The state of our own personal dental health is something that many people just do not have time to think about and that is certainly understandable. On the surface, it does indeed seem that there are more important things to concentrate on. Saving disaster victims, ending world famine, and stopping human rights violations like the persecution of the peaceful Falun Gong meditators in China are all very worthy and important ways to spend our time.
I know that there is not anything glamorous about taking care of our teeth and gums. Yet, it is truly vitally important to each of us as individuals. Does it get in the way? You bet it does. However, we all need to take the time to focus on this truly necessary aspect of our lives because saving our own teeth and health has very high intrinsic value.
Let’s not even talk about the heavy and perhaps unreasonable expense of costly dental treatments. Instead, let us focus on something a little more practical sounding. Researchers are finding connections between gum disease otherwise known as periodontal disease and all kinds of illnesses.
Recently, I heard the claim that there is a connection between dental disease and pancreatic cancer! The link between diabetes, heart disease, stroke, pre-term babies as well as other illnesses have all been at least suspected of being related in some way to gum disease.
“But I do not have gum disease !”, you may protest. Actually, the odds are not in your favor that you do not have it. In fact, dental professionals will tell you that perhaps as many as 75% of the American population has some form of this problem. That is more people than do not have it.
Typically, this problem progresses in an almost invisible way to the victim. Your dentist or hygienist may mention to you on several occasions that you are starting to have a problem. Like most people, you may not pay much attention. After all, everything seems fine!
One day you may be informed that you need a deep cleaning or a SRP (Scaling and Root Planing Treatment) and that you have a moderate level of gum disease. You think you went from zero to sixty in a few seconds, but the reality is that you had a gingivitis problem a while back, but now it has increased in severity.
To be fair, it may not have happened this way to you. Dentists are not always focused on the health of your gums, preferring to simply work on your teeth. Therefore, it is possible that the problem grew and you knew nothing about it!
For this reason, a good periodontist can be your friend. This is the focus of their practice. They can always refer you to a good general dentist if they see a problem with your teeth. This is what I prefer. I go to a periodontist and use him as my primary care dentist even if he doesn’t know it!
Anyway, the point is that gum disease is rather serious, you cannot afford (literally) to bury your head in the sand. You could end up spending thousands upon thousands for treatments and a final solution that is nowhere near as good as your own original teeth.
The good news is that what you do at home is far more important than what your dentist and hygienist do for you in the office. They cannot be with you every day and you may only see them for a couple to a few times per year. You can ask them yourself. They will tell you that YOU and what you do at home will have the greatest impact on your dental health.
Learn what the secrets to good home care are!
Learn about the one tool that I think is most important for home care at http://www.HowToFightGumDisease.com
David is the author of the book: What You Should Know about Gum Disease – available at all online booksellers. ISBN: 978-0981485508
*article is for information only and does not seek to render advice, diagnosis and treatment. If you have or think you might have any health problem, contact your doctor for advice, diagnosis and treatment. USFDA has not evaluated statements about any products in this article.
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