Sunny Days Good For The Soul And The Teeth
Britain has been bathed in sunshine for the last four weeks and as well as making the nation happy, the heat wave could have helped to boost oral health, according to experts.
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said that the recent heat wave could have helped to boost oral health as a result of increased levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D is made by the body in response to exposure to the sun. Vitamin D is extremely important for healthy bones, teeth and nails.
Research studies have suggested that vitamin D can also help to stave off gum disease and a review of 24 studies, which were carried out over a 60 year period, also revealed that vitamin D reduces the risk of dental decay.
In July, we enjoyed the best weather since 2006 and Dr Nigel Carter said that the heat wave was timely as a long, cold winter may have left some with vitamin D deficiency. Dr Carter said that teeth have similar properties to bone and a shortage of vitamin D can cause the teeth to become weak and brittle. The gums can also suffer as a result of a lack of vitamin D.
In addition to enjoying the summer sunshine, Dr Carter also recommended brushing the teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste, flossing and visiting a dentist every 6 months for a check-up. Diet also plays a really important part in oral health and Dr Carter recommends eating three meals a day, avoiding grazing and steering clear of foods that have high sugar content.
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