This is a 10 step guide to help prevent you from catching the flu or swine flu this flu season. I appreciate the input from Dr Dave Woynarowski in preparing this guide.

1. Wash you hands and wash them often.
2. Keep your hands out of your mouth and your nose.
3. Do not count on the shots to give you complete immunity; rather, be an active participant in flu prevention.
4. Eat well, get plenty of rest (7-8 hours per night) in order that your immune system can be at full strength.
5. The normal flu season is from October through April. Swine flu can be sporadic and hit at any time, especially if you are around someone who has been to an infected area or has recently had swine flu. The CDC now says that you may infect someone up to 18 days after all symptoms are gone away (swine flu).
6. The flu virus (swine or not) mutates rapidly and changes much faster than we can ever hope to develop an effective vaccine given our present technology, thus, the hope is that the vaccine will give you “some immunity”.
7. Avoid sick areas (hospitals, nursing homes, etc) as much as possible. Swine flu has not seemed to affect the elderly up to this time.
8. If you are sick to begin with (diabetes, heart disease, lung disease,cancer, etc) and you thus have a compromised immune system, be especially aggressive concerning numbers 1-7 above.
9. If you are over 60 years of age, you probably should get a flu shot, according to the CDC. There may be several different flu shots this season.
10. Flu shots can make you sick sometimes, so check with your physician if he/she believes you should have one. Always remember, getting sick is better than dying.

Bacteria that reside between the teeth can also cause breath odor.  Most commonly this occurs in people with gingivitis or periodontal disease. To see if you have odor causing bacteria between the teeth do the floss check.  Floss a few teeth at a time.  Then, smell the floss.  If you detect a bad odor, see your dentist.

FYI: Bad breath caused from periodontal/gum disease can be one of the worst smelling breath odors.  In fact, it has a particular odor that we call “perio breath.”

How can you tell if you have bad breath associated with gum disease?

1. See your dentist!  Only your dentist can determine if you have gum disease.  We can treat the infection and give you recommendations for treating any breath problems associated with it.
2. There could also be other problems creating bad breath from between the teeth such as tooth decay or trapped food.  Only your dentist can pinpoint for sure the source of your breath odor.

Keep in mind, it’s possible to have gum disease and not have any symptoms such as bad breath.  That’s why visiting your dentist regulary is important so problems can be caught early.

Be sure to check out our previous post on the Fresh Breath Check!

Since gum disease is a bacterial infection of the bone and tissue surrounding the teeth, leaving the disease untreated can lead to:

• Bone loss around the teeth
• Loose teeth
• Eventual loss of teeth

Here are some other reasons to treat your gum condition.  Periodontal (gum) disease has been linked to the following:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Diabetes
• COPD
• Preterm, low birth weight babies in mothers with gum disease

All these health problems are linked to periodontal disease.  By treating gum disease, you may see an improvement in your overall health as well, especially if you have a history of diabetes or heart disease.

I completely understand why many people misunderstand the concept of periodontal maintenance vs. a “cleaning.”  I know I have accidentally called the periodontal maintenance appointment a “cleaning” when talking to patients.

FYI:  While many of the components are the same, a periodontal maintenance appointment has specific guidelines set by the ADA and is performed on patients who have at some point undergone periodontal therapy and thus have a history of periodontal disease. The ADA further mandates that this be performed for the lifetime of your teeth.

Keep in mind, the ADA has set these standards based on the value to your total health not just your dental health.

FYI:  Gum disease can effect anyone at any time.

Bacterial plaque is the main cause of gum disease.    There are many other contributing factors that can affect even those with immaculate home care.

1. Stress
2. Smoking/tobacco use
3. Genetics
4. Diabetes
5. Clenching or grinding your teeth
6. Puberty, pregnancy and menopause in women
7. Medications

Take the Gum Disease Risk Assessment Quiz from the American Academy of Periodontology and find out quickly what your risk level is for gum disease. Keep in mind though even if you rate at low risk, only a licensed dentist can tell you for sure if you have gum disease.