😁 Dental Health

Last time, I emailed you about the breath. This time I want to talk about another needle mover which the standard 'diet, exercise, sleep narrative' ignores: oral health.

Oral health, especially gum health, has been linked to the risk of cardiovascular disease. In other words, the worse off your gums, the more likely you are to have a heart attack!

The mechanism of this effect is unknown. It is also unknown whether the relationship is causal. It is totally possible that something like diet is the common cause of both poor oral health and heart disease. But the link is strong enough to warrant inquiry.

I tend to be someone who is massively prone to dental health problems. There are a few other members in my family who are as well, which makes me think it has a genetic component. Regardless of the reason (perhaps I just ate too many Oreos growing up), I've had to take extra care of my oral health. Even as I speak, I am facing a sharp toothache :(

But you know me: I like to prioritise health. Last week I bought one of the most expensive toothbrushes money could ever buy. I'm embarrassed to even reveal its cost. I'll let you google - it is the Oral B series 9. It has a 3D AI engine that tracks my brushing in real time and gives me a report of my brushing quality.

Guess what? I'm actually pretty impressed. And dare I say it is probably worth its price.

On day 1 it was able to tell me my "blind spots" that occurred as a result of my mouth geometry and brushing technique. I can only imagine some of these areas I may have never brushed well. When I covered all these areas, I was left with a feeling often only reserved for after a dentist clean.

The way I think about it is this: if I could save even one dental treatment, that would cover the cost of the brush (here in the UK). And not to mention the peculiar suffering of getting your teeth drilled.

And finally, I can't help but notice the impact on mental health. There's just something about a clean mouth that makes you feel great and more confident.

So I recommend giving a high end electric toothbrush a try. It may change your life.