Health Benefits of Honey

Honey is a liquid food made by the honey bees from the nectar of flowers. Honey is mostly produced by the Apis genus of honey bees. It is actually a regurgitated product of the honey bees while they feed on the nectar of the flowers and deposit back honey to the honey comb. Honey is produced and stored by the bees as their primary source of food when the sources of food become scarce. The nectar of the flower mixes with the enzymes present in the bee saliva, which turns the nectar into honey. Honey bees store honey in a honey comb, which are small units made up of bees wax inside the beehive. The sweet taste of the honey is derived from the mono-saccharides, fructose, and glucose present in the honey. It is a natural sweetener. Microorganisms does not thrive in honey because of its low water activity. Honey has a distinct flavor which is based on the source of the nectar which produces the honey.

 

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Honey has been used since time immemorial and it has been used in various foods and beverages as a sweetener and a flavoring agent. It is also used in various medicinal purposes to treat ailments.

The major health benefits of honey can be grouped as.

Nutritional: It acts as an energy booster that provides energy which is needed for heavy physical and stressful activities.

Medicinal: It improves immunity of the body from various illnesses and saves from oxidation damage. It is used as a natural remedy to cure various illnesses and diseases.

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Sweetener: It is used as sweetening agent in many foods and liquids. It can be used as a substitute for sugar as a sweetener.

Energy source: It is used as an energy source. It gives more calories per tablespoon than sugar can provide. It is easily digested from the stomach because it is easily convertible into glucose. It improves athletic performance in a person by maintaining blood sugar levels, muscle recuperation, and glycogen restoration after a heavy work.

Vitamins and Minerals: Honey is a source of several vitamins and minerals in smaller quantities. It mainly contains vitamin C, calcium, iron, etc.

Improves immunity: Honey has many antibacterial and antifungal properties, which helps enhance the digestive system and fight diseases.

Antioxidant: It has antioxidant properties, effective in removing free radicals from our body. The body immunity is increased and helps fight against diseases such as cancer, colitis, etc.

Treating wound: Honey has antibacterial and anti fungal properties, which helps to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. It enhances wound healing and facilitates the healing process. It speeds up the healing process.

Skin care: Honey along with milk or cinnamon is effective in skin care and getting smooth soothing skin.

Reduce allergies: It can cure allergies when localized honey is given that help to minimize seasonal allergies.

 

Tooth Sensitivity Causes and Management

Tooth sensitivity is a discomforting sensation in one or more teeth that is triggered by hot, cold, sweet, or sour foods and drinks, or even breathing cold air. The pain can be irritation of the tooth to sharp, sudden, and severe shooting pain that is felt deep inside the tooth.

Tooth sensitivity occur when the underlying layer of the teeth the dentin becomes exposed as a result of several factors such as wearing of tooth, decay of teeth, exposed tooth roots, or receding gum tissue. The cavity inside the tooth is a vital organ which nourishes the tooth structures through numerous blood vessels and nerve endings. Dentin that envelope the pulp contain thousands of tiny tubules leading to it called dentinal tubules. There is plasma-like biological fluid present in the dentinal tubules, the changes can trigger mechanoreceptors present on nerves located at the pulpal aspect of the tooth thereby eliciting a pain response. The flow of the biological fluid inside the dentinal tubules allow the stimuli such as the hot, cold, or sweet food to reach the nerve endings in the tooth which results in pain. This hydrodynamic flow can be increased by cold, air pressure, drying, sugar, sour, or forces acting onto the tooth. Hot or cold food or drinks, and physical pressure are usual triggering factors for teeth sensitivity.

There are many factors which leads to the development of tooth sensitivity and these are

1. Teeth grinding: The grinding or clenching of the tooth may wear down the enamel and expose the underlying dentin.

2. Hard brushing: Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush in the long run can wear down the enamel and cause dentin to be exposed.

3. Tooth caries: The plaque build-up around the tooth and the resultant bacterial acid production on the root surfaces can corrode the enamel which results in exposure of dentin causing sensitivity.

4. Gum recession: The recession of the gums occurs when the gums move away from the surface of the tooth due to hard brushing or bad brushing techniques or conditions such as gum disease, periodontal disease etc. make the root surface exposed.

5. Gum disease: Inflamed and sore gum tissue caused by gingivitis or gum disease may cause sensitivity due to the loss of supporting ligaments, which exposes the root surface.

6. Cracked teeth: Chipped or broken tooth may cause irritation to the dentinal tubules while passage of fluid and bacteria from plaque into the pulp causes inflammation.

7. Age: Normal tooth wear causes abrading away of enamel and opening up dentinal surface exposing dentinal tubules resulting in sensitivity.

8. Acidic foods: Regular consumption of foods with high acid content such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles and tea can cause enamel erosion.

9. Tooth whitening products: Tooth whitening products and toothpaste with baking soda and peroxide contain products which bleaches away the enamel that contributes to teeth sensitivity.

10. Mouthwash use: Long-term use of some over-the-counter mouthwashes that contain acids may  worsen tooth sensitivity if you have exposed dentin.

11. Routine dental procedures: Sensitivity can occur following teeth cleaning, root planing, crown placement, and tooth restoration.

Steps to Prevent Sensitivity

1. Avoid teeth grinding. Avoid frequent teeth clenching. If you grind or clench your teeth at night, use a mouth guard.

2. Use a soft bristled toothbrush. A soft bristled brush will result in less toothbrush abrasion to the tooth surface and less irritation to the gums. Brush gently and carefully around the gum line so as not to injure and remove the gum tissue.

3. Promote good oral hygiene: Good oral hygiene measures such as washing mouth thoroughly after every meal, brushing the teeth daily, flossing of teeth, avoiding sweets and excess carbohydrates, etc will prevent earlier tooth caries and preventing tooth sensitivity. Follow proper brushing and flossing techniques to thoroughly clean all parts of your teeth and mouth.

4. Use desensitizing toothpaste. There are several brands of toothpaste available for sensitive teeth. Use the toothpaste that reduces the sensitivity the most. Use a fluoridated toothpaste, the fluoride in the tooth paste plugs the dentinal tubules reducing the sensitivity.

5. Reduce consumption of acidic foods. Frequent consumption of highly acid foods can gradually dissolve tooth enamel and lead to dentin exposure. They may also aggravate the sensitivity and start the pain reaction.

6. Use fluoridated dental products. Regular use of fluoridated toothpaste and mouth rinse can decrease tooth sensitivity.

8. Avoid over-the-counter mouth washes. Avoid using over-the-counter mouth washes and instead use warm saline gargle, which is a warm solution of salt water.

7. Early consultation: Make an early consultation with your dentist as early as possible when there is a fracture of tooth, caries exposed tooth, root exposed tooth, gingival recession etc.