly or progress quite rapidly. Not only is the loss of gum and bone a concern, but studies have proven that gum disease may increase your risk of a variety of health problems, including:
Heart disease
Weakened immune system
Diabetes
Stroke
Lung Disease
Preterm, low birth babies
Respiratory disease
Osteoporosis
Gastric ulcer
If you are already experiencing any of these health concerns, it is very important to maintain good oral health by visiting your dentist regularly.
Tied for third on the new list are decay and appearance. I’m sure most of you know that if decay is not kept under control, it can actually spread to other teeth in your mouth. Also, if decay is left in a tooth long enough, it will eventually reach the nerve of the tooth, often causing an abscess, or infection, in the bone. The tooth will then need a root canal, or may need to be extracted.
We all understand how prominent appearance has become in our society. Everyone wants to have a beautiful smile to share. There are many ways to achieve the smile you have been wanting, including whitening, “invisible” braces,
porcelain veneers, etc. Just remember that a beautiful smile is more than straight, white teeth. It is important to make your entire oral health a priority.
As before, missing back teeth are last on the list. But that doesn’t mean they are less significant than the other things.
When a tooth is lost and not replaced as soon as possible, the remaining teeth can drift out of position and change the bite. This can lead to cavities, gum disease, bite problems, and TMJ (joint problems in the jaw). All of your teeth work together to help you chew, speak, and smile. When teeth are missing, it is difficult to do these things. Even the loss of back teeth can cause your bite to shift and your face to look older. Fortunately, missing teeth can be replaced in several ways, including implants, bridges, and removable appliances.
As you may have noticed, the dental concerns we have discussed can often times be interrelated. Gum disease can cause tooth loss, and tooth loss can cause gum disease. A “tooth-ache” can be caused by gum disease as often as it can be caused by decay. Loss of teeth, swollen, red gums, and decay all affect our appearance.
Evidence shows that it is time to let go of the ‘old school’ mentality and embrace the new order of things. We cannot stress enough how important it is to visit your dentist to have oral examinations and cleanings done regularly. By keeping these recare appointments you will increase your chances of a healthy smile, but most importantly, a long, healthy life.
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times, June 2007
Tags: abscess, Bridges, decay, Diabetes, gastric ulcer, gum disease, heart disease, Implants, infection, invisible braces, lung disease, missing teeth, Osteoporosis, periodontal disease, porcelain veneers, removable appliances, respiratory diesease, root canal, stroke, tooth-ache, weakened immune system
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