Redheads may be hotheads, but we get colder quicker, bruise more easily, and feel more pain, including sensitivity to tooth pain, teeth cleaning, and periodontal surgery.

1.  A study by researchers at the University of Louisville found that redheads require 20% more anesthesia than dark-haired women. The studies were done on women only whose menstrual cycles were in sync because hormone increases can play a role in susceptibility to anesthesia.

2.  Another study found that redheads are more than twice as likely as women with other hair colors to fear and avoid the dentist.  Aaaak!

3.  A 2004 study showed that redheaded men and women alike require more anesthesia than their counterparts. Studies show evidence that pain pathways differ between men and women. [Read more →]

If you don’t eat fresh fruits and vegetables, take vitamins to supplement your diet.

If you have, or will soon have dental or periodontal surgery, it is especially important to include Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin E.

1. Vitamin A: Beef, eggs, liver, salmon, shrimp, fortified milk, cheddar cheese and Swiss cheese.

2. Vitamin C: Bell peppers, broccoli, potatoes, spinach and fruits and fruit juices (especially citrus). Studies have revealed that people who consume less of Vitamin C tend to be 25% more likely to suffer from gum disease.3. Vitamin D: Fortified cereals, fortified milk, fatty fish (helps absorb Calcium).

4. Calcium: Cheese, fortified juices, milk, tofu, salmon, sardines with bones, yogurt, and leafy green vegetables (including broccoli and kale, but not spinach or Swiss chard, which have binders that lessen absorption). 99% of the calcium in your body is your bones and your teeth. Dietary calcium is needed to make sure they’re in good shape.5. Phosphorus: Almonds, broccoli, eggs, dairy products, green peas, fish, liver, meat, milk, potatoes, and poultry.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
http://www.gotteethguide.com/

You’ll get better results for energy expended if you brush your teeth for two full minutes at least twice a day.

Use a kitchen timer. Two minutes is longer than you think. This tiny change can improve your dental health.

If you have a full upper or lower denture, you only need to brush for one minute.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com