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feb ‘21

Generations of Smiles Oral Health Means Better Health At Every Age and Every Stage

Celebrating American Heart Month

Welcome to Generations of Smiles, a magazine that educates and explores the connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy body. In each issue, we will offer valuable information about how you can protect your overall health by maintaining good oral hygiene. Over the years, as we've learned more about the link between periodontal disease and systemic health, my goal has been to ensure our patients understand the importance of The Mouth-Body Connection®. I look forward to sharing information and introducing you to some of the outstanding professionals who work to keep you healthy and smiling. February is American Heart Month, and we are pleased to launch our publication with a look at how a healthy smile can lead to a healthy heart. Several years ago, researchers discovered that people with gum disease also experienced heart disease. Now, they think they know why. It seems that inflammation, or the immune system’s response to gum disease, damages the body’s blood vessels and puts the heart at risk1. That's why in this inaugural issue of our magazine, we will provide important oral health information for patients suffering from heart disease. Thank you for reading our first issue. We hope you enjoy the publication and that it helps you stay healthy, strong and most of all – smiling. Until next time,

Dr. Carolyn Ghazal, DDS Smile Generation®-Trusted Dentist

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A healthy smile can save your heart

Contents Love your mouth and your heart:

The American Heart Association has some important research to share on the connection between oral health and cardiovascular disease.

page 6

What your mouth says about COVID-19:

page 10

Don’t gum up your health:

page 14

See how Sherri got her smile back:

page 16

We wrap all things oral health into an article about COVID-19, covering research that indicates how proper oral care means better outcomes.

Four surprising ways a lack of oral care can mess up your body - and four things you should do to make sure that doesn’t happen. Smile Generation-trusted dentists enjoy serving their communities, often with extraordinary results.

We often take our teeth for granted despite our smile being so important to our self-image and one of the first things people see.

But the consequences of inadequate oral care don’t just mean you might get a cavity or have a need for teeth-whitening. It could mean problems below the surface, namely increased risks for heart disease, stroke or health complications caused by severe infections.

Not taking care of your teeth and gums can lead to gingivitis, periodontal disease or other gum diseases where bacteria forms and builds up, causing inflammation or infection1.

harm, mostly to your heart and the blood vessels which make up your cardiovascular system.

One study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in 2018 Several studies have linked showed that brushing your teeth periodontal disease with heart disease twice a day for at least two minutes because the build-up of bacteria could lower the risk of developing in your mouth can then spread cardiovascular diseases2. elsewhere in the body and cause real

According to the study, those who brushed less than twice a day were up to three times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. In two other studies presented in 2020, bacterial infections caused by gum disease were linked to a higher rate of strokes due to the hardening of blood vessels and large arteries in the brain. Patients with gum disease were three times as likely to have

a stroke involving blood vessels in the back of the brain. Also, people with gingivitis were two times as likely to have severely narrowed brain arteries from plaque buildup3. Finally, a Finnish study in 2019 showed that bacteria commonly seen in the mouth was found in the brains of people who have had a stroke, indicating a potential link between bacterial infections and cardiovascular disease4.

The Mission of the American Heart Association is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.

Learn more at heart.org

And your heart is not the only body part at risk with poor oral health. The bacteria formed in the mouth can travel to the lungs and cause pneumonia5, or lead to increased osteoporosis in older adults6. For those with diabetes, cancer or HIV, who are already at high risk for infection, gum disease can lead to further complications.

So do your teeth – and your heart – a favor: brush your teeth twice a day, get a dental checkup every six months, and avoid smoking and unhealthy foods.

Because a clean smile can also equal a healthy heart.

According to the American Heart Association

brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes could lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

W H AT YO U R M O U T H S AY S

About COVID-19 Experts have said that one of the best things we can do to prevent spreading or becoming infected with COVID-19 is using a mask to cover our nose and mouth.

But while the mask covers our mouth, does that mean we’re fully protected?

Not necessarily.

Having good oral health will go a long way toward making sure we’re protected from COVID-19. When our oral health suffers, that’s when gingivitis, periodontal disease or other gum diseases can develop, causing a build-up of bacteria that can lead to infection, heart disease or worse1. And when the body’s defenses are down or depleted, that’s when COVID-19 can do some real damage.

When someone is infected by COVID-19, the virus attaches to healthy cells, invades and then begins replicating the virus2. The COVID-19 virus especially attacks the respiratory tract and the lungs, which become inflamed and makes it harder to breathe3. So if your body is already compromised and weakened by bacteria or an infection caused by gum disease, or if poor oral health has already led to heart disease, pneumonia or a stroke, then how much defense does your body have left against COVID-19?

If you do end up contracting COVID-19, the bacteria or infection that has already built up from poor oral health can combine with the virus to seriously damage your lungs and respiratory tract, leading to pneumonia or long-term health effects4.

So be safe: Wear a mask to reduce the spread of COVID-19, social distance and wash your hands. But also make sure that you’re brushing twice a day, flossing daily, visiting your dentist regularly and checking with your dental office if you have any concerns.

There’s a lot that we still don’t know about how oral health can positively or negatively affect a COVID-19 infection.

Because at the very least, you’re saving your teeth, but you could be saving your life.

But we know enough to say that maintaining healthy teeth and gums adds a layer of protection in the event you become infected with COVID-19.

DON ’ T GUM UP

Your Health 4 Things You Should Know About Gum Disease

Gum disease is a bacterial infection beneath the gumline. You can’t brush or floss it away. Left untreated, it can lead to more severe health issues. But you can manage it - here’s what you need to know.

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What are the warning signs?

How do you get gum disease?

• Bleeding gums during brushing or flossing • Red, swollen or tender gums • Persistent bad breath • Pain and sensitivity

• • • • • • • •

Can gum disease affect my overall health? Yes! Research suggests a link between gum disease and other systemic diseases, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, stroke, lung problems, preterm lowbirth weight in babies, and even erectile dysfunction1.

Poor oral health Tobacco use Alcohol abuse Stress Certain medications Systemic disease Genetics Poor diet

How do you treat gum disease? • Surgical and nonsurgical procedures • Laser therapy or localized antibiotics to treat the infection • Continuing regular dental care every 3-4 months (periodontal maintenance)

Serve Day S

“They gave me back my confidence."

Hear Sherri's story!

Smile Generation–trusted dentists and their team members are dedicated to the communities they serve– including giving back. In the issues ahead we will continue to bring you stories of service. We hope it inspires you as much as it did us - as it simply warms our heart to see healthier, happier smiles.

Generations of Smiles A Smile Generation Magazine Let's do this again!

The Smile Generation exists to connect you with trusted dentists in your area and offer education on the critical link between oral and overall health. We’d love to know what you think of our first issue.

Drop Us A Note!

Sources Welcome letter

1 - https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/11/07/bad-tooth-brushing-habits-tie

love your mouth and your heart:

1 - https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-dise

2 - https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/11/07/bad-tooth-brushing-habits-ti

3 - https://newsroom.heart.org/news/gum-disease-inflammation-hardened-a

4 - https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/05/23/mouth-bacteria-found-in-st

5 - Gorman, C., & Park, A. The _res within. TIME, 163(8). 23 February, 2004. h 6 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5654540/

What your mouth says about covid-19:

1 - https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-dise

2 - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/ 3 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7165108/ 4 – https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2020/20_0266.htm

Don’t gum up your health: 1 - http://bok.ahima.org/doc?oid=102372#.YCRx7i9h3_S 2 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5672720/

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