Page 6 - Advancing Life 2023

Taking good

DID YOU KNOW THAT POOR ORAL HEALTH CAN
care of your oral LEAD TO SERIOUS DISEASES?

hygiene to protect More than 700 species of microorganisms reside in the mouth. New

technologies, such as 16S rRNA analysis, have allowed researchers to study
their genetic makeup and family trees. These microbes are found all over the
your health mouth: in and around the teeth, the gums, tongue, palate and saliva. They
usually remain stable during our lifetime but if the balance in the bacterial
community is disrupted, harmful bacteria may become dominant. This can
lead to bleeding gums and oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
Also, abnormal bacterial communities in the oral cavity have been linked
to serious health conditions like liver disease, renal failure, cancers, heart
disease and hypertension as well as illnesses as diverse as autoimmunity,
obesity and even Alzheimer’s.
High levels of stress and lack of exercise have also been linked to
disruptions in the balance of the oral biota. A well-balanced diet with
enough rest, accompanied by good dental hygiene is recommended. It is
important to remember that the mouth is the door to the gut and the rest of
the body. By keeping the microbes that live there in harmony is important
to reduce the risk of disease.

What can you do to protect your health?
Photo credit: Tima-Miroshnichenko

It is quite normal to have bacteria in your mouth • Be sure to brush and floss teeth regularly to prevent the build-up of plaque.
but having the presence of harmful bacteria have • To support the balance of the bacteria in the mouth, it is recommended

been linked to a host of health problems. that foods rich in antioxidants, like fresh fruit and vegetables. This also
means avoiding foods high in sugar, which can lead to tooth decay and
cavities.
Medical scientist Prof Glenda Davison and microbiologist Dr Yvonne
Prince from the SAMRC / Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s • Practice good dental hygiene by having regular dental check-ups.
Cardiometabolic Health Research Unit explains why it’s so important to • Dentists also recommend avoiding the use of antibacterial mouth
practise good oral hygiene. washes, which can disrupt the balance of microbes.

DIABETES AND

YOUR EYES

DID YOU KNOW?

It is important to have a retinal examination South Africa has a high and rising
once a year if you have diabetes. This is because
diabetic retinopathy is often symptomless. You prevalence of type 2 diabetes
might not realise that you have the condition mellitus among adults, with the
until it progresses, and your vision becomes illness being poorly managed.
irreversibly damaged.

To limit your risk of diabetic retinopathy and When blood glucose levels are not well controlled,
disease progression, it is vital to control blood complications affecting various organs are likely
glucose levels and manage high blood pressure to arise. These complications include diabetic
and cholesterol with the help of an appropriate eye disease, of which diabetic retinopathy is the
medical professional. most common and a major cause of blindness Advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy are
in working-age adults. Other diabetic eye likely to cause symptoms such as vision loss,
complications include cataracts, swollen optic which can become irreversible, and require
Where can you get a retinal discs, glaucoma, and ocular surface diseases. urgent intervention such as laser treatments,

examination? Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive injections, or eye surgery.
complication of diabetes (both type 1 and type
A dilated eye examination can be performed by
an ophthalmologist. This is done by inserting 2) that presents when small blood vessels in the The risk factors of diabetic
drops into your eyes to dilate your pupils, after retina of the eye are damaged by consistently
which your ophthalmologist will assess your high glucose levels in the blood. retinopathy are:
eyes for signs of diabetes complications and Research conducted by the SAMRC’s Non-
other diseases. Alternatively, you can make an Communicable Diseases Research Unit and • Poor glucose control and disease duration
appointment for a diabetic retinal screening the SAMRC/CPUT Cardiometabolic Health • High blood pressure and high cholesterol
with your optometrist or appropriate medical Research Unit, in collaboration with national levels
professional or ask your community clinic for and international institutions, aim to expand
information on where to access this service. After the understanding of diabetic retinopathy, its • Pregnancy
a retinal screening, a referral for a dilated eye prevalence, and the associated risk factors in an • Smoking
examination or treatment will be made if needed. African and South African context.