Dental care goes far beyond maintaining our teeth and new research is pointing toward oral care’s involvement in cancer.

Brushing your teeth and regular visits to your dental hygienist should be high on your list of preventive care when it comes to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease/dementia. Alterations to the oral microbiome raise the risk of disease, but a balanced microbiota helps avoid cancer.

One study indicated that the risk of stomach cancer is 52% higher in persons who have a history of gum disease. People with over a dozen types of bacteria in their mouths are 50% more likely to develop head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Dental care, in the simplest terms, is vital if you want to remain as disease-free as possible. It’s not a guarantee but look at the statistics.

Our perspective on dental hygiene needs to be adjusted. More and more, research is coming to the conclusion that taking care of it could be the hidden key to a longer and better life.

A healthy oral microbiome, which includes the 700 or so species of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that call our mouths home, is more important than perfect teeth in and of itself. Neglecting our dental hygiene can lead to systemic infections that are worse or cause conditions including arthritis, cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.

When did we ever think that Alzheimer's might get its foothold in our brains via our mouths? This certainly adds to the current belief that this type of dementia is caused by a certain type of amyloid in the brain. Do these amyloid plaques begin via viruses or other bacteria in the mouth? There is a good possibility that this connection may be vital to maintaining our cognitive health.

Mouth to Body to Brain

The oral germs that cause gum disease can spread to the bloodstream. Bacteria in this stage invade your blood vessel walls and secrete a class of chemicals known as cytokines. Arteries supplying the heart and brain can be damaged by systemic inflammation caused by these substances, leading to a higher risk of cardiovascular events. Experts also believe that the nervous system may be affected by inflammation, which could cause mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.

An emergency medical response is necessary in the case of brain swelling. If left untreated, brain swelling from an untreated tooth infection can manifest as a variety of symptoms, including vomiting, nausea, headaches, and confusion. A tooth infection is not a simple infection, as research has shown, and can lead to extremely serious damage to various parts of the body and brain. When we consider this connection, it becomes eminently clear that health insurance should cover dental care because of its vital connection to overall health.

Even sinus drainage may be necessary to alleviate pressure on the brain in patients with severe tooth infections or abscesses, which are pockets in the gums filled with pus. Rarely, if not treated promptly, a ruptured abscess near the ear or eye socket might cause lasting damage to an artery.

Recent research has shown the role of the oral microbiota in the development of colorectal and stomach cancers. Researchers observed that the risk of stomach cancer increased by 33% in individuals who had lost two or more teeth, and by 52% in those with a history of gum disease compared to those without gum disease. Polyps, which can progress to colon cancer, are more common in patients with gum disease (17% higher risk compared to healthy individuals) and in those without gum disease. According to the research, patients with a history of four or more tooth extractions were also 20% more likely to develop these polyps.

Do You Know How to Maintain Your Dental Health?

One obvious answer is to visit your dentist at least once a year and your dental hygienist possibly twice a year. This will ensure that any incipient problems will be quickly discovered, and appropriate action taken to remediate it.

How how many times a day should we brush our teeth as well as how (the direction in which we should brush) to brush, and what should we use to maintain good oral hygiene? Numerous products are on the market in terms of both manual and electronic toothbrushes as well as flossers and gum irrigators that flush below the gum to remove debris. But which is best and which should be avoided are two questions that deserve answers.

Know what the American Dental Association recommends regarding oral health and maintaining your teeth? Here are their suggestions:

1. Twice daily, brush your teeth.
   For two minutes per session, brush your teeth using a toothbrush with soft bristles and fluoride toothpaste. If you want to keep cavities, gum recession, and periodontitis at bay, brush your teeth at least twice a day.
2. Just remember to floss once a day
   Flossing is an effective alternative to brushing for cleaning in between teeth, where toothbrush bristles can not reach.2.
3. If you want to whiten your teeth, freshen your breath, and minimize plaque and gingivitis, then you should use mouthwash.
4. Both children and adults should see a dentist twice a year for professional teeth cleaning.
5. Invest in a new toothbrush.
   Every three to four months, change the head on your electric toothbrush or manual toothbrush.
6. Pick the correct method.
   Use light, back-and-forth strokes while holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Use a vertically angled brush and up-and-down strokes to clean the inner surfaces of your front teeth.
7. Put dental picks or interdental brushes to use.
   Use these instruments to floss in between your teeth if you are short on dexterity.
8. Go for gum that does not include any sugar.
   While sugar-free gum can aid in cavity prevention, it should not be used in place of regular brushing and flossing.

Good oral hygiene can go a long way to maintaining and improving your physical health and now, with the new connection to cancer, it’s more important than ever.