Why You Should Brush Your Teeth Daily?
No one likes going to the dentist, but you should go every year because why do you want to risk an infection inside your mouth? There are about 700 types of bacteria that can live inside your mouth, though most people only host between 34 to 72 varieties. Some of these bacteria are innocuous, others known as probiotics which help to digest food and help prevent gums. But there are some bad bacteria living in your mouth as well which are called streptococcus mutans. this bacteria feeds on the sugars and starches you eat producing enamel eroding acids as a by- product which can lead to tooth decay. Another bad bacteria is porphyromonus gingivalis which is linked to periodontitis, a serious and progressive disease that affects the soft tissue and the alveolar bone that supports the teeth causing tooth pain and in some cases tooth loss. For most of us our main dental issue will be plaque the film that builds up on your teeth and contains the bacteria that produces enamel destroying acids.
Regular cleanings get rid of plaque but if you don’t clean the plaque from your teeth it hardens into tartar which can go below your gums causing inflammation and infection and that can open a pathway into your bloodstream. once that bacteria is in your blood it can get anywhere. The first place that bacteria fill blood could go is your heart where there’s some evidence that it can lead to atherosclerosis or a hardening of the arteries caused by plaque though this is a different kind of plaque than you’d find on your teeth. the plaque in your arteries is made of cholesterol fatty substances cellular waste products calcium and a clotting agent called fibrin it builds up and thickens the walls of the arteries constricting blood flow and increasing the risk of a heart attack clogged or blocked arteries can also restrict blood flow to the brain increasing risk of stroke.
A recent single hospital study in Osaka, Japan, found that a quarter of stroke victims had a bacteria called cnm-positive S. mutans in their saliva. The researchers acknowledged that it’s a rare bacteria only 10 percent of people have, but it’s still enough to reinforce the link between the oral bacterium and stroke. And mouth bacteria can even follow a path to your brain, increasing risk of dementia. A 2013 study from the University of Central Lancashire found a correlation between the bacteria commonly associated with gingivitis and an immune response that may kill neurons. This could ultimately change the brain in a way consistent with Alzheimer’s disease. And, if that weren’t bad enough, letting bacteria form colonies in your mouth can also lead to lung infections, but not through the bloodstream… Instead you literally breathe oral microbes into your lungs, where it can infect and spread. And your oral health doesn’t just impact your body health, it can be a good indicator of your overall health. For example: gum disease can be a sign of diabetes, painful mucosal lesions are more common in people who are HIV positive, and tooth weakness or loss can be a sign of osteoporosis. So, it should be said that this is a huge “more research is needed” topic since most studies have small sample sizes and need follow-up work. And experts somewhat begrudgingly admit that we just don’t know yet whether treating gum disease can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or dementia. But, really, do you need more motivation for keeping up with dental visits than maintaining good teeth for chewing? Floss! Brush! And above all: go to the dentist!
REFERENCES:
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lif… “Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection — putting the gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes. “
- Defining the Normal Bacterial Flora of the Oral Cavity: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/artic…
