At the heart of every good-looking person is a great smile. There’s nothing that can turn a potential love interest off more than nasty teeth or bad breath. It may not seem sexy, but dental care is definitely an important part of self-maintenance.
 
Aside from purely cosmetic reasons, dental health is important to your overall health. Significant dental issues can and do impact other areas of your body, and, in extreme cases, dental neglect can lead to death. Two years ago in Maryland, a young African-American boy died because of a dental infection that spread to his brain. So dental health is not always about looking good; it’s an important part of a health routine.

We talked to two top African-American dentists - Dr. Benjamin Gilbert of the Gilbert Dental Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Dr. Catrise Austin of V.I.P. Smiles in New York City, author of “Five Steps To The Hollywood A-List Smile: How The Stars Get That Perfect Smile and How You Can, Too”  - and asked the questions you probably want answered most.

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BlackAmericaWeb.com: What is the biggest dental issue African-Americans face?

DR. GILBERT: Gum disease or periodontal disease. A lot of patients don’t know that they have it. The same bacteria in periodontal disease are the same bacteria found in heart disease. There’s a proven medical link.


How do you know if you have it?

A dental exam is one way to find out. You may see bleeding gums when you brush or floss, loose gums, or you might start noticing foul odor no matter how many times you brush. Maybe you’ll notice some tartar at the gumline, but the main way to find out is through a dental exam. We probe the [tooth] pockets; we do a clinical exam, and a radiographic exam (X-rays).


How do you prevent gum disease?

Best way to prevent it is brushing and flossing.


Do you really have to floss every day?

Yes. What happens is the brush can’t reach in between teeth and around the gumline as well as floss. Visiting your dentist at least twice a year, but no less than once a year, is best. But some people are predisposed to periodontal disease more than others, whether it’s genetic or hereditary. So some people, even if they do all the right things, they can still be predisposed to gum disease.


Can dental neglect really kill you?

Yes. You've got to remember that your mouth is connected to your head, and your head is connected to the rest of your body, so any infection in your mouth can spread throughout your body.

But a lot of folks don’t have dental insurance. I hope that dental is included in the universal health care plan that President Obama is promoting, but I’m not sure. A lot of folks who don’t have dental insurance also don’t have medical insurance. But there are ways you can get dental care. You can go to free clinics or dental school. They usually have dental care at a very reduced cost, but it’s a lengthier process. Their skill sets are limited sometimes, but you can get good dental care there.


Does candy really cause cavities?

Candy with the sugar and the bacteria equals cavities, but some people are more prone to getting cavities than others. Just like gum disease - some people can do all the wrong things and never have a problem, and some people can do all the right things and always have a problem.


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