80 APRIL 2020 / WOMANSDAY.COM
Health / NEWS
SLEEP BETTER TONIGHT
STRAIGHT TALK
With Dr. OzDr. Oz: Not necessarily. Any
chemical you touch can affect
your body, so it’s good to
think about reducing overall
exposure. However, the
absolute risk this study showed
was generally small, and the
women had sisters with breast
cancer, so their risk was higher
to begin with. Maintaining
a healthy weight, exercising
regularly, and avoiding alcohol,
in particular, will also lower
breast cancer risk.Dr. Oz: A recent NIH study
found that women who
used permanent hair dye
regularly in the previous
year were 9% more likely to
develop breast cancer and
those who used chemical
straighteners were 18% more
likely to develop it than
women who didn’t. Black
women who used permanent
hair dye had the highest risk.Does that mean
I need to stop covering
my grays?I read that hair dye
can increase my
breast cancer risk.
Is that true?As long as your teeth, gums, and bones are healthy,
your age doesn’t matter when it comes to orthodontic treatment.
Just keep these pointers in mind.1
IT’S NOT JUST
ABOUT LOOKS
Teeth that don’t
line up properly
can wear down
or not touch
at all. A healthy,
functional bite
makes it easier
to chew, brush,
and floss. An
improved smile
is a bonus!2
TREATMENT
OPTIONS VARY
In addition to
the now-popular
removable clear
aligners, braces
can be stainless
steel or ceramic
brackets on the
fronts of teeth
or stainless steel
ones on the
backs of teeth.3
IT’S A TIME
COMMITMENT
The time for
which braces are
needed varies
but can be longer
for adults, whose
bones are more
set in place. You’ll
need regular
orthodontist
visits to evaluate
your progress.4
SEEING AN
ORTHODONTIST
IS WORTH IT
Wearing “at
home” aligners
without seeing an
orthodontist ups
the risk of tooth
or bone loss
if your tissues are
not healthy, and
it may damage
your bite.Braces for Grown-Ups
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Are Carbs Keeping You Awake?
The pasta or pizza you ate for dinner may prevent you from getting a
good night’s rest. A recent study found that women who ate a lot of added
sugars and refined carbs had a greater risk of developing insomnia. Refined
sugar can spike your blood sugar, causing an insulin response to lower
it. If blood sugar gets too low, the body releases stress hormones, which
can interfere with sleep. A good evening meal for shut-eye? A bean-based
vegetarian chili. “Beans have a low glycemic index and are high in fiber,”
says Karen Ansel, M.S., R.D.N., a contributing editor for Woman’s Day.SOURCE: Jacqueline Miller, D.D.S., a member of the American Association of OrthodontistsWOMAN:^ TIMROBBERTS/GETTY^IMAGES.^ C
HILI:STEVEGIRALT.^DR.^ O
Z:BRIANDOBEN.