It’s a new year and we all start off with promises to ourselves. The most important foundation of a healthy body is your oral health. The mouth is the gateway to the rest of our body systems and many diseases can start there. We know chronic inflammation is the start to many complications. If you have gingivitis or periodontal disease there are studies linking you more likely to get alzheimers, heart disease or diabetes.

There are some easy ways to keep your mouth healthy. At minimum you should be going to your dentist for a cleaning twice a year but the real secret is what you do daily at home. Using a sonic toothbrush is a must of the basics. There is no way a manual brush can remove plaque as efficiently. A water flosser is also a basic must. Think of it like power washing vs using a string to clean (string floss). The water flosser is much more reliable to get microscopic particles out of the gumline a toothbrush can’t reach. There is also is a concern that many string flosses have forever chemicals like PFAs that can enter the bloodstream through the gum tissue.

A good toothpaste is essential. The advancement of nano hydroxyapatite has replaced the need for fluoride. It helps with sensitivity and can remineralize the enamel surface making it more resistant to decay. Nano HAP has the potential to reverse early cavities. It is ideal to find a toothpaste that is not too abrasive and is free of dyes, sacharrin and other toxic ingredients. The addition of vitamins like d3 and K2 are ideal to help with calcium uptake into the bones and teeth. Intelliwhite will be launching Hap 10+ superpaste in February on HSN that contains this. It also has organic olive oil in it which has been shown to have anti bacterial properties. Xylitol is added to fight cavities and help with remineralizing the teeth.

I'm not a big proponent of mouthwash. Many are too harsh and wipe out all the bacteria. By killing all the bacteria you wreak havoc on the oral microbiome and loose the protective bacteria we need. Alcohol in mouthwash is also very problematic as well as a rinse with an acidic ph. I really don’t see them as necessary in our routine. Some studies have linked mouthwash to high blood pressure.

Diet is also key. Many of us are deficient in certain minerals and vitamins that have been correlated to people with gum disease. Studies have shown Vitamins C, D3, K2 and Coq10 are found to be low levels in subjects with periodontal problems. If you can’t get enough through diet I recommend supplementing these vitamins.

What you drink can also affect the health of your teeth. We must be careful to not regularly expose our enamel to very acidic drinks. Bottled sports drinks, energy drinks and carbonated sodas can eat away at the tooth enamel. Hydration is key and we must keep a healthy saliva flow to wash away food particles and help carry minerals to the teeth. If your mouth is dry opt for a mint or lozenge with xylitol to help stimulate salivary flow.
Start your new year with a commitment to your overall health starting with these easy steps at home.
Please email me with any questions or a subject you would like to see covered in my next column.

In good health and happy new year,

Dr Jablow
docsmilez@gmail.com