Prevention is the name of the game when you’re talking about healthy aging. Last issue we looked at the link between maintaining good oral health to protect your heart and overall systematic health.

Hopefully, you’re starting to see why your dentist needs to be viewed as a very important part of your medical team.

Why? “Humans are bacterial planets. We really need to understand these bacteria ifwe are to understand health and disease.”—Bruce Pasteur, PhD, Forsyth Institute.

No part of your body is an island. It is one unit with every part affecting the other.

There is growing evidence that periodontal management be incorporated into overall healthcare. In fact, it’s essential.

But remember, not all periodontal therapies are created equal, and not all dentists/periodontists are trained in the most effective methods for diagnosing and treating disease. You need to pick the right dental team.

Another key point. Your physician and dentist should be collaborating to determine your total health and treatment picture. Each one taking an active role in your cardiovascular and oral health.

Richard Price of the American Dental Association puts it: “You cannot be healthy with an unhealthy mouth any more than one can be healthy with an infected foot.”

Gum infections increase your risk of stroke or heart attack , just like a foot ulcer can do. Research published in the October 2010 Annals of Internal Medicine revealed acute gum inflammation and incisions allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream, causing infection in other parts of the body, including your arteries.

If you have a weak immune system or prior heart damage, be extra cautious. Those health conditions can lead to endocarditis (infection of the heart lining).

Take-away point? If you are planning dental surgery, consult with your physician prior to the procedure.

Per research published in the May 2006 American Heart Journal, intensive periodontal treatment is far superior to standard periodontal treatments in protecting against cardiovascular disease.

Intensive treatment uses antimicrobials to target the bacteria associated with periodontitis and cardiovascular disease:

• P. gingivalis—appears in early periodontitis; forms a biofilm (colonizes community of bacteria), igniting an inflammatory response that leads to gums detaching from teeth
• T. forsythia—stimulates P.gingivalis’s work
• T. denticola—found in dental plaque, interacts with P.gingivalis to form biofilm
• actinomycetemcomitans—can invade tissues; found in severe/ aggressive periodontitis and nonoral infections (i.e. endocarditis/ heart lining, meningitis, lung/brain abscesses)

A specialist can use microbiological tests to identify the types and concentrations of bacteria in your mouth to determine the best antimicrobial treatment.

What more should you know?

Visit the dentist regularly. The bacteria in your mouth form plaque on your teeth. If this plaque is not removed with brushing/flossing it hardens to form tartar. Only a professional dental cleaning can remove tartar. The longer you go with plaque/tartar on your teeth the more detrimental it becomes.

Fix dental issues. Alveolar (jaw) bone loss, tooth loss and deep/uneven surfaces on your teeth can increase your risk of periodontal disease. Fix tooth problems and keep your bones strong and healthy to prevent osteoporosis and reduce bone loss.

Use the proper tools. Floss and brush at least twice daily—and I highly recommend using a Waterpik daily. These steps are critical for maintaining your mouth’s natural protective barriers against bacteria entering the bloodstream and harming blood vessels. The Waterpik uses streaming water to clean between your teeth and at the gum line. Besides stimulating your gums, it reduces bacterial growth.

Quit eating sugar. Consuming sugar increases the acidity in your mouth, creating an inviting environment for bacteria. The resulting tooth/gum decay creates nooks and crannies for the bacteria to grow unchecked. Before you know it, you have a perfect-storm scenario for periodontal disease.

Stop smoking. Here’s yet another reason to quit smoking. Tobacco smoke is toxic to your gums and can restrict blood flow, which can result in tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Limit alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol dehydrates your body. That cotton mouth you get after drinking encourages bacterial grow—leading to bad breath, tooth decay and periodontal disease. Plus, people who are abusing alcohol are likely not brushing and flossing like they should.

Prevent/control diabetes. People with diabetes are less resistant to infection, making them more susceptible to periodontal disease. Poor sugar control makes periodontal disease even more likely. On the flip side, severe periodontal disease may also increase blood sugar and make it more difficult to manage diabetes, per research in a 1997 Journal of Periodontology.

Review your meds. More than 200 over-the-counter and prescription medications have dry mouth as a possible side effect. If you are taking a drug that is causing dry mouth, talk to your doctor about alternative treatments.

And, yes, genetics. Research suggests that almost a third of us may be more genetically susceptible to periodontal disease than everyone else. A genetic test can be performed on your saliva to determine if you are one of the unlucky ones.

Forewarned is forearmed. Your genetic makeup may be out of your control, but everything else I’ve mentioned are factors that you can control. Following an aggressive prevention plan can help you keep your gums—and your heart— healthy.