Smile Detection

While having that perfect pearly white smile is something all of us want, dental care isn’t just about looking good – it can impact on your general wellbeing or even show up health problems you didn’t know you had.

Although more research has to be done, there is increasing evidence that bad oral health can contribute to illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. “Diabetes and vascular health are two areas that appear to have a relationship with one’s oral health,” explains dentist Dr Craig Erskine-Smith. “Diabetics have a higher chance of getting dangerous infections anywhere in the body – including the mouth. Gum disease in uncontrolled diabetics gets out of control more frequently than in non-diabetics and controlled diabetics.”

Severe gum disease can also raise blood sugar, making it harder to get diabetes under control. Meanwhile, some studies suggest a link between the bacteria that cause periodontal disease and the hardening of arteries. “It’s also been hypothesised that the inflammatory chemicals released in gum disease can cause damage to the arterial lining. Most health professionals agree that there is a link between the two,” Dr Erskine-Smith explains and, while there is no conclusive proof about that link, we do know that gum disease sufferers are statistically more likely to have heart disease.

Whatever the connection, it is all the more reason to make sure that not only do you have the best possible dental care, but that you are living a healthy lifestyle.

Rising decay

“Decay rates aren’t going down,” points out Dr Lena Lejmanoski from the Australian Dental Association, which is running its annual Dental Health Week from August 4. “A big part of that is diet and lifestyle. We find that if there is an increase in obesity rates, there is an increase in decay rates as well,” she says.

And it is no good thinking that brushing twice a day and flossing regularly is enough if you still have bad habits elsewhere. “Brushing and flossing won’t cancel out the fact you are having Coca Cola every day,” Dr Lejmanoski says. Understanding how the state of our teeth and gums can tell us about our general health has led to dentists playing a wider role in diagnosing and helping to prevent other diseases.

“If a patient comes in with rampant decay, we need to look at the cause; it’s not just drill and fill,” she explains. Sometimes the signs of diabetes are being picked up at the dental surgery because diabetes has an effect on the tissues in your mouth.”

Unfortunately, many of us aren’t aware bad teeth and gum disease may be the sign of more serious conditions, even though recent research shows that around 20 per cent of Australians have moderate to severe gum disease. As gum disease isn’t particularly painful, that trip to the dentist is often put off and by the time major symptoms are evident it is often too late to save the tooth or teeth.

On the positive side, tooth decay and gum disease are preventable if we make the effort. That means getting our diets right by eating lots of fresh, raw vegetables full of vitamin C (which keeps the gums healthy), and exercising regularly.

10 steps to dental health

1. We all know about brushing twice a day, but don’t forget to floss. If you don’t like the flossing tape, try Piksters, tiny bottle brushes invented by Dr Craig Erskine-Smith that many people find easier to use.
2. If you do have a fizzy drink, don’t get rid of the guilt by brushing afterwards. “People think if they brush, it will be okay but the acidity in the drink will make the teeth weaker, meaning that brushing causes more damage,” Dr Lena Lejmanoski says.
3. In the morning, brush first thing and then have breakfast because food sticks to that unpleasant fur we often wake up with in our mouths.
4. If you are using tape to floss and your gums bleed, it is probably because you are going at it too roughly. You should be using an up and down motion, not a sawing motion.
5. Don’t just drink water, make sure you swill it around your mouth and flush out unwanted debris from food throughout the day.
6. Whether your brush is manual or electric is a matter of preference, but whichever one you choose make sure that the toothbrush head is soft, not hard or medium.
7. We all think we know how to brush but most of us do it badly by holding the brush horizontally and scrubbing back and forth. “Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle and use circular movements, then lift the brush up – don’t drag it – and do the next area,” Lena explains.
8. Mouthwash may seem an easy way to keep your oral hygiene tip top, but you should only use it when advised to by your dentist.
9. Brushing your tongue is a good idea as it can harbour many bacteria but dentists say it isn’t compulsory – the main thing is to brush those teeth and gums thoroughly.
10. And finally, no matter how much you dread it, go to the dentist at least once a year – it will probably mean you don’t have to go more often!