I used to have Summer teeth…you know the kind, summ’er here, summ’er there.
But now my teeth are about as straight as they’re going to get. They should be, my parents put me through braces twice as a teenager and I paid for the third round as an adult.
Speaking of teeth, did you know it’s Oral Health Month? I think it’s worth celebrating. After all, oral health is so critical to our overall health and wellness, right?
Well brace yourself! Here is some alarming information I found on the Colgate website:
If left untreated gingivitis (the early form of gum disease) can progress to periodontitis, a more serious and damaging stage of infection and resulting gum inflammation. Recent studies have demonstrated there is an association between periodontitis and certain systemic diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, and heart disease, which remains a leading cause of death in both men and women.
The good news is we can stop gingivitis before it develops by taking care of our pearly whites…
- Brushing and flossing to remove plaque and debris
- Eating right to ensure proper nutrition for your jawbone and teeth
- Avoiding cigarettes and other forms of tobacco
- Scheduling regular checkups with your dentist (right, Sabrina?)
Nothing new on that list, right? Well, apparently we could use a reminder because over 75 % of people over the age of 35 have some sort of gum disease. Yikes!
Ok, now that I’ve been a bit of a Debbie-Downer, Colgate is going to come to my rescue. They’ve developed a fun iPhone application and line of photo e-cards to help you share your brightest moments and healthiest smiles with your friends and family. And if that doesn’t get your smiling, get this, they’re FREE! So go brush your teeth and then go check them out!
Now I really must go floss my Summer teeth so they don’t Fall out!
Angela @ A Healthy Fit says:
June 11th 2010Ha ha! Summer teeth. Great one! Reminds me of butter face. “Everything was good, but ‘er face.”
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman says:
June 11th 2010I couldn’t agree with this more. Ever since I saw a presentation on periodontal disease at a scientific conference, I’ve flossed daily. It doesn’t take that long and it’s so so important for more than your mouth. Besides, I want to have all my teeth when I’m old and falling apart everywhere else.
Mom says:
June 11th 2010Sooooo important!
kalli@fitandfortysomething says:
June 11th 2010good advice…..i should take it!
Jody - Fit at 52 says:
June 11th 2010I am not wanting to talk abut teeth right now since I have been traveling to UCLA dental school for all kinds of work. I think the biggest issue is that there is no affordabale dental care or insurance. I do all of what I am supposed to do & have always had problems, even when I went in every 3-6 months. The big problem came when there was not enough money to do what needs to be done. Like health insurance, they need to find a way to make this more affordable to average & poorer people.
Jennifer says:
June 12th 2010Haha summer teeth.. cute! I would like to get invisalign for my teeth, they aren’t terrible but they are definitely not perfect either.
The Candid RD says:
June 13th 2010UGH, this reminds me of how ANNOYED at am at Nick for not getting regular check-ups. He once waited about 5 years, then had to pay about $1000 for stuff that he had skipped the past 5 years. Bad bad bad. I need to get on him. Other than that, I take GREAT care of my teeth! Although, I hate flossing :(
Kris | iheartwellness.com says:
June 13th 2010I love this topic! I used to work in a dental office for years (not anymore…the smell gets to you!) and found it so interesting. Everyone needs to know this!
Great post!
XXOO