Costco Connection - June 2008

for y our health

By Angela Pirisi

OVER THE PAST decade, research has been probing the links between oral and physical health. And while more evidence is needed, there’s enough to suggest that the state of your mouth can affect your overall health.

The most noted health links are between gum disease and heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as low-weight babies and pre-term births. Given the diabetes epidemic, oral health is even more significant as a strategy for disease prevention and management.

Several studies have shown that the more advanced the gum disease, the higher the risk of these conditions. According to one theory, signs of gum disease may simply be red flags for disease development elsewhere in the body. Another theory suggests that oral bacteria can slip past the gum line and enter the bloodstream. However, more studies are needed to pinpoint gum disease as the cause.

“The thought is that bacteria that cause gum disease are also found in the body, and can cause inflammation and infection in the same way,” says Dr. Darryl Smith, president of the Canadian Dental Association, who practices dentistry in Valleyview, Alberta. “We once thought of the mouth as something separate from the rest of the body, but now we know that diseases that affect the mouth can also affect other parts.”

Just as bacteria and plaque (the result of built-up, hardened bacteria and deposits) can cause inflammation and infection in the gums and teeth, they can wreak havoc wherever they travel within the body. The clincher is that the mouth is the “gatekeeper” for bacteria and can either keep them out or let them in, past the gum line and into the bloodstream.

Here’s what research findings have reported so far about gum disease:

BRANDXPICTURES

Brush away illness
Take care of teeth to promote good health
Keeping oral
bacteria at bay

■ It seems to worsen blood sugar control in diabetics; however, good oral care improves blood sugar control.

■ It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially stroke, by 1.04- to 2.8-fold.

■ It increases the risk of having a pre-term birth by 4 to 7. 9 times.

“The new findings basically echo what we already know as common sense, such as making healthy choices to prevent or manage diabetes and heart disease, and in pregnancy,” says Smith.

The whole idea behind good oral hygiene is not to let bacteria get a foothold. What’s the harm in skipping that brushing tonight? Bacteria start to build up on teeth within 20 minutes of eating, and it takes oral plaque only 24 to 36 hours to harden into tartar. It’s like that phrase “Build it and they will come”—once tartar clings to the gum line, bacteria start invading and multiplying.

OK, YOU KNOW you should visit your dentist every six months, brush your teeth twice a day and floss once daily. Here are a few more things you need to know.

■ Limit between-meal snacking, especially sugar-or acid-based foods. Your teeth are exposed to bacte-ria-causing substances each time you eat.

■ When you brush,

brush for at least two minutes at a time, so hum your favorite song.

■ Floss before you brush. It helps to clear out excess food deposits that your brush can’t reach easily. Not flossing means you’re missing one-third of your tooth surface.

■ Quit smoking. Even secondhand smoke exposure increases the chances of gum disease.

■ Drink water between brushings. It beats sweet beverages. Rinse your mouth with water following any meal or snack to clean away

sugar and acid, which lay out a welcome mat for bacteria.

■ Get your fluoride fill.

Use a toothpaste containing fluoride and drink water that is fluoridated. Tap water wins out over bottled water for fluoride.

■ Avoid late-night snacking. Don’t indulge in snacks or beverages that contain sugar within one to two hours of bed unless you rinse and brush your teeth afterwards.—AP

The good news is that there are new and improved ways to guard your teeth and gums. Oral care has come a long way, from chewing on a twig to clean one’s teeth in 3500 B.C. to state-of-the-art power brushes and multitask-ing toothpastes that clean, whiten, disinfect and protect, and more. But advances in oral care lately have been going beyond brightening teeth and freshening breath, with a number of oral-care innovations, such as toothpaste with 12-hour antibacterial protection, oral rinses, electric flossers and toothbrushes with timers to step up the fight against gum disease and tooth loss by making it easier to clean teeth and gums better.

Face it: Your smile may make a first impression, but how well you look after your mouth may leave a lasting impression on your whole health. “Oral health is just part of healthy lifestyle choices we know we should make and healthy habits we know we should be practicing, such as exercise, nutrition and hand washing,” says Smith.

So, will there come a day when we tell our kids, “Brush your teeth—it’s good for your heart”? It’s not that clear-cut yet, but it’s probably safe to say, “Brush your teeth—it’s good for your health.” C

Angela Pirisi is a Hamilton, Ontario–based freelance writer who covers health, fitness and nutrition. Her work appears frequently in The Costco Connection.