In the film "Castaway," Tom Hanks' character, stranded on an island, performs a successful dental extraction on himself using the blade of an ice skate. He eases his pain and avoids a spread of the infection.
While you may not opt for do-it-yourself dental care, chances are you don't get regular check-ups and cleanings. A 2013 survey found 23 to 43 percent of American adults don't make needed appointments with their dentist or dental hygienist. We think that's probably an underestimate. That neglect can cause trouble, and not just for gums and teeth. Some facts:
- An infected tooth can trigger chronic sinusitis, according to the American Association of Endodontists. The condition, maxillary sinusitis of endodontic origin, happens when the root of a molar gets infected. Bacteria can spread up to the sinus and cause chronic infection, triggering nasal stuffiness, pressure and post-nasal drip. Many doctors misdiagnose the condition. The real solution is a (painless, these days) root canal.
- Chronic gum disease (periodontitis) is linked to Alzheimer's disease. In a multinational study in Science Advances, researchers looked at the brains of Alzheimer's patients and found that gum disease produces bacteria and toxins that migrate to their brains and are instrumental in creating amyloid tangles and problems with tau proteins that characterize Alzheimer's disease.
- Gum disease is associated with diabetes (it raises blood glucose levels), and poorly controlled diabetes makes gum disease worse.
Your smart move: Brush and floss twice daily. See your dental hygienist twice a year for a cleaning and get a complete oral exam then too!
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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