Newsletter 20 February 2006

According to the Journal of Periodontology, high levels of financial stress and poor coping abilities increase twofold the likelihood of developing gum disease. Dr Robert Genco, chair of the Oral Biology Department at the State University of New York at Buffalo, stated:

“Our studies indicate that the ever-present stress and a lack of adequate coping skills could lead to altered habits, such as reduced oral hygiene or teeth grinding, as well as salivary changes and a weakening of the body’s ability to fight infection.“

People who dealt with their financial strain in an active and practical way (problem-focused) rather than with avoidance techniques (emotion-focused) had no more risk of severe periodontal disease than those without money problems.

A book I’ve written for those looking to understand the body, how stress affects our well being and practical ways to reduce it.

To order, email us at info@authordentist.com

Dr Hans Selye MD, an Austrian Endocrinologist and the father of stress said: “Stress is the non specific reaction of the body to any demand made upon it.“

Further he said that stress is cumulative, the more garbage you put into or onto the body, the more chance your body will creak under the strain and the more you will move from ease to dis-ease. The brain doesn’t differentiate the stressors, for example it recognises lack of finance as a stress to the system, so too poor nutrition, poor oral hygiene or dehydration. The answer is in what you do about it!

Periodontal disease can be eliminated with minimal personal time and financial resources. This is good news when you consider that eliminating periodontal disease also eliminates risk factor for heart disease, respiratory disease and diabetic complications.

I have used Selye’s model in my practice for years. Anyone who has heard me speak will remember just how much emphasis I place on stressors, physical, chemical and emotional. However offering advice on finance has never been in my remit, now as a dentist should it be. However many of the people that I come across are looking for ways to improve financially. Some just don’t feel that they earn enough while others would like to get out of the rat race, do something different and become financially independent.

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