Using your toothbrush and floss the right way can do more than keep your teeth clean and white. A recent study found that healthy gums can help reduce chronic inflammation, which can make you more likely to get colds, the flu, and even Covid-19 complications that can kill you.
Shervin Molayem, DDS, a periodontist in Los Angeles and co-author of the study in the Journal of the California Dental Association, says that inflammation in the body can make Covid-19 worse. The study found that Covid patients in the hospital who already had gum disease had higher levels of inflammation and were more likely to need a ventilator because of breathing problems.
Gum disease is a common cause of inflammation because it creates spaces around the teeth where bad bacteria can grow, make toxins, and cause the body to react with inflammation. Through the many blood vessels that surround the teeth, these bacteria and toxins can quickly spread throughout the body in about one minute. This causes inflammation throughout the body.
Molayem says that for your body to fight off infections effectively, it needs to use its resources in the right way. If you’re using your resources to fight gum disease, you won’t have as many resources to protect yourself from other infections like colds, flu, and Covid, which can cause problems.
In conclusion, taking care of your oral health is not only important for keeping a bright smile, but it can also help reduce chronic inflammation and even potentially deadly complications of Covid-19. So make sure to brush and floss regularly and see your dentist for regular checkups to keep your gums healthy and your body safe.
How to Stop Gum Disease
Molayem says that you should do these three things to avoid gum problems. But if your gums are already red and swollen, you need to see a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating gums.
Dental Flossing: For the best oral hygiene, move the floss carefully between each tooth, then slide it to one side to wrap it around a single tooth, and then gently scrub downwards until you reach the gum line. Do the same thing on the other side of each tooth, and then rinse with water.
For healthy gums, brush gently: Brushing too hard could hurt your gums, which are soft. For the best oral care, give each quadrant of your mouth 30 seconds and a gentle touch when you brush.
Choose a mouthwash with no alcohol: If you use a mouthwash with alcohol, it could dry out your mouth and make bacteria grow faster. Choose something like TheraBreath 24-Hour Fresh Breath Oral Rinse, Stella-Life Vega Oral Care Rinse, or Nature’s Answer PerioBrite that doesn’t contain alcohol. The last two have natural herbs like echinacea and calendula that fight bacteria and soothe your gums.
