Sink your teeth into health with good oral hygiene

Happy Halloween! You’ve picked out your costume, carved that pumpkin and picked out a delightful and plentiful assortment of candy. You’re so ready. Ready for the trick-or-treaters, and ready to eat one tasty morsel for every one you give out.

But, and you knew there was a “but” coming, you need to remember one thing. And it’s simple. Brush and floss after eating all that sugar.

But, you knew that. Oh, and be sure the kids do as well.

Have you heard the story about identical 8-year-old twin boys? Alike in most ways, they were different in that one of the boys ate all his Halloween bounty on Halloween night and the other hoarded his to be savored over the next month.

The twin who chugged down all that sugar had perfect teeth while the twin who ate only a few pieces each day had a multitude of cavities. The reason?

The piggy twin ate his fill, brushed and flossed and was done. Because the miserly twin ate his candy over the course of many days the sugar stayed on his teeth longer resulting in decay.

The Centers of Disease Control says on its website that most of us take oral health for granted. Good oral hygiene enhances our ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, chew, swallow and convey our feelings and emotions through facial expressions.

None-theless, oral diseases ranging from cavities to oral cancer affects millions of Ameri-cans each year.

Tooth decay (aka cavities) is a common preventable problem. In children, it can cause pain, dysfunction, school absences; difficulty concentrating and poor appearance all of which greatly affect a child’s quality of life and ability to succeed.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that destroys the gums and bone.

Teeth become loose, chewing becomes difficult and teeth may need to be extracted.

According to the Mayo Clinic, tooth loss before the age of 35 may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Periodontal bone loss and tooth decay has been associated with osteoporosis.

Gum disease has also been linked to premature birth and low birth rates.

Endocarditis is a condition caused by gum disease or dental procedures that allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream can possibly lead to an infection of the inner lining of the heart.

And it’s also spooky that chronic inflammation from periodontitis (a severe form of gum disease) has been linked to heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke.

Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection putting the gums at risk.

Also, people who have inadequate blood sugar control may develop more frequent and severe infections of the gums and the bone that holds teeth in place.

(Just a side-note reminder here that Bonner General Hospital is hosting the Diabetes Day Open House on Monday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Brown House.)

Tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of U.S. children aged two to five years and half of those aged 12-15 years. Advanced gum disease affects four to twelve percent of adults. One fourth of our population over the age of 65 has lost all of their teeth.

So don’t become a scary statistic, enjoy the candy just make sure that you and all your family members brush at least twice a day particularly after eating sugary treats, floss every day, change your toothbrush every three months, see your dentist regularly and go back to eating a healthy diet tomorrow.

Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at 264-4029 or by e-mail at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com. Call 263-1441 for more information about the Diabetes Open House.