www.romansrevealed.com Nearly 2000 years ago, the Romans invaded Britain and changed the country's customs, food and way of life forever. Even today, the evidence of the Romans remain in the ruins of Roman buildings, forts, roads, and baths, which can be found all over Britain.
Their influence surrounds me. I live on an old Roman road, Watling Street, that stretches between London and St. Albans.
The diet during that time, rich in coarse grains and cereals, meant the population suffered from extensive tooth wear from a young age.
But, according to research into skeletons from that era, people living in Roman Britain had healthier gums than their modern-day descendants. A team at King's College London and the Natural History Museum found only 5% of adults had gum disease in the Roman era compared to 33% today.
Their influence surrounds me. I live on an old Roman road, Watling Street, that stretches between London and St. Albans.
The diet during that time, rich in coarse grains and cereals, meant the population suffered from extensive tooth wear from a young age.
But, according to research into skeletons from that era, people living in Roman Britain had healthier gums than their modern-day descendants. A team at King's College London and the Natural History Museum found only 5% of adults had gum disease in the Roman era compared to 33% today.
www.canterburytrust.co.uk Gum disease starts with inflammation and a bit of bleeding. But it can become more severe and damage the bone and supporting tissue deep inside the gum. A trace of severe gum disease is left in the skeletal teeth and jaws, long after the fleshy gums have rotted away.
However, ancient Britain was certainly not a golden age of bright white teeth. Our ancestor's smiles were littered with infections, abscesses and tooth decay.
The research group analyzed over 300 skulls from a burial ground in Poundbury, in Dorset. The skeletons, mostly of people who died in their 40s, dated from between 200 and 400 AD.
However, ancient Britain was certainly not a golden age of bright white teeth. Our ancestor's smiles were littered with infections, abscesses and tooth decay.
The research group analyzed over 300 skulls from a burial ground in Poundbury, in Dorset. The skeletons, mostly of people who died in their 40s, dated from between 200 and 400 AD.
Inside the hut. www.worchestergov.uk Half of the Roman skulls had some tooth decay or showed signs of infections and abscesses. The findings, published in the British Dental Journal, showed evidence that gum disease was about far more than just brushing twice a day.
It is estimated that one in three adults in England today have tooth decay. Modern day smoking and type 2 diabetes are blamed for a figure of nearly one in three today.
What can we learn from this? Don't smoke or get diabetes. And most importantly, make sure you eat a balanced diet without chewing on hard grains, although crunchy food like apples and celery are good for gums. I am inclined to support what my father said: “Everything in moderation.”
Is your diet healthy enough to keep your teeth and gums intact?
It is estimated that one in three adults in England today have tooth decay. Modern day smoking and type 2 diabetes are blamed for a figure of nearly one in three today.
What can we learn from this? Don't smoke or get diabetes. And most importantly, make sure you eat a balanced diet without chewing on hard grains, although crunchy food like apples and celery are good for gums. I am inclined to support what my father said: “Everything in moderation.”
Is your diet healthy enough to keep your teeth and gums intact?
RSS Feed
