Dear Healthy Friend,

Gum disease is a serious condition that you'll most likely face in your golden years. In fact, as many as 90% of men and women over 65 suffer from it. It's also THE main reason why older adults lose their teeth.

But a new study shows there's something - in addition to flossing - that you can and should do to keep your teeth healthy throughout your life. All you have to do is make one simple lifestyle changes.

Keep reading to find out what it is...

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. With winter rapping its gnarled kncuckels at our back door, I'm sure a lot of you will be heading off for a sunny, warm holiday soon... How exciting! But what can you do to combat the sneaky bugs that cause you to get sick on long flights? Dr Wright reveals a simple solution for sinus shocks...

 
This simple lifestyle change may guarantee you'll never need dentures (and it's easier than flossing!)   
Dr Allen Spreen, Northstar Nutritionals

Sadly, many of us view gum disease as a minor nuisance. That's a mistake... because solid evidence links gum disease with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

That said, the disease often starts out benignly enough. For instance, did you know clenching (or grinding) your teeth - also known as bruxism - could bring on gum disease? According to one dentist I know, it's the biggest problem he sees in new patients visiting his office. And unfortunately, most people don't even realise they do it, often because they do it at night.

Certain types of medication can cause gum disease. For example, many of the drugs used to treat allergies, depression, high blood pressure, seizures, autoimmune disorders and even cancer might increase your risk of gum disease.

But - by far - the biggest cause of gum disease is bacteria. It builds up along your gum line and forms plaque (and eventually tartar). This irritates the gums, causing them to become infected, swollen and tender. Eventually, your gums will separate from the teeth and form pockets where even more bacteria can hide.

Plus...

Bacteria in your mouth can also affect your overall health. Mounting research suggests that after brushing or flossing, bacteria may enter your bloodstream. From there, it latches onto plaque in your arteries contributing to blood clots and raising your risk of stroke or heart attack. One recent study conducted at the University of Buffalo showed that bacteria stemming from gum disease can cause your liver to make C-reactive protein, a serious risk factor in heart disease. So what's the simple lifestyle change that could make all this go away?

Just drink a cup of green tea each day.

Now I know most people associate drinking green tea with fighting cancer. But according to the new study, drinking green tea could also help improve your oral health. It could even make the difference between whether or not you get to keep all your teeth in your golden years.

You see, green tea is one of the world's oldest natural antibiotics. In fact, it contains a special kind of antioxidant called catechin, which kills bacteria, especially the kind of bacteria in the mouth.

Last year scientists proved just how well these nutrients work at keeping your mouth a bacteria-free zone. They found that men who regularly drink green tea have "superior" gum health compared to men who drank less of it.

Plus, an even newer study from last month proves that not only does green tea help prevent gum disease... it may even help you keep your teeth throughout your life!

For this study, Japanese scientists analysed data from 25,000 men and women between the ages 40 and 64 who drank green tea. They found that men and women who drank one to two cups a day decrease their risk of tooth loss by almost 20%. More over, the men who drank the most green tea cut their risk of tooth loss by almost a quarter.

Not bad results for drinking a cup of tea. Especially for one that's good for you in so many other ways too! But be careful to choose your tea wisely...

When you go out to buy yourself some green tea, just make sure to skip the sweetened, ready-to-drink green teas you find on the shelves. These products contain little, if any, concentrated green tea. Instead, they're filled with high-fructose corn syrup and provide no nutritional value.

To get the kind of green tea that has all the healthy benefits, buy a box of green tea bags and steep them yourself. Let the bags sit in the hot water for at least four to five minutes to release all the healthy compounds. (If you like to drink it cold, just keep it in the fridge after steeping.)

If you like your tea sweet, you can always add a few drops of Stevia, a natural sweetener you can now find in most health shops. Stevia has become a great alternative to sugar as well as all the artificial sweeteners out there without all the negative health effects. Just don't go crazy as it can still send your blood sugar through the roof if you add enough of it to your tea.

Stop travel-related sinus infections

Q: No matter what I do, I end up with a terrible sinus infection every time I fly somewhere. I'm flying to visit my brother overseas in a few weeks and am actually dreading the trip. Is there anything I can do to avoid ending up sick?

Dr. Wright: Sinus and other upper respiratory infections occur so often following air travel because the air in the airplane cabin is recycled throughout the course of your trip. Any germs floating around in that air are also re-circulated the whole time. Plus, the air on planes tends to be much drier, which means your nose and mouth also become dry. Without the mucous and moisture usually present to "catch" them, bacteria have a better atmosphere for setting in and causing infection. But here's a simple tip you can use to keep yourself from joining this version of the "mile high" club.

About 1/2 hour before boarding, take 10 to 15 drops of potassium iodide (SSKI) in a few mls of water. If necessary, repeat the dose every three to four hours while you're in the air. If you're going on a particularly long trip - more than 12 hours - it's best to limit the dose to 10 drops each time. And don't take any more after landing.

The SSKI will initially accumulate in all your respiratory secretions - in your nose, throat and lungs - where it will either kill or severely inhibit any unfriendly germs you may inadvertently inhale. And that means you're not likely to catch a sinus infection. You may or may not notice a slight metallic taste in your mouth, but that's really the extent of the "side effects" for this use of SSKI.

One important note: If you're allergic to iodine, or even suspect you might be, don't use this treatment. True iodine allergy isn't very common, but it's still a good idea to check to make absolutely sure.

Potassium iodide (SSKI) is available through natural pharmacies and Health Works, (011) 325-5168.