Learn to love your dentist

For many people, the word dentist brings immediate thoughts of pain and discomfort. The poking, and the prodding, and the scraping…not to mention the drilling! But despite the irritations, the dentist can be nearly as good as a doctor for spotting warning signs for some of the biggest health problems facing men and women today.

Most people don’t realize how closely oral health is linked with a host of other issues.

Receding or inflamed gums, cavities, tooth loss, gingivitis, and other dental dilemmas in adults can indicate the presence of serious health problems — including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, vitamin deficiencies, and even the risk of having a premature or low-birth-weight baby

Problems in the mouth are intimately connected with other system in the body, especially circulatory. The mouth is an easy ‘in’ for bacteria that can complicate any major surgery and even pregnancy. Bottom line: suck it up and see your dentist regularly!