Tips for Heathy Teeth and Gums – Jean-Francois Hibbert’s Blog

Ways to Care for Your Mouth

When caring for your teeth, be sure to remember to:

1)    Keep a successful daily oral hygiene routing, such as teeth brushing, flossing, and so forth it.

2)   Eat foods that aren’t high in sugar and work towards consuming less foods/drinks that can stain your teeth more easily because of dark coloring agents.

3)    Schedule regular appointments to see a dentist for a cleaning/check-up. Every six months is recommended.

Being aware of your food/drink intake and going into see your dentist regularly are extremely important when it comes to maintaining good oral hygiene, but a bulk of the responsibility falls on how well you care for your teeth everyday by brushing, flossing, and rinsing.  Here are some tips on how make the most of your two to three minute tooth-brushing sessions:

Be sure to brush at least twice a day for a full two to three minutes.  Ideally, one should brush their teeth after every meal.  If you can, wait to brush your teeth until thirty minutes after you have finished eating so that any enamel that might have been softened by the acids in your food have had a chance to re-harden.  This prevents enamel from being brushed away. Interesting tip!

To get rid of plaque, or the bacteria causing build up that naturally forms on your teeth in between brushings, more effectively, look for toothpastes that have fluoride listed as an ingredient as this can  get rid of bacteria and bacteria growth.  Also, consider technique when brushing.  You should use a soft-bristled toothbrush, position the toothbrush at a forty-five degree angle, and brush in small circles along the gum line. Brushing too hard along the gum line can irritate gums and result in them becoming swollen or bleeding  In addition, because the tips of the bristles are the most effective part of the toothbrush, make sure that you are not exerting so much pressure that the bristles of the toothbrush lie flat against your teeth when brushing.

Remember to floss!  Flossing removes the plaque, bacteria, and tartar that your toothbrush can’t get to.  Tartar is plaque that hardens and forms along the gum line after it is left undisturbed for a period of time. Once formed, tartar can only be removed by your dental hygienist.  Alleviate the scraping process at your routine cleanings by carefully flossing between each of your teeth every day in between visits.

Remember to brush your tongue gently also  This will help remove some extra bacteria and keep your breath fresher longer.  Rinse thoroughly with water after you have brushed your teeth and then finish by gargling with a brand of mouthwash that is alcohol-free.  Lastly, make sure you are exchanging your toothbrush for a new one every three to four months.

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Information about Type 1 Diabetes – Jean-Francois Hibbert’s Blog

Type 1 Diabetes

A person affected by type 1 dabetes must monitor the levels of glucose sugar in the bloodstream for his or her lifetime.  Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas by cells called beta cells.   Insulin is responsible for moving glucose into cells to be stored and used for energy.  Type 1 diabetes stops beta cells from producing an adequate amount of insulin.  This means that blood sugar cannot be moved into cells or used for energy, causing a build up of glucose in the bloodstream.

This chronic disease can occur at any age, but is most often found in children, adolescents or young adults.  The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, but many scientists believe that it an autoimmune disorder.  In autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakenly attacks and breaks down healthy body tissue.  Genetics can also be a cause of type 1 diabetes, as the disease can be passed down genetically through generations.

Symptoms that may indicate that a person is affected by type 1 diabetes can occur when a person’s blood sugar is low or high.  With high blood sugar, a person can begin to feel parched, famished, fatigued, a numbness or tingling of extremities, blurred vision or, in more extreme cases, hyperventilation, dehydration, nausea or vomiting or stomach pain.  When affected by low blood sugar, a person may develop a headache, become hungry or anxious, experience palpitations or begin to perspire.

There are multiple blood tests that can be used to monitor diabetes, but there are certain things that people living with the disease can monitor themselves.  This includes checking to make sure the skin on one’s feet and legs is not discolored, telling one’s doctor if his or her feet or other extremities often feel numb, having one’s blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked at least every year, getting a Hemoglobin A1C test done every three to six months and maintaining routine check-ups with an optometrist and dentist, as diabetes can affect eyesight and oral health.

When it comes to managing type 1 diabetes, the person affected is ultimately the person in control.  He or she needs to learn how to recognize and treat hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), consume healthy meals that help balance blood sugar levels, keep track of insulin injections and adjust insulin when there is a change in the types of foods eaten or there is an increase in physical activity, monitor blood glucose levels and know where to buy supplies to treat diabetes and how to store them.

For more information on type 1 diabetes please visit http://ift.tt/18OAuRM.

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