Did you know that watching the Olympics can be hazardous to your health? It’s a
well known fact that TV watchers tend to snack. And those snacks can pose a

threat not only to overall health, but to teeth and gums too. Though candy and
baked sweets are obvious culprits: “Sugar is present in most of the food and
beverages we ingest, including food like potato chips that contain

...A more frightening result of oral infections is a recently discovered link between
periodontal disease and low birth weight and pre-eclampsia (premature birth).
Researchers, most notably Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat from the University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia, have found that even mild to moderate periodontal disease can increase the
risk of premature birth 3-4 times, while severe oral disease raises the risk to 7-8 times
more likely...

As flu season approaches, it’s reassuring to know that Alberta dentists practice stringent
infection control. The Alberta Dental Association + College (ADA+C) has an infection
control committee to set standards for the profession and continually updates an infection
control manual that sits in every dentist’s office and is available on-line.

Research has proven there is a strong link between oral health and overall health. Though
medicine and dentistry have operated in separate but parallel spheres for many years,
today’s doctors and dentists know there is a strong link between the two and research
offers proof.

February is Heart and Stroke Month, Most people are aware of some of the risk factors for heart
disease and stroke: family history, diet, obesity, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle (couch potato
syndrome), aging or a pre-existing condition such as diabetes. But how many of us know that
infected teeth and gums may pose an additional risk?
“It is well accepted by the health community that untreated chronic infection can compromise
health,” said Dr. Doug Pettigrew, a Periodontist based in Edmonton. “Gum disease is no
different. If you have pockets of infection around all of your teeth that is equivalent to having a
6” open wound on your skin. Your body is weakened from fighting the infection and at the same
time, the bacteria and chemicals that enter your blood stream can, in turn, compromise your
health.”

April is Dental Health Month. We tend to say “I’m off to the dentist” but who is it we actually
see? Many of us are unaware of the team work and complex training behind our dental visits.
Knowing who does what is important in maintaining your own and your family’s oral health.
If you are going for a regular check-up and cleaning, you are most likely to be served by four
members of the dental team: a dentist, receptionist, dental hygienist and dental assistant.
The receptionist schedules your appointment, greets you when you arrive, processes your
payment or insurance form, and trouble shoots.

In 2003, an estimated 3,100 Canadians were newly diagnosed with oral cancer. That same year,
1,090 people died of the disease. In the US, oral cancer kills roughly one person per hour, 24
hours a day. Of those who are newly diagnosed, only half will be alive five years later. The death
rate for oral cancer has not declined for decades.
Those statistics are frightening, but the good news is that early detection plays a major role in
preventing or curing oral cancers. The front line of defense is formed by dentists and dental
hygenists, professionals who are specifically trained to recognize alterations in the oral cavity,
and take action.

Hallowe’en candy can do scary things to kid’s teeth. A US public health report (2005) revealed
that 42% of children in kindergarten have cavities; an Ontario study (2004) found that 96% of
children ages 7 to 13 had one or more past or active cavities. These numbers have been rising
steadily over the past decade and dentists are concerned.

QUITTING SMOKING THIS NEW YEAR’S? YOU’LL HAVE HEALTHIER TEETH AND GUMS
Quitting smoking is high on some people’s New Year’s Resolutions list. If you are one of
them, Alberta dentists will be there to provide advice and support.
Tobacco use is a significant contributing factor to dental disease and dentists are well
positioned to assist patients in improving their oral and overall health by offering support
to smokers who want to quit. Dentists are trained to recognize the signs of oral disease
and encouraged to offer tobacco cessation intervention to their tobacco-using patients
during dental appointments. In addition, the Alberta Dental Association and College
developed the booklet Counselling Patients Who Smoke for their members.