Periodontal (gum) disease has been linked to poor health outcomes such as diabetes and heart disease.

Now evidence is growing that gum disease may be a risk factor for dementia too. Researchers have tracked the health of men and women in a 6 month survey in the UK.

They found that those with Alzheimer’s disease declined 6 times faster if they had gum disease.

Your mouth is close to your heart, lungs and brain so keeping your mouth healthy may help reduce other diseases too.

Netherlands researchers have successfully 3D printed a tooth made of an antimicrobial plastic that kills tooth decay germs.

Sounds great but there’s a catch: the tooth implant hasn’t been tested yet inside the human mouth.

The future of dentistry is rapidly changing with the advent of bioprinted teeth but prevention is always better than cure.

Good daily oral hygiene and a healthy diet mean you’ll never need a replacement.

Don’t stop at cleaning the closets, kitchen cupboards or the garage – your mouth deserves a spring cleaning too.

Start with a professional cleaning to get all the hard-to-reach areas cleaned out.

Chuck out your old manual brushes or power brush heads and buy new ones. Use a power toothbrush which has a timer so you know you’ve brushed long enough.

Invest in a Waterflosser or Airflosser device to power wash between the teeth.

Use a tongue scraper on the back and centre of your tongue where the smelly germs hang out.

Preparation is everything when it comes to juggling work with home activities.

Store a water bottle in the fridge, keep one beside the bed and one in the car to stay hydrated and healthy.

Stash travel-sized toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss in your gym bag, your hand bag and your computer bag for cleaner teeth. 

Stock up on healthy snacks such as nuts in kitchen cupboards, office drawers and in the car to prevent tooth decay.

Have you checked your smile lately?

A smile functions as a business card and says a lot about your diet, lifestyle, health and habits.

It is also an indicator of age. The front teeth of younger people are rectangular with rounded corners while the front teeth of older people are square and shorter with age.

Ask about cosmetic procedures such as whitening, veneers and white adhesive fillings if you want to look and feel younger.

A new drinking cup advertised on the internet is a hit with those folks who hate drinking plain water.

The Right Cup is a tumbler with food-grade flavours and ingredients contained directly in the plastic.

You pick up the smell and taste from the cup and enjoy fruit-flavoured water with no carbs, sugars or calories.

It’s a product to encourage even the most water-resistant drinker to consume more so why not check it out?

Dental veneers are white porcelain laminates bonded permanently to the front of your teeth so gaps, chips and cracks disappear forever.

Here are some other important facts:

• Porcelain veneers are highly resistant to stains from coffee, tea, cola etc

• They can eliminate tooth sensitivity due to worn enamel

• They are very durable so they can last decades with good homecare

• Veneers can change the shape of your face by creating a broader smile

• They require less preparation of the teeth than crowns

You may not know if you do...but your partner will.

Sleep doctors estimate that up to 90% of snorers, even gentle ones, also grind their teeth at night.

And habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol and caffeine can intensify teeth grinding.

Night time grinding can damage teeth, jaws and jaw joints.

Have a chat with your dentist if you notice any changes or wake up with a dry mouth, sore throat or a headache.

Researchers say that playing video games can improve brain function which is good.

However gamers who snack for hours while they play are in for a big surprise – tooth decay.

Tooth decay is a diet-related dental disease.

It’s not only linked to what you consume but how often you eat it.

And the risky snacking behaviour that starts in adolescence may continue into adulthood.

So you can brush twice a day but still get decay… unless you change your diet habits.