The Connections Bernards Ridge Edition April/May 2021

theconnectionsnj.com HEALTH & WELLNESS PAGE 22 World Health Day is celebrat- ed on April 7th every year to mark the anniversary of the World Health Organization. On World Health Day this year, I want to make you aware of the connection between your overall health and the health of your mouth. Did you know that oral health has been described as “a portal into the rest of the body”? Good oral health encourages good overall health, and the reverse is also true — 90% of diseases pro- duce signs and symptoms in the mouth. Your oral health has a huge ef- fect on the rest of your body, but as a dentist, my job is to let you know that this couldn’t be further from the truth. Here are The Top Three Ways Dental Health Affects Your Overall Health: 1. Dental Health and Your Heart When a person has gum disease that means their mouth is full of bacteria that can be transferred into the rest of their body through their gums and mouth. Once these bac- teria enters a person’s bloodstream, it in ames arteries and veins — which is a natural immune system response — and restrict blood ow in the heart, increasing a person’s risk of heart disease by as much as 20%. These same bacteria from in amed gums and periodontal disease can also harden a person’s arteries and increase the develop- ment of artery wall plaque, resulting in cardiovascular disease. 2. Dental Health and Your Lungs During this time of COVID, a lot of us have focused on our respira- tory health and doing everything we can to keep our lungs healthy. When we take care of our oral hy- giene through daily brushing and ossing, we are cutting down on our risk of a serious respiratory in- fection. This is because every breath we take passes through our mouth and lungs and if we are constantly breathing in the bacteria associated with gum disease, we are passing those bacteria into our lungs. Poor oral hygiene is one of the paths that can increase a person’s risk of pneu- monia. 3. Dental Health & Your Brain Dementia is another condi- tion that has been linked to oral health. A study conducted in the UK showed that chronic gum dis- ease was found in the brains of 4 out of 10 people who had Alzhei- mer’s. The study theorized that gingivitis bacteria may affect our body’s immune response, and con- tribute to symptoms of dementia like confusion and neuron loss. Do you see the connection be- tween your mouth and your whole body yet? Besides the three con- nections I outlined above, poor dental hygiene can lead to a num- ber of other systemic health prob- lems. For example, in amed gums may increase diabetic complica- tions by making it more dif cult to control blood sugar. Additionally, pregnant women with periodontal disease have a higher rate of pre- mature births. Celebrate World Health Day this year by committing to habits that encourage good overall health, be- ginning with your mouth. You can start by scheduling an oral exam and teeth cleaning at Aesthetic Dentistry of Bernardsville today! Dr. Patti Swaintek-Lamb, Aes- thetic Dentistry of Bernardsville – Dr. Swaintek- Lamb isn’t like ordinary dentists – she uses her knowledge gained from her ed- ucation and experience to work to ensure that her patients have both dental and whole-body health. She welcomes all patients in and around Somerset County. THREE WAYS YOUR DENTAL HEALTH AFFECTS YOUR OVERALL HEALTH This is because every breath we take passes through our mouth and lungs and if we are constantly breathing in the bacteria associated with gum disease, we are passing those bacteria into our lungs. Poor oral hygiene is one of the paths that can increase a person’s risk of pneumonia. Did you know that oral health has been described as “a portal into the rest of the body”? Good oral health encourages good overall health, and the reverse is also true — 90% of diseases produce signs and symptoms in the mouth. THE WARREN-WATCHUNG CONNECTION PAGE 60 NOV 2020 - JAN 2021 theconnectionsnj.com VALLEY AVTOMOTIVE I believe that everyone deserves a healthy, beautiful smile that will last a life- time. For more than 25 years, my philosophy has been that having a nice smile that is also fully functional and healthy, is essential for a good quality of life. Our enjoyment in life is tied to how our mouth, teeth and gums feel and look every time we eat, talk, laugh, or kiss a loved one. No matter who you are, regular dental care is importa t f r maintain- ing a healthy smile and protecting your immune system. Regular dental appointments are criti- cal fo the optimal oral health you deserve. Studies show that gum disease affects 75% of people and that 90% of all systemic diseases develop in the mouth. Research has linked oral infections that spread throughout the body to dementia, heart disease an other life-threatening health challenges. Our team may identify an issue with your gums, teeth, or mouth that could be symptoms of a bigger health issue. Addressing it could save your life. Furthermore, we have seen an unfortunate rise in the number of patient com- ing to us with stress-related oral health issues such as cracked teeth and chipped teeth since the onset of the pandemic. If not treat- ed early, these can become bigger and more expe sive problems in just a few short weeks or months. We want you to understand that it is critically important to not delay dental vis- its due to COVID-19. A recent American Dental Association (ADA) article noted that the CDC has not reported any documented cases of COVID-19 transmission in a clinical dental setting. At our office, we are safely seeing pa- tients using CDC recommendations. Our caring, professional, compassionate team has always strived to keep our workspace clean and sterile for our patients’ safety. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking additional protocols as recommend- ed by the CDC to keep our patients and team members safe and healthy! • Physical Distancing – We are schedul- ing appointments in such a way to mini- mize the number of people in the office at any given time. We are lso leaving time in between patients to effectively clean and disinfect operatory between patients. We ask that our patients call our office when they arrive and use their car as a “waiting room” until it’s safe to enter the office. • Taking Temperatures – One of the key ways w are keep g pa ients afe and healthy is by taking the temperature of every person who walks through our doors. When you come in for a visit, ex- pect to have your temperature taken. • Keeping Sick Patients at Home – It is our duty to protect not just the health of our patients, but the health of our entire community! In other words, we are obli- gated to send sick patients home. Prior to anyone’s appointment, we will do a screening via phone or email. We have all had our lives and routines upended by the pandemic. But remember tha d ntal care is essential nd saf . Your personal health and our public health de- pend on it. Dr. Patti Swaintek-Lamb, Aesthetic Dentistry of Bernardsville – Dr. Swaintek- Lamb isn’t like ordinary dentists – she uses her knowledge gained from her education and experience to work to ensure that her patients have both dental and whole- body health. She welcomes all patients in and around Somerset County. Furthermore, we have seen an unfortunate rise in the number of patients coming to us with stress-related oral health issues such as cracked te th and chipped teeth since the onset of the pandemic. Research has linked oral infections that spread throughout the body to dementia, heart disease and other life-threatening health challenges. CONTINUED DENTAL CARE IS CRITICAL NOW MORE THAN EVER We are located at 10 Anderson Hill Road, Bernardsville, NJ • Call us today at 908-221-1188 www.proudtosmile.com