Brushing Tips

• Use a soft bristled brush, preferably one with rounded, synthetic bristles. Look for the American Dental Association seal of approval. Replace your toothbrush approximately every two to three months or as soon as the bristles are worn or bent. A worn-out toothbrush does not clean your teeth properly, and may actually injure your gums. You should also replace your toothbrush after you've had a cold.
• Be sure your brush is the right size (in general, smaller is better than larger).
• Place the bristles at a 45 degree angle to the gum line, and slide the tips of the brush under the gums.
• Gently jiggle the bristles or move it in small circles over the tooth and gums.
• Brush the outside, the inside, and the chewing surfaces of your teeth. For chewing surfaces, use a light back and forth motion.
• For the front teeth, brush the inside surfaces of the upper and lower jaws: Tilt your brush vertically and make several strokes up and down with the front part of the brush over the teeth and gum tissues.
• Brushing your tongue will help freshen your breath. Debris and bacteria can collect on your tongue and cause bad breath.
• Since your toothbrush will only clean one or two teeth at a time, change its position to clean each tooth properly.
• Brush at least once every day, preferably at bedtime. Adding a brush time after breakfast increases your chances of thorough daily plaque removal.
• Take your time: A thorough brushing should take at least 3 minutes.
• Don't brush your teeth too vigorously, and don't use a hard bristled toothbrush, since it causes the gums to recede and exposes root surfaces. It also wears down the tooth structure. Both of these conditions can lead to tooth sensitivity.
• A pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste is sufficient.
• Replace your brush when the bristles begin to spread, as a worn out toothbrush will not properly clean your teeth.

Source: www.medical-health-care-information.com

Parents worries hamper kids asthma treatment

Parents' worries about the safety of asthma drugs may prevent asthmatic children from getting the relief they deserve, a new study suggests.

According to he reports, one in six parents of children with asthma is more concerned about the side effects of asthma medications than their child's need for the drugs. Addressing parental worries may increase adherence to needed asthma drugs, the researchers said.

An estimated 10 million children in the United States suffer with asthma, yet only half of prescribed medications are taken daily as directed.

"Children today can be virtually symptom-free, thanks to modern preventive medications". "But kids rely on their parents to make health decisions for them, so we need to know what parents are thinking as we partner with them to achieve this goal".

Researched team interviewed parents of 622 Michigan children who reported using at least one preventive asthma medication. The parents completed a belief about Medications Questionnaire which contrasts parents' belief in the need for the medication against their worry about taking medications on a regular basis. Worries might include concerns about side effects or whether the medication is habit-forming.

The data showed that 77 percent of parents felt their child's need for the medications outweighed their concerns about pharmaceutical safety. However, 17 percent were more concerned about the drugs' potential to harm their child than they were convinced of its necessity. The remaining 6 percent were torn.

The researchers also asked the parents to complete a Medication Adherence Scale, which assesses how well they help keep their children on the medication regimen.

The study results showed that parents' beliefs affected how regularly their kids received the medications. Parents who believed in the need for the medications were more likely to keep their kids on track with the drugs. Still, only 14 percent of parents reported perfect adherence to the asthma medicine plan.

"These findings suggest a great deal of promise for improving symptom control just by addressing parents' worries and providing accurate information about medication side effects".

Additionally, the study found that minority parents were more likely to worry about the drugs' side effects than believe in the necessity of medication. This is concerning, because minority children are at greater risk for asthma.

Source: www.medical-health-care-information.com