February 2013: Heart Month! February is Heart Month! As fate has it, Heart Month hosts Valentine's Day (February 14) and Family Day (February 18), two holidays focused on spending time with loved ones. During February, Heart Health issues will be prominent in the media. This is important to us as Heart Disease and Oral Health share many risk factors. For yourself as well as your loved ones, take some time to learn more about your heart and keeping it healthy! Can taking care of your smile help to protect your health? For as long as we can remember, studies have suggested a link between poor oral health (gum disease in particular) with cardiovascular issues. Experts now suggest that the link between Gum Disease and Heart Disease may be more coincidental than causal. That is not to say that there is no correlation, rather that more research needs to be completed before any definitive link can be established. Experts are sure of one thing though: good oral health is a factor in overall health and well being. For your smile as well as your heart, we encourage you to practice good oral hygiene, maintain scheduled visits to our office and stay physically active throughout the year! Until next month, stay warm and keep smiling, The Team at Dr. Anthony Bastone Dentistry Gum Disease and Diabetes Gum disease is an infection in the gum, bone and tissues. Gum disease may eventually result in unstable base for your teeth, which then become mobile and may fall out or have to be removed. Gum disease (periodontal disease) is a primary cause of tooth loss, and is often linked to diabetes. Diabetes slows blood circulation, which can contribute to the onset of infections of gum tissues. High saliva sugar levels associated with diabetes contribute to the growth of bacteria which causes gum disease. Click here to continue reading. Cozy Chai Latte The cold outside seems to have many of us reaching for a warm drink, often several times a day. While a hot chocolate or specialty coffee may provide temporary comfort from the weather, they often offer several unneeded components as well such as excess sugars and caffeine. Here is a suggestion for a drink you can enjoy with friends that is not only delicious but is warm and loaded with antioxidants. Click here for the recipe!