Khaberni - Maintaining dental hygiene no longer serves the sole purpose of achieving a shiny smile. In a new medical discovery that may change our view of the dentist's chair, scientists have announced that the condition of your mouth and the number of your healthy teeth could be the most accurate indicator for predicting the risk of premature death.
The journal "BMC Oral Health" published the results of a massive Japanese study conducted by researchers at Osaka University, which involved records of more than 190,000 people over the age of 75.
The study concluded with an astonishing truth: individuals who retain healthy and complete teeth have a directly proportional decrease in the risk of death for any reason, while this risk significantly increases in those suffering from tooth loss or widespread decay, according to "The Sun" newspaper.
Researchers did not just count the teeth (up to 28 teeth, excluding wisdom teeth), but categorized them into three groups: (healthy, filled, and decayed). They discovered that combining the number of healthy and filled teeth together is the "gold standard" for predicting longevity, proving that dental restoration (filling) provides the body a second chance at life just as much as natural teeth do.
Why do damaged teeth kill their owner?
Scientists attribute this close link between the mouth and longevity to two main reasons:
Chronic inflammation: Tooth decay or gum diseases are not just cavities; they are centers of chronic inflammation that can spread through the bloodstream to affect vital organs.
Poor nutrition: Tooth loss impedes the ability to chew food properly, leading to a decline in nutritional quality and weakening of vital body functions.
"Decayed teeth may indicate an overall functional weakness, acting as an alarm bell for increased risk of death from underlying infections," according to researchers at Osaka University.
The study also warned that gum diseases and frequent bleeding are not just local nuisances; they are closely linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, research revealed a "mysterious and dangerous" link between poor oral health and a decline in cognitive abilities, making it an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease.
