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Floss for better health
Inventor & designer Stuart
Saunders talks of the link between oral hygiene and many other diseases of
the body. Pancreatic cancer (which Steve Jobs, with all his resources, could
not defeat) is 100% higher with gum disease, while erectile dysfunction is
800% up (or should that be down?)
Floss for better health was the message from serial
inventor Stuart Saunders at the Pattaya City Expats meeting on Sunday,
November 25. Stuart is also the PCEC’s Vice Chairman. Although an automotive
engineer, one of his inventions is FlossFirst ‘Credit Card’ Dental Floss.
Stuart began by noting that since the Roman Empire, human life expectancy
has gone from 24 years to around 80 years in the West. However, we now have
many more cariogenic foods, such as candy, chocolate and ice cream, which
tend to reduce the ‘life’ of one’s teeth. In the animal kingdom, and
historically for humans, ‘end of teeth’ usually means ‘end of life’. In
medieval times it was thought that poor teeth and gums indicated other
disease, such as poor kidneys, pancreas, or other internal organs. It
appears now that the actual situation is almost the complete opposite, as we
find many serious systemic conditions can originate in the mouth, as oral
bacteria infect the blood stream via gum disease.
He spoke about the importance of good oral hygiene in regard to the effects
of gum disease on whole body health. A study of 40,000 health professionals
in the New England area reported a decade ago that gum disease (along with
tooth decay, the world’s most common disease) coincided with a doubling of
heart attacks and a 150% increase in strokes. Other studies since have
reported e.g., an 800% increase in premature births, with many babies
dangerously underweight, when the mother has gum disease. Many cancers
including oral and lung cancer have increased risk when gum disease is
present; likewise, diabetes, COPD, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s,
cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, osteoporosis, erectile dysfunction (up
to 800%). Injecting certain oral bacteria into the circulatory systems of
rabbits immediately triggers an infarct.
Sweden’s Karolinska Institute last year found that women who have lost teeth
due to gum disease had an 11 times higher risk of breast cancer. A recent
study found that presence in the blood of antibodies to oral bacteria
indicates a doubling of risk of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one
of the most aggressive, with 1 and 5 year survival rates of only 25% and 6%.
The website Realage.com predicts 6.4 years extra life with good oral
hygiene. Stuart suspects it may be more; a study of ‘immaculate’ oral
hygiene vs. ‘typical’, might establish this.
Imagine that we just washed
the paintwork & glass on this truck, & thought it was clean, said Stuart.
Yet that is what we do if we only brush our teeth, without flossing. Or
could we just splash some perfume around? Sure, Stuart says, use mouthwash
if you must, but ‘ain’t flossing ain’t cleaning’.
Stuart addressed common misinformation about flossing and
oral hygiene. Firstly, it is common to hear in Asia that flossing makes
teeth ‘gappy’. Totally untrue, Stuart said - he calculates that he has
flossed approximately 37,146 times since he began in 1971. His teeth
contacts are as tight today as when he started. The real risk is not
flossing, as tooth decay can take out whole teeth.
Secondly, Stuart thinks we should thank dentists for advocating
fluoridation, very much against their own pecuniary interest. To him it is
simply amazing that while there are still people alive today whose 21st
birthday ‘present’ was to have all their teeth knocked out (or the remains)
so they could be fitted with a ‘proper set of teeth that will last forever’,
i.e. dentures, there are now many who reach adulthood without a single
cavity. This is due in large part to fluoridation. Most cases of fluorosis
(main objection to fluoridation) come from regions where the natural
fluoride levels are up to 20 times that recommended by the ADA. Bad tooth
decay is a far worse condition than a bad case of fluorosis.
Halitosis (bad breath) is a potentially serious side effect of poor oral
hygiene, as anaerobic (without oxygen) bacteria break down proteins in
plaque wedged between the teeth. Volatile sulphur compounds, including
rotten egg gas, are given off. Some of the consequences of halitosis are
social rejection, limited career prospects and low self esteem; suicide is
not unknown. Stuart mentioned the case of a young lady who came to his
apartment one Saturday afternoon, in a very distressed condition. She said
she had no friends; she could not get a boyfriend, she hated life, and
talked of suicide. After listening to her, Stuart said “sit down, I have got
something to tell you. You have extremely bad breath. Your breath is so bad
I would not want to get in the same car as you. I can tell you this because
I can cure it.” He gave her some floss and showed her how to use it, which
she did. Then he gave her a new toothbrush and paste and she brushed.
Following this, most halitosis was gone. Stuart then advised her to go to a
dentist to have her teeth cleaned professionally, have any problems fixed,
and to be sure to floss/brush after meals. A couple of years after that, she
came to work for him without any halitosis.
Stuart finished on a historical bent, showing some items from his dental
floss museum, including several still usable flosses over 100 years old, and
a 1798 painting by Goya called ‘A caza des dientes’ - ‘Out hunting for
teeth’. This shows a woman pulling the teeth of a corpse on the gallows to
be sold to dentists for placing in other patient’s mouths, or for making
dentures. Yes, dentistry has come a long way.
FlossFirst is manufactured in Chonburi by Thai staff Stuart first
encountered when they were migrant workers in Taiwan. Their work was so good
that when the time came to relocate due to rising labor costs, it was also
time for the workers to return to Thailand. It was a no brainer; they
brought the factory with them. FlossFirst Credit Card Dental Floss, awarded
a Gold Medal for Best New Health Product at the International Invention
Exhibition and Technomart, is available in Pattaya at Friendship
Supermarket, and also at better pharmacies.
Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg then provided an update on upcoming
events and called on Roy Albiston to conduct the Open Forum.
Read more about the Club’s activities on their website at
www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
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Area officials congratulate Rotary Club of Pattaya on 40th anniversary
Jin Srikasikorn cuts the birthday
cake for the Rotary Club of Pattaya’s 40th anniversary.
Warunya Thongrod
Local government and business leaders congratulated the Rotary Club of
Pattaya on its 40th anniversary.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and Wiwat Pattanasin, president of the Pattaya Business
& Tourism Association, presented flower bouquets to club President Jamlong
Passara Nov 19 at the Town in Town Hotel. The mayor also gave a plaque to social
workers and community leaders participating in Rotary International.
Among the awards was the “Chonburi Model Father” prize given to Bunsanong
Thipsumalee, who then donated 30,000 baht to Rotary District 3340 Past Gov.
Premprecha Dibbayawan.
For the celebration, Banglamung students put on a dance performance and past
District 3340 Gov. Jin Srikasikorn helped Jamlong blow out the candles on the
anniversary cake. Area MPs Santsak and Poramet Ngampichet, and Banglamung
District Chief Chawalit Saeng-Uthai offered their congratulations.
The Rotary Club of Pattaya was founded on Aug. 5, 1972 and chartered on Nov. 19
of that year. Meetings are held every Monday at 7 p.m. and the 350 baht ticket
price includes a buffet dinner.
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‘Dusit Dream Holiday’ offers chance of once-in-a-life timevacation at Dusit Thani Maldives
Dusit Thani Maldives.
Leading Asia hospitality group Dusit International is rewarding its loyal social
media followers with an opportunity to win a magnificent Dusit Thani Maldives
vacation through the imaginative ‘Dusit Dream Holiday’ contest.
From November 29 to December 19, the entire online community is invited to
submit a photo that embodies their dream vacation based on three separate
weekly themes:
City Extravaganza: November 29 to December 05
Beach Getaway: December 06 to 12
Cultural Escapade: December 13 to 19
Participants may submit as many entries as they wish through any of the
following channels: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr or Instagram.
Entries should include the #DusitDreamHoliday hashtag or tag Dusit
International’s social account. Participants may also send in their photos via
[email protected].
All photos submitted will be uploaded to the Dusit International Pinterest board
at https://pinterest.com/dusithotels/. The three photos gaining the most likes
and repins will be selected each week to qualify for the final round. The
participant submitting the winning photo will receive a five-night Beach Villa
stay in the luxurious Dusit Thani Maldives that features a private deck area and
plunge pool, plus daily free breakfast and round-trip seaplane tickets between
Malé and Dusit Thani Maldives for two.
Dusit International media followers are invited to start clicking away for a
chance to live the Dusit Dream this holiday season. More information is
available at
www.dusit.com/dusitdreamholiday.
Surrounded by a vibrant 360 degree coral reef and turquoise lagoon, the new
Dusit Thani Maldives is located on the beautiful Mudhdhoo Island in Baa Atoll, a
UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, in the Maldives, and comprises 100 exclusive
villas and residences for retreat style relaxation. The resort also features
three restaurants, two bars and the Dusit signature Devarana Spa along with a
range of upscale amenities..
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Shenanigans Family Fun Day 2012
The winner of the family fun day major raffle
Donovan, poses with his brand new motorbike. The motorbike was kindly donated by
Alan Bolton Property Consultants.
The kids from Hand to Hand enjoy their new
mattresses apart of their wish list from the family fun day.
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