EATING RIGHT FOR A HEALTHY SMILE

WHAT IS A HEALTHY DIET?
A healthy diet includes a variety of foods from the six food groups. Different foods have different benefits for your body. Eating a variety of foods ensures that your body gets all the nutrients it needs to be healthy.
You can have a healthy diet by following these simple steps:
 *Choose your food wisely from each of the six food groups:
*grains,half of them whole grains, such as whole wheat bread, brown rice or oatmeal.
*vegetables, especially dark green or orange colored ones.
*fruits.
*milk products, such as low fat yogurt or low fat cheese.
*lean meats, poultry,fish,beans, eggs, nuts.
*oils, most of them from fish, nuts and vegetable oils.
*EAT FOODS THAT ARE LOW IN SATURATED FATS, TRANS FATS, CHOLESTEROL, AND SALT.
*AVOID A DIET HIGH IN ADDED SUGARS, this increases the risk of tooth decay.
*EAT A VARIETY OF FOODS FROM EACH OF THE SIX FOOD GROUPS. By eating a variety of foods, you get all the nutrients that different parts of your body needs.
*DRINK WATER BETWEEN MEALS, which helps your overall health.

WHY IS A HEALTHY DIET IMPORTANT?
A healthy diet:
*provides nutrients needed for your body to function properly.
*helps prevent diseases linked with being overweight, like diabetes and heart disease.
*helps you keep your teeth and gums healthy.
SNACKING SMART
It is important to make smart choices when you snack. More and more, we are learning it is not only what you eat, but how often you eat. Frequent snacking or grazing can lead to tooth decay. When you are choosing a snack, think about the following:
*LIMIT SNACKING THROUGHOUT THE DAY. Stick to meal times whenever possible.
*MAKE HEALTHY SNACK CHOICES, such as fruit, nuts or cheese.
*EAT SWEETS WITH MEALS INSTEAD OF WITH SNACKS. Saliva increases during meals and helps weaken acid and rinse food particles from the mouth.
*AVOID BEVERAGES WITH ADDED SUGARS such as soda, sports drinks or flavored water.
CHEW GUM THAT HAS THE ADA SEAL. Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals has been shown to reduce tooth decay, because increased saliva flow helps wash out food and neutralize the acid produced by dental plaque bacteria.
A HEALTHY DIET HELPS KEEP YOUR MOUTH HEALTHY
If you often eat or drink sugary foods and liquids, especially between meals, and if you don't bother to clean your teeth, the result may be tooth decay and periodontal disease. These can lead to tooth loss.
Plaque is a thin, sticky film that constantly forms on teeth. When you eat or drink foods containing sugar, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with the teeth. After many acid attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity forms.
If the plaque is not removed with daily brushing and cleaning between teeth, it eventually hardens into calculus, or tarter. As calculus forms near the gumline, it becomes more difficult to keep teeth clean. Gums can become inflamed and may bleed. Sometimes the disease can get worse, and the gums can begin to pull away from the teeth and form pockets. If this condition, called periodontitis, is not treated in time, the bone supporting the teeth can be destroyed and healthy teeth may be lost.
HEALTHY SMILES FOR LIFE
A lifetime of good oral health depends on the choices you make today. Making smart choices about food and keeping good oral health habits can help you have both a healthy body and a healthy smile for years to come. For more tips on how to make healthy eating choices, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website, http://www.mypyramid.gov/

Periodontal Disease and Respiratory Disease

Periodontal disease (also called periodontitis and gum disease) has been linked to respiratory disease through recent research studies.  Researchers have concluded that periodontal disease can worsen conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may actually play a causal role in the contraction of pneumonia, bronchitis and emphysema.

Periodontal disease is a progressive condition which generally begins with a bacterial infection.  The bacteria found in plaque begin to colonize in gingival tissue, causing an inflammatory response in which the body destroys both gum and bone tissue.  The sufferer may notice the teeth “lengthening” as the gums recede while the disease progresses.  If left untreated, erosion of the bone tissue brings about a less stable base for the teeth, meaning loose, shifting or complete tooth loss.

There are a number of different respiratory diseases linked to periodontal disease.  Pneumonia, COPD, and bronchitis are among the most common.  Generally, bacterial respiratory infections occur due to the inhalation of fine droplets from the mouth into the lungs. COPD is a leading cause of death and should be taken very seriously.

Reasons for the Connection

The fact that respiratory disease and periodontal disease are linked may seem far-fetched, but there is plenty of evidence to support it.

Here are some of the reasons for the link between periodontal disease and respiratory disease:

• Bacterial spread – The specific type of oral bacterium that causes periodontal disease can easily be drawn into the lower respiratory tract.  Once the bacteria colonize in the lungs, it can cause pneumonia and exacerbate serious conditions such as COPD.
• Low immunity – It has been well-documented that most people who experience chronic or persistent respiratory problems suffer from low immunity.  This low immunity allows oral bacteria to embed itself above and below the gum line without being challenged by the body’s immune system.  Not only does this accelerate the progression of periodontal disease, it also puts the sufferer at increased risk of developing emphysema, pneumonia and COPD.
• Modifiable factors – Smoking is thought to be the leading cause of COPD and other chronic respiratory conditions.  Tobacco use also damages the gingiva and compromises the good health of the oral cavity in its entirety.  Tobacco use slows the healing process, causes gum pockets to grow deeper and also accelerates attachment loss.  Smoking is not the sole cause of periodontal disease, but it is certainly a cofactor to avoid.
• Inflammation – Periodontal disease causes the inflammation and irritation of oral tissue.  It is possible that the oral bacteria causing the irritation could contribute to inflammation of the lung lining, thus limiting the amount of air that can freely pass to and from the lungs.

Diagnosis and Treatment

When respiratory disease and periodontal disease are both diagnosed in one individual, it is important for the dentist and doctor to function as a team to control both conditions.  There are many non-surgical and surgical options available, depending on the specific condition of the teeth, gums and jaw.

The dentist is able to assess the extent of the inflammation and tissue loss and can treat the bacterial infection easily.  Scaling procedures cleanse the pockets of debris and root planing smoothes the tooth root to eliminate any remaining bacteria.  The dentist generally places antibiotics into the pockets after cleaning to promote good healing and reduce the risk of the infection returning.

Whichever treatment is deemed the most suitable, the benefits of controlling periodontal disease are two-fold.  Firstly, any discomfort in the oral region will be reduced and the gums will be much healthier.  Secondly, the frequent, unpleasant respiratory infections associated with COPD and other common respiratory problems will reduce in number.

If you have questions or concerns about respiratory disease or periodontal disease, please ask your dentist. Dr. Bill Rubiano 310-832-4916

http://www.thesmilesaver.com/