Have A Heart Problem? 9 Issues Your Dentist Needs To Know About Heading to the dentist's office with a heart-related issue? It's important to tell your dentist about it! Your mouth and heart are linked in more ways than you might expect and failing to inform him or her about cardiovascular problems could spell serious trouble. For your health and safety, be sure to let your dentist know if any of the below heart conditions apply to you. 1. Born or Developed Heart Ailments Any heart ailment whether past or present should be discussed with your dentist. Many heart conditions, especially those involving the valves, come with a higher risk for a heart infection, or endocarditis. To prevent harmful oral bacteria from entering the bloodstream, your dentist may find it necessary to place you on antibiotics prior to treatment. 2. High Blood Pressure Hypertension may cause faintness in the dentist's chair and also exclude you from certain procedures. To ensure that dental work isn't causing any negative effects, your dentist may monitor your blood pressure before and during treatment. In addition, he or she will check for excess gum growth, dry mouth and taste loss all common side effects of blood pressure medication. 3. High Cholesterol Similar to hypertension, high cholesterol can also cause light-headedness after being seated in a reclined position. If your dentist is aware of this, he or she can make adjustments to minimize your discomfort. Your treatment plan may also be altered to avoid complications between your cholesterol medication and any medicine your dentist prescribes. 4. Heart Attack All dental work must be held off for six months after a heart attack, and future treatment will require your dentist to consult with your physician. Because anti-coagulants, a common medication for those who have suffered a heart attack, can prevent blood from
clotting, certain procedures or surgeries may require you to stop using the medicine beforehand. 5. Angina Often characterized as intense pain in the chest, attacks can be triggered both by dental anxiety and certain dental procedures. Your dentist may call for nitroglycerin and oxygen during treatment, as well as blood pressure monitoring. If you take calcium channel blockers to combat angina, he or she may also advise more frequent checkups to monitor for gum overgrowth. 6. Stroke Blood thinners are often used by stroke survivors, and may interfere with dental procedures. Blood work and a consultation with the physician will be necessary before undergoing any treatment. Because paralysis is a common outcome of a stroke, the dentist may also recommend more frequent visits and different dental products and techniques to maintain proper hygiene. 7. Use of a Pacemaker Dental work should be avoided for a few weeks after implantation of a pacemaker. Afterwards, treatment can proceed, but it is critical to check with the doctor and even the pacemaker manufacturer for any potential electromagnetic interference that could be caused by common dental devices. 8. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) In minor cases, CHF patients may experience dry mouth due to their heart medications, and your dentist may prescribe an oral rinse and suggest certain habit modifications to combat the problem. In severe cases, CHF patients may experience serious complications if seated in a reclined position. Depending on the severity of the condition, it may be necessary for dental work to be completed in a hospital setting. 9. Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) While CABG may not have oral health implications, and antibiotics are usually not necessary before dental work is conducted, severe pain due to this surgery may be experienced when seated in a reclined position. Unless it is an emergency, wait six months before proceeding with any serious dental treatment. Preventative Care is Paramount
Heart conditions even those that have been corrected can have a lasting impact on dental care, so stepping up efforts to prevent dental problems from happening in the first place is even more critical to maintaining good oral health. Consult with your dentist about necessary changes both to your checkup schedule and at-home routine to help keep dental issues at bay. Dental 911: How to Handle Common Teeth Crises Dental nightmares can come true, as much as you hope it doesn't happen to you! If you're lucky, a quick call to the dentist can get you seen immediately, but what happens if disaster strikes when the office is closed, you're traveling, or some other less than ideal scenario? Find out how you can help manage the situation until you get the professional care you need. What to Do If... You have a fractured or broken tooth: First, check your tooth to assess the level of damage. Often, chipping or light cracking which are typically minor and require minimal treatment, if any can be confused with more serious tooth damage. But should you find that the crack looks deep, or your tooth has broken into pieces, you may be at risk for an infection and tooth loss. Using warm water, rinse the area clean, and apply a cold compress if you notice any facial swelling. See your dentist as soon as you can. Your tooth gets knocked out: No ifs, ands or buts about it having a tooth dislodged qualifies as an emergency. Time is of the essence when it comes to your chances of saving the tooth, so contact your dentist immediately. To help protect the tooth until you get to the office, rinse it very gently in water, taking care to avoid touching the root. If possible, try to keep the tooth in
its original place by gently biting on gauze or a tea bag or under your tongues. Otherwise, place the tooth in a little bit of milk to help preserve it. Never store the tooth in water. You have a severe toothache: Even the mildest and most fleeting of toothaches shouldn't be overlooked, but extremely painful and persistent cases need immediate attention and could be a sign of an exposed nerve or tooth infection. To avoid aggravating the tooth any further, clear the problem area of food particles as best as you can by flossing gently and rinsing with warm water. Your braces come loose: It may not sound so dire, but braces that come undone can be more than just aggravating. The wires are sharp enough to get stuck in your sensitive cheeks, gum and mouth if they come free. Avoid getting poked by covering the pointed end with cotton, gauze or beeswax. Try not to pull on the wire to avoid further complications. You get something stuck between your teeth: Using your teeth to rip open packaging or chewing on a pen or pencil (all of which are dental no-no's) can cause small objects to get wedged between your teeth. While it may cause discomfort, don't reach for something sharp to dislodge it doing so could damage your enamel and gums. Try flossing it out instead. In the event that does not work, play it safe and have your dentist remove it. Preventative Care and Other Precautionary Measures As dreadful as these dental emergencies sound, it's simple to help safeguard your smile from such problems. To minimize the chance of oral trauma from occurring, follow these safety tips: Wear a mouth guard when playing sports or engaging in extremely physical activities Avoid eating overly hard foods, and cut food into bite-size pieces when possible Use scissors to open bags or boxes, not your teeth Keep objects out of your mouth, or try sugar-free gum if you have an urge to chew Seeing your dentist regularly is also critical to detecting and treating minor problems before they become worse. Get a checkup at least every six months or as advised by your dentist.
Back to Basics: Brushing Tips to Impress Your Dentist You've been brushing for as long as you can remember, but could it be you've been doing it incorrectly all along? From the type of bristles you choose to the level of pressure you should place on your teeth, this step-bystep guide to better brushing is chock full of tips to help you get the most out of your dental routine. Step 1: Pick the right products. Just as everyone's dental situation is different, so are the tools necessary to meet your unique health needs. For example, those with tooth sensitivity should stay away from whitening toothpastes and opt for a gentler, enamel fortifying brand instead. Choosing a brush with softer bristles can also help combat enamel erosion. If gingivitis is a problem, it may benefit you to try a paste or gel designed for tartar control, and pick a brush with varied bristles for help with hard-toreach areas. Step 2: Watch the clock. Timing is everything when it comes to proper hygiene. Most people know that it is important to carve our time in the morning and night to care for teeth, but many don't realize that the duration of brushing is critically important. Done right, brushing teeth should take approximately two minutes. Any shorter, and you've likely skipped a few areas that could develop into problems down the road. To keep you on track, set a timer and watch your pace to make sure every area of your mouth gets enough attention or you can opt for an electronic toothbrush with a timer. Step 3: Start with hard to reach areas first. Mapping out a brushing game plan can make a big difference, especially when you find yourself in a rush and/or multi-tasking. Your front teeth may be the easiest to access, but the back molars can be a haven for food particles and starting there can help ensure you clean out the tough spots in case something disrupts your efforts (or, let's face it, you start to lose focus on the job at hand). Step 4: Brush up on the proper technique.
You've got the time, the tools, and a plan of attack in place but don't forget about your technique! Going too hard and too fast not only runs the risk of missing key problem areas, but also it can do some serious damage to your gums and enamel. For a safe and thorough cleaning, hold your toothbrush at a slight angle, and gently brush back and forth. The front of your teeth are hard to miss, but to clear each tooth of plaque buildup, be sure to brush along the gumline and the inside and back surfaces as well. Step 5: Clean your tongue. Often overlooked, your tongue houses a ton of oral bacteria responsible for bad breath. Despite its name, your toothbrush works well on tongues too! After you've finished brushing your teeth, give your tongue a good cleaning with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper. Your breath will smell better and your palate will feel refreshed. Step 6: Finish up with floss. No dental care routine is complete without flossing. Even the best brushing technique can't get between the tighter spaces of your teeth. To reach every nook and cranny in your mouth, grab some floss and string it gently between and around each tooth. If you find flossing difficult, try one of the many alternatives now available at your local grocery or drugstore: dental pics, interproximal brushes, or water flossers. Step 7: Choose foods that act as natural scrubbers. Believe it or not, you can help keep your teeth clean by chewing certain foods. It's nowhere near a substitute for brushing and flossing, but chomping on crunchy fruits and vegetables can have a brushing effect that minimizes buildup. Another simple way to help prohibit the growth of oral bacteria is to chew sugar-free gum that contains xylitol. Share the News with Your Dentist Last, but not least, let your dentist in on your new brushing skills. Keeping him or her appraised on your efforts and products that work (or don't work) for you may in turn affect your treatment plan, and/or result in prescribed dental products and additional guidance to help you achieve your oral health goals.