Using
sound logic and expert advice, this four-part article series dispels
some of the most common myths surrounding oral health and dental
treatment.
In
an effort to purge the dangerous dental myths from the minds of
Colorado Springs’ residents, this four-part article series presents
to you what an experienced family
dentist has to say about
the following very common misconceptions. And if there’s one
medical professional that’s extremely qualified to talk about the
damage that can be potentially done to your teeth through ignorance,
it’s a surgeon who routinely repairs this damage!
Let’s
get started…
Myth
# 1: Your oral health has little to do with your general health.
“Actually,
your oral health and general health share a very direct and intimate
connection,” says a Colorado Springs dental implant surgeon. “Not
only does your body receive its nutrition through the oral cavity,
but it’s also the primary airway. People who do not brush and floss
regularly will have a lot more oral bacteria in their mouths, which
are easily introduced into the rest of the body via swallowing and
breathing. So, the unhealthier your mouth is, the greater the risk to
your general health.
“This
especially becomes a problem if you develop gum disease, which is an
aggressive bacterial infection of the gums. It is an accepted fact
amongst the medical community that gum disease shares a link with
potentially fatal illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke,
respiratory disease and liver and kidney disease. Further links
between gum disease and osteoporosis, Rheumatoid arthritis and
pregnancy complications are supported by research.
“It’s
important for Colorado Springs residents to understand that poor oral
hygiene leads to gum disease, which is a systemic and inflammatory
disease, meaning that it affects all of your body’s major systems
and organs. Therefore, to ignore the health of your teeth and gums
may come at the cost of your life, and this is no inflammatory
statement… if you’ll excuse the pun.”
Myth
# 2: If it doesn’t hurt, I can live with it.
“There
are many oral ailments – and potentially fatal ones too – that do
not necessarily cause pain,” warns the family dentist. “Colorado
Springs residents frequently wait until the their problems start
causing them discomfort before they seek treatment, which is a very
erroneous philosophy to have. For example, you can quite happily live
with gum disease for many years before it starts causing symptoms
that simply cannot be ignored, by which time the damage may be
irreversible.
“Another
example: A cavity can go undetected until it becomes so big that the
pulp chamber is exposed and infected with bacteria. Only once this
has happened – only once it is too late for a straightforward
filling – will you likely experience the pain associated with
endodontic infection. And then, of course, the treatment solution
will probably be root canal therapy and a dental crown, which is far
more extensive and expensive than a simple filling. Then there is
oral cancer, which can appear as painless sores…”
“The
take-home message here is that ignoring an oral problem, or not going
for routine dental examinations (whether you feel something is wrong
or not) may end up costing you substantially more money to get fixed,
if it can be fixed at all,” says a Colorado
Springs family dentist.
“By neglecting to receive regular professional attention, you risk
permanent damage to your teeth and possibly even tooth loss, not to
mention the having to pay the associated bills. Prevention is always
better than cure!”
Stay
Tuned for Part 2
To
read about more major myths that could potentially be disastrous for
your oral health, stay tuned for the second installment of this
four-part article series.
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