Protect Your Teeth, and Your Health!

Gum disease has reached epidemic proportions in America
 – affecting nearly 75% of our population.¹ What’s more,
science has linked it to increased risk of a number
of very serious problems, including cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, respiratory conditions, osteoporosis, even
preterm, low birth weight babies.²

It’s a serious problem – and I wish I could offer you a
vaccine so you could protect yourself and your family
the way people have protected themselves against H1N1.

But unfortunately no vaccine exists.

So I’d like to do the next best thing – namely arm you
with the facts you need to protect yourself.

Stealth Attack

The first thing you need to know is that gum disease – what
we dentists call periodontal disease – strikes without warning.
In fact in its early and even moderate stages it usually has NO
SYMPTOMS at all. So while the infection grows and
starts causing irreversible permanent damage to the bones
of your jaw, you can feel just fine.

Even after periodontal disease has damaged the underlying
bones that hold your teeth in place, you may still
be symptom free. Or you may notice small changes – things
like some redness of your gums, a little swelling, maybe a
bit of blood on your toothbrush -- that are easy to disregard.

But disregarding those problems could mean bigger problems
down the road.

A False Sense of Security

The second thing you need to know is that there are a lot of
myths surrounding gum disease.

For example many people think having their gums bleed
when they brush their teeth is normal – or at least nothing
to worry about.

WRONG.

Bleeding is a clear sign that your gums are INFECTED and you
need to do something about it fast. I mean, how would
you feel if your feet bled every time you showered? You’d
be very concerned – and rightly so.

Folks also make the mistake of thinking that if they’re
cavity-free their teeth are in great shape—another dangerous
myth.

It’s periodontal disease that’s the number one cause of
tooth loss.  In fact, according to an American Dental
Association/Colgate survey quoted on the American
Academy of Periodontology web site, dentists in this
country say gum disease is a more pressing oral health
concern than tooth decay by a 2-1 margin.³

But how about people who ALWAYS do a really
thorough job flossing and brushing? Shouldn’t they be able
to assume they’re safe from periodontal disease?

Unfortunately, the answer is “no.”  Up to 30% of people are
genetically susceptible to gum disease – betrayed by their
genes and at risk in a way they never expected. In fact
these folks -- no matter how careful they are to always
practice good oral hygiene – are up to six times more likely
to develop periodontal disease.

Help From Experts

So what can you do to protect yourself? Get help from the experts --
namely my staff and me. We’re trained to recognize signs of gum
disease LONG before symptoms develop. And we know how to
treat periodontal problems fast – so the don’t develop into a situation
that threatens your teeth and your health.

Just give us a call at 248-433-6000 and, together, we’ll fight the epidemic and WIN.

Stay Healthy,Dr. Kaz

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1.     Healthy Gums and a Healthy Heart: The Perio-Cardio Connection, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/peri_cardio.htm

2.     Fallacies About Gum Disease, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/fl.html

3.     Ibid.

An Epidemic Bigger than H1N1!

There’s an epidemic out there. It’s bigger than H1N1,
affecting nearly 75% of Americans¹. It can cause irreversible
permanent bone damage and tooth loss. And, even worse, new
research shows it can up your risk of some of today’s most dangerous
diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis,
respiratory disease and some forms of cancer.²

It’s gum disease – what we dentists call periodontitis or periodontal
disease – and it’s only now being recognized as the potentially life-
threatening danger that it is.

Far Worse than We Thought

Dentists have known for years that periodontal disease is a serious
infection and a leading cause of tooth loss. That’s why we remind
our patients to come in regularly for examinations and cleanings.

But even we were shocked to read some of the most recent research
on how closely tied gum disease is to other serious conditions.

Take cardiovascular disease. The American Academy of
Periodontology reports that “Researchers have found that people
with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from
coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.” ³

That’s a very scary thought – particularly when you
consider that cardiovascular disease contributes to 2,400
deaths in this country EVERY DAY!⁴

Scientists have discovered a link with diabetes, too. In fact the
New York Times reports a study by Columbia University’s
Mailman School of Public Health that found that
“individuals with elevated levels of periodontal disease
were nearly twice as likely to become diabetic within
20 years, even after adjusting for age, smoking, obesity and diet.”⁵

Little or No Warning

So why haven’t you seen more about how widespread
and dangerous periodontal disease it?

Why aren’t we holding “gum disease clinics” to protect
our families the way communities across the country
came together to fight H1N1?

Basically there are two big reasons.

First, much of the research on the links between gum disease
and other conditions is new – and it’s taking time to get
the word out about what scientists have discovered. (I’m
trying to do MY part with this email.)

Second, gum disease is as sneaky as it is dangerous. You see,
in the early and even moderate stages of the disease
there are NO SYMPTOMS. So even though bone is
being destroyed and inflammation is affecting your
whole body you have no way of knowing you’re in danger.
Nothing hurts, so why should you worry?

It’s not until later in the course of the disease – AFTER
it’s done irreversible damage to the jaw bones that
hold your teeth in place – that people begin to notice
tell-tale signs like red, swollen or bleeding gums.
And, even then, some people remain symptom free.

You CAN Fight Back

Just because you haven’t seen banner headlines yet about
the epidemic of gum disease – and the very real dangers
associated with it -- doesn’t mean you can’t fight back.

Brushing and flossing right are more important than ever
but your best defense is regular checkups. Because while
YOU may not see any changes in your gums, my hygienists
and I have the training to spot problems LONG before
you’d notice them. AND long before gum disease begins
damaging the bones of your jaw, loosening your teeth
and putting your overall health is danger.

Just give our office a call at 248-433-6000 and start protecting
yourself and your family today.

Yours in Health and Happiness,
Dr. Kaz

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1.               Healthy Gums and a Healthy Heart: The Perio-Cardio Connection, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/peri_cardio.htm

2.               Fallacies About Gum Disease, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/fl.html

3.               Gum Disease Links to Heart Disease and Stroke, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm

4.               Healthy Gums and a Healthy Heart: The Perio-Cardio Connection, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/peri_cardio.htm

5.               Gum Disease Signals Diabetes Risk, New York Times, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/07/gum-disease-signals-diabetes-risk/

Ice Cream Will Never Hurt You Again!

Do you say “no thanks” when someone offers you
a glass of iced tea or lemonade? And skip the sundae
when you take the kids for ice cream? All because
your teeth just hurt too much when they encounter
something cold? If so, you’re not alone.

Cold sensitivity like that is a complaint dentists hear
frequently. Even if the pain lasts just a moment it makes
it hard to enjoy the foods and drinks you love.

Stop putting up with the pain! Give us a call or come in
and speak with our team today. Just call my office at 248-433-6000.

A Simple Explanation
There may be a simple reason for the pain you feel
(in otherwise healthy teeth) when you eat or drink
something cold — or even go out into the cold air.
The crown of your tooth (the part you see) is covered
in nice hard enamel — but the root doesn’t enjoy that
kind of protection. In fact, it’s covered with a substance
called “cementum.” The cementum is considerably
softer than enamel, and can become quite permeable
as we age. A healthy tooth has nerves which run from
the outer cementum directly to the inner tooth pulp.
As long as your gums are at the proper level they cover
the cementum. But when gums recede — as a result of
improper brushing, or periodontal (gum) disease —
the cementum is left unprotected. So when you eat or
drink something cold — OUCH.

Instant Relief
Fortunately, today there’s a simple way to get instant
relief — a special protective bonding liquid that we
can apply to the root to protect your cementum and
reduce the tooth’s sensitivity. Although it doesn’t work
for everyone the vast majority of people are delighted
to find they can go back to enjoying all the frozen desserts
and ice-cold drinks they’ve been avoiding.

Guaranteed Results
If you’d like to try this treatment, simply tell our team
at your next visit, or give us a call.

We’ll apply it, then test to see if it’s worked for you.
If it has, you can say good-bye to the ouch and hello
to ice cream, icy cold drinks and other treats you’ve
been missing. If it hasn’t, there’s No Charge for the
treatment.

We look forward to taking the “Ouch” out of eating
and drinking all your favorite foods.

-Dr Kaz