Healthy news and information from Exquisite Smiles / 2021 February Issue
After a poor night of sleep, you might feel groggy the next day.
When you catch yourself in the mirror, you may even look tired. But lack of sleep stops there, right?
Wrong.
Routinely poor sleep can actually affect your dental health, too.
In fact, a study by Osaka University Graduate school examined different lifestyle and sleep factors, concluding that people who slept seven to eight hours each night had less of a risk for developing periodontitis (gum disease).
How? Lack of sleep can lead to inflammation in the body-even in your gums. Inflamed gums can become gingivitis first, and eventually turn into full blown periodontitis.
If poor sleep is affecting your health, do your best to make sleep a priority-it should be at the top of your ‘to do’ list instead of getting pushed aside.
These days, it seems that there’s a supplement for everything! But do they actually work? And do any of them benefit your teeth?
We breakdown a few vitamins and minerals that can play a pivotal role in your oral health below.
Calcium: This mineral helps provide support for bones and teeth. Get more calcium into your diet through milk, broccoli and salmon.
Potassium: Go bananas! Potassium has been proven to aid bone density, which is great for your teeth.
Vitamin K: This vitamin acts as a shield to block the breakdown of bones and provide healing. You can find Vitamin K in leafy greens.
Vitamin A: Keep your gums strong with Vitamin A, which helps keep mucous membranes healthy throughout the body. It can be found in carrots, sweet potato’s, egg yolks and fish among others.
While taking care of our teeth at every stage of life is important, aging can present specific challenges that seniors should be aware of.
Here are a few ways you can ensure your smile thrives well into your golden years.
• According to the CDC, 2 in 3 seniors over the age of 65 have some form of gum disease. Ensuring you floss daily and continue to brush twice each day can help lower your risk. More so, heart disease has been linked to gum inflammation.
• Older people with diabetes should make hydration a key part of their day. Why? Diabetes can cause more sugar in your saliva, causing tooth decay and other oral problems.
• If you smoke or chew tobacco, try to quit soon. Older adults are at a much higher risk for developing oral cancer. Regular visits with us can help ensure any issues are caught promptly!
