Q: I admit that I'm dentist-phobic, but now I'm worried what will happen if I don't go regularly. My dentist told me that I was developing gum disease and that it could lead to dementia! Is that true? - Ellen G., Augusta, Maine
A: Absolutely, but first, about dental phobia. It doesn't come from nowhere; chances are you were frightened as a child or have had some uncomfortable experiences. You can find a dentist who is sensitive to your anxieties and knows how to make you less anxious. The American Dental Association suggests you speak up and let your dentist know how you feel. Then work together to calm your nerves.
Second, you can reduce your time at the dentist by flossing daily and brushing at least twice a day.
As for the correlation of Alzheimer's disease with poor oral health, a study published in the journal Science Advances found that gingivitis (early gum disease characterized by bleeding, red, swollen gums and chronic bad breath) plays a "decisive role" in the complex process of developing of Alzheimer's.
How does that happen? The bacteria in your mouth associated with gum disease produce a protein that crosses the blood brain barrier and sets up an inflammatory reaction, which then damages your brain's nerve cells.
Still reluctant to go to the dentist? Gum disease is associated with an increased risk of hepatobiliary cancers (of the liver and bile ducts), according to a study in United European Gastroenterology Journal. It's long been associated with Type 2 diabetes and heart woes! So find a dentist you trust, and protect your brain and internal organs as well as your smile.
Q: We've had our kids vaccinated, but I keep hearing that we were lucky they didn't have a bad reaction to the inoculations and that maybe we should skip upcoming ones. My adolescent son is slated to get an HPV shot, and my 18-year-old daughter was going to get a meningitis shot. What should we do? - Frank G., Boston
A: The science is indisputable. We researched the topic at length a few years ago and found that although there are rare instances when a vaccine triggers a serious negative reaction in a child or adult, the benefits of avoiding a life-threatening disease by being vaccinated outweigh the risks of a serious vaccine-related problem by more than 40,000 to one. That ratio holds up even when you figure in the fact that around 2.5% of people who are vaccinated are not protected by the inoculation and may get a life-threatening disease anyway.
Plus, we now have data on the number of complaints that have been filed on negative reactions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2006 to 2017 more than 3.4 billion doses of approved vaccines were distributed in the U.S. Over the same time, people who thought they were injured by a vaccine filed claims with the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and 6,314 of those petitions were found worthy of adjudication by the courts. Out of those, 4,328 of the claimants were compensated. This means for every million doses of vaccine that were distributed, approximately one individual was found to deserve compensation. That's a million to one.
In addition, the CDC estimates that among children born in the past 20 years, vaccines have prevented and will prevent more than 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths.
As for your kids' vaccines, in the U.S. every year, about 14 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV and over 30,000 people are affected by HPV-related cancer. Although incidence of meningitis is at a record low, it does spread in college environments, and it can become lethal quickly. All 11- to 12-year-olds should get a meningococcal conjugate vaccine and have a booster at 16. Kids who skipped the vaccine can get it up to age 23.
The science is solid. Don't be distracted by noisy detractors.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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