| Why is Flossing Necessary? |
It might surprise you to learn that even people that regularly brush their teeth twice a day neglect the need to floss. Just because you don't have food stuck in your teeth or you brushed well doesn't mean you shouldn't floss; you need to know that it is an important part of your daily routine.
Reasons you Need to Floss
Here is what an extra few minutes of oral hygiene do for you?
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Reduces plaque between your teeth |
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Decreases the risk of cavities between your teeth |
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Lowers your risk of gum disease |
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Helps you retain your natural teeth into your senior years |
Flossing the Right Way
Flossing is very simple and will only add a few extra minutes to your oral hygiene routine. Gently position the floss between your teeth and wrap it around the tooth like a C-shape, work it up and down, taking care to get the entire tooth from top to bottom. It is important to pay careful attention to the teeth that are the furthest back in your mouth, as that is where food and particles tend to hide, which could potentially lead to cavities and gum disease. |
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| The Sunshine Vitamin
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Ahhhhhhh…… Summer! Time for BBQs, camping, and floating the river. It's also a good time to start soaking up some vitamin D. I know most of you are aware of the importance of vitamin D for healthy skin and immune systems, but were you aware of how important it is for the health of your mouth?
Vitamin D is the regulator when it comes to strong bones and teeth. Calcium is forever moving in and out of bones and teeth to the bloodstream to keep levels balanced. Excess calcium means calcium is stored in bones and teeth. Low-levels of calcium means calcium is moved from the bones to the bloodstream to be absorbed where it is needed most. Now, vitamin D is the crossing guard. D allows the calcium to be stored in bones and teeth. But, if you don't have enough vitamin D, it can't be there in the crosswalk to let calcium crossover into the areas that it needs to get to thus the calcium gets turned into waste and the body gets rid of it.
Besides preventing periodontal disease and osteoporosis, vitamin D also helps prevent skin cancer and boosts immunity. Studies also show that children have fewer cavities if their mothers had sufficient levels of vitamin D while they were in the womb.
So there ya have it. Vitamin D is essential for whole body health. If you plan on getting your vitamin D from the sun, just make sure that you wear sufficient sunscreen to block the sun's harmful rays. I hope ya'll have a great and healthy summer!
- Jocelyn Boffing RDH
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| "Can't Buy Me Love" |
John Lennon might have delighted in writing a sequel tune, "Can Buy Me Tooth" if he'd known one of his own teeth would sell for $31,000 one day.
Apparently, Lennon gave a molar that had been recently extracted to his Surrey housekeeper over forty years ago. A dentist in Canada, Michael Zuk, bought it recently and wants to display the tooth in his office.
Take good care of your teeth. Who knows what one of them might go for in a future auction.
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