How a Dentist helped my Relationship and My Oral Health

by Rudolfo San Miguel

I really got into brushing my teeth daily when my mouth started getting sore. I figured my mouth had become irritated because I wasn’t keeping up with my daily cleaning and it was a sign of my lack of maintaining proper oral hygiene. 

I never thought it was time to go to the dentist. I didn’t like the dentist, and it was bad enough that I had to go for an annual appointment with my general practitioner. Why should I see a dentist annually as well? I stood by this attitude with the assurance that if I kept my new habit of cleaning my teeth daily, the need for an annual dental exam was unnecessary.

My girlfriend Heather was the person who got me out of this thinking when she complained that my mouth stank every time I was close to her. She always said my gums were red and swollen. Heather resisted kissing me around that time. This was enough to get me into a dentist’s office and change my thinking. 

The dentist was a nice guy by the name of Charles McDonald. He had been practicing restorative dentistry since graduating first in his class from Howard University in 1970. He was really patient with me. What I discovered really helped me realize how off was my thinking. It turns out I had the beginning stages of Periodontal Disease (PD), which is called Gingivitis. 

The bad news was I was stuck with it and I needed to deal with it or would face consequences. The good news was that I could deal with it and that PD was very treatable with the regular help of a dentist.

The first question you may have is what is Periodontal Disease? This is what the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has to say about PD:

"Periodontal disease is mainly the result of infection and inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed. In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out. Periodontal disease is mostly seen in adults. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the two biggest threats to dental health."

Surprisingly, it turns out that over 47% of adults over the age of 30 have some kind of PD, whether it is simply gingivitis or something more serious. And it is over 71% common for people over the age of 65. It is more common for men to have it and for people who smoke. You can follow this link for more on the CDC’s information on PD: http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/periodontal_disease/index.htm

 

The solution to my problem, especially since it was the early form of PD, was a lot less painful than learning about the problem. Dr. McDonald, after finishing his exam and giving me his recommendations, referred me to his hygienist, Donna Avakoff, who provided me with a professional cleaning. Both Dr. McDonald and Donna recommended that I keep up the good work and continue to brush my teeth daily along with including flossing to my daily mouth hygiene.

I ended up convincing Heather to visit Dr. McDonald after being swayed by his office’s philosophy on PD prevention, “Early diagnosis and treatment for better oral health and systemic health.” Donna stressed that PD is a chronic infection that occurs in many adults has been linked to the increased risk for heart disease and stroke. This was reason to be concerned and be proactive in my dental hygiene.

I felt reassured after finishing my cleaning and relieved of the soreness on my gums. The biggest satisfaction when Heather was more inclined to stick closer to me, especially now that my mouth was much more pleasant.