LIVING YOUNG
Good dental hygiene can add 6.4 years to your life!
Dr Krisda Sirampuj
Many health conscious people have travelled around the globe in search for the secret to longevity. But actually the secret of longevity lies in ones' mouth.
Not many people realise that how well the mouth is treated has a direct impact on their health. Their life expectancy depends on how well they brush their teeth daily.
- r Michael F Roizen, the author of the best-seller Real Age, underlines that the oral cavity is like a main port for germs to enter our body. Most germs come from the food we eat everyday.
He reassures that if we can brush and floss our teeth and gums thoroughly it will help to get rid of these bacteria.
He says that the benefits of good dental care doesn't only make you feel more confident when you visit the dentist, but it adds an extra 6.4 years to your life expectancy!
As an anti-ageing specialist, I strongly support this statement. One of our daily check-ups include checking for oral cavities. I have noticed that patients who are at the risk of heart disease are those who have poor dental health.
Check list that you should go through every morning:
- Teeth
Check if any of your teeth are shaky, have holes or cavities. The more teeth you loose, the less your life expectancy will be.
- Gums
Check whether there are signs of inflammation such as swelling because gingivitis (gum inflammation) or periodontitis can be harmful to your health.
The oral cavity holds a lot of blood hence it needs to be looked after.
But the coin always has two faces. The drawback is that, in the case of an infection, it will help the germs travel farther and spread faster.
There are two favourite areas which bacteria loves to settle on - the brain and the heart. The thing is our oral blood vessels are quite close to our brain and chest. Therefore, bacteria can make a short-cut to these organs without much effort. When it travels to its favourite places, it won't waste a second in eating the cells and destroying the areas.
If this thing occurs in the brain, it will cause brain abscesses and cavities. And if this happen in our heart, it will cause abnormal rhythm and valvular defects. In short, it can cause a heart attack or paralysis.
Oral care tips:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day and ideally after every meal. Use a fluoride toothpaste.
- Brush your teeth for at least two minutes. Don't for get to clean your tongue.
- While flossing, do it gently between your teeth.
- Also floss gently along the gum line to the top of the tooth to scrape off plaque.
- Don't forget to floss the back of each tooth.
- Don't use toothpicks or put any objects that aren't clean into your mouth.
- Call your dentist promptly if you develop any of the aforementioned signs and symptoms that may suggest oral health problems.
Dr Krisda Sirampuj is director of the International Anti-Ageing Medicine Institute and a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's PhD programme. He has also written 10 anti-ageing guide books.
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