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Basic Oral Prevention Saves Lives

Basic Oral Prevention Saves Lives

by | Oct 22, 2012 | Dentistry, Periodontal Disease, Tooth Decay, Toothache

Do you put on a seat belt when you drive?

If so, why?

My guess is that it is either because you are compelled to do so by law, or (if you live in the U.S.) you believe the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), who claim that seat belts save about 13,000 lives a year, nationwide.

The few seconds it takes you to snap on your seat belt buckle reduces the chance of dying in a car crash by 45%, and of being injured by about half.  Nevertheless, seat belts are not likely to play a big role in saving your life, because chances are you won’t find yourself in a serious automobile accident.  Let’s face it, fortunately, most people never find themselves in that circumstance.

On the other hand, gum disease (either gingivitis or periodontal disease) affects up to 80 percent of the population.

In other articles, you may have heard that periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults.  The shocking reality is that this is probably the least notable consequence of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is a significant risk factor for stroke, heart disease, certain respiratory problems, low birth-weight infants, and some forms of cancer.

While very few people will die in a car crash, a great deal more will die from a heart attack, stroke, or cancer.  Addressing periodontal disease via preventive techniques can significantly reduce your chances of dying from any one of these afflictions.

If this simple logic is not enough to convince you of the need to brush after meals, floss daily and eat a healthy diet, it may help you to know that over the past few decades, there have been hundreds of peer-reviewed medical studies published in journals showing periodontal disease to be a risk factor for heart attacks.

While periodontal disease is certainly not the only factor in the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases or cancer, there is definitely a link.  The modern thinking regarding the connection has to do with the long-term inflammatory nature of gum disease.  In simple terms, periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums and bone supporting the teeth.  As with most any infection in the body, this leads to inflammation.

Often having no symptoms that are detectable by the patient, bacteria from periodontal disease can affect blood vessels on the walls of your heart.  If you have gum disease, the bacteria can easily invade the blood stream through one of many open portals.  Let’s face it, it is a relatively short trip from the mouth to the heart after all.

Bacteria in the blood may also stimulate liver production of C-reactive proteins and fibrinogen.  Both these substances have been linked to heart attacks.

Persons who successfully treated their periodontal disease have also been shown to experience improved cholesterol levels and demonstrated lowered blood pressure.  Most readers will recognize these as factors frequently associated with cardiovascular disease.

The bottom line:  while we generally don’t hesitate to snap on a seat belt because it may save our lives, not enough of the population understand that oral health basics save more lives than buckling-up!  Added benefits?  Saving teeth (which leads to better digestion and less need for heartburn medications), fresher breath, and avoiding painful toothaches or complicated dental procedures — which also translates to more dollars in your pocket.

 

The Role of Chiropractic in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

The Role of Chiropractic in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

by | Feb 22, 2012 | Dentistry

There can be many contributory elements in the development of temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ).  These can range from a misaligned bite, stress from clenching or grinding, to trauma — such as might result from an automobile accident, a blow to the head, or a fall.  To this degree, spinal mis-alignments can also cause jaw-joint symptoms. TMJ pain may even be the result of bacterial infections.  Each cause requires the appropriate solution.  The following article written by a Minneapolis-based chiropractor highlights those aspects of the disorder that may benefit from chiropractic care.

By Dr. Passig

Back and neck pains are not the only the concern of chiropractors. There are other disorders that they deal with and one of these is temporomandibular joint disorder.

Temporomandibular joint disorder is characterized by distress or pain in the jaw muscles and joints. Some experience it briefly while a few experience interminable symptoms.

Following are the signs of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

  1. Soreness that extends to the face, neck and shoulders.
  2.  Limited jaw movements.
  3. Grating sounds when opening and closing the mouth.
  4. Dizziness, headaches, ear pain and hearing difficulties and eating and drinking difficulties.

TMJ disorder is categorized as follows:

  1. Tenderness of the jaw, neck and shoulder muscles known as myofascial tenderness.
  2. Dislocated jaw or disc.
  3. Weakening joint condition like rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

The reasons or origins of TMJ

  1. Physical stress. TMJ is more prominent among women than men because of their fondness for high-heeled shoes. Long hours of sitting also lead to the development of TMJ. Both of these situations affect one’s posture.
  2. Emotional stress. Most people who are undergoing emotional stress have the tendency to clench their teeth.
  3. TMJ can also result from injuries such as receiving a blow on the jaw, one-sided chewing and gum chewing.

To evaluate the existence of temporomandibular disorder, the chiropractor puts his 3 fingers inside the patient’s mouth and asks him to bit on his fingers. The patient is also requested to open and close his mouth and to chew continuously. By doing this, the chiropractor will be able to assess the dimensions of the patient’s joints as well as the steadiness of his jaw muscles. An MRI of the jaw will be requested if no difficulty was seen in the aforementioned procedure.

Managing TMF via Chiropractic

  1. Patient will be taught the proper way of using cold and hot compress.
  2. He will also be taught how to massage the jaw joints and to do specific exercises.
  3. Patient will likewise be advised to refrain from doing hard jaw movements like grinding on meat or chomping an apple.
  4. If the patient did not respond to the aforementioned management, he will be asked to see a dentist or orthodontist to undergo dental surgery or intervention. This is because the temporomandibular joint disorder may be caused by a poor set of teeth.

Take time to visit a chiropractor should you feel any hardening on your jaw muscles that are brief or constantly occurring. Remember, it is always better to treat a forthcoming disease in its early stage than letting it get worst.

Looking for a chiropractor? Please visit our office for chiropractor Minneapolis Google Map: chiropractor Minneapolis.