Dental Health Care is one of the best prevention programs to ensure fresh breath, healthy mouth and teeth for life. Dental diseases are not considered to be fatal. Hence very often people neglect the importance of oral hygiene. Nevertheless, the cost of dental disease in pain, suffering, treatment and loss of work is huge. Teeth are meant to last a lifetime. By taking good care of your teeth and gums, you can protect them for many years to come.

Tooth decay is not restricted to children’s disease. It can occur to anyone as long as natural teeth are in the mouth. It is caused by bacteria that usually exist in the mouth. The bacteria stick to teeth and form a colorless and sticky film called dental plaque.

An important part of dental health care is to know how to brush and floss perfectly. Careful brushing each day removes plaque. In addition to brushing, using dental floss is required to keep the gums healthy. Proper flossing is imperative because it removes plaque and leftover food that a toothbrush cannot reach.

The following are the brushing Tips.Worn out toothbrushes cannot properly clean your teeth and may injure your gums. So it is recommended to replace them every three or four months. Teeth should be brushed gently with very short strokes and enough pressure so that you feel the bristles against the gums. The tips of the bristles do the cleaning, so it should not be compressed. Never use a toothbrush with very hard bristles .It can damage the gums. Teeth should be thoroughly brushed at least once a day, preferably twice in a day. Children should clean their teeth after every meal and at bedtime.

The following are the flossing tips.Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and below the gum lines where the toothbrush can’t reach. As tooth decay and periodontal disease often start in these areas, it’s important to clean them thoroughly and daily. A commercial floss holder may seem helpful to use. Most children cannot floss their own teeth until age 10.
Gums may be sore and bleed for the first five or six days after you floss .It is a sign that plaque and bacteria are being removed. If bleeding does persist even after a few days it is better to consult your dentist. Exercise care while flossing as improper flossing injures your gums. Consult your dentist about how to floss properly, to avoid injuring your gums.

A healthy smile is a winner at any age. Eat a balanced diet and restrict munching snacks between meals. If you need a snack, choose nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese or a piece of fruit. Fluoride is important for both adults as well as children. Fluoride compounds are present in drinking water and some foods. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if the bristles are worn as it won’t do a perfect job of cleaning your teeth.

Apart from following a good dental health care, it is essential to have regular check-ups by the dentist whether you possess natural teeth or depend on false dentures. It is also vital to abide by with any special treatments that are required to make sure of good oral health. For example, if you have sensitive teeth caused by receding gums, your dentist may advise using special toothpaste for sometime. If you have on false dentures, keep them clean and free from food that causes bad breath and gum irritation. Make sure that you brush all the surface of the dentures with a denture care product once a day. A common cause of tooth loss after one crosses 35years of age is gum disease which is also known as periodontal disease. This occurs due to infections of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in its place. Gum diseases are also caused by dental plaque.

Remember you can have just one set of natural permanent teeth in your lifetime. Take good care of it and the reward will smile back at you every time you look at your reflection. Keep away from activities that are harmful to the teeth such as smoking, addiction to caffeine etc. A healthy mouth is indeed an indication of a healthy body. By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting your dentist regularly, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile your entire life.

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Clean and shining teeth, healthy gums and pleasant breath all contribute to a beautiful smile. Ayurveda believes in the three doshas vaata, pitta and kapha, the mouth is the seat of the kapha dosha. Hence, care must be taken not to vitiate the kapha dosha. Problems with the kapha dosha lead to several dental problems. Many methods are known to Ayurveda to maintain healthy teeth.

Causes of Dental Problems

· Blocking of food particles

· Excessive tartar formation, bad breath, inflammation and ulceration of gums, bleeding from gums

· Toothache due following reasons:

· Dental cavities/decay, consumption of soft drinks, refined carbohydrates, and sugar. Use of too cold or too hot foods/drinks, use of tobacco, khaini, gutka, betal. Smoking, pricking of toothpicks or other such modes to remove trapped food particles within tooth-gaps. Trauma, Accident/Fracture of Jaw-bone, lack of dental hygiene/care.

General Dental Care

· Brush at least twice a day; Vitamin C prevents decay and loosening of the teeth, dental caries, toothache, and bleeding of the gums. Strawberries, tomatoes and amalaki contain good vitamin C content; these can be directly applied on the teeth. Vitamin C helps in removing the plaque on the teeth and makes them whiter Green vegetables; fruits like oranges, lemon, and grapes pomegranates should be included in diet and drink lots of water. It is vital to restrict one’s sugar intake, and to make sure that the diet includes plenty of raw vegetables and whole-wheat bread.

· Use of til, cinnamon and clove oil helps to prevent toothache, sore throat and bad breath. Rinsing mouth with mint leaves or chewing parsley leaves can improve the quality of teeth. A clove of garlic with rock salt will relieve the pain. It will also make teeth strong and fit.

· A paste of the bark of bay berry prepared with vinegar helps in the strengthening of gums. Useful Herbs for Whitening of Teeth are Babul, Banyan, Holy Basil, Margosa; neem twigs of these can be used. Mixture of salt with finely powdered rind of lime helps preventing yellowing of teeth.

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Dogs are truly a man’s best friend. We treasure their loyalty and affection. It is just as important that we care for our pet’s health as it is our own. With the advent of the vaccinations and treatments available today, most dogs live long and happy lives. One area of dog care that is forgotten is oral care. It is just as important for your dog to have their teeth brushed as it is for us. One of the major ailments facing dogs today is oral disease. It is easy to prevent with good dental care.

Dental Disease in Dogs

Plaque is the number one oral problem with our canine friends. Excess tartar from left over food particles and bacteria form the plaque. If the plaque is not removed it will start to turn to a form of tartar that leads to gingivitis. This is when your dogs gums are bright red near the teeth. This is the main cause of bad breath in dogs.

Gingivitis left untreated will lead to periodontal disease which is irreversible and may result in teeth becoming abscessed. But that is not all. The bacteria found in both gingivitis and periodontal disease can enter your dogs blood stream and cause infections in the heart, liver and kidneys.

Prevention is the best way to deal with oral care. By brushing your dogs teeth regularly, the tartar will not have the chance to build up and cause gingivitis. This routine home care should be part of your dog’s health care regiment. Most veterinarians will include an oral exam when your dog goes in for their annual physical. A thorough dental exam can spot any potential problems before they become problems.

If you have not been doing the preventative dental home brushing, it may be necessary for your veterinarian to perform a dental cleaning. You can check during the year for any potential problems with your dog by doing routine exams at home. Look for the warning signs such as bad breath or red and swollen gums. If you see bleeding or bumps around any of your dog’s teeth, these are reasons to call your veterinarian.

After doing an examine, brush your dogs teeth. This should not be an ordeal for you or your dog. Take your time and give your dog lots of positive affirmation as they sit still and they will begin to look forward to the daily occurrence. Here are some basic do’s and don’ts for at home care.

1. Be sure to use toothpaste that is specifically designed for animal oral health care. Our toothpaste will make your dog ill in the stomach. There are a variety of toothpastes made for animal oral care, selecting the one that is right for you may be a trial and era until your dog begins to look forward to the event. Again, do not use human toothpaste nor fluoride on your dog’s teeth.

2. Toothbrush or sponge? There are toothbrushes specifically for your dog. Your preference may actually come from the size of your dog. Sponges are softer but do not provide the scrubbing power of the brush. In reality, what ever your dog allows will work if you take the time to slowly ensure all food particles are removed from your dogs gumline.

3. Avoid feeding your dog table scraps. This only increases the buildup of plaque and tartar and can ultimately lead to other health issues.

4. There are some toys that assist in the dental care such as rope toys or Plaque Attacker dental toys are good choices. Be sure to always watch your dog when they are chewing on a toy. Some toys that are too hard can actually do more damage than good.

Dog dental health starts at home with you. With constant preventative maintenance in oral care, your dog can live without ever falling prey to periodontal disease.

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