If you take medication for heart disease you are probably experiencing a very dangerous side effect: Dry Mouth.

Dry Mouth is a side effect of popular heart medications including:

• Blood pressure medications
• Anti-depression/Anti-Anxiety
• Diuretics
• Cholesterol medication

The combination of two or more of these medications dramatically increases dry-mouth effects.

If you take any type of heart medication, it’s very important for you to take care of your dental health because Dry Mouth can lead to the following:

• Tooth decay
• Gum disease, including bacterial infections.
• Fungal infections
• Mouth sores
• Bad breath

Additionally several theories exist to explain the link between periodontal (gum) disease and heart disease.

1. Oral bacteria can affect the heart via the blood stream and then attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) and contributing to clot formation.
2. Another possibility is that the inflammation caused by periodontal (gum) disease increases plaque buildup, which may contribute to swelling of the arteries.

Researchers have found that people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease.

Treating Dry Mouth

While there isn’t any cure for dry mouth, the sooner it gets diagnosed the less damage it does to your teeth.  Here are some tips for treating your dry mouth.

• Korenman highly recommends Effervess Oral Care products, which can help relieve the symptoms of dry mouth caused by medications. (Available at Loveable Smiles and Amazon.) The line includes toothpaste and a whitening gel.
• Swish with water in addition to drinking it.
• Chew sugarless gum.
• Patients with dry mouth should have regular dental checkups with Dr. Korenman and his staff for evaluation and treatment. Please bring up-to-date medication list with you to your appointment at Loveable Smiles.

If you are experiencing a dry mouth as a side effect of your medication, please call Loveable Smiles at 972-231-0585

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host to other conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, strokes and even some Cancers.

What is a stroke?

An ischemic stroke (the most common type) happens when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets blocked, usually from a blood clot. When the blood supply to a part of the brain is shut off, brain cells will die. The result is the inability to carry out normal brain functions such as walking or talking.

Strokes & Gum Disease Statistics

1. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US.
2. Oral bacteria can affect the heart adversely by entering the blood stream, thereby reaching the heart and contributing to clot formation.
3. In a recent study, people diagnosed with acute cerebrovascular ischemia (the most common type of stroke) were found more likely to have an oral infection when compared to those in the control group.
4. Men and women who suffered from bleeding gums had more than twice the risk of stroke compared with those whose gums were healthy.

As you can see, research studies have discovered that oral infection is indeed a risk factor for stroke.

So, how are strokes related to your mouth?

The number one cause of death is inflammation.

The number one cause of inflammation is gum disease.

Shocking Truth About Gum Disease: The Silent Epidemic

80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Many gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist.

Medications for Stokes Cause Dry Mouth

If you take any medication for stroke prevention including blood pressure medications and diuretics, you have probably experienced a common side effect of these popular medications: Dry Mouth.

The combination of two or more of these medications dramatically increase dry-mouth effects.

Dry mouth is a growing problem in dentistry.  On a daily basis, Dr. Korenman and his staff see patients who suffer from dry mouth and the issues associated with dry mouth including tooth decay, gum disease and mouth sores.

The Good News for Stroke Patients

The good news is that Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control.

Additionally, if you have suffered from a stroke, a consistent, preventive dental program is essential for survivors.  The loss of senses, weakness of facial muscles, and side effects of medications can put you at high risk for dental problems.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

This is just one of many examples of how we treat people, not just teeth.

You overall health depends on it!

Links Between Oral/Overall Health
The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease increases with age. Research has proven that these diseases often manifest themselves in the mouth.

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host to other conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers in addition to worsening Diabetes.

Your Dentist Is Your Key Health Care Partner

Since your dentist is the only medical professional to check you from the neck up, these connections allow dentists to be a key player in helping you to become aware of any possible systemic imbalances.  Loveable Smiles prides itself on being a leader in health for your future.  We often refer patients to other medical professionals as we treat people not just teeth.

If you have been avoiding going to the dentist, usually due to unknown fear, your dental appointment needs to be a priority.  Don’t worry, if it’s been a while since you’ve been to the dentist, we will never scold you.  We will be thrilled to see you. Call our office for that much needed dental appointment. 972-231-0585

Now is the time to get your wellness check to make sure you are as healthy as you can be.

Your mouth is the gateway to your health.

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host to other conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, strokes and even some Cancers.

What is a stroke?

An ischemic stroke (the most common type) happens when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets blocked, usually from a blood clot. When the blood supply to a part of the brain is shut off, brain cells will die. The result is the inability to carry out normal brain functions such as walking or talking.

Strokes Gum Disease Statistics

1. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US.
2. Oral bacteria can affect the heart adversely by entering the blood stream, thereby reaching the heart and contributing to clot formation.
3. In a recent study, people diagnosed with acute cerebrovascular ischemia (the most common type of stroke) were found more likely to have an oral infection when compared to those in the control group.
4. Men and women who suffered from bleeding gums had more than twice the risk of stroke compared with those whose gums were healthy.

As you can see, research studies have discovered that oral infection is indeed a risk factor for stroke.

So, how are strokes related to your mouth?

The number one cause of death is inflammation.

The number one cause of inflammation is gum disease.

Shocking Truth About Gum Disease

80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Many gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist.

The good news is that Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control.

Additionally, if you have suffered from a stroke, a consistent, preventive dental program is essential for survivors.  The loss of senses, weakness of facial muscles, and side effects of medications can put you at high risk for dental problems.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

This is just one of many examples of how we treat people, not just teeth.