This is a study that makes you want to brush your teeth. People with the most bacteria on their teeth and gums increased their risk of premature death by 80%. This startling conclusion was made by Swedish researchers who observed 1,390 adults living in Stockholm over a 24-year period.
All participants were in their 30s or 40s at the start of the experiment. The risk factors associated with cancer such as tobacco or health have been studied in the same way as oral hygiene (dental plaque, tartar, gum disease, cavities, etc.).
In 2009, 58 of the patients studied had died. 35 deaths were linked to cancer. Premature deaths since the average age of death was 61 years for women, and 60 years for men. Women could have hoped to live 13 more years, say the researchers, and men 8 more years.
While most women died of breast cancer, researchers found that those who died had a plaque thicker in those than in those who were alive. This link between dental plaque and premature death was verified even after setting aside risk factors such as tobacco, the frequency of visits to the dentist, age …
Does this mean that dental plaque increases the risk of dying prematurely from cancer? The cause and effect link has not been demonstrated, reassure the researchers. However, poor oral hygiene may be more broadly associated with a more “risky” lifestyle, leading to an increased risk of premature death.
Brushing your teeth: yes, but not all the time
To fight dental plaque, we think of descalingat the dentist and brushing teeth. But be careful, not just anytime! According to the president of the Academy of General Dentistry, brushing your teeth within thirty minutes of a meal or a coffee would make our quenottes more sensitive to acid attacks. Definitely, taking care of your teeth is quite an art.
