So why is a chiropractor writing a product review on a toothbrush? Isn’t this the purview of dentists and hygienists? Good oral health plays a large role in overall health, and the use of an automatic toothbrush such as the Philips Sonic are can go a long way in this direction.
The links between gum disease and heart disease are now well established. At first, the two may sound disconnected, but a little background should help. Inflammation is a normal process in the human body. It is designed to fight off infection. It helps to keep abnormal cells that may lead to tumor growth at bay. It is a normal process for healing after an injury. But inflammation has a beginning an and end point.
At some point you are done with the infection, the abnormal cell is destroyed or that ankle sprain heals. But what happens when inflammation does not go away?
Chronic inflammation is very damaging to the body in every way. Links between chronic inflammation and diabetes, certain cancers, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, migraines, strokes and heart disease have been identified.
Any type of infection that is left to fester can contribute to chronic inflammation. Basically, the body’s immune system is constantly trying to fight off the invader, but can never quite clear the infection. Two notorious sites for chronic infection producing chronic inflammation are the gut and the gums. Hence the link between good dental / oral health and lowered risk of heart disease. Here is some additional reading:
- Flossing can lead to lowered risk of heart disease
- Dental treatment lowers inflammation and blood pressure
- Gastro-esophageal reflux can harm teeth
The bottom line is that regular flossing, brushing and the use of a tongue scraper can go a long way towards daily management of dental health. For me personally, I used to get occasionally get those nasty little “fours” during the periodontal exam. Once I switched to using the Philips Sonicare, any type of gum related problems were a thing of the past.