The health of your teeth affects your smile and the way you eat, but also may indicate your risk of dying earlier than expected. A new study suggests that the number of missing teeth matter, but also the health of the remaining teeth. Maintaining your teeth healthy or repaired could help you liver longer and healthier. If you are curious about this study, don’t worry because we are going to tell you what researchers found out. So, let’s learn more about dental health, shall we?
Teeth can predict your health
Researchers from the University of Osaka in Japan analyzed health and dental records of 190,282 adults older than 75 years old. For each tooth, they checked if it was:
- Missing.
- Healthy (no decay or damage).
- Filled (repaired with a dental filling).
- Decayed.
The results showed that having healthy or repaired teeth are related to fewer risks of dying earlier than expected, and that having missing or decayed teeth increases the risks of death.
The researchers of the study concluded that the total number of healthy and filled teeth predicts lifespan better than counting only healthy teeth or including decayed teeth. This means keeping teeth repaired and in good condition can positively affect overall health.
Why teeth health is important
There are several reasons why our teeth condition may affect our health and longevity:
- Chronic inflammation: Damaged or missing teeth can cause inflammation in the mouth, which can spread to other parts of the body.
- Difficulty chewing: Fewer teeth make it harder to eat nutritious foods, which can lead to health problems.
- Access to dental care: Not repairing teeth or not visiting the dentist can reflect financial limitations or lack of healthcare access, which also affects lifespan.
Another study
Another recent study, published in Geriatrics & Gerontology, looked at oral frailty, which includes:
- Missing teeth.
- Problems chewing or swallowing.
- Dry mouth.
- Difficulty speaking.
The findings showed that people with three or more of these problems were 1.23 times more likely to need long-term care, and 1.34 times more likely to die during the study period.
This reinforces the idea we previously mentioned: taking care of your teeth not only helps you chew and speak better but also increases your chances of living longer and healthier.
Recommendations
Let’s finish with what researchers suggest doing to try and maintain our teeth in good condition::
- Check not only how many teeth you have but also their condition.
- Repair damaged or decayed teeth to reduce health risks and early mortality.
They also mention that it’s important to conduct more studies to understand why damaged teeth increase the risk of death. I mean, having in mind how essential dental health is for our health, this issue should be studied more, shouldn’t it?
To sum up
Don’t wait until problems appear—take charge today. Brush and floss regularly, visit your dentist for checkups, and repair any damaged teeth as soon as possible. Remember, caring for your teeth isn’t just about a beautiful smile—it’s about protecting your health and investing in a longer, healthier life. The choices you make for your teeth now can make a difference for years to come.
Did you know the importance of dental health? In case you didn’t, we hope this article was of great help. Now, let’s brush those teeth!