Challenge To Men

Attention all men! Recent studies have shown that women are better than men about seeing their physicians for regular checkups and seeing the doctor when they are feeling sick. New studies also show that women are more likely to visit their dentist for routine checkups. The new research indicate that women are more proactive when it comes to mantaining their oral health than men.

A study conducted at the Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences had more than 800 participants between the ages of 18 and 19 who were asked to complete questionnaires about their dental knowledge, dental attitude, and oral hygeine habits. The study revealed that women are two time as likely to have had a dental check-up in the past year. Women were also more likely to schedule the treatment recommended following the visit.

Men it is time for you to show that you do care about the overall health of your mouth. Don't let the women outshine you in this department. We now know that our oral health can also affect our overall health. Having good oral hygeine habits at home and visiting your dentist for regular cleanings can have benefits that can last you a lifetime.

Make Dental Health Fun for Kids

Is it a chore to get your kid's to brush their teeth? Every morning and night should not begin with, "Oh, mom. Do I have to?" February is children's dental health month. It is the perfect time to talk about how important their dental health is and try to make it fun at the same time. One idea is to do a toothbrush painting. Have your child use their old toothbrush to paint a fun picture and then take a trip to buy a new one. Let your child pick out what color they would like to make them feel special and a toothpaste that will hopefully get them excited about brushing. This will allow you the perfect opportunity to talk about how important brushing your teeth can be and the effects of not brushing your teeth. Communication can open all kinds of doors with your child. Help get them excited!

The Right Toothbrush For Your

Do we always put alot of thought into choosing what kind of toothbrush we use. Well, as a general rule, I would have to say no. Most people are mainly interested in the color of toothbrush they purchase. Many family's have a system where every member has a color that has somehow been assigned to them. This way no one uses the wrong toothbrush. This is great, but when picking out our toothbrush, we need to start thinking about what we are getting it for. The job of a toothbrush is to reach and clean most areas of the teeth. The bristles of a toothbrush are very important when deciding on which one is the best for you. Soft bristled toothbrushes should be chosen as opposed to hard bristles which tend to cause gingival recession. Soft bristles are just more flexible and clean beneath the gingival margin without causing damage to your gums. We should also notice the size of the head of the toothbrush. The head should be small enough to get to the hard to reach areas of the teeth. We should replace our toothbrush every 3 months or when the bristles start to wear. You should also change your toothbrush after a cold, flu, sore throat, or mouth infection. Maybe this information will help you and the health of your mouth the next time you purchase a toothbrush.