Exploring the Link Between Oral Health, Asthma, Allergies & Eczema

 

The mouth is teeming with bacteria. Most of this bacteria is the good sort which helps in the normal function of your teeth and gums, but there is still a chance you may be suffering from periodontal or gum disease.

Gum disease is said to be one of the most common ailments in the world. There’s almost as many people suffering from gum disease as the common flu at any given moment in time. But most people don’t realize that gum disease could have much more fatal consequences. In the past, studies have linked the seemingly benign disease to various other forms of bodily ailments such as- diabetes, heart disease, asthma and, in severe circumstances, cancer.

 

The Window to Your Health

There is a substantially growing amount of evidence supporting the notion that the mouth is the window to our body’s overall health and wellbeing. Particularly gum disease or periodontal disease has been observed by experts to be closely correlated to other forms of ailments people generally suffer.

The bacteria associated with gum disease was, at first, thought to be the primary contributing factor. It was believed that as gum disease worsened the bacterial growth increased and spread to other parts of the body and created different sorts of issues there. Recently, though, there is a growing consensus that inflammation is the leading cause for this link between deteriorating oral health and overall wellness issues.

 

Asthma & Allergies

Studies have shown that the most common ailment associated with gum disease is asthma. Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that when adjusted with other factors, such as age, sex, height, weight, smoking habits and lifestyle choices, the patients suffering from gum disease were most at risk for developing asthma.

The debate on whether gum disease is related to other forms of health issues is still ongoing. Whether it’s bacteria or inflammation or both which cause these problems is still relatively unknown. Research is ongoing but there is a lot of evidence to show that the irritants present in the body can migrate to other parts, sometimes leading to minor allergies.

Bacterial infection is considered to be the main cause for gum disease leading to respiratory problems such as asthma. Pneumonia is also said to be caused in certain cases where the bacteria in the mouth is transmitted to the lungs via the windpipe.

 

Eczema

Asthma is itself closely associated with a sort of skin irritation whose cause has not yet been uncovered – atopic eczema. Eczema is a sort of skin inflammation which cause the skin to redden, dry out, itch and crack. Patients, especially children, suffering from asthma are said to be at a higher risk for this sort of skin ailment. Dry and irritated skin is a fairly common problem and this sort of eczema is mainly triggered by allergens in the body.

Susceptibility to allergies, asthma and eczema are all correlated to developing gum disease. The best way to combat these ailments is to take much better care of oral hygiene.

 

Preventative Care

Brushing the teeth twice a day, once before bed at night and once in the morning, is a common staple of good oral care. But a lot of people don’t understand the importance of brushing for longer, preferably two minutes, for better results.

Also, a lot of people are unaware of the amount of fluoride their toothpaste contains or the amount that is actually recommended for use. Fluoride is highly effective in protecting your teeth from tooth decay, which is why it is being added to mainstream toothpastes by manufacturers. The element is naturally present in food sometimes and is known to also eradicate your mouth of almost all its bacteria. The recommended level of fluoride is 0.7-0.2 parts for every million parts of water.

 

Oil Pulling

You’ve no doubt heard about the health craze, oil pulling. Though it’s taken on a new life in the health world these days, it’s not new at all – the practice actually has old roots in Ayurveda Indian medicine.  It simply involves swishing around with a plant-based oil (coconut, sesame, sunflower) for about 15 minutes, which is said to improve oral health and draw out toxins from the body.

A casual perusal of online article on oil pulling will present a whole host of health issues that the practice supposedly cures; everything from hangovers to sinus infections to eczema.  While there doesn’t seem to be definitive proof of any of this, it makes perfect sense that faithful oil pullers would see a variety of health benefits.

Oil pulling is a great way to keep your mouth very clean, and having a very clean mouth helps to maintain health in the rest of your body as well.  So while I’d hesitate to endorse oil pulling as a cure-all for anything, it is one way to ensure good oral health, which has a myriad of benefits.

You can protect yourself from all the issues caused by gum disease by simply brushing and flossing regularly, replacing the toothbrush you use once every 3 months and eating a healthy diet. Regular dental checkups will also be useful in spotting signs of gum disease early and treating it effectively. Detecting gum disease early will be your best chance at avoiding any of the other health issues correlated with it.

 

 

About the Author:  Dr. Kimberly Dyoco is a Chicago dentist who founded One Mag Smile, a practice that specializes in both general and cosmetic dentistry.  Dr. Dyoco loves exploring the many links between oral health and the rest of the body and enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion as a guest author on a wide variety of health and lifestyle publications. To find out more, check out www.1magSmile.com.

Categories: Asthma, Disease, disease early, Eczema, exploring, Gum Disease, health, health issues, oil pulling, oral health, oral heath, people don

Warning: Sexual Dysfunction Can Have Many Different Causes

Sexual dysfunction is one of the biggest threats to your wellness, especially if you are a male over a certain age. It can affect emotional as well as physical wellbeing and it can take some intensive therapy or medication to get through.

 

The problem with sexual dysfunction is that it is a very taboo subject – people don’t like to talk about problems in their sex life, and so often many conditions that could be easily repaired go undiagnosed. What most people don’t realise is that the symptoms of sexual dysfunction are very common.

 

If you are suffering from sexual dysfunction, one of the best things you can do is educate yourself about your condition and all that it means. In this day and age, the internet is a readily accessible tool for you to look up your symptoms. Be sure to use a trusted source as there are many, many sources of misinformation on the internet and you can end up causing yourself more unnecessary stress.

 

Secondly, it is important to realise that many causes of sexual dysfunction can be really easily treated, with the right medical advice. Whatever symptoms you are suffering from, it is worth taking a trip to visit your local GP, and asking for some advice.

 

You may feel hesitant about this, as symptoms of sexual dysfunction are often quite personal and embarrassing, but bear in mind that doctors see every kind of condition and every type of body part on a regular basis as part of their job.

 

If you have a chat with your GP, you may well find that your condition is extremely common and that your GP can very likely prescribe you something to make things better straight away. Even if it’s not medically instantly fixable, you can be referred to some kind of therapy to help you recover.

Categories: condition, Dysfunction, nbsp, people don, Sex, sexual, sexual dysfunction, Symptoms

How Healthy Are You? Your Bowel Movements Could Tell You

A lot of people don’t realise that their bowel movements can tell them a lot about how healthy they are. Everything from how many times you go to to the colour and how much waste you expel will tell you so much about your digestive health. The digestive tract contains more bacterial cells than in the entire body, so it’s important that we pay attention to their health. If our bowels don’t work properly, it could mean that a vital bodily function isn’t working properly either. Our digestive tract needs to work properly in order to absorb the nutrients from our diets and to keep out toxins and chemicals that could lead to damage and ill health. Most people don’t think too much about what happens in the bathroom, but knowing what is right for you is important. Your diet is often to blame for a change in your bowels, but it may also be an infection or a serious condition. Here are five things to look out for:

Colour

The colour of your stools is usually a reflection on what you’ve been eating – obviously, different shades of brown are normal, but black and yellow aren’t. A black stool could indicate bleeding in the stomach or the entrance of the small intestine, and iron supplements can also darken your stools. A bright red stool could be blood coming from the lower part of the digestive system, such as the rectum or large intestine. Also, pale white or yellow stools can mean a problem – it may be a problem with the bile ducts, or even pancreatic cancer.

Shape

A change in the shape of your bowel movement could be a cause for concern, with some studies indicating that narrow and pencil-thin stools possibly indicating colon cancer. This is because it may show that there is a blockage in the intestine, making it difficult for fecal matter to pass through.

Smell

The smell of poo is never pleasant, but smells which are particularly strange or unpleasant shouldn’t be ignored. This is because it could indicate a health problem that your GP needs to be aware of. There are a number of reasons why your poo may smell worse, such as blood in the stools or medication, as well as a change in diet. If you’re worried, you should speak to your GP.

Constipation

Dry and hard stools that are difficult to pass are an indicator of constipation, and people who are constipated may only have a bowel movement a couple of times a week. It’s common for many people and almost everyone has experienced it at least once in their lives. The most common causes are a lack of hydration, poor diet, certain medications, a lack of exercise or numerous bowel disorders. A high fibre diet is often the best solution, as well as drinking more water. However, if you’re still struggling to pass stools, speak to your doctor.

Diarrhoea

When your stools are loose and watery, this is diarrhoea. Usually this only lasts for one or two days. Much like constipation, a change of diet or bacterial infections can lead to this problem. If left too long, it can lead to dehydration. If it’s lasted for a few weeks without any improvement, it could be a sign of a more serious problem. Interestingly, it could also be a sign of you chewing too much gum – there are some ingredients in chewing gums that could lead to diarrhoea.

Categories: bowel, bowel movement, bowel movements, diet, digestive health, digestive tract, health concerns, people don, problem, stools, work properly

How is Vitamin D Useful for Good Bone Health?

We all know of the importance of calcium where healthy bones are concerned, but most people don’t realise that vitamin D is also vital for healthy teeth and bones. Most foods don’t contain a lot of this nutrient, unless you can source it in fortified bread and cereals, so it can be easy to become deficient in it without realising. Natural sunlight is our best source, but with the fear over sun damage in the past thirty years, this too has become a worry and many people now avoid exposure to sunlight.

A mild lack of vitamin D in the body can cause tiredness and a general feeling of aches in the body, but more severe problems result in rickets or osteomalacia in adults. The treatment for this is vitamin D supplements which are taken routinely to top up the body’s reserves. Your GP may advise these supplements if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding; if you’re over 65 years old; for children up to five years, and those who aren’t exposed to much sunlight. They may also recommend them for people with specific gut, liver or kidney diseases, and for certain people with darker skin. Vitamin D is often overlooked but it is a vital nutrient for good health. There are some foods which contain it, including oily fish such as sardines, trout and salmon, as well as fortified breads and cereals.

Ultraviolet B rays (UVB) in sunlight convert cholesterol in the skin into vitamin D – for people with fair skin, this amounts to around 20 to 30 minutes of sunlight on the face and forearms, around two to three times a week to make enough vitamin D. For people with darker skin, though, the time needed in the sun to make enough vitamin D is much more and this becomes dangerous, as sun damage can lead to other concerns. It’s important to remember that this isn’t the same as sun bathing though – the skin just needs to be exposed to the sun, not tanned or burned by it. Remember that the sun needs to fall directly onto the skin itself, not through a window.

For six months of the year, through October to April, most of western Europe and 90 percent of the UK, lies too far north to get enough UVB rays to make the sufficient amount of vitamin D for good health. The main purpose of vitamin D is to help calcium and phosphorus in the diet to be absorbed by the stomach. These are crucial for our bones and teeth to stay healthy and strong. It’s also been proven that vitamin D can help to prevent other diseases and ailments, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. A deficiency in vitamin D can occur in three ways – either the body has a greater need for the nutrient, it’s unable to make the vitamin on its own, or there isn’t enough vitamin D in the diet.

 

Vitamin D deficiency affects around one in six people in the winter and spring in the UK, and a study showed that more than half of UK adults don’t get enough of this nutrient. However, most of these people don’t realise they are deficient, or simply have mild symptoms such as feeling tired more than normal. A simple blood test can diagnose this issue, and if a child is thought to be deficient they may be tested with an x-ray. Your GP can advise you of ways to improve your vitamin D count if you think you may be at risk.

Categories: body, bone health, darker skin, people, people don, skin, sunlight, Symptoms, vitamin, Vitamin D

5 Reasons Going All Natural Improves Your Health

With all the fad diets and health trends over the years, one healthy lifestyle has stood the test of time. Eating unprocessed foods, using natural hygiene products and avoiding harmful chemicals are things nearly every doctor will recommend. If you’ve been suffering from a variety of mystery ailments and generally poor health, consider some of the benefits of living an all-natural lifestyle:

 

Fewer Aches & Pains

 

Many people don‘t realize they are allergic to the various chemical additives found in so many processed foods. Flavor enhancers, like mono-sodium glutamate (MSG), are found in a variety of foods, including Chinese restaurant dishes, instant noodles and even popular snack foods, like Doritos. These additives are notorious for triggering migraines. Artificial sweeteners, like sugar alcohols, can also have painful repercussions. Because these chemicals aren’t digested like natural sugar, many people experience digestive distress after consuming diet products.

 

Boost of Energy

 

Another great reason to go natural is that eating unprocessed foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, can give you more energy and even help eliminate vertigo symptoms and listlessness. While prepackaged meals and fast food are convenient, many people don’t realize that the excess sodium, fat and preservatives in these foods can sap you of your energy. Fresh produce and whole grains, on the other hand, supply your body with valuable nutrients and help energize you.

 

Maintain Your Weight

 

Having more energy can motivate you to exercise more often, leading to a healthy weight loss and maintenance of your ideal weight. Also, avoiding processed fats, such as the hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils found in many shelf-stable snacks, can lower your cholesterol and keep your heart healthy.

 

Treat the Cause, Not Just Symptoms

 

Natural remedies, such as herbal medicines and nourishing foods, are more effective at fighting colds and supporting the immune system than many over the counter drugs. In addition, while artificially derived medications may mask various symptoms, they often do not address the underlying cause of an ailment.

 

Supple Skin without Chemicals

 

In addition to consuming as natural a diet as possible, you can experience great benefits from choosing all natural hygiene products as well. A natural moisturizer, such as Shea butter or coconut oil, can dramatically improve skin elasticity without leaching harmful chemicals such as cancer-causing parabens into your blood stream.

 

When you consider the outstanding benefits of natural products and the risks of consuming their chemical-laden counterparts, the all-natural choice is clear.

Categories: complementary, eating unprocessed, foods, harmful chemicals, health, hygiene products, Natural, natural hygiene, nbsp, people don, unprocessed foods