Oral Health 101

With aging, there's a higher chance of losing your teeth. Most people just assume that this will happen and there isn't anything that can be done. False. This is not always the case and won't be for you if you take the proper steps in taking care of your mouth. 

• Make sure to be brushing twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night.
• Remember to floss as well. This is extremely important because you want to get rid of all the bacteria that has been building up. If you fail to floss you are at a higher risk of tooth decay or loss. The best time to floss would be after meals or at the end of the night before you go to bed after you've eaten all your meals for the day.
• If you wear dentures, clean them out daily. Just think of it like brushing your teeth and getting rid of all that build up. It's best to take them out each night before you go to bed.
• Get the most fluoride that you can to protect your teeth by drinking tap water. Have a few glasses a day of just sink water as well as other bottled water that you consume.
• It's most important to visit your dentist regularly. Every 6 months is recommended so you are able to get a full cleaning and see if there are any problems. 

Let's make your teeth last forever. A healthy mouth will make you feel so much better! 

Source: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en

Early Detection: Kidney Disease

As we age, we are at a higher risk for kidney disease as well as other conditions. This disease is known as the silent disease because there aren't usually warning signs. By the time you notice, it could be too late. The warning signs can also be related to other conditions. It's important to get regular check ups and ask to get your kidneys tested. You may be at a higher risk if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, are a smoker, or have a family history. It is also said that if you have had heart problems in the past you can have a greater risk for developing kidney disease. 

There are 2 tests that can be done to check for kidney disease. One is a urine test. It is called an Albumin Creatinine Ratio to see how much protein is in your urine. There is also a blood test called the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). This will show if your kidneys are working to remove the wastes from your blood. If you have a GFR of less than 60 for a 3 moth period this means you have kidney disease. And having albumin for more than 3 months in your urine means you also have this condition. These two tests should be done regularly. 

Some symptoms you might experience includes high blood pressure, blood in urine, pain in kidney area, fatigue, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, headaches, difficulty sleeping, or nausea. These symptoms can mean many other things as well but it's still very important to go see your doctor immediately so you are able to get the proper testing. 

Source: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Diet & Colon Cancer

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! It's is recommended that anyone over the age of 50 should get tested for colon cancer. There is a fecal occult blood test that can be done that checks for small amounts of blood in the stool. Other testing includes a sigmoidoscopy that should be done every 5 years and a colonoscopy every 10 years. 

Research has shown that there is a strong link between diet and colon cancer. The tasty red meats and processed foods that we eat can increase our risk of developing this cancer. Start paying more attention to the foods you eat on a daily basis. You can do so much to prevent diseases and fixing your diet can help with more than you. Eat those fruits and vegetables. Our society is so fast paced that we just eat what's convenient for us, such as fast food. We usually don't think about having fruits and vegetables. BUT they can do so much for us. And they are super convenient as well. Carry around an apple when you're out and about. Or one of those mini bags of carrots. We choose not to do these things because they aren't appetizing to us. It's up to you though to choose between unhealthy items or living a longer healthy life. 

Managing your risk factors can decrease your risk of getting colon cancer. Make these changes and take control over your diet. Also, don't forget to get the proper screenings. You can catch it before it turns into anything life threatening. 

Source: http://slowaging.org