healthy kids

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Kids Health - Going to the Dentist

It's true. Your teeth are an important part of your smile, and they also help you chew foods like crunchy apples or yummy pizza.

Brushing and flossing are important, but you also need to visit your dentist regularly to keep your teeth strong and healthy. Let's learn more about what happens at the dentist's office.

What Does the Dentist Do ?

The dentist is a doctor who is specially trained to care for teeth. When you visit for a checkup, your dentist will look at your teeth and gums to check for any problems. The dentist also wants to make sure your teeth are developing properly as you grow.

It's important to visit your dentist every 6 months to make sure you're taking good care of your teeth and that your teeth and gums are healthy.

What Happens at the Dentist's Office ?

After your name is called in the waiting room, you'll go into an exam room and sit down in a big, comfortable chair that is like a huge recliner. The chair will have a place to rest your head and lots of room for you to stretch out your legs. Next to the chair may be a little sink with a cup that you can use to rinse out your mouth as your teeth are being cleaned.

During the exam, your teeth will be cleaned, flossed, and checked for cavities.

Cleaning and Flossing

One of the first people you'll meet at the dentist's office is the dental hygienist (say: hi-JEH-nist). A dental hygienist is a person who knows all about keeping teeth and gums clean and healthy.

The dental hygienist will look inside your mouth to make sure your teeth are growing properly and your gums are healthy. A bright, overhead light will shine down into your mouth like a giant flashlight so the dental hygienist can get a good look inside your mouth.

The dental hygienist will clean and polish your teeth, using tiny dental tools like a tooth scraper, mirror, and special toothbrush. The tooth scraper removes plaque (say: plak) from your teeth. Plaque is a thin, sticky layer that coats your teeth and contains bacteria (say: bak-TEER-ee-uh) that grow on your teeth over time. Plaque that isn't removed from your teeth can cause decay, or a cavity (say: KAH-vuh-tee).

Next comes brushing and flossing. The dental hygienist will brush your teeth with a special toothbrush and toothpaste. The toothbrush has a small, round tip that moves around and around to clean your teeth. The toothpaste might taste like your own toothpaste at home, but it will feel a little grittier — almost like sand.

Then the dental hygienist will floss your teeth and show you the proper way to brush and floss your teeth at home. Flossing involves using a piece of waxy string called dental floss to get in between your teeth and remove food particles that your brush can't reach.

Checking for Cavities

During your visit, the dental hygienist will take X-rays, or pictures, of your teeth. X-rays are like superhuman vision. They can show cavities hiding between your teeth and problems beneath your gums. A cavity is a decayed, or rotted, part of a tooth.

It does not hurt to get an X-ray and it takes only a few seconds. The dental hygienist will place a thick blanket over your chest (to protect your body from the high-energy waves) and put a piece of plastic (that holds the X-ray film) into your mouth. As you gently bite down on the plastic, you'll have to be very still for a few seconds while the dental hygienist snaps the picture.

Fluoride Treatments

Next it's time for your fluoride (say: FLOOR-ide) treatment. Fluoride is a natural mineral that makes your teeth strong and helps prevent cavities. At the dentist's office, a fluoride gel or foam will be applied to your teeth. Most dental offices offer fluoride treatments with flavoring, like bubble gum or grape.

The fluoride treatment will take about 1 to 4 minutes. The dental hygienist will probably tell you not to eat or drink anything (including water) for 30 minutes after the fluoride treatment.

Meeting the Dentist

The dentist will look at all of your teeth and check your gums to make sure they're strong and healthy. The dentist will also check the way your top and bottom teeth work together. This is called your bite. If there might be a problem with your bite, you may be referred to an orthodontist (say: or-tho-DON-tist). This is a doctor who specializes in correcting the shape or positions of all your teeth through orthodontia, or braces.

The dentist will study your X-rays (looking for cavities or other problems) and ask if you have any questions about your teeth. Your dentist may also prescribe fluoride drops or tablets for you to take every day at home.

Presents From the Dentist!

When your checkup is over, the dentist usually will have a present for you! The gift is often a free toothbrush or dental floss to use at home or some sugar-free gum.

What Happens If I Have a Cavity ?

If you have a cavity, you'll probably have to come back to the dentist's office for another visit. At that time, the dentist will remove the decayed part from your tooth with special dental tools. Then the decayed area will be filled with materials that will keep your tooth strong and healthy, like tooth-colored or silver fillings.

As soon as you sit down in the dental chair, the dentist will give you a tiny shot of an anesthetic (say: ah-nus-THEH-tik), a medicine that numbs the area around the tooth.

Your mouth may be numb for a little while after you leave the dentist's office, but the anesthetic will soon wear off and you'll be left with a beautiful smile!

Dental Words

Some words used at the dentist's office might be new to you. Here are a few and what they mean:

bacteria — tiny organisms that live on your teeth and are found in plaque
cavity — the decayed, or rotten, part of a tooth
dental hygienist — a person with special training about the proper way to keep teeth and gums clean and healthy
dental X-rays — pictures of your teeth and gums that will show a dentist whether there are any cavities
flossing — involves using a piece of waxy string called dental floss to get in between your teeth and remove food particles that your toothbrush can't reach
fluoride treatment — a gel or foam applied to teeth that makes them strong and helps prevent cavities
orthodontist — a doctor who specializes in correcting the shape or positions of your teeth
plaque — a thin, sticky layer containing bacteria that grow on your teeth

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Article Source : http://kidshealth.org/

Friday, September 19, 2014

Tips A Mom's Secrets To Keeping Kids Healthy

We all want healthy kids. But what can we do to help them stay healthy? The average child gets sick 10 times a year. That number is simply too high and there is no reason why it should be that high. Once or twice a year colds or other viruses are understandable, but 10 times a year? Think of all the missed school for them and missed work for you and the fun family times that have to be rescheduled or canceled completely. There are some simple things we can do as parents to turn sick kids into healthy kids.

The first step to a healthy kid is a healthy diet. Kids need lots of good nutrition. Foods that are full of sugar, fat, starch, and are highly processed are not nutritious. Good nutrition starts at home. There are many simple little changes you can make immediately to get the entire family eating healthier. Fresh fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains need to be provided daily. It may seem easier and cheaper to buy the frozen, packaged and processed versions, but it's really not. You will find that buying healthy is actually cheaper than buying junk. Look up some healthy recipes, make a shopping list and go to the store thinking healthy. Stay away from potato chips, soda and candy. Instead buy whole grain crackers, pretzels, and fresh fruits. We all crave salty and sweet treats, so use these healthy substitutes instead. Kids eat what is available to them; it is your job to make sure they have healthy choices.

The next step to a healthy kid is to focus on the environment around our children. Harmful hazards can be found all over the home. The first thing you need to do is go clean out your cabinets. Any cleaning products that are not safe need to go. Many cleaning products contain harmful chemicals. If your children have asthma or allergies they are especially susceptible to the irritating upper respiratory effects of toxic chemicals. I use only safe, non-toxic cleaning products in my home and would have it no other way. You don't have to buy the expensive "all-natural" products, but buy from a brand you can trust. There are many safer products available, but not all are created equal. Look for products that are super-concentrated; they will give you the best bang for your buck and also help protect the environment.

Finally, healthy kids need adequate exercise. If they are home with you, get them up off the couch and moving with you. There are plenty of easy, kid-friendly exercise videos available to choose from or you can make up your own routine. My kids and I like to play tag, take walks, and go to the park. If the weather is bad, move the activity indoors. Jumping-jacks, jump rope, yoga for kids, and other fun activities can be done indoors at home. Or you can enroll them in karate, gymnastics, dance class, or after school sports activities. Be creative! The possibilities are endless. It doesn't matter what activity you choose, as long as the kids are active and having fun. The key to getting kids to exercise is to make it fun. Switch up the routine and don't be too pushy about exercising at home. The best way to get your kids active is to lead by example. If they see you making an effort to stay fit, chances are they will join in.

For more information on non-toxic cleaners contact me personally or visit my website. My contact information is below.

Emily Grundy is a REAL mom. She knows parents want what is best for their children but don't always know exactly what that is or how to give it to them. Emily is on a mission to empower other moms with knowledge. What you do with that knowledge is your choice. Emily resides in Colorado with her husband, 4 year-old daughter and 2 year-old son. She believes in helping other families achieve total wellness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6879815

10 Healthy Habits Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Parental Pearls of Wisdom

As a parent, you pass more than genes down to your children. Kids pick up your habits too— both good and bad. Show your kids you care about them by sharing these nuggets of health advice that they’ll carry with them long after you can carry them.

Habit 1: Make Eating Colorful

Eating foods of different colors isn’t just fun—it has health benefits too. Help your kids understand the nutritional value of including a rainbow of colorful foods in their regular diet.

That doesn’t mean that every meal needs to be multicolored. But you should make an effort to incorporate a range of fruits and vegetables of different hues—from red, blue, and orange, to yellow, green, and white—into their diet.

Habit 2: Don’t Skip Breakfast

Instilling a routine of regular mealtimes in childhood can help make it more likely that your kids will continue this good habit when they’re older. Teach them that a low-fat breakfast not only kick-starts their brain and their energy, but helps with weight maintenance and keeps chronic diseases at bay.

Harvard Medical School confirms that going without breakfast correlates with four times the likelihood of obesity. And the high fiber in many breakfast cereals can help reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Habit 3: Pick Enjoyable Physical Activities

Not every child loves sports—some may dread gym class—but when kids find physical activities they enjoy, staying healthy and active becomes easy. And they just might carry their love of it into adulthood.

If your child hasn’t found their sports niche yet, encourage them to keep trying. Expose them to a range of physical activities like swimming, archery, and gymnastics. They’re bound to find something they enjoy.

Habit 4: Don’t Be a Couch Potato

Get kids off the sofa and out the door. The Mayo Clinic reports that kids who watch more than an hour or two of television a day are at greater risk for a number of health problems, including:

impaired performance at school
behavioral difficulties, including emotional and social problems and attention disorders
obesity or being overweight
irregular sleep, including trouble falling asleep and resisting bedtime
less time to play

Habit 5: Read Every Day

Developing strong reading skills is an essential component of your child’s success in school now, and at work later in life. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), daily family reading routines help with children’s literacy development.

The AAP calls reading skills “the foundation for children’s academic success,” and suggests that daily reading to children should begin by six months of age. Choose books your kids like so that they view reading as a treat rather than a chore.

Habit 6: Drink Water, Not Soda

You can keep the message simple: water is healthy, soft drinks are unhealthy. Even if your kids don’t understand all of the reasons why too much sugar is bad for them, you can help them understand the basics.

For example, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), the sugar in colas provides no nutrients and adds calories that can lead to weight problems. Water, on the other hand, is a vital resource that humans can’t live without.

Habit 7: Look at Labels (Food Labels, Not Designer)

While your kids (especially pre-teens and teens) may care about the labels on their clothes, there’s another type of label that’s more important to their health: the food nutrition label.

Show kids how their favorite packaged foods contain labels with vital information about nutrition. Focus on a few key parts of the label (such as number of calories per serving, amount of saturated fats and trans fats, and grams of sugar) to avoid overwhelming them.

Habit 8: Enjoy a Family Dinner

With hectic family schedules, it’s hard to find time to sit down and enjoy a meal together, but it’s worth it to try. According to the University of Florida, research has shown sharing a family meal means that:

family bonds get stronger

kids are more well-adjusted

everyone eats more nutritious meals

kids are less likely to be obese or overweight

kids are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol

Habit 9: Spend Time with Friends

Friendships are very important to the healthy development of school-age children, according to research conducted by the University of Florida. Playing with friends teaches kids valuable social skills such as communication, cooperation, and problem-solving. Having friends can also affect their performance in school.

Encourage your kids to develop a variety of friendships and to play with friends often. It will set them up with life skills they can draw on for years to come.

Habit 10: Stay Positive

It’s easy for kids to get discouraged when things don’t go their way. Help them learn resilience in setbacks by showing them the importance of staying positive. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, children as well as adults can benefit from positive thinking and good relationships.

Help your kids develop healthy self-esteem and a positive mindset by teaching them they are lovable, capable, and unique—no matter what challenges they encounter.

Written by Robin Madel

Article Source : http://www.healthline.com/