FitSugar

Stop the Snacking With Brushing

Michele Bell — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:30:36 PDT

Would you like some coffee, tea, or perhaps a toothbrush? When the last crumb is in your mouth and the hot beverages have been sipped, consider heading to the bathroom for a quick brush of the pearly whites for a postmeal habit.

Your teeth can benefit from the fresh toothpaste and bristles as you rub all the food and acidic matter off your teeth, but it can also keep you from snacking throughout the rest of the night. You could still sneak a bite, but really, who wants to go through the bedtime brushing and flossing ritual twice?

Brushing Your Teeth: Twice Is Nice, but More Is Better

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:47:17 PDT

While getting my teeth cleaned the other day, my dentist asked me if I brush twice a day. "Of course. Ever since I was a kid," was my response. But she said that I should bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to work and brush after every meal, three times a day. She added that if I had time, I should brush after snacks and beverages like coffee, too. I know that means a lot of time spent at the bathroom sink, but if you have issues with cavities or bad breath, give my dentist's advice a try. Be sure to use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in a circular motion so you don't irritate your gums.

How many times a day do you brush?

LilSugar Community: When Should She Floss?

Lil Community — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:00:00 PST

This post was submitted by Betty Wayne in The Mommy Club group.

My four year old is good at brushing; I give her teeth a quick brush myself if she's had lots of sweets, but mostly she does it on her own. My concern now is flossing. Her mouth is too small for me to stick my fingers in there and really teach her how to do it; I give her a piece of floss to play with and run between her front teeth just to get her used to the idea of flossing. Any suggestions for how or when I should go about teaching flossing? Am I waiting too long? Also, can anyone recommend a good mouthwash for children? Any advice on children's dental hygiene would be appreciated. Thank you!

Talk about motherly things on your mind at The Mommy Club group over in the LilSugar Community.

How Well Do You Know Your Numbers?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:00:50 PST

Being healthy can be a game of numbers: calorie intake, weight loss and gain, and minutes spent on the treadmill. To get the best results from our healthy habits, we need to know how much time we should be spending on them.

When it comes to things like oral hygiene, working out, and washing your hands, do you know how much is enough? Take my quiz to find out. . .

Take the Quiz

Do Push-Ups Every Time You Brush Your Teeth

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:00:28 PST

Most people brush their teeth in the morning before they head out the door, and at night before they hit the hay. Use that time to add a little exercise into your day, since every little bit helps. Every time you brush your chompers, do 25 push-ups on the counter or sink. That adds up to 50 push-ups a day, and 350 push-ups a week! If your arms are stronger, do 30 or 40, or do less if you're just starting out. Push-ups are one of the most effective ways to tone your upper body, and you'll start to see results soon after adding these counter push-ups to your routine.

Do You Brush Your Teeth in the Shower?

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:00:09 PST

After singer Kelly Clarkson admitted that she pees in the shower, almost 2,000 of you confessed that you handle your business in there, too. We were pretty surprised at the sheer amount of you who participated in that poll - it's been one of our most popular ones yet.

It got us talking about what other things people take care of in the shower - as for me, I brush my teeth in there. Since I heard there may be bacteria in my shower head I've been thinking twice about it, but I don't drink the water so I'm probably OK. Tell me . . .

How Many Times a Day Do You Brush Your Teeth?

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:30:41 PST

Brushing your teeth is about as basic as dental health can get, and paired with flossing, it's the foundation for cleaning your gums and pearly whites. It's a habit instilled in us from the time teeth make their first appearance, but how often we brush tends to vary from person to person. How many times do you brush your teeth each day?

Source

lil Tip: Brushing Your Child's Teeth

LilSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:00:58 PST

Trying to get your tot's teeth brushed, but they aren't into it? Turn the task into a game. When my daughter purses her lips and shuts off access to her pearly whites, I ask questions about her favorite things. How happy would you be if...and then fill in the blank with things like "our house was made of marshmallows," "the whole world was pink" and "you had a pet unicorn"? Her wide grin allows me the opportunity to slip the toothbrush in.
Source

Healthy Dose Link Time!!!!!!

FitSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 14:52:55 PDT

diet-blog tells the tale of getting low fat milk straight from the cow.

Complete Running gives some excellent tips for those new to running.

vita-beat reports that 12 percent of people are not brushing their teeth daily. Yicky!!!

Fitness Fixation gives you the skinny on Tabata. And, no - it is not food.

fitPod has a new mix for you to download. It is free, 40 minutes long and will pump you up.

Run DMZ shares info on the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and an attempt to set a world record for running Elvises. If you want to be King, this could be your chance.

About: Yoga teaches you some backbend variations. There is a pose for everyone.

iFit & Healthy reveals the workout and diet of America's Top Model winner Jaslene Gonzalez.

Take a gander at this old school ad for weight gain products from 1934 on HealthBolt.

About: Low Fat Cooking has a great Mediterranean salad recipe for you to try.

That's Fit shares a new motivating tool: the quit smoking jacket. You got to see it, to believe it.

Healthy Tip: Wait 30 Minutes After a Meal to Brush Your Teeth

Leta Shy — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:25:09 PDT

A healthy lifestyle means taking care of your teeth - after all, excess plaque has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, and too much icky bacteria in your mouth can lead to gum disease and cavities. But if you're an après-lunch brusher, take note: you should wait at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth after a meal, according to a report in The New York Times.

The directive is based on a study that followed people for three weeks, looking at the impact of postmeal brushing after they drank diet soda. The researchers found that those who brushed their teeth within 20 minutes of finishing their sodas had increased loss of dentin, the tissue found underneath your teeth's enamel. That's because, researchers say, brushing too soon after an acidic meal pushes the acid further into your teeth, causing erosion of tooth enamel and dentin.

So the next time you are eating a particularly acidic or sugary meal, wait at least 30-60 minutes before you brush your teeth. In the meantime, rinse your mouth with water or a solution of eight parts water to one part baking soda to get rid of the acid in your mouth, researchers recommend. Chewing gum afterward can also help.

Do you brush your teeth immediately after meals?