April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers are only possible with the incredible work of pollinators, like bees. Bees are often thought of as tiny buzzing nuisances, but they play an incredibly important role in preserving the environment. You might not think that these small flying insects have much of an impact on your life and health, but this is far from the truth.
The Importance of Pollinators
The role of bees in environmental preservation is remarkable and yet often underestimated. Bees are essential pollinators, playing a critical role in sustaining the diverse ecosystems found across the planet. Pollinators such as bees are responsible for “three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops,” making them indispensable to the global food supply.
Beyond their importance in food production, bees also play an important role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and preserving biodiversity. By visiting many different types of flowering plants, bee pollinators are able to help spread genetic diversity throughout plant populations. This process is known as cross-pollination, and it helps to ensure that certain species do not become extinct.
Oral Health Benefits of Honey
The delicious golden substance produced by bees isn’t just helpful in sweetening up your hot tea in the morning. It can actually have a positive impact on your oral health. Studies have shown the use of natural honey on the teeth can “modify the pH, reduce bacterial counts, and inhibit bacterial growth.” This can aid in the prevention of gingivitis and tooth decay.
Instead of choosing processed sugars to sweeten up your food and beverages, substitute it with natural honey. Your teeth will thank you.
How You Can Get Involved
Bees are essential to our ecosystems, and if they disappear or become severely reduced in numbers, the consequences could be dire. Without bees, many species of plants would struggle to survive due to their reliance on pollination. This would have a serious domino effect on the other species that rely on those plants for survival, such as birds and small mammals. It is our responsibility to reduce the effects of human-made factors on the bee population.
- Avoid using toxic pesticides and insecticides on your gardens that could be harmful to pollinators.
- Purchase natural honey from local beekeepers to support their efforts in protecting the bee population.
- If you have an unwanted beehive in your home or yard, contact a professional beekeeper to relocate the hive instead of destroying it.
- Join Appalachian Orthodontics of Lynchburg in planting bee-friendly flowers around our entire city!
- Participate in No Mow May. For the entire month of May, let your grass and weeds grow in order to provide natural habitats for our pollinator friends.
It is clear that bees are essential for sustaining our planet and preserving biodiversity. Let’s all take steps to protect bee populations from extinction due to human-made factors such as pesticide use or habitat destruction. By understanding how pollinators keep our world alive and taking action accordingly, we can help ensure the survival of these vital creatures and the ecosystems they support!