'Dental News
Some people treat their vacations as if they're leaving their teeth at home by forgetting that maintaining good oral health habits during their trip will lead to cleaner and whiter teeth, giving them more confidence when being in vacation-related videos and photographs.
No matter whether you have all your original teeth or used dentures, below is a list of oral health tips from DentureLiving.com to make it easier to maintain your good smile during your next vacation.
1. When making the preparations for your trip, venture down the travel aisle at your local convenience store to pick up some travel-sized toothpaste, floss and mouthwash containers. It might also be a good idea to buy a toothbrush you can dedicate specifically to travel, along with a travel container to avoid making a mess in your luggage.
2. Be sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist before your vacation if you haven't made it to your regular checkup or have a toothache that's been causing you trouble. The last thing you want is to have your vacation sidelined due to an emergency visit to the dentist.
3. You may find yourself eating more candy or drinking more soda than usual, especially if you are on a road trip spending lots of time in your car. If possible, consume in moderation. Take extra care to brush and floss thoroughly and regularly if you do consume a lot of sugary foods and beverages.
If you're a denture user, there are also several things you can take to help prevent problems that could knock you off your your vacation itinerary:
1. Always pack backup dentures in case your primary dentures break or get lost. That way, you can deal with any replacements or repairs when you get home.
2. Be sure to pack the appropriate denture-care products for your trip. Pack a cleanser like Fixodent Denture Cleanser Plus Scope to maintain fresh breath throughout your vacation or one with whitening abilities like Fixodent Denture Cleanser Advanced Whitening to maintain your bright smile while you're meeting new people. Many cleansers and adhesives also come in travel-sized containers.
3. Bring a container that you can fill with warm water to clean your dentures. This can help eliminate hassles if the hotel where you are staying doesn't have the appropriate-sized container.
'Dental News
The American Dental Association (ADA) has launched it's "ADA Seal of Acceptance Web area" webpage it claims is designed to allow consumers and dental professionals to easily review detailed information on all ADA Accepted products.
The new Web area lets visitors look at product photos and read a question-and-answer section on how products earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance and what it means. The new Web area also allows consumers to easily print individual product information sheets and product comparison pages for reference when purchasing oral care products.
"The ADA designed the new ADA Seal of Acceptance Web area to provide information that will be helpful to the public in selecting dental products and to dentists when discussing products with their patients," said Dr. Ada Cooper, an ADA Consumer Advisor spokesperson and a practicing dentist in New York City.
The new ADA Web area includes product photos and read-a-question-and-answer section on how products earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance and what it means. The new Web area also allows consumers to easily print individual product information sheets and product comparison pages for reference when purchasing oral care products.
'Dental News
New research published in the April 2011 edition of Journal of Periodontology says that women are far better at maintaining healthy teeth and gums because they are more proactive than men are. The study included over 800 participants between the ages of 18 and 19. Participants were given an oral examination as well as asked to complete a questionnaire concerning lifestyle, dental knowledge, dental attitude and oral health behaviors which found the following;
* Women are 26% more likely to floss on a daily basis than men are
* 74% of women would be embarrassed by a missing tooth compared to only 57% of men
* Women are almost twice as likely to have received a regular dental check-up in the past year
* Women are almost twice as likely to notice missing teeth on another person than men
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gum tissue and other structures supporting the teeth. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss and has been linked to chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
"Never has it been more important to ensure the health of your teeth and gums. You cannot be healthy unless you are periodontally healthy," says Donald S. Clem, DDS, a periodontist in private practice in Fullerton, California and President of the American Academy of Periodontology.
'Dental News
Even though every dental professionals (practically) in existence says that good oral health care means brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing regularly, a recent article in USA Today suggests that these dental care habits alone probably aren't sufficient to combat halitosis (i.e. bad breath).
While the American Dental Association (ADA) says that people with persistent bad breath where nothing they do seems to work should see the dentist as their chronic bad breath may lead to serious health threats (i.e. respiratory tract infections or diabetes), the most people only need to practice a few simple techniques to ensure that their breath will not 'stink to high heaven'.
(1) Drink Plenty Of Water. Halitosis-producing oral bacteria thrive in dry environments but consuming non-caffeinated beverages frequently throughout the day washes this bacteria away as well as stimulates the production of saliva, which in turn maintains a moist environment in your mouth.
(2) Brush Your Tongue. A little known fact is that brushing your time while you clean your teeth activates your body's natural halitosis-fighting defenses. Many people ignore brushing their tongue, which allows food residue and bacteria to build up on its surface.
(3) Avoid Using Mouthwash. Many commercially available mouthwashes actually cause more halitosis-producing bacteria then they kill us they does alcohol than that which tends to dry out the mouth. While some mouthwashes do help kill stench-causing bacteria, those who experience chronic bad breath should seriously consider consulting with their dentist on which mouthwash and they should use... or even if they should use mouthwash at all.
Two Types of Halitosis
There are actually two types of halitosis; physiological and pathological. Physiological halitosis can be caused by what you eat (i.e. onions or garlic) as the result of chemical processes generated by anaerobic bacteria in the mouth or throat. Pathological halitosis is more serious as it's the result of some type of functional disorder or disease and therefore can pose a serious risk to your health.
