Gums Don’t Discriminate

Gum disease might seem like something only adults suffer from but it affects people of all ages. So, while teens may feel – and often appear to be – indestructible, their gums tell a different tale.

TeenHealth.com reports that 60 percent of 15-year-olds already have gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease. Even more sobering, other studies show that teenage girls may be at higher risk of gum disease due to their hormonal changes.

This is bad news for teenagers, who may have bad breath or sore gums as the result of gingivitis. But there’s also good news: gum disease can easily be treated and prevented.

Treatment of gingivitis usually involves a scaling and root planning treatment (SRP) – also known as “deep cleaning” – to remove plaque and tartar buildup below the gum line. Just one SRP treatment can reverse the signs of gingivitis and prevent gum disease from progressing.

After SRP treatment, prevent gingivitis from returning by brushing at least twice daily, flossing at least once daily, getting dental cleanings twice a year AND eating healthy foods. The last one might be the biggest challenge since eating tooth-and-gum-friendly foods trip most teens up; sweets, sodas, energy drinks, and sports drinks are all heavily marketed to and largely consumed by teenagers.

You can make it easier for your teen to choose healthy options for their teeth and body by ensuring the refrigerator is always stocked with things like fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, and water.

If your teen suffers from gingivitis, or you’re concerned about his or her oral healthcare habits, give us a call for an appointment. We’re definitely here for you and serve as an essential barrier against gum disease.

Can working out improve your dental health?

We’re here to help you to be at your healthiest

Can working out improve your dental health?

According to one study at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, the findings were conclusive: Yes!

The researchers took the same factors that lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease into account when analyzing data from 12,110 participants. They found that those who exercised regularly had healthy eating habits and maintained their weight were 40 percent less likely to develop periodontal disease than their counterparts.

The study, published in the Journal of Periodontology, even shows that those who met two of the three criteria lowered their risk by 29 percent, while participants with just one healthy virtue had a 16 percent less chance of developing gum disease.

Overall, only seven percent of those who met all three of the criteria had some form of gum disease. The participants who had a poor diet, limited physical activity and were considered overweight totaled 18 percent, suggesting that obesity can more than double the risk of periodontal disease.

Scientists aren't exactly sure why these factors may decrease your chances of developing gum disease. It’s already known that healthy eating helps build up the immune system. However, scientists now theorize that eating healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, may also help remove dental plaque from teeth. It's also believed that obesity promotes gum inflammation, while physical activity may decrease it.

While a healthy lifestyle may help improve your dental health, it's not a substitute for maintaining a good oral hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing daily and seeing your dentist twice a year is essential.

Written by Gina, Member of Nebraska Family Dentistry in Lincoln, NE

Exercise Motivation: How to stay motivated through fatigue

One of the most frustrating parts of trying to get fit is when you hit a plateau and it seems like you aren’t noticing any improvements in strength, speed, endurance or weight loss. One of the reasons for this is our body’s amazing ability to adapt. Some of these adaptations help our performance. In the case of a distance runner, when they first started training maybe they could barely run one mile without stopping to walk, and within 6 months of training their body adapts and can easily run 5 miles without stopping or feeling tired at all. When we exercise, our body becomes more efficient at utilizing oxygen and making it available to the large muscles, the lungs become more efficient and obviously the continued use of the large muscles in the legs help them develop more strength over time.

Maybe you have just started a fitness program, or maybe you’ve been a gym rat for years but you are feeling like you aren’t seeing any results. I have a few suggestions to help you find ways to challenge your body to avoid staying stuck in the fitness plateau.

One big tip is to try to be active even on your rest days. So if you normally train with weights one day and the next is your rest day, try to spend 30 minutes walking your dog or riding your bike. Maybe you can do a 15-minute yoga video. Over time, these moments spent being active add up and can help burn more calories as well as help with recovery after hard workouts by promoting blood flow to the muscles, helping clear up lactic acid after those hard effort days without prolonging your recovery. 

What we eat makes a big impact on our recovery and ability to improve performance. Obviously taking in too many calories will not help with weight loss goals but making sure the quality of the foods we eat are nutrient-dense and help to sustain energy and keep our blood sugar well-regulated throughout our day and before and after our workouts is key. Trying to eat only minimally processed whole foods is a great step in the right direction. In my opinion, a calorie is a calorie is not a true statement in terms of the nutrition that is being delivered to your body. The calories in a donut and a huge bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit and nuts butter may be equal, but the nutritional profile of these two meals is completely different. One will keep you satisfied for hours and help your digestion while giving you lots of minerals and micronutrients. The other will leave you feeling a quick sugar rush followed by hunger because of the insulin spike it created in the blood. It’s ok to indulge every once in a while but it is good to try not to see unhealthy foods as rewards for hard workouts.

Making sure we get adequate protein, fat and quality carbs will make our bodies respond better to our efforts in gym!

My other piece of advice is not to get stuck in a rut. If you have a certain workout planned but you are dreading it, maybe try something different, or something you’ve never done before. It will not only challenge new muscle groups and target your heart rate in a different zone, but maybe mixing it up will be more fun. Spontaneously dropping in on a fitness class rather than going to the gym to do the same old routine you always do on Wednesday might keep you inspired to keep moving for the joy of being able to move your body! It’s a privilege to be able to walk, run, dance and swim! Take advantage of what your body can do, enjoy your life and love yourself.

- This blog is written by Michelle, RDH, hygienist in Lincoln, NE