TEETHING ISSUES

Brush twice a day with the occasional floss? Good for you. But there’s always room for improvement, as experts reveal why giving your mouth its due is a win for your health words SARAH-JANE CORFIELD-SMITH

There’s nothing quite like a Sunday spent ticking off items on your self-care to-do list – cut and blow-dry, leafing through a new book, a fridge freshly stocked with fruit and veg, maybe even a skin-pepping facial if you’re feeling particularly flush. But we’ll take a punt that on such a Sunday, your teeth and gums don’t factor highly, if at all. Beyond the twice-daily clean and a half-arsed swill of mouthwash – if your gnashers are lucky – the average Brit far from prioritises the health of their mouth. And the negative impact of that goes beyond a yellowish tinge blamed on years of sipping cappuccinos.

DOWN IN THE MOUTH

A 2017 NHS survey revealed that only half of the 800,000 Brits questioned had visited a dentist in the previous two years. Shame. Combine that with Yougov numbers that reveal only 67% of people brush their teeth at least twice a day and a staggering 68% don’t floss ever, and it’s clear that your mouth is far lower down the pecking order than it should be. And beyond the four walls of your bathroom? ‘There’s still a fear of going to the dentist,’ says Dr Harvey Grahame, clinical director at smilepod.co.uk. ‘Fear of the pain and the cost of treatment, and I think a lot of people don’t want to be told off by a dentist for neglecting their teeth. However, if you wait until it’s too late, the original issue becomes far worse.’ Yikes. These issues aren’t just limited to your gob, either. ‘The mouth is often referred to as the gateway to your body, because disease in the mouth can be directly linked to disease elsewhere in the body,’ explains Dr Mihir Shah, head dentist at Battersea Park Dental (batterseaparkdental.co.uk). ‘If you have an unhealthy mouth – which can lead to gum disease, a common chronic inflammatory disease characterised by destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth, resulting in bleeding gums, tooth mobility and tooth loss – your risk of heart problems is increased,’ explains Dr Shah. Sounds unlikely, but it’s true, thanks to grim bacteria found in plaque. The inflamed and swollen gums caused by gum disease make it easier for this bacteria to enter the bloodstream, then make its way into the heart and attach itself to fatty deposits in the blood vessels. This may lead to blood clots, which can cause heart attacks. Gum disease and diabetes are also proving themselves to be unhappy bedfellows, but cosy nonetheless. Research published by the European Federation of Periodontology shows how germs from infected gums that have escaped into the bloodstream can lead to a rise in blood sugar levels and inhibit your body’s ability to control them. A study published in the Journal Of Clinical Periodontology, monitoring 13,734 participants over 10 years, discovered that people who already have kidney problems are more prone to periodontitis (serious gum infection) than those without. The research team is now investigating the link between gum and kidney disease further to find out whether treating gum disease and maintaining good oral health can improve the overall wellbeing of patients with kidney disease. ‘It may be that gum disease makes kidney disease worse, or vice versa,’ says dentist Praveen Sharma, co-author of the study. ‘Or they may just both exist independently of each other in certain susceptible people.’ More alarmingly, the research has revealed that if you have both issues, your life expectancy shortens, with those who have both periodontitis and chronic kidney disease having an all-cause mortality rate of 41% at 10 years, compared with 32% for those with chronic kidney disease alone.

BABY TEETH

Pregnant? Exemplary oral health is just as important as your daily dose of folic acid. ‘Pregnancy results in a sharp rise in levels of the sex hormones oestrogen and

progesterone within your body, which can cause inflammation and increase the risk of breakdown of your teeth’s supporting structures,’ says dentist Shiva Abbassighadi. Why? ‘There are hormone receptors within the gum, and over-stimulation during pregnancy leads to more inflammation than usual and therefore a susceptibility to gum disease,’ she explains. What’s more worrying? ‘There have been studies that show a link between gum disease during pregnancy and premature birth,’ adds Abbassi-ghadi. ‘Periodontal disease releases inflammatory cells and bacteria into the bloodstream that may reach the feto-placental unit – the foetus and placenta functioning as a combined endocrine system – and result in premature birth.’ It’s why women are offered free dental care on the NHS throughout pregnancy and for 12 months after they have given birth. It’s also essential to take extra care if you’re suffering with morning sickness, as vomiting frequently can erode tooth enamel. Whatever you do, don’t brush them immediately after being sick. This is when they’re most vulnerable, and brushing may lead to tooth wear. Pregnancy or no pregnancy, all dental experts agree that making your oral hygiene a daily priority is key not only to maintaining a healthy mouth and a set of pearly whites, but to ensure no negative impact on your overall health.

BRUSHING UP

Up for upping your game? Begin by cleaning your teeth with as much TLC as you show your face. Consider two minutes twice a day with an electric brush (research has shown that using oscillating and rotating electric toothbrushes over manual ones is better at reducing plaque) nonnegotiable and turn your attention to cleaning between your teeth. Fail to remove the plaque in those hard-to-reach areas and it will lead to build-up, chronic inflammation and eventually gum disease in susceptible individuals. You also need to start flossing at least once a day. Not sure where to start, or which product is best for you? Abbassi-ghadi says it’s all about personal preference, and that no one tool is better than the other. However, there is still a limit to what can be achieved at home. ‘A deep clean above and below the gum line ideally needs to be carried out by a dental care professional at least every six months, and regular dental hygiene examinations that monitor and maintain the condition of your mouth are highly recommended,’ adds Abbassi-ghadi. Schedule a clean, then together you and your dentist can work out a personalised treatment plan. Starting from around £30 a pop, it’s easier on the wallet than that massage you consider ‘essential’. So, become best mates with your dentist now and it’s not just your mouth that’ll benefit. Because nothing will erode your selfie confidence quicker than a missing tooth.