Jan
14
Who would ever think that a product made for babies could also hurt them? Unfortunately, baby oil-a staple of the nursery-contains almost 100% mineral oil which has many hazardous side effects…
First of all, mineral oil is a petroleum ingredient. It comes from crude oil and and is used as a metal cutting fluid.
It coats the skin like plastic wrap. When applied, mineral oil can promote acne and other skin disorders. Mineral oil also slows down normal cell development and causes the skin to prematurely age.
The most significant hazard is that mineral oil blocks the pores of the skin. This does not allow the skin to breathe and prevents the natural release of toxins from the skin. Since the skin is the body’s largest elimination organ, this is a serious health hazard, especially for a baby.
Another significant problem with mineral oil for babies is that it may possibly cause vitamin deficiencies because it is absorbed into the skin, gets processed by the liver and then nutrients get bound by the oil, blocking their absorption.
According to the International Agency for Research into Cancer in Geneva, mineral oils are probably carcinogenic as ‘analyses of mineral oils used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes reveal the presence of several carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which are in the Eighth Report on Carcinogens, including benzofluoranthene, benzofluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene.’ They’re noted as a human teratogen by inhalation which has caused testicular tumours in the foetus. They are also skin and eye irritants and may be implicated in aspirational pneumonia.
I cannot recommend strongly enough that you do not use mineral oil for yourself, but especially not on a baby. Instead, choose a natural vegetable oil alternative. It will work far better and be safe for your baby.
Click here for the best natural baby oil I have found…
By: Scott Malin
About the Author:
Multi IP SEO Web Hosting
Jan
13
As a new parent it is your responsibility to provide the very best baby health care for your infant. Every parent wants the best for their child and one way to do this is to provide quality nutrition and natural products for your baby.
When it comes to the well being of your baby, using good quality baby health care products is very important. Whether you are looking for skin care products or natural food choices, always pick the best which you can afford.
When it comes to feeding your baby this might entail preparing home made fresh foods. This really is not as difficult as it might sound. Foods like pureed apples, bananas, squash and carrots are easy to prepare and simply freeze. Making foods ahead of time can free up precious meal preparation chores and allow you to sit down and eat with your family.
Incorporating a few simple tools into your kitchen can allow you to create wonderful fresh foods very quickly. Items such as a baby food grinder or mill, a small investment can really free up some time here. This becomes very handy when your baby starts to eat meats, it makes grinding up soft meats so easy.
Using baby health care skin or bath products is important too. Always read the labels on the products and make sure they contain the least amount of chemicals as possible. Nowadays there are more and more products becoming available which use natural ingredients. They might be a bit more expensive, but they will last much longer. With many of these baby health care products a small amount actually goes a long way.
Bear in mind that some products like talc powder can actually cause lung problems if inhaled by your infant. No one wants to cause a health issue by accident. Always test a small amount of the product on yourself. If you have a reaction to it, chances are your baby will too.
Look for products which are natural, something like lavender oil is great for your baby. Lavender will actually help them to relax and sleep better. It has also been used as a great mosquito repellent.
One of the easiest ways to keep your baby’s health care in good condition is to always keep your doctor’s appointments. Even if your baby is fine, don’t skip out on any visits, there could be an issue that you aren’t aware of, and early detection is key in many childhood ailments.
You want to keep in mind that baby health care is important in all areas. This would include their nutritional needs as they grow, to the products which you use on their skin. Another key area is to be aware of your household cleaners and how these could affect your baby’s health. Care should be taken to use environmentally friendly cleaners at all times. Try using these products when your baby is sleeping to prevent them inhaling any fumes.
By: Susan Fleckenstein
About the Author:
Parenting Blogs
Jan
13
Baby bronchitis is as a result of exposure to pathogens causing the infection. These pathogens include viruses and bacteria. In order to treat baby bronchitis, the exact cause should be known first. This is by doing diagnosis in your nearest baby health center. The tests done at the center will let you and the doctor know the exact cause of the disease. The tests include sputum and blood tests. In extreme circumstances, a chest x-ray may be performed.
Once the diagnosis is complete, medication can be started. These include bronchodilaters, expectorant cough syrup and antibiotics. The antibiotics are given if the cause of the condition is bacteria pathogens. Baby bronchitis symptoms include fever, fatigue, headaches, expectorant cough, shortness of breath and wheezing. The most pronounced symptoms are coughing, shortness of breath, fever and wheezing.
Immediate action should be taken when a fever is reported. Baby bronchitis should not be self treated. Bronchitis is a dangerous disease that can lead to pneumonia and asthma. Babies with this disease should be taken care of well. This is to make them recover completely after the illness. Most babies lose a lot of weight when under bronchitis attack.
Extra effort is necessary for a baby to recover from the disease. As bronchitis is contagious, babies should be kept away from family members who have the disease. Extra caution to those who handle the babies is necessary. Frequent washing of hands and general body hygiene are the keys to avoiding spreading the disease. Baby bronchitis should not be home treated. A doctor should be the one to give the medication and the dosage should be followed to the letter.
By: Mercy Maranga
About the Author:
Mercy Maranga Reports on
Health and Fitness issues. Visit Her Site here for more information on bronchitis and its treatment
Bronchitis Treatment
Dog Pet Supplies
Jan
11
Immunizations given to infants can form the immune system that protects the baby until later grow up. Regular immunization held in the child’s hospital or integrated health organized by the group of mothers in households in the nearest community health centers.
A mother should consider the schedules of immunization and at what age these immunizations given to infants. Information on immunization can be obtained at the nearest health center and hospital. Newborns up to 1 week old should receive BCG immunization as soon as possible to avoid transmission of TB disease.
While the 3-month-old infants who received polio immunization 1, 2, and 3 and provided with a distance of 1 week each. Polio immunization is given along with tetanus immunization that can protect babies from tetanus disease. The age of 9 months, infants should be immunized against measles.
Immunization is useful as a deterrent infants exposed to smallpox recurs, it means immunized against measles, a baby will be exposed to smallpox only once in his life. When infants were 1 year, all immunizations are repeated once more with a distance of exactly the same as before.
Providing immunizations in infants also must be supported by improved nutrition and food so that the durability of the immune system very strong baby. One more thing to note is the occurrence of fever in infants who had just been immunized.
Mothers need not worry about it, just give febrifuge as recommended by a doctor or a compress to your baby fever down. If the heat does not go down in 3 days, then bring your baby to the doctor or the nearest hospital.
Poly hospital integrated health and children usually also provide health monitoring service of your baby while holding immunization. Monitoring is based on body weight and length of infants was written in the graphs Towards Healthy green card.
You can discuss the problem and also obtain information and solutions to overcome problems that arise. Towards Healthy card is used to monitor a baby from birth until age 5 years.
Common disease in infants and handling.
Just like human adults, infants also can get sick. A mother should be able to recognize the characteristics of a disease that often affects infants because babies can not tell what she feels. Usually when feeling pain, the baby will cry more often and fussy and would not eat. No need to panic, try to first check whether the baby is suffering from minor ailments such as below.
The disease is often suffered by the baby is cold. This can happen because the baby is placed on the floor too long or too long exposed to the wind in the outdoors. In addition to frequent crying, characteristics that easily recognizable is a bloated stomach.
Give oil liniment like so baby feels warm and the wind in the baby’s body quickly exit. Give a warm and cozy clothing and blankets are thick enough so that the baby no longer catch a cold. Babies are also often exposed to the itching and prickly heat. It is actually very reasonable because we live in a tropical country. But if it happens too often, you should pay more attention to good hygiene or dress your baby’s skin as prickly heat arises because the baby is often left in a wet state.
Baby’s skin is exposed to milk also have wiped as soon as possible. To eliminate the prickly heat that appears you can sprinkle itching powder to the area continuously until prickly heat prickly heat is lost. Bathe also baby 2 times a day to keep it clean, but not too often because the baby may be exposed to colds.
Change wet diapers as well and do not be left too long. In addition to causing itching, wet diapers can also cause infection in the baby’s skin. Fever is also a disease that is often suffered by babies. There are so many causes of fever and the mother should be able to recognize certain characteristics of fever. Babies who have a fever after being immunized febrifuge given enough or sufficiently compressed. Usually the fever will disappear after 1 or 2 days. Fever can also appear at the turn of the weather. Too sudden temperature changes cause the baby’s body responds by increasing body temperature. Fever is usually not very high temperature and will disappear within 1-2 days if the mother immediately responded fever in infants with appropriate measures such as warming the baby.
How to compress the infant with a fever can be done by putting a damp cloth that has been soaked with cold water on the forehead of a baby and a damp cloth soaked in warm water on the baby’s feet. Fever also can arise when your baby food poisoning.
Beware if the heat baby does not go down within 1-2 days, especially when the infant convulsions. Immediately brought to the hospital or the nearest pediatrician for medical help to your baby. Also consult a doctor if your baby does not want to eat. Do not be late to recognize the characteristics of the diseases suffered by infants or you will cried for rest of life.
By: Vito Dubur Andolini
About the Author:
Asbestosis
Jan
8
Baby Boomers have a reputation of “pushing the envelope.” As they age and the oldest of the Boomers are now in their 60s, they’re pushing the healthcare system to put a more serious focus on getting better care, as well as wellness and prevention. In fact, by 2029, the 65 and older population will nearly triple. Additionally, projections are that six out of ten Boomers will have more than one chronic health condition that requires medical intervention.
With that in mind, for most Boomers the question is not how to prepare if the need for surgery or some other medical procedure arises, but rather, how to prepare when the need is eminent. Realize, too, that medical care goes way beyond doctor recommended procedures. Even healthy Boomers will face surgery as more and more go in for elective and cosmetic procedures. And research shows that the more prepared these health care consumers are, the better their outcome.
Many people mistakenly believe when it comes to health care, especially surgery, few things are in the patient’s control. In reality, you can do plenty to make sure your operation and recovery go as smoothly as possible. Further, given the challenges getting care in our current health care system, the more people become wise consumers of health care, the better care they can get from health providers.
Studies done over the last twenty years have shown that surgical patients who have been prepared so that they are calmer before the procedure experience less pain, heal quicker, have fewer complications, and leave the hospital earlier. Realize, though, that preparation can go beyond the simple pre-op checklist of instructions your physician may give you. Depending on the nature of the procedure you need, your anxiety level regarding the surgery, and your individual personality style, you may benefit from support and guidance from someone who specializes in a trauma education and healing practice, like Somatic Experiencing, which works to calm your nervous system, strengthen your resources, and align with the healing nature of the procedure. Some people can prepare alone by following the recommendations outlined below.
Since any type of surgery or medical procedure involves stepping out of your comfort zone, the important thing is to move beyond the shock, fear, or frustration of the impending surgery and into a healing vortex or balanced state. The following steps will enable you to achieve precisely that.
1. Relax your nervous system
Whenever people receive a diagnosis and learn they need a medical procedure, their nervous system typically goes through a stress response. For example, some people start rushing around trying to take care of all the details. Others get numb at the news and freeze on making decisions. Some get angry and lash out at everyone. Regardless of the outer expression of the stress, when people are in such an emotional state they have a difficult time making intelligent decisions. The key is to get the nervous system back to a more balanced state.
First, allow yourself time to settle down in order to help your nervous system create a more helpful way of functioning. Shifting from a stress response to a more relaxed state will enable you to make better decisions. Think of it as the difference between having a narrow point of view versus a broad point of view. Some people get so stuck on the diagnosis that they become the disease. But if you relax and step back, your perspective changes from “I am this disease” to “I have this disease.”
To make the shift possible, you can relax by doing deep breathing, meditating, laughing, being in nature, taking a walk, reading, taking a nap, talking to a comforting friend, or playing with your kids or pets. Basically, do anything that makes you feel relaxed and neutral, and more like your old self. You may need to do two or more relaxation techniques before your nervous system truly settles. Additionally, practice letting concerns that are overwhelming go, and then come back to them after a few minutes of settling down.
2. Take control of the things you can control
Once you’re relaxed, make a list of your questions and concerns. Nothing is too small. If you feel you may be overlooking something important, go online and look for websites that address the disease you have or the procedure you’re getting done. There you’ll likely find lists of common questions to ask your physician.
Find someone (or several people) who can be your ally, support person, and/or advocate. Bring this person to your doctor appointments to record answers, ask questions, and to listen. Most people are nervous before procedures and can’t hear facts without their feelings interfering. Advocates and support people can listen clearly and be more objective when they ask questions.
Additionally, meet with your anesthesiologist, visit the recovery room (if possible), and talk to any other doctors who would be a part of your procedure. Knowing who will be in the operating or procedure room with you and where you will be post-procedure is helpful and grounding for many people.
Also find people who have gone through the procedure and talk to them. Ask your doctor’s office or local health center (such as a cancer center) for the names and phone numbers of people with similar conditions who have agreed to be a resource for others. You can also go online to find support groups and virtual communities. When you talk to these people, find out everything you can about the recuperation and common needs or after-effects.
Be sure to make any necessary preparations for your recovery period. Who will be with you, both at the hospital and at home? Who will cook your meals or take care of your pets while you’re laid up? Make a list of your post-op needs and share it with others. That way when friends and family ask how they can help, they’ll have some specifics. This prevents you from having more casseroles than you could possibly eat when what you really need is someone to walk your dog. Also, don’t forget about services like visiting nurses, local churches, and social service agencies that can do home visits to help you.
3. Align with the healing nature of the procedure
With your nerves relaxed and your due diligence done, it’s time to focus on the power of your mind and how it can help your recovery. To begin, think about the meaning of the procedure you’re having. Often, surgery is an opportunity to feel better. For example, if your knee has been hurting for years and you’re finally getting the problem corrected, not only are you going to feel better and have less knee pain, but you’re also going to be able to resume doing all the activities you have avoided because of your achy knee. So focus on your reclaimed ability to dance, or run, or climb stairs pain-free. Focusing on the positive outcome will put your mind into a healing state.
Doing guided visualization sessions with a trained professional (or listening to some guided visualization tapes) is another great way to mentally prepare for procedures. During these visualizations you can see the procedure going smoothly, you can picture yourself progressing through your recovery without complications, and you can envision what it will feel and look like to be well again or to be fully healed after cosmetic procedures.
Some people also benefit from gathering items that symbolize health and healing to them. These could be a scarf with a special print, a stone known for its healing properties like quartz, or even a favorite picture. Bring whatever item with you to the hospital, as it will help you anchor on healing.
Also, make a tape of affirmations. Some possible ones are “I am strong and healthy,” “My healing is happening now,” and “I have a strong immune system.” Say your affirmations every day. If your surgeon is willing, have him or her say the affirmations to you (in the “you” tense rather than “I” tense) during the procedure.
Finally, remember that you will probably be disoriented for a bit after a procedure. You can gradually bring yourself back to the present by looking at an object for a few seconds, drinking water, or moving slowly and exploring the environment around you. Don’t rush yourself during this time. You will recover at your own pace. So don’t be overly concerned about “hurrying up to get better.” If anything else, the undo stress you will place on yourself will only make your healing go slower.
Embrace the Healing Mindset
Boomers are determined to live longer, healthier, and more active lives than any generation before. Because of this attitude, they have already reshaped what it means to grow older and what’s expected of healthcare providers. By applying these positive attitudes toward reshaping the concept of prepping for medical procedures, Boomers will certainly reach their goal of living life to its fullest and enjoying the best of what’s yet to come.
By: Karla Freeman
About the Author:
Toddler Bed
Jan
7
Take control of your care by asking questions
Tackling a few major hurdles right now will ease your mind and help you and your parents feel better in the long run. Here are few tips to make this mundane yet complex issue easier to manage.
Insurance
First and foremost you and your parents need the best and most affordable healthcare coverage available. Considering the current state – and the potential changes – of your health, your parents’ health, and the health of your possibly still-dependent children will be a complex task at best. Richard Otto, Independent Agent at David Chapman Insurance Agency suggests consulting with one or more independent agents versus a Captive Agent.
An Independent Agent offers more choices. Captive Agents represent a limited set of insurance products, which while a viable option is still a limited option.
According to Otto, a good Independent Agent will walk you through the list of questions and help you acquire the answers if you don’t have them readily available.
“To make an informed decision about a major change, remember you want to trust your Agent – be it Captive or Independent. This is the primary issue,” Otto says.
If you don’t feel comfortable, keep looking. Research the carriers this agent suggests before you sign up for new or additional coverage.
Getting insurance coverage now as opposed to ‘at need’ is of paramount importance to avoid unnecessary hardship.
Most Independent Agents provide: life, health, individual health and group health, Medicare plans, home and auto, and commercial policies.
Managing Your Healthcare Providers
Your health – and the health of your parents – depends upon you communicating with and asking the right – sometimes tough questions of your insurance carriers as well as your healthcare providers.
In essence, we must become advocates for ourselves and our parent’s medical care. If we designated Power of Attorney for our parents, the position is obvious, the ‘how to’ may not be so obvious. It is not unreasonable to ask questions of our doctors.
Questions might include: What leads you to prescribe this medication for my father? What are the alternatives? What are the side effects? How might this affect his mood, physicality, and so forth? Are there any at-home precautions we can take to help him attain and maintain better health?
It’s no surprise that some, or most, Doctors are caught in a labyrinth of bureaucracy just to maintain their business. Of no fault of their own, some healthcare providers are too busy and spread far too thin to ask pertinent questions, which can ultimately lead to the health – or disease of their patients. You and your parents are among them.
The emergence of Concierge Medicine – an exclusive level of service from Doctors who limit their patient intake – may be a viable option for some, yet not everyone has the financial flexibility to hire this type of Doctor.
Point in Case
In speaking with a Baby Boomer, he unveiled an all-too-familiar scenario with his aging parent: Dementia versus Alzheimer’s and how to handle it.
According to The Alzheimer’s Association, Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are two distinct health issues, which run along the same continuum.
Dementia is the loss of mental functions — such as thinking, memory, and reasoning — that is severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily functioning. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions.
Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.
Upon reading my article in last year’s Imagine Section of the Lansing State Journal, this Boomer met with – and followed the advice of – the Tri County Office on Aging. Given the scenario, Tri County’s representative suggested a Geriatric workup for his out-of-state mother.
He had noticed her mental decline over the course of two years, and has spent nearly this entire past year working with his family members and various doctors to get to root of his mother’s memory loss, peculiar behavior, and what appeared to be her untrue recollection of events – even paranoia.
After month of medical appointments, trips, and tests, his mother’s Geriatric Psychiatrist confirms a diagnosis of “Cognitive Impairment” as well as presumed “early stages of Alzheimer’s” and immediately prescribes two mood/mind-altering medications.
And then it hit him: The unasked question. “When did these behaviors begin?”
His mother’s General Practitioner had prescribed an anti-anxiety medication (Ativan) for his mother three years ago. After logging onto RxList, he realized the side effects from this drug include every symptom his mother is experiencing. Among the side effects are: memory loss, confusion, increased anxiety, fatigue, sleeplessness, amnesia, forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, hallucinations, and more.
The appearance of this new information caused this Boomer to ask his mother’s Geriatric Psychiatrist whether he factored in this drug before rendering his diagnosis and prescribing two new mind/mood-altering medications to treat it. He also asked why his mother needed to remain on the anti-anxiety drug?
Take Charge
We cannot assume the doctor treating us – or our parents – has the time to go over every single detail of the patient’s chemical makeup, medications and dosages – especially if the patient is geriatric with a seemingly faltering memory.
The more responsibility we take, the more we research we perform, the better position we are in to retain the best possible health – and health care from our providers. Taking an active role, becoming proactive rather than reactive, and most of all providing all information to our doctors to ensure they – and we – make the most informed decisions is the only way we can know we have done everything in our control to help maintain the well-being of our aging parents, as well as ourselves.
The nuances involved in our body chemistry, the multitude of medications and treatments can be mind-boggling. Our age, our diet, our lifestyle and genetics all come into play when trying to make informed decisions with regard to our health care. Asking these questions may prove helpful:
1. How does the parent’s personal home-life, such as drinking alcohol, mixing over-the-counter cold medications with mind-altering affects along with prescribed mood-altering drugs affect her cognitive abilities and physical health?
2. Is your parent happy at home?
3. Does your parent have a healthy support system?
4. Does your parent engage in social activities or joyfulness on a daily basis?
5. How does the parent’s physical activity affect his/her physical and mental health?
Boomers face some tough questions, particularly those surrounding a potential diagnosis of dementia versus Alzheimer’s. Education, awareness, and ultimately being proactive rather than reactive will reduce the stress – and potentially avoid a misdiagnosis.
[Previously published in the Lansing State Journal By: Tamera Nielsen]
By: Tamera L Nielsen
About the Author:
Civil Lawyer
Jan
4
It is extremely important to always sterilize your baby’s bottle and the teat every time you use the bottle. Baby’s need their bottles to be absolutely sterile, as they are not as robust as older children. No parent wants to see their child suffer with colic or any other stomach upset, especially diarrhea, and one way of avoiding these complaints is to sterilize baby bottles and the pacifier you might use. Don’t lick either the teat of the bottle or the pacifier and then put it in your baby’s mouth. You might think it doesn’t matter, but your germs are as dangerous to your baby as a stranger’s.
Whatever you do, if the baby has thrown the bottle or pacifier on the ground, don’t then wipe them and give them back to your baby until they have been properly sterilized. Your baby’s health is more important than the embarrassment you might feel because it is crying. It is better to be safe than sorry in this instance. You can easily sterilize you baby’s item with boiling water, or you can buy a sterilization unit for bottles etc.
If your baby cries a lot and seems to have stomach pains, this may well be because of lack of sterilization. You may think that babies are resilient, but babies, especially newborns, need extra care and attention if they are to be happy and healthy. The importance of a hygienic environment for a baby cannot be stressed enough. It’s quite simple to boil water and leave the baby’s bottle submersed in it for a few minutes, and it will save the baby a lot of discomfort if you just spend a few minutes doing this to ensure your baby stays healthy.
Some people may tell you that you are wasting your time doing these things, but they are wrong. Ignore them or explain why you are doing it. You might be helping their baby too. Babies need to build up immunity to germs that do not necessarily affect older children and adults. They are new to this world which is full of germs and viruses and need to be protected from them as much as possible in the early stages of their development.
Your baby relies on you for its well-being, so don’t let your baby down.
By: John E William
About the Author:
The author has been writing articles for 3 years now, which focus on life, self improvement, fashion, gadgets, home improvement, check out his latest website on
http://www.2ozbabybottles.com for all latest update and reviews on
2 oz baby bottles.
Bankruptcy Lawyers
Jan
3
The 76 million baby boomers retiring in the next 18 years will place a burden on the already weak Medicare system. I know I have been retired for 16 years and will be eligible for Medicare in 4 months.
I should be happy, I have had catastrophic ($10,000 deductible) health insurance for the last 15 years. I am /was looking forward to going to the doctor when ill… instead of taking aspirin and letting time do the healing. Medicare was looking good to me.
My current family doctor recently gave me the happy news he is dropping Medicare due to the reduced payments to doctors…wonderful! Think the 500 billion “health care reform” is taking out of Medicare will help matters? I do not think so.
The sad facts are that Medicare will be running out of money in 2019. It currently makes up 15% of the federal budget. There are currently 46 million Americans covered under Medicare. In twenty years time there will be 77 million on Medicare…a two-thirds increase into an already sick system.
Think the politicians will fix this? Medicare and Social Security are the third-rail of American politics…everyone realizes they must be fixed but no one wants to commit seppuku to do so personally.
Baby boomers should be aware of this situation. For those nearing retirement they should check with their current family doctor to see if they take Medicare and will they take Medicare in the future.
What is the answer to this dilemma? Stay tuned it should be really interesting.
By: Gary Pierce
About the Author:
Baby Boomer Retirement. Gary Pierce is the webmaster of
http://www.best-retirement-living.com he retired early at 49, he is still retired at 64. He has experienced some of the retirement realities that baby boomers are facing.He can show you how to make lemonade from the lemons the baby boomer generation has been dealt. It is 2010 and many are wondering if they can ever retire…you can still retire. Don’t give up until you check out this website.
Kid’s Beds
Jan
2
Overview
Under normal circumstances a baby gets its first teeth when it is about 6 months old and these teeth are susceptible to decay. This condition is known as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay or alternately as Early Childhood Tooth Decay.
In order to chew their food, speak and have an attractive smile it is necessary for your baby to have strong and healthy teeth. Baby teeth are also useful for maintaining space in the jaw for adult teeth. Loss of teeth by the baby in the early part of its life will make the teeth adjacent to it to drift into the space that is empty and there is unlikely to be sufficient space when adult teeth start coming in. The adult teeth might become crooked or crowded because of this.
There are cases wherein the babies’ teeth decayed badly which have resulted in dental restorations or extractions. Fortunately it is possible to prevent this condition from happening. Normally upper front teeth are destroyed by this condition although other teeth also can be affected.
Causes
When the normal mouth bacteria and carbohydrates in the diet interact cavities occur. The bacteria ferment the sugars and convert them to acids. This acid etches the enamel of the teeth when there is a prolonged contact with the tooth. Under normal circumstances the saliva aids in preventing formation of cavities by digesting the sugars as well as by washing the teeth. At the time of sleeping the production of saliva decreases at a faster rate. Your swallowing gets reduced. Hence the liquids in the mouth before you go to sleep rest in your mouth for longer periods.
The extent of tooth decay is dependent on the bottle content, frequency of feeding with bottle and also the duration of feeding at each time. Frequent bottle feeding with sweetened liquid is not good for the child’s teeth. You will harm the child’s teeth by allowing the child to have the bottle all the time.
Prevention
You can prevent baby bottle tooth decay by taking the following precautions.
Avoid giving bottle feed to the baby during non-meal times. Do not use the bottle for pacifying the baby. The baby should not walk around with the bottle or drink it for extended periods. This not only causes BBTD but also the baby can suffer tooth injuries if they fall while sucking on a bottle. Children who are above 7 to 8 months old do not require feedings in the night and hence do not give them bottle feed in the night. Further if children drink bottles lying down they are susceptible for ear infections. Keep your baby’s mouth clean to prevent tooth decay. Hence wipe the baby’s gums with a clean gauze pad after the completion of every feeding or gently brush your baby’s gums and any baby teeth with a soft infant toothbrush. Train the baby to drink from a cup as early as possible, preferably when the child is 1 year old. This prevents collection of the liquid around the teeth; further the child cannot take the cup to the bed. You could use a cup that has a snap-on lid with a straw or a special valve to prevent spilling thereby causing messiness. Start brushing your baby’s teeth once the first tooth erupts. Clean and massage gums in the toothless areas. Start flossing once all the baby teeth have erupted; normally this occurs when the baby is 2 to 21/2 years old. Make sure that your child does not sleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, fruit juice or sweetened liquids. If the child requires a comforter in between regular feedings, during naps or at night you must give the child a clean pacifier; however the pacifier should not be dipped in sweet fluids. Avoid giving the child sugar water or soft drinks filled in a bottle. Presence of fluoride in water prevents tooth decay and if your local water supply does not contain fluoride you must consult your dentist on the method of providing it. Take your child to a dentist on a regular basis from its first birthday.
By: Padmanabhan Vaidyanathan
About the Author:
Activities for Children
Jan
1
As a Baby Boomer I am well aware of the kaleidoscopic experiences that are thrown into that post-war label. As an acupuncturist, I have met many Boomers who are questioning current assumptions about health and aging. I believe Boomers will change much of the conventional wisdom on aging ‘gracefully.’
Boomers are known for questioning assumptions that have been in place for eons. Our generation has been in the forefront of many movements that have changed, mixed, and united cultural landscapes throughout the modern world. We popularized yoga from India, acupuncture from China and martial arts from the Far East. We turned what passed for international food into true international cuisine. But we have done so much more.
We have turned on, tuned in and dropped out, came back, made love and made war, created and destroyed, given in, given up and given back. We have placed our Baby Boomer footprints on the moon, under the sea, into cyberspace and upon the Earth. We have made some of the worst mistakes humankind has known and attained some of its greatest achievements. In short, we’re a pretty multidimensional, fluid and influential group that is not likely to go gentle into any good night (apologies, Dylan Thomas).
Though wildly diverse, we share one form of holistic thinking: we take a larger picture of health, the good life and longevity than any previous generation.
Vanity… thy name may be Boomer
When my aunts and uncles were in there 40’s they considered themselves old, and often they looked old. I mean older than a lot of the people I see today in their 50’s and 60’s. As a general rule, baby boomers are rather averse to settling into being ‘old,’ feeling way too much like young studs and mares to want to be put out to pasture.
In our youth-crazed society it’s not a moniker most Boomers wear with pride, preferring instead to postpone that not several years, but some decades beyond their 40’s. Even then a lot would prefer to be called ‘elders’ or ‘mature’ rather than old.
Vanity? Sure. And it has helped contribute to multibillion dollar markets in beauty, fitness and pill popping, nipping and tucking and fountain of youth research of all kinds. Not in itself a great legacy.
And that ain’t all bad
Still, on the other end of that balance beam have come some grand advances in thinking and doing from mapping the human genome, to wellness, well-being, fitness, inner beauty and natural health care. You could make a strong argument that preventative health care itself is a Boomer creation. Now that’s one we can all be proud of because the savings at the individual, family, and societal levels are beyond calculations.
What was once the province of the ‘granola eaters’ among us has gone mainstream. It sometimes appears the only ones who don’t get the amazing cost benefits of preventative health care are insurance companies. And now some edgy thinking is making its way into this industry as well. Hey, many even cover acupuncture and chiropractic.
For us as individuals, whether or not we have health insurance, the galloping costs associated with illness are a huge motivator for undertaking activities to stay healthy and keep our bodies fit. One result of this has been the ascendance of Far Eastern medicine in the west along with an increasing awareness of the importance of acupuncture in health and well-being.
This has been a boon for acupuncturists and clients alike as people increasingly seek out acupuncturists for services beyond pain.
It seems like acupuncture and Boomers were a couple meant to be. After all, acupuncture helps us heal, keeps us fit and lifts our spirits. The Five Element Acupuncture I practice, with its focus on elemental balances helps us face all seasons of life as we place our Boomer prints on yet another landmark — aging gracefully.
By: Dr Alfred Laggner
About the Author:
Dr. Alfred Laggner, LAc practices Five Element Acupuncture in his clinic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He studied Classical Five Element Acupuncture at the Wu Hsing Tao School in Seattle, Washington for five years. His teacher is part of the direct lineage of this healing system. Alfred has helped hundreds of clients regain
health, balance and a renewed sense of well-being. You can find out more about his practice at
http://www.pvacupuncture.com. He is an EzineArticles expert author whose articles appear at ezinearticles.com
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