A smile for a long life: How oral health affects our life expectancy

Living a long and healthy life is a goal worth striving for for many of us. While healthy eating and regular exercise often take center stage, there are other, less obvious factors that also play an important role. Two of these factors are oral health and collagen breakdown. In this article, we will take a closer look at these issues and what impact they have on our life expectancy.

Why is oral health important?

The importance of oral health is usually instilled in us from a young age. And for good reason: the state of our oral health plays a decisive role in our general health and longevity.

Good oral hygiene not only contributes to a radiant smile, but also has a direct impact on our physical well-being. It can help to reduce the risk of disease and therefore contribute to a longer, healthier life. This is because problems in the mouth, such as gum disease and tooth decay, can lead to more serious health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes.

It is therefore essential that we take the care of our oral health seriously. A daily dental care routine is something that everyone should incorporate into their daily lives. By taking daily care of our teeth and gums – through regular brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups – we can minimize health risks and improve our life expectancy.

The number of teeth we have correlates significantly with our life expectancy

More and more research is focusing on the topic of oral health and showing that the number of teeth we have is actually significantly correlated with our life expectancy.

A study conducted in the Swiss army investigated a possible correlation between the number of teeth and various health problems. The results showed that people with a greater number of healthy teeth tend to have a longer life expectancy.

Another research project was dedicated to the connection between osteoporosis and periodontitis in menopausal women. It was found that women with a greater number of teeth had a longer life expectancy. These results underline the importance of good oral health for general health and longevity.

Complementary research focused on the influence of dental status and chewing function on oral health-related quality of life and nutritional status in seniors. The study concluded that good oral health, including a healthy number of teeth, contributes to improved quality of life and nutritional status, which in turn can promote longevity.

There is no doubt that oral health, and in particular the number of teeth we have, can have a significant impact on our life expectancy. These findings underline the need to take care of our oral health and have regular dental check-ups to improve our overall health and longevity.

The connection between oral health, collagen degradation and longevity

Collagen is the main protein in our connective tissue and plays a crucial role in the health of our skin, hair, nails and joints. As we age, collagen production decreases. This reduction can lead to various signs of ageing, making collagen an essential ‘miracle molecule’.

Scientific studies have shown a direct link between oral health, collagen breakdown and longevity. Poor oral health can promote systemic inflammation, which accelerates collagen degradation and thereby accelerates the ageing process. In contrast, good oral health helps to reduce overall inflammation, slow down collagen breakdown and therefore promote longevity¹.

During our youth, there is a balance between the build-up (anabolism) and breakdown (catabolism) of collagen. Over time, however, this balance shifts in favor of degradation. This process is accelerated by endogenous factors such as natural ageing and exogenous factors such as UV radiation and smoking.

Collagen degradation and the ageing process: an inseparable duo

The effects of collagen degradation are varied, ranging from the formation of wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity to more serious health problems such as osteoporosis. Studies have shown a link between bone loss and skin thickness, indicating the joint influence of collagen.

To slow down this process and improve our longevity, we need to slow down collagen breakdown and promote collagen production. By promoting good oral health and implementing strategies to optimize collagen production, we can not only slow down the aging process, but also improve our quality of life and longevity.

Promoting oral health and reducing collagen degradation: practical tips

Good oral health and preventing collagen breakdown are crucial to our overall wellbeing and longevity. Fortunately, there are effective strategies that can help us do this. First, however, you should determine if you are already affected by collagen breakdown.

The PerioSafe® test offers one way of checking this. This test uses a globally patented analysis method to determine collagenolytic activity in the mouth based on the concentration of the biomarker aMMP-8. aMMP-8 is an enzyme that serves as an important indicator of collagen degradation in the body and is therefore a significant health marker².

Here are some more practical tips to promote your oral health and slow down collagen breakdown:

• Healthy diet: A balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants can help improve oral health and slow down collagen breakdown³.
• Regular exercise: Physical activity can improve circulation, which in turn promotes healthy skin and gums⁴.
• Adequate sleep: While we sleep, our body repairs and regenerates itself, including our skin and gums⁵.
• Avoid harmful habits: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect both oral health and collagen balance⁶.
• Regular dental check-ups: A regular professional dental cleaning and examination can detect and treat early signs of oral health problems⁷.
• Good skincare routine: Using anti-ageing products can help to strengthen skin cells and delay collagen breakdown⁸.

By implementing these tips, you can promote your oral health, slow down collagen degradation and thus improve your quality of life and longevity.

Conclusion:

In summary, both oral health and collagen degradation play crucial roles in our ageing process and general well-being. Good oral hygiene and maintaining a healthy number of teeth are not only important for a bright smile, but can also reduce the risk of disease and contribute to a longer, healthier life.

Research has shown that poor oral health can promote systemic inflammation, which accelerates collagen breakdown and accelerates the ageing process. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to take care of our oral health, have regular dental check-ups and lead a healthy lifestyle.

By promoting good oral health and implementing strategies to optimize collagen production, we can not only slow down the aging process, but also improve our quality of life and longevity. A bright smile, paired with healthy collagen levels, can actually be a key to a long and healthy life.

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