Flossing and brushing your teeth, eating a healthy diet and getting regular dental cleanings are the three tenets of preventive dental care. Not only does vigilant preventive care help you avoid bad breath and cavities, it keeps the rest of your body healthy—from your mouth to your heart, digestive system and brain.
In general, preventive dental care for hemophiliacs doesn’t diverge from preventive dental care for everyone. However, if you ever need dental procedures or oral surgery, it’s best to have already established a relationship with a dentist you trust.
Here’s how to manage your oral care and keep your mouth healthy.
Flossing and brushing your teeth, eating a healthy diet and getting regular dental cleanings are the three tenets of preventive dental care.
Find the right dentist.
Depending on where you live, there may not be many dentists nearby who specialize in hemophilia. This is all right, as long as you find a dentist who is comfortable treating you and who will coordinate closely with your hematologist.
Your HTC may have a dentist on staff. If not, they will likely be able to recommend local dentists who are familiar and comfortable working with patients who have hemophilia.
Your MedPro Rx patient representative may also be able to help you find a dentist. Get in touch with us here.
Floss every day and brush twice daily.
Brushing and flossing helps keep plaque from building up on your teeth. This soft film harbors acid-producing bacteria that can damage tooth enamel; if not removed regularly, it can harden into tartar. Plaque can also irritate the gums, leading to gum disease and eventual tooth loss.
In addition to removing plaque below the gum line, floss frees food stuck between teeth, where it can cause irritation. Though you may see some minor bleeding around the gums when you first establish a flossing routine, this will decrease with continued commitment to daily flossing.
Stay up-to-date on cleanings.
In the past, the American Dental Association recommended visiting the dentist once a year for a dental health checkup and teeth cleaning. The association now recommends following your dentist’s advice for a cleaning schedule that’s right for you.
TIP: Schedule your next appointment before you leave the dentist’s office, and put it on your calendar to make sure you stay on track.
Plan ahead for procedures.
In general, you won’t need to infuse factor before a dental cleaning. But, when you need a tooth extraction, root canal or another procedure that may provoke bleeding, coordinate your care before you get in the chair.
Along with factor infusion, some prescription drugs can also help reduce bleeding. These are known as hemostatic agents; they include Amicar®, AviteneTM, Surgicel® and Gelfoam®.
Consult with your HTC or hematologist to determine whether or not you’ll need factor or hemostatic agents, and make sure your dentist is in direct contact with your hematology care provider.
Having hemophilia shouldn’t keep you from getting the dental care you need. Establish good flossing and brushing habits, and you may only need to see your dentist once a year.
Do you have questions? Let us know.