This toothbrush has orbited the moon.
Astronaut Michael Collins brought it aboard Apollo 11 in 1969 in his Personal Preference Kit, a small bag of personal items each astronaut was allowed to carry on the lunar mission. Perhaps even more impressive is the impact this plastic device has made right here on Earth. While chewing sticks appeared thousands of years ago as a form of oral hygiene, the modern bristled toothbrush we recognize today wasn’t manufactured in the United States until the late 1930’s when DuPont de Nemours debuted a model with nylon bristles. (Previous versions were made with boar hairs found on a hog’s neck.)
Even with advances in toothbrush technology, brushing didn’t became popular in the United States until after World War II when returning soldiers brought the good habit back with them. Routine tooth brushing has helped reduce the prevalence of periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, in adults since the early 1970’s. However, despite the incorporation of tooth brushing into our everyday lives, periodontal disease is common in American adults aged 30 and older.
A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly half (47.2 percent) of this population have some form of periodontal disease. The prevalence of periodontal disease increases with age—over 70 percent of adults aged 65 and older have it. And disparities do exist. Men are more likely than women to have gum disease, as well as current smokers, and those with lower socioeconomic and education levels.
Perhaps you are thinking if periodontal disease is so common what’s the big deal about it? Well, it’s a bacterial infection of the mouth tissue caused when a sticky plaque builds up around the teeth. In its early stage gingivitis, your gums may bleed and become swollen and red. Ever floss and notice some blood on the string? That’s an early indicator. Once the infection becomes more serious, a stage called periodontitis, your gums can actually pull away from teeth, creating pockets where bacteria can gather. Eventually, your teeth may loosen or even fall out. But that isn’t the only reason to brush and floss every day.
Around the time Collins donated his toothbrush to the National Air and Space Museum in 1984, medical studies revealed periodontal disease is associated with cardiovascular disease. It appears Collins had his priorities in order when he piloted the trip to the moon. Some studies have shown a 19 percent increase in the risk of future cardiovascular disease. While a clear link remains to be identified between heart disease and periodontal disease, scientists believe the connection may involve the role inflammation plays in both diseases.
In August, the American Journal of Preventative Medicine published a study showing that patients suffering from periodontal disease, as well as chronic conditions such as diabetes, that received frequent follow up dental treatments, accrued lower medical costs and required fewer hospitalizations afterward. In other words, it paid to take care of their gums.
The researchers write that treatment of periodontal disease involves cleaning above and below the gum line. While routine dental visits are important, a healthy habit of brushing and flossing, and microbial mouth rinse are helpful, too. The bottom line is invest in a good toothbrush. Use it often and correctly. It may not take you to the moon, but it will let you keep your smile for life. Unlike George Washington, who spent much of his adult life afflicted with inflamed gums and wearing ill-fitting dentures.
-KM
Photo credit: Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
Sources:
Vettore, M. V. (2004). Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. Evidence-based dentistry, 5(3), 69-69.
Dave, S., & Van Dyke, T. E. (2008). The link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease is probably inflammation. Oral diseases, 14(2), 95-101.
Jeffcoat, M. K., Jeffcoat, R. L., Gladowski, P. A., Bramson, J. B., & Blum, J. J. (2014). Impact of Periodontal Therapy on General Health: Evidence from Insurance Data for Five Systemic Conditions. American journal of preventive medicine, 47(2), 166-174.