Tina and the body

Circulatory
Respiratory
Digestive
Oral
Liver
Kidney

Oral

Teeth and gums need blood to stay healthy.  Tina causes the vessels that supply blood to oral tissues to shrink up.  Reduced blood supply causes tissues to break down.  With repeated shrinking, the blood vessels don't recover and tissues die.  

Tina also causes dry mouth.  Saliva neutralizes acids in the mouth.  Less saliva means more acid.  Missing brushing and flossing, often something we do when high, can mean that remaining food particles become food for bacteria in the mouth.  Bacteria secrete acid.  Acids eat away at the minerals in tooth enamel and cause holes or weak spots that can turn into cavities.  Inflammation and infection caused by bacteria along the gum line can lead to gum recession which is difficult to reverse and makes teeth more susceptible to further problems.

Concerns:

• Bad breath (halitosis)

• Yellowing of teeth

• Gum inflammation and infection (gingivitis)

• Bleeding gums increase risk for spreading and receiving other infections including sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

• Gum recession

• Tooth decay

• Tooth loss

• Bone loss

TIPS

• Brush and floss your teeth on a regular basis.  Ask your dentist for tips to improve your skills.

• Use sugarless gum to stimulate saliva generation.

• Use non-alcoholic mouthwash to help kill bacteria.  (Alcohol dries the mouth lining).

• Have regular (every 3 – 6 months) cleaning sessions to monitor, minimize and treat gum infections by removing bacterial build-up (plaque).

• Monitor bleeding gums closely.  Minimize infection risk by not being intimate when you and / or your partner’s gums are bleeding.  Wait 30 minutes after flossing/brushing or until bleeding is completely stopped.

• Tend to oral health matters diligently.  Problems tend to only get worse, more painful, and expensive with time.

Adapted from : CrystalNeon.org Permission Pending