How mamly times did your mother tell you to "Wash your hands". Have you opened a door, put your hand on a stair or escalator railing, or even pushed a button in an elevator recently.
She knew what she was talking about. Health professionals insist a simple thing like hand washing works wonders to protect you and those you contact from a variety of illness. Use soap and water. No need for antibacterial soap. It leads to antibotic resistance. Wash hands before meals, after using the toilet, after blowing noses, after changing gradchildrens diapers. Insist your doctor, nurse, dentist and therapist wash their hands before they examine you.
Canker sores are small, painful sores that erupt inside the mouth - on the cheek, tongue,
floor of the mouth or gums. They range in size from a pinhead to a pea, and may last between 8
to 10 days. Canker sores may be triggered by stress, small cuts, as well as hot food or drink.
Unlike cold sores, canker sores occur exclusively inside the mouth and are not contagious.
Regardless of the cause, once a canker sore is contracted, the probability of recurrence is
high. In fact, 20% of the population suffer from recurring canker sores. Medicated products
that form a bandage-like film will provide relief and a protective coating to insulate the
sore from irritation or further injury.
Cold sores, or fever blisters, are liquid filled blisters that erupt around the lips, chin, or nose area. The chickenpox-like herpes simplex I virus (different than the genial herpes simplex II virus) that causes cold sores remains in a person's body after the initial infection. Approximately 80% of the population carry the HSV-I infection.
For some people, the virus is inactive, but many suffer recurring outbreaks. Factors known
to trigger cold sores include stress, fever and illness, prolonged sun exposure, fatigue and
menstruation. Often a tingling or burning sensation is felt one day before a cold sore erupts.
Reddening and swelling precede the actual eruption of a painful fluid-filled sore. After a few
days, the sore will seep fluid, crack, and begin to dry and form scabs. There are two types of
cold sore remedies: a penetrating liquid that relieves discomfort or a film forming gel that
protects against irritation.
Canker and cold sores are not the only mouth sores, simply the most widespread. Braces,
loose dentures and sharp foods can also produce painful mouth sores. Hot, spicy or acidic
foods and beverages often irritate these sores. For any mouth sores, cold sores, or canker
sores, over the counter medicated products providing a protective film will allow you to eat
and drink pain-free while encouraging quicker healing.
Please consult your physician or dentist regarding any mouth sores that result in excessive or
prolonged pain or irritation.
Most of us have had bad breath some time or another. Actually, it is estimated that at any given time, about 50% of the population has bad breath. Whether it's barely noticeable or
strong enough to turn people off, bad breath can spoil your self-confidence and cause
embarrassment. Any number of things can cause it.
If you experience a bad taste and odour when you first wake up
in the morning, you have morning breath. Glands that produce saliva rest during sleep. There
is not enough saliva to wash away the food debris that has been left on or between the teeth
even after careful brushing. These conditions allow odor producing bacteria to grow rapidly
on the tongue and teeth. The good news is, morning breath is temporary. It can easily be
eliminated by taking the time to thoroughly brush your teeth and mouth for 2 to 3 minutes,
rinsing thoroughly with an antibacterial mouthwash, and taking the time to eat a healthy
breakfast.
If there is noticeable breath problem that is not eliminated with brushing, it most often
is caused by large numbers of bacteria present in the mouth, throat, lungs or sinuses. Growth
of bacteria is controlled in part by the immune system. With bad breath, many bacteria not
normally found in healthy mouths are present in substantial numbers. These bacteria prefer an
oxygen-free environment and obtain their energy from proteins which are very available to
bacteria in the form of plaque, food debris and dead cells. These bacterial products, in the
form of volatile sulfur compounds, mix with mouth air and produce bad breath.
One of the most common but least serious causes of offensive breath is the food that we eat.
Foods deliciously prepared with garlic or onion often leave an unpleasant breath odour.
Heavily spiced or fatty foods may cause a temporary problem. This is not considered true
"bad breath". In fact your friends who have indulged in the same foods will not find your
mouth odour unpleasant and may not even notice it! If you find a particular odour unsettling,
that food can be easily avoided.
Hunger odour is most noticeable if you eat infrequently, as many do when they are on a diet.
Meal skipping, fasting or simply not eating enough can produce a very objectionable breath odour
that remains even after brushing. This occurs when there is a lack of available carbohydrate
in the diet. Fruits and fruit juices are good examples of carbohydrate rich foods that, when
used as snacks, will help you control hunger odour.
If you have cavities, inflamed gums or periodontal disease, you may have unpleasant/pungent
breath problems. The breath problem generally disapears when the conditions are corrected.
These problems can be prevented through regular dental check-ups.
Many systemic diseases and conditions have their own characteristic breath odour when they
are not under control. Examples are the fruity odour associated with diabetes, the fishy odour
that alerts us to possible kidney failure, and the strong cheesy odour of infected tonsils.
These odours are a natural way to help diagnose the condition. Sinusitis may contribute
considerably to bad breath as the discharge can be foul smelling. Allergies and postnasal
drip may also be factors. A visit to your doctor for a yearly check-up is one way to help
prevent serious health problems and bad breath associated with them.
It is not often that the stomach is the cause of bad breath unless you regurgitate or burp.
Constipation is not considered a cause of halitosis, as aromatic substances are absorbed from
the small intestine and not from the stomach or large intestine. Hiatus hernia, however, may
contribute substantially to malodour.
Drugs such as alcohol or tranquilizers produce a specific odour that, when exhaled through
the lungs can make the mouth air somewhat unpleasant.
Hormonal changes such as those that occur during menstruation can contribute to bad breath.
Noticed around the time of ovulation and just before menses, it has been described as a mousy
odour.
There is increasing indication that stress may play a role in bad breath. When you're
stressed, your mouth can get very dry. A thick coating on the tongue may result from your dry
mouth. Tongue coatings can have a very unpleasant odour but cleaning the tongue will reduce
both the coating and the odour.
After following these five steps, if you are still experiencing chronic bad breath, you
should discuss the problem with a dental professional who will further investigate and help
identify the source of your breath problems. Some individuals take longer than others to bring
this problem under control, however the end result is deep satisfaction that your breath can
indeed be fresher.
Chances are you or a family member have some stage of gum (periodontal) disease. Relax.
While many adults do develop some degree of periodontal disease as part of the aging process,
there are steps you can take to prevent it.
Periodontal (gum) disease is caused by plaque, a colourless film of bacteria that forms on teeth. Plaque is most harmful when theses bacteria form into colonies, which takes about 24 hours. If not removed daily, plaque mixes with sugars and starches in the diet to form acids and other by-products in the saliva. Plaque irritates the gums, causing them to become red, tender and swollen. It also causes the gums to bleed easily. If not removed, Plaque hardens to form calcus (tartar) around the necks of the teeth.
 Gingivitis: Gum tissue is inflamed; bleeds when probed |
Severe Periodontitis: Supporting gum tissues have deteriorated; tooth loosens |
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Eventually, the tissue that attaches the gums to the teeth is destroyed by the irritants in the plaque. The gums pull away from the teeth and small pockets form between the teeth and gums. These pockets become filled with more plaque. Eventually, the jawbone supporting the teeth is destroyed.
Periodontal disease is usually a slow, painless, progressive disease. Most adults
with gum disease are unaware that they have it. However, if diagnosed early, the teeth can be
saved.
In addition to plaque, a number of factors contribute to gum disease including:
Of course, the only way to confirm a diagnosis of periodontal disease is to have your mouth
thoroughly examined, and the necessary oral X-rays taken. We also recommend a thorough
prophylaxis (tooth cleaning) for all adults at least twice a year. At that time we
may use a special instrument called a periodontal probe to measure the depth of the
crevice (pocket)-the space between the tooth and the gum tissue. Pocket depth measurement,
clinical examination and X-rays determine the precise extent of gum disease.
The type of treatment you require depends on how advanced your particular case is. Individualized treatment may include any of the following;
More than half of all adults aged 35 and over have the early stages of this disease. Three out of four adults are eventually affected by it. Periodontal disease is the primary cause of lost teeth after age 35. But the good news is that there are steps you can take to prevent periodontal disease in your mouth. If caught in it's early stages, gum disease can be reversed.
When you drink something hot or cold, or eat something sweet or sour, or simply touch your teeth with a fork or toothbrush, do you ever feel a sudden painful sensation? It's not a constant pain; it comes and goes. It may be due to sensitive teeth.
You're not alone. Many people suffer from sensitive teeth. Some estimates are as high as 45% of the Canadian adult population. Unfortunately, many people do not bring this matter to the attention of their dentists.
If you suspect you have sensitive teeth, the first thing to do is to discuss it with your dentist. He or she can identify if it's sensitivity or something more serious. If it is sensitivity, your dentist will discuss it's causes and ways to treat it.
There's more than one theory about what causes sensitivity. But many in the dental profession believe the problem starts when the dentin of the tooth is exposed. Dentin is the porous part of the tooth below the protective enamel covering.
This exposure can happen in many ways, including:
Once the dentin is exposed, so are the tiny fluid-filled tubes (known as tubules) that make the dentin porous. These tubes, now exposed directly to the mouth, connect back to the centre of the tooth where the nerve is located. Then, hot, cold, sweet, or sour foods or drink, or even touch, can trigger movement of the fluid in the tubes, which excites the nerve. The resulting sensation can be as mild as a tingly sensation or as intense as a sharp pain.
First of all, your dentist or hygienist will discuss how you brush, your eating habits, even the toothbrush you use, to help you correct or avoid some of the most common causes and triggers of sensitivity.
Secondly, they may suggest one of a number of in-office treatments that can help give you relief, if it's appropriate for you. As an alternative or an addition to in-office treatment, your dentist or hygienist may recommend a sensitivity toothpaste and will discuss ways to use it most effectively.
Sensitivity toothpastes work by either blocking the pain signal from the nerve to the brain or by reducing the movement of fluid in the tubule that stimulates the nerve. The protection from the toothpaste builds over time. Be aware that if you stop brushing with the toothpaste, the sensitivity pain may return. That's why it's important to use it as your dentist or hygienist instructs.
As a rule, it's always smart to discuss any dental pain you have with your dentist or hygienist. If it turns out to be sensitivity, your dentist or hygienist can help you in the many ways we've discussed. With their guidance and your following the oral hygiene program they give you, you will be able to enjoy the foods, hot or cold, sweet or sour, that you like.
A prescription medication is most effective if you carefully comply with the directions of your doctor and pharmacist.
Unless otherwise advised by your doctor always take your medicine until it is finished. If you experience side effects or reactions, contact your doctor.
Some prescriptions can cause drowsiness or can slow down your reaction time.
Your prescription labels contain vital information.
Have your doctor explain again his instructions about your prescription medication. If the directions on your prescriptions are confusing, ask your pharmacist.
It is not a wise idea to save unused portions of prescription medication. A medicine that is safe and effective for an adult can be harmful to a child. Do not offer your medicine to others, or by the same token, never use someone else's.
A couple of years ago, researchers from Duke University announced that exercise could help fight depression. In fact, they found regular exercise worked just as well as drugs in fighting depression among the elderly and middle-aged. Now, it looks like the benefits of exercise might be even more far-reaching. The Duke team looked into the brains of elderly people who were exercising and concluded they actually thought better. After they noticed improvements in memory and organizational skills among people taking part in the study, they scanned their brains. They found increased activity in the frontal and pre-frontal regions of the brain, the areas which are thought to control the so-called higher mental processes. The reason for the improvement might be as simple as exercise improving blood flow to the brain.
Scented candles may create a cozy or romantic feeling, but they may also be a health risk.
The American Lung Association says burning candles, particularly the scented and slow-burning
ones, may release lead, mercury and other toxins into the air. These types of candles usually
have metal wicks made of lead. As the candle burns, lead particles are released into the air
and float around before settling on furniture or in carpets, where they can be ingested or
touched by children, adults and pets. In large amounts, the candle emissions can harm the
nervous system, as well as the heart and circulatory systems, especially in children and the
elderly. The ALA suggests that when buying candles, people should look to see if the core is
made of metal. They say it's better to buy candles made of bees' wax, which don’t have any
additives in them.
We already know that drinking orange juice and milk are healthy ways to maintain strong bones. Now a recent study indicates that people with low levels of calcium and vitamin C in there diets also run a high risk of developing gum disease.
The University Of Buffalo Periodontal Research Centre used data from National Health And Nutrition Examination Surveys for the study. In the 20- to 39-year-old range, it was discovered that those who consumed less than the recommended daily intake of calcium (the amount in four glasses of milk) and low levels of vitamin C were twice as likely to develop gum disease. For the lactose intolerant, calcium tablets are readily available. The association between poor diet and unhealthy teeth was particularly strong among smokers.
Vitamin C helps to rebuild tissues and fight against infection, and calcium builds strong bones and teeth. When you don't have a good combination of these in your diet, your teeth and gums have a harder time fighting off bacteria and toxins, such as those present in cigarette smoke. That leaves you susceptible to gum disease which can lead to tooth loss.
Talk to your dentist about how a healthy diet combined with good dental hygiene can ensure your teeth and gums remain as healthy and strong as the rest of your body.
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