Dental Hygiene: A Matter of Heart

I love the dentist.  Said absolutely no one.  Like EVER.

I have large teeth…so much so that my husband, Ray, breaks into a horse’s “neigh” when I crack a sizeable smile. (Our 30-plus year relationship is extremely unique in that we can laugh at ourselves, and each other, about just about anything. So please don’t hate him!) I am also meticulous when it comes to my oral hygiene—brushing several times a day, and I cannot fall asleep if I do not floss. I think I wore my retainer for 20 years, until I decided to get a lingual bar placed behind by bottom teeth.  I conscientiously floss around that too, despite the difficulty and extra time it takes.

My husband? He’s the standard brush two times a day, toothpick to the front teeth kinda guy. And when we go to the dentist every six months, who comes out with the problem?

Me.  

And he laughs.  And “neighs” some more. What a poop.

On the flip side, my husband likes to wait till the day before his appointment to call the dentist to tell them he has to cancel his appointment, for whatever made up reason he can come up with. This is why I love Gail, our hygienist.

Receptionist: “Thank you for calling the dentist office, how can I help you?”

Ray: “Good morning. I have an appointment tomorrow that I need to cancel.”

Receptionist: “May I ask who is calling?”

Ray: “This is Ray Wainwright.”

Receptionist: “Can you hold please, Mr. Wainwright?

…………….

Gail: “Is this RAY?”

Ray: “Um, yeah.  Hi Gail.”

Gail: “You aren’t canceling on me, are you? You know it’s been over 6 months since you have been in here.  I know you aren’t doing anything tomorrow, so your butt better be here at 11am, you big chicken.”

Ray: “Uh……………..FINE.”

I laugh. He “neighs” again—much more flippant this time.  I don’t care.  Gail is the winner. 

All humor aside, I hope that you are all paying attention to your dental health just as much as your heart health.  Know why? Because dental health IS heart health. Say whaaaaaaat?

How many of you have taken a pill that requires you to place it under your tongue? The reason for that is this. Substances that dissolve under the tongue are absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream. This is beneficial in cases of extreme nausea, pain, or even low blood sugar when direct IV access isn’t available.

Meds are not the only thing in your mouth that quickly make their way to the bloodstream. If you have poor dental hygiene resulting in swollen gums, or you have a dental procedure that cuts your gums, the bleeding gives a chance for bacteria to enter the bloodstream. It doesn’t take long for the bacteria to travel to the heart. Untreated cavities can cause periodontal disease, a condition that causes your gums to recede, or pull away, from the gumline. That gap is an open door for bacteria as well. Those that already have heart conditions are at much greater risk, but endocarditis, an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart and the heart valves caused by bacteria, can affect anyone. Endocarditis can be life threatening! Sustained inflammation in the heart irritates the blood vessels and promotes the growth of plaque. And if plaques get loose in your arteries, it can trigger blood clots—the primary cause of heart attacks and strokes.

Maintain good oral hygiene! See your dentist regularly! Your heart will love you because good dental practices will help you…

Be Well!

 

 

  

 

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