Calcium is one of the most important and abundant minerals in the body. It is the building blocks for teeth and bones. Healthy teeth and bones require lots of calcium. It also plays a key role in many other functions of the body: clotting of blood, nerve impulses and contraction and relaxation of muscles and blood vessels, as well as regulation of bodily fluids, including hormones and enzymes. In fact, calcium is so important that your body has a feedback system to keep the amount of calcium in the body at a constant level. When the blood and body functions need more calcium, it is retrieved from your bones, where calcium is stored. Your body cannot produce calcium itself, so the only way to get enough is by eating calcium-rich foods. If you do not get enough calcium in your diet, it can weaken your bones, which increases the risk of bone fractures later in life. Likewise, it affects your teeth if you do not get enough calcium. Dairy products, including milk, yogurt and cheese, are good sources of calcium. Other sources are calcium-enriched soy milk and orange juice, sardines, soybeans, dried figs, bok choy, broccoli and turnips.

Few people give their gums any thought when they light a cigarette. The vast majority of people know that smoking is harmful to health and especially to the lungs, but it is less known that smoking also affects the gums. A Japanese study published in the Journal of Periodontology revealed that smoking is the lifestyle factor that increases the risk of periodontal diseases the most. This is because smoking affects the immune system, and it makes the gums more susceptible to infections. Periodontitis is infections of the tissue that supports the teeth. The disease develops in two stages, first gingivitis and then periodontitis. The symptoms of periodontitis are:

• Red and swollen gums
• Gums that bleed easily
• Gums that detach
• Teeth that become loose
• Chronic bad breath

Bad breath can be both embarrassing and humiliating. Fortunately, there are several things you can do if you suffer from bad breath. First of all, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene. If you do not brush your teeth and floss daily, small bits of food will settle between your teeth. This will attract bacteria that lead to bad breath. Similarly, small bits of food in the teeth and on the tongue will rot and cause bad breath. We therefore recommend that you:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride.
• Floss to clean between your teeth.

Contact your dentist if you constantly need to rinse your mouth. Mouthwash does not have a long-lasting effect.