Can Brushing Your Teeth Really Prevent Illness?

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, and tooth decay are the two most significant problems impacting oral health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As shown in a new study by British experts, the effects of periodontal disease may extend well beyond the mouth. This may raise the risk of a variety of major health problems.

The effects of the lack of oral care.

Poor gum health is linked to an increase in mental health issues, as well as autoimmune, cardiovascular, and cardiometabolic disorders, according to the study.

The CDC states over half of persons over the age of 30 have periodontal disease. This ratio rises to 70.1 percent among those aged 65 and up.

“When oral ill-health progresses, it can lead to a substantially reduced quality of life,” said Dr. Joht Singh Chandan, the study’s co-first author. “However, until now, not much has been known about the association of poor oral health and many chronic diseases, particularly mental ill-health. Therefore, we conducted one of the largest epidemiological studies of its kind to date, using U.K. primary care data to explore the association between periodontal disease and several chronic conditions.”

Research regarding oral care impact.

The researchers chose a cohort of 64,379 people in the country with gum health concerns. This was documented in a general practitioner’s (GP) records, to assess the non-dental health impacts of periodontal disease and its first phase, gingivitis.

The demographic was 45 years old on average, with 43 percent of the men and 30 percent of the smokers. The health of each participant was monitored for an average of 3.4 years.

The researchers compared the cohort’s medical histories to those of a demographically matched control group. That group consisted of 251,161 persons without periodontal disease to determine the likelihood of incurring other health issues.

Periodontal disease and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, which emerged in 37 percent of people with gum disease, were shown to have the strongest link in the study’s research.

What the study means to you.

Dr. Devan Raindi, co-author of the research and a periodontal specialist, is quoted in Medical News Today stating, “It could be postulated that the consequences of periodontitis, which included halitosis (bad breath), drifting of teeth, mobility of teeth, and ultimately tooth loss, would have a psychosocial impact on an individual.”

“This can lead to loss of confidence, ability to socialize, as well as functional issues [related to eating and pain],” he added. “However, it is important to remember that there is a multifactorial element to the development of mental health issues, and we are, of course, focusing on just one, albeit potentially modifiable, aspect.”

In 33 percent of the sample, autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, arthritis, and psoriasis emerged. In addition, the gum disease cohort had an 18% higher risk of having cardiovascular disease, according to the study. They also suffered a 26% higher risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes, and a 7% higher risk of developing other cardiometabolic illnesses.

Take care of your teeth and gums.

Could the study’s periodontal disease and the other illnesses be caused by the same factors?

“The first thing I’d say is that we’re not implying a causative link for any of the outcomes; rather, we’re implying an association that I believe is crucial to distinguish,” Dr. Raindi said. “In terms of common characteristics here, my understanding is that the study adjusted for possible confounders, such as age, sex, smoking status, deprivation indexTrusted Source, and ethnicity.”

He also stated that getting periodontal disease and having it documented by a doctor appears to be a risk factor.

In other words, to minimize the possibility of health risks, it’s likely best to do what your parents tried to teach you as a kid. Brush and floss your teeth every day. Most dentists also recommend rinsing afterwards with a germ-killing product such as Listerine.