About Teeth

Your Teeth

The hardest substance in your body is the enamel of your teeth, also known as the crown. The second hardest substance is the dentin of your teeth, also known as the root. Throughout your life, you will have two sets of teeth: primary (baby) teeth and secondary (permanent) teeth. At ages 6-8 months, the primary teeth appear; all 20 are in place by age 3.

Permanent teeth will begin to grow around age 6, and except for wisdom teeth, all are present between ages 12 and 14. Wisdom teeth typically begin breaking through from ages 17 and on. The total number of permanent teeth is 32, though few people have room for all 32 teeth. This is why wisdom teeth are usually removed.

Your front teeth are called incisors. The sharp “fang-like” teeth are canines. The next side teeth are referred to as pre-molars or bicuspids, and the back teeth are molars. Your permanent teeth are the ones you keep for life, so it is vital that they are brushed and flossed regularly and that you schedule periodic checkups.

Gum Disease and Your Heart

The current theory is that bacteria present in infected gums can come loose and move throughout the body. The same bacteria that causes gum disease and irritates your gums might travel to your arteries. Researchers are unsure what causes the bacteria to become mobile, but it has been suggested that bacteria can be dislodged and enter the bloodstream during tasks as simple as brushing, flossing or even chewing.

Research shows that your risk of developing cardiovascular disease varies according to the severity of gum infection. The worse the infection, the more likely the bacteria are to become blood-borne. Infected gums bleed, making it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream. Bacteria can enter through these cuts or sores in your mouth and can travel to other parts of the body through your bloodstream.

If bacteria reach the arteries, they can irritate them in the same way that they irritate gum tissue. This could cause arterial plaque to accumulate, which can cause hardening of the arteries and decrease or block blood flow. Compromised blood flow to your heart can cause a heart attack. Also, arterial plaque can come loose and travel to other parts of the body. If a blockage occurs in the brain, it can cause a stroke.