Gums: Your Health Warning System!

You might not have trouble thinking of healthy gums as the foundation for healthy teeth. But did you know that diseased gums are emerging as one of the leading early warning indicators for heart disease and other serious illnesses?

Gums

The American Academy of Periodontology recently found that people with periodontal disease are 2.7 times as likely to suffer a heart attack than those with healthy gums. “Allowing for factors such as age, sex, weight, cholesterol, and high blood pressure, as well as diabetes and insulin use," explained the researcher, “we found that among the sample population under age 60, gum disease was an even more important risk factor for cardiovascular disease than was high blood pressure.” It appears that the bacteria associated with gum disease can actually enter your bloodstream and affect your health.

That’s why it’s important to know what healthy gums should look like. Gums in prime condition are light pink in color (darker for people with darker complexions), are stippled like the surface of an orange, are not tender or swollen, and don't bleed when brushing or flossing.

And the best preventive maintenance? The advice you’ve heard most of your life: brush daily, floss frequently and don’t neglect those regular dental visits. You can also help with supplements like Vitamins A, C and E, and calcium.

 Dr. Dennis Asks some important questions of interest to Briarcliff Manor residents - Chiropractor Briarcliff Manor Dr. Dennis Asks...

Can someone who has had back surgery receive chiropractic care?
Yes. Rest assured that we will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. However, what we find is that surgical interventions will often produce spinal instability above or below the involved level. This is will be the focus of your chiropractic care.
What's a side effect?
It may sound like a bonus; something extra, but chiropractors know it should more accurately called an "unintended effect," and "unwanted effect" or in some cases an "adverse effect." A pill can't come close to matching your body's ability to create and deliver the essential compounds it needs. That's when it's important to make sure your nervous system is working correctly—the purpose of chiropractic care!