Stopped flossing? Teeth still vital to overall health

Story highlights Periodontal disease could complicate the management of diabetes and heart disease One-third of adults in the United States have no dental coverage Studies show dental insurance provides improvements in overall health and cost savings CNN — Your teeth are more than just something to chew and smile with. In a 2015 survey by the American Dental Association,20% of low-income adults said their mouths and teeth were in bad condition, and 20% of all adults said their unhealthy mouths caused them anxiety, according to Marko Vujicic, chief economist for the association’s Health Policy Institute, who helped conduct the survey. “Now we are understanding that when you have inflammation and disease in your mouth, the mouth is connected to your whole body, and inflammation can spread to the rest of the body.” A “ton of studies” show that people who have periodontal disease are at higher risk of developing diabetes and having heart disease, said Cram, a spokeswoman and consumer adviser for the American Dental Association. Of the recent AP investigation, Cram said, “I am a periodontist, so I deal with gum disease every day, and there’s lots of studies showing that plaque building up between the teeth does cause gum disease.” She explained that removal of the bacteria-containing plaque every 24 hours prevents gum disease, so she strongly encourages her patients to floss or use some kind of cleaning device daily, because a toothbrush cannot effectively clean between teeth.