Recently I picked up a common Gum Disease brochure for patients and was surprised to see it still contained the old fake news that had been spread for years.
Using the old, disproven plaque hypothesis about the cause of gum disease, it was still leading the patients down the path with false facts. This theory was proven to be false 40 years ago.
It started out right, describing the stages of gum disease and how gum disease has been linked to serious chronic conditions such as: Dementia, Alzheimer’s, stroke, oral head and neck cancers, heart disease, respiratory infections, diabetes, pancreatic and liver cancers, pregnancy complications, osteopenia, and arthritis.
It said, “Treating oral inflammation may help manage periodontal disease and may help to manage other chronic conditions.” Your hygienist is a hero for helping you with all these conditions.
But then it headed off the truth of treating the problem.
It started to describe the tools used to control gum disease as a variety of drugs, instruments, and oral hygiene tools for the patient to buy and use. The emphasis on plaque removal by the patient and professional with more and more expensive therapies was getting further from the simple truth.
Gum Disease is a host (you) mediated bacterial infection. There are 4 simple basic tools to eradicating the problem in everyone. Your body’s strength is the most important emphasis, not expensive tools, drugs or equipment.
As we have addressed in many prior blogs and in my practice, there are 4 basic ways to fight gum disease: Effective tooth brushing, irrigating with effective medications, professional cleanings and the diet. Three of these are totally in your control and easy to follow.
Their gum disease brochure did not list effective toothpaste, irrigating with medications or the diet. Beware of fake news from marketing companies that want to sell you expensive tools and drugs. Plaque is not the problem but the bad bugs in the plaque and the strength of your body.
Look for more information on this website, blogs, and my up-coming dental health handbook. They all list the 4 basic tools you can use to have optimal health and vitality with a beautiful smile.
Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Lawrence
Print