Most people are aware that routine dental visits are important for maintaining good oral health but many people are unaware that these same routine dental visits can help alert a patient to a more serious health issue.
There is an estimate of 20 million people with Diabetes but only 2/3rds of them are diagnosed. People with Diabetes are more likely to develop oral infections and gum disease than people with normal blood sugar levels. Diabetes reduces the bodies resistance to infection, which can make the gums more suseptable to gingivitis because of the bacteria in plaque. Gingivitis can lead to periodontitis which is the destruction of oral tissues, supporting bone, and the fibers that hold the gums to the teeth. A dentist may notice a pattern of infection and/ or gum disease in a patient and help to alert the patient to the possibility of a more serious condition, such as Diabetes.
Osteoporosis is a disease that decreases the bony mass and the bone density resulting in “weaker” bones. Many people are unaware that they have Osteoporosis until a fracture or a break has occurred. A dentist can help to see early signs of osteoporosis such as bone loss around teeth resulting in tooth loss.
Lastly, a dentist can see signs of stress in patient’s mouths. These signs include cold sores, TMD, and excessive wear on teeth. Chronic stress is dangerous to a person’s overall health. For example, stress can be a contributing factor to heart disease, depression, and respiratory disease. Chronic stress also inhibits the body’s ability to heal efficiently.
So be sure to keep those routine dental visits for the benefit of your overall health!
Coming Up…
Reid & Reid will be sponsoring the 4th Annual Cubcat Crawl on 8/5/16. All proceeds benefit the Hendersonville Elementary School.
