Conditions · The mouth–body link
Your mouth and your general health
A healthy mouth does more than protect teeth — it protects the whole body. Here’s why mouth care matters for general health, and the small daily habits that make the difference.
“Thousands of older adults in care homes and hospitals are dying unnecessarily because their mouths aren’t being cleaned.”
The Economist · Spring 2024
It’s not new information. People have been dying prematurely in care homes from avoidable aspiration pneumonia — a lung infection that good mouth care helps prevent.
An innovative toothbrush
Easier to use in someone else’s mouth
I’m trialling this toothbrush and toothpaste in a care home. I bought it a couple of years ago and use it myself — I find it much easier to manoeuvre in someone else’s mouth than any other brush on the market.
The dementia unit didn’t like the noise or vibration of the sonic version, but the manual version is well tolerated, and the results are promising.
Watch: the game-changing toothbrush for gums and general wellbeing
Gum health is whole-body health
Healthy gums, healthier you
In this video I’m outside a Banksy mural in Bristol, talking about the link between gum health and overall health. Over the years I’ve tried to emphasise healthy gums through the Teeth4Life dental app.
I often say that if you can keep your gums healthy, you’re likely to look after your teeth as well.
Watch: bleeding gums, your BPE gum score, and a monthly oral-cancer self-check
Mental health
A routine simple enough to relax into
Multitasking isn’t something most of us do well — but the triple Bristol brush routine is so straightforward that you can do something else at the same time, like relaxing.
For good oral hygiene, one thorough clean a day beats a couple of quick attempts — ideally last thing at night.
Watch: mindful brushing — power-brush techniques for healthy teeth
Healthy habits
Good habits, started early
We try to encourage children to build good habits early on, because behaviour gets harder to change as we age. That’s why I recommend an electric toothbrush to my patients — it helps build muscle memory, making it easier for someone else to clean their teeth if they ever need help.
I really appreciate the voice at the end of this video — it’s a shame there aren’t more clips featuring her.
Watch: understanding gum disease and the power of good oral hygiene
After the age of 25, you’re more likely to lose your teeth to gum disease than to tooth decay.
Which is why looking after your gums matters at every age.