Take that smile to heart

A perfect smile does have an effect on your heart, but not quite in the way you think.

Everyone hates plaque, the sticky white film that constantly builds up on the teeth. It’s fairly common knowledge that over time plaque leads to tooth decay and gum disease.

What we may not know is that the effects of bad oral hygiene go beyond bad breath and unhealthy teeth — medical research points to links with heart disease, as well as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and even dementia. Your general physician should take the health of your mouth as seriously as that of your heart, your kidney or any other vital organ.

 

Here are some basic facts we should all know.

BRUSH TWICE
There are no two ways about this. Doctors have been saying this for years, but few of us take it seriously. In a recent study published in the journal BMJ, researchers at London’s University College found that people who admitted to brushing their teeth less frequently had a 70 per cent extra risk of heart disease. Plus, people who reported poor oral hygiene also tested positive for bloodstream inflammatory markers such as fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (indicators of impending heart disease). “Poor oral hygiene is the major cause of chronic infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth. Often oral bacteria travel into the bloodstream and attach themselves to fatty plaques in the arteries, causing inflammation and setting the stage for cardiac problems,” explains Dr Anshul Jain, senior interventional cardiologist, Maharaja Agrasen hospital, New Delhi. “Brushing twice is non-negotiable,” he adds.

So what kind of toothbrush is good? According to Dr Lipika Sethi, dental consultant, Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi, one must use a soft-bristled brush and replace it every three or four months. It is important to learn to brush right (right-angle the brush 45 degrees towards your gumline, and use gentle, circular strokes, making sure that the bristles aren’t bending). “As far as motorised brushes are concerned, they can be used only as an adjunct to regular brushes (once in a while),” she adds. “There is no substitute to brushing the traditional way.”

FLOSS TOO
Flossing is fundamental to keeping teeth and gums clean. If you don’t floss, you don’t clean more than a third of your tooth surface. So do it at least once a day, preferably before bedtime, to remove debris from between the teeth.

Which floss should you use? “The market is flooded with a wide range of flosses (super floss, spongy floss, waxed floss, etc). Go for the one that suits your needs, depending on the space between teeth and the one you find easier to use,” advises Sethi. “For people who have large gaps in between their teeth, there is a product called Water Pick which is beneficial,” she adds.

DON’T FORGET THE TONGUE
Bad breath is usually caused by decaying food particles and bacteria in your mouth. That’s why, besides brushing and flossing, it is also important to gently brush your tongue to get rid of even more bacteria. “There are millions of filaments on your tongue that trap tiny food particles and bacteria, so while mouthwash is one solution, it is only temporary, it is better to also get in the habit of regularly cleaning your tongue using a toothbrush, or a tongue cleaner,” says Sethi.

Is chewing gum good? Yes, it makes you salivate, and the more saliva you have in your mouth the fewer bacteria you’ll have — so less bad breath. But always opt for a sugarless gum as sugared gums are bad for your teeth.

DRY MOUTH?
Saliva helps protect teeth and gums from bacteria that cause cavities and gingivitis (gum disease). So a dry mouth is more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. Anti-histamines, decongestants, painkillers and anti-depressants are among the drugs that cause a dry mouth. So keep a check on your medicine cabinet and avoid self-medication. If you have been prescribed medication with this side-effect, then make sure your mouth does not get dry.

KICK THE BUTT
Now there is another reason to stop smoking. “Nicotine and tar in cigarettes don’t just make your teeth yellow or your lips black, they eat away your gums and also cause mouth sores that could turn into cancer,” points out Dr Shyam Agarwal, Medical Oncologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi

So check your mouth regularly. Look for warning signs of periodontal (gum) disease- red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums, bleeding when you brush or floss, bad breath and warning signs of oral cancer (open sores that don’t heal, bleeding sores, white or red patches, numbness or tingling, small lumps or thickening of the skin).   

THE STRESS CONNECTION
When you are stressed and depressed you may forget to brush their teeth or pay less attention to oral hygiene. But the problem goes beyond this. Doctors say that people under stress also produce high levels of the hormone cortisol, which wreaks havoc on the gums and body, leading to a further deterioration in oral health. A fallout of stress on your mouth could be unconscious clenching and grinding of your teeth, gum disease and mouth sores. So keep stress under control, try yoga, meditation, or whatever relaxation technique suits you.

FOOD FACTORS

Foods that you eat affect oral health as much as other mouth care regimes do. So limit foods that are high in sugar content, drink a lot of water (as this will help keep the bacteria in your mouth to a minimum) and don’t cut off the carbs too much from your diet (as this leads to formation of ketones which surfaces as bad breath). 

• Milk, cheese and nuts are rich in calcium and phosphate, so they encourage remineralisation of teeth (a natural process by which minerals are redeposited in tooth enamel after being removed by acids) and also balance the mouth’s pH (acid-alkaline balance)
• A serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odour-causing hydrogen sulphide and also cuts back on bacteria in the mouth thus reducing plaque and gum disease.
• Green tea contains catechins which kill the bacteria in your mouth that turn sugar into plaque, thus help reduce cavities and gum disease.
• Fruits such as apples, strawberries and kiwis contain Vitamin C, which is essential for healthy gums. Plus these crunchy fruits and vegetables (carrots, celery) have a high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain, and stimulate the flow of saliva that neutralises the bacteria that causes cavities.
• Onions contain antibacterial sulphur compounds. Tests show that onions kill various types of bacteria, especially when eaten raw.
• The cleansing action of sesame seeds helps reduce plaque and the calcium in it helps build tooth enamel.
• Researchers have found that certain compounds found in raisins help fight bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities and gum disease. So eat some every day. 

Kavita Devgan is a New Delhi-based nutritionist