Eat healthy. Exercise more. Sleep more. Drink more water. These tips are all essential to good health, but they're fairly straightforward with commonsense applications. Health magazine has new list of 12 health tips that may seem strange, but work. We break down the implications of several tips for Latinos. For healthy teeth, don’t brush after meals. Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, sodas, or sports drinks can soften tooth enamel. Brushing your teeth after meals can speed up the acid’s effect on tooth enamel and even erode the layer underneath. It is suggested that waiting 30 to 60 minutes after eating will protect teeth better. This is good advice for Latinos, as they generally lag behind other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. in oral and dental ...
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will award 10 research grants of more than $7 million aimed at eliminating inequities in access to care and improving the oral health of children. These awards support the Multidisciplinary and Collaborative Research Consortium to Reduce Oral Health Disparities in Children an initiative of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). “By establishing this research consortium, NIDCR seeks to lead national efforts in reducing childhood oral health disparities,” said NIDCR Director Dr. Martha Somerman. “Among the projects awarded are those that test innovative health promotion and disease prevention strategies and evaluate and refine existing programs and policies.” It has been reported by the NIDCR that children ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger
Jefferson Dental Clinics Latino adults suffer 2.5-times as much gum disease as their white peers. Gum health is just as critical as teeth health; swollen or bleeding gums and gum recession all can signal a greater oral health issue that, if left unchecked, can cause severe infection or even tooth loss. What causes swollen gums? Swollen gums can be an early indicator of gum disease, which in its early stages is known as gingivitis. Inflamed gums can cause serious discomfort and pain, particularly while eating and drinking. Additional causes of gum inflammation are tobacco use, poor nutrition, diabetes, and certain medications. What causes bleeding gums? Healthy gums should not bleed during routine brushing and flossing. Gingivitis can cause gums ...
Latino kids have the highest rates of dental cavities at certain age groups. This is bad news because poor dental health can not only lead to gum disease and early tooth loss, but it also can affect overall health, causing pain, influencing learning abilities, and producing low self-esteem. For February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, join the #SaludTues Tweetchat on Feb. 9, 2016, to tweet about tips, innovative strategies, and programs to improve dental health among Latinos and all kids to break down barriers and boost overall health: WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Why Dental Health is Critical for Latino Kids?”
TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludToday
CO-HOSTS: Jefferson ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger
Jefferson Dental Clinics Women with gum disease have up to a 36% higher risk of breast cancer, according to a recent study. That’s alarming given that 6 in 10 Latinos have gum disease (known as periodontal disease)—the highest rates of this condition among all racial/ethnic groups—and Latinas are 20% more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Latinas. Gum disease, which is mainly caused by poor oral health and smoking, occurs when pockets in the gums form around teeth, allowing the growth of bacteria that can cause teeth to loosen and even fall out. The connection between gum disease and cancer is profound. “Women with periodontal disease who were former smokers had a 36% higher risk of breast cancer, women who were smoking at the time ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger
Jefferson Dental Clinics Latinos are 1.6 times more likely than Whites to be diagnosed with diabetes. That's bad news for Latino health throughout the body—including the mouth, as diabetics are at higher risk of gum disease and tooth loss. “The mouth connects to health throughout the body," said Dr. Leslie Townsend, regional dental director for Jefferson Dental Clinics. "Numerous illnesses show symptoms in the mouth first; and life-threatening diseases like heart disease, stroke and kidney disease are all connected to poor oral health. Without control, diabetes patients risk serious long-term effects on their whole health.” Here's the problem: diabetes results in high glucose levels in the saliva. Elevated blood sugar levels fuel the bacteria ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger
Jefferson Dental Clinics Cavities. Untreated, worsening tooth decay. Gums that pull away from teeth and form gaps, allowing infections and plaque to spread. This isn’t a horror story—it’s the reality of dental health in the Latino community. Latinos suffer high rates of tooth decay, and have high rates of periodontal disease (gums pulling away from teeth). Latino men are the least likely of all groups to seek dental care, and three-times as many older Latinos than whites will not receive treatment for tooth decay. Poor oral health leads to heart disease, stroke and diabetes, which disproportionately impact Latinos. “The Latino community must take an active approach in monitoring and caring for their dental health, or prepare to face ...
Diabetics are more susceptible to oral infections such as gingivitis and periodontitis than those that don’t suffer from diabetes, Univision Salud reports. Lower flow of saliva among diabetics causes burning sensations in the mouth skyrocketing the incidence of cavities and other infections. And those “who don’t control their sugar levels tend to have more oral health problems, particularly dental gum retractions.” Gingivitis and periodontitis are the most common oral health problems among diabetics, but more serious ones such as Thrush (candidiasis) it's also common. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) recommends: Control glucose levels in the blood
Brush your teeth and use dental floss every day
Visit your dentist ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger
Jefferson Dental Clinics Kids miss 51 million hours of school a year for dental health issues. Latino kids face missing more time due to particular disparities that can further exacerbate the effects of poor oral health, such as difficulty with speech and articulation, trouble eating, lack of focus and lowered self-esteem. So, for back to school time, make sure Latino and all kids have the best start to the year by taking these four steps toward a healthy smile: Pick healthy school snacks. Kids of all ages need snacks and meals that are rich in healthy vitamins and minerals such as Calcium, Vitamin C, Iron, Phosphorous and Vitamin K to help build healthy smiles. Prepack snacks that are both healthy and great for teeth, like cheese, carrots, celery, ...
