Do This One Thing When You Brush Your Teeth If You Want To Age Well
Whether or not you're someone who embraces the changes that come with getting older, aging is a process we all go through. While you might not be able to avoid the inevitable passage of time, there are plenty of ways to ensure you enjoy the ride.
There are plenty of ways to maintain your mental and physical health as you age. According to Healthline, regularly moving your body, fueling it with nutritious foods, and monitoring your alcohol intake are all excellent ways to keep your mind and body in tip-top shape. Managing your stress levels is also essential for your cognitive health. According to the National Institute on Aging, stress is linked to a slew of health problems, including memory loss and Alzheimer's. Healthline notes that keeping up with your oral hygiene is also imperative for maintaining your health as you age, thanks to the link between gum disease and cardiovascular problems.
Fortunately, there is a simple trick you can employ to maximize your teeth brushing time to help you grow older with grace.
Work on your balance while brushing your teeth
With age comes the potential for issues with balance and mobility, cognitive functioning, and reduced strength in your bones and muscles (via Livestrong). A simple and effective trick for avoiding this is to practice standing on one leg while brushing your teeth.
According to Livestrong, the best way to employ this trick is to practice standing on one leg during your morning brush and on the other leg when you're brushing at night. Because we tend to favor one side of our bodies over the other, this practice will help you maintain a balance of strength on both sides while helping you move with more stability, maintain good posture, and even improve bone health.
Active aging specialist and group fitness instructor Rosalind Frydberg explained to Livestrong that in addition to the physical benefits this balancing act provides, it also serves as a mental workout that will improve how your brain adapts to change, otherwise known as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is incredibly important for maintaining brain health, especially as you age. A 2013 study published in Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience found that brain training exercises may help older adults maintain cognitive functioning.