Did you know that one in four adults doesn’t brush twice a day, including a third of men, or that half of adults say they visit their dentist every six months? In other words, millions of people don’t take proper care of their teeth, which is probably why as many as 178 million people in the U.S. are missing at least one tooth.
What might surprise you even more, though, is the fact that brushing your teeth provides more health benefits other than preventing tooth loss. Here are just a few, odd reasons you should brush your teeth.
It Prevents Respiratory Disease
According to a 2011 study published in the American Academy of Periodontology , periodontal disease, which is prevented by brushing teeth, is linked to respiratory disease. Researchers found that the bacteria associated with the disease could increase a patient’s risk of developing pneumonia.
It Helps With Weight Loss
Have you ever had a glass of orange and then brushed your teeth? If so, then chances are you probably gagged at the thought. Mint and citrus just don’t mix, do they? The thing is, brushing your teeth after you’ve finished eating has this effect with more than just orange juice, which helps with weight loss. Simply put, food and drink just aren’t palatable after brushing your teeth, which means you’re less likely to keep eating, and more likely to stick to your diet.
It Makes You Smarter
In a study by New York University’s College of Dentistry, researchers tested 152 people to evaluate cognitive abilities later in life, and found that there was a relationship between people with periodontal swelling and people who performed poorly on the Digit Symbol Test, a standard way to measure adult IQs. Believe it or not, adults who suffered from gum inflammation were actually an incredible nine times more likely to score on the lower end of the test than those who didn’t have oral health problems.
The moral of the story is not to just brush your teeth, but take care of your oral health. If you need dentures, go get them. If you have to floss, do it. If you want to whiten your teeth, get it done. If you’d like to know more about other Barrington cosmetic dentist procedures, feel free to share your questions in the comments.
