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A Revolutionary Way To Nourish Your Teeth

Our teeth are cutting tools, helping us break down food that is needed for the nourishment of the body. But have you heard about nourishing your teeth? Sure, brushing regularly with toothpaste containing fluoride helps to strengthen our teeth enamel, which, as some of us know, is the hardest substance in our body. Fluoride helps to maintain the mineral balance of our tooth surface (read: enamel), a very important function, given the daily abuse we put our teeth to.  

Growing up, we’ve often heard the saying, ‘eat healthy, to keep your teeth and gums strong,’ and what this implies is when we eat healthy fruits and vegetables, we are naturally creating a positive microbiome within our mouths. Alas, if all of us were as disciplined. Dental caries and/or tooth decay is the most prevalent, non-communicable disease worldwide, affecting 60-90% of children and an estimated 2 billion people across the globe.   It involves the loss of tooth mineral because of acids produced primarily by eating sugary foods, leading to weakening enamel and gradually full-blown decayed enamel that result in cavities. 

Controlling the intake of sugary foods should solve the problem but ask any mother of a child in the age group 4-16, and she will tell you what a herculean task that is. In fact, it is because global data shows how caries continue to be a daunting challenge, despite the successful introduction of fluoride, that the development and validation of a new technology based upon 1.5% arginine started being discussed within the scientific community nearly a decade ago.  

Also Read: Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth? Unraveling the Mystery with Science

What is arginine, and what does it do?

Arginine is an amino acid that helps the body build protein. When introduced in oral hygiene, it creates an alkaline (read: a conducive) environment that stops the very production of bad germs, in effect attacking the root cause of dental caries.   It must be noted that fluoride does little to influence this area, i.e. the production of harmful bacteria in dental plaque. If fluoride were the cement that makes the house strong, then arginine is the waterproofing you do to your walls to ensure the rain slides off and leaves no moisture. 

Also Read: Soothing Nutrition: Best Foods To Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Modulating the natural process of demineralization and remineralisation

To be fair, our body is the most powerful tool – as and when the mineral content of our teeth starts to erode, (a process called demineralisation), our teeth have a natural defence mechanism called remineralisation. This involves the deposition of minerals from the saliva back onto the enamel surface, strengthening and repairing any damage that has occurred.  The cycle of demineralization-remineralization is a natural, continuous, and dynamic one that occurs in the mouth. So, then why disturb the natural ecology? Simply because widespread clinical trials are increasingly showing how arginine is a powerful, modulating agent in this whole process. Because of its metabolic activity to promote good bacteria, thereby changing the pH balance within our mouths, its use in fueling mineral gain and calcium deposition (read: nourishment) is key to building stronger teeth. 

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry found that arginine-containing toothpaste reduced the number of cavities in children by 50% compared to regular fluoride toothpaste.   Another clinical study conducted among adult male and female subjects in New Delhi showed that a toothpaste containing arginine, calcium carbonate, and fluoride provides greater efficacy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity when compared to regular toothpaste.  

The potential of arginine-based oral intervention cannot be denied, and oral care formulations containing arginine for the prevention and management of dental caries along with fluoride are the new building blocks of strong teeth for our future generations.

Also Read: Unmasking The Truth: How Effective Is Oil Pulling For Teeth?

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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

References

 WHO: Oral Health – Key Facts

NIH: The development and validation of a new technology based upon 1.5% arginine for everyday use in the prevention and treatment of dental caries

 NIH: The impact of an alkasite restorative material: An in vitro study

 NIH: The combined antimicrobial effect of arginine and fluoride combined toothpaste 

 NIH: Comparison of clinical efficacy on dentin hypersensitivity 

7 Poor Oral Health Hygiene Effects

How many times a day do you brush your teeth? Despite being very careful about your poor oral health effects on your dental hygiene, you may still have dangerous bacteria growing. Years ago, the idea of linking pregnancy or heart disease to dental issues would have sounded bizarre. Today, various medical studies help link serious health issues to poor oral health.

According to the American Dental Association reports, if your gum disease is as much as 40% serious, then you might be suffering from a chronic disease on top of it.

Who would have thought that the mouth could cause such serious problems to the body? A bacterium growing in the teeth makes the gums weak and prone to infections. The mouth is the gateway to the body. Hence, it is more prone and links to many chronic diseases you might be suffering from.

Here is a list of diseases that might be caused due to poor oral health effects that are bound to make you take better care of your teeth:

If you have some periodontal disease or have been experiencing a loss of teeth, then it is highly likely that you might be suffering from diabetes. A high blood glucose level provides an ideal condition for bacteria to thrive in the mouth and grow on gums. Fortunately, if you are able to control one, you can manage the other. So to an extent, the impact of it can be managed.

Studies reveal that men with periodontal disease are 7 times more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than men who take care of their dental health. A research done by the European society revealed that women, who do not maintain good oral hygiene, take a longer time to conceive. If suffering from gum-related diseases, then it might take more than 7 months to conceive compared to the peers who don’t suffer from anything.

Poor oral hygiene affects your mouth adversely. It causes bad breath, gum disease, decay, abscesses of a tooth, infections in the mouth and eventually tooth loss.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D

Gum and heart disease often go hand in hand. Individuals suffering from periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from a stroke or heart disease compared to a normal person due to the bacteria. These bacteria have the ability to clog the arteries, building enough pressure to cause a severe heart attack.  

Also Read:  Difference Between Heart Attack & Cardiac Arrest

Gum disease may increase your risk of getting respiratory infections, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. The periodontal bacteria can travel through the bloodstreams to the lungs and aggravate it, causing a lot of breathing trouble.

The common link between osteoporosis and periodontal disease is bone loss. Bone strength can easily be identified with an oral health check-up and that can help indicate if you are suffering from an early stage of osteoporosis. Treating Osteoporosis in such cases becomes crucial as it should be done before it can weaken the bones of the jaw of the person suffering from periodontal disease. Understanding the signs of this at an early stage is very helpful, as the patient can start to receive treatment before suffering a painful and potentially debilitating fracture.

Read More: 5 Effective Ways of Dealing With  Osteoporosis

According to CDC poor oral health is associated with other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Oral disease also is associated with risk behaviors such as using tobacco and consuming sugary foods and beverages.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Obesity increases an individual’s susceptibility by modulating the immune and inflammatory systems in a manner that predisposes to inflammatory tissue destruction and leaves an individual at greater risk of periodontitis. More bleeding on probing, deeper periodontal pockets and more bone loss were noticed in individuals with higher indicators of obesity. Thus, maintaining normal body weight and eating healthy food ensures less threat to the body along with focusing on the poor oral health effects on our body.  

Read More: 10 Health Risk Of Obesity

Neglecting your teeth can cause gingivitis, the milder form of gum disease which makes gums red, swollen, and quick to bleed.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D

Periodontitis has a common link with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) due to its common pathogenesis and clinical presentation. Patients with RA are eight times more likely to have the periodontal disease compared to control patients. Both conditions are characterized by chronic inflammation in the soft-tissue site adjacent to bone. Both the diseases together usually require lifetime disease management. In an effort to best maintain oral health, RA patients are encouraged to brush and floss on a regular basis and visit a dentist twice a year.

Well, now that it is clear why good oral hygiene is important, educate yourself and your family about these effects and spread awareness. Practice good oral hygiene by brushing after every meal with fluoride toothpaste and floss your mouth regularly. Doing so will save your teeth from poor oral health effects and life as well!

Also Read: Trench Mouth: Causes, Symptoms, and Research-Based Treatment Options

Disclaimer:  The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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