... continued from Cover
a whole second meal after they are done swimming. To keep up with all of the calories they are burning this summer, they eat all the time. The happy side-effect of us all having raging appetites, however, is that we get to sleep soundly at night: exhausted and stuffed to the gills with yummy grub. The Best Laps Ahead Getting back into swimming means frequenting the pool like a band of mermaids needing to catch a breath. It has been fun to become regulars at the local pool. We recognize the same families, familiar
Deep Stomachs Swimming is an excellent form of exercise. Some might say it’s too good. In order to maintain weight while swimming regularly, you have to eat like a bear at an all-you-can- eat honey and salmon buffet. I’ve heard that Michael Phelps would eat 8,000–10,000 calories a day when he was competing for the Olympics. Now that the Bennett family is back into swimming, we have become a house of mini-Phelps. As cool as that sounds, it means that our grocery bill has gone way up. Our kids each have
characters, and lifeguards lounging and swimming alongside us. The 10 minutes on the way to the pool and back in the car are also a wonderful way to catch up with family. I look forward to this great family activity every day and sincerely hope this summer trend never ends. –Kevin Bennett
THE NECESSITY OF GOOD DENTAL CARE SENIOR SMILES
No one wants a visit from the tooth fairy long after their baby teeth are gone. Taking care of your teeth is essential at all ages but is especially vital for older adults. Unfortunately, research shows that the older we get, the more we neglect our teeth. This results in a high percentage of older adults missing some or all of their teeth. This doesn’t just affect our dental health — it also worsens our quality of life. Keeping up with our dental hygiene benefits our bodily health, and neglecting it can lead to a plethora of problems. Here is why and how you should keep up with your dental hygiene when you are older! The Denture Domino Effect Edentulism is a fancy word that means missing some or all of your teeth. According to research published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, up to 78% of older adults have edentulism, which can have a significant impact on the rest of the body. When a lack of teeth or reliance on dentures limits what you can comfortably eat, you may resort to eating softer foods, often full of saturated fat and cholesterol. This further compounds things and makes it harder to take care of your oral
hygiene. But with care, you can maintain a healthy diet with edentulism and prevent further harm to your teeth.
Keeping the Tooth Fairy Away Here are some general tips from the medical community for maintaining your dental hygiene when you are older:
• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste • Floss at least once a day • Rinse with antiseptic mouthwash daily • Schedule regular cleanings and oral exams with your dentist If you struggle to maintain a healthy diet because of a lack of teeth, try steaming or mashing your vegetables to make them easier to consume. Alternatively, smoothies and soft beans can help! It may seem hard to keep up, but the effort is well worth it. Your mouth and your body will thank you for it.
2 kentucky.seniorhealth.pro
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator