About 100 years ago, almost no one brushed their teeth. When
men in the US were drafted for WWI, poor oral hygiene was considered a risk to
national security, and during WWII, more recruits received medical rejection
from military services because they didn’t have enough teeth than for any other
medical condition. Maybe this seems like
the distant past, but today, more people own smartphones than own toothbrushes
and periodontal disease effects nearly 80% of US adults easily qualifying as an
epidemic. Oral health has a long history of neglect. Despite the best efforts
of dental professionals, most people don’t spend enough time caring for their
smiles, but in the past 30 years, a significant shift has occurred in dentistry to
help improve dental health. Previously, dentists focused on treatment and
replacement. Today, we focus on prevention and restoration.
At Smile by Design,
we don’t treat your dental issues after they arise we prevent them, and if our
preventive measures fail, we don’t extract and replace your teeth, we always
try to restore them. It’s a whole new dental world, but without your commitment
to oral health between visits, your teeth remain at risk. Call the Virginia Beach, VA dental practice of
Drs. Stephanie L. Santos and Vinita John Folck to find out more about oral
health or schedule an appointment today.
Essential Family Dentistry Virginia Beach Relies On
In order to maintain optimal oral health, the American
Dental Association (ADA) recommends that, at minimum, people brush their teeth
for 2 minutes 2 times a day, floss between teeth and below the gum line at
least once per day, and receive a regular dental examination and cleaning every
six months. That’s the foundation for a lifetime of oral health, but many
patients are surprised to hear that their oral health is closely related to
their overall physical wellbeing. Remember that 80% of US adults suffer from
some form of periodontal (gum) disease? Gum disease has been linked to numerous
systemic and chronic illnesses including:
Cardiovascular disease – Oral bacteria causes infection and inflammation
in the mouth. This infection and inflammation can spread throughout your body
in your bloodstream. Fatty plaque deposits or other blood cell irregularities make
it difficult for your heart to pump blood into the rest of your body which can
lead to blood clots, stroke, and atrial fibrillation.
Infection of heart, lungs and liver – Endocarditis, walking pneumonia,
and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease have all been linked to gum disease as a
possible source or at the very least an indicator. While research hasn’t discovered
a causal connection, the likelihood that patients with one of these illnesses
will also suffer from gum disease is more than 50%.
Immunodeficiency – Patients with diabetes, HIV/AIDS and
other diseases that affect the immune system are extremely susceptible to gum
disease.
Low weight and pre-term birth – A study of periodontitis
(severe gum disease) developed from “pregnancy gingivitis” (common form of mild
gum disease in pregnant women), has linked periodontal disease to low weight
and pre-term birth. Women with periodontitis are 50% more likely to deliver
early or underdeveloped babies.
Contact Your Family Dentist, Virginia Beach
There’s no need to dread your next dental checkup. You
should look forward to the opportunity to improve your oral health, and overall
wellbeing. Drs.
Santos and Folck and the entire Smile by Design team are dedicated
to making you feel right at home because we do! Our staff loves coming to work
every day, and our patients know it. Happiness is contagious, and we guarantee
you’ll smile through your entire appointment. Call to schedule a
checkup or teeth cleaning today. Our convenient, Virginia Beach, VA office
welcomes patients from surrounding areas Virginia Beach, Northeast Virginia
Beach, Fort Story, Sand Bridge and beyond.
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