March 26, 2009
Oral health equals overall health
Studies show poor gum health is linked to many serious diseases, including diabetes, obesity, stroke, cancer and heart disease
In these gloomy economic times, it is natural to look for ways to cut expenses. However, skimping on good oral hygiene habits can lead to costly illness, according to dental professionals.
'There is a clear connection between oral health and the health of many body organs, including the heart,' explained
Dr Ari Rosenblatt, a periodontist in Beverly Hills, California.
'Getting regular dental cleanings and paying careful attention to oral health can have a huge impact on a person's entire physical well-being.'
Dozens of studies in recent years have revealed an overwhelming link between a person's oral health and the health of his body.
Conversely, poor gum health is considered a contributing or aggravating factor in many serious diseases, including diabetes, obesity, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and heart disease.
The link between chronic periodontitis and cardiovascular disease was reported in the Journal Of Periodontology in December 2007. That article summarised the findings of 11 other studies that confirmed this link.
Last June's issue of the same journal found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis were nearly eight times more likely to have periodontal disease than healthy people after factoring in age, gender, education level and tobacco use.
Periodontal diseases may also contribute to the progression of diabetes, according to a study in last June's issue of The Lancet Oncology.
Diabetics are already more susceptible to periodontal diseases, including advanced stages of it. The same issue of that journal reported that men with a history of gum disease also have significantly greater risk of kidney, pancreatic and blood cancers than men with healthy gums.
Women need to take care as well. Hormonal changes throughout a woman's life can make them more susceptible to periodontal disease and youth is no protection.
Women as young as 20 taking oral contraceptives were more prone to gum bleeding and periodontitis than women not taking them, according to studies published in the Journal Of Periodontology.
Post-menopausal women with excessive oral bacteria have a much higher risk of bone loss.
The American Academy of Periodontology warns that people under stress, whether due to the battered economy or other reasons, may be more likely to take up damaging habits such as smoking and drinking and neglect their health.
Fifty-six per cent of participants in a study, who identified themselves as being under stress, admitted to neglecting to brush and floss their teeth regularly, according to February's issue of the Journal Of Periodontology.
Stress can also lead to the release of the hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol in the bloodstream over prolonged periods can lead to a more destructive form of periodontal disease.
Fortunately, a good oral hygiene regimen can prevent many of these serious diseases. Knowing that you are taking charge of your oral health may also reduce at least one layer of stress.
'In today's difficult economy, it would be easy to skimp on oral hygiene and dental cleanings,' observed Dr Rosenblatt, 'but this would be penny-wise and pound-foolish. The risk of periodontal disease, and possibly other diseases that could result from it, is a price that no one wants to pay.'
Featurewell
ORAL HYGIENE
What you should do to maintain good dental hygiene:
§ Get professional cleaning twice a year.
§ Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
§ Replace toothbrushes every three or four months or as soon as the bristles are frayed.
§ Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner which helps remove plaque and food particles between teeth and under the gum line where toothbrushes do not reach.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis were nearly 8 times more likely to have peridontal disease
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