Q. What are the perils of being a wine judge?

Tooth erosion with Dr Simone Ricketts

Being a wine judge sounds exciting. However, sampling as many as 200 wines a day can lead to severe tooth erosion. But you will be relieved to know that social wine drinking in moderation causes minimal damage.

Your dentist may tell you that your teeth are showing evidence of erosion, which occurs when the outer enamel tooth layer is dissolved and the teeth appear shorter and visibly worn. This can occur near the gum area or the biting edge of the tooth.

Tooth erosion is very different to decay, but can be just as bad for teeth. When you expose your teeth to frequent regular strong acids via acidic drinks or foods, the mouth’s natural defense system, saliva, can no longer cope and faster erosion occurs. One of the first signs of erosion is sensitivity of teeth.

Excessive acid is linked with the following dietary habits; diet and regular soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juice, lemon juice, cordial, vinegar, chewable vitamin C tablets, stomach acid (any cause of frequent vomiting, reflux, bulimia or morning sickness) and of course being a wine judge.

How to stop tooth erosion:

• Try simple basic things like drinking non-acidic alternatives, eg: water, milk.
• Try eating a small piece of cheese or drinking water at the end of a meal (on a practical note, after birthday parties I would always give my children some cheese to eat, and lots of water!)
• Avoid drinking juices between meals. Drink fruit juice and soft drinks, if you must, using a straw.
• Don’t brush your teeth straight away after eating or drinking acidic products as this makes the damage worse. Wait 30 minutes before brushing. Same applies if you have been vomiting. Try rinsing your mouth with water or milk and don’t brush immediately. Rub toothpaste or a product called tooth mousse over your teeth, leave on but don’t brush.

So don’t despair, eat cheese with your wine and you will be fine!

Smile by Design
102 Wises Rd Maroochydore
Phone: 5443 2888

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Q. How much of an impact do hormones really have on adults, and is it possible to control them?

THE EFFECTS OF HORMONES with Jodi Chapman

Hormones have the capacity, not only for reproduction but to produce energy, boost mood, and produce thought and brain function. They slowly decline as we age, but they have an impact on your every movement through your entire life.

PMS, menopause, manopause, adrenal fatigue, and many more hormonal conditions can affect your ability to be happy, with symptoms including sadness, depression, anxiety, anger, insomnia, weight gain, changes in sexual function, hot flushing, infertility, fatigue, and memory loss, among many others. There are however many things you can do to increase your chances of producing an abundance of healthy hormones. All it requires is making a few simple changes in your lifestyle.

• Hormones are made from the HDL cholesterol, made from good fats, and converts to good cholesterol when we reduce the carbohydrates in our diet. This means eating a diet high in protein, good fats, and low in carbohydrates is essential.
• Stress produces the hormone cortisol, which reduces the production of your reproductive hormones and creates imbalance. Do what you can to reduce the stress in your life.
• Eating cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts, helps metabolise hormones, reducing the risk of hormonal cancer in both men and women.
• Exercise, especially weight training, helps the production, metabolism and removal of excess hormones from the system once they are used. This keeps hormones balanced and slows the ageing process.

Applying these simple changes can and will have a positive effect on your mood, libido, energy, mental clarity, and your life.

ADVANCED WELLNESS & BEHAVIOURAL CENTRE
Phone: 5443 1987
www.advancedwellness.com.au