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.

FIVE FREE AND EASY ENERGY BOOSTERS

In the cold months sometimes it gets harder to get motivate to do just about anything....I swear I feel my blood going into hibernation mode sometimes. Next time your brain starts screaming "Get me a Red Bull!!"....try these ideas instead.

1. Wear something bright-a new holiday dress, a cherry polish your fingers or toes-just looking at those could help you have a peppier day. You can even write on a red or pink paper. Surrounding yourself in color adds a little cheer in your life. Consider putting a bit of bright color in a room in your house you spend a lot of time in. Are you one of those people that play it safe and wear a lot of blacks or browns to work? That's fine, invest in a super fun, bright, crazy colored scarf and matching gloves! It will make you smile just putting them on to go outside!

2. Turn on a lamp-light sends your brain a message to wake up. Perfect for bleary mornings and mid-afternoon slumps. There has been studies that prove that exposure to bright light between noon and 4:00pm significantly reduced people's feelings of fatigue and sleepiness. What's better then a lamp? Step out into some real sunshine. Sure it's cold out but there's nothing like a walk on a cold day with plenty of sunshine! Take your four legged friend for a walk! If you're like me...I have no choice! Me and my dogs walk everyday, rain or shine, snow or sun but I love when I come in from the cold weather on a sunny day and my cheeks are all rosy and I have a glow.

3. Pat yourself on the back-this is a simple stretch to open the muscles in your chest so you can take deeper breaths and get more energizing oxygen. To do this, stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms at sides. Swing left arm across your body, twisting your torso and head to the right and tap your right shoulder, allowing your right arm to swing out behind you. Switch sides, twisting torso and head left and swinging right arm across your body to tap your left shoulder. Repeat, going back and forth in a fluid motion for three minutes. It may sound silly but it works.

4. Take a five minute walk-yup I'm here on the walk again. Taking a five minute walk gives people up to two hours of increased energy. You can do this at work on your break or at home. Sitting there watching TV, trying to get motivation to get stuff done? Bundle up walk to the corner and back and it's just enough to kick start your mind into work mode.

5. Have sex!-this wont work on the job but if you need a pick-me-up, a quickie may be just the thing. Sex releases what is called a 'cocktail of happy hormones.'

Heath quickie-heart doctors say women should limit sugar intake to 6tsp a day; a can of regular soda has 8!

Eat more! Eat more things good for you that is! It's no secret we like to snack when it's cold and we're cooped up inside. I'm not making you eat celery either but instead of that bowl of ice cream that is just going to make you hungrier, how about some hummus or make some homemade guacamole? Popcorn, nuts or fruit is always great too. I share an apple with my two dogs every night. I cut it into tiny squares so it's snacking size and we all share it. It's a great snack and it's good for you!

P.S. Don't forget to go for a walk!!!!