FitSugar

Confused About Floss - Which Type Is Best?

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:00:40 -0700

Brushing your teeth removes food particles and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth, but we need floss to clean in between your teeth. "You cannot effectively vacuum a house with only one attachment," says American Dental Association spokesman Richard H. Price, DMD. "You need other attachments to get into the nooks and crannies. That's what floss does.”

When picking up floss at the store, it's astounding how many varieties there are. If you're confused about which one works best or is right for your teeth, read more.

Unwaxed: This floss is perfect for teeth that aren't too tight together.
Waxed: If the spaces between your teeth are tight, waxed floss will glide easier.
Tape: This ribbon-like floss is meant for those who have wider spaces between their teeth.
Ultra floss: If the spaces between your teeth vary, this floss is right for you. This yarn-like floss stretches thin to fit between tight teeth but also springs back to be slightly thicker for teeth that have wider spaces.
Flossing picks: If it's tough to reach your back teeth or it hurts your fingers to wrap the floss around, these picks have convenient handles to make flossing easier.

The bottom line is that it really doesn't matter which type of floss you use - as long as you use it. Choose one you like that doesn't damage your gums and use it at least once a day. Flossing not only removes leftover spinach and pesky poppy seeds from in between your chompers, but it's also essential for healthy gums. So the next time you go to the dentist, ask for some samples of different kinds so you can try them out and see which you like best.

Soothe Your Scalded Tongue

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Cold weather means more hot chocolate, and I will admit my tongue has paid the price of my impatience. Since I can't wait for my cocoa to cool, I have been researching how to help heal a burnt tongue.

Women's Health magazine offered up this simple advice: Rinse with salt water. The saline solution of one teaspoon salt to one warm cup of water can help soothe a scalded tongue. The salt water also draws the infection to the surface of your tongue and can neutralize mouth acids, which promote harmful bacterial growth. Both of these actions help to heal the burn quickly. The only drawback to this method is you need to perform your oceanic oral rinse immediately and that can be challenging to find a salt water solution in a ski lodge. The simplest solution: Wait for your cocoa to cool.

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Canker Sores Are No Crack up

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Let me just begin by clarifying that canker sores, which occur inside the mouth, are not contagious like cold sores and they have no relation to the herpes virus.

These painful little ulcers can happen anywhere on the soft tissue surfaces inside the mouth – tongue, gums and cheeks. The sores are usually red, but may have a white coating over them.

Anyone can get canker sores, but they seem most prevalent in women in their 20s and can run in families. However, the cause of canker sores remains a mystery, researchers believe they could be caused by the following things:

Faulty immune system function
Nutritional problems, such as a deficiency of vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid or iron
A disease of the gastrointestinal tract
Food allergies
Menstrual periods

To see how to treat those painful buggers just read more

Most canker sores disappear on their own in about two weeks. For pain relief, you can try taking ibuprofen. Some people find relief by: sucking on zinc lozenges, taking supplements of the amino acid lysine, or rinsing with a sage-chamomile mouthwash.

Fit's Tips: You should seek medical advice if: a fever accompanies your canker sores, the sores last longer than three weeks, the pain cannot be managed with self care measures, or they prevent you from drinking enough fluids.

You can help reduce the pain also by avoiding irritants like SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), sometime used in toothpaste, and spicy food.

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DrSugar Answers: When Will I Clear HPV?

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0700

DrSugar is in the house and he's answering your health questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I was exposed to HPV (human papillomavirus) in 2006. My test results were positive for HPV, but I had a normal pap smear in 2008. My doc said the first test was a baseline. I returned recently to test again and my results were the same, HPV positive, but a normal pap smear, and I am to be retested again in another six months. Here's my dilemma: it's going on three years since my exposure to HPV, so why hasn't it cleared my system? Also, should I be concerned with an HPV infection in my throat from oral sex?
- One Worried Woman

To see if DrSugar is able to ease this Sugar user's worries, read more.

HPV has received a lot of attention in the last few years and public awareness of the disease has skyrocketed. Recent strides in research have brought more information to light about HPV, and a new HPV vaccine has the potential to prevent 70 percent of cervical cancers. I want to make it clear to you and others that HPV is very common: over half of all sexually active people will contract HPV at some point in their lifetime. Luckily, the infection is not permanent. Recent data suggests that within one year of a positive test, 70 percent of women will clear HPV. Keep in mind that this is from the time of the first positive test, not from the time of exposure. Approximately 90 percent of HPV infections will be cleared in two years, and 95 percent in three years from the initial positive test. So there is a very good chance that your HPV will be cleared sometime in the next few years. In the meantime, it is important to follow up with your doctor every six months. When your body doesn't clear HPV, it means you have have a chronic HPV infection, which unfortunately puts you at higher risk for cervical cancer. If it clears, your risk drops markedly, but there is still some risk so make sure to continue to have an annual exam.

While the connection between HPV and cervical cancer is more established, there is increasing evidence suggesting a relationship between HPV and mouth/throat cancers. A Time article from 2007 gives an interesting review of the topic. Studies suggest that oral sex with multiple partners can lead to an increased risk of throat cancer due to certain strains of HPV. However, there are currently no guidelines or recommendations for doctors to screen for HPV infections of the throat or mouth. The best advice I can give is to always practice safe sex and see your doctor if you have more questions. For more HPV-related information, visit the CDC website.

Have a question for DrSugar? Send it by private messaging me here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Tongue Piercings Can Lead to Fatality

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:00:26 -0700

Add brain abscesses to the list of dangers associated with getting a tongue piercing. The latest Archives of Neurology details the case of a 22-year-old man who died from multiple lesions on his brain two weeks after getting pierced. Doctors say the man's piercing became infected and the condition spread to his brain.

Tongue piercing does not usually result in fatality, but doctors still warn against it because of the associated risks. Some of the more common risks are chipped teeth, receding gums, and oral infections. Rare cases of toxic shock syndrome and blood poisoning have also been reported.

If you decide on a tongue piercing for yourself, get it done from a professional piercer in a hygienic setting and make sure to care for it properly once home. Also, be prepared for a little hunger - when Drew Barrymore got her tongue pierced, she says she could hardly eat or drink anything for two weeks!

Do You Brush Your Teeth at Work?

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:30:57 -0700

Brushing your teeth regularly is a great habit to start. I'm sure you brush in the morning and before bed at night, but what about when you're on the job?

Tips From the Dental Chair

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:43 -0800

Sitting in the dentist chair is never pleasant for me. Luckily, my daughters still enjoy the experience - they think a cleaning is like having their teeth tickled. Inspired by their enthusiasm for oral health, I compiled a list of simple tips to make the experience of dental work a little less anxiety provoking.

Keep your eyes open; the visual stimulus will distract you from discomfort or pain.
Even with all those hands in your mouth, try to focus on your breath.
Bring your iPod to block out the noise of the drill.
Come up with a hand signal to alert the dentist when you're in pain, because a sudden movement or twitch can complicate matters.
Be sure to tell the dentist if you are sensitive and/or afraid. Most will be accommodating; if not, I suggest finding a new dentist.
Take a written list of questions and concerns so you don't forget them due to the stress of the visit.

How to Prevent Bad Breath

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:00:24 -0700

We've all been embarrassed by occasional bouts of bad breath after eating a roasted garlic pizza or a sandwich piled with onions. If you're dealing with bad breath all the time, though, it can be mortifying. So here are some tips to keep your mouth smelling fresh.

Quit cigarettes if you're a smoker.
Get your teeth checked out by your dentist. Cavities and gum disease can cause bad breath.
Brush and floss during the day, every time you eat. When food particles hang out in your mouth, bacteria collects and emits stinky hydrogen sulfur vapors. So keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss in your purse at all times to use after coffee breaks, lunch, and snacks.
Drink more water. It'll help keep the bacteria in your mouth to a minimum.
Don't mask your bad breath with sugary mints. They'll freshen your breath briefly, but the sugar will only cause more stinky plaque to build up. If you can't brush, go for sugarless gum instead since chewing increases saliva production, which is your best weapon against bad breath.

What else can help prevent bad breath? To find out, read more.

If you suffer from allergies or sinus infections, postnasal drip in the back of your throat can cause bad breath. So get your symptoms under control with antibiotics or allergy meds.
Keep in mind, though, that certain medications such as decongestants or allergy pills can cause dry mouth, which can also lead to bad breath. When your mouth is dry, dead cells and bacteria accumulate on your gums, tongue, and teeth. When these cells decompose, they produce a foul smell. Water helps, but if your symptoms are really bothering you try switching medications.
Eat yogurt. Studies have found that one serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in the mouth. Be sure to eat ones with active cultures.
Avoid certain foods such as garlic, onions, and alcohol. Once consumed, these foods get absorbed into your bloodstream, are carried to your lungs, and are given off in your breath.
To help prevent the buildup of plague, which can cause bad breath, eat crunchy fibrous foods such as apples, carrots, and celery.
Bacterium aren't a fan of foods such as citrus fruits, berries, and melon because they make the environment in your mouth too acidic, so get your fill of vitamin C. Another plus for consuming vitamin C is that it also helps prevent gum disease and gingivitis.
Chew herbs such as parsley, coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and cardamom. These all help fight bad breath.
Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper. Use it twice a day to remove bacteria and dead skin cells from your tongue.

The Pill vs. Building Muscle

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

If you're looking to build lean muscle mass, taking oral contraceptives might be interfering with all your hard work. A recent study from Texas A&M University, involving 73 generally healthy women between 18 and 31, found that women not taking birth control pills gained 60 percent more muscle mass than women on the pill during a 10-week time period.

All the women in the study participated in the same whole-body resistance exercise training program and worked out three times a week under the supervision of exercise physiologists, but half were using oral contraceptives and the other half were not. All the women performed the same exercises, same number of reps, at the same intensity. The study participants were also encouraged to increase their intake of protein, by about a third more than nutritional guidelines, to ensure they wear eating enough protein to build muscle mass. After the 10-week workout period, the women who were not on the pill had significantly more lean muscle mass.

Information on both groups hormone levels, when you read more.

A comparison of blood samples between the two groups indicated the women using oral contraception had less testosterone in their system, a hormone necessary for making muscle. In addition, women on the pill had more cortisol in their systems, which is a hormone that helps break down muscle tissue.

Source

Don't Avoid Your Dentist

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Some of us just really hate to go to the dentist and avoid it at all costs. That avoidance might be costing you your teeth. Here is a little statistic that might inspire you: 30 percent of Americans over 60 no longer have their teeth. OK, that is a little frightening but allow me to broaden the perspective of my scare tactics - our generation's teeth have seriously benefited from greater access to better dental care. Dental experts are predicting that the rate of toothless retirees will be substantially lower by the time we are of age to join AARP.

To protect your teeth, not only should you brush and floss twice daily, but you should also visit the dentist twice a year for cleanings. Don't put off fillings or crowns because the delay can put you at risk for losing your teeth later. It is kind of like a pay it forward situation for your mouth, because the many dental problems are preventable if you just listen to your teeth.

Here are some other ways to put your money where your mouth is:

If you have recently taken up a contact sport like boxing or kickboxing wear a mouth guard.

Same goes if you are a jaw clencher or a tooth grinder. Your dentist can make a very sexy (do you feel the irony?) mouth guard for you that will protect your teeth during the dangerous act of sleeping.

Pregnancy hormones affect your gums, so don't skip your dental appointments when you are preggo.

Some medications, like certain antihistamines and antidepressants, may cause dry mouth, which inhibits the break down of plaque. Talk to your dentist about ways to help reduce the damage this might cause.

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