Osteoporosis and Your Teeth
Osteoporosis and Your Teeth – Believe it or not, dentists can actually detect whether or not you have osteoporosis, a bone disease reduces the strength of your bones. Watch this video to learn how dentists detect osteoporosis and what you can do to prevent the disease.
Expert: Paul Fletcher, DDS Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, Specialized Dentistry of New York
Transcript
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that gradually reduces the strength and density of your bones. And believe it or not, your dentist may be the first health care professional to notice you have it.
Studies show that there is a link between low bone density and tooth loss. Tooth loss is three times more likely in women with osteoporosis than it is in those who don’t have the disease.
Regular dental exams and X-rays can help dentists detect bone loss in your jaw and around your teeth. Today, the National Institute of Arthritis and Skin Diseases recognizes dental X-rays as a screening tool for osteoporosis.
The most widely used treatments for osteoporosis are drugs called bisphosphonates. These medications slow your bones’ natural cycle of breakdown and regrowth so you retain more bone mass. The most common bisphosphonate is alendronate or Fosamax. It has been associated with very rare but severe side effects. A small number of people have apparently random fractures of the femur and a small number of others experience infection and death of the jaw bone.
To protect all your bones and your teeth, the smart step is to PREVENT osteoporosis. Make sure your diet includes calcium-, magnesium- , phosphorus- and vitamin-D-rich foods such as leafy greens, dairy products and almonds. And get a blood test to check your vitamin D levels–many people are deficient – take a supplement if your levels are low.
Regular aerobic and weight-bearing exercise is also essential for bone health. Aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity a day and strength building work outs 2-3 days a week.
For more information on dental health, watch the other videos in this series.
Last Modified: 2014-01-10
Category: Health and Nutrition, Videos
