For most people, brushing your teeth for a few minutes twice a day, and perhaps flossing regularly and using mouthwash, is an ingrained habit. And while you may be keen to avoid fillings, few people are aware of the other impacts that oral health has on the body.
“Scientists have identified about 800 species of bacteria found in the oral flora, making the mouth the second richest and diverse microbiome in the body after the gut,” says dentist Dr Safa Al-Naher.
“Without proper oral hygiene, ‘bad’ bacteria can access the rest of the body, resulting in health issues, of which the first signs appear in the mouth. For example, oral thrush, which looks like white spots on your tongue, indicates that the immune system is compromised.” According to Alana and Lisa Macfarlane, authors of The Gut-Loving Cookbook, the mouth is the opening to the intestinal tract (the oral microbiome) making it essential for a healthy gut, which has an impact on so many factors: immunity, mental health and even your skin.
“Every time you swallow, you’re swallowing thousands of bacteria – some bad but, most importantly, some good, meaning the oral microbiome sets the stage for everything that’s to come,” they say. “That means the healthier your mouth and oral microbiome are, the healthier your gut, immune system and entire body.” So, how can you enhance your oral hygiene routines and, as a result, boost your overall health and wellbeing? We asked the experts.
EAT RIGHT
Dietitian Anita Bean recommends a diet rich in crunchy fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, beans, lentils, lean proteins, nuts, seeds and dairy to promote strong, healthy teeth. “And try to limit sticky foods as these tend to stay on the teeth longer,” she says. “If you do eat anything sticky, rinse with water afterwards.”
CHECK YOUR GUMS
Your teeth and jaw bones are continually changing and adapting over time and this is perfectly normal, says Sydney-based dentist Dr Andrew Lee. Changes can happen due to clenching or grinding, but the main reason for structural change in your mouth, especially as you age, is gum disease, he says. A serious infection can result in loss of bone structure making your teeth unstable, especially if a tooth needs to be removed. If you see any bleeding when you brush or floss, have it checked. Most people tend to ignore this issue because it doesn’t hurt, Dr Lee says. “Healthy gums don’t bleed and blood often indicates some level of disease.”
KEEP AN EYE ON ULCERS
You might get ulcers (small, painful patches in your mouth) because of accidental biting, burns or poor oral hygiene – but a number of lifestyle factors can also lead to mouth ulcers, such as deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12 or vitamin C, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking or undiagnosed food intolerances. Alongside addressing these factors, try brushing teeth with a soft-bristled brush, advises dentist Dr Deepak Aulak. “Make sure your toothpaste doesn’t contain sodium lauryl sulphate (a surfactant that’s a known irritant to human skin) and avoid spicy, salty or acidic foods, and rough, crunchy textures,” he says. “Allow hot drinks to cool before sipping and stop chewing gum.”
Did You Know: Eating acts as weight training for your jaw, as it stresses the jaw bone through the teeth and keeps its bone density healthy.
DIGITAL DENTISTRY
What does the future of oral health look like? According to Dr Fadi Yassmin, a longevity and aesthetics dentist, your smartphone will play an integral part as it’ll assist dentists in collecting more info about a patient than ever before. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will then be used to “analyse, diagnose and suggest the most appropriate treatment options” thanks to the technology’s ability to analyse and map all this information against similar data from other patients. What makes this so exciting is that a diagnosis will be much faster and more accurate than ever before. “We’re already able to extend some aspects of this technology into our patients’ homes by offering them an oral wellness subscription program that uses AI-guided at-home monitoring of their overall oral health,” says Dr Yassmin.
SWAP YOUR FLOSS
Studies have found that brushing only cleans up to 60 per cent of your teeth’s surface, so flossing with tape or interdental brushes, which scrape away bacteria between teeth and under your gumline, is a no-brainer. However, according to dental hygienist Theodora Little, floss tape no longer reigns supreme: “Many studies now show that interdental brushes are more effective and easier to use. They give extra support for all-important in-between areas.”
A BIT YELLOW?
You love your coffee and red wine, we get it, but they might be the reason your teeth aren’t so pearly anymore. And while snacking on high-fibre foods, like apples and celery, can help keep your teeth clean, a combination of time and other unhealthy habits might have you looking to go pro when it comes to getting your whites, white again. Whitening treatments can typically be painful and can cause sensitivity for some time afterwards. Dr Yassmin advises opting for a peroxide-free whitening treatment, as “peroxide is known to demineralise teeth leaving them weak, exposed and sensitive”. He suggests Hismile PAP+ , an at-home treatment that uses PAP, an acid that’s just as effective, but won’t cause the irritation associated with traditional whitening treatments.
SWILL AFTER EATING
Mouthwash can be used as part of your oral hygiene routine, but Dr Aulak warns against swilling straight after brushing, or you’ll rinse away the fluoride in your toothpaste. The best time to use mouthwash, he says, is after a meal – when you might be tempted to brush. “Anything that you eat will have sugars of some kind in it,” he says. “So, after you eat, your mouth becomes acidic and drops in pH. This is known as the ‘critical pH zone’. At this time, brushing to increase the pH is harmful, as it brushes the acid into the teeth. So use mouthwash instead.”
CHECK INGREDIENTS
Mouthwash kills bacteria by using antiseptic ingredients, which access crevices between your teeth and hard-to-reach places such as the back of your mouth, eliminating the filmy bacteria that collects there. “Alcohol in mouthwash destroys almost all the bacteria in your mouth – both the good and bad,” says Dr Aulak, who suggests choosing an alcohol-free variety.
3 Clever Tools For A happy Mouth...
WATERPIK WATER ULTRA FLOSSER uses a unique combo of water pressure and pulsations to deep clean between your teeth and below the gumline that traditional flossing won’t get to.
TEPE INTERDENTAL BRUSHES help you get to all those hard-to-reach spots while still being super gentle on your gums.
ORAL B GENIUS 9000 ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH features clever motion sensors and artificial intelligence that learns your brushing style and helps you to brush better.
This article originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of Red UK .
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