Oral health: A window to your overall health. Mayo Clinic staff

Your oral health is more important than you may realize. Get the facts about how the health of your mouth, teeth and gums may affect your general health.

Did you know that your oral health can offer clues about your overall health? Or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Understand the intimate connection between oral health and overall health and what you can do to protect yourself.

 

What's the connection between oral health and overall health?

Your mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of them harmless. Normally the body's natural defenses 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 your mouth or breach the mouth's normal protective barriers may make it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream.

 

What conditions may be linked to oral health?

Your 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 you have 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 — a severe form of gum disease.
• 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 painful mucosal lesions, 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 — an immune system disorder — and eating disorders.

Be sure to tell your dentist if you're taking any medications or have had any changes in your overall health — especially if you've had any recent illnesses or you have a chronic condition.

 

How can I protect my oral health?

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.
• Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks.
• Schedule regular dental checkups.

Also, watch for signs and symptoms of oral disease and contact your dentist as soon as a problem arises. Remember, taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health.
 

Women's Hormones Now Associated With Gum Disease

Women, keep those toothbrushes and dental floss handy. A comprehensive review of women's health studies by Charlene Krejci, associate clinical professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, has shown a link between women's health issues and gum disease.

Across the ages, hormonal changes take place during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. Krejci found female hormones that fluctuate throughout women's lives can change conditions in the mouth that allow bacteria to grow, enter the blood, and exacerbate certain health issues like bone loss, fetal death and pre-term births.

Her overview of the literature was reported in the article, "Women's Health: Periodontitis and its Relation to Hormonal Changes, Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Osteoporosis" in the May issue of Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry.

The Case Western Reserve University periodontist reviewed 61 journal articles with nearly 100 studies for a collective answer on whether hormones have a relationship to gum disease and specific women's health issues like preterm labor, bone loss, and the side effect of hormonal replacement therapy.

"There's definitely a gender-specific connection between women's hormones, gum disease, and specific health issues impacting women," Krejci said.

"Although women tend to take better care of their oral health than men, the main message is women need to be even more vigilant about maintaining healthy teeth and gums to prevent or lessen the severity of some of women-specific health issues," Krejci said.

In addition to the brushing and flossing daily regimen, Krejci recommends visiting the dentist at least every six months, and more if there are any gum problems found or women suffer from bone loss or are pregnant.

She added that it is widely known that hormones cause some women gum problems during pregnancy. Women already susceptible to gum disease before being pregnant, she advises, need to make sure that these oral problems are treated.

Although women were once discouraged from seeing the dentist while pregnant, she said that scaling and planing of the roots of teeth to eliminate some gum disease is now recommended during pregnancy for women. Severe gum disease requiring surgery is still generally postponed until after the baby's birth.

Gum disease begins with the build up of bacterial plaque on the teeth and under the gums. Untreated it can cause irritation and inflammation during which harmful and toxic byproducts are released. These toxins erode the bone that anchors teeth and cause breaks and bleeding in the gums.

Published by Medical News Today - May 31, 2012.  See original article here. 

 

Is Starting a Franchise From Home for You?

Franchising isn't always the easiest way to start a business. But now there are a growing number of opportunities that you can launch from the comfort of your home.

For many, the holy grail of business ownership is finding a legitimate, low-cost, home-based business opportunity. Well, the search is over (for some of you) — many franchises now offer turnkey, home-based opportunities for franchisees seeking a flexible, low-cost way to start a business. What’s behind this growing trend, and what do you need to know to succeed as a home-based franchisee?

The home-field advantage

First, know that home-based business is big, and getting bigger. According to a recent survey conducted by the Small Business Success Index (produced by Network Solutions and the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business) and analyzed by Emergent Research, there are about 6.6 million home businesses nationwide that generate at least 50 percent of their owners’ household income. In total, these businesses employ more than 13 million people.

As technology makes it easier to work from home, and remote work becomes widely acceptable, the stigma that once clung to home-based businesses has faded. But beyond technology, what’s spurring the current surge in home-based franchising is the economy. “With virtually no financing available for startups during the past few years, people are looking for every possible way to reduce the investment needed to start a new business,” says Jeff Elgin, CEO of FranChoice, a network of franchise referral consultants.

Starting and maintaining a storefront franchise is costly. In contrast, says Joel Libava (The Franchise King), franchise ownership advisor and author of “Become a Franchise Owner,” “Most home-based franchises have a total investment of well under $100,000, which includes the up-front franchisee fee, equipment, inventory and working capital.” Some opportunities cost less than $10,000.

What types of franchises can be run from home? Cleaning franchises Jan-Pro and Jani-King were pioneers in the home-based franchising industry, says Libava, but many other business-to-business services also work well from home.

In fact, your options extend far beyond B2B or even service businesses. “Twenty years ago, there weren’t as many options. But today, there’s a huge range of franchises to choose from,” says Franchisesmarts founder Maria Anton. Anton, who has been tracking the franchise industry for more than 25 years, cites fitness, travel agencies, pet services, sports leagues, photography, dry cleaning delivery, children’s extracurricular activities or tutoring services, and maid services as just a few home-based franchise opportunities.

In the past few years, Elgin has seen more product-based businesses — such as carpet, blinds, shelving and closet installation companies — offer home-based opportunities. “They usually sell products by going to the customer’s home and using a computer to make presentations,” he explains.

Franchise Business Review and the International Franchise Association are good starting points for information about various home-based franchises.

What you need to know

What should you know before investing in a home-based franchise? First, while they may cost less than traditional opportunities, “they’re not dirt cheap,” warns Anton. Although janitorial service franchises can be had for as little as $2,500, Elgin says, other service-based franchises typically range from $25,000 to $60,000.

If significant equipment is involved, the total investment can reach $125,000. (However, most franchisors at this investment level offer equipment financing, keeping your cash outlay manageable.) Elgin cautions that it’s “virtually impossible” to get financing for startup costs, so unless the franchisor provides in-house financing, be prepared to cover the initial investment yourself.

“Don’t think that just because they tend to be in the lower end of the investment spectrum, home-based franchises are less risky,” says Libava. “They’re not. They’re just less money.” As with any franchise investment, you should investigate the opportunity thoroughly before signing a contract or investing money.

While getting in on the ground floor of a new home-based franchise may sound tempting, Elgin strongly discourages it. “The risk of being a pioneer is too high,” he warns. “You’re paying for a track record of success, so be sure the company has one.” Call existing franchisees and thoroughly assess their satisfaction with the franchisor, its support and their results.

Part of what you pay for as a franchisee is brand recognition. “Being part of a national chain gives you more credibility than being, say, Steve’s Cleaning Service,” Anton explains. Since you won’t have a storefront to attract customers, the franchisor’s marketing and advertising support will be critical to your success. Ask what kinds of services they offer.

In addition to assessing the opportunity, take a good look in the mirror. Do you have what it takes to succeed as a home-based franchisee? If you think you’ll spend most of your time at home in your pajamas, think again. “Home is where you do your paperwork, but most business will take place outside of the home,” Libava explains.

Making it work

Once you’ve chosen your home-based franchise, approach it as a serious, full-time business, Anton says. “Part-time opportunities are kind of a myth,” agrees Libava — most home-based franchisees require a full-time commitment.

But while home-based franchising requires hard work, it also has the potential for great rewards. “Some of these low-investment franchises have the highest rates of return in all of franchising,” says Elgin. With proper research and the right attitude, you can be one of many happy, home-based franchisees.

Story by Rieva Lesonsky, Published May 17, 2012, Business on Main.  Read the original story here. 

For information about our unique absentee-owned franchise business model, go to www.dentalsupportplus.com.