For a lot of us, it’s the first thing we do when we wake up and the last thing we do before we go to bed. I’m talking about brushing your teeth, and if you’re like me, you consider your twice-a-day brushing routine and regular flossing to be pretty good dental hygiene.

I for one never think too much about it when I notice that the toothpaste in the sink has a slightly pink tinge to it. I figure I just brushed a bit too hard and make a mental note to take it easier next time. But this morning I read something that startled me enough to re-evaluate my whole outlook on dental hygiene. The quote I saw came from Dr. Chris Kammer of the Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. He said: “If you washed your hands and they started to bleed, you would be alarmed, right? Then how come the majority of people are not alarmed when they brush their teeth and their gums bleed?”

It’s a good point — and one that could save not only your teeth but also your life.

The connection between gum disease and cardiovascular health has probably been the most prominent one covered in the media. But oral hygiene can also protect you from at least two other serious diseases: diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

In fact, bleeding gums and other hallmark symptoms of periodontal disease can be some of the first symptoms of diabetes, since elevated blood sugar levels interfere with even the best efforts at dental hygiene.

And according to the article I read this morning, “a recent study by the American Association for Cancer Research found that a history of gum disease increased men’s risk of pancreatic cancer by 63 percent, even after accounting for other factors.”

Who knew your dentist could help protect you from all that?

Source:

“Don’t Forget To Floss Your Arteries!” Medical News Today (www.medicalnewstoday.com), 12/2/06

What is…dentin?

Dentin is the hard tissue that surrounds the central core of nerves and blood vessels and makes up the majority of the tooth.