As the Baby Boom generation ages there is more and more concern about
the cost of care for the future aged... and, in fact, aging in general.
For a generation that swore they would never want to live to be more
than 30 this generation is approaching and passing 50 all the while
hoping for many more years. Thirty is a distant memory.
Partly to satisfy this concern for such a large part of our citizenry,
there are a slew of books, seminars, and tapes about how to stay
healthier and live longer. One of the most recent and most interesting
is a book by Michael F. Roizen, MD. Dr. Roizen's book is called "RealAge",
and the general concept is to calculate how old a person is actually
(compared to averages and actuarial tables) based to a great degree upon
choices he/she makes about lifestyle, eating, exercise, etc.
In particular, there is a section on dental health, and I quote, "These
studies show that the presence of periodontal diseases, diseases most
common in people with tooth loss, actually affects longevity. The best
of these studies done at Emory University with the Centers for Disease
Control, indicated that people with gingivitis and periodontitis have a
mortality rate that is 23 percent to 46 percent higher than those who
don't... why? They are linked to increased rates of cardiovascular
disease and stroke, as well as to an increase in mortality from other
causes, such as infections. '
On flossing, the book states that, "Flossing your teeth daily can make
your arteries younger. The probable reason: Flossing helps keep your
immune system young... the same bacteria that cause periodontal disease
also trigger an immune response, inflammation, that causes the arteries
to swell. The swelling of the arterial walls results in a constriction
of blood flow that can lead to a higher incidence of cardiovascular
disease. Other studies have shown that periodontal disease leads to a
higher white blood cell count, which is an indicator that the immune
system is under increased stress.... Poor oral hygiene and particularly
increased tooth loss are important indicators of your risk. The fewer
teeth you have, the greater your risk of gum infections."
This is only a small section of the book, but it strengthens our
position with our patients on keeping their teeth and participating in
better home care.
