Pittwater Life March 2017 Issue

Dental
Health
Regular oral health check-ups
will help you retain your
natural teeth, manage issues
and encourage optimal health.
Lynch Dental in Avalon has
introduced a new member to
the team, Oral Health Therapist
Patricia Li (above) who has a
special interest in maintaining
the health of the elderly
population.
Key issues as you age
include gum disease, managing
restorative work and dentures
and dry mouth.
Regular dental check-ups for
patients with dentures were
essential to reduce the risk of
developing fungal infections
and ensuring they are kept in
good condition.
Certain medications can
also dry out the mouth, which
not only affects speech but
increases the risk of oral
bacteria which can lead to
serious health problems.
To reduce the risk of complex
oral health conditions the
health professionals at Lynch
Dental recommend booking an
appointment every six months.
Dentists will professionally
clean and scale your teeth, pick
up on any little issues before
they become more problematic,
check your overall oral health
and refresh your understanding
of correct tooth brushing and
flossing techniques.
Calcium boost
Osteoporosis Australia
says three to four
servings of dairy products
(e.g. glass of milk, tub of
yoghurt, slice of cheese) each
day will generally provide you
with the recommended daily
calcium intake for adults of
1000mg/day.
In older adults, calcium
is absorbed less effectively
and more can be lost
through the kidneys so
intake needs to be
maintained at a higher level
– recommended calcium
intake increases to 1300mg
per day for women over 50
and men over 70.
Tips for increasing
calcium intake:
n Try products fortified
with calcium (e.g. some
breakfast cereals).
n Eat canned salmon or
sardines which contain
bones.
n Use yoghurt in soups and
salads.
n Try soy based products
and tofu that contain
calcium.
n Include broccoli, Bok Choy,
silverbeet, cucumber,
celery, and chickpeas in
your regular diet.
n Eat almonds, dried figs
and dried apricots.
Pharmacy weighs in on
Complementary medicine
An increasing number of
Australians are choosing
to use some form of complementary
medicine – but
many of them are unaware of
important things to consider.
Complementary medicine
– also known as traditional or
alternative medicine –includes
a wide range of therapies,
vitamin, mineral, herbal, aromatherapy
and homoeopathic
products, said pharmacist
Wayne Miller of Newport
Pharmacy.
“There are therapies and
products that don’t work or
are unsafe but there are many
others with good evidence of
effectiveness and safety that
are becoming more widely
used in conventional medicine,”
Wayne said.
It is estimated that more
than two thirds of Australians
use complementary medicines
and spend four to six
billion dollars a year on them.
“Clearly many see a benefit
in the products; however
many companies also see a
great opportunity to make
money marketing products
of little or no benefit… if it
sounds too good to be true, it
usually is,” he said.
Wayne stressed just because
a product was “natural”
it was not necessarily “safe”.
“Heroin comes from the
poppy plant and in high
doses is fatal… Potassium is
a natural mineral but if you
get too much it will stop your
heart.”
“Any product that affects
your body’s highly regulated
balance, even when intended
for good, can have negative
side effects or interact with
other prescription medicine
to make them less effective
or possibly toxic,” he
explained.
Ask your pharmacist or talk
to your doctor before taking
any complementary medicine
and always inform your
doctor of any complementary
medicines you take, so they
can make the best decisions
for your health when
prescribing medications or
treatments.
“It is your body and your
choice as to what medicines
you do or do not take.
“Your health care professional
such as your doctor or
pharmacist are available to
help you make an informed
choice,” Wayne said. – LO
Health & Wellbeing
Note: This special feature is intended as a general introduction to the topic and in no way should be seen as substitute for your
own doctor’s or registered health professional’s advice. Prepared utilising information from the National Health and Medical
Research Council, The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines, Sleep
Health Foundation, Arthritis Australia, Osteoporosis Australia, Continence Foundation, beyondblue and myagedcare.
MARCH 2017 39