05 issue
feb ‘22
Generations of Smiles Oral Health Means Better Health
At Every Age and Every Stage
How Does Oral Health Affect Your Heart & Your Brain?
Good for You For Taking Control of Your Oral and Cardiac Health! If you brushed and flossed your teeth today, you are taking care of more than just your mouth! For years, scientists debated whether poor oral health is a possible cause of heart disease. Recently, fascinating studies have been published that suggest a link between the plaque on your teeth and the kind of plaque that clogs up your arteries. In fact, it seems that every few months, new research strengthens our understanding about the connection between the heart and the mouth. Gum disease, or periodontitis, increases the risk of bacterial infection in the bloodstream, which can affect heart valves and cause inflammation that damages the heart. Inflammation is also believed to be the culprit behind why middle-aged people who have lost two or more teeth due to poor oral health have a 23 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In this, our first issue of the new year, we will discover how new research is pointing to a stronger link between heart health and oral health than we’d previously known. We will learn about how stress affects both the heart and the mouth. And we’ll offer some information about heart-healthy foods that will make your taste buds smile. There are fun tidbits and heartwarming stories in the pages that follow, as well. We hope you find the information meaningful and empowering. And the next time you glide that floss between those teeth, give yourself a mental pat on the back. You’re being good to your teeth and good to your heart. So, great job taking care of you! Until next time,
Carolyn Ghazal, DDS Smile Generation®-Trusted Dentist
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Keep smiling! Its good for your heart & mind.
Contents How Oral Health May Affect Your Heart and Brain
page 6
Stress, Your Heart and Your Mouth.
page 10
Heart Healthy Foods
page 12
What is the Mouth-Body Connection? Quiz
page 14
Free Valentine's Day Coloring Card
page 16
Smile Stories: Special Olympics We Choose to Include
page 17
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How Oral Health May Affect Your
Heart &Brain by Thor Christensen
American Heart Association News
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Dental cavities could significantly increase the risk of a life-threatening stroke from bleeding in the brain, according to recent research. Past studies have shown a link between gum infection and stroke, but few studies have looked into what role dental cavities might play. In the recent study, researchers looked specifically at cavities and intracerebral stroke, which occur when an artery in the brain bursts and floods surrounding tissue with blood. Researchers looked at data from 6,506 people without stroke, and then followed them for 30 years. For the first 15 years, those who developed cavities had a slightly higher risk for stroke from brain bleed, but their risk shot up dramatically in the next 15 years. In the second half of the study period, people with cavities had 4.5 times higher risk of a stroke from brain bleed than those without cavities, after adjusting for age, gender, race and high blood pressure. Dr. Souvik Sen, co-author of the study, said it was one of the first times cavities and intracerebral
stroke had been studied in people. While brain bleeds, also called as intracerebral hemorrhages, account for only 10% to 20% of all strokes, they're more deadly than the more common ischemic strokes, which occur when blood flow through an artery is blocked. While doctors can manage the risk for ischemic stroke in several ways, options are limited for brain bleeds, he said. "This study throws more light on how we can address and prevent this more devastating form of stroke," said Sen, professor and chair of the department of neurology at University of South Carolina School of Medicine. South Carolina medical student Elizabeth LaValley presented the research last year at the American Stroke Association's virtual International Stroke Conference. It was one of two studies Sen and his colleagues offered for the conference on the topic of oral disease and stroke. The second study showed gum disease is associated with damage to the brain's tiny blood vessels. Study findings presented at conferences are considered preliminary until a full paper is published in a peerreviewed journal. Sen said gum disease can be caused by 20 to 30 different types of bacteria, but cavities are predominantly caused by one:
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Streptococcus mutans, which has been shown in animal studies to be linked with brain bleeds.
study underscores the need for medical professionals to take the topic seriously.
"I've been disturbed that many stroke doctors don't counsel patients about it. It's just not something in their toolbox"
"I've been disturbed that many stroke doctors don't counsel patients about it. It's just not something in their toolbox," said Friedland, the Mason C. and Mary D. Rudd Endowed Chair and a professor of neurology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He was not involved in the recent research.
While Streptococcus mutans was the most likely "culprit" in the study's results, Sen said, a limitation of the research is that it didn't pinpoint the type of bacteria responsible for the dental cavities. He's currently researching that question in another study, and he'd like to see future work done on whether antibiotics or other treatments for dental cavities that may lower the risk of intracerebral stroke. Today, the only real preventive strategy for cavities is to seek dental care regularly, Sen said. "Maybe we need to start thinking about how we can treat people with Streptococcus mutans aggressively in the early stages." Dr. Robert P. Friedland, who has researched the link between oral bacteria and stroke, said the recent
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"I discuss it with every patient I see, regardless of what they're seeing me for," he said. "I tell them, 'Take care of your teeth. It's important for the health of your teeth, but more so, it's good for the health of your brain and your heart.'" American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke, and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in American Heart Association scientific journals or presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the American Heart Association’s official guidance, policies or positions. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved.
Take care of your teeth. It's important for the health of your teeth, but more so, it's good for the health of your brain and your heart. -The American Heart Association 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
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Stress, Your Heart & Your Mouth
When we get anxious, we can get stressed. And when we get stressed, it sets off a chain reaction in our bodies that impacts our physical health, our mental health and more. 10
But one area in the body that often gets overlooked when it comes to stress is the mouth and your oral care. Stress happens when any kind of tension or pressure causes us to worry and take on physical, mental and emotional anxiety. These happen every day and can be anything from paying bills to family drama to losing a job.
Feeling stressed is normal, especially during a crisis, but it can take a toll on our health if it goes on for a long period of time. Overall, long-term stress can lead to a number of health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high-blood pressure, digestive problems, sleep problems, depression and more. Because it is responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body, your heart is especially vulnerable when it comes to chronic stress. At the minimum when we become stressed, it increases our heart rate and blood pressure. Having that constantly happen over long periods of time can create harmful responses in our bodies, including irregular heart rates, reduced blood flow to the heart and inflammation. So where does your oral health fit into all this?
The good news is there is always time to reverse the tide and make decisions and changes that can improve your overall quality of life. The first thing you need to do is find ways to manage your stress. Recognize the things that cause you stress and also realize how your body is negatively responding, such as difficulty sleeping, anger and more. Getting regular exercise and finding a relaxing activity can also give your body the boost it needs to combat the stress. Finally, find people who can give you emotional support to get through any crisis, whether that’s a loved one, family, friends or even professional help.
Having poor oral health, including gingivitis, periodontal disease or other gum diseases, causes bacteria to form and build up, leading to inflammation or infection.
As for your oral health, make sure you’re brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, seeing your dentist regularly and notifying them if your gums are bleeding or if you have any health conditions they should be aware of.
That bacteria, infection or inflammation can then be carried to other parts of your body, especially your heart, where it can lead to further damage.
Because while your smile is important, it won’t matter if your heart’s not in it.
And because your immune system can be weakened by all these stressors and inflammation, the body cannot fight these diseases as well as it could if your health were in optimal shape. Furthermore, several studies have shown that people with anxiety are at a greater risk of dental disease and tooth loss, not to mention affecting the flow of saliva and causing dry mouth. p1111
Heart Healthy F
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BLUE PURPLE blackberries blueberries black currants dates eggplants grapes plums prunes purple figs raisins
GREEN WHITE
artichokes bananas asparagus cauliflower avocados garlic broccoli artichokes cucumbers mushrooms collard greens onions green beans potatoes limes parsnips okra shallots pears peas romain lettuce spinach watercress zucchini
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While eating more fruits and vegetables is always a good idea, eating the colors of the rainbow will increase your intake of nutrients and improve your overall health, including your heart and your brain.
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RED PINK
beets cherries cranberries pink grapefruit pomegranates radicchio red apples red peppers rhubarbs strawberries tomatoes watermelons
YELLOW
corn bananas lemons mangoes peppers pineapples yellow squash yellow peppers
ORANGE
acorn squash apricots cantaloupes carrots nectarines peaches pumpkins sweet potatoes yams yellow peppers
Add color to your plate each day with the five main color groups. 13
What is the
Mouth-Body Connection®? Your mouth has something to say that could benefit your brain in a big way—the rest of your body, too. May is National Stroke Awareness month and June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, so we’re dedicating this issue to the brain. Research shows a strong link between oral and overall health. We call this The MouthBody Connection®.
Take the Quiz!
Do you know your Mouth-Body Connection? To find out click below and let us know what you found most surprising!
Start Quiz
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We choose to include. The National Partnership between Smile Generation and Special Olympics International helps support athletes in their journey to finding care and educates them on the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. Together we focus on bridging the gap that patients with intellectual disabilities have in receiving comprehensive oral healthcare. Join us in signing Special Olympics’ Inclusion Pledge.
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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 to offer education on the critical link between oral and overall health. We’d love to know what you think of our magazine.
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Sources How Oral Health May Affect Your Heart and Brain heart.org
Stress, Your Heart and Your Mouth. What To Do To Reduce One To Save The Others chapelhilladvanceddentistry.com beaumont.org
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