Why good dental hygiene is
essential for overall health
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FAVORITE FOODS
more carbohydrates. In addition, less
powerful sunshine in winter coupled
with people bundling up translates
into less vitamin D being absorbed
by the body. Some researchers believe
there is a link between vitamin
D defi ciency and weight gain as well.
To ensure that certain foods do
not sabotage healthy eating plans,
people can employ some easy modifi -
cations and make healthier versions
of the foods they like to eat:
Choose crunchy foods. Those
who are prone to snacking can
reach for noisy foods. These include
crunchy items like apples, carrots,
and pretzels. Scientists say that
when people listen to what they are
chewing — called the “crunch effect”
— they eat less of that item.
Tone down the cream. Delicious
dishes like fettuccine alfredo typically
are made with lots of butter and
cream. Replace cream sauces with a
healthier base made of low-fat milk
thickened with fl our. Increase the fl avor
with favorite spices.
Fry with care. Use healthy oils
like olive or coconut sparingly. Many
foods that are traditionally fried also
can be lightly coated with cooking
spray and baked for a crunchy texture.
Choose sodium-free seasonings.
The USCA recommends limiting
sodium to less than 1 teaspoon
of salt per day. Try options like fresh
herbs or lemon juice to add some sodium
free fl avor.
Increase fi ber content. Fiber
helps one feel fuller longer and can
also be helpful for digestion and
heart health. Choose the “brown” varieties
of rice, pasta, and breads.
Replace meat with leaner forms
of protein. Lean chicken, turkey,
and pork can replace red meats in
many recipes. Some traditional meat
dishes, such as burgers, also can be
modifi ed using vegetables or seafood.
Lean meats dry out quickly, so
keep foods moist by watching cooking
times.
Stock up on yogurt. Greek and
other varieties of yogurt can replace
sour cream and mayonnaise in many
dishes.
Resolving to eat healthier can be
easy by making some simple swaps
when preparing your favorite foods.
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Continued from page 23
LIVING HEALTHY IN THE NEW YEAR
The importance of maintaining
clean teeth and healthy gums
goes beyond having fresh breath
and a white smile. Many people are
surprised to discover that oral hygiene
plays an integral role in overall
health.
Research indicates that oral health
mirrors the condition of the body as a
whole. Also, regular dental visits can
alert dentists about overall health
and pinpoint if a person is at a risk for
chronic disease. An oral health checkup
also may be the fi rst indication of
a potential health issue not yet evident
to a general medical doctor.
HEART DISEASE
According to the Academy of General
Dentistry, there is a distinct relationship
between periodontal disease
and conditions such as heart disease
and stroke. Joint teams at the University
of Bristol in the United Kingdom
and the Royal College of Surgeons
in Dublin, Ireland, found that people
with bleeding gums from poor dental
hygiene could have an increased risk
of heart disease.
Bacteria from the mouth is able to
enter the bloodstream when bleeding
gums are present. That bacteria can
stick to platelets and subsequently
form blood clots. This interrupts the
fl ow of blood to the heart and may
trigger a heart attack. Brushing and
fl ossing twice daily and rinsing with
mouthwash can remove bacteria and
keep gums healthy.
FACIAL PAIN
The Offi ce of the Surgeon General
says infections of the gums that
support the teeth can lead to facial
and oral pain. Gingivitis, which is an
early stage of gum disease, as well as
advanced gum disease, affects more
than 75 percent of the American population.
Dental decay can lead to its own
share of pain. Maintaining a healthy
mouth can fend off decay and infections,
thereby preventing pain.
PANCREATIC CANCER
In 2007, the Harvard School of Public
Health reported a link between
gum disease and pancreatic cancer.
In the ongoing study, 51,000 men were
followed and data was collected beginning
in 1986. The Harvard researchers
found that men with a history of gum
disease had a 64 percent increased risk
of pancreatic cancer compared with
men who had never had gum disease.
The greatest risk for pancreatic cancer
among this group was in men with
recent tooth loss. However, the study
was unable to fi nd links between other
types of oral health problems, such as
tooth decay, and pancreatic cancer.
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Various health ailments, including
poor oral health, have been linked to
a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s
disease. In 2010, after reviewing 20
years’ worth of data, researchers from
New York University concluded that
there is a link between gum infl ammation
and Alzheimer’s disease. Follow
up studies from researchers at the
University of Central Lancashire in
the United Kingdom compared brain
samples from 10 living patients with
Alzheimer’s to samples from 10 people
who did not have the disease.
Data indicated that a bacterium
— Porphyromonas gingivalis — was
present in the Alzheimer’s brain samples
but not in the samples from the
brains of people who did not have Alzheimer’s.
P. gingivalis is usually associated
with chronic gum disease.
As a result of the study, experts think
that the bacteria can move via nerves
in the roots of teeth that connect directly
with the brain or through bleeding
gums.
These health conditions are just a
sampling of the relationship between
oral health and overall health. Additional
connections also have been
made and continue to be studied.