Can Kissing Cause Cavities?

Kissing comes with risks. You might fall in love, catch a cold, or be grossed out by bad breath. But did you know that kissing someone with poor oral hygiene could increase your risk for cavities? At my dental office in The Woodlands, we want to explain how this frightening, yet very true, cavity swap can happen.

What Causes a Cavity?

Cavities are caused by the bacteria that naturally form around your teeth and on your gums. Regular cleanings and good oral hygiene keeps that bacteria in check. But when it’s allowed to build up, the bacteria keep multiplying. When this happens, they create acid that eats away at enamel and leads to a cavities. And just like any other virus or bacteria, the ones in your mouth don’t stay put. They can be transferred from one mouth to another. Yep. They are contagious.

It’s Not Just Kissing

Kissing isn’t the only way the bacteria that causes cavities can be transferred from one person to another. People with poor oral hygiene put others at risk doing other activities including:

• Sharing utensils or straws
• Using someone else’s toothbrush (gross!)
• Splitting food

We have heard of people who never had cavities in their lives, suddenly have several after beginning to date someone with gum disease or poor oral hygiene!

Lower Your Risk of Infecting Someone Else

While you can’t necessarily control your partner’s oral health, you can definitely control your own.

• Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day
• Floss at least once every single day
• Don’t use tobacco
• Scrub your tongue
• Maintain regular visits with your Woodlands dentist

Follow these tips and you’re sure to please your partner not only because your kisses will be fresh, but also because you’re not infecting them with cavity-causing bacteria. Now that’s love!

If you keep up with your own oral hygiene, be careful about who you are “swapping spit” with. If you have become a little lax in your habits, show consideration for anyone you might want to share the love with by scheduling a professional cleaning at my dental office in The Woodlands now.

Welcoming new patients from The Woodlands, Spring, and Conroe.

Celebrate Heart Health Month: See Your Dentist in The Woodlands

Why in the world would a dentist be part of your Heart Health Month Celebration? Shouldn't you be seeing a cardiologist for that? Well, maybe. But seeing your dentist is much more important than you may think.

There have been lots of studies over the last few years that show a clear link between your gums and your heart, not only because these organs are part of the same body, but also because of the way inflammation and infection can affect your heart.

Why Gum Infections Can Give You a Heart Attack?

When there is a chronic infection in your body, even in something as seemingly small and insignificant as your gums, the bacteria don’t stay put. They enter the bloodstream and cause your body to produce more proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP), one of the known indicators of cardiovascular disease. Study results published in The New England Journal of Medicine identified elevated CRP levels as an even more accurate predictor of heart attacks than elevated cholesterol levels!

What Exactly is C-Reactive Protein and What Does it Have to Do with Gums?

According to Dr. Thomas Boyden, Jr., the medical director of preventive cardiology at Spectrum Health Medical Group Cardiovascular Services, “Your gums are very vascular, meaning they're full of blood vessels. And your mouth is full of bacteria. If you disrupt the gum layer even a little bit, you're going to get bacteria in your bloodstream, which can go anywhere and trigger inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation is one of the main things that causes damage to blood vessels, including those of the heart."

That’s where C-reactive protein come in. This protein is produced by the liver and goes up in response to inflammation. When high levels of CRP are found in the body, doctors know that infection is present…and more often than not, that infection started in the mouth. In fact, more than 50% of Americans have some form of gum disease, and as a result, an increased risk for heart problems.

What Can You Do?

By following a healthy oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing everyday, avoiding tobacco, and keeping regularly scheduled appointments with your dentist in The Woodlands, you can lower your risk of gum disease and additional whole-body concerns.

I simply do not want my patients to be part of that statistic. If you are due for a checkup and cleaning, please give my Woodlands dental office a call today!

Welcoming new patients from The Woodlands, Spring, and Conroe .