Do clean teeth mean better health?
Clean teeth mean sharper thinking skills. Doctors at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City discovered that good oral hygiene – meaning regular brushing and flossing of teeth and regular trips to the dentist for cleanings and check-ups – can benefit aging adults with their thinking skills. Researchers looked at adults age 60 and over and found that those that had the gum-disease causing pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis were three times more likely to have difficulty remembering a three-word sequence after a period of time. They found that 5.7 percent of the adults and trouble completing specific memory tasks and 6.5 percent failed reverse subtraction tests. [1]
My mother was a dental assistant, so growing up, our family was instilled with a strong regimen of brushing and flossing our teeth each day. To this day, I remember the importance of brushing my teeth after meals and if I don't, something feels slightly amiss. More and more today, there are news reports of the benefits of good oral hygiene, but what are some of the other proven benefits?
Oral cancer prevention: Your dentist will screen you for oral cancer during routine cleanings. This type of cancer is very curable if caught early.
Gum disease prevention: This is a very common problem for people who do not regularly brush, floss, or visit the dentist. It is one of the leading causes for adult tooth loss and can be treated easily if you make time to see your dentist.
Bad breath prevention: No one wants to have bad breath, so to avoid making people squirm or hold their noses when you talk, and make sure to brush and floss on a regular basis. Good oral hygiene is important to preventing bad breath, just like regular showers help prevent nasty body odor.
Positive general health: There have been numerous studies conducted on the effects of poor physical health with gum disease. There have been links made from heart attacks and strokes to gum disease, which shows the extreme importance to maintaining a clean mouth in order to keep your body functioning at its prime.
Smile bright: Maybe one of the most important reasons to keep your mouth healthy is to keep a shining smile for those around you. The face is often the first thing we remember about the people we meet, so keep your pearly whites spotless and bright.
[1] Trouble thinking? Better see the dentist. Reuters.com. Accessed on the Web November 12, 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5AB3DZ20091112
[2] Top 10 Reasons to Have a Dental Cleaning. About.com. Accessed on the Web November 12, 2009. http://dentistry.about.com/od/dentalhe
