Is there any plaque on your teeth? If you have, you could have a greater risk of developing cancer , claims a new report, that has established a direct link between oral hygiene and the disease .
Those with the highest amount of plaque were almost twice as likely to develop cancer, and, in women , it was most likely to cause breast cancer. Analysts from Helsinki University, Finland found a direct correlation between amounts of plaque and the risk of cancer when they observed the link between oral hygiene and cancer rates in 1,390 people. Source: British Medical Journal 2012 2 e001083.
What is Plaque?
Plaque is that sticky, white substance that forms on teeth, between them and in the area between the teeth and gums called the sulcus. Plaque is regarded as the main cause of gum disease. Look into a mirror and run a fingernail along the baseline of your teeth. You will probably see a white deposit. This is plaque.
Really?
Yes. The plaque in your mouth is a complex mixture of types of bacteria, fluids, proteins strands and cells . So long as plaque is in its ‘healthy’ state it will protect the teeth and ward off damaging bacteria. Dr. Ellie Phillips in her book ‘Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye’ describes healthy plaque as a kind of comforter that covers and protects teeth. If ‘bad’ bacteria attack this comforter the whole situation changes and the comforter is no longer protective, instead becoming a source of risk and damage. Plaque is at first a healthy layer on your teeth that only becomes unhealthy when your mouth becomes acidic.
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This is a really important issue . When this occurs the enzymes and the bacterial toxins in the plaque attack healthy gums and teeth, causing infection and damage . The cause of gum disease is not the plaque itself but the harmful bacteria in the plaque. This harmful bacteria turn sugars into acid. Normally this acid is quite weak and won’t seriously affect your gums or the enamel of teeth . Yet under plaque, these acids are not eliminated by saliva and start to take on a new intensity .
One type of bacteria will eventually cause the gum to swell and bleed , create ‘pockets’ as the gums loosen and move away from the tooth. Another type will dissolve enamel and cause the teeth to decay .
There is a specially designed brush, the Blotting Brush, affectionately known as ‘a weapon of plaque destruction’ with a capillary action in the bristle that’s very efficient at removing the unhealthy plaque and the acid-forming bacteria. In a plaque-free mouth, even sugary foods become less destructive to the teeth.
Eating healthy foods is one positive step to keep your mouth alkaline. This therefore helps to keep plaque healthy and encourage the production of good saliva which in turn cleans the mouth. Never forget that saliva is the most effective mouthwash available Carbonated soft drinks can cause havoc in the mouth. Diet sodas are the worst of the bunch because of their high acid content. Ineffective or lazy toothbrushing habits can push plaque deeper into the gum crevices around the teeth. The Blotting Brush reaches into those areas and draws the plaque away .
Once these harmful bacteria-loaded plaque deposits are removed through ‘blotting’ , the gums are on their way back to being healthy and safeguarding your teeth.
Born and brought up in Asia, Graeme was intrigued by the way in which different Asian cultures approach their health and wellbeing. He studied aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine and together with his wife Phylipa, now runs ToothWizards, an oral health initiative to help people achieve self-sufficiency in dental health.
Click here for more information on Blotting Brushes