HOW CAN BAD BREATH BE AN INDICATOR OF A HEART ATTACK – BLOG #61

BLOG #61 HOW CAN BAD BREATH BE AN INDICATOR OF A HEART ATTACK
Dr. Spiker Davis D.D.S.  713-781-2800    Dr. Matt Guerre D.D.S. 713-781-2800
In collaboration with Dr. John Seger M.D. Cardiologist 713-791-9444
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I believe the mouth is the WINDOW TO YOUR HEALTH. I also believe that as individuals we need to take care of our health-nobody else is going to do it for us.

What is BAD BREATH? From a medical standpoint, it is called Halitosis! It is defined as a condition characterized by offensive-smelling breath. There can be many causes but here are the 5 main ones that I see in my office

1. A respiratory infection such as sinusitis, bronchitis, or postnasal drip
2. Diabetes
3. Smoker’s breath
4. Strong smelling food and spices such as garlic
5. ORAL ISSUES-this is usually an infection in the gums or bone, bacteria buildup, or lack of proper hygiene.

Of course, the one I want to discuss the most is the one that I see the most-ORAL ISSUES! According to the American Dental Association, about 80 % of bad breath is caused by some type of bacteria buildup in the mouth, such as cavities, cracked fillings, lack of hygiene, or an infection in the gums or bone. Everyone has bacteria in
their mouth, but the buildup of bad bacteria often occurs in places where the toothbrush can’t get such as under the gums or in between the teeth. Hence the need to FLOSS! Left untreated a buildup of bad bacteria can lead to an infection. A beginning infection in the mouth is often called “GINGIVITIS”. About 80% of Americans have Gingivitis. Left untreated this can lead to a severe infection in the gums or spread into the bone called Periodontal disease. Bone infections are the number one cause of tooth loss AND THE INFECTION CAN GET INTO THE BLOODSTREAM AND SPREAD.

There are several signs that indicate you may have periodontal disease

1. Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing your teeth
2. Red or swollen gums.
3. Tender gums.
4. Loose teeth
5. Gums that have pulled away from the teeth.

Bacteria on the teeth can form plaque or tartar if not removed. The main reason you go to your dentist for a cleaning is to remove the plaque and tartar to avoid gum disease. If the condition leads to infection this can spread and cause lots of other issues. There are many risk factors that can increase your risk of having gum disease even if you brush and floss. Risk factors include the following

1. Poor oral hygiene-you should brush and floss after every meal so that you don’t feed the bad bacteria.
2. Diabetes-a very large percentage of diabetics have gum disease. If you have diabetes, you must work much harder than the average patient and really, really need to pay close attention to your diet.
3. Smoking-it appears to me that almost all smokers either have or will have soon some form of gum disease. Smoking is like food to the bad bacteria and causes them to grow rapidly.
4. Defective fillings can allow bacteria to hide in cracks or around the edges and cannot be removed with your toothbrush or flossing and therefore need to be replaced.
5. Crooked teeth make it much more difficult to clean and floss properly and straight teeth can help prevent infections because they are so much easier to clean. Consider Invisalign clear braces if you have crowded teeth-NOT JUST FOR LOOKS BUT FOR HEALTH REASONS!

Here is the biggest problem with all of this. The bacteria infecting the gums can also enter the bloodstream and then other body parts can be affected such as lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, dementia, and HEART DISEASE! I read one article that they now believe that about 25% of heart attacks and strokes have some connection with GUM DISEASE. SO BASICALLY, BAD BREATH COULD MEAN YOU HAVE GUM DISEASE AND THIS COULD LEAD TO A HEART ATTACK! JUST GOOGLE GUM DISEASE AND HEART DISEASE and you will see what I mean.

SUMMARY-It is obvious that your mouth is the window to your health. Abnormal conditions in the mouth can be very indicative of other systemic health conditions. In many cases, if your mouth is unhealthy there is a good probability that something somewhere else in your body also needs attention. It’s never too late– Practice good oral hygiene, avoid sugar Go see your dentist, and get back on track with regular cleanings. Follow that up by seeing your physician for a physical. Pay SPECIAL ATTENTION TO BAD BREATH AND BLEEDING GUMS!

“THE MOUTH IS THE WINDOW TO YOUR HEALTH”. BRUSH AND FLOSS TWICE DAILY, AVOID SUGAR FOR 2022 AND SEE YOUR DENTIST AND PHYSICIAN ON A REGULAR BASIS.

Spiker Davis D.D.S. spiker@thepaleodentist.com John Seger M.D. Matt Guerre D.D.S.
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