Help Your Heart By Brushing Your Teeth Find out how!

Sounds crazy but it’s true! We ask dental health experts about why and how we should be cleaning up

We take our teeth for granted until we have problems with them. Fortunately, gum disease is reversible.

“Gum disease may increase your risk of all kinds of other health complications, including stroke, diabetes and heart disease,” says “King of Smiles” Dr Richard Marques ( WWW.WIMPOLESTREETDENTAL.COM). “Only one in three people is aware of the heart disease link. Gum disease can develop into infections which can then affect the general health of an individual.”

“If plaque is not removed correctly, it hardens and becomes calculus, also known as tartar,” says Dr Anita Hyare ( WWW.BILLERICAY DENTALSTUDIO.CO.UK). “This builds up along the gum line and causes inflammation of the gums which results in the gums coming away from the tooth surface.

“If left untreated, this can result in bone loss around the teeth. This can lead to mobile teeth and eventually tooth loss. Gum disease can be treated and kept under control providing you clean well, have regular check-ups and hygiene visits.”

She recommends “brushing twice a day, cleaning every single surface of the tooth. Floss and use interdental brushes to help to clean between the teeth at least once a day. Use a fluoride toothpaste, preferably 13501500ppm fluoride. Studies have shown that power toothbrushes with oscillating heads are most effective, however they still need to be positioned correctly.

“For manual toothbrushes, choose a small to medium sized head with soft to medium bristles. The head should be able to reach all surfaces of the teeth.”

“I wish more people would floss their teeth and reduce their sugar intake,” adds Dr

Marques. “These are two things that can really affect overall dental health. Drink any fizzy drinks or fruit juices through a straw. Use an electric toothbrush such as the Sonicare Diamond Clean (with a whitening mode). Coconut oil pulling (rinsing with coconut oil as a mouthwash) is really great as it removes plaque and toxins between the teeth. You must clean between the teeth, either by flossing, interdental brushing or using a waterflosser (such as the Philips Airfloss).”