The gum disease experienced by one in three Australian adults could increase the risk of a serious heart attack, Type 2 diabetes and adverse pregnancy outcomes, new research shows.
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) wants to alert people to the very close links between what goes on in their mouths and the far-reaching effects on the rest of the body.
“We asked a cohort of healthy young people with no cardiovascular risk factors, to not brush the same quadrant of their mouths, that’s seven teeth, for three weeks, to see what effect it would have on their health,” said Professor Joerg Eberhard, an oral health scientist and Chair of Lifespan Oral Health at the University of Sydney’s School of Dentistry.
“After three weeks, we measured the inflammation in that quadrant of the mouth and we found the inflammation caused by not brushing there, had reached other parts of their body.
“But as soon as they started brushing that quadrant again, C-reactive protein, a risk marker for heart attacks, went down to normal levels. It’s another clear and concerning link between mouth health and whole of body health.”
It’s a good incentive to take their advice, which is:
- brush teeth twice a day with a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste;
- floss daily;
- eat a diet low in sugar; and
- see your dentist regularly for checkups, which should include a scale and clean which is vital for removing the bacteria that build up and start the process of periodontitis and inflammation.
