Wellness Dentistry: Is Your Vitamin D Going Down the Drain?

Wellness Dentistry: Is Your Vitamin D Going Down the Drain? 

Vitamin supplements are words that are generically thrown around in today’s society.  You can get them at grocery stores, pharmacies and health markets.  How do you know how much of each vitamin you should need and which vitamins are vital to your health?  Each week I will be highlighting a new vitamin or supplement that will aid in your overall health and immunity.  This weeks focus is on Vitamin D.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services³, vitamin D is essential for the "formation, growth, and repair of bones and for normal calcium absorption and immune function.”

It is crucial for the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorous, which have various functions, especially the maintenance of healthy bones.

■       It is an immune system regulator.

■       Aids the immune system - vitamin D may be an important way to arm the immune system against disorders like the common cold, say scientists from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston.

■        Evidence has demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency may place people at risk for not only low mineral bone density/osteoporosis and osteopenia but also infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases. Studies have shown an association between low bone density, osteoporosis and tooth loss and suggest that low bone mass may be a risk factor for periodontal disease.

■       MS risk - it may reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is much less common the nearer you get to the tropics, where there is much more sunlight, according to Dennis Bourdette, chairman of the Department of Neurology and director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center at Oregon Health and Science University, USA.

■       Maintaining cognitive functions - vitamin D may play a key role in helping the brain keep working well in later life, according to a study of 3000 European men between the ages of 40 and 79.

■       Healthy body weight - vitamin D probably plays an important role in maintaining a healthy body weight, according to research carried out at the Medical College of Georgia, USA.

■       Asthma symptoms and frequency - it can reduce the severity and frequency of asthma symptoms, and also the likelihood of hospitalizations due to asthma, researchers from Harvard Medical School found after monitoring 616 children in Costa Rica.

■       Rheumatoid arthritis - it has been shown to reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in women.

■       Protects from radiation damage - a form of vitamin D could be one of our body's main protections against damage from low levels of radiation, say radiological experts from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

■       Vitamin D and cancer risk - various studies have shown that people with adequate levels of vitamin D have a significantly lower risk of developing cancer, compared to those whose levels are low. Vitamin D deficiency was found to be prevalent in cancer patients regardless of nutritional status in a study carried out by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

■       T.B. recovery - high vitamin D doses can help people recover from tuberculosis more rapidly, researchers reported in September 2012 in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

■       Heart attack risk - an study published in September 2012 suggested that low levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of heart attack and early death.

As you can see, there are many benefits from the proper dosage of vitamin D.  How much vitamin D do you need?

Levels differ greatly depending on your health, age and other factors.  For the best gage of how much you should be intaking ask your doctor to test your level of vitamin D at your next appointment.  This can be done with a routine blood test. 

Sugar Addiction! Sugar vs. pH & It’s Effects

You may not have thought about the pH scale since high school biology class dipping test strips in soda, coffee, etc.  As it turns out, that lesson is actually applicable to your life outside of the classroom. We all know sugar has addictive properties so it’s no wonder that eating it only makes us want more. As a dentist I see the effects of sugar on teeth all day long.  It leads to increased cavities and infections and can ultimately lead to loss of teeth.  Imagine what it does to the rest of your body that we can’t see with the naked eye!  Read below ways to keep your oral pH neutralized and sugar cravings at bay to help promote a healthy lifestyle. 

Sugar is one of the most acid forming foods that you can eat and the acidic state it creates in your body is partly responsible for leaving you wanting more. Having a more alkaline, balanced pH is vital to your health because it enables all of your cells, organs, and systems to function at maximum performance. If you struggle with sugar addiction, this could be your entrance onto the road to recovery. One way to alkalize your system and keep sugar cravings at bay is to get moving! Your cardiovascular system helps regulate many body components including its acidity levels. Taking deep breaths also aids in removing excess acid from the system through the release of carbon dioxide. Make sure to get a good dose of fresh air and exercise for a non-edible way to help balance your system.

Adding more fermented foods and beverages to your diet is also a great way to level your pH as well as assist in digestion and nourish the gut. Pay attention to your energy levels, digestion, and of course, sugar cravings.  Dark leafy greens are the key to optimum health all around so it's no surprise they are extremely alkaline. Getting your ‘five a day’ and sticking to a clean diet is your sure fire way to maintain good pH balance and keep those pesky sugar cravings under control. 

Click here for a list of both acid and alkaline foods to evaluate where you can make small changes or swaps in your diet to improve your health, balance your body’s pH, and in turn gain control over your sugar cravings.

Eat the entire bag of M&M's!

It’s better to eat the entire bag of M&M’s at one time rather than eating them slowly throughout the day. I know - can you believe it? Keep reading and I will explain.

Every time we eat or drink, the pH in our mouth becomes acidic. The more often we do it - the more frequent the environment becomes acidic, giving the cavity-causing bacteria the opportunity to thrive.

In a healthy mouth, within 15-30 minutes of eating or drinking, the pH recovers. When the system is in balance the pH drops, some mineral is lost on the teeth, the pH recovers, and the mineral returns to the teeth. When the system is out of balance, prolonged periods of low pH or acidic environment causes a net mineral loss from our teeth. Watch out, here come the cavities!

So what is the best line of defense? Limit yourself to eating and drinking to four or five times a day other than water intake. The fewer times we allow the pH level to drop in our mouth, the less exposure our teeth have to acid. So my philosophy is “eat or drink it quick and then sip on water”. Enjoy those M&M’s quickly!

Hope this helps keep you smiling from the outside in!