#ygkChallenge: Visit A Dentist
Welcome to Kingstonist’s weekly challenge, dare, resolution or whatever you prefer to call it. Each week we establish a new and ambitious community goal, encouraging our readers, followers, friends and families to step out of their comfort zones and do something great, and hopefully a little out of the ordinary. Consider this your official and personal invitation to join us in completing a small but meaningful achievement. By taking part in this community-wide initiative, we hope to make Kingston a slightly better place to live, work and play. And of course, we also hope that you will feel proud of your contribution and achievement.
This week’s challenge encourages you to:
Visit A Dentist! In honor of National Oral Health Month, this week I encourage you to visit a dentist. Did you know that each year 3,200 Canadians are diagnosed with oral cancer and 1,050 Canadians die from it? The low survival rate is attributed to late detection therefore staying up to date with dental exams is key. Poor oral health is also linked to many chronic conditions such as Diabetes, heart, and lung disease. In the case of Diabetes, it is proposed that high levels of sugar in saliva allow bacteria in the mouth to flourish. This is compounded by the fact that Diabetics are at risk for lowered resistance to infections. A study published in the Journal of Aging Research in 2011 found a 25-50% higher risk of death among elderly who did not see a dentist in the last 12 months. This week let’s focus on the importance of preventative health measures by giving some attention to our pearly whites.
Sign up and commit to completing this week’s challenge by commenting below with an “I’m in“, “challenge accepted“, “en garde” or something along those lines. Further, help us spread the word via Twitter and Facebook by sharing the link and encouraging the participation of your friends and family. By joining together in our weekly challenge, we hope to accomplish big and positive things for our community.
Thanks to Steven Depolo for today’s photo.