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Brushing and flossing daily could help ward off rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new study. Rheumatologists in Minnesota studied more than 6,000 people between 1987 and 1998. Everyone had at least four complete checkups during that time as well as a dental exam. The results showed that people with moderate to severe gum disease were three times more likely to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis during that time. Presumably the inflammation associated with gum disease is also linked to joint inflammation. The scientists conclude that regular dental checkups are even more important for rheumatoid arthritis patients and their relatives than for the rest of us.
[American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting, Oct. 2009]
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Preventing tooth decay certainly I feel is an effective way to ward off many diseases - However I believe that with good nutrition many problems can be eliminated in the first place.
Weston Price DDS did a highly acclaimed study and wrote a book regarding nutrition and disease back in the 1930's which was quite enlightening and ahead of his time. He studied healthy primitive people from remote areas around the world who did not eat our modern diet. The primitive diet excluded processed white flour, sugar, and polished white rice. The diet included all available natural foods - whole milk, fish, meats, especially organ meat, whole grains, vegetables and fruit.
The primitive people had virtually no cavities even though they did not brush their teeth. The saliva when not disrupted by the processed foods protected their teeth. Most interesting - when introduced to a modern diet and then reverting to the primitive diet the teeth which did incur cavities naturally repaired the cavities with dentine. The primitive people studied did not suffer from tuberculosis, arthritic problems, heart nor many other illnesses. Of note their dental arches were wide and perfect and the photos in Dr.Price's book are most graphic as to the differences in the subsequent generations after being introduced to modern processed foods.
The primitive diets were naturally rich in vitamins and they ate enough fat (from fish, whole milk and meat sources) so the fat soluble vitamins were readily absorbed. The grain was ground right before using so the flour retained its high nutrient content.
Please refer to www.westonaprice.org as even more guidance as to nutrition is available there. I would be most interested in your comments. Ruth in North Carolina