After all these years....

Okay, so this may be a blog that may get into some TMI on my part, but I promise it's something that you can grow off of and become more knowledgeable of.
As you may know Monday I went and got a "Deep Cleaning" for the first time in my life. This was done at my Dentists office and it was something I was skeptical about. Let me start by why I set this initial appointment and the reason behind why I set up a follow-up for the Deep Cleaning.
I hadn't gone to the dentist since I was pregnant with Claire in 2002. When I was a kid, the dentist us kids had was HORRIBLE. My brother and I had constant spats as brothers and sisters do. My brother knocked out a few of my front teeth with a shop-vac hose and my Mom took me to the dentist and they began to say how horrible my teeth were going to be as an outcome of this accident and that they would need to do several procedures to straighten them once they did come in. From that point forward I did whatever I could to avoid the dentist. I was 9 or 10 when this happened and really I think between 10 and 21 I went to the dentist all of twice. So, when I got pregnant I was told that going to the dentist was mandatory. I ended up going and well, the dentist said I had GREAT teeth and that everything looked good. I was kind of shocked by that because I grew up with the image of bad teeth growing up.
After I had Claire and up until February, I had gone to the dentist once and that was for a tooth extraction. I had a terrible tooth ache that well, was diagnosed while friends (Dawn, Ricky and the kids) were in town, at a local hospital as "pain face". There is NO such diagnosis, it was more of a, I don't give a damn, moment for the doctor to get me out of his hair.
So back in February I was eating dinner/lunch or something that a part of what I thought was my tooth came out. Blood was not associated with this, but I feared that I had chipped it and I needed to be seen by the dentist. So, I went into the dentist thinking the worst, he simply said, "nope, that was buildup on your teeth, you have them on all of them. How long has it been since you've seen the dentist?" I groaned and mumbled "Uh, about 9 years?" He asked when the last time was that I had gotten a cleaning and I said "Uhm, about 20 years?!" He then took x-rays of my mouth and found that I had Periodontitis which is one stage worse than Gingivitis. He explained that if it doesn't get taken care of that I'll begin to lose my teeth within 10 years. It was causing my gums to recede also which will eventually lose support of the bone within my teeth therefore having me lose them. I got a general cleaning that day, and let me just say, it was weird to feel what my teeth actually felt like. 
Monday I went in and had this procedure done. Man oh Mighty, what pain! Some of the tartar and decay that was coming off of my teeth underneath the gum line was as big as the hygienist's pinkie nail. They had to use 4 1/2 syringes/needles full of epinephrine to numb my mouth. The pain associated with this was outrageous. Even with all of that epinephrine, I could still feel pulling and even some pain, so I couldn't have imagined if I had gone without the numbing sensation. The first night after the Epinephrine had worn off I wanted to curl into a ball and be left alone. By the third day, I realized how white my teeth were, without the black buildup that was becoming so noticeable. I brushed my teeth the day after the procedure to find that this was the first time in ALL of my life that I can remember, not having my gums bleed. I had no idea what that was like, nor did I ever think it was possible. 
Now, onto the informative part... Today I go to the mailbox and there is a flier type deal with information in it from Aetna, our insurance provider, which caught me by surprise. I'm going to type it as it is written on my flier:
"It's been a while since your dentist has seen your smile.
Why not make that dental appointment today? Regular dental checkups are the key to better dental health. And, believe it or not, good dental health means better overall health.
Make the mouth-body connection.
Not everyone knows this, but the mouth is a window into what's going on in the rest of the body. Up to 90 percent of whole-body illnesses, including diabetes and cadiovascular disease, show their first signs in the mouth. Other conditions that can produce symptoms in the mouth are osteoporosis (in which bone loss shows itself in dental X-rays) and various oral cancers. This means your dentist may be the first to spot these problems - all the more reason to see him or her regularly.
What's more, problems with your teeth and gums can actually cause problems elsewhere. Gum disease in particular can release bacteria into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of:
Heart Disease. One study suggests the risk of fatal heart disease doubles in people with sever periodontal disease.
Pregnancy complications.
Studies suggest gum disease may be associated with preterm labor and premature birth, and that preventive care may be associated with a lower incidence of adverse birth outcomes.
Diabetic complications.
Periodontal disease can make it harder for a person with diabetes to control blood sugar.

So why take chances?
Stay up to date on your dental visits and your whole body will thank you.
Did you know?
Getting regular dental cleanings can save you money. On average, a cleaning costs between $50 and $135 and can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. On the other hand, a dental crown, which you might need for a neglected tooth, can cost between $500 and $3,000."

--End--

Wow, that's some great information... Makes me wonder about my health over-all too... It could very well have something to do with my gums as to why I have so many health issues right now. Interesting stuff!