Heartwarming Smiles Campaign Launched

Recently, WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease,
partnered with Colgate-Palmolive to launch Heartwarming Smiles, an
initiative to help educate women throughout the U.S. about the impact proper
oral care can have on their heart health.

Heartwarming Smiles will focus on empowering women by providing the knowledge
and tools needed to make positive lifestyle changes to help reduce their risk of
heart disease. The campaign’s online resource, www.womenheart.org/ourPartners/heartwarmingsmiles.cfm,
is specifically designed to encourage women to talk with their physician to
discuss their overall health and the simple changes they can make to help reduce
the risk of heart disease and improve their oral care.

So, what inspired the Heartwarming Smiles Campaign? If you’re a dentist or
physician, you know that poor oral health, specifically gum disease, may impact
heart health. More and more research is suggesting a link between the two.
However, the general public is largely unaware of this connection. It’s no
surprise that this is the case, as evidenced by a recent national survey that
found:

• More than half (53%) of Americans with primary care physicians report that
  they never discuss their oral health during appointments with them.
• More than one in three (35%) Americans visiting dentists regularly say that
  they never discuss any non-dental medical issues during their dentist
  visits.

“Since heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans, it is
increasingly important that patients take the initiative to establish open lines
of communication with their doctors and dentists,” said Elizabeth Klodas, M.D.,
F.A.C.C., President, Preventive Cardiology Consultants (Edina, Minnesota).
“Patients need to inform their physicians and dentists of any major oral health
issues or heart conditions they may have to ensure optimal care. Patients should
ask about measures available that may help improve their overall health, like
using Colgate Total, an antibacterial toothpaste that fights plaque and
gingivitis, an early form of gum disease.”

So, what’s the takeaway here for dentists and primary care physicians? Talk
to your patients. If your a dentist don’t take the approach that medical issues
unrelated to your patients oral hygiene is not your concern. The same goes for
physicians – don’t neglect to talk with your patients about oral hygiene issues.
This information can only help you to perform your job better and better serve
your patients.

For more information about the Heartwarming Smiles Campaign, or to access
tools to educate your female patients about the oral hygiene/heart health link,
visit womenheart.org.