Vitamin D and Gum Disease

Everything You Need To Know About Vitamin D And Gum Disease

Gum disease simply put, occurs when the gums around the teeth become infected and begin to swell. Although there are a few factors that can result in this disease like age, obesity and stress, Vitamin D is proven to be the largest cause.

Vitamin D is referred to as the “Sunshine Vitamin” and it is produced primarily from your body having direct contact with sunlight. According to the Journal of Periodontology, vitamin D is as important as calcium for your teeth. Bone loss as well as an increase in inflammation can occur if your body has vitamin D or calcium deficiency.

What Exactly is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is caused by bacterial infections that if you ignore and do not treat can cause damage to the bone and result in tooth loss. Speaking technically, the molecules that have a destructive effect on your body are from Proinflammatory Cytokines. Vitamin D has protects your body against the Cytokins that lead to gum disease.

How Does Vitamin D Work?

Your body goes through a very long process utilizing vitamin D. The vitamin acts like a hormone, even though it is considered what is called a fat-soluble vitamin. It works with a parathyroid hormone (PTH) in your body to maintain healthy levels of calcium in your blood.

If you have low levels of calcium in your blood then PTH is secreted from your parathyroid gland and the some of the vitamin D that is in your body is transformed into Calcitriol. This actually causes your intestines to absorb calcium so then your kidneys eventually increase calcium levels in your blood. Once the calcium level becomes high in your blood, the Calcitiol decreases, causing your intestines to absorb calcium, resulting in your bones fighting over the calcium that is left.

When the vitamin D levels remain low in your body, the parathyroid gland becomes overactive so the PTH levels rise and the phosphorus in blood drops. Without enough phosphorus, the new bone cells absorb more water and swell. This is where the inflammation comes from.

How Do You Obtain Vitamin D?

According to the National Institute of Health, 10 to 15 minutes of outdoor activity a couple of times a week is all you really need. If you live somewhere that is always cloudy or full of smog, then vitamin D can be received by consuming milk, eggs and fish, primarily salmon, shrimp and sardines.

Who's at Risk for Gum Disease?

Primarily, gum disease attacks people over 50 years old. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, men with lower levels of vitamin D have a 61% higher risk of obtaining gum disease while women of the same age were at a 74% higher risk.

Also, if you are African American, you need even more sunlight to produce enough vitamin D because darker skin has more melanin which makes it harder it is for your body to absorb vitamin D.

If you are over the age of 50, have darker skin, stress in your life or obesity then you need to start making positive changes now to ensure the health of your teeth and gums later.

SMALL CHANGES FOR A HEALTHIER YOU

There's a lot of things you can do for a healthier you! Here's some tips:

FIND A HABIT YOU CAN STICK WITH-We all know that exercise and healthy eating are the first things to go when we get busy, that's why developing good habits early is key. Everyone will find their perfect time and perfect workout that suits their lifestyle. For me, it's running. It's my escape time away from everyone, phones, Internet and just alone time for me. Ideally I squeeze in a few miles every morning and it gives me more energy through the day. Some days when I manage to get a day off I can head to the park and run trails and enjoy nature. Yoga is also at the top of my list. Especially a short PM yoga routine, allows me to sleep better and wake up feeling really centered and well rested.

KNOW THAT HEALTH CARE REFORM STARTS WITH YOU-Seventy-five percent of the $2.4 trillion spent in the U.S. every year on health care is for chronic diseases, most of them related to obesity and/or tobacco. These are conditions that can be changed. It isn't easy but every has an opportunity to eat more fruits and vegetables. If you can't run...walk. Making some of those choices is just really important.

USE SUNSCREEN DAILY-We know so much more now than we did when I was growing up, when I covered myself with baby oil and had a little foil reflector. I am just now starting to learn the importance of sunscreen and I will admit I am still guilty of not using it at times. I really have a hard time bringing myself to lather sunscreen on before I go for a run or a quick walk around the block with my dogs but I am getting better...baby steps. Melanoma kills.

NEVER FORGET THAT YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN BODY-A lot of people never see their health records, and they have a 10 minute conversation with a doctor once a year who says, lose 5 pounds, exercise more, blah blah. You should ask your doctor what's in your file, everything from the results of your last blood test to diseases you may be at risk for because of family history. The more you know about what's actually occurring in your own body, the better off you are.

FIND YOUR OWN BALANCE-Balance is a challenge. You do better work if you have some balance in your life. It can't be all work and it can't be all play. Just like it can't be all sleep or no sleep. Find your balance. It's rewarding and make time for yourself...go ahead and pencil you in.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BONES-The older you get the more prone you are to osteoporosis. You never know until it's too late if you're lacking in Vitamin D and calcium and make sure to do some weight bearing exercise.

DON'T BE COMPLACENT ABOUT YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH-You have only one body. Many STD's last a lifetime and can seriously threaten your health. you have a right and a personal obligation to be assertive about protecting yourself. It's OK to take your time to become sexually active, and if you are having sex it's OK to insist on taking precautions.

EVERY YEAR DO AT LEAST THREE THINGS FOR YOUR HEALTH-A regular physical exam, a gynecologic exam and a breast exam. No one likes any of them...just do it. It's three appointments out of a whole year, two if you combine the latter two.

EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST-You should always eat a good breakfast. It has been scientifically shown that breakfast make a difference, and if you have a good grounding with breakfast, it improves your performance the whole day and actually reduces your over all calorie intake.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH-Depression is not unusual and it's not something to be ashamed of. If you're feeling hopeless or helpless or anxious it's important to talk about that. And, know that your physical health make a difference in how you feel emotionally. diet and exercise are important to mental health. Take care of your whole body and you will notice the impact on your mood.

BACK AWAY FROM THE VENDING MACHINE-Try to pack your lunch or at least hit the grocery store and keep some healthy snacks in your bag if you don't have a fridge, even some granola or crackers are better to snack on than whatever is in your machine.

REMEMBER THAT STRESS DOESN'T LAST FOREVER-There are seasons to a person's life. There are the stressful times and the easy times. The stressful times even if it's a short period, they feel like they last forever but always tell yourself you got through the last pile of stress and you will make it through this one. I have been telling myself this one about a dozen times a day lately and I'll be happy when I get through issues at hand and I can look back and sigh and smile.

SNEAKY THINGS THAT MESS UP YOUR SKIN

You could be putting your skin through hell and not even know it. Congratulations! You lathered on sunscreen all summer but if you're about to pack away the SPF along with your flip-flops....don't! Fall's rays are just as likely as summer's to cause brown spots, wrinkles and skin cancer. Every morning apply a SPF 15 or above. Foundation with SPF isn't enough, especially since women typically spread on a super thin layer.

SKIN SPOILER 1-Going to Bed with Makeup On! A surprising number of women fall asleep without washing their face. Skipping it once a week is not a huge problem, coming home late from work and just collapsing into bed but doing it night after night can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. For those times when you're too tired to wash your face, keep a stash of cleansing wipes on your nightstand so you can swipe your face, throw away and go to sleep. Every other night you need to lather up nightly with a dime sized drop of cleanser and rinse it off with several good splashes of water. If you don't completely remove cleanser, it can clog pores. Residue may also prevent the active ingredients in creams from sinking in and doing their job.

SKIN SPOILER 2-Getting Squeaky Clean! Dermatologists say they're treating more and more women who use too many types of exfoliates-grainy scrubs, pees and home microdermabrasion kits-and reach for them too often. Scouring yourself too much you strip out natural oils, your skin produces extra to compensate. Exfoliating more than necessary can cause extended harm. You end up with re, flaky skin that's extra prone to sun damage and wrinkles. If your skin is normal, exfoliate just once a week. Oily or breakout-prone? Do it twice a week. If you're dry or sensitive, two times a month is plenty. No matter what, if a product burns or tingles, rinse it off.

SKIN SPOILER 3-Eating the Wrong Foods (or Eating too Little)! If you're starving yourself to fit into a new dress or regularly snacking on processed foods like chips and cookies instead of fruits and veggies, you're losing out on vitamins and nutrients. You don't have to be perfect all the time but for smooth clear skin you need a well rounded diet. Women are most lax about getting enough biotin and omega-3 in their diet, both of which are critical for healthy skin. I recommend whole grains, dairy foods and nuts. Also, get in lots of antioxidant rich produce including berries and spinach, they help your skin fight off damage. Plus....fill yourself up with the good stuff and you'll have less room for all that fatty salty sugary stuff no matter how much you like it.

SKIN SPOILER 4-Smoking Cigarettes! About 20% of women 18-24 smoke and it may be written all over their faces. A female smoker will have pronounced lines around her mouth and look much older than she is. Smoking decreases the flow of oxygen and increases the production of rogue molecules known as free radicals, both of which bring on sallowness and wrinkles...a.k.a. smoker's skin. Do yourself a favor....quit smoking! Getting happier in your own skin may help. Work out, eat healthier and talk through 'I'm going to gain weight if I quit smoking'. You wont gain weight if you don't want to. You will feel healthier and cherish your body more.

SKIN SPOILER 5-Skimping on Sleep! Between economy anxiety and increased workloads, women seem to be sleeping less. Beauty sleep is no myth. Our body sees a chronic lack of sleep as a state of emergency which causes it to produce stress hormones. They signal the body to divert oxygen and nutrients away from skin to major internal organs. When skin doesn't get that optimum fuel, it can break out and become dull with dark under eye circles and puffiness. There's no getting around it, aim for seven hours of sleep. For a morning boost, try Garner Nutritioniste Skin Renew Awakening Face Massager.

SKIN SPOILER 6-Gaining and Losing the Same 10 Pounds over and over! Weight gain and loss, especially when they're done quickly and repeatedly weaken the fibers of skin, making it proned to premature sagging, stretch marks and little lines. Even putting on and shedding as few as five pounds in rapidly can upset the body's hormone levels and trigger breakouts. If you're yo-yo dieted and your skin's got a sag, try a firming lotion. Most important, set a goal of losing no more than two pounds per week, a safe, skin friendly amount. Remember...slow and steady wins the race.

SKIN SPOILER 7-Mistaking Rosacea for Acne! It's easy to confuse rosacea's red patches, visible blood vessels and inflamed pimples with plain old acne. More women are being diagnosed with it now more than ever before. If you have any symptoms or if you have splotches that worsen after workouts, when you eat spicy food or drink alcohol or when you're under stress, see a dermatologist. Leave it to the professional.

SKIN SPOILER 8-Not Having Enough fun! Spend time with your friends, it's a proven stress buster. Studies show that stress weakens the barrier that protects skin from elements like pollution and the sun. When you break down the barrier, you put your skin at more risk for breakouts and wrinkles. Schedule yourself in some fun! It doesn't have to be with friends...i find a lot of fun taking my dogs to the dog park so I squeeze that in at least once a week and it's good for me and they're certainly not complaining. Sex is also a welcome prescription. During sex you release beta endorphins which have acne healing properties and also give skin a nice glow.

FIVE BAD THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN

1. Chocolate-Women in a German study who downed a cocoa-rich drink daily-the equivalent of 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate for 12 weeks experienced less dryness. Their skin also had better blood flow, which pinks your cheeks, and was more resistant to sun damage, thanks to all the antioxidants.

2. Fruit Juice-It gets a bad rap for the sugar, but the antioxidant-packed kind, like cranberry and pomegranate juice, do skin good. So have a small glass or a Pomatini!

3. Oil-rich cleansers-They can help oily skin. Cleansers that contain emulsifying oils such as Vitamin E or Castor oil break down and dissolve dirt and oil without overdrying it like harsh cleansers can.

4. Sweat-I think it's funny how some women try to not sweat or workout but now quite to the point of sweating because they think sweat will cause breakouts. Perspiration is great for skin, it opens up pores, releases dirt and generally encourages skin to function properly.

5. French Fries-OK so they're not good for your skin but contrary to popular belief...french fries and greasy food doesn't directly cause breakouts!