Start with a bright smile
and then work on other
methods to help you feel
better and more confi dent.
Simple ways to look
and feel your best
At the dawn of a new year, many
people resolve to reach for
new heights. On the path to
personal growth or improvement,
one may find that making a few
adjustments can greatly increase
confidence and satisfaction.
The adage “don’t judge a book
by its cover” can inspire people
to look beyond the outer shell to
what lies beneath. However, how a
person presents himself or herself
undeniably has an impact on how
this person is perceived. Therefore,
individuals can make small
changes that improve how they look
and feel about themselves. This, in
turn, may make people more selfassured:
Undergo a teeth-whitening
treatment. A bright, welcoming
smile portrays friendliness and
confidence. People who hide their
smiles because of yellowing teeth
can find that investing in athome
whitening strips or gels,
or working with a dentist for
professional whitening services,
can dramatically change their
looks.
Skip the pockets. Rely on
clothing that is pocket-less,
especially if you’re prone to putting
hands in pockets. Body language
experts say that people put their
hands in their pockets when they
are uncomfortable or unsure of
themselves. Keeping one’s hands
free can project more confidence in
all they do.
Get a tailored wardrobe. Illfitting
clothing may tell others you
don’t care about your appearance,
even if you do. Sometimes off-therack
clothing just doesn’t fit as well
as a person may hope, especially if
that man or woman is between sizes.
Working with a tailor or seamstress
to make clothing fit better can help
people feel more comfortable in
everything they do.
Practice better posture.
Standing tall with shoulders back
and head held high can do everything
from project assertiveness to help
clothes fit and fall better.
Properly groom your brows.
Men and women both can benefit
from well-tended brows. These eyeframing
wonders are one area on
the face people tend to notice first.
It pays to keep them well-groomed
and neat.
Start exercising. Exercise does
wonders for not only maintaining
a healthy, fit body, but it also can
improve mood.
These suggestions are relatively
easy tweaks to help a person put
forth his or her best self.
LIVING HEALTHY IN THE NEW YEAR
Dental hygiene is vital
for your overall health
The importance of maintaining
clean teeth and healthy gums
goes beyond having fresh breath
and a white smile. Many people
are surprised to discover that oral
hygiene plays an integral role in
overall health.
Research indicates that oral
health mirrors the condition of
the body as a whole. Also, regular
dental visits can alert dentists
about overall health and pinpoint
if a person is at a risk for chronic
disease. An oral health check-up
also may be the fi rst indication
of a potential health issue not yet
evident to a general medical doctor.
HEART DISEASE
According to the Academy of
General Dentistry, there is a distinct
relationship between periodontal
disease and conditions such as heart
disease and stroke. Joint teams at the
University of Bristol in the United
Kingdom and the Royal College of
Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, found
that people with bleeding gums from
poor dental hygiene could have an
increased risk of heart disease.
Bacteria from the mouth is able to
enter the bloodstream when bleeding
gums are present. That bacteria can
stick to platelets and subsequently
form blood clots. This interrupts the
fl ow of blood to the heart and may
trigger a heart attack. Brushing and
fl ossing twice daily and rinsing with
mouthwash can remove bacteria and
keep gums healthy.
FACIAL PAIN
The Offi ce of the Surgeon General
says infections of the gums that
support the teeth can lead to facial
and oral pain. Gingivitis, which
is an early stage of gum disease,
as well as advanced gum disease,
affects more than 75 percent of the
American population.
Dental decay can lead to its
own share of pain. Maintaining a
healthy mouth can fend off decay and
infections, thereby preventing pain.
PANCREATIC CANCER
In 2007, the Harvard School of
Public Health reported a link between
gum disease and pancreatic cancer.
In the ongoing study, 51,000 men
were followed and data was collected
beginning in 1986. The Harvard
researchers found that men with
a history of gum disease had a 64
percent increased risk of pancreatic
cancer compared with men who had
never had gum disease. The greatest
risk for pancreatic cancer among this
group was in men with recent tooth
loss. However, the study was unable to
fi nd links between other types of oral
health problems, such as tooth decay,
and pancreatic cancer.
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Various health ailments,
including poor oral health, have
been linked to a greater risk of
developing Alzheimer’s disease. In
2010, after reviewing 20 years’ worth
of data, researchers from New York
University concluded that there is
a link between gum infl ammation
and Alzheimer’s disease. Follow-up
studies from researchers at the
University of Central Lancashire in
the United Kingdom compared brain
samples from 10 living patients with
Alzheimer’s to samples from 10 people
who did not have the disease.
Data indicated that a bacterium
— Porphyromonas gingivalis — was
present in the Alzheimer’s brain
samples but not in the samples from
the brains of people who did not have
Alzheimer’s. P. gingivalis is usually
associated with chronic gum disease.
As a result of the study, experts think
that the bacteria can move via nerves
in the roots of teeth that connect
directly with the brain or through
bleeding gums.
TIMESLEDGER,TIMESLEDGER.COM JAN. 11-17, 2019 17
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