National Women’s Health Week: May 15 – Bone Health for Life

Healthy Bones for Life!  Bone loss can sometimes be avoided and even reversed in some individuals, with proper diet, care and exercise!   Osteoporosis is currently typically more common in women than in men due to a generally smaller bone structure and lower peak bone mass.   Bone mass usually peaks between the ages of 25 and 30.  After age 40, bone loss becomes more and more difficult for the body to replace.   One bone that is often overlooked that can suffer from the effects of bone loss is the jaw bone!  For women of all ages – keep your smile as healthy as possible by following these recommendations:

• Make sure to get enough Calcium and Vitamin D in your diet.  Women between the ages of 20 and 30 normally require at least 1,000 MG each of Calcium and Vitamin D.  Between 30 and 50, the recommended amount is 1,000 MG.  Women aged 50 and over should be getting about 1,200 MG daily.  
• Watch your Diet – Some common sources of Calcium and Vitamin D – milk & yogurt, including soymilk, rice milk and almond milk; fortified orange juice, and many types of green, leafy vegetables like kale and spinach.  Click here for a list of some foods with high calcium levels!
• Get plenty of exercise – low-impact exercise such as walking, swimming or biking.  Staying active helps limit bone loss and keep muscles toned and reduce the chance for injuries.
• Keep as many teeth as you can throughout your life!  Regular brushing and flossing, and regular dental checkups are the best way to help prevent future tooth loss.  Tooth loss often leads to additional bone loss because teeth and chewing are are big part of maintaining a strong and healthy jaw.   Dental implants are often recommended as the best possible option for replacing a lost tooth, because the implant is fixed into the bone and acts very much like a natural tooth would.