A few weeks ago there was a large article in The Wall Street Journal entitled, “If Your Teeth Could Talk.” It was a basic review of some of the connections between oral and systemic health and also offered some newer research that I was unaware of.
I have written many times on the growing evidence linking periodontal (gum) disease with many systemic issues. The fact of the matter is the mouth is truly the gateway to the rest of the body. While some early signs of diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, immune disorders, hormone imbalance and drug issues can show up in the mouth long before the person discovers that there is a “problem”, an unhealthy… (Read More)
What Your Mouth Says
February 2, 2012
Room For Improvement
September 2, 2011
Dentists play a key role in screening patients for many disorders relative to nutrition and in providing appropriate referrals into the health care system. Although the importance of integrating diet and nutrition guidance into dental care has been advocated for decades by educators, it continues to be ignored except by a handful of prevention-oriented practitioners.
Many of the world’s most significant health problems are linked to poor dietary practices, including over-nutrition and under-nutrition. Nutrition plays a fundamental role in health, and dental professionals have the opportunity to be a critical link between discovery and wellness.
There is a great deal of evidence linking oral infections, including periodontal disease, nutrition and immunological response. We… (Read More)
The Silent Epidemic
February 8, 2011
With more than 24 million diabetics and 57 million pre-diabetics in the United States, nearly a quarter of the nation’s population, there are a lot of people affected by diabetes. The most up to date research shows the connection between dental health and diabetes has never been more critical.
As an indication of our general health, the rapidly rising rate of diabetes should be ringing alarm bells everywhere. The litany of health implications from diabetes is a long and grisly list. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. That is probably vastly understated because as many as 65% of deaths from diabetes are attributed to heart attack and stroke. People… (Read More)
It’s Just a Cleaning
October 28, 2010
This is a phrase we hear far too frequently when patients call to cancel their hygiene appointments at the last minute or just do not show up. When the patient is told that there are no open hygiene appointments for 4-6 months the response if often, “Oh, that’s okay, it’s just a cleaning.” However, this lack of concern for urgency is only partly to blame on the patient; most of the accountability falls in the lap of the dental staff, including the dentist.
If you read this column with any frequency, I am sure you are sick of hearing that 75% of the population has some form of periodontal (gum) disease. I am sure… (Read More)