Hepatitis and Oral Health
Certain medical conditions like hepatitis can increase your risk for oral infections and other oral health issues. At Sunrise Dental, part of our comprehensive dental exam involves reviewing your medical history. If you suffer from hepatitis, we can customize your dental treatment to minimize your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
What Is Hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is often caused by a virus. The Hepatitis C variant presents the greatest threat because vaccines cannot prevent it, and it cannot be completely cured. However, all forms of hepatitis can have negative effects on your dental health.
Hepatitis and Dental Health
The link between periodontal disease and hepatitis C is inflammation. The bacteria that cause gum disease also increase inflammation throughout the body—including the liver. Published findings from the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine
suggest that hepatitis C can be linked to tooth decay, oral lichen planus, and Sjogren’s syndrome.
- Tooth decay starts with acid attacks from plaque-forming bacteria. If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to root canal infections, gum disease, and tooth loss.
- Oral lichen planus is a chronic but non-contagious disease that causes white patches, redness, and swelling in your mouth.
- Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that inhibits saliva production and causes dry mouth.
Dental Treatment for Hepatitis Patients
Maintaining a proper dental care routine through any illness can make all the difference to your oral health. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash every day, drinking lots of water, and eating tooth-friendly foods can all help prevent tooth decay, but it’s important to schedule regular dentist visits as well.
Sunrise Dental in Peoria offers non-invasive, painless diode laser treatments that remove inflamed gum tissue and kill infectious bacteria. Combined with professional teeth cleaning and antimicrobial gels, our non-surgical treatments can help stabilize periodontal disease and prevent tooth loss. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.
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