By: Dr. Marvin
Do Smiles Age Gracefully?
Nagging aches and pains. Circles around the eyes. Thinning gray hear. All signs of an aging body. Who ever said that we age gracefully needs to ask their grandparents if they feel the telltale signs of senior citizenship. Today you can't open a magazine or turn on the TV without being blasted by ads for skin creams, lotions, makeup and any other of the "age-defying" products sold to help you look younger.
But what if you could do it naturally? What if you could look younger without harsh chemicals and expensive solvents? What if you could light up a room, even at 85? It's easier than you think.
Brightening and Whitening a Younger You
The first thing someone notices when they look at you is your smile. They see your straight teeth, your healthy gums, and the way the light reflects off your pearly whites. Crooked teeth, receding gums, and stains are all telltale signs of an aging individual. But what can you do? A brighter, whiter, healthier smile can take more than a decade off your looks... taking you back to the image you saw in the mirror when you were just eighteen years old. But more importantly, it can keep you healthier longer, too.
The Tooth-Body Connection
A healthy smile won't just make you look younger, it can also make you feel younger. Your mouth plays an important role in your overall health as you age. For example, unhealthy gums can increase your risk for heart disease. The fillings you've had for years can lead to Alzheimer's. The root canal you had a decade ago can cause breast cancer. Every day new scientific proof of the links between a healthy mouth and a healthy body are discovered.
How To Start Looking and Feeling Younger Tomorrow
For years holistic dentists have been focusing on the connection between your oral health and your overall wellness, using safe materials that will improve your smile and your health (for example, holistic dentists never use "silver" fillings; they are actually more than 50% mercury, a known neuro-toxin that can lead to Alzheimer's and dementia). So what can you do? Here are seven important tips from Dr. Marvin, America's Holistic Dentist:
1. Start flossing. There is no good substitute for proper flossing... no toothbrush or waterpik can do what 18 inches of nylon can do to improve your gum health. It will help you get a brighter smile and reduce your risk of heart disease.
2. What's good for you body is good for your mouth. Your teeth and gums reflect what you eat. Start eating foods high in vitamins and minerals and your smile will come to life.
3. Conventional dentistry may actually be harmful. You heard that correctly. If you have metal fillings made from mercury, start removing them immediately. Dentistry for decades has used materials that we now know are dangerous to our health... this includes root canals, some partials and dentures, and more recently, dental implants.
4. Before you allow your dentist to install a new restoration or denture, get tested. Modern technology has allowed us to test dental materials for their biocompatibility - the tendency for a material to work with our bodies rather than against it. Don't put something in your mouth that stresses your body and initiates an immune response. A good holistic dentist will always test for biocompatibility.
5. Protect your teeth. In a normal day your teeth can go through a thousand or more chewing cycles. This kind of wear and tear can take its toll on your enamel -- the strongest substance in your body, but also one of the most brittle. If you grind your teeth at night you put even more undue stress on your teeth. Be sure to protect your teeth at night with "teeth insurance", aka a nightguard.
6. If you lose a tooth, have it replaced quickly. If you lose a tooth and don't have it replaced with a bridge or partial denture, the remaining teeth are taking the load of the tooth you just lost. Remember - one tooth is not supposed to do the work of three.
7. Use dental products that are good for your body as well as for your teeth. With the growing desire for more natural products, people are flocking to health food stores only to find an even larger selection of natural mouthwashes, toothpastes, tonics, and floss. With more choices comes more confusion. Here's a good start: stay away from fluoride, sodium laural sulfates (SLS), whitening branded, and artificial sweeteners such as saccharin.
If you want to live longer and look younger, a good place to start is by opening your mouth. Your teeth and gums can make you look years younger AND help you live a longer, healthier life. In fact, many cultures still look to the condition of the mouth as an indicator for overall health. Make a conscious effort to improve your dental health by giving yourself an oral makeover and you'll be smiling brightly for decades.
