Welcome to KidneyTalk!
On this week’s show, Lori
Hartwell and Stephen Furst speak with Cheryl (“ Cher ”) Thomas, a
registered dental hygienist and kidney transplant recipient, who brings up
the intriguing relationship between gum disease and one’s overall health.
What brings a smile to your face? A sparkling, silvery,
five-pound fish on the end of your fishing line? A quiet evening with a good
book? Or maybe even a crisp, juicy, red apple? For Lori, it’s all about
dogs. “When my two dogs are playing and tumbling around, it just makes me
smile,” she relates.
Speaking of dogs, have you ever heard that a dog’s mouth is
cleaner than a human’s? According to this week’s guest, it’s true!
So what are we humans to do? “Everybody has bacteria in their
mouths,” says Cher . “The key is not to have a lot of bacteria.” The first
step toward good oral hygiene, Cher advises, is to keep your mouth clean by
brushing at least twice a day; otherwise, bacteria can build up and cause
problems... and not just in your mouth!
Due to the nature of
chronic kidney disease, kidney patients are more susceptible to
dental-related complications than are people in the general population. As
such, patients should tell their nephrologist about upcoming dental
procedures, which can cause bacteria to spread. Your nephrologist may
prescribe an antibiotic to be taken prior to the procedure. Likewise, your
dentist needs to know if you have chronic kidney disease or are on dialysis,
as this might influence the type of medications prescribed or procedures
performed. For instance, because most hemodialysis patients receive heparin
during dialysis, some dental procedures (such as tooth extractions) should
be done on a non-dialysis day in order to prevent excessive bleeding.
“It’s important to tell your nephrologist that you’re going
to the dentist, and to tell your dentist that you’re a kidney patient,” says
Cher . “An infection anywhere in your body, including your mouth, can make
you become very sick. So your smile is really more important than you
think.”
Important tips that Cher offers to kidney patients in order
to maintain a clean, healthy mouth--and to keep that winning smile--are to
use a soft toothbrush, floss every day, and see a dental hygienist on a
regular basis. Then you can say “Cheeeese” with pride and show off those
pearly whites!
For more information on dental hygiene for kidney patients,
visit Cher’s website, DentalInspirations.org.
Posted week of
September 12, 2006
