How can an infection in your mouth affect your heart? It sounds like an unlikely connection, but researchers have found precisely such a link.

Periodontal disease is an infection of the teeth, gums, and the bone that surrounds the teeth. Most people who have periodontal disease aren’t even aware of it. It’s rarely painful, especially in the early stages.

Cardiovascular disease affects the heart or blood vessels. Heart disease and stroke are the principal components of cardiovascular disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Stroke is the third-leading cause of death.

According to one study published in the journal Circulation, higher levels of the bacteria that cause periodontal disease are associated with thicker carotid arteries in older adults. This thickening of the arteries often sets the stage for a heart attack or stroke.

Another study published in the Journal of Periodontology showed that cardiac patients had periodontal disease more often than did non-cardiac patients. According to the study, periodontal disease appears to worsen the severity of coronary artery disease, which occurs when the arteries become hardened and narrowed, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Why does periodontal disease have such a profound effect on the health of your heart? Some researchers believe that bacteria from the periodontal infection may enter the bloodstream and attach to fatty proteins in your arteries. This causes the artery walls to thicken and may lead to blood clots. As these clots obstruct the flow of blood, they can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Periodontal infections may also raise the numbers of inflammation-fighting agents in your blood. This may increase the build-up of fatty proteins in your arteries as well, causing them to swell.

If you have any questions about periodontal disease, we’d be happy to talk with you about it. Just give us a call or ask at your next appointment. Also, you might find the following website useful:

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

It takes professional help to remove tartar. There’s no way for you to remove it at home. A toothbrush or floss won’t even budge it. If tartar isn’t removed, it starts to irritate and inflame the gums and spread onto the root surfaces, increasing your chances for infection.

To help prevent periodontal disease, follow these tips:

• Brush at least twice a day, using a soft toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste
• Floss at least once a day
• Schedule regular dental cleanings, at least twice a year

Other factors may also influence the development of periodontal disease, such as diet, genetics, diabetes, and whether you use tobacco. If you think you are at greater risk for periodontal disease, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll work with you to create a prevenive that is just right for you.

The main cause of periodontal disease is the accumulation of plaque. Plaque is the sticky film of food and bacteria that forms constantly on your teeth. You must remove all of the plaque that accumulates on your teeth and gums each day, or it builds up and forms a hard, yellowish substance called tartar. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease thrive in tartar. These bacteria produce toxins, which, combined with your body’s reaction to them, destroys the bone around your teeth.

Some of the warning signs of periodontal disease are:

• Persistent bad breath
• Bleeding of the gums when brushing or flossing
• Soft, swollen, or tender gums
• Gums shrinking away from the teeth
• Loose teeth
• Changes in the spaces between your teeth

You can also have periodontal disease and experience none of these warning signs. Since you may have periodontal disease, yet have none of the symptoms, we perform a thorough examination using x-rays and a periodontal probe to measure bone levels around the teeth.

The average person in the US is exposed to about 360 mrem per year just from background sources. By this measure, it would take approximately 10 full series of dental radiographs to equal the background radiation that the average citizen is exposed to on a yearly basis. Note that we take a new full series every three to five years on average.

The Washington State Department of Health has set the maximum safe occupational whole body radiation exposure to 5000 mrem per year. By this reckoning, it would take over 138 full mouth series of dental x-rays to equal one-year’s maximum safe radiation level. It would take 1,250 panorex films to get to this limit.

Background radiation comes from outer space, the earth, natural materials (including natural foods), and even other people. For example, flying cross-country exposes a person to about 5 mrem over and above the normal radiation he receives from outer space while simply walking outdoors for the same length of time. Cooking with natural gas exposes us to about an additional 10 mrem per year because of the naturally occurring radon gas the cooking gas contains. Living in a brick building adds an additional 10 mrem per year over and above the radiation you would receive from living in a wooden structure. Simply sleeping next to another person exposes each bed partner to an extra 2 mrem per year.

The second, newer measure of radiation, is the millisievert (mSV) which is a unit of measure that allows for a more meaningful comparison between radiation sources that expose the entire body (such as natural background radiation) and those that only expose a portion of the body (such as dental and medical radiographs). The table below is borrowed from the website of the American Dental Association and is quite helpful in comparing the amount of radiation received from dental x-rays to other medical and natural sources.

As you can see, by this more realistic measure, it would take 20 full series of x rays to equal the amount of radiation the average citizen picks up from background sources each year:

Source: Adapted from Frederiksen NL. X-Rays: What is the Risk? Texas Dental Journal. 1995;112(2):68-72.

*A millisievert (mSV) is a unit of measure that allows for some comparison between radiation sources that expose the entire body (such as natural background radiation) and those that only expose a portion of the body (such as radiographs).;

We’re now in the digital age! The statistics presented below apply to the 95% of dentist using the old film based radiographs. As of June 2000, our office upgraded to the more advanced digital radiograph. Known as digital radiography, the technique utilizes digital sensors instead of film.

Digital radiography offers the following benefits for our patients:

A 95% reduction in radiation vs. the outdated dental systems of the past. Digital radiographs are always accessible. There is no fear of losing or misplacing an x-ray that is stored in the computer.

Digital radiographs are more diagnostic. Software enhancements can improve Dr. Gibbs ability to diagnose by: improving contrast, Reveler enhancements, improving the lightness/darkness of the x-ray, and magnifying the image.

Improves communication with specialists. Dr. Gibbs can instantly send images directly to specialists for consultation.

Dr. Gibbs serves the communities of Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lombard, Carol Stream, Naperville, and Lisle. Addison, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Glendale Heights, West Chicago, Bloomingdale, Schaumberg, Wood Dale, Westmont, Winfield, Villa Park, and the Chicago area. See the website at FearlessDentalCare.com