Healthy teeth equals a healthier body - who knew?!

Like most of us, I hate going to the dentist (so does Jack!) and dislike it even more during Covid…..can’t use the loo, can’t go inside to wait, can’t take your coat off in reception, etc., etc. and then…..your mask comes off and the torture begins! However, what I’ve known for a very long time is how important it is to keep my teeth in tip-top condition for the health of my arteries. (Twenty years ago I was told by a hygienist that bleeding gums can cause heart disease. I was so shocked that I put it in my last book and started to floss!) This year, my hygienist had even more bad news for me about the link between plaque and our arteries so I thought it important to share the latest info on why and how we should keep our teeth and gums in tip-top condition. Plus, of course, we all want whiter teeth, especially as we get older, so I’ll also share my top tips on how I keep my pearlies white. Well, as white as I can get them with overwhelmingly sensitive teeth!

The camera DOES lie! My teeth always look whiter on “film” despite no editing whatsoever!

People are incredibly complimentary about my teeth on my Vlogs and Instagram etc. But they don’t look that white in real life! The camera really does lie. But they’re pretty good for my age, which I put down to my lucky genes (and a healthy diet). My mother was a Bulgarian. They are a yoghurt-loving nation who all seem to have good teeth, bones, skin, and hair! Blessed. But my gums weren’t always healthy and they regularly used to bleed a little. I was very lazy about flossing and mouth hygiene and am now really grateful I got that kick up my bottom all those years ago……..

NOT FLOSSING COULD KILL YOU……..

Yes, I thought that might grab your attention! Any dentist or dental hygienist will confirm that flossing daily, and using an electric toothbrush, can reduce the risk of heart disease because the bacteria that form between your teeth and gums, if not removed, can get into the bloodstream and circulate to the heart. It is only likely to happen if your gums are bleeding, but the risk is a real risk especially among us over 50s. More horrifying, according to my recent visit to a hygienist, is that scientists have made a link between bad gum health and developing dementia and strokes. Although the latest research is inconclusive, so far, that was enough for me to get my phone out and book another appointment for 3 months time. (It’s a family thing - we all suffer from an overproduction of plaque no matter how well we clean our teeth.) There’s loads more info online if you want the scientific slant, and you can also ask your dentist for more information. Scary isn’t it? But it makes sense if you think about basic biology and blood flow around the body.

Another joyful part of growing older is that the supporting tissues around the teeth start weakening. According to my dentist, people lose teeth and end up having to wear dentures because of just two things: gum disease or tooth decay. Teeth can also give our age away if they look yellow and the gums are receding and unhealthy. More reasons, as if heart disease and dementia aren’t enough, to get to the dentist regularly and do what you can at home to keep your teeth whiter and your gums as healthy as possible……….

TOP TIPS

Only sugar can penetrate a tooth’s strong enamel coating. Give it up, reduce it, or, at least, brush your teeth after consuming the sweet stuff. Sugary drinks, even those health-giving fruit smoothies, sugary fruit, and dried fruit can be almost as detrimental to teeth health as sweets! If you don’t believe me, ask your dentist. They seem as fearful of our five-a-day fruit advice as a can of fizzy pop! And then there’s the……..

PROSECCO SMILE

I am as partial as everyone else to a couple of glasses with a special meal. But then the damage it does to our teeth became headline news in 2017. Dubbed the ‘Prosecco smile’ by dentists, we were informed that, shockingly, Prosecco contains a teaspoon of sugar per glass which, in excess, can lead to tooth decay. And the bubbles in it apparently contain high levels of acidic carbon dioxide, which can erode the tooth’s enamel, further leading to decay. It appears that my favourite tipple is the worst of the sparkling wines for my teeth so I have swapped it for a dry Spanish Cava, a lovely Sussex Sparkling or, even better if money allows, an odd glass of champagne. But it’s not always easy to find an alternative when you’re out for a meal, so if you are drinking lots of Prosecco, or any of the sweeter sparkling wines, make sure to clean your teeth right after.

TOP TIPS ON HOW TO HAVE HEALTHIER GUMS AND TEETH

Massage your gums to remove toxins and get the blood flowing. As long as they’re not bleeding.

Always brush your gums as well as your teeth and brush behind as well as in front of your teeth. I keep forgetting to brush the inside of those molars at the back of my lower teeth and that’s where my plaque was hiding on my last hygiene visit.

Floss nightly and always before you brush your teeth because a) you are less likely to be too tired and go off to bed without doing it and b) the brushing will take away all the debris you have just dislodged. Debris will become plaque if it’s not removed.

My hygienist also advised me not to rinse the toothpaste out of my mouth. Just spit and leave. I know, I know, the whole fluoride discussion. Unfortunately, I need fluoride for my sensitive teeth but was also advised that you only need a tiny bit of toothpaste - the size of a pea.

The antioxidant effect of vitamin C appears to increase healing in the gums.  So any fruit rich in vitamin C will help.  But don’t forget to brush your teeth afterwards!

Bad breath can also be caused by ear, nose, or throat problems, as well as bad gums, so if you have bad breath and have ruled out bacteria or poor digestion, see an ENT consultant. Gargling with warm, salty water can also help.

Brushing your tongue is also a really good idea for removing debris and improving your digestion and breath etc. You don’t need to get a special tongue scraper, the toothbrush will do.

So from the Prosecco smile to the whiter smile. Here are a couple of bad boys to cut down on if you want whiter teeth………

WHITENING

Smoking: The thousands of chemicals, smoke, and tar in cigarettes make the teeth yellow and cause bad breath. But you knew that!

Coffee and tea stain the teeth: try to only drink 1–2 cups a day.

Red wine also stains the teeth. Brush after all of the above and it should help.

If your teeth look really old and yellow, consider having them whitened. There are so many options for teeth whitening now…..from large department stores, where you can have your teeth bleached in your lunch hour, to your dentist making a mold for you to DIY at home. I have tried both. The first in the U.S. decades ago, very successful but very painful teeth for 48 hours. And the Dentist DIY kit at home more recently just didn’t really work that well, but by then my teeth were very old! Visit your dentist for the best advice. It’s not cheap, it’s not ‘natural’ but it’s well worth considering if you feel unhappy every time you smile.

I have had great success with whitening strips which you can get over the counter in the U.S. and Australia, but, sadly, not in the UK. Because of my sensitivity, I only use them every other day. But they have really worked well for me by removing the worst of the staining plus, of course, a regular visit to the hygienist gives them another lovely clean and polish.

I also use Colgate’s Max White Ultimate Whitening toothpaste regularly and that really helps with coffee stains etc. (This is NOT a sponsored post and there are loads of others on the market) I have tried to use natural toothpaste without the fluoride but my sensitive teeth and gums are far worse without it. Just remember, less is more when it comes to the amount of toothpaste.

Of course, there are all sorts of natural treatments out there for healthy, beautiful teeth……. from charcoal to swishing sesame oil around your mouth. I’ve tried everything but haven’t got on with any of the natural methods at all. They have either not worked, made my teeth more sensitive, or made me gag! But do share if you haven’t gagged swishing sesame oil or got really white teeth using charcoal!

My fave toothpaste for getting rid of coffee stains. NOT SPONSORED!

Hygienists often call the mouth the “gateway to the body” and I so agree. We need to look after it properly and not ignore the dentists’ advice. It took me a while to get into flossing but when I discovered, all those years ago, that not doing so could actually lead to heart disease I got over my inherent distaste and boredom and stopped treating it as a chore. Much like walking Jack is not a chore, they’re both hopefully benefiting my long-term health big time!

What do you think? Do you hate flossing, going to the dentist, or using fluoridated toothpaste? As usual, I would love to hear from you. Big love and take care,