Health Benefits of Oral Hygiene - May 2026 Newsletter
Health Benefits of Oral Hygiene
Hello, this is Dr. Ellen. In this month’s newsletter, I want to take a look at the benefits of good dental/oral hygiene. To achieve this, at least twice daily oral cleaning of tooth surfaces and spaces between the teeth as well as regular dental checkups with cleanings are the standard most often recommended. Many pursue good oral hygiene simply to have an attractive smile and fresh-smelling breath. However, the benefits of such care are not limited to the teeth and gums, but can extend to systems of the body that are distant from the oral cavity.
By the way, if you haven’t had a chance to see my previous newsletters, you can find them on my website, www.drellencutler.com under ‘Free Resources’.
Regular Oral Hygiene
The objective of optimal oral hygiene is keeping the mouth as free as possible from plaque and food debris. This is accomplished through daily brushing, cleaning between the teeth, and maintaining regular care with your dentist. Brushing the teeth is done at least both in the morning and evening. Many dentists recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and using a fluoride toothpaste. Cleaning between teeth is done at least once daily with floss or another interdental cleaning tool to remove plaque and food particles a toothbrush misses (a water flosser does not replace this step). Some recommend cleaning the tongue as well, since it may harbor bacteria that contribute to bad breath and plaque. An antimicrobial mouthwash is also recommended by many dentists to be used daily. Alcohol and tobacco products should be avoided, and products with added sugar should be limited or eliminated.(1,2,3)
Annual or preferably twice-yearly visits to your dentist for checkups and preventive care are important as well. Your dentist will assess you for tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease, and screen for other problems including oral cancer. Annual dental x-ray examination is done as needed. Regular professional cleanings and checkups remove tartar and catch issues before they become more serious. It is important to let your dentist know of any new symptoms, including sudden changes in taste and smell.(1,2,3)
Evidence of Poor Oral Hygiene
There are a number of signs that may indicate the level of dental hygiene is inadequate. Irregularities in tooth enamel, toothache, and swelling of the jaw may be evident with dental caries (decay). Bleeding gums, loose teeth, and receding gums suggest gingival and other, more severe periodontal (gum) disease. Mouth sores and chronic bad breath can be caused or contributed to by either. Gingivostomatitis, an infection of the mouth caused by certain bacteria or viruses, can also arise because of poor oral hygiene. Also, certain health conditions may negatively impact the health of your teeth and gums, including diabetes, osteoporosis, and dementia/Alzheimer’s disease.(1,4,5,6) There is also evidence that periodontal disease is a form of ongoing immune-mediated inflammation and may be associated with a seemingly unrelated immune disorder.(7)
Effects of Poor Oral Health and Improved Oral Hygiene Beyond the Oral Cavity
Studies have shown that gingivitis and periodontitis can be associated with a number of health conditions, and improved oral hygiene practices have been found to decrease the risk of those.(1) For example, in a study of almost a quarter of a million healthy adults, toothbrushing 3 or more times daily was associated with a 19% lower risk of cardiovascular events (including heart attack and stroke) compared to those brushing once or less each day, and regular professional dental cleaning reduced cardiovascular risk by 14%.(8) A systematic review found that toothbrushing and interdental cleaning were associated with lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes or hypertension and a lower mortality risk in those with cardiovascular disease. Surprisingly, mouthwash use reportedly increased the risk of developing hypertension and diabetes by 85% and 55%, respectively!(9) Also, a meta-analysis provided moderate certainty that periodontal disease treatment below the gum line improves blood sugar control in people with both periodontitis and diabetes by a clinically significant amount.(10)
There are other health conditions that are associated with poor oral health.
In a study of over 2.5 million people, periodontal disease, dental caries, and a high number of missing teeth were associated with a higher risk of dementia. The increased risks of dental diseases were reduced by appropriate oral hygiene care.(11)
In a systematic review and meta-analysis, periodontal disease was found to be associated with colorectal, gastric, bladder, pancreatic, esophageal, and breast cancers.(12)
Current evidence suggests that poor oral hygiene and periodontal diseases (and not dental office procedures) are likely to be responsible for the vast majority of infectious endocarditis cases originating in the mouth.(13)
In another study, the risk of pneumonia increased significantly in groups with a higher number of dental caries and missing teeth, and decreased significantly in frequent tooth brushing and regular professional dental cleaning groups.(14)
Maternal periodontal disease may be associated with an increased risk of maternal complications and neonatal morbidity.(15) Treating maternal periodontitis with instrumentation and chlorhexidine mouthwash was associated with reduced risk of preterm and low birth weight babies.(16)
Ellen Cutler Method (ECM)
Over my years of practice, I have repeatedly found ECM energetic testing and clearing methods to be quite effective in mitigating many of my patients’ persistent problems as well as optimizing their overall health. Through ECM testing I can determine the nature of their complaints and then test them to find if there are specific reactivities related to their problems. This includes testing lifestyle choices. Upon testing, I have found most of my patients benefit by improving their oral hygiene routines and seeking out regular dental care, including cleanings. A number of patients have specifically benefitted from receiving treatments for diseases of their teeth and gums. As explained above, this may benefit each of them now and in the future.
Please be well, be healthy, but remember…
“Dentistry is not expensive… neglect is!”
and
“Good health starts in your mouth.”
― Unknown
Dr. Ellen
References:
“Oral Hygiene” at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16914-oral-hygiene
“Complete Guide to Oral Hygiene Routines” at https://dentaldepotkcmo.com/complete-guide-to-oral-hygiene-routines/
“Oral Health Tips for Adults” at https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/prevention/oral-health-tips-for-adults.html
“Periodontal disease and diabetes: A two-way street” at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000281771462729X
“Association between periodontal disease and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis” at https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(23)08130-6
“Dementia and the Risk of Periodontitis: A Population-Based Cohort Study” at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00220345211037220
“Inflammatory and Immunological Basis of Periodontal Diseases” at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jre.70040
“Improved oral hygiene care attenuates the cardiovascular risk of oral health disease: a population-based study from Korea” at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30561631/
“Impact of Oral Hygiene Practices in Reducing Cardiometabolic Risk, Incidence, and Mortality: A Systematic Review” at https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/10/1319
“Treatment of periodontitis for glycaemic control in people with diabetes mellitus” at https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004714.pub4/abstract
“Association between Dental Diseases and Oral Hygiene Care and the Risk of Dementia: A Retrospective Cohort Study” at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37709259/
“Periodontal Disease and Incidence of Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies” at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13052020/
“Infective Endocarditis in Adults: Diagnosis, Antimicrobial Therapy, and Management of Complications” at https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000296#core-R328-1
“Association between oral health and incidence of pneumonia: a population-based cohort study from Korea” at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7293333/
“Association between maternal periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes: an analysis of claims data at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34173655/
“Association of Chlorhexidine Use and Scaling and Root Planing With Birth Outcomes in Pregnant Individuals With Periodontitis” at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2799685?utm_source=openevidence&utm_medium=referral
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease.
