Our physical health constitutes many different areas. But they are intertwined in a variety of ways, through physical links and those that are habit-based. People who are more careful, or conscientious, in their oral health are also more likely to exhibit this care throughout their health routine. This link accounts for many patients whose poor oral health is mirrored by similarly poor physical health elsewhere. But this link isn’t only habitual, as some recent research has shown.
A large study in the United States, as outlined in the Journal of the American Cancer Institute, provides a link in to the connection between oral health and cancer risks. In this study, focusing on over 7500 patients, those with very poor dental health – or no teeth at all – were considerably more likely to develop a range of cancers, including those occurring in the lungs, colon, and prostate.
The increased likelihood ran up to 30% over time, even though the study controlled for such habits as cigarette smoking. Long assumed, this is the first inkling that poor oral health is connected in a very real way to your overall health.
The actual reason for this link is open to debate, and is sure to be the study of continued research. Some postulate that more porous gums allow for more ingress from free radicals via the gums. Others have speculated about stress levels, diets intrinsic to poor teeth, or to inflamed gums occupying more of the body’s white blood cells, which would otherwise be employed to fight off potential cancer growths. Time will tell – but in the meantime, protecting your teeth is a fantastic method of aiding your long-term health. Contact your dental clinic in Macquarie Park at North Ryde Macquarie Park Dental, and book your appointment. Call us at North Ryde Dental today.
In Australia, we are taught to avoid the sun from a very early age. It is reflected in our public service announcements, in our uniforms at school. No one likes sunburn, but recent research has shed some light on the importance of a controlled dose of sunshine. In its absence, our teeth – among other things – can suffer.
The only vitamin that our body creates for us, Vitamin D comes about as the result of a cholesterol in our skin reacting with UV rays, and are processed by your liver and kidneys in to a usable form. Without UV, your vitamin D levels remain low, which has real repercussions for your teeth.
Vitamin D plays a big role in the absorption and use of calcium, the building block for our teeth, as well as our bones and cartilage. In the absence of adequate Vitamin D, physicians note a strong correlation between greater likelihood of cavities, along with less bone retention in the jaw – something that can contribute to lost teeth. The value of proper intake, then, is high.
Luckily, we don’t need to risk a painful sunburn to gain adequate Vitamin D. Fifteen to thirty minutes of exposure around midday three times weekly is ample, with darker-skinned people requiring slightly more than those of us with paler skin. Should you be unwilling or unable to handle the sun for such a length of time, there are also Vitamin D supplements available at your chemist.
For the finest cosmetic dentistry in Macquarie Park, contact your experts at North Ryde Macquarie Park Dental today.
The summer months are the period when Sydney comes alive. The weather is glorious, and sitting outside and enjoying a drink is standard behaviour for millions of us. And why not?
Regardless of our enjoyment, however, it can pay dividends over time to take a good look at our drinking habits, and more specifically, our choice of libation. This decision can make a considerable difference in our dental health overall. Many people may shy away from sugary drinks at the pub, but adding a shot of vodka doesn’t suddenly negate their negative impacts on our teeth, and as your North Ryde and Macquarie Park dental clinic, we are keen to help preserve your teeth.
To be clear, alcohol is never ‘healthy’ in the purest sense, as we well know. Any dram should be taken in moderation, or risk neurological issues or damage to our livers and kidneys. But in regards to our dental health, some are distinctly better than others.
As with soft drinks, the combination of sugars and acids makes for tough going on your enamel. Without a dose of moderation, overdoing it can lead to cavities and pool gum health over time. Mixed drinks, such as rum and coke and whiskey and dry, are among the worst offenders – but even something as innocent as a vodka/cranberry contains of a teaspoon of sugar, which along with the acidity in cranberries, puts your teeth in a tough spot.
Worst of all, however, is the humble Bloody Mary. The acidic tobacco, Worcestershire, and tomato juice combine to create an onslaught of poor ingredients for your teeth. Instead, go for lighter, paler, less sugary beers, a citrus-free gin and tonic, or lighter reds, like a Pinot Noir.
Oddly enough, the mouthguard was not initially meant as a way to protect one’s teeth. Invented in Germany before the turn of the century, the mouthguard was intended to protect a boxer’s lips from being cut in the midst of a bout. Soon, however, their ability to protect and cushion our teeth became obvious.
Mouthguards are now being employed in dozens of sports across Australia and the world, and their benefits have been aiding sportsmen and women to smile more broadly for many years now. They cushion and protect your teeth, lips, gums, and tongue from on-field blows. They prevent the ‘snapping’ shut of your jaw. They can prevent soft tissue and muscle injuries to the tongue and jaw. And they have also been linked to the prevention of concussions among young people.
These devices are in use across the more obvious, contact-based sports, such as rubgy, football, and lacrosse. However, they have been finding their way in to more and more arenas, including cricket, basketball, and even volleyball. The reasons are numerous: the players aren’t expecting contact from their opponents, and they can often come from blind angles. Recent research in to the long-term impacts of mouthguards has further compelled players to use them.
At North Ryde Macquarie Park Dental, we can fit mouthguards to the aspiring sportsmen and women in your family. Fitted to last, the use of a professional to fit your mouthguard ensures that it is fitted properly, so it won’t let you down at ‘crunch’ time, preventing broken teeth and unwanted visits to your North Ryde dentist. Make an appointment today.
Our team of expert dentists at Macquarie Park is passionate for our work, and we look to provide a lasting solution to any and all of your dentistry needs. Book your appointment with us today, and smile wider with North Ryde Macquarie Park Dental.
As we grow and develop, from infancy to adulthood, our teeth and mouths must grow with us. Perhaps the most spectacular example of our metamorphosis is the loss of our baby teeth, which are shed in our youth, making way for our permanent set. Our baby teeth only require a comparatively short window of maintenance, but of late, we at your North Ryde and Macquarie Park dental clinic have noticed that more and more young patients are developing cavities in these formative years. This occurs even among children as young as two years of age. We believe that a high sugar diet is the culprit.
When ingested, sugar turn into acidic plaque, and this attacks the tough enamel on the outside of your teeth. This becomes the resultant cavity, although it is a time-heavy process. Naturally, the higher the amount of sugar content, the faster the process will occur. The problem is related to the amount of sugar being added to our foods today. Ordinarily, sweet intake can be dictated by the parents. However, sugar is now being added to so many foods – including some you might not realise, such as breads or granola bars – that it is far more difficult to avoid.
This could be because of its ability to mask unpleasant tastes, but regardless, it has become a problem of increasing worry for dental professionals. As your Macquarie Park Dentist and North Ryde dental clinic, we tell many parents that they must ensure they are on top of their child’s food intake, or risk visiting us more often.
