These days, everyone gives out advice as though they’re the experts. We want our patients to know that when they listen to us, they have good, solid advice from reliable sources. When you come to Cosmetic Dentists of Houston, you work with real professionals, so we thought we would pass on advice from real professionals about how you can lead a healthier life. Here are 5 tips that will set you on your way to a healthy lifestyle.
Brushing in the Morning
After you eat breakfast, your instinct is to brush your teeth. However, according to Mark Wolff from the NYU College of Dentistry, brushing after acidic foods, especially fruits and juices, can weaken your enamel, leading to discoloration and cracks. He recommends that you instead rinse your mouth out with water and give your teeth about 40 minutes to get back in shape before it’s safe to brush.
Rolling Your Windows Up
Scott Fruin, an environmental researcher at USC, says that air pollution on highways is 10 times worse than it is in the suburbs. If you’re on a commute, remember to roll your windows up. Driving on a highway with the windows down leaves you exposed to diesel fumes, which contributes to headaches, heart disease, and even cancer. Shut those windows, and turn on the recirculation. Fruin’s studies have shown that this cuts your exposure fourfold.
Ditch the Plastic Containers
BPA-free containers are great, but they are far from perfect. Germaine Buck Louis, a director at the National Institutes of Health, claims that microwaving plastic with food in it causes phthalates can leach into your food, potentially damaging sperm and altering hormones. Instead, move it to a glass container to heat it up.
Eat Before Happy Hour
Studies have shown that people with a BAC of just .01% – which is far below the legal limit – are 46% more likely to cause a crash than those who are sober. According Aaron White from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that eating before drinking has the potential to reduce your BAC by 30%.
Don’t Take Your Phone to Bed
A study from the University of Florida has shown that people who use their smartphones for work after 9pm wake up groggy. Too little sleep greatly increases your chances of a stroke. All you need to do to avoid this is keep your charger in another room and turn off your notifications. Don’t worry. If it’s an emergency, they’ll call.
