Bad oral hygiene can have a massive impact on overall health
Dental experts claim that the habits of people in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire need to change
Maintaining good oral health is essential for overall well-being, yet many people neglect this aspect of life, according to Dr. Sulaman Anwar, a periodontist, and Dr. Ben Atkins, the past president of the Oral Health Foundation
IN Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, 20% of the public say they lack the requisite dental access in their area to properly care for their teeth.
The Oral Health Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving oral health, runs a national Smile Month campaign to raise awareness. Dr. Atkins encourages individuals to visit their website, dentalhealth.org, to find valuable information, engaging games, and useful tips to encourage children to brush their teeth regularly.
Maintaining good oral health is crucial for cardiovascular health, as poor oral hygiene has been associated with an increased risk of heart problems.
Atkins told greatest Hits Radio BBH: "If your gums bleed, you're basically letting bad bacteria into your system. So what happens? Those bacteria go around into your heart into the little arteries that supply your heart and build thickness up in there so they increase the risk of a heart attack over a long, long period.
"So that's why your oral health is part of the the marathon of the health of your body till you're older. So by having good oral health as a child, as a young adult, you are really putting the groundwork in and having a really good old age. And the longer you look after yourself, the better. Because when it comes down to it, health is a is a marathon. It isn't Sprint."
One alarming statistic revealed during the interview is that one-third of people neglect to brush their teeth before bedtime. Dr. Sulaman explains that bedtime brushing is especially crucial.
He said: "The most important time to be brushing your teeth is at night because of all the food you've eaten throughout the day. If you're leaving it there, it's actually kind of remaining there. You're not producing enough saliva when you're sleeping. It's actually rotting away and it's predisposing you to getting tooth decay and a lot of gun problems and inadvertently, then that causes lots of health issues, which is what we're really concerned about.
"And a lot of people aren't aware about because historically what we've done is we've kind of disassociated the mouth and treated it as a separate entity. And dental health is different to kind of medical health, but actually."
"Any dental issue will lead to the rest of your body not being happy. And if you've general health isn't good, your mouth isn't gonna be happy.
The interview also highlighted the surprising connection between oral health and sexual health.
Dr Anwar added: "We know bacteria in the blood stream will travel down all the way to the heart, to the brain, but also to the lower regions, and that that can have a knock on effect on men's sexual health ."
Furthermore, the interview shed light on the connection between oral health and other medical conditions, such as dementia.
Atkins stressed: "What we're finding is the bacteria in our mouth is being found all around the body and it showed that only 11% of us recognised the link between good oral health and the rest of our body. What we're finding as dental practitioners, is that evidence is growing and growing and growing year on year and we'll speak to our patients about improving oral health. So dementia is just one other area that we're really working with and working with all the different research areas and they're all saying, 'Wow'. All health is so important."
Both Dr. Sulaman and Dr. Atkins emphasize that oral health is crucial for women, particularly during pregnancy. Hormonal imbalances during the gestation period can affect gum health, leading to complications such as gum disease and premature birth. Taking care of oral health can contribute to a smoother pregnancy and better overall health outcomes for both the mother and child.
The interview also dispelled a common misconception regarding brushing teeth immediately after meals. Contrary to popular belief, it is recommended to wait for about an hour before brushing. This is because the teeth become slightly softer after eating, and brushing immediately can damage the enamel. Instead, it is advised to brush first thing in the morning and wait for about 45 minutes to an hour after meals before brushing again.
Dentists across Bucks, Beds, and Herts are calling on individuals to prioritize their oral health. By adopting simple practices such as brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, and maintaining regular dental check-ups, people can significantly reduce the risk of dental problems and improve their overall well-being. It's crucial to understand that oral health is not separate from general health; they are interconnected, and neglecting one can impact the other. Let us take heed of these appeals and make oral health a priority in our lives.