Lesson 33

CONNECTION BETWEEN ORAL HEALTH AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS

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Read the text carefully. Pay attention to words in the bold print

It is said that oral health can offer clues about your overall health. Moreover, the problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body.

What is the connection between oral health and overall health? People’s mouth isteeming with bacteria – most of them are harmless. Normally the body's naturaldefenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However, harmful bacteria can sometimes grow out of control and cause oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, dental procedures, medications, or treatments that reduce saliva flow,disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in mouth or breach the mouth's normal protective barriers may make it easier for bacteria to enter the bloodstream.

Oral health may affect, be affected by or contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:

  • Endocarditis. Gum disease and dental procedures that cut your gums may allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. If a patient has a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, this can cause infection in other parts of the body – such as an infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis).
  • Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke may be linked to oral bacteria, possibly due to chronic inflammation from periodontitis.
  • Pregnancy and birth. Gum disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
  • Diabetes. Diabetes reduces the body's resistance to infection putting the gums at risk. In addition, people who have inadequate blood sugar control may develop more-frequent and severe infections of the gums and the bone that holds teeth in place, and they may lose more teeth than do people who have good blood sugar control.
  • HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as mouth ulcers, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
  • Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, which causes bones to become weak and brittle, may be associated with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss.
  • Alzheimer's disease. Tooth loss before age 35 may be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
  • Other conditions. Other conditions that may be linked to oral health include Sjogren's syndrome and eating disorders.

To protect your oral health, resolve to practice good oral hygiene every day. For example: brush your teeth at least twice a day, replace your toothbrush every three to four months, floss daily, limit between-meal snacks, schedule regular dental checkups.

GLOSSARY
affect – wpływać 
arterie – tętnice 
be associated – być powiązanym 
bloodstream – krwiobieg 
breach – naruszyć coś 
brittle – łamliwy 
clogged – zatkane 
contribute – przyczyniać się 
defense – obrona, ochrona 
disrupt – zakłócać 
endocarditis – zapalenie wsierdzia 
grow out of control – rozpanoszyć się 
harmless – nieszkodliwy 
heart valve – zastawka serca
however – jednakże, jakkolwiek
inadequate – nieodpowiedni, niedostateczny
inner – wewnętrzny
lining – wyściółka
moreover – ponadto
overall – ogólny, całkowity
premature – przedwczesny
resistance – odporność
resolve – postanowić
risk factor – czynnik ryzyka
stroke – zawał
teem – roić się od czegoś
ulcers – owrzodzenie
 

Find antonyms of the following words
1. outer – …………………………….
2. attack – ……………………………
3. strong/resistant – ………………….
4. full-term – …………………………
5. harmful – …………………………..
6. sufficient – …………………………

Match definitions with terms from the table

 

osteoporosis artery heart valve
 
stroke blood stream cardiac arrest
 
diabetes endocarditis

premature birth

 

1. ____________ – inflammation of the membrane that lines heart chambers.
2. ____________ – labor before a due date. 
3. ____________ – the muscular elastic tubes that form a branching system and that carry blood away from the heart to the cells, tissues, and organs of the body.
4. _____________– muscular organ that controls one-way flow of blood. 
5. ____________– a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain.
6. ____________– the blood flowing through the circulatory system.
7. ____________ – failure of the pumping action of the heart, resulting in loss of consciousness and absence of pulse and breathing: a medical emergency requiring immediate resuscitative treatment.
8. ____________ – any of several disorders characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood and increased urine production.
9. ____________– a disease in which the bones become extremely porous, are subject to fracture, and heal slowly, occurring especially in women following menopause and often leading to curvature of the spine from vertebral collapse.

Look at this short extract. Complete the text with proper forms of words in brackets.

“There are a lot of studies that 1)__________ (SUGGESTION) that oral health, and gum disease in particular, are 2)_____________ (RELATION) to serious conditions like heart disease.So can preventing periodontal disease, a disease of the gums and bone that support the teeth, with 3)____________ (BRUSH) and flossing prevent heart disease?
The evidence isn't clear yet, experts say, but it's 4)_____________ (INTRIGUED). In general, people with periodontal disease are almost 5)______________ (TWO TIMES) as likely to have coronary artery disease (also called heart disease). And one study found that the presence of common problems in the mouth, including gum disease (gingivitis), cavities, and missing teeth, were as good at 6)___________ (PREDICTION) heart disease as cholesterol levels.
Everyone should make a special effort to 7)___________ (PREVENTION) oral health problems. That's especially 8)___________ (TRUTH) for people who are at higher risk of developing heart disease. If one already has periodontal disease, he/she certainly shouldn't ignore it. In many cases, one may just need to learn 9)_________ (GOOD) brushing and flossing habits. More 10)____________ (ADVANCE) cases of periodontal disease may require a trip to the dentist for a careful cleaning of the roots of the teeth, called scaling and root planning, or surgery.”


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