We all know that not brushing and flossing can have a significant impact on your teeth and gums. But not everyone understands the effect that oral health has on your overall health. Brushing and flossing are more important than you might think. Of course, you’re probably aware of brushing and flossing for better dental health, but are you aware that your mouth health can directly affect your overall health?

The mouth is the gateway to your body, and often if you have a healthy mouth, you will have a healthy body. The mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of them harmless. Usually, the body’s natural defences and good oral hygiene, such as daily brushing and flossing, help keep these bacteria under control. However, without proper dental care, bacteria can reach high levels that might lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Diabetes

Inflammation impairs the body’s ability to utilise insulin. By improving your oral hygiene and treating gum disease, you can help bring diabetes under better control.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Treating periodontal disease has been shown to reduce pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

Heart Disease

Though the reasons are still not fully understood, it is clear that gum disease and heart disease often go hand in hand. Up to 91% of patients with heart disease also have periodontitis. It’s suspected that periodontitis has a direct role in raising the risk of heart disease. The theory is that inflammation in the mouth causes inflammation in the blood vessels.

Obesity

Two studies have linked obesity to gum disease. It appears that periodontitis progresses more quickly in the presence of higher body fat.

Pregnancy

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase a woman’s risk of gum related problems. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight. Researchers are looking into the connection, but it is believed that gum infection and inflammation, in general, seem to interfere with a fetus’ development in the womb.

Lung Conditions

Periodontal disease may make pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worse, possibly increasing the number of bacteria in the lungs.

In summary

It’s important to understand that the body and mouth are not separate. Taking good care of your teeth and gums can help you live well for longer. To protect your oral health, practice good oral hygiene every day by doing the following:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste

• Floss or use interdental brushes daily

• Eat a healthy balanced diet and limit snacks between meals

• Replace your toothbrush every three or sooner if needed

• Have regular dental health checks

• Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol

The mouth is one the main gateway into your body people are often surprised to discover the connection between having a healthy mouth and a healthy body. Your mouth is full of bacteria in a healthy mouth most of them generally harmless. The body’s natural defences and good oral hygiene practices, such as twice-daily brushing and interdental cleaning help to keep these bacteria under control. But without good dental care, these bacteria can reach very high levels leading to problems such as gum disease and tooth decay.

Dentists and scientists are looking to see if good oral hygiene practices can also help to defend you against COVID-19. 

Having poor dental health has been associated with the following health conditions:

Diabetes

Gum disease causes inflammation. Inflammation impairs the body’s ability to utilise insulin. By improving your oral health and getting any gum disease treated can help you to bring diabetes under better control.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Gum disease bacteria has been linked to rheumatoid arthritis. Research is still ongoing but the NHS has published some information which makes for interesting reading if your suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. You can read it here…

Heart Disease

It’s clear that heart disease and gum disease often go hand in hand. Up to 91% of patients with heart disease also have periodontitis. It is suspected that periodontitis has a direct role which increases the risk of heart disease. The theory is that inflammation in the mouth causes inflammation in the blood vessels.

Obesity

Periodontal disease occurs in patients more susceptible to inflammation — who are also more susceptible to obesity. It is suspected that by treating one it can directly affect the other. More research is continuing in this area.

Pregnancy

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase a woman’s risk of gum related problems. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight. Researchers are looking into the connection but it is believed that gum infection and inflammation, in general, seem to interfere with a fetus’ development in the womb.

Lung Conditions

Gum disease/periodontitis can worsen chronic inflammation in lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. If your gums are inflamed or infected they can send out a “distress signal” that places the rest of the body on alert.

Having a healthy mouth is an absolute must for better overall health. The mouth and body are not separate and both need to be healthy for improved overall health. Taking good care of your mouth can help you live well for longer. 

Excellent care of your oral health is actually pretty straightforward. It’s a combination of good oral health care and daily practices.

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste

• Floss or use interdental brushes daily

• Eat a healthy balanced diet and limit snacks between meals

• Replace your toothbrush every three or sooner if needed

• Have regular dental health checks

• Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol

If you’re concerned about your oral health please get in touch with us by calling us on 0116 2891317 or emailing us info@smileessential.co.uk

Very early tooth decay can often go unnoticed. Sometimes signs and symptoms of dental decay don’t present themselves immediately and often people will overlook any signs as the tooth decay progresses.

So here are our top 4 early indicators for you to look out for:

1) Discolouration- white, grey or black spots. These could all indicate that tooth decay may be present.

2) Sensitivity- sensitivity to hot, cold and/or sweet things could all be an indicator of tooth decay. If you notice that there is one particular tooth or area that is sensitive and you don’t generally suffer from sensitive teeth, then this could be an indicator of tooth decay.

3) Bad Breath. The bacteria present in tooth decay can cause bad breath. If there is a hole (cavity) in the tooth then the smell could also be coming from food that is being trapped and is rotting.

4) Toothache or tenderness. This is usually the point that someone calls to book an appoinmrnt. Often people will wait until they experience toothache before realising that they have dental decay.

By far the most simple and effective way of detecting early tooth decay is by visiting your dentist. The equipment used by our Leicester dentists will often detect tooth decay before any of the above signals appear and the tooth decay worsens.

If your concerned you may have tooth decay then give us a call or email for advice…

Smoothies

Often fruit smoothies are seen as a healthy drink or snack. But these innocent looking drinks are actually loaded with free sugars. Once the fruit is blended the natural sugars are released from within the cell walls of the fruit and become ‘free sugars’. Any added sugar is also counted as free sugars. 

Tomato ketchup

The tabletop condiment of choice for many us and sadly one of the kiddies favourites. Tomato ketchup has a surprisingly high concentration of sugar. But a tablespoon of tomato sauce equals one teaspoon of sugar! So take it easy with the sauce and limit children’s consumption.

Yoghurt

The BBC reported on a Leeds University study of almost 900 yoghurts – with some containing more sugar per 100g than cola! Yoghurt desserts were top of containing the most sugar with an average of 16.4g per 100g. Surprisingly the second most sugary product was organic yoghurts with a typical 13.1g per 100g. Children’s yoghurts typically contained 10.8g per 100g, the equivalent of more than two sugar teaspoons of sugar, the study found.

Breakfast

Breakfast cereal has come a long way the past several years and actually doesn’t contain as much sugar as it used to. However, some processed cereals are still high in sugar so it’s always important to read the label. But what are other breakfast alternatives? Smoothies, pastries or maybe a cereal bar? All of these are high in sugar. better alternatives are oat-based breakfasts such as porridge or eggs on toast.

Takeaway food

Takeaway food can contain a high level of added sugar. Takeaway Chinese food can contain a shocking amount of sugar. With the popular sweet and sour chicken dish containing around 90 grams of sugar – that’s 10 teaspoons! Taking a closer look at takeaway Chinese food it’s clear to see that it’s the sauces that rack up the sugar content. So choose with caution! But it isn’t just Chinese takeaway that contains a lot of sugar. There are several Indian dishes that are high in sugar such as Chicken Korma and a McDonald’s classic beef burger and strawberry milkshake contains a whooping 67grams of sugars!

Energy bars 

Energy bars are often seen as a good grab and go snack when you need energy. However, the shop-bought version of energy bars often contains around 25 grams of sugar per 100 grams. Not so healthy. If you or you’re family can’t live without an energy bar then a healthier alternative is to make low sugar energy bars at home. 

Takeaway drinks

Do you know how much sugar your favourite takeaway drink contains? The regular Starbuck Cappucino contains 11.4 grams of sugar – nearly 3 teaspoons. This often surprises people as you might assume it contains 0 sugar and add a teaspoon or two, significantly increasing your consumption. If you were to treat yourself to a hot chocolate, then the Starbucks classic hot chocolate in regular size contains 22 grams of sugar – 5 and a half teaspoons. If you opt for something a bit more indulgent let’s say a large Signature caramel hot chocolate using semi-skimmed milk then you would be indulging in 89.1 grams of sugar! That’s 22 teaspoons of sugar! Keep your sugar low by choosing a drink in it’s simplest version e.g. americano, breakfast tea etc, never add syrup or sugar and if you do indulge then choose the smallest size possible.

Sugar guidelines

Adults should have no more than 30g of free sugars a day, (roughly equivalent to 7 sugar cubes). Children aged 7 to 10 should have no more than 24g of free sugars a day (6 sugar cubes). Children aged 4 to 6 should have no more than 19g of free sugars a day (5 sugar cubes).

Find out more about sugar…

1) Make brushing as fun as possible. Little things can mean a lot to little ones. Letting them choose their own toothbrush will help them engage more with cleaning their teeth. You could clean your teeth at the same time and show them how fun it can be making lots of foam.

2) Get digital! Again this is all about making toothbrushing more fun. There are many fun apps and songs you can enlist the help of. There are also electric toothbrushes which you can link to your phone! We wrote another great blog on how technology can help improve your kid’s toothbrushing. You can have a read here…

3) Inspect their cleaning. Get them involved with inspecting the results of cleaning. You should inspect their teeth every time after you brush. Look in a mirror with them and see if you can spot any plaque or food. You can ask older children to run their tongue over their teeth to see if they can feel any areas they might have missed. Disclosing tablets are also a fun way to check how clean their teeth are.

4) Diet. Kids naturally have a sweet tooth and it’s fine for them to indulge in the occasional treat – but the keyword is occasional. Sweets should not be given daily. The frequency of the teeth being subjected to sugar is generally more important than the quantity when it comes to dental care. This is why it’s also a good idea for children to drink water throughout the day rather than juice.

5) Remember the basics. Brushing twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. This advice is the most simple but it’s also the most important. Regular toothbrushing helps to remove plaque build-up and fluoride toothpaste can help to strengthen and repair daily damage. And lets of course not forget about those regular dental check-ups! 

Find out more about children’s dental care…