Brush Three Times A Day To Mitigate The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
We all know what a significant role good oral hygiene can play in living an overall healthy life. You probably must have heard a saying “Two minutes. Two times a day. Two simple rules for a healthier Life!”.
Though brushing your teeth twice a day can effectively protect one from a large number of health problems, new studies are suggesting that brushing 3 times or more in a day can lower the likelihood of developing diabetes.
In a study conducted by the Ewha Woman’s University College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea and Asian Medical Centre, Seoul, it was found that brushing 3 times or more per day can decrease the chances of type 2 diabetes by around 8%. The researchers in Korea studied the records of almost 190,000 people, who were tested for oral hygiene between the years 2003 and 2006. In this 10 years follow-up time, they found that around 16% of people developed type 2 diabetes and 17.5% were diagnosed with gum diseases.
It is of no surprise that a person with periodontal diseases has a higher probability of developing diabetes. These periodontal (gum) diseases are mainly caused due to bacteria from stored plaque. The body sometimes overreacts to this bacteria causing excess inflammation which in turn affects bloodstreams, causing gradual damage to blood vessels in the brain and heart. Following a routine brushing a few times a day, and flossing properly will not only reduce the risk of heart problems but significantly will improve your overall health.
Apart from frequent brushing, age and sex of a person, also are an important factor. In the same study, it was found that people aged 51 or younger, who brushes more than usual recommend (2 times per day), have a 14 % lower risk while the people aged 52 or more, showed no difference in diabetes risk.
Similarly, women showed a stronger link between reduced diabetes and increased brushing, than men.
A detailed report of this study was later published in the journal Diabetologia. The report concluded that “the frequent tooth brushing most likely is an eventuating factor whereas the presence of gum diseases and the growing number of missing teeth could also be augmenting factors for the prevalence of new-onset diabetes.” The researchers further added that improvement in oral hygiene can be related to a notable risk reduction of new-onset diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common in the USA than type 1. According to the center for disease control and prevention (CDC), more than 34 million American citizens suffer from diabetes. Out of which 90-95% has type 2 diabetes.
While type 1 is an autoimmune disorder, type 2 occurs when insulin produced by the pancreas is not enough to reduce blood sugar levels in the body. Though the former is caused by naturally present substances in the body, later could occur due to various factors like genetics, unhealthy eating habits, obesity, as well as bad oral hygiene.
The results of this study and many similar other reports in the past clearly indicate that there its a direct influence of oral health on a person’s overall health. And taking care of dental hygiene can greatly mitigate the risk of diabetes and heart attacks.
