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Good oral hygiene is vital to a long, healthy life: gum disease that starts as simple gingivitis is associated with stroke, diabetes, and heart disease — and people who floss daily live on average 5 to 7 years longer.
From gingivitis to periodontitis
Good oral hygiene is vital to a long healthy life. Gingivitis, an early phase of gum disease, is inflammation of the gums caused by the accumulation of plaque and bacteria above the gumline. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a more serious and damaging stage of infection.
The mouth–body connection
Recent studies have demonstrated that there is an association between periodontitis and certain systemic diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Studies also show that people who floss daily live on average 5 to 7 years longer than those who don't.
More research is needed — and is underway — to better understand the exact nature of this association and the potential impact serious gum disease may be having on these systemic conditions.
Dental care as part of your anti-aging program
Regular check-ups with your dentist and daily brushing and flossing are an important part of your anti-aging health care program — as much a part of protecting your long-term health as anything else you do.
About the author
Allen Smolenski, M.D.
Emergency Medicine physician and founder of Coastal Medical Clinic in Surfside Beach (2009). After losing nearly 60 pounds himself — and placing third in his class at the 2008 NPC Natural Northern USA Bodybuilding Contest — he completed a fellowship in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine through the A4M, and now helps patients across the Grand Strand optimize their hormones, metabolism, and long-term health.
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