Smiles can tell us a lot about a person. Sometimes we make judgments about a person based on his or her smile. Seemingly, we have gone crazy with teeth whitening to perfect our smiles. As I made my way through the mall during the Christmas season, I noticed people sitting in kiosks with these huge devises in their mouths while hundreds of people walked by, staring. Not for love or money could you get me into one of those chairs for teeth whitening.
As with most things that go wrong in my life, they seem to go wrong on major holidays, late at night, or on an island some place far away from any means of relief. This past Christmas was no exception. I started having a toothache on Christmas Eve while my dentist was on holiday. My first thought was that the pain would soon pass, and I would breeze through the family festivities and then see my dentist afterward. I vividly remember sitting in the dentist chair after the x-rays were taken and my cheerful dentist patting me on the shoulder as he said, “You need a root canal.” The news got worse as he continued to examine the x-rays; he said with that familiar doctor’s “hum, ahun, hmmm,” (as if he were puzzled): “It seems you need to see an endodontic specialist.” He told me that appointments were probably WEEKS out because of the holidays. I recall my head swimming in disbelief as my tooth started throbbing even louder while my dentist kept nodding in affirmation. At that moment I could envision myself having a root canal in Grand Central Station, a mall, an airport, or even on a roof top. Suddenly, I was willing to travel any distance, sit in any location, and tolerate any audience to get away from my awful toothache.
This brings me to “It’s More Than a Smile.” Our teeth are more than just pretty looks—in many ways our mouth is the window to our health. Our mouths naturally are full of bacteria; most of us keep the bacteria under control with good daily oral hygiene. Saliva contains an enzyme that helps to destroy bacteria and viruses in many different ways. So, if you suffer from dry mouth, it’s important to discuss that with your healthcare provider or dentist. Healthy gums help prevent bacteria from entering the bloodstream and contributing to or causing other health problems in the rest of our bodies.
Research suggests these conditions may be linked to oral health:
Cardiovascular disease—Clogged arteries, stroke, and endocarditis seem to have a strong association with periodontal disease. More studies are needed to determine the exact link.
Pregnancy—Gum disease has been linked to preterm and low-birth weight. That is why it’s necessary to maintain good oral health and hygiene before getting pregnant and to continue throughout pregnancy.
Osteoporosis—It may be possible to detect early signs of bone loss in our teeth. Frequent dental exams and x-rays by your dentist may reveal early signs of bone loss.
Diabetes— If you are a diabetic, it is imperative to maintain excellent oral hygiene and health. Diabetes can increase your risk for cavities and dry mouth, which can lead to tooth loss and oral infections. Poor oral health and oral infections may present the diabetic individual with unique challenges for controlling blood sugars, requiring more insulin.
Oral cancer—I think it is important to reiterate the risks associated with the good health nemesis, tobacco. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year more than 30,000 new cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx are diagnosed, and 8,000 deaths related to oral cancer occur. The five-year survival rate for these cancers is only a staggering 50%. It’s in your best interest to prevent high risk behaviors, including cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco.
Oral health enhances many aspects of our lives: kissing, touching, and expressing our feelings to one another. More importantly, poor oral health may affect our ability to chew and swallow, or give entry to harmful bacteria in the bloodstream, which could impact our overall health in different ways.
As for me, I think I will start having my teeth cleaned and checked the week before any major holiday to ensure that I don’t have to endure the pain and agony of something that might have been prevented by a more frequent check-up. It’s more than a smile, its good health!
Howard Baker, RN BSN
For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com
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