Brushing your teeth may assist your cardiovascular system, in this article we will provide you’re with answers to some frequently repetitive questions about oral health and heart conditions.
How do I avoid gum disease?
Brush your teeth, especially after meals thus you may more simply take away food debris and plaque stuck amid your teeth and gums. Additionally, brush your tongue; in order to also take away bacteria.
Replace your toothbrush around every three months. Watch for the bristles beginning to curve, as that is an apparent signal that it is the time to get a new brush. Stand the toothbrush upright to allow it to dry in the air after each use, as this may assist in decreasing the number of bacteria. No difference would be if you prefer using an electric toothbrush or usual one. They both has the same quality, providing that you carefully brush all the surfaces of all your teeth for two minutes at least twice daily, using fluoride toothpaste. Yet, due to the rotating act of electric toothbrushes certain persons prefer to clean their teeth thoroughly with them.
Furthermore, flossing assists in removing food particles and plaque among teeth and along the gum line, that is unreachable for your toothbrush.
Refrain from rinsing with water directly after brushing your teeth because it will remove away the focused fluoride in the remaining toothpaste, thinning it and dipping its defensive impacts.
Floss at least one time every day, using a dissimilar portion of the floss for each tooth. It is best to floss directly prior to brushing your teeth. Take (30-45 cm) of floss, and grip it thus you have a couple of inches of floss stretched between your hands. Slip the floss between the teeth as far as it will go. Floss using 8-10 strokes, up and down among each tooth. Such a practice assists in getting rid of food particles and plaque between teeth and along the gum line, that are out of reach for your toothbrush.
Breath freshener may assist in diminishing plaque and is able to getting rid of any remaining food particles that brushing and flossing failed to fight. Use a mouthwash that includes fluoride. However, refrain from using it directly following brushing your teeth, because such an action would wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste. In contrast, opt for using mouthwash in another time. For example, after having your lunch, then refrain from eating and drinking for half an hour afterwards.
Visit your dental center to get steady dental tests, and contact them -as your dental hygienist- in order to assist in cleaning and removing any hardened plaque.
What is the difference between gum disease, periodontitis, and gingivitis?
Gingivitis (which are actually gum inflammation) occurs prior to periodontitis (or gum disease). That said, not all gingivitis advances to be periodontitis. Gingivitis can be preserved so it does not progress to periodontitis.
How can I know if I am infected with gum disease?
The certain indication of infection with gum disease is inflammation. Gingivitis may lead to red, painful, and tender gums. Periodontitis can after that develop, which can lead to bad breath and have impacts on the tissues carrying your teeth. If periodontitis are left without being treated then your jaw bone can be damaged, and your teeth may become loose to cause it to fall out afterwards.
Should I inform my dentist and hygienist if I am infected with a heart condition?
Certainly Yes, and ensure that your dentist always has a list of all the medicines you take. It must include all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal pills and also other nutritional supplements. Your list should state each drug name, dosage, frequency of usage and the date when your physician had prescribed it.
Finally, state the date that you made the list at the top of this paper in order for your dentist to be sure it is relevant and updated information.
Do I need to take antibiotics before a dental procedure?
You may do, but this to a high extent relies on your heart condition and the type of procedure.
Infective endocarditis is a rare but severe disease caused by oral bacteria known as streptococci, that can cause unsolicited mass formation on heart valves. It is hard to treat and is linked to a high death rate. At old times, people at risk of endocarditis, for example those with heart valve problems, were often given antibiotics before dental procedures. There are also growing concerns around evidence that antibiotic resistance is caused by the inappropriate application of antibiotics.
The final decision will be resulted from the dentist’s clinical judgment
The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that dentists no longer routinely give antibiotics to protect against endocarditis in high risk patients. Yet, the final decision will be based on the dentist’s clinical judgment, and where needed the dentist will seek advice from cardiologists or physicians.
Regardless of whether or not you receive antibiotics prior to a dental procedure, people at risk of endocarditis should take extra care to maintain an excellent standard of oral hygiene, know the symptoms of endocarditis, and seek medical advice urgently if symptoms grow.
If I am on warfarin is it necessary for me to be more careful whilst brushing my teeth?
You may brush your teeth as usual yet beware of any blood on your toothbrush or when you spit the toothpaste out, and of bleeding gums. If you encounter any of these happening, search for medical attention. You are at greatest risk of bleeding in the first few weeks of starting treatment with warfarin and when you are ill. Bleeding is the main side effect linked to warfarin, because it slows down the blood’s usual ability for clotting.
Your dose of warfarin could need to be lessened or stopped a few days prior to having an operation or dental procedures.
Inform your dentist that you are taking warfarin. Ensure your dentist knows any other conditions that you have, and any other medication that you’re on. You can also show your dentist your INR record booklet.
In most cases your dentist will be able to perform dental treatment as normal, yet because of the bleeding risk, your dose of warfarin could need to be lowered or stopped a few days before having going through operation or dental procedures.
Do some drugs for heart and circulatory conditions damage your teeth and gums?
Calcium channel blockers (For example: nifedipine, amlodipine, and verapamil) have been associated with an increase in the size of the gums or thick gums (gingival enlargement). However, this is quite rare. You can protect yourself from this by keeping good oral hygiene. If you encounters gingival enlargement due to taking some medicines, you will notice some of the following symptoms:
- Swollen and firm gums. However, your gums do not feel tender when sensed and there is no bleeding
- Your gums look dense.
Contact a dentist if you are on calcium channel blockers and notices the above symptoms.
Royal Health (widely known as DentCenterTurkey.com) is a unique dental center in Istanbul, turkey and one of the most famous and internationally recognized dental clinics in Turkey. It is equipped with the latest equipment and technology and provides all types of dental treatments and procedures up to the highest standards with the hands of specialized dentists and hygienists, along with decent administrative staff and dentists assistants to ensure you have the best healthcare and dental treatment you would look for
What is the difference between gum disease, periodontitis, and gingivitis?
Gingivitis (which are actually gum inflammation) occurs prior to periodontitis (or gum disease). That said, not all gingivitis advances to be periodontitis. Gingivitis can be preserved so it does not progress to periodontitis.
How can I know if I am infected with gum disease?
The certain indication of infection with gum disease is inflammation. Gingivitis may lead to red, painful, and tender gums. Periodontitis can after that develop, which can lead to bad breath and have impacts on the tissues carrying your teeth. If periodontitis are left without being treated then your jaw bone can be damaged, and your teeth may become loose to cause it to fall out afterwards.
Should I inform my dentist and hygienist if I am infected with a heart condition?
Certainly Yes, and ensure that your dentist always has a list of all the medicines you take. It must include all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal pills and also other nutritional supplements. Your list should state each drug name, dosage, frequency of usage and the date when your physician had prescribed it.
Finally, state the date that you made the list at the top of this paper in order for your dentist to be sure it is relevant and updated information.
Do I need to take antibiotics before a dental procedure?
You may do, but this to a high extent relies on your heart condition and the type of procedure.
Infective endocarditis is a rare but severe disease caused by oral bacteria known as streptococci, that can cause unsolicited mass formation on heart valves. It is hard to treat and is linked to a high death rate. At old times, people at risk of endocarditis, for example those with heart valve problems, were often given antibiotics before dental procedures. There are also growing concerns around evidence that antibiotic resistance is caused by the inappropriate application of antibiotics.
The final decision will be resulted from the dentist’s clinical judgment
The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that dentists no longer routinely give antibiotics to protect against endocarditis in high risk patients. Yet, the final decision will be based on the dentist’s clinical judgment, and where needed the dentist will seek advice from cardiologists or physicians.
Regardless of whether or not you receive antibiotics prior to a dental procedure, people at risk of endocarditis should take extra care to maintain an excellent standard of oral
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N.B.:
The team at the Royal Health Dental Center in Istanbul, Turkey, known as DentCenterTurkey, stresses the importance of consulting your specialist doctor or hospital before taking any medications, medications, nutritional supplements, vitamins, or some types of foods if you suffer from a special health condition.
The physical and health differences between people are a decisive factor in medical diagnoses, and the studies approved in the reports sometimes focus on certain aspects of symptoms and methods of treating them, without taking into account the rest of the aspects and factors. The studies were conducted in strict laboratory conditions that sometimes do not take into account many differences. Therefore, we always recommend obtaining careful advice from a specialist doctor.