Going to the dentist regularly to keep your teeth intact is probably the reason many of us go. But believe it or not, your dentist may be able to spot things that affect your overall health – just from looking at your mouth!

First, beyond taking care of your teeth and gums, your dentist can spot oral cancers that you likely can’t see on your tongue, or the back of your mouth.

If your dentist notices your gums are too pale, you might be anemic – that’s when you don’t have the red blood cells necessary to help circulate oxygen properly through the rest of your body.

Also, if you’ve been grinding your teeth, it can be a sign of stress, which can lead to high blood pressure and other health issues.

Gum disease and tooth loss can also be early signs of osteoporosis, and your dentist can compare older x-rays to see the bone density in your jaw.

Finally, a dry mouth, receding gums, or bleeding can be warning signs of diabetes.

Your dentist is not a replacement for your regular doctor, but they might spot something first.

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You know you should be eating breakfast every day – not just a cup of coffee on the go and calling it breakfast. Actual food.

It’s important to have a high-quality meal to help you get through the workday and boost overall brain health. And you want to try to have it within an hour or so of waking up, even if it’s something simple like yogurt or toast.

But what are the best breakfast foods to help boost brain health?

Top of the list is salmon! It may sound strange or fancy, but smoked salmon instantly supplies you with omega-3 fatty acids. Add some veggies on a whole wheat bread and you’ve got a perfect breakfast.

Eggs are still good for you too – and contain choline and lutein, nutrients that protect against cognitive decline.

Oatmeal also helps since it’s a whole grain, it’s been linked to improved cognitive functioning, like higher reading comprehension and verbal fluency.

Fresh berries aren’t just a good topping for pancakes, the pigment that gives them color can help protect brain cells from oxidation and boost communication between neurons.

Research also shows that coffee is good for us – it sharpens reaction time, improves alertness, and helps us think more clearly.

And no matter what – continue to drink water – hydration is important, since our brains are 75% water!

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Have you ever grabbed leftovers from the fridge and smelled it to make sure it was good to eat? Well, it turns out that really doesn’t work.

Food scientists say there’s no way to tell if food is safe to eat based on smell – only if the quality has decreased.

For instance, milk may smell sour, so you probably won’t drink it, but it won’t necessarily make you sick. On the other hand, lettuce may be green and crisp, but could be covered in bacteria.

However, there are some foods that the quality will indicate the safety – fresh fruits and veggies, poultry, and deli meats have the highest risk for foodborne pathogens – so if they smell or taste odd, your best bet is to toss them.

So even though the sniff test doesn’t really work, make sure you’re using good judgment to stay healthy.

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