The relationship between oral health, bacteria, and hormones needs further study, but it’s a safe bet that maintaining a high degree of oral hygiene and keeping a close eye on the health of your mouth will lead to better health overall.
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Practice Superior Oral Hygiene
Everyone knows that it’s important to keep our mouths clean, but few people do a good job of it. Simply putting toothpaste in your mouth and brushing it around for a few seconds won’t do much to clean your teeth, even if it gives you the illusion of fresh breath. Cleaning your teeth requires actual work, which means thoroughly brushing twice a day for a few minutes each time. It’s also wise to floss at least once a day, but much like brushing, you’ll need to make the effort to do it well. Quickly popping the floss in and out of the spaces between your teeth may loosen some of the debris, but if you take the time to scrape the sides of each tooth and carefully work your way down into the gum line, you’ll see much better results. - ^
Watch Your Diet
The occasional sugary treat is okay, but for the most part, steering clear of sugar will assist your efforts toward a healthy mouth and healthy life. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that fruit is always a healthy choice. While fruit offers many nutrients, it can also be acidic and eat away at the enamel on your teeth. Eat it in moderation and focus on making healthier plant foods like leafy greens your main staples. - ^
Avoid Bad Habits
You probably already know this a thousand-fold, but smoking isn’t good for you. In dental terms, it isn’t good for your mouth and can lead to periodontal disease. If you’re an older man who smokes, it’s not too late to quit. Talk to your doctor about cessation methods and finding support for quitting. There are plenty of resources out there to help. - ^
Getting enough Calcium
Is especially important calcium is an essential mineral that helps build strong bones, teeth, and gums. It also plays a role in reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. But calcium alone isn’t enough to keep your mouth healthy it’s important to get enough of other nutrients as well. These include vitamin D, which helps absorb calcium from food; vitamin C, which activates enzymes that help remove toxins from cells; and fluoride (which reduces cavities), as well as vitamins B6 and A (to strengthen enamel). - ^
For The Men
It’s now clear there’s a connection between oral health and testosterone levels. Testosterone is a powerful tool for improving oral health, but if you’re not getting it regularly, your oral health may be at risk. So, if you want to stay healthy in your golden years, visit your doctor to have your testosterone levels tested, and visit your dentist for regular checkups and oral-health tips. - ^
For Women
Female sex hormones are implicated in the changes in periodontal conditions. The gingival inflammation is exacerbated during puberty, pregnancy and at the postmenopausal stage. The cases presented have shown how much a same hormone at different age and stage shows an exaggerated inflammatory response to the plaque. Strict oral hygiene maintenance is of prime importance for the patient because it is the dental plaque that leads to incidence and prevalence of disease while the level of hormone modifies the response.
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