“Keeping your smile safe:
500 million visits, $108 billion spent,
gum disease, NO INSURANCE, death, a new solution?”
~ Cynthia G. Creel
My Story:
This story starts out with a medical insurance issue and ends up with dental realities. Aren’t they the same thing well not with insurance companies. My estimates are the largest threat to the Untied States is the unhealthy, unattended oral condition that is a silent epidemic.
The doctor looked at me and said, This is not a medical problem, this is a dental problem. I questioned him further gave him some additional vital information then he luckily saw my point and said, “Which antibiotic works best for you.” The only reason I left that office with what I needed was because I understood the dynamics of my body, medicine, insurance and the best option that would cure my problem. If it was a problem for a dentist the antibiotic would mostly not work or just delay the solution.
Although today I have many options that are far superior to an antibiotic. I am grateful to have antibiotics as a back up to save me. I did not understand all my options then and went for the antibiotics as my last result. I had not learned all of the options yet, so I did what was best at the time and got help from my doctor.
I have had medical insurance that covered much Still costing me about $10,000 when I broke my leg that needed an operation to fix the spiral fracture in the lower left leg. It was the best insurance I could afford, yet my doctor complained that I should not have to have paid that amount. It should have all been covered.
If my situation with my jaw had not been covered with medical coverage would I have been at the doctor’s when I needed their help? The thought came to me if this medical doctor couldn’t help me I would be stuck having to go to the dentist. I have only had coverage for dental as a child, as an adult it was 100% covered by me or it didn’t happen. In fact my dental care over the years has sent my dentist on many vacations. He earned them all, so far I have all my natural teeth. The root canal and new crown I had about 6 years ago was well worth the $2,500 plus I spent on them. Even with the help of the dentist I was stuck for 12 hours waiting for a specialist to help me, leaving me with a tooth that without pain medication was excruciatingly painful and a hope it would stay that way until I could be seen. It all worked out that the pain was controlled until the problem was fixed. I felt lucky that day, the pain was tremendous and the solutions worked. I had the money to pay for it. The odds were with me that day.
The challenge:
I often think of those who need to have a tooth pulled, could it being saved or do they just suffer silently until they end up in an emergency room to have the tooth pulled. A smile should last a life time. What do people do if they don’t have money or coverage? The dentist can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars for some procedures. A new study (1) reports that almost half of Americans representing 64.7 million adults (not sure about the number of children affected) have gum disease affecting over half of seniors from moderate to severe gum disease. The highest groups affected are men, Mexican Americans, adults having less than a high school education, living below the poverty line and smokers being the cause of half (4) the severe cases of severe gum disease.
Everyone needs to have a healthy mouth with the estimates of what Americans are spending their time and money is reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (5) of 500 million visits to the dentist and in 2010 an estimated $108 billion was spent on dental services in the United States. That of course does not count the millions who need care and can not obtain the care they need with half of Americans 65 and older having no teeth. Almost 8,000 Americans dying annually from oral cancer and pharyngeal cancers each year that can be detected early by a visit to the dentist. There are answers and the first step is starts by knowing the problem.
Signs of Chronic Disease plus:
Yes, gum disease or periodontal diseases (PD) are a battle that is fought every day becoming a chronic problem for America. According to CDC ( 5) gum disease is caused by bacteria that penetrate the gums and affect the gums and bone that can cause teeth to become loose enough to require extraction linking this to diabetes, heart disease, stroke and premature, low-weight births.
The signs are apparent and should not be ignored with other signs of bad breath, gums appearing swollen, bright red, shiny that can bleed easily, are tender to the touch or even loose teeth according to the CDC (4)
The solutions old and new:
Most are familiar with part of the answers from the CDC which are flossing, brushing, professional tooth cleaning twice a year and in some cases surgery.
Beyond the idea of seeing a professional there is new hope that the need for professional services can be limited if a person steps onto the Path of True health. Two new study suggest the importance of Vitamin D3 in the role of protections from the effects of PD. One study with postmenopausal women (3) concluding that the levels of vitamin D3 are associated with reversal gingival, inflammation and chronic PD. Not including an association with PD in combination with tooth loss.
Another study (6) sites the association PD and the complication of diabetes mellitus finding in diabetic mice vitamin D helped protect against PD
The only way to know for sure if you are Vitamin D3 is sufficient is through a blood test. I suggest strongly that you see a medical care professional to determine your status and understand the next step of action to help maintain your best odds of avoiding becoming unhealthy.
Final words:
We have a group of Americans that are covered with medical insurance full, part and none and the same for dental. I do know when people are in pain they become more desperate just to escape the pain. I can not tell you what I would have done with the pain from my root canal, I didn't carry that pain for very long. The more limited the options are the more likely they will make choices that are limiting in the long run. Being on the Path of True health is the least expensive way and best way to possibly prevent or rejuvenate a healthy mouth in my opinion.
Count your blessings if you have full coverage for both medical and dental, you are better off than most Americans. No matter what your situation is if the mouth show signs of being at “war” with PD it is time to consider the Path of True health bring all back into check.
It is highly recommended to see professional health care provider to make sure everything is ok and to review what you are doing for the best results. That might include a blood test to determine Vitamin D3 levels from a health care professional.
I am always surprised where the Path of True Health may lead, it does comfort me to know even if I do not have dental coverage I have the ability to increases the odds that all I would need to see a dentist for is to make sure all is ok and a cleaning every 6 months.
I hope your journey on the True Path of Health is successful. I was plagued by bleeding gums most of my life, even as a small child and today I know if there is swelling, redness or blood from my gums it is a sign I need to step back on to the path of True Health. Here’s to a million and one smiles of pearly white teeth, not from a box or professional cleaning, from following what is best for you. Everyone deserves a smile they don’t have to hide in embarrassment or from pain. A smiling America is a good sign.
By Design ~ "Life is good By Design”
Photo creation by Cynthia G. Creel all rights reserved ©2013
Half an orange slice makes a great smile. A smile should last a life time.
3-12-2013 all rights reserved ©2013 written permission is needed to duplicate
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of By Design or Cynthia G. Creel. Consultation of a medical professional is highly recommended before any changes are considered. This article is not saying anyone person or company is at fault, it is just one possibility of many and is only speaking in general terms. .
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Sources:
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22935673
(2) http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50142808n
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23259413
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002054/
(5) http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/AAG/doh.htm
(6) http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039128X12002917
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