Gahanna Town Money Saver | June 2023

WHAT DENTAL HYGIENE DOES FOR OVERALL HEALTH

Brushing and ossing your teeth may save you extra sessions in the dentist’s chair each year, but the bene ts of dental hygiene do not end with pearly whites. In fact, there’s a direct correlation between oral hygiene and overall health.

Oral health o ers clues about overall health, advises the Mayo Clinic. When a dentist or hygienist checks a person’s mouth, he or she is getting a window into that person’s overall wellness - including if something is amiss.

Dental hygiene matters because, without proper brushing and ossing, bacteria in the mouth can grow unchecked. Over time, that bacteria can in ltrate and break down the so tissues in the gums and teeth, eventually leading to decay and gum disease. Greenwood Dental Care in Illinois states that the bacteria from the mouth could travel into the bloodstream and elsewhere, causing a host of issues.

ere’s a high correlation between an unhealthy mouth and systemic diseases. e United Kingdom-based dental group Fulham Road Dental indicates that gum disease is linked to heart problems, kidney diseases and certain types of cancer. Dentists who notice problems in their patients’ mouths may be able to predict potential illnesses elsewhere in the body, advising those patients to seek consultations with other healthcare providers.

Here’s a deeper look at some of the correlations between oral health and overall health, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic.

• Endocarditis: When bacteria or other germs from the mouth or another part of the body spread through the bloodstream, they can attach to certain areas of the heart. is causes an infection in the inner lining of the heart chambers or valves.

• Pregnancy and birth complications: Periodontitis has been linked to low birth weight and premature birth.

• Cardiovascular disease: While it’s not fully understood why, clogged arteries, stroke and heart disease may be linked to in ammation and infection caused by oral bacteria.

• Pneumonia: Bacteria in the mouth may be pulled into the lungs, where it can lead to respiratory illness, such as pneumonia.

It’s a two-way street with health and the mouth. Certain diseases can lead to issues in the mouth. HIV/AIDS may cause mucosal lesions in the mouth; those with osteoporosis may have weakened periodontal bone and tooth loss; and research has shown that diabetes puts gum health at risk.

FOODIE PICASSO

treat Dad to a delicious Father’s Day Meal

kids love cooking!

Cooking is fun and messy; two things that kids love!

Parents can foster their kids’ love of cooking with these tips:

• Be patient. Going into the cooking experience knowing there will be a mess. Put a plastic tablecloth under the work area to help catch what falls. Also, cooking with youngsters likely will take more time than it normally would, so set aside extra preparation time.

• Assign age-appropriate tasks. Even children as young as 3-years-old can chop food with a butter knife and soft foods.

• Practice measuring together. Let children read the recipes and be in charge of portioning out ingredients. This reinforces temperature, ratios and fractions. Move on to more sophisticated tasks. Around age eight or nine, children can take on jobs like opening cans, scooping batter, pounding poultry, proo ng yeast, skewering kabobs, and slicing bread, between the ages of 10 and 12 kids can start working independently in the kitchen, as long as an adult is home.

Children also can be involved in cooking by helping to draft shopping lists and taking trips to the supermarket. This shows kids the complete process of gathering ingredients for meals, what they cost and how they are made before foods make it to the dinner table.

Pizza Faces

Topping Ideas To Make

Pizza Faces:

zucchini slices, Brussel sprout slices and shreds, broccoli orets, bell pepper rings and slices, cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, and thinly sliced carrots.

What’s the best way teach healthy eating habits? Let kids slice, dice, and create a healthy veggie pizza.

You only need four ingredients to make mini pizzas at home:

Pita or Wrap • Pizza Sauce • Cheese • Any toppings you like EAT raw or bake in a preheated oven 350o 4-5 min.

Bake Dad’s Day with this easy recipe!

Apple Pie

6 cups sliced apples

1-¼ ground cinnamon

2 tbs. softened butter/margarine

¼ tsp nutmeg

1 cup sugar

¾ cup milk

½ cup Bisquick

2 eggs

STREUSEL

1 cup Bisquick

½ cup chopped nuts (optional)

½ packed brown sugar

3 tbs. rm butter

Heat oven to 325. Grease pie pan. Mix apples and spices, turn into plate. Beat remaining ingredients (Excpet streusel) until smooth. Pour over apples. Sprinkle with streusel. Bake until knife inserted comes out clean. 55-60 min.

Note: Make the Streusel rst so you don’t have to clean the beaters