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Surgery After Being Bacteria Free

4th October, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Last July was when the patient who was a 26 year old man from Long Beach, California checked into the hospital but prior to that he was expecting a number of physical exams and blood tests for his long awaited kidney transplant. After hearing that he had to see a dentist, he was bewildered. What he did not know was that his bad gums mattered. In order for the surgery to continue, he should be bacteria free.

When it comes to gum disease, doctors and dentists suspect more. It is possible for gum disease to contribute to cardiovascular disease and stroke, pregnancy complications, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and even some types of cancers if the condition has persisted for a long time without being treated and this is according to five years worth of compiled research. Heightened are the risks involved with surgeries including transplantation and cardiac valve replacement when there are oral infections. To understand more about sydney dentists visit this resource.

A periodontist at Boston University said that for years the mouth was not considered to be a part of the body. One study that the New England Journal of Medicine published says that the function of blood vessel walls is improved when you treat severe gum disease leading to better heart health. Studies found periodontal bacteria bugs normally in the arteries of people with heart disease and in the placentas of pregnant women with high blood pressure.

When it comes to the direct connection of gum disease with other illnesses, in the evolution of this research it is too soon to say. United are the dental and medical professionals who were simple acquaintances in the past because of the convincing evidence. For the dental insurance industry, this is leading to sweeping changes. Apart from offering dental and medical insurance, several health insurance companies are also offering low cost enhanced dental benefits to high risk patients who might experience broader health benefits by having a cleaner mouth.

When the bacteria in plaque, the sticky film that forms on teeth, persists for a long time the gums can be inflamed. Actually, an inflammation is the body’s way of fighting back. Unchecked inflammations can lead to serious problems. Gingivitis which is an inflammation of the superficial structure of the gum is what most American have that can lead to gum disease. For resources on find a dentist check out this site.

Although good brushing, flossing and favorable genetics can limit the extent of gingivitis and keep gum disease at bay, this condition of persistent inflammation affects 30 to 40 percent of American adults. About 10 percent of them have advanced cases where there is damage done to the bone, structure, and ligaments that support the teeth. Gum disease rarely causes discomfort and has a few symptoms other than bleeding. When it is too late, the gums will begin to hurt. The teeth and gums hurt because of the dual forces of infection and inflammation in the mouth that reach the bloodstream traveling to other parts of the body.

When it comes to gum disease and secondary infection, one of the most established connections involves people with mistral valve heart defects. What valve patients have long been warned by doctors to do is to take antibiotics before teeth cleanings in order to protect the bloodstream from being infected by bacterial disruption in the mouth. One more method by which gum disease damages the body is through inflammations. Called cytokines, these are chemicals produced by the immune system when bacteria in plaque release toxins. Damaging tissues throughout the body are cytokines that increase inflammations. Taking inflammation into consideration, it is a culprit in the development of many illnesses including cancer and heart disease.