Dental Care Is No Longer About Cavities

Dental care is no longer about cavities…

Yes, you read that right.  Dental care is no longer about cavities.  It is also not about dental cleanings.  It is all about inflammation.  Just as any body part can have inflammation, the gums and teeth can become inflamed.  An inflammation in the body is bad, so is in inflammation in the mouth.

Inflammation is at the root cause of many of the chronic diseases of aging.  This includes, but is not limited to, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. The mouth is a significant source of the same inflammation if you have gum disease.  Like high blood pressure or diabetes, you can have gum disease and not even know it.

The next time you come to the dentist, do not ask just for a cleaning.  At every visit, you have to ask if you have any gum inflammation.  And if you do, ask how severe is it.  Getting the proper cleaning for the amount of inflammation you have is more important than you think.