Respiratory infections can be contracted at any time of the year. The standard advice for preventing these illnesses is to wash your hands and keep your immune system healthy by eating properly and exercising regularly. Washing your hands is one way to keep hundreds of different bacteria and viruses from entering your system. People with weaker immune systems are more susceptible to infections because their immune system helps defend the body if a virus enters.
In addition to standard advice, a less publicized approach to living Parodontologie Kasseland avoiding respiratory infections is to keep your teeth clean. It is therefore:
There are 400 to 500 species of bacteria living in your mouth. Viruses can use bacteria as “factories” to grow and multiply. If a virus gets into your mouth (usually by touching your mouth with your hands or biting your fingernails), the less bacteria there is in the mouth, the less likely the virus is to grow.
Periodontal disease is caused by plaque-producing bacteria. The body defending against periodontal disease releases cytokines. These cytokines cause your blood-producing organs to constantly fight or defend themselves, weakening the body’s immune system to fight other infections.
Periodontal disease is a potential cause of respiratory disease, according to the American Academy of Periodontology.
The bacteria that cause periodontal disease and test your immune system are now growing in a perfect environment in your mouth. They love the cozy, humid, dark, warm, acidic ecosystem that constantly feeds on carbohydrates. The areas between the teeth are a particularly favorable breeding ground because harmful bacteria thrive in the absence of oxygen. Bacteria grow rapidly and double in number every hour. There are more bacteria in your mouth than there are humans on planet Earth. The excrement or byproduct of the bacteria is what forms the sticky film that is a constant challenge to remove and what is called plaque.
Symptoms of a periodontal infection are often not noticed until the disease has progressed. Some of the symptoms include: persistent bad breath, red or swollen gums, tender or bleeding gums, loose teeth, or sensitive teeth. A dentist can diagnose the disease at an early stage before people even know they have it. Since 85% of the population has some degree of periodontal disease, having regular dental checkups is extremely important. Professional cleaning is recommended at a dentist every six months. Periodontal disease is the most common disease on earth.
Visiting a dentist is only half of the preventive equation. Equally important is daily home care. Periodontal disease is prevented by a thorough cleaning of the teeth, which requires the removal of resistant bacteria. A toothbrush does a good job of removing bacteria from important stains, but unfortunately not between the teeth. Plus, most conscientious people who try to do a “better” job of cleaning their teeth end up wearing a toothbrush. This ridge between the tooth and the gum line exposes the root. Thus, the area is sensitive to heat, cold, candy and acids and requires compounds that must be replaced repeatedly.
Flossing is important in both the prevention and control of periodontal disease, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Because flossing is a time-consuming task, most people don’t. The ADA reported that only 5% of the population flosses. In addition, only 18 to 35% of the plaque between the teeth is removed by dental floss, according to the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. Flossing can also transmit contagious periodontal disease from an infected site to an uninfected site. Although oral irrigation systems are meant to replace dental floss, they cannot pierce the sticky biofilm of plaque because they only use water.
Once affected, patients with periodontal disease are administered through a disciplined and careful oral cleaning regimen, both at the dentist’s office and at home. Professional treatment may require scratching below the gum line, three months of check-ups instead of the traditional six months, and prescription mouthwash.
Oral health is essential for total health. There is some evidence to suggest a link between periodontal disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Sixteen million Americans suffer from COPD, and it is the sixth leading cause of death in American studies published in the Journal of Periodontology that found patients with periodontal disease to have a 1.5 times higher risk of COPD.
The American Academy of Periodontology has reported that “bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be drawn into the lungs to cause respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease.” Bacteria that multiply in the mouth are not only used as viruses, but are also inhaled into sensitive lungs.
The UK Department of Health and Human Services proposes that there are over a billion respiratory infections each year in the United States Avoid disease: wash your hands, keep them out of your mouth, eat healthy, exercise and brush your teeth.
Its most recent clinical trials with Dental Air Force versus toothbrush and dental floss in diabetic patients showed a reduction in HbA1c (a diabetic blood marker) of more than 1% during periodontal treatment. The published articles deal with periodontal health related to heart disease, respiratory health, diabetes, stroke and other systemic diseases. He is the former editor of the Journal of Experimental Dental Science, a contributing author of Hospital Infection Control: Clinical Guidelines, and the author of Never Brush Your Teeth Again! Dr. Piero is an international speaker on the link between periodontal health and other systemic diseases.