A healthy mouth means a healthy body
Recent research has linked periodontal, or gum disease, with a number of serious medical conditions including infertility, erectile dysfunction, as well as cancer. So next time you schedule that appointment, you can feel safe in the knowledge that you’re looking after not only your pearly whites, but your general sense of wellbeing too.
“The problem with periodontal disease is that the negative effects of it are not restricted to the mouth. Bacteria which cause periodontal disease may enter tiny blood vessels known as capillaries and begin to attack the body. With this in mind, the mouth has been referred to as a mirror to the body, because a healthy mouth often means a healthy body,” explains leading Johannesburg dentist and Oral-B expert, Dr Imraan Hoosen.
Oral Health and Male Fertility
When planning to start a family not many people consider the benefits of paying a visit to the dentist, but this may soon change as research points to the negative effects of poor oral hygiene on male fertility. “Bacteria known to decrease the mobility in sperm cells have been found in the pulp of decaying teeth.
What’s important to remember is that adequate amounts of sperm are not all that is needed to conceive. Sperm has to be highly mobile in order to fertilise the female egg, which is necessary for fertilisation to take place. By decreasing this mobility through unwanted bacteria from the likes of periodontal disease, the chances of falling pregnant are minimised,” says Dr Hoosen.
The Question of Erectile Dysfunction
What’s more, a link has been discovered between periodontal disease and erectile dysfunction. Dr Hoosen explains: “The pathogenic bacteria that make their way into the bloodstream as a result of gum disease launch an attack on blood vessels. Due to the fact that erectile issues can be the result of impaired blood flow to the penis means that erectile dysfunction can be caused by poor oral hygiene.”
The Risks of Cancer
While no conclusive evidence exists, recent studies indicate that those who do not take good care of their mouths are more likely to develop an oral infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) which can lead to cancer.
Power Back to Oral Health
According to research conducted by Oral-B, which surveyed 16 000 participants, most people do not brush for the prescribed two minutes twice a day, too much pressure is applied and they aren’t thorough enough in their technique. “For this reason, I always recommend a power toothbrush to my patients.
Power brushes are clinically proven to remove more plaque when compared to their manual counterparts and are essential for the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums as well as removing the plaque and tartar that can lead to the increased risk of heart diseases, strokes, infertility, erectile dysfunction and cancer,” says Dr Hoosen.
The Oral-B TriZone combines the familiar brushing motion of a manual brush with the comprehensive power of advanced triple zone cleaning action, giving a long-lasting clean and fresh feeling. The innovative triple zone motion delivers a superior clean with bristles that sweep in between teeth to remove up to 100% more plaque when compared to a manual brush.
“Take back your power when it comes to your health. Try the Oral-B TriZone once and you’ll never look back, because a healthy mouth means a healthy body,” concludes Dr Hoosen.