Nightmare stroke - sometimes the danger lurks in your mouth.
A dental professor explains how to recognize the dangers of brushing your teeth.
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If you look carefully in the mirror while brushing your teeth, you can unmask alarm signals for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks or strokes.
©Oliver Berg
Many people have problems with their teeth.
Periodontitis is often behind it, a disease of the periodontium or the periodontium, as doctors say.
The worrying thing: According to estimates, around ten million Germans are affected by the widespread disease that requires treatment, but many of them know nothing about it or ignore the alarm signals.
In toothpaste advertising, the outdated term periodontosis used to be used, but today it is still more commonly referred to as bleeding gums.
Whichever expression you choose, the fact is that scientific research has clearly shown that this disease can cause serious damage not only in the mouth but in the entire body.
In the worst case, periodontitis can even trigger a fatal chain reaction,
which leads to death.
"Anyone who suffers from severe periodontitis has twice the risk of dying from a stroke or a heart attack," warns dentist Professor Hannes Wachtel, Medical Director of the Implaneo Dental Clinic in Munich.
"In this respect, you can already tell when brushing your teeth whether you have an increased risk of this and other cardiovascular diseases." And what's more: Periodontitis can also fuel the development of diabetes or trigger devastating prosthesis infections on artificial joints.
The big problem with this: In most cases, periodontitis develops slowly.
Therefore, in addition to regular check-ups at the dentist and dental hygiene, you should also look in the mirror from time to time to see whether your teeth are intact.
You should pay attention to these seven symptoms when brushing your teeth
1. Frequent gum bleeding, for example when brushing your teeth, but also spontaneously, e.g.
B. when chewing
2. Red and swollen gums
3. Persistent bad breath and/or unpleasant taste in the mouth
4. The gums recede, the teeth appear longer
5. Sensitive teeth (tooth necks)
6. Pus discharge from the gum pockets
7. Teeth become relaxed and able to hike
Underestimated widespread disease: periodontitis causes a dangerous cocktail of germs
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Warns of the dangers of periodontitis: Professor Dr.
Hannes Wachtel, Medical Director of the Implaneo Dental Clinic in Munich.
© Achim Frank Schmidt
The underestimated danger for heart and brain - it lurks in the middle of the mouth.
To be more precise, a kind of tasteless and invisible germ cocktail made from over 700 different types of bacteria.
Most of them are harmless, but about ten aggressive types of pathogens are considered real teeth killers.
In Germany alone, they cause up to 40 million patients to a greater or lesser extent.
“These troublemakers belong to the group of so-called gram-negative anaerobic bacteria.
There are a lot of toxins in their walls,” explains Professor Wachtel.
The bacteria settle in pockets around the tooth necks.
"They first destroy the gum skin, then penetrate the gums themselves and cause chronic inflammation there."
Bacteria have free rein in the blood vessels
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Stroke nightmare scenario: The worst case scenario in the brain can also happen as a result of a fatal chain reaction triggered by bacteria in the mouth.
© Jansen/dpa
As the disease progresses, the bone also recedes.
Until the teeth fall out in the affected areas.
In a healthy state, the gums are glued to the teeth, so to speak.
This fabric structure can be thought of as a protective shield against intruders.
“If this barrier is now destroyed, the bacteria have practically free rein into the blood vessels.
There they can promote inflammatory processes, which in turn lead to vasoconstriction and, in the worst case, to vascular occlusions,” the expert continues.
Blocked blood vessels can cause heart attacks and strokes.
"How exactly this inflammatory mechanism works needs to be researched further.
But one thing is certain: the process of losing teeth makes you ill.”
Go to dental hygiene and brush thoroughly despite bleeding gums
In order to prevent periodontitis or at least to unmask the disease in the early stages, it is advisable to have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year.
The coverings are also cleaned in the hard-to-reach places.
The specially trained dental hygienists – mostly women – use special instruments for this purpose.
These include, for example, small hooks (curettes), brushes and polishing attachments, which are also used to apply pastes.
The experts monitor the entire set of teeth and can treat diseased areas with disinfecting and anti-inflammatory substances.
Professor Wachtel gives the golden rule for at home: "Especially if it hurts or bleeds in one place, you should continue cleaning there.
Because this is the only way you can eliminate the germs,
Modern implant strategies help with loose and fallen out teeth
If the periodontitis is far advanced, specialists can help with individual therapies.
The primary goal of dentists is to get the mouth free of inflammation.
If most teeth are loose or have already fallen out, implants are a modern solution.
Today, in the vast majority of cases, experts are able to insert fixed third teeth in just one day.
Patients do not have to endure any pain.
Because the operation is performed under general anesthesia.
The new teeth can be used immediately, and patients can chew with them carefully again in the evening.
List of rubrics: © Oliver Berg
