The Dental and Physical Health Connection

Many people have heard the recommendation "See your dentist for a check up every 6 months".  However, this advice comes from an old Crest toothpaste advertisement and is not based on any real scientific evidence.  However, it is still advisable to maintain regular dental examinations and professional cleanings because there have been a lot of recent studies that show a connection between poor oral health and systemic health problems.  The following are a few examples of diseases seen frequently in patients with gum disease:

Gum Disease and Cardiovascular Disease:
Gum Disease or Periodontitis is inflammation of the gum tissue, bones, and ligaments that support the teeth.  It can lead to the destruction of these tissues and eventual loss of teeth, if untreated.  The damage caused by untreated gum disease affects more than just the teeth and gums.  Studies have shown that there is a link to the inflammation of the gums and Cardiovascular Disease.  Patients with cardiovascular disease are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke due to clogged arteries as a result of the disease.  The following article http://perio.org/consumer/perio_cardio.htm speaks about this relationship between gum and heart disease.   It is believed that the dental plaque germs get into the blood stream through the periodontal ligament space around the teeth, cause an inflammation response which over time may result in ccardiovascular disease.  

Gum Disease and Diabetes:

This is a direct quote from the American Academy of Periodontology's website, perio.org.

“Everyone should maintain healthy teeth and gums to avoid periodontal disease, but people with diabetes should pay extra attention,” said Samuel Low, DDS, MS, Associate Dean and professor of periodontology at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, and President of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). “Periodontal disease triggers the body’s inflammatory response which can affect insulin sensitivity and ultimately lead to unhealthy blood sugar levels. Establishing routine periodontal care is one way to help keep diabetes under control.” 

It is believed that certain types of infection-fighting white blood cells in patients with diabetes do not work as well.  This allows gum disease causing bacteria to destroy teeth-supporting structures (bone, gums, and ligaments) and helps explain why diabetic patients are more likely to have gum disease than non-diabetic patients. 

Gum Disease and Cancer:

The following is a quote from the e-news letter "Study Suggests Gum Disease Increases Men's Cancer Risk."

"Research published in the June 2008 issue of The Lancet Oncology found that men with a history of gum disease are 14 percent more likely to develop cancer than men with healthy gums. In fact, researchers uncovered that men with periodontal disease may be:

• 49 percent more likely to develop kidney cancer
• 54 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer
• 30 percent more likely to develop blood cancers"

As you can see, researchers are finding ties between gum disease and systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (which may lead to heart attack and stroke), diabetes, and certain types of cancers.  You should make it a priority to protect your dental health as a strong defense against these and other related health problems.  Good home oral care, regular dental exams, diagnostic dental x-rays, professional cleanings coupled with prompt treatment of any signs of gum disease are essential to protect your health.  Ask your dentist to screen you for signs and symptoms of gum disease at your dental visits and follow home oral care instructions to decrease your risk.   Happy smiling!

Thumbsucking

I am mom of a 2 1/2 year old who has a finger sucking habit.  Therefore I can empathize with the parents of my pediatric patients who suck their thumbs or fingers.  My daughter began her habit in infancy and was very determined to keep it.  I tried to put little cotton mittens over her hands to break the habit but she would just suck on the mittens!  I decided not to fight her on sucking her fingers as a baby and resigned myself to addressing the issue when she was older.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, thumb, finger, and pacifier sucking habits are normal for babies and young children.  It helps soothe children and makes them feel secure.  Children with this habit do it to calm themselves when they are hungry, bored, sleepy, or afraid.  I have even seen ultrasound pictures of infants sucking their fingers in their mother's womb.


18 week ultrasound showing thumb sucking



While many children will stop their thumb, finger or pacifier habit on their own (between the ages of 2 and 4 years), others may continue for several years.

The questions I get from most of my patient's parents are: "Will this habit harm my child's teeth?" "At what age should they stop" and "How do I get my child to stop?"

Q: "Will this habit harm my child's teeth?"

A:  Unfortunately a prolonged habit of sucking fingers or a pacifier can have negative effects.  The pressure or suction from the habit may cause the child's teeth to come in crooked or flare outward.  In some cases, the roof of the mouth may become malformed or narrow.  Children can also have problems with speech such as a lisp or difficulty pronouncing sounds such as "T or "D".  Others may develop a tongue thrust while talking. 

Q:  "At what age should children stop their habit?"

A:  As mentioned earlier, usually if children are able to stop their sucking habit by age 3 or 4 they are not at risk for speech or dental problems.  Children who wait until later to stop may need orthodontic treatment to correct their bite.



Full face photo of child with thumb sucking habit



Intraoral photo of same child with habit



Q:  "How do I get my child to stop?"

A:  Parents and the dentist can help encourage a child to stop their habit by explaining the consequences of sucking their finger, thumb, or pacifier.  If this does not work, the dentist can suggest ways to help change the child's behavior.  My oldest daughter used a pacifier until she was three and then only at bedtime.  I spoke with her several times about how the pacifier was affecting her teeth.  She finally agreed to stop when I bribed her with a new toy in exchange for throwing her pacifiers away.  I will admit, she cried after she realized her pacifier was in the trash can, but when I told her she could have it back if we took the toy back to the store she kept the toy and never looked back.

Some of my patients have had success breaking their habit by using a thumbguard or fingerguard for a few weeks.  According to the thumbguard website;  This flexible plastic device fits over the finger or thumb and "prevents a seal from being created around the thumb with the lips. Without this seal, there is no suction, which is the primary source of pleasure in thumb sucking."  

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry also recommends using an ACE bandage for night-time finger sucking habits.  This combined with encouragement and rewards from parents over a period of 6 weeks has been shown to be helpful. 

In rare cases, a child over 5 years old may have a thumb or finger sucking habit due to an emotional problem like anxiety.  These children may need to be evaluated by a physician.  If you or someone you know has a child with a thumb, finger, or pacifier habit, contact your dentist for advice and support. 

Happy Smiling!