Healthy foods for Teeth and Gums During the Holidays

As Holistic dentists, we try to give our patients the best advice when it comes to healthy foods for teeth and gums. However, during the holidays it can be tough to stick to a plan. Dentistry for Health NY, has come up with a few ideas that can help you keep your teeth and gums healthy during the holidays.

Champagne and Bubbly Drinks

A toast or two is okay, however, if you find yourself standing next to the punch bowl all night, you could be asking for problems. Fizzy drinks, including soda, are not the best when it comes to healthy food for teeth and gums. Although diet sodas don’t contain sugar, they can still cause enamel erosion. If you must have another drink after your holiday toast have a glass of water.

Holiday Goodies

Those pies, cookies, cakes and other holiday pastries aren’t the best choices when it comes to healthy foods for teeth and gums. Instead of tucking into your Grandmothers hard to resist butter rum cake or sugar cookies, go for a plate of fresh veggies. Healthy food for teeth and gums can also be healthy for your waistline.

Dried Fruit

You may think you are saving yourself a few calories when you eat dried figs, apricots, or prunes, but because those dried fruit platters are loaded with sugar, you are actually consuming about the same amount of calories, not to mention the harm that you are causing your teeth and gums. Enjoy fresh fruit, but keep the citrus to a minimum as the acid can erode the enamel on your teeth.

Eggnog

The holidays were made for eggnog, but unfortunately, this sugar-laden favorite is not healthy for your teeth. When you add alcohol to the mix, you could suffer from dry mouth prohibiting saliva production. If you have dry mouth the sugary residue from the eggnog will stay put causing more damage.

If you love the holidays, eat healthy foods for teeth, and don’t forget to schedule your bi-annual dental appointment for the New Year. It could prevent an unexpected trip to your Holistic Dentist in New York.

Happy Holidays from the team at Dentistry for Health NY!

Boost your Memory with Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary essential oil works for what ails you, and although it is prized by cooks for its flavor, this herb has some benefits that you may not be aware of, including cognitive function and recall benefits.

The British study discovered that people who sniffed the rosemary essential oil improved their memory by 75 percent, making it possible to treat memory problems.

A group of psychologists at the Northumbria University in Newcastle in the UK conducted the study. The study involved a group of people. Half were put in a room with a diffuser that had been loaded with four drops of rosemary essential oil five minutes before anyone arrived, while the other half worked in a room with no oil.

Performing simple tasks, the group in the scented room performed up to 75 percent better when it came to simple math and memory tasks than the group who worked in the unscented room.

The researchers discovered that people in the rosemary room had levels of cineole that were much higher than the other group, and took blood samples to prove it. The researchers discovered that the inhalation allows the compound to enter the bloodstream. Scientists now believe that rosemary essential oil can help people with memory problems, especially seniors.

In an earlier study on the effects of lavender and rosemary essential oil by the International Journal of Neuroscience in 2003, it was discovered that lavender was a memory deterrent, most probably because of the sedating effects that lavender has. While lavender helped people feel content, rosemary helped them feel both alert and content.

Another finding discovered that lemon and rosemary, when given in the am, and orange and lavender when inhaled or massaged at night helped patients suffering from dementia.

Other studies are supporting rosemary essential oil’s ability to enhance past memories and promote concentration.

Natural healers use rosemary, known as Rosmarinus officinalis, to reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and promote healthy digestion.

Of course, the healing properties of the herb have been known for centuries with the ancient Greeks using the herb for memory. It was quite common for scholars to wear strands of the herb around their neck and in their hair during exam time. Shakespeare also talked about the benefits of rosemary in his writings.

Rosemary is a powerful antioxidant that has cancer-fighting properties. In fact, the ORAC score or antioxidant value of the herb is the same as the goji berry, which is known for fighting free radicals.

The herb is very rich in carnosic acid. Carnosic acid is an antioxidant that fights oxidative brain stress. Researchers have discovered that carnosol helps target cancer cells leaving healthy cells healthy.

As far as usage goes, natural health experts recommend diffusing a half a teaspoon of natural coconut oil with about three drops of rosemary every day for about an hour. Rosemary essential oil is also great for massage.

Dentistry for Health NY is a holistic dental practice that understands the benefits of natural healing and natural products.

Why not make an appointment and see what a holistic dentist can do for you?

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