Bad teeth blamed on unhealthy adult lifestyle

[Guest guest]

Unhealthy Lifestyles Blamed For Bad Teeth in Adults

http://mercola.com/blog/2004/jun/24/unhealthy_lifestyles_blamed_for_bad_teeth_in\

_adults

 

 

People with bad teeth can no longer blame their childhood habits. A new

study has found that, contrary to common perceptions, an unhealthy adult

lifestyle is responsible for poor oral health in later years. Researchers

from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, studied data collected from

over 300 people. They discovered that the relationship between family

background and problems with the teeth and gums diminished with increasing

age and eventually became almost insignificant.

 

Adults who smoked and those from more deprived social circumstances were

more likely to suffer tooth loss, the study revealed. Findings suggest that

public health interventions relating to oral health should target adults as

well as children.

 

Dental health is one of the keys to staying healthy. Most dentists, like

most physicians, really do not understand the foundation of true health.

Taking care of your teeth, however, is a bit more complicated, particularly

if you've followed conventional dental advice.

 

The amazing thing about dental health: If you are raised on a diet free of

processed foods, grains and sugars, you will likely avoid dental decay and

secondary periodontal problems.

 

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-06/uonu-btb062204.php

 

Public release date: 24-Jun-2004

Contact: Dr. Mark Pearce

m.s.pearce

44-191-202-3082

University of Newcastle upon Tyne

 

Bad teeth blamed on unhealthy adult lifestyle

 

People with bad teeth can no longer blame childhood habits. A new study has

found that, contrary to common perceptions, an unhealthy adult lifestyle is

responsible for poor oral health in later years.

Researchers from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, studied data

collected from over 300 people. They discovered that the relationship

between family background and problems with the teeth and gums diminished

with increasing age and eventually became almost insignificant.

 

Adults who smoked and those from more deprived social circumstances were

more likely to suffer tooth loss, the study revealed.

 

The findings, published today, June 24 2004, in the Journal of Dental

Research*, suggest that public health interventions relating to oral health

should target adults as well as children.

 

They may also provide additional justification for recent UK Government

initiatives to change the way dentistry is practised in the UK, moving away

from payment for disease treatment and towards a more preventive approach

for adults. This may include smoking cessation advice as part of the dental

team's role.

 

Studying the number of teeth retained provides a diary of oral health over

time because tooth decay and gum disease are both cumulative and ultimately

result in tooth loss.

 

The Newcastle University research found that the more cigarettes a person

smoked, the more teeth he or she was likely to lose. Dental studies show

that smoking restricts the blood flow in the gums, leading to disease and

tooth loss.

 

In addition, previous research has shown that poor health behaviour, such

as smoking, and social circumstances in adult life are also associated with

poor oral health regimes such as infrequent tooth brushing and irregular

dental attendance.

 

The Newcastle team used data from the Thousand Families Study, a public

health research project which has collected data from a cross-section of

children born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1947.

 

The team studied information taken from 337 volunteers during the early

years, together with more recent data on adult health and lifestyle

collected at age 50 years.

 

Lead researcher, Dr Mark Pearce, who is director of the Thousand Families

Study, said: " Damage to teeth and gums happens over a long period of time

and is irreversible.

 

" These findings demonstrate that it is just as important for adults to look

after their teeth and gums as children, and that good oral healthcare

habits shouldn't stop when people leave their family home.

 

Dr. Pearce, of Newcastle University's School of Clinical Medical Sciences,

added: " Even if people aren't used to following a toothcare regime, it's

never too late for them to start .

 

" They can't turn the clock back but they can increase their chances of

maintaining a good set of teeth into their old age – something which is

very significant when you consider life expectancy is increasing all the

time. "

 

Professor Jimmy Steele, of Newcastle University's School of Dental

Sciences, a member of the research team, said: " Even people who look after

their teeth when they are children may slip into bad habits when they leave

home and indulge in an unhealthy lifestyle as young adults.

 

" It's common for chocolate bars to be substituted for meals, or for regular

teeth brushing to stop. In fact, studies show that men aged 20-30 are the

worst at looking after their oral health.

 

" Maintaining a healthy set of teeth is very important though, particularly

as it has many other health benefits.

 

" People with good teeth can continue to enjoy a varied and healthy diet

well into old age, which in turn leads to improved wellbeing and increased

confidence in themselves and their bodies. "

 

The research was funded by PPP Healthcare, the Wellcome Trust, the Minnie

Henderson Trust, the Sir John Knott Trust and the Special Trustees of

Newcastle Hospitals.

 

Top toothcare tips

 

 

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste

Avoid eating sugary food, particularly between meals

Stop smoking

Take professional advice about looking after your teeth/ MF

Chew sugar-free gum, particularly those containing the sweetener xylitol,

after meals to protect teeth from decay

Case study – with pictures:

 

Pam Walton attributes her beaming, healthy white smile to a rigorous tooth

care regime – but she hasn't always been quite so diligent.

 

In fact Pam, 51, a research technician from Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne,

mainly ignored dental health advice as a child. A tooth extraction after a

painful bout of tooth decay was the wake-up call she needed, at the age of 16.

 

She said: " I didn't really look after my teeth as a child and I absolutely

hated going for dental check-ups. I was so frightened when I was sat in the

patients' chair I would spend my time fighting the dentist off.

 

" The turning point was when I had my tooth taken out. It was around the

time when I was getting interested in boys and spending more time looking

after my personal appearance in general. "

 

Today Pam, who has had no further teeth extracted but has some fillings and

crowns, makes sure that she visits her dentist every six months. Twice a

day, she follows a toothcare regime that includes flossing, brushing with

both an ordinary and interdental brush, and she sometimes uses mouthwash.

She has never smoked.

 

Pam, who has two grown-up children, added: " I have always encouraged my own

children to look after their teeth, and neither has even had a filling. "

 

 

###

Contacts:

Dr. Mark Pearce, director, Thousand Families Study. Tel.: 44-0-191-202-3082

or secretary 202-3048 or mobile 44-0-7947-062-041, Email:

m.s.pearce. Available from Wednesday June 23 11am-5pm and

Thursday June 24 from 12-5pm.

 

Professor Jimmy Steele. Tel.: 44-0-191-222-8199, Email:

jimmy.steele. Availability: 9am – 1pm Wednesday June 23 2004

only. /MF.

 

Case study: Pam Walton. Tel.: 44-0-191-222-7859.

 

PHOTOGRAPHS:

A selection of pictures by North News and Pictures (Tel.:

44-0-191-233-0223) can be downloaded from Newcastle University website. See

the links below.

 

Lead researcher and director of the Thousand Families Study, Dr Mark

Pearce, with case study Pam Walton carrying out her toothcare regime:

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/photos/1767_TOOTH_CARE_STUDY.jpg\

..

 

 

Pam Walton carries out her toothcare regime:

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/photos/1779_TOOTH_CARE_STUDY.jpg\

..

 

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/photos/1788_TOOTH_CARE_STUDY.jpg\

..

 

 

* Journal ref: 'Do circumstances in early life contribute to tooth

retention in middle age?' Pearce et al, Journal of Dental Research, 83 (7 )

2004; pp 562-566.

 

Useful web link:

The Thousand Families Study:

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/plerg/Research/1000F/1000_home.htm.

 

Issued by Newcastle University Press Office. Further information from

Claire Jordan. Tel: 44-0-191-222-7850-6067 Email: press.office.

Website (with searchable guide to expertise):

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office.

 

Newcastle University has its own radio studio with ISDN line and is five

minutes car journey from independent and BBC broadcasting studios.