For too many dentists, the X-ray machine is more like a cash machine.

They don’t use it when they absolutely need images to diagnose a problem in your mouth. They use it the moment your insurance company will allow them to make a new set of images.

It’s pretty easy money: Push button, cash check.

Meanwhile, you get exposed to radiation and all the risks that come with it — including brain tumors, as a new study finds that dental images can double your risk or more.

Researchers from Yale, Harvard, and several other institutions interviewed 1,433 people with a type of tumor called a meningioma as well as 1,350 people without the condition matched for age, gender, income, race, and more.

They found that people who had annual “bitewing X-rays” had double the tumor risk, while regular “panorex dental exams” starting before the age of 10 caused that risk to shoot up by 500 percent.

The panorex exam is when a single image of all teeth is taken from outside the mouth, and even starting after the age of 10 boosted the risk. In fact, patients of any age who received annual panorex exams had triple the risk of meningioma.

But is this really a surprise? A dental X-ray is basically a blast of radiation aimed right at your noggin — and while meningioma is still pretty rare and often non-fatal, you certainly don’t want to boost your odds of getting one.

Besides, the risks don’t end there — because dental X-rays can also increase your chance of getting thyroid cancer. A 2010 study, for example, found that people who have 10 or more dental X-rays over the course of a lifetime have 5.4 times the risk of thyroid cancer of people who’ve never been X-rayed.

Throw in the fact that many dentists still work with fluoride and mercury along with all that radiation, and your annual exam could quickly become one of the riskiest things you’ll ever do in the name of “health.”

I won’t say don’t ever visit the dentist. Clean teeth and gums are important to your overall health, and people with bad oral hygiene and gum disease have a higher risk of heart problems.

But when you do visit the dentist, set some ground rules: No fluoride… no mercury… and no X-rays unless they’re absolutely necessary and your dentist has a good reason.

Your best approach is to see a holistic dentist, sometimes referred to as a biological dentist, who is sensitive to these issues.

I’m not done with dental health yet — and if you or anyone you love wears dentures, keep reading for a warning you don’t want to miss.

Here’s the easiest way yet to avoid pneumonia: brush your teeth.

Simple enough, I know, but too many people skip out on oral hygiene — and that’s especially true when they’re sick.

Big mistake — because that’s exactly when you don’t want to let your guard down: A small study of 37 patients on ventilators found that pneumonia often begins with a dramatic shift in oral bacteria.

And that’s a shift that can be prevented with a toothbrush.

The study didn’t look at how this change in oral bacteria leads to the misery of pneumonia, but other studies have already mapped out the route: Nasty little critters build up in the mouth… and then drip right into your lungs, where they can wreck havoc.

Some studies have even shown that people with deep pockets in the their gums are more likely to die of pneumonia — and that’s another sign of the role these bacteria play, since they just love to hide in those pockets.

In fact, gum pockets are about as cozy a home as a germ could ask for: warm, wet and sheltered.

The Yale University researchers behind the new study say you can minimize your own risk by brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste — and I’d say they got that half right.

Brush twice a day — but skip the fluoride.

Despite what you’ve heard, fluoride isn’t all that great for your teeth. And along with not doing much to prevent cavities, this toxic substance can actually damage your brain and weaken your bones.

Try an all-natural fluoride-free toothpaste instead — and don’t forget to floss, because there’s a lot more than gum disease and pneumonia on the line here.

Just last month, I told you how gum infections can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke. Poor periodontal health has also been linked to everything from obesity to dementia to pre-term births and underweight babies.

Along with brushing and flossing, there’s another simple way to keep your mouth clean and protect your heart at the same time: give up sugar.

Sugar serves as fuel for the bacteria that can damage your teeth and boost your risk of disease. Take away their fuel, and they die.

One more note here: If you do get sick, throw away your toothbrush once you recover. The same bacteria that caused your illness can hide in your toothbrush — getting a free ride back into your body, twice each day.

If you’re not brushing after your meals, you could be doing a lot more than giving yourself bad breath and yellow chompers.

A new study confirms the evidence that has been building for years: People who brush their teeth the most have the lowest risk of heart disease. And people who brush the least may be setting themselves up for a lifetime of cardiovascular woes.

That’s in addition to being the most unwanted partner during “spin the bottle.”

Researchers asked roughly 12,000 Scots about their teeth- brushing habits, and found that over the course of eight years, people who said they “rarely or never brushed” (turns out some people will admit to that, at least in Scotland) had a 70 percent increased risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke than those who brushed at least twice a day.

Those who seldom brushed also had higher levels of the inflammation marker C-reactive protein, which has been linked to an increased risk of heart problems, according to the study published in BMJ. Some docs even prescribe cholesterol meds based on CRP levels, and not cholesterol.

Turns out these people don’t need statins–just a new toothbrush.

Other studies have made a similar connection between bad teeth and grimy gums and poor cardiovascular health. One recent study found that periodontal disease boosts heart disease risk by 19 percent, and up to 44 percent in patients under the age of 65.

Your own mother probably taught you the basic keys to a clean mouth years ago, and her advice still holds up today: Brush after meals and floss daily. But don’t stop there– you can also get a boost with green tea, which has been found to lower the risk of gum disease, and fish oil.

One recent study found that people with the lowest levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA were 1.5 times more likely to have periodontal problems such as tooth decay and gum disease than those who got the most.

Of course, the best oral hygiene habits in the world won’t make much of a difference if you’re constantly brushing off the residue of cola, candy, cake and anything that comes from a drive-through window–so make sure your healthy lifestyle begins with what you put in your mouth in the first place.

Then, get a firm grip on some soft bristles and take better care of your beak. Your heart will thank you… and so will your spouse.

January 2008 PDF Want to add 10 years to your life? Then watch your mouth I know, I know: You don’t have time to make or keep a dental appointment. It’s one of those things you’re planning on getting around to. That is, after the kids are settled (even if they’re in their 40s), the [...]