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If eyes are the window to the soul, then the mouth is a portal to the mind, according to the British Dental Association. ‘There’s emerging evidence that poor oral health – plaque formation, gum disease and tooth loss – is a risk factor for dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease,’ says Eddie Crouch, the association’s chair.
A slew of recent research suggests that what happens in your mouth can have wider health implications. Several large studies have discovered links between periodontitis (that’s chronic gum disease to you and me) and an increased risk of cognitive decline.
Scientists have even found traces of a key gum-disease bacterium in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
‘We know that bacteria involved in gum disease can enter the bloodstream through inflamed gum tissue and travel to the brain,’ says president of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr Sam Jethwa. This means that to help stave off dementia, one line of defence is good oral health.
According to the British Society of Periodontology, over 45 per cent of adults in the UK are affected by gum disease – so it’s clear that, for many of us, a full dental routine has slipped to the bottom of the to-do list. The good news? There are three simple pillars to preventing gum disease: brushing, interdental flossing and fluoride.
Want to fight off dementia? Look after your teeth
BRUSH BETTER
Cleaning all surfaces of the tooth (including the inner part of your bite) and your gumline is vital. You can go with a manual or electric toothbrush – our favourites for both are below – although the latter is more effective for removing food particles and plaque.
Philips Sonicare 5300 (now £50, was £169.99, argos.com)
Removes up to seven times more plaque than manual brushing, with two power settings and a sensor that alerts you to excessive pressure, so you don’t damage your gums.
Suri Sustainable Electric Toothbrush (below, £75, trysuri.com)
This brush’s aluminium body can be recycled and its heads are plant-based – Suri will even recycle them for you. The travel case has a UV light to kill bacteria, and it comes with a chic magnetic wall/mirror mount so you don’t get toothpaste build-up on the base of your brush.
Spotlight Oral Care Bamboo Toothbrush (£3.95, uk.spotlightoralcare.com)
This manual brush is plastic-free, 100 per cent recyclable and naturally antibacterial – what’s not to love?
FACTOR IN FLOSSING
As toothbrushes can only clean 60 per cent of the tooth’s surface, Dr Wyman Chan, a dentist for 40 years, says: ‘Skipping interdental cleaning is like only washing the front of your body in the shower. You might feel fresher, but you’re leaving a lot behind.’ Floss or interdental brushes will remove plaque that can inflame gums and lead to bone loss. This is a key step in reducing the risk of chronic gum disease. The consensus is that while mouthwash might help dislodge food and coat teeth with strengthening fluoride, it does not replace flossing.
Ordo Hydro Sonic Water Flosser (below, £59.99, ordolife.com)
Water flossers can remove more bacteria and plaque from between teeth than a manual brush, and are far gentler. This one has 260ml water capacity, which is the largest on the market for a handheld flosser. Be warned, it takes practice.
Grin Smooth Flosspyks (£3 for 36, boots.com)
If the faff of flossing puts you off, these nifty individual picks have handles so they can be used one-handed, and they’re angled for ease. There’s a different shape available if you struggle to reach your molars at the back.
TePe EasyPick (£4.15 for 36, ocado.com)
Sold in sizes from XS to XL, EasyPicks have a conical shape that fits between crowded teeth, with silicone ridges to sweep away debris without being harsh.
FOCUS ON FLUORIDE
Decades of scientific evidence cite fluoride as the most important element of any toothpaste, preventing decay and helping remineralise enamel. A number of formulas, from ‘natural’ to luxury, are fluoride-free, but toothpaste needs it – a minimum of 1,350 ppm (parts per million), to be precise – to be effective, and more expensive doesn’t necessarily equal superior. Check the packaging.
Colgate Max White Ultra Toothpaste (now £5 ,was £10, boots.com)
The most effective stain remover I’ve tried – I bulk-buy it when it’s on offer. It’s powerful, yet not enough to aggravate sensitivities or worn-down enamel.
Waken Enamel Care Toothpaste (below, £4.50, wakencare.com)
This is free of artificial colours, alcohol and sodium lauryl sulfate (added to help products foam up). The recyclable tube is made from at least 30 per cent recycled plastic.
Corsodyl Active Gum Repair (£6, Sainsbury’s)
Aimed at preventing early gum disease, this helps repair inflamed and bleeding gums within one week.
