Anti-Aging Remedies

OK, so going to the dentist may not rank as your favorite activity. We've all had our horrifying experiences to look back on, and such memories tend to make our trips to the tooth doctor rank somewhere below a tax audit, an afternoon in a storm cellar with your accountant, and a case of the flu. As we cruise past 40, the pain and gore are accompanied by an endless discourse from the dentist on what even more terrifying things are going to happen to our mouths if we don't floss and get cleaned more often.

According to Dr. Roger Bromaghin, DDS, a humble country dentist from Big Lake, Minnesota, you should pay heed.

As you age, your teeth generally become weaker and can fracture without much provocation (from lead shot, a popcorn kernel, a bit of bone, some hard candy, cough drops, etc.).

The major problem is that bacteria-producing foods such as carbohydrates are often retained in the mouth. What follows is that amylase in the saliva breaks down any starches (dried fruits, crackers, pretzels, potato chips) stuck between the teeth in those widening crevices where fillings have shrunk, allowing bacteria to have a field day. Not only do such bacteria cause cavities; they're why your wife may turn pale and dive under the pillow when you try to kiss her in the morning.

The number one problem for men over 40, however, is periodontal diseasethe infection of the gums and supporting tissue of the teeth. The most common periodontal disease is periodontitis, an infection due to retained bacteria in plaque and cavities under the gums. Fortunately, this problem is largely preventable and can be corrected with good oral hygienebrushing, flossing, and avoiding especially sticky sweet foods.

Dentists like to advocate flossing. You'd think they owned stock in dental floss futures or toothbrushes. (The latest, by the way, is dental floss made of Gore-Tex, the same stuff that forms the membrane in waterproof/breathable outerwear.) However, flossing once a day does remove plaque. The critical time for daily flossing is at bedtime, when salivary flow, which can bathe away bacteria, is at its lowest rate.