Elite Smiles - Sept/Oct 2019

CELEBRATING ORAL HEALTH Spreading Awareness

THE FREE RADICAL 411 How to Minimize Age-Inducing Atoms

If you’ve ever picked up a health magazine while waiting at the doctor’s office, then you’re probably familiar with the term “free radicals” — at least enough to know that they get a bad rap from doctors and beauticians alike. But what are they, exactly? According to Live Science, free radicals are atoms with unpaired electrons that have split off from oxygen molecules in the body and started to “scavenge” for other electrons to pair with. That wouldn’t be problematic, except that these atoms tend to damage cells, lipids, proteins, and even DNA along the way, and that destruction has serious consequences. As Live Science puts it, “Free radicals are associated with human disease, including cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and many others. They also may have a link to aging, which has been defined as a gradual accumulation of free-radical damage.” Unfortunately, it’s impossible to entirely avoid free radicals and the havoc they wreak. The process that forms free radicals, called oxidative stress, can be kick-started by a variety of different substances found in food, water, medicine, and even the air we breathe, according to the Huntington’s Outreach Project for Education at Stanford University. Unsurprisingly, these substances are things already considered unhealthy, like alcohol, exposure to X-rays, ozone, fried food, chemical pesticides, air pollutants, and tobacco smoke. That said, there is one molecule that is stable enough to stand up to and reduce free radicals: the antioxidant. According to a study published by Pharmacognosy Reviews, antioxidants can “donate an electron to a rampaging free radical and neutralize it, thus reducing its ability to damage.” Synthetic antioxidants exist but can sometimes have harmful side effects, so scientists advise protecting yourself by avoiding free radical triggers like alcohol, processed foods, and red meat, and ingesting natural antioxidants in the form of berries, stone fruits, olives, onions, garlic, and green and black teas. Herbs

Many holidays take place in October, but one of the most important is the celebration of National Dental Hygiene Month. This holiday aims to raise awareness of just how essential oral health is for everyone, no matter age or size. WHY DENTAL HYGIENE MATTERS Keeping up with your oral hygiene will positively impact your overall health. When a patient visits their dentist every six months, they’re not only ensuring their teeth are clean and healthy, but also making sure nothing more serious is going on. During an examination, a dentist can spot symptoms that may mean the patient has mental health issues, oral cancers, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, acid reflux, or tooth grinding. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ORALLY HEALTHY While it’s a vital habit to have for optimal oral health, brushing and flossing on a regular basis is only a portion of dental hygiene. Rinsing your mouth can also have an impact on your teeth. After meals, brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash (or chewing sugarless gum) can remove any other food debris still left in the mouth. Having a healthy diet also influences your teeth; according to the American Dental Association (ADA), “What you put in your mouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums.” Eating too many sugary foods, for example, can increase the risk of cavities, as some bacteria feed on these sugars, creating acid that breaks down tooth enamel. THE GOAL This year, National Dental Hygiene Month is focusing on the proper routine of brushing, flossing, rinsing, and chewing. While it's common knowledge that the routine of brushing our teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and rinsing after meals is important, chewing also has significant effects. The ADA recommends chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals to reduce the risk of tooth decay. This activity increases the amount of saliva in the mouth, which removes food debris, provides disease-fighting substances, and neutralizes harmful acids produced by bacteria.

and spices like cinnamon, basil, turmeric, and fenugreek can ratchet up your antioxidant levels too. While it can’t guarantee immortality, the right diet can certainly help you stave off aging and disease, so why not start today?

Join Elite Smiles Dentistry in celebrating National Dental Hygiene Month by maintaining and improving your healthy dental hygiene habits!

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