Home | List of Articles | Submit an Article | Contact Us

Your Dentist Might Stop Your Next Heart Attack

As the Webmaster for a site dedicated to helping people save money when they go to the dentist, I find myself having to consistently fight two different and distinct battles; one against the average Americans reluctance to pay the high cost of modern dental care and the other is the same Americans belief that seeing a dentist regularly just isn't that important.

The first battle I have a decent chance of winning but the second battle I've had to throw my hands up in surrender; I mean if someone doesn't care about their teeth enough to have them taken care of by a dentist, what can I possibly say to convince them otherwise?

How about this; "Did you know that your next visit to the dentist could prevent a heart attack?"

Medical researchers have known for years now that there's a definite link between gum disease (i.e. gingivitis) and persons' risk for a heart disease (see http://discountdental4u.net/gumdisease.htm). Evidence is mounting, however, that information gleaned from a routine panoramic dental X-rays-wide-angle frontal images --taken to establish the baseline condition of teeth and surrounding bone-- may serve as an accurate early-warning system of risk of dying from heart attack or stroke.

According to researchers at the University of Buffalo School of Dental medicine, a study of 818 teeth and jaw x-rays of Pima Indians in Arizona found that those who had a build-up of calcified plaque in the carotid arteries were twice as likely to die from heart attack or stroke. Normally, calcified plaque is present in only about 3 percent of the general population.

An earlier study of 2,700 dental patients showed calcium deposits on each side of the carotid arteries can be spotted in x-rays of the teeth and jaw bone.

It makes sense that the dental x-rays would see the carotid artery --which carries blood from the heart to the brain and back-- so dentists should be aware that it is screening tool for cardiovascular disease. If they see signs of calcification in dental x-rays, they tell the patient to see his or her doctor ASAP.

BOTTOM LINE: Most dental insurance plans allow you a yearly dental exam at little or no cost so schedule a complete check-up, including x-rays, with your dentist ASAP. If you don't have dental insurance, consider enrolling in a discount dental plan that fits your budget and then go see a dentist ASAP.

About The Author

Kenneth Kowalsky is the webmaster of DiscountDental4U.net, a web site devoted to helping people to save money on dental care, including advice on choosing the best dental plan for you, inexpensive tips on easing toothache pain, little-known ways to lower your dentist bills, etc. You can contact him via e-mail at DiscountDental4U@yahoo.com or via this toll-free number 1-877-534-4808.

discountdental4u@yahoo.com

Related Articles:

Calcium Channel Blockers Can Actually Cause Heart Disease - Postmenopausal women taking a certain class of blood pressure medicines known as calcium channel blockers better proceed with caution. Researchers found that the use of such medications may double the risk of dying from heart disease -- especially when given in certain combinations. Calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure by relaxing ...

Food That Protects You From Cancer, Heart Disease and Osteoporosis! - (c) Kim Beardsmore The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. This nutritional powerhouse has stayed under wraps for too long. Apart from being the only vegetable protein with all 22 amino acids essential for our health and well being, the humble soybean has many other virtues...including an excellent foundation for fast, safe weight lo ...

Family Healthcare: The Dangers Of A Heart Attack & How To Avoid It - A heart attack happens when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle itself (the myocardium) is severely reduced or even stopped entirely. If you know the symptoms and the risk factors of a heart attack, you can avoid having one and live a safer, healthier, longer and happier life Heart attack has been reported to be the number o ...

Heart Disease: The Dangers Of Coronary Heart Attack And How To Avoid It - What is a coronary heart attack? Are you at the risk of a coronary heart attack? Here are some insights to help you... A heart attack happens when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle itself (the myocardium) is severely reduced or even stopped entirely. The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction. ...

Omega-3 And Sudden Cardiac Arrest - Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is responsible for numerous deaths in the U.S. and other countries around the world. It is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack normally occurs when advanced atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries) slowly starves the heart causing irreversible damage. The heart finally cannot function properly and stops. S ...

Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease With Lipitor and Pravachol - Results of a new study comparing the effectiveness of Pfizer Inc.,’s Lipitor with Pravachol, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb, was recently published in the New York Times. The study details the clinical observation that Lipitor was significantly more effective than Pravachol in lowering patient’s LDL cholesterol levels. However, the study did not c ...

For a Complete list of Articles with summaries Click Here