Missing Teeth Can Lead to a Heart Attack

An article from Reuters reports on the link between periodontal disease and heart attacks. Read the article here: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL65650620070906?sp=true

The connection between oral health and overall health is being rediscovered by modern science. The mouth is as affected by infection and inflammation as are other systems in the body. Periodontal (gum) disease is an indication of a problem that effects your whole body. Treatment for periodontal disease by a dentist can help reduce the level of infection and inflammation in your whole body, so if your gums bleed, you have loose or discolored teeth, you have chronic bad breath or if your teeth are regularly sensitive to hot or cold go see your dentist. If you don't have a dentist, get one. If you have dental benefits, they will likely pay for much of the treatment you need.

Oral Health and Your Unborn Baby

Scientists have known for a while that gum disease in pregnant women is correlated to low birth weight babies. Now a study published in the Journal of Periodontology that proves that the bacteria that causes gum disease (aka gingivitis or periodontal disease) is not only present in the mouth of the mother, but in the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby while in its mother's womb.

If you are pregnant, get your teeth and gums checked. Your baby depends on it.

Know Your Mouth

If you have your dental benefits plan through Lincoln Financial Group you can now get oral health information on their website. If you have benefits through LFG, be sure to take advantage of this service.

Because dentistry does not have any standards for diagnosing oral health problems, it is even more important for you to know what's good for your mouth. LFG's website is another attempt to help manage the costs of dental work and to educate on the importance of good oral health

Water Fluoridation This Week

There is quite a debate happening in Australia. Apparently the states are taking over bulk water supplies and there is an issue over whether or not to include fluoride in the water.

• Government to Consider Water Fluoridation - Brisbane Times
• Queensland Liberal MP Calls for Water Fluoridation - Australian Broadcasting Corp.
• Fluoridated Water Would Improve Oral Health: Robertson - ABC Online

Residents in parts of New Zealand are being called to vote on water fluoridation

• DHBs want public to decide on fluoridation - The Southland Times

Water fluoridation is being considered in England

• Bid to Put Fluoride in Water - Manchester Evening News
• Further Meeting Over Fluoridation Issue - Isle of Man Today
  

Water fluoridation is also an issue in Alaska

• Lack of Fluoride Gives Villagers Tooth Decay - KTUU News

And a California community is preparing to fluoridate its water

• Topanga Water to be Fluoridated in October - Topanga Messenger Online
  

And then there is this opinion piece from a physician in Iowa

• Effects of Chemicals Are Slowly Coming to Light - Des Moines Register
  

Your Dentist Can Spot Osteoporosis

Here is one good reason to visit your dentist.

Using an innovative, automated technique, researchers in Europe have developed a software-based system to identify patients prone to osteoporosis. Apparently by using x-rays of the jawbone and the mouth, already common in dental evaluations, they were able to identify women with osteoporosis. To read more about the research you can read the full article at BONE: The Official Journal of the International Bone and Mineral Society.

It probably won't be available immediately, but keep bugging your dentist about it.

Dental Implants

If you have your dental benefits through AlwaysCare Benefits, effective on March 1, you can choose to use an implant to replace a missing tooth instead of a bridge. THey are also covering crowns for implants.

This is a pretty big deal in the dental benefits world. More and more companies are including implants in their plan designs

Gum is Good for Your Gums

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that has been found to prevent tooth decay by reducing the amount of bacteria in the mouth. If you have your dental benefits through Assurant Employee Benefits (except for New York policies and plans), you can now receive discounts on your purchase of xylitol products made by Epic Industries. The discounts are pretty significant, with 50% first-time discounts and 25% discounts thereafter.

So go out and chew your way to a health mouth.

Endocarditis Prophylaxis Information

If you know what this is, then it will be important inormation to you.

Basically, the American Heart Association has come out with new guidelines for using antibiotics to prevent Bacterial Endocarditis. If you have been told that you are susceptible to heart infections, make sure your dentist knows about this.

Endocarditis Prophylaxis Information