Dental Tips to Keep Our Carlsbad and La Costa Communities Safe
Recent studies show that COVID-19 complications are linked to gum disease. One of the reasons I love our Carlsbad, La Costa, and surrounding communities so much is our dedication to health and wellness. We love being active, enjoying the Southern California sun, and taking care of ourselves.
Therefore, when I ran across this important research reported on by Medical Xpress, the web’s leading web-based science, research and technology news service, I knew I wanted to share the findings. Furthermore, providing some tips to our community on how to avoid this preventable disease.
Gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is a serious condition that affects the tissue that surrounds the teeth. If not treated, the gum and bone begin to pull away from the teeth and form pockets where debris collects and can become infected.
What Causes Gum Disease
- Poor Oral Health
- Plaque
- Hormonal Changes
- Illness
- Smoking
- Family History
How Gum Disease and COVID Are Related
COVID-19 patients with gum disease are at least three times more likely to experience complications from COVID-19 and are 4.5 time more likely to need a ventilator.
The most shocking statistic is that those with gum disease are 9 times more likely to die when compared to those without.
Why Gum Disease Is Putting Patients at Higher Risk
In the study of 568 patients, results showed that inflammation caused by gum disease opens the door for COVID-19 to become more aggressive. Inflammation caused by gum disease coupled with the inflammatory response caused by COIVD-19 can create a fatal combination.
More Reasons to Treat Gum Disease
So now you know that gum disease could increase the chances of having COVID complications but there are a variety of other seemingly unrelated health problems that gum disease could be playing a larger role in.
A growing body of newer research suggests that periodontitis often links to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, respiratory disease, heart disease, and more.
What Can You Do To Fight Periodontitis
We know that all of this can seem pretty scary but the good news is gum disease is preventable and treatable!
With over 30 years of dental experience, we at Los Coches Dentistry are committed to providing the best care for the Carlsbad community. Our top priority is ensuring optimal oral health for our patients and making sure they are educated on all topics about oral hygiene, ensuring advanced oral health issues are avoided at all costs.
To avoid gum disease, we recommend that our patients:
- Maintain a regular teeth cleaning schedule with us. We advise healthy patients visit us two times annually and periodontal maintenance patients three to four times annually
- Brush and floss or soft pick your teeth twice a day
- Brush at the gumline at a 45-degree angle into the tissue
- Keep your toothbrush germ-free by storing it in an upright position and letting it dry between uses
- Use mouthwash, formulated to fight bacteria, daily
Symptoms of gum disease:
- Red or swollen gums
- Tender or bleeding gums
- Pain when chewing
- Loose teeth
- Sensitive teeth
- Receding gums or longer appearing teeth
If you are diagnosed with or think you may have gum disease we can help you. Call us today to make an appointment so that we can help get your oral and overall health back on track.
–Dr. William Neff, DDS, Carlsbad’s leading dentist for over 30 years
