Healthcare Directory

24 | 2019 Medical & Dental Directory DENTISTRY Since childhood, we've been told repeatedly how important it is to take care of our teeth. If we want to keep our pearly whites, we brush twice a day, floss with great care, ease up on the sugar, possibly endure years in braces, and visit our dentists faithfully. Watch Your Mouth HOW DENTAL CARE AFFECTS YOUR OVERALL HEALTH BY LIA TREMBLAY But did you know that good dental health has a solid connection to health that goes way beyond your mouth? Making dental health a priority can help keep your whole body healthy. And when your body is in distress, the first symptoms may pop up in the dentist's office. Thorough Checkups Reveal a Lot Regular dentist visits are an opportunity to have your mouth thoroughly examined by professionals. From a quick look around, they can spot signs of infection, sinus trouble and abnormal saliva production—even evidence of nighttime grinding you weren't aware of. Many dentists have also added screening for head and neck cancer to their routine. By feeling along your jawline and neck, examining your facial features, and peering into your mouth, they can detect abnormalities that are a warning sign for cancer. A Mouthful of Bacteria Even if you are a dedicated brusher and flosser, your mouth is home to hundreds of different species of bacteria. Good dental care keeps their numbers down to 20 billion or so, but if you go 24 hours without brushing, that number balloons up to 100 billion! Some dental procedures can open up tiny wounds that allow this bacteria into the bloodstream. For most of us, this is no big deal—our trusty immune systems will keep them from doing any harm. But for people with certain conditions, the risk is greater that the bacteria will be up to no good once they enter the bloodstream. People with certain conditions may be prescribed a prophylactic (preventive) antibiotic before their visit just to be on the safe side. Make sure your dental professionals have a thorough knowledge of your medical history so they'll know if this intervention is right for you.

• Cover