Worth noting, this Ted talk on oral health affecting wider health is 14 minutes long but well worth the time.
Skin cancer cases are at a record high, with 17,500 cases of melanoma, the most serious form, diagnosed in the UK last year. The next most dangerous type, squamous cell carcinoma, is also the prevalent form of oral cancer.
There are other types and you should be concerned about a mouth ulcer which doesn’t heal, a red, or white patch, or lump inside your mouth, or in your neck. There are equally more subtle signs, which a professional may find.
Regular oral check ups are useful for your teeth, gums and detecting oral cancer at an early stage. By far the best time for treatment of any cancer.
Prevention is as important and along with having any oral disease treated, brushing your teeth regularly matters. A fine smile and clean breath are natural benefits, along with protecting other parts of your body.
Recent Research
So much research highlights the advantages of good brushing, including recent studies on the prevention of non-communicable diseases. One study in particular caught our eye, which looked at the best times to brush your teeth.
Similar thoughts could apply to other conditions but in this case, the researchers considered the relationship between brushing and cardiovascular disease.
1,675 patients being treated for cardiovascular issues had their tooth brushing regimes analysed. They were split into four groups, non brushing, nightime only, morning only, or brushing morning and night.
Alongside known conditions, a number of cardiovascular disease markers were measured from blood samples. Tooth and gum condition were also studied.
That non brushers came out worst is no surprise but morning only was not so much better, with brushing at night more effective. This removes the intraoral bacterial which would increase during sleep, due to reduced salivary flow.
Morning and night is better still and brushing after lunch came up in the research, which helps. The message was clear, good oral health is a vital part of all round health and is to a fair degree within our control.
A Worthwhile Effort
Your oral health affects more areas and reflects your body’s condition. There are links in either direction, with heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, immune system disorders, kidney disease and blood irregularities.
A good brushing regime and regular check-ups make such a difference to your health and of course to your teeth. No surprise that the study mentioned above also found that tooth and gum health patterns mirrored cardiovascular health.
Maintaining oral health is the best way to reduce dental treatment, along with helping to bring a healthier, happier life.
Our dental check-ups are thorough and include looking for irregularities in jaw, or muscle function, glands, lymph nodes, thyroid, lips and tonsils. Considering early indications of oral cancer is paramount throughout.
Individual advice is freely available, not least on the best way to care for your oral health, so that a keystone of wider health is supported.
Health within your mouth can be affected by, or show early symptoms of oral cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, immune disorders, kidney disease and blood irregularities. Protecting yourself matters.
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