I work in a small rural ER. I should have been a dentist! Many of our patient visits are for facial soft tissue infections related to dental caries (cavities) that are sometimes very severe. We also see a fair amount of dental abscesses, gum disease and related conditions. Unfortunately, there is not much for us to do.

Most of these people don’t realize that aside from their pain and discomfort, dental caries and periodontal disease (chronic gum infection and swelling leading to tooth loss) can cause coronary artery disease, heart attack, serious infection of the heart valves, pneumonia, stroke, low birth weight in newborns and diabetes.

An interesting fact is that dental caries are the most common chronic disease in the world. While there have been amazing advances in dentistry, many people do not receive prophylactic (preventative) cleanings and exams. Their visit to the dentist comes when a cavity is causing facial pain and swelling, a sign of serious infection spread from the involved tooth to the surrounding soft tissues.  Most likely, that tooth needs to be removed to drain the infection or needs a root canal.

Extractions, root canals and even routine fillings are painful, expensive and time consuming. But preventive care for your teeth will help you avoid these “dental disasters.”

Even if your teeth need some “work” or are in perfect shape, it’s never too late to start preventive dental care. You can prevent progression of existing problems and also help prevent the serious diseases listed above.

Brushing your teeth after meals is a great start, in addition to regular morning and evening brushing. There are inexpensive battery operated toothbrushes available and all kinds of toothpastes that make this job easy and fun. Flossing daily is also key to removing food particles, plaque and bacteria that brushing misses.

Chewing sugar-free xylitol gum or candy after eating has been shown to reduce dental caries and even reverse caries that have already started. Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that has terrific anti-bacterial properties. While it doesn’t replace brushing and flossing, it is very useful for times when you can’t brush.

Rinsing your mouth with a few drops of tea tree oil in water is also a great way to lower bacterial count and ease inflamed gums. Your mouth will feel clean and refreshed after this rinse.

Regular dental visits are extremely important. Your dentist can perform a full exam of your teeth and look for problems before they become serious. Your dental hygienist can clean your teeth, check your gums and do X-rays if needed. Seeing your dentist twice per year is recommended for most people.

For some people, the expense of seeing the dentist even for routine care is a limiting factor. Most types of dental insurance cover all or part of routine visits. If you don’t have dental insurance, one thing you can do is check with your local community college’s dental hygienist program.

These programs offer either free or low cost screenings, cleanings and X-rays. The students are supervised by a licensed hygienist and a dentist. Another option is a county or state-subsidized dental clinic, where you can pay on a sliding scale.

So, visit your dentist regularly and brush and floss daily to help your teeth and your whole body stay healthy and prevent all kinds of diseases!

[Ed. Note: Lisa Forgione, MD, is an Emergency Medicine Physician practicing in Wadesboro, North Carolina.  She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Forgione participated in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and has received several Physicians Recognition Awards for teaching from the AMA and AAFP.]

For more great articles like this delivered to your inbox, subscribe to our free natural health newsletter!