When They’re Healthy, You’re Healthy
Having practiced dentistry for over 40 years, I’ve seen lots of patients and lots of changes in dentistry, from materials to techniques.
In those 40 years there’s been one constant, and that is the importance of having your own teeth – for nutrition, health, and appearance. My appearances on Cleveland WKYC ‘s “Golden Opportunities” TV show has helped me promote dental care for those of us over 50.
Nutrition
It’s clear that our teeth allow us to chew food and to consume necessary nutrients. When patients lose teeth and replace them with dentures (either partial or full), they often remark that they don’t enjoy their food like they used to, or they mention that they have digestive problems, which are often linked to an inability to properly break up or grind food.
Dentures anchored by implants improve stability but they still don’t have the chewing strength that natural teeth provide. Plus, food often gets caught under the denture. Today’s partials – often metal-free – look relatively natural, feel tight and are better adapted for chewing, but they still require removal to keep clean.
Implants with single teeth screwed or cemented on can help with chewing and can feel like “they’re my own teeth” but present other complications, including difficulty with cleaning and maintenance.
Heart Issues
Studies associate oral health to overall health. This includes a strong relationship between periodontal health and heart health.
Oral hygiene – including brushing and flossing after meals to remove food particles that mouth bacteria feed off of – helps maintain teeth and the surrounding bone and tissue. Gum/periodontal disease allow the proliferation of bacteria, often leading to infection that may move to other parts of the body. Some research supports the use of a baking soda/peroxide incorporated into toothpaste to help fight the disease and, in fact, is something that we suggest to our own patients. (My family members are all big believers).
Smiles
Our smiles are the first thing that people see when we meet. The smile makes up nearly 60 percent of our face; teeth, including their shape, color, and arrangement, are the focal point.
Patients tell me that after we have restored their teeth, both their function and their appearance have changed the way they feel about themselves. Many have said that it’s the most important thing that they’ve done for themselves.
Our team has heard patients say, “I take care of my car and house, so why shouldn’t I invest in the only mouth and body I have?” Unlike a vacation, money invested in their teeth lasts for years, plus it allows them to eat effectively and to smile proudly, they’ve told us.
I appear on “Golden Opportunities” to discuss the importance of good dental care. With all of the advancements in dental care over the past few decades – at home and at the dental office – we should do all we can to make our teeth last a lifetime.
Dr. Steve Marsh serves patients throughout Greater Cleveland. He does all cosmetic dental procedures including bonding, porcelain veneers, whitening, implants and extreme dental makeovers. Contact him at ClevelandSmiles.com
