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Posted on 7/23/2019 by Elmwood Dental Group |
 Most people have heard the word thyroid and some people probably understand what it does. For you to even care about the effect your oral health has on your thyroid, you should know what it is and why It am important. Your thyroid is a gland that releases hormones. If your thyroid gland is too active it causes you to lose weight and if it is under active it causes you to gain weight. These weight gains and losses are not a few pounds like you get with simple dieting. An over or underactive thyroid gland can cause dangerous weight gains and losses. Your thyroid gland also has the greatest store of iodine in your body. Iodine is a critical substance for the hormones produced by your thyroid gland. These hormones are crucial for your metabolism. The question is what does this have to do with your teeth? How Your Teeth Impact Your ThyroidIf you have a thyroid condition, please be sure that you let us know. That could impact how we treat something as routine as filling a cavity. Your thyroid gland produces four hormones all of which begin by binding with the iodine that your thyroid gland stores. One problem is that the thyroid gland cannot always distinguish between iodine and substances that are similar in structure. If it stores these substances instead of iodine your body may have less iodine than it needs which could lead to hypothyroidism.One of the substances is the amalgam used in silver fillings and one of the ingredients is mercury. The vapors from the mercury can leech into your bloodstream. Unfortunately, it is similar in structure to iodine and your thyroid may store it. If we know you have a thyroid condition, this would not be an option for a filling. If you have a thyroid condition you may also get dry mouth. Many thyroid conditions and some medications reduce the production of saliva. Saliva is essential to your oral health so you will need to produce more saliva if you have a thyroid condition. This is why completing the medical history is so important. We can offer ways to counteract the effects of the condition and develop treatment plans that take your condition into account. |
Contact Information1132 New Britain Ave West Hartford, CT 06110-2421 (833) 432-1457 frontdesk@elmwooddentalllc.com Follow UsClick here to schedule your cleaning |
