Category: Oral Health

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Oral Health

Stroke and Oral Health: Is There A Connection?

Stroke and Oral Health: Is There A Connection?
Stroke and Oral Health: Is There A Connection?

Stroke – every four minutes, someone in the US dies from it! As we learn more and more about how our oral health impacts our overall health, we couldn’t help but wonder if there is a relationship between stroke and oral health.

Understanding Stroke

To understand the connection between stroke and oral health one must first understand what a stroke is and who is at a higher risk of having one. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, or a blood clot stops oxygen from getting to the brain. Someone who is experiencing a stroke will show physical signs which may include a drooping face, arm weakness, or slurred or impaired speech. While a stroke can occur in people of all ages, there are specific groups of people at greater risk:

  • People 65+ – the risk of stroke increases with age with the majority of stroke victims being age 65 or older.
  • African Americans – have twice the risk of stroke than Caucasians and are the group most likely to die from stroke
  • Those making poor lifestyle choices – sedentary lifestyle, smoking, obesity, and the diseases that can result from them (like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes) have been found to cause stroke.

Recent studies have found patients who have had a stroke generally had poor oral hygiene practices and oral health. Unfortunately, poor oral health generally results in the development of gum disease.

Understanding Gum Disease

Gum disease affects more than 64 million Americans – that’s nearly half of the adult population! It is a completely preventable disease, created from the overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth. Characterized by red, swollen gums that have pulled away from the tooth and easily bleed, gum disease has multiple stages and can many times be slowed with proper treatment.

The best way to avoid gum disease is to keep up with good oral health care practices and following your dentist’s recommendations: brushing twice a day, using floss and mouthwash daily, chewing sugar-free gum between meals when brushing isn’t an option, and seeing your dentist at least twice a year for regular check-ups.

So, just how are stroke and gum disease connected?

stroke and oral health

The Connection Between Gum Disease and Stroke

The major link between gum disease and stroke is inflammation.  The abundance of bacteria associated with gum disease is an infection of the mouth. Unfortunately, this bacterial infection can get in the bloodstream, causing inflammation making blood more likely to clot, leading to a stroke.

There is a well-established connection between gum disease (periodontal disease) and stroke. Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the tissues and bones surrounding teeth. When left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss and other health problems.

Research suggests that gum disease may increase the risk of stroke. Inflammation caused by gum disease can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries become narrowed due to a buildup of plaque. This narrowing can cause blood clots to form, which can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.

Furthermore, the bacteria that cause gum disease can also enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, including the brain, where they can cause inflammation and damage blood vessels.

Studies have found that people with gum disease are more likely to have a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke. In fact, one study found that people with gum disease were twice as likely to have a stroke compared to those without gum disease.

It is important to note that gum disease is a preventable and treatable condition. Maintaining good oral hygiene, such as brushing twice a day and flossing daily, can help prevent gum disease. If you have signs of gum disease, such as swollen or bleeding gums, it is important to see a dentist for treatment. Treating gum disease may not only improve your oral health but also reduce your risk of stroke and other health problems.

Stroke and Oral Health

Because many Americans are impacted by both gum disease and stroke it’s important to understand the risks and ways to prevent them both. It is more important than ever to stay on top of good oral care practices if you or a loved one has experienced a stroke.  Patients who have suffered a stroke may need support in maintaining good oral health care, especially if they have cognitive or physical limitations which prevent them from remembering to complete or performing the tasks properly.

There is a two-way relationship between stroke and oral health. On one hand, poor oral health, such as gum disease, can increase the risk of stroke. On the other hand, stroke can also affect oral health.

As mentioned earlier, gum disease can increase the risk of stroke by causing inflammation and contributing to the development of atherosclerosis. Additionally, the bacteria that cause gum disease can also enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, including the brain, where they can cause inflammation and damage blood vessels.

Moreover, stroke can also affect oral health. A stroke can cause physical disabilities, such as paralysis or weakness in the face, tongue, or jaw muscles, which can make it difficult to maintain good oral hygiene. As a result, stroke survivors may be at a higher risk for oral health problems, such as tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections.

Furthermore, stroke survivors may also experience dry mouth, which is a condition in which the mouth does not produce enough saliva. Saliva helps to neutralize acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and wash away food particles, so a decrease in saliva production can increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

It is important for stroke survivors to maintain good oral hygiene and see a dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings. Stroke survivors may also benefit from working with a speech therapist or occupational therapist to improve their ability to perform daily activities, such as brushing and flossing, as well as from using special tools or devices to help with oral care.

By taking preventive measures against gum disease with good oral care habits, you are also lowering your risk for stroke and several other diseases. The PERFECT TEETH team is here to help support your efforts.

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Cosmetic Dentistry Oral Health

5 Ways to Start the Year with a Healthy Smile (Oral Health)

healthymouth
healthymouth

The new year is the perfect time to start fresh. Many people will be making resolutions to be healthier through exercise and/or diet, so why not improve your oral health too? The mouth is the gateway to the body and maintaining good oral health can help prevent other health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Specifically for children, establishing a good oral health routine early on can set them up for a lifetime of good habits. Be sure to help your kids brush twice a day and floss once to ensure they’re on the right path to a healthy mouth!

Continue reading “5 Ways to Start the Year with a Healthy Smile (Oral Health)”

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Oral Health

How to Get Rid of Canker Sores?

How to Get Rid of Canker Sores?
How to Get Rid of Canker Sores?

The canker sore, also known as the aphthous ulcer, is one of the most common oral problems faced by every individual. They can easily be spotted in the mouth and are present in widespread distribution all over the mouth. They start as white to yellowish ulcers, and as they grow, they get surrounded by a red border.

They are small shallow ulcers, usually ranging between 0.5 and 1 mm in diameter. Irrespective of their age, they can occur in any individual at any point in time. Little infants as young as 2 years can also develop these canker sores, but they are usually evident after adolescence.

These canker sores can be painful but are not a major cause of concern for many people besides the discomfort. Dentists or professionals usually discover these canker sores during a regular checkup. They are self-healing and normally heal in a time of 1-2 weeks.

They are of a few types: simple canker sores, complex canker sores, minor canker sores, major canker sores, and herpetiform canker sores. Simple and minor canker sores are the most common and appear at least three to four times a year.

They usually last a week and are most evident between the ages of 10 to 20 years. Complex and herpetiform canker sores are less commonly seen. They are more common in patients who have previously had them. Lastly, major canker sores, as the name suggests, are bigger in size and last more than 2 weeks in an individual.

They often heal with scarring. This article outlines some of the causes, symptoms, and treatment remedies that you can use to get rid of these canker sores.

Causes and Symptoms

The exact cause of the canker sore is still not very clear. Stress or minor injury, certain foods like citric or acidic fruits, and vegetables like lemons, oranges, pineapples, apples, tomatoes, and strawberries can be common causes of canker sores. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can also trigger these canker sores.

Canker sores can be caused by the use of a sharp toothbrush, a sharp tooth surface, a dental appliance, or an ill-fitting denture. These canker sores can also be a manifestation of an underlying health issue such as lupus, or Bachet’s disease, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and AIDS.

The most common symptoms associated with a canker sore are irritation and pain. Other than these, a tingling or burning sensation may also be felt prior to the appearance of the ulcer. In severe cases, patients may also experience fever, physical sluggishness, and swollen lymph nodes.

Treatment and Prevention

Canker sores treatment can be divided into two types: home remedies and over-the-counter treatments (OTC). All of these work to reduce the pain, and inflammation, and speed up the healing of the canker sore. Initiating with the home remedies, the first and foremost thing that can be done to prevent these canker sores is to manage the possible triggers.

Aside from mouth rinses and topical products such as tubes and gels, taking oral medication such as sucralfate or oral steroid medication, nutritional supplements, and resolving the underlying health issue are all possible cures for canker sores. If anyone is facing these problems recurrently, they can be prevented by avoiding the triggering agents, avoiding irritation from gum chewing, using a soft-bristled brush, flossing daily, and avoiding the use of oral hygiene products containing sodium lauryl sulfate.

Lifestyle and home remedies: Rinse your mouth frequently using water or baking soda (mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda in half a cup of warm water). Dab a small amount of magnesium a few times a day. For the time being, avoid spicy, acidic, abrasive, and acidic foods. If possible, you can also apply ice to your canker sores. Try to brush as gently as possible until the canker sore heals.

Over-the-counter treatments: Use of oral health products such as antiseptic mouth rinses, this helps reduce the bacteria in the mouth. Oral gels to numb the painful canker sore areas.

Even after all these remedies, if your canker sore does not heal, then it’s time to see a dentist. Call your dentist if a canker sore lasts more than 14 days or even longer, if it seems to get worse, if an unusual growth in size is seen, if you notice frequent outbreaks of canker sores, if they become extremely painful over time, or if they are accompanied by high fever.

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Oral Health

Best 6 Foods for Healthy Teeth

Best 6 Foods for Healthy Teeth
Best 6 Foods for Healthy Teeth

You are what you eat when it comes to the condition of your teeth. Tooth decay is caused by sugary foods like candy and carbonated drinks. For a healthy mouth, food for strong teeth in your diet is essential. Your teeth and gums are immediately impacted by nutrition.

Poor nutrition can lead to gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay. Additionally, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and preterm or underweight infants have all been linked by doctors to dental illnesses. This list of nutritious tooth-healthy foods will help you improve your diet and dental health.

What meals are the healthiest for teeth and gums?

Considering their great nutritional content and additional benefits for cleaning teeth, fresh fruits and vegetables are some of the best food for strong teeth and gums. Additionally, foods high in calcium, such as low-fat or fat-free milk, yoghurt, and cheese, as well as fortified soy beverages, tofu, canned salmon, almonds, and dark-green leafy vegetables, support healthy teeth and bones. Food particles and bacteria that cause plaque are washed away by saliva and water after chewing on crunchy meals, which stimulates salivation.

  • Yoghurt, cheese, and milk

For a variety of reasons, cheese is one of the finest meals for strong teeth. Firstly, it has a high calcium content and little sugar. Casein, a protein that is very beneficial to tooth-healthy foods for strengthening tooth enamel, is a component of it. Calcium, which is abundant in cheese and necessary for preserving bone density, is vital.

The high phosphate content of cheese also contributes to the maintenance of dental enamel by balancing the pH levels in the mouth. Chewing cheese boosts saliva production, which aids in washing away oral germs.

  • Carrots, celery, and other crunchy vegetables

Given that they necessitate a lot of chewing to clean the teeth’s surfaces, many veggies are beneficial for your teeth. Tooth-healthy foods that are firm and crunchy and contain a lot of water are excellent natural teeth cleaners because they encourage salivation, which helps to wash away bacteria and food particles.

In terms of natural dental floss, celery is probably the closest thing to reliable tooth-healthy foods. As a natural tooth cleaner, the fibrous and crunchy texture is fantastic. Carrots are one of the best cavity-fighting vegetables and are packed with nutrients. Lots of vitamin C, calcium, and keratin are found in carrots, all of which are good for your teeth.

  • Tea

The growth of microorganisms linked to gum disease and cavities is slowed by substances called polyphenols, which may be found in black and green tea. Black tea mouthwash for one minute, ten times a day, was proven to reduce plaque development on teeth compared to water mouthwash, according to research. They also lowered the plaque’s size and stickiness.

  • Pears and Apples

Can you avoid the dentist with an apple a day? Perhaps not, but it is among tooth-healthy foods that undoubtedly assist. Consuming apples or other firm, fibrous fruits like pears will help you brush your teeth and create more saliva, which can assist to balance the citric and malic acids that are left in your mouth.

  • Nuts

The benefits of nuts for your teeth are numerous. They have significant concentrations of essential elements like calcium and phosphorus. Almonds, Brazil nuts, and cashews are particularly advantageous tooth-healthy foods since they work to fend off the germs that cause tooth disease.

Almonds and peanuts, for instance, both contain significant quantities of calcium, which is helpful for teeth and gums. Peanuts also include a considerable quantity of vitamin D. Walnuts include everything from fibre, folic acid, iron, thiamine, magnesium, iron, niacin, vitamin E, vitamin B6, potassium, and zinc. Cashews are believed to increase saliva production.

  • Fatty fish and meats

The majority of meats include some of the crucial elements listed above, and eating meat generates saliva. Furthermore, having more saliva is beneficial because it neutralises the acidity in your mouth and removes food particles that might cause decay.

Particularly tooth-healthy food options include red meat and even organic meats. Phosphorus, a crucial element for preserving dental enamel, is abundant in tofu and fatty fish (such as salmon).

What should you avoid?

 

  • Sticky sweets and candies

 

Choose sweets that leave your mouth quickly if you indulge in them. So avoid processed sugar-containing candy like lollipops, caramels, and cough drops. There has been a lot of advertising about chocolate’s ability to be among tooth-healthy foods, which is yet to be confirmed.

  • Starchy foods can get lodged in your teeth

For instance, potato chips and soft bread might become stuck between your teeth.

  • Soft drinks with carbonation

For children and teenagers, these beverages constitute the main source of added sugar. There is a lot of sugar in them.