Pregnancy and Dental Care – Frequently Asked Questions

When I was pregnant with our first child, I have to admit my nerves often got the best of me. I worked hard to take precautions so as not to harm the baby, and no doubt I looked like the stereotypical fretful mom-to-be. Yet I never missed a doctor’s appointment, but I did have some concerns about going to the dentist – for health reasons, of course. Taking the time to research the facts about dental health and pregnancy, however, helped eased my mind about a number of issues. If you are expecting and wondering about what you should do when your dental appointment rolls around, here are some commonly asked questions to ponder.
1) How does being pregnant affect dental health?
When you are pregnant, you’ll find it makes a huge impact on your body. Personally, I noticed that thanks to the hormonal changes I experienced I had reactions to certain types of food and soap. I had to stop using one brand of lotion, for example, because the scent suddenly made me nauseous. With regards to teeth, you might find that your gums become more tender, or that plaque buildup is more prevalent. It’s important to brush regardless, but when you are pregnant you want to take extra care to brush regularly and floss.
2) Can a pregnant woman keep a dentist appointment?
Yes. There is no reason why you can visit your doctor for a routine cleaning. However, it is important that your dentist and hygienists are aware of your condition. You should not have X-rays taken during this time, but if an emergency should arise you will consult with your dentist.
3) Is there a certain brand of toothpaste a pregnant woman should use?
You may be able to use your current brand if you don’t develop a nauseous reaction to it. If you wish to err on the side of caution, you can speak with your obstetrician or dentist about a suitable toothpaste to use in the interim that will get the job done without causing you discomfort. Your local health store will have a number of all-natural pastes made with baking soda, but be careful that they don’t make you feel woozy!
Enjoy your pregnancy. These nine months will result in changes to your body that may frustrate you, but the end result can be wonderful. Stay on your dental care during this time, too, because you’ll soon have reason to smile.…

Reasons to Avoid Sugar

Unfortunately, in today’s society we have been brought up with a high sugar intake from a young age. This does not necessarily mean we eat lots of sweets; sugar is present in a lot of the processed foods we consume. This includes things we eat every day, like bread, mayonnaise and peanut butter. Here are a few reasons why we should be more careful with what we eat:
Sugar has the potential to cause greater problems
If you are taking in more sugar than what your body is supposed to have, you are at risk for diabetes, which is a lifelong irreversible disease. Many people do not know that high sugar intake causes cholesterol. By not knowing you have high cholesterol and not starting a proper diet you stand a chance of having a heart attack.
Sugar can make you sick more often
By eating a lot of sugar it weakens our immune system, which means if there is a nasty bug going around the office, the chances are higher of you getting sick. Vitamins are always good to take, irrespective of how much sugar we eat.
Sugar causes weight gain
Unfortunately, the chocolate you just ate is going to sit on our hips. We don’t like to think of these things, but the fact is refined sugar is scientifically very bad for us. Weight gain is also extremely bad for your health.
No more energy
By eating too much sugar in your day without a balanced diet can cause you to have decreased energy levels. Many people think that eating a chocolate bar will provide them with energy, but actually the opposite is true. It gives you a quick rush of energy only to have it taken away drastically; you will feel lethargic.
Aging twice as fast
Sugar can literally make you age twice as fast. If you are eating too much sugar it can causes wrinkles faster than when you are limiting it in your diet.
Something extra to note
Sugar does not necessarily have to be cut out completely; it can be eaten in moderation as a treat with friends. If you cut it out completely, people will just crave it more and find others way to have it, like binge eating or eating in secret. This can have far worse consequences, so make sure to balance your food choices and limit your sugar intake. Healthy food with enough vitamins and minerals should out way the amount of junk food consumed. If people are exposed to too much junk food and not enough healthy food they can experience vitamin deficiencies. You will be surprised at how bad this can be, especially young children.
What you should be doing
It is highly important that you include all food groups in your meal. This can seem very hard when you are currently not following any healthy eating plan. It is beneficial for the entire family but most importantly for a growing child to receive the right nutrition. There are certain vitamins you should be taking, you can easily buy a variety of ones from any online health store.…

Canine Dental Care – Dog Toothpaste

Canine Dental Care – Dog Toothpaste

Some people tend to think that dog toothpaste is a little over board. They will claim that it is just a way for big companies to take more money from people and that since dogs never brush their teeth in the wild, they do not need to brush them now. This train of thought could not be any further from the truth. It is up to you, the pet owner, to make sure that the dog is well cared for. If the teeth are not kept clean, problems can arise which will cost you much more money at the vet. If you ignore the situation and the need for the vet, you could face animal cruelty charges. Therefore, the dog toothpaste is an essential part of canine dental care.

Getting Started

When you first begin to brush your dog’s teeth, you may be faced with a little resistance. This is typical. The best thing to do is to allow the dog to become familiar with the toothbrush. Like the dog sniff it, lick it, and really get used to it. Next, allow your dog to taste the dog toothpaste by applying a little to his or her teeth using your finger. Start slow when the toothbrush is introduced and you will be fine.

Noticing Problems

Even if you brush your dog’s teeth on a regular basis, you want to make sure that you are keeping an eye out for any dental problems that may occur. Symptoms of dental problems would be bloody saliva, excessive drooling, broken teeth, inflamed gums, and tartar build-up. The main cause of these symptoms would be that of periodontitis or gingivitis.

Prevention Is Key

The best thing you can do is to make sure that you have your dog in a good hygiene regimen. Make sure that you are brushing your dog’s teeth at least a couple of times a week. The faster you move and the calmer you are, the easier your dog will feel about the whole thing. Most importantly, you want to make sure that you are using circular motions and that you are not forgetting about the gums. Dog brushes and dog toothpaste can be purchased from your vet, in pet shops or in department stores that carry dog supplies and food.

You also want to make sure that you are giving your dog a bone, treat, or rawhide that is known for helping with dental care. The more you do for your pet the happier and healthier he will be. You also will be able to avoid unnecessary vet bills when you make sure that your dog’s dental health is as good as it should be. Even if you have neglected to brush your dog’s teeth until now, there is no better time to start than now. Begin a teeth and gum brushing routine. Your dog may fight with you a little bit about it at first but it will become routine soon enough and you will have no problem getting your pet’s teeth nice and clean.…

Is your Tooth Sensitive to Ice Cream? Sensitive Teeth Toothpaste Really Does Work

Is your Tooth Sensitive to Ice Cream? Sensitive Teeth Toothpaste Really Does Work

Teeth sensitivity is extremely common. It is the number one complaint by dental patients; approximately one in five patients suffers from sensitive teeth.

Exposed dentin, called “dentin hypersensitivity” is the main cause of sensitive teeth. Dentin is the tissue that makes up the core of each one of your teeth. Dentin has a bunch of little tunnels or channels in it which lead right down to a nerve center within.

The enamel on your teeth serves as a protective barrier for the dentin and its nerves. If your enamel begins to wear away, the nerves in the dentin are now exposed. After hot, cold, and acidic foods break through the enamel, they make their way down the channels in the dentin right to the nerve endings, resulting in sharp pain.

Although exposed dentin is a permanent condition, patients have found relief by using toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes are more than just hype, they do actually work and they work quite well.

These products contain a desensitizing agent called potassium nitrate. With continual use of the toothpaste, the product travels down those same channels in the dentin forming a protective barrier around the nerve endings.

Once this barrier is established the nerve endings are significantly less responsive to the triggers we discussed. The barrier-building process does take time however so these products must be used on a regular basis (twice daily) and it may take up to a few weeks before significant relief is felt.

In addition to the regular use of sensitive teeth toothpaste, take a look at why your enamel might be damaged or wearing away to begin with. It may just be due to age but can also result from:

-brushing too hard -gum disease-chipped or cracked teeth-clenching or grinding teeth-long term consumption of citrus or carbonated beverages-bulimia

Take extra care to protect your teeth enamel and until the toothpaste takes effect, avoid common triggers including foods and drinks that are cold, hot, or acidic (such as fruit juices and sweets). It is worth noting that cold air and teeth whitening agents can also cause sensitivity.…

Your Child’s Toothpaste Needs Minimum Fluoride Content for Most Affordable Dental Care

Affordable dental care is not the easiest thing to find. One of the best ways to keep dental costs low is to always use preventative measures.

The best oral hygiene habit may be brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste.

There are a couple of reasons to brush with fluoride toothpaste:

It can prevent dental decay. Using this kind of paste is a great way to protect your teeth from cavities or any form of dental decay. The Cochrane Oral Health Group which is based at the School of Dentistry at the University of Manchester has shown that these pastes reduce tooth decay by 24% more than non-fluoride products.

You can prevent more costly treatments. Brushing with fluoride can protect yourself from expensive procedures such as root canals — brushing your teeth is a simple route to affordable dental care.

A warning against the over-use of fluoride

According to a study by The Cochrane Oral Health Group, children under six years who ingest large amounts of fluoride in the form of toothpaste have a higher risk of developing fluorosis. That is a good reason for children under six years to not using a toothpaste with a high fluoride content.

Fluoridated toothpaste can cause fluorosis. Though it can protect your mouth, this helpful chemical can also be harmful if used excessively. Fluorosis is a condition caused by ingestion of excessive amounts of this chemical. It can cause discoloration or mottling of the teeth, especially in children.

This situation is avoidable if you get a toothpaste with a healthy fluoride content. In that same study, it suggested having a toothpaste with a lower concentration. The study recommends that children use a toothpaste with no more than 1,400 parts per million (PPM). This is key to avoiding fluorosis and maintaining affordable dental care.

Get a toothpaste for your child that has no more than 1,400 PPM and no less than 1,000 PPM of fluoride. If the toothpaste has more than 1,400 PPM, it can cause fluorosis. This is something to avoid for both the sake of health and for the appearance of your child’s teeth. If the toothpaste has less than 1,000 PPM, then only as effective as non-fluoridated toothpaste at preventing tooth decay.

Once the child is past six years old, the potential danger of getting advanced fluorosis has past. It may still be a good idea to keep the fluoride content of your toothpaste low for other health reasons and so that you can maintain affordable dental care. Make sure that your toothpaste is in the 1,400-1,000 PPM range, and you will get all the benefits of this tooth-protecting chemical with less of the risk.…

Masculine Face Care: We’re Talking Bill Gates, Not Justin Bieber

Guys who think masculine face care is about making women swoon are missing the point. Looking good is about getting ahead of the competition. It’s about being primed and ready to take advantage of every opportunity life has to offer.
Guys, I don’t blame you for thinking that men’s skincare and anti-aging is about getting the girl. In fact, it’s to be expected. When it comes to masculine face care, a multi-billion-dollar industry is pushing the idea that great skin is a playboy’s secret weapon. They know that sex sells, which is why the product shelves are full of overpowering aftershaves with alluring and exotic names-and why the ads are full of chiseled hunks with a pair of eye candy on each arm.
As a reasonably foxy lady myself, you can take it from me: great skin is a definite plus, but it sure doesn’t clinch the deal. And if you see masculine face care as a way to make yourself irresistible to women, you’re just not seeing the real potential in having a proper masculine face care routine-or in yourself.
The Gates – Bieber Smack-Down
Answer me honestly. Would you rather model your ambitions on Justin Bieber, or Bill Gates? In other words, do you want to be known for your dazzling good looks, or admired for your substance? The Beauty Industry might be surprised to know that most masculine men, although they’re tempted by the prospect of obsessive female fans stalking them at every turn, are more interested in projecting a powerful image that commands respect and gives them that invaluable edge in an ultra competitive world.
Now, Bill Gates may not be the ideal poster boy for masculine face care, but he does epitomize the competitive spirit that seizes every opportunity to create success – that’s success with a capital “S,” the kind that goes beyond clubbing women into submission with an exotic scent, and sets you up for real and lasting achievement.
That desire to grasp success with both hands and by any means necessary-and not the desire to win fleeting admiration from the opposite sex-is the true essence of proper masculine face care.
What does well-tended skin have to do with success? Read on.
Why “skin-deep” is deeper than you think
“Skin deep” may have come to mean “superficial” and “unimportant”, but those skin-deep first impressions have profound implications for your life’s trajectory. A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology revealed that looks play a role in determining business success and earning power. Essentially, good grooming and attention to appearances can pay off big-time. They lead to bigger responsibilities, faster promotions and bigger paychecks. Maybe it’s not fair that “the skin you’re in” can affect the course of your destiny, but it’s a fact that’s beyond your control. What you choose to do with this information, on the other hand, is very much in your control. You can dig your heels in and keep doing what you’re doing, or you can game the system by doing everything in your power to gain a competitive advantage. Ask yourself: if there is something you can do that will definitely and without question enhance your chances of success – in work and love, why the heck wouldn’t you do it?
Confidence now comes in a bottle
No, I’m not talking about “liquid courage” here, guys. But confidence actually can come out of a bottle. The fact is, using the right masculine face care products to look good actually effects a change in your outlook and attitude. Studies show that there is a direct correlation between how you look and the confidence you project. And confidence, like good looks, exerts an elusive but undeniable influence on the people around you. People like your boss, potential employers, investors and colleagues. And yes, people like… well, women. A man who exudes confidence is very, very sexy… Confidence simply opens more opportunities to you – professionally and socially.
This kind of masculine face care routine doesn’t have to take up much time or clutter your bathroom cabinet with umpteen lotions and potions, tubes and jars. We’re talking cleaning, lubricating and protecting. Three simple steps. No fuss. No muss. And no overpowering, three-alarm musky perfumes. Just a simple routine and healthier, better-looking skin.
Of course, it’s ultimately up to you. You can follow in the footsteps of Bill Gates, a man who seized every opportunity and became one of the wealthiest and most powerful philanthropist in the world…
Or you can emulate the pop sensation whose quotable quotes run to stuff like this: “I like girls chasing me, so it’s good. I’m kind of like The Beatles running, and there’s girls chasing after me.”
Masculine men play to win – model yourself after Bill Gates.…

Anti Aging Skin Care Products – Best For Men

In our society nowadays, both sexes are determined to maintain a fresh and youthful look as much as possible. But do you think anti aging skin care products are just for women? Of course not. The fact is that more and more men are actually just as concerned as the women about growing old. And that is the reason why skin care products are created especially for men so that they have the option to use products that have been specially designed for their skin.

Men are actually more prone to aging than women. Their skin is tougher and this is also exacerbated by daily shaving. Here are some tips to decrease the effect that shaving has on the male skin:

Change your razor blades frequently so that the blade is always sharp and therefore less likely to damage your facial skin.

Clean your face before you shave to prevent infection.

Use warm water on your face when you wash before shaving to soften the outer skin layer.

Then apply the shaving cream to prevent inflammation.

After applying the shaving cream to the sensitive skin area, create lather to moisten and soften the skin. Also make sure to rinse the area more often with cool water. After you apply the after shave lotion it is time to apply the moisturizing anti aging face cream. The anti aging skin care product will help to maintain the production of elastin and collagen. As you know, when these two hormones decrease, it makes the skin wrinkled and saggy. There are other chemicals that are harmful for male skin such as alcohols, dioxanes, mineral oils and parabens.

It is recommended that you use anti aging skin care products that are as natural and chemical free as possible. Consider the fact that the skin of men is prone also to redness and inflammation. So look for a product that blocks PGE2 production. Prostaglandin E2 is produced by the body when inflammation arises so blocking the formation of this molecule is a biochemical way to reduce inflammation. Aside from that, D Panthenol or Vitamin B5 is also a requirement so the skin tissue will be repaired and moisturized as well. Witch hazel too, is another astringent and antioxidant that helps in the treatment of skin conditions like eczema, blistered skin, cracked skin and psoriasis. It is used also for shaving cuts.

The skin of men is oilier usually than women. It also is thicker and contains larger pores. Many men, as they age, develop deep set lines that and this is another reason why men should have their own skin care products. In the past it might not have seemed manly to apply anti aging skin care products to one’s face but we have a whole new generation who are much more interested in this aspect of skin care.…