Now that it is summer, you are probably spending some more time out in the sun. Whether you have been exercising outdoors or just relaxing outside, there are many different benefits to the rays that the sun provides. In fact, an estimated 1 billion people in the world suffer from a vitamin D deficiency, partially from not getting enough sunshine. This leads to problems like rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. But it does not stop there. Vitamin D is extremely important for a healthy smile. Your dentist in Brampton shares why.
How Does the Sun Affect Teeth?
Spending time in the sun is the best way for your body to absorb vitamin D, which is important to regulate the amount of phosphate and calcium in the body. Calcium is a mineral that is known for keeping your teeth strong and healthy. If you did not absorb any vitamin D, you would have an extreme calcium deficiency. This would lead to a number of problems for your dental health including:
- Gum disease
- Underdeveloped teeth
- Tooth decay
But calcium deficiency would not just affect your smile. It leads to many other serious problems in the body such as:
- Depression
- Osteoporosis
- Muscle weakness
- Cancer
How Much Sunlight Do You Need?
The best time to go outside to soak in the sun is midday during the summer because this is when the UBV rays are most intense. Doing this several times a week can make a big difference in the amount of vitamin D and calcium your body has.
The amount of time required for a sufficient amount of vitamin D depends from person to person. This is because humans have all sorts of different skin tones that absorb the suns rays at a different pace. People with darker skin tones have more melanin, which protects from over exposure. Because of this, people who have a darker complexion require anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours more time than Caucasians who only require 10-30 minutes a few times a week.
How Else Can You Get Vitamin D?
Even though the best way to get vitamin D is from the sun, you can also get it through certain foods. Here are a few of them:
- Fatty fish and seafood
- Fortified cow’s milk
- Egg yolks
- Portabella mushrooms
- Dietary supplements
Getting the nutrients that you need is critical for your health. By spending more time out in the sun, you can help to ensure that you will have strong bones and healthy teeth!
About the Author
At Torbram Dental, Dr. Vince Fava and Dr. Zaid Babahami offer high quality, friendly dental care for patients of all ages. Dr. Fava earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Toronto and has been in private practice for over two decades. Dr. Babahami earned his first dental degree from the University of Baghdad and his second from the University of Western Ontario. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call +1 905-792-7163.
Simrit has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She started her career with Assisting/Treatment co-ordinating and then moved on to becoming the Hygiene Co Ordinator in 2005. In 2012 she took on a new role as the Marketing Director. Though she loved being the Marketing Director, in 2015 she became the Office Manager of Torbram Dental. She completed her Level 1 Dental Assisting program with Career Canada in 1996 and then went on to complete her Level II Dental Assisting Diploma with Southwestern Medix in 1999. That is when she received NDAEB Certification. Simrit has been and still is an active member of the Ontario Dental Assistants Association since 2000. She enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and two kids and loves to explore new restaurants, especially high-tea venues.
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Jessica, one of our receptionists, is one of the smiling faces you see when you arrive at the office. She graduated with honours from Medix College with a diploma as a Level 2 Dental Assistant. When she is not happily helping our patients, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, going to church on Sunday mornings, gardening and going on hikes.
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Naudia has been working at Torbram Dental for many years and is a valued member of our administrative team: as a dental receptionist and in our marketing team . She graduated from Everest College with honours level 1 and 2, with a diploma in Dental Assisting. Naudia is always there for our patients, making sure that they receive the care and attention they deserve. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and indulging in civil court TV shows.
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Ramandeep has been a part of Torbram Dental for the past 10 years as certified dental assistant. She obtained her level 1 certification from Everest college in Brampton in 2013, and then her level 2 certification in 2014 from Medix college. Her career path through the clinic has been recognized by staff at all levels who admire her work ethic and dedication to million dollar smiles. In her spare time, Ramandeep enjoys cooking and gardening, and spending time with her husband and 2 kids.
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Sana is a valued member of our dental hygiene team. In 2008 she completed her education at George Brown in Dental Assisting and in 2016 she earned her diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Canadian Academy of Dental Health and Sciences. Sana has been working in dentistry since 2008 and enjoys taking care of our patients and helping them with their oral health. She is married and is busy with her 2 young children. In her spare time, Sana enjoys going out with the family, trying out new places to eat and is looking forward to travelling with them in the future.
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Sanaria has been working at Torbram Dental for many years as a valued member of our Dental Assisting Team. She completed her level 2 dental assisting certification and previously obtained a degree in Education and worked as a quality control officer in the pharmaceutical industry. When not at work Sanaria loves to bake and cook. She also loves story time and enjoying the outdoors with her children. She always sees the positive side of life, believes that nothing is impossible and that if you set a goal and work at it, that you will make your dreams come true.
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Carrie has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She graduated from George Brown College in 1998 with a Dental Assistant Diploma and continued to further her education by completing a Dental Hygiene Diploma in 2001 at Durham College. Carrie is a highly trained and experienced Registered Dental Hygienist who continues to learn and grow by updating her knowledge to provide her clients with the best Oral Health Care techniques and information. Carrie is passionate about Dentistry and is known for her gentle and compassionate manner. She feels strongly about building lasting relationships and trust with her clients to help them understand that good Oral Health leads to good Overall Health. Carrie enjoys travelling, dabbling in decorating and a good Netflix series in her time off. Carrie resides in Halton Hills with her husband and two children.
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Daniela's interest in Dentistry began in Gr.6 when she wrote a speech entitled "My Life as a Toothbrush".
A Registered Dental Hygienist with 22 years of clinical experience, Daniela still has a great passion for her career. The most rewarding aspect for her is building lasting relationships with her patients, and seeing them through to a healthier smile.
Her thorough yet gentle touch will ensure a comfortable visit every time.
Daniela is a total Foodie and loves to cook and enjoys all types of cuisines. She loves Florida, Cruises, organizing things, and most of all spending time with family and friends.
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Stephanie Enjoys getting to know all new patients at Torbram Dental and catching up with long standing Patients. Stephanie enjoys spending quality time with her family. One of her favorite things to do with her daughter is teach and play the piano. Stephanie likes going on walks with her husband and enjoys spending as much time with him as he is an Active Member of the Canadian Army. On Sundays, Stephanie enjoys going to Church and looks forward to Sunday Dinner with her entire family. Stephanie's Favorite thing to do to start her day right is head to her local Starbucks and Grab her favorite drink, an iced black tea with light lemonade on warm days and a blonde vanilla latte on those cold winter days.
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