Spending some time in the summer sun isn’t just refreshing and relaxing; it can also be highly beneficial to your health. Sunlight offers a variety of benefits, from boosting Vitamin D levels to increasing the release of serotonin in your brain. But what you may not have realized is that the sun helps contribute to healthy gums as well. In this post, you’ll learn how spending some time outdoors during the summer can ultimately help you protect your smile.
What Effect Does Sunlight Have on Your Body?
The radiant energy in sunlight allows your body to turn cholesterol in your skin into vitamin D. This essential vitamin plays an important role in the immune system. Specifically, it helps activate the cells that fight infections, allowing quicker immune response times. It can also help you maintain strong bones by improving their ability to absorb calcium. Vitamin D can be found in certain foods and supplements, of course, but the sun is considered the most important natural source of this nutrient.
How Does This Benefit Your Smile?
The vitamin D that you get from sunlight is vital for a fully functioning immune system, which is key for protecting your oral health. Specifically, it helps improve your defenses against gum disease, which occurs when harmful bacteria infect your gum tissue, leading to swelling and soreness. Untreated gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults, so it’s important to do everything you can to keep your gums as safe as possible. High vitamin D levels allow your body to start fighting the infection early on, minimizing the damage and giving you and your dentist plenty of time to address the issue. In other words, spending some time in the sun can go a long way towards helping you keep your smile intact.
How Can You Safely Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Sunlight?
Of course, while sunlight can help your body, there’s also the well-known risk of sunburns to consider. To keep your skin safe while ensuring that you get your daily dose of vitamin D, keep the following tips in mind:
- Try exposing your skin to the sun around midday, when the sun’s rays are their most intense; this way, you don’t need to spend as much time outside to get the vitamin D you need.
- Use the appropriate factor sunscreen if you plan on spending an extended amount of time in the sun. Don’t forget to cover your lips.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Following the right precautions will allow you to safely enjoy the summer sun while also taking the first steps towards improved oral health. And if you need additional tips for taking care of your smile during the summer, don’t hesitate to call your family dentist.
About the Author
Dr. Vince Fava graduated from dental school in 1995, and between 2000 and 2005 he served as a clinical instructor at the University of Toronto’s department of periodontology and department of oral diagnosis and emergency. He continues to expand his clinical knowledge and skills through formal continued dental education. If you have questions about gum health or would like to schedule a summer appointment at his Bramptom practice, Torbram Dental, visit his website or call (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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