Thus, in addition to brushing teeth 2 times a day, women who show an increased risk of periodontitis should undergo more regular scaling of teeth - up to 4 times a year, if necessary.
This emerges from a small study of 56 postmenopausal women who had been diagnosed with low bone density, predisposition to osteoporosis . Half the women took, for over 2 years, a drug of the family of bisphosphonates to slow the loss of bone mass.
The results indicate that prolonged use of bisphosphonates in postmenopausal women appears to protect against periodontitis, which causes tooth loss.
Higher risk of periodontitis in postmenopausal women
From the age of menopause , women are more likely to suffer from periodontitis, since the presence of a biofilm increases the formation of dental plaque.This biofilm is composed of a community of bacteria and microbes that are organized together to eat better.
According to the authors of the study, the biofilm would cause more inflammation when the bone density of a person is low, thus increasing the proliferation of plaque.
4 visits per year to the dentist?
Dr. Jacques Véronneau, dentist and assistant professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, recommends that he provided to postmenopausal women to go up to 4 times per year to the dentist?"Scientifically, when you decalcifies teeth, plaque is back after three months, says one researcher who is also in oral health. If you do not have good hygiene, it may be that you had to go to the dentist 4 times a year. "
But we must consider the real risk of a person, "he insists. "The standard that we suffer descaling once every 6 or 9 months is enacted by insurance coverage, not by science," says Véronneau.
Dental Health: Effects on overall health
The oral hygiene would not only have an effect on dental health, but also on overall health, said Dr. Veronneau."The travel and oral bacteria are associated with markers of inflammation that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease , he says. For example, in a person with atherosclerosis, the transport of microbes and bacteria from the plaque could contribute to the aggregation of molecules in the arteries, clogging them further. "
It therefore underlines the importance of brushing their teeth 2 times a day. "If it does so only once, it is better that before going to bed," he says.
In addition, the use of a mouthwash 2 times a day, for 30 seconds per rinse can reduce up to 60% the size of the biofilm.
And flossing? "We always recommend flossing, but no illusions about the results of this measure: a recent poll shows that 98% of Canadians do not floss," says Véronneau.
