Maintaining a consistent routine of brushing twice a day serving as a primary defense against systemic health issues linked to oral bacteria.
October in Dental Hygiene Month. Registered dental hygienist Jamie Hunt said the mouth acts as the entry point for bacteria that can travel to other vital systems. Hunt said specific microorganisms associated with certain diseases are frequently present in the mouths of patients with poor oral hygiene.
“The mouth is the gateway to the body,” Hunt said. “The same bacteria that’s found in cardiovascular disease is also found in your mouth. So there’s a huge link between heart health and mouth health, dental hygiene.”
Hunt said patients managing diabetes face additional complications because elevated blood sugar levels directly hinder the body’s ability to repair oral tissues. This biological connection often results in a cycle where poor systemic health and advanced periodontal disease exacerbate one another.
“Anytime your sugar is elevated you don’t heal as well,” Hunt said. “So if your tissue in your mouth isn’t as healthy, it’s not going to heal as well with your sugar being raised and it just creates a vicious cycle, and we see a lot of people with diabetes who have really bad periodontal disease and a lot of it has to do with that just the overall health.”
Hunt said parents should establish preventative habits early, including a transition to dental office visits by age three. While clinical guidelines suggest earlier checkups, Hunt said most children reach the developmental maturity to follow directions and sit in a dental chair at that age.
“As far as the number one thing child, parents can do aside from brushing, no bottle to bed, no milk at night, nothing after you’ve brushed their teeth at night except water,” Hunt said.
Hunt said the frequent consumption of soft drinks such as Mountain Dew contributes significantly to enamel erosion. Hunt said constant sipping prevents the mouth from getting back to a healthy baseline.
“Not only is it loaded with sugar which is going to eat your enamel, it’s loaded with acid,” Hunt said. “The minerals in your saliva are going to remineralize your enamel but if you’re sipping on that all day they don’t have the opportunity to catch up.”
Hunt said consumers selecting toothpaste should look for the American Dental Association seal of approval and the inclusion of fluoride rather than focusing on shelf placement or marketing.