Oral Health Affects and Reflects the Health of the Whole Body

Many are choosing to maintain their oral health routines not only for the sake of a picture perfect smile, but also because the mouth exhibits warning signs for more serious health issues. Good oral health is beneficial to the whole body, not just the mouth.

Poor oral health may lead to a variety of ailments that affect the mouth, including gum disease and tooth decay. If left untreated, the bacterium that causes plaque and tooth decay builds up in the mouth and is swallowed and absorbed into the bloodstream where it can clog arteries and damage the heart, according to Medical News Today.

Those with diabetes are advised to take extra care of their mouth and teeth. Diabetes inhibits the body from making insulin, which turns sugar into energy. The inability to control sugar levels in the saliva exposes those with diabetes to more frequent and severe gum and bone infections, say health experts at the Mayo Clinic. This could potentially cause those with diabetes to lose more teeth than someone without diabetes. According to the American Dental Association, diabetes also causes a weaker immune system, which can lengthen healing time after any major dental procedure.

Maintaining oral health is especially important in children. The World Health Organization warns that poor oral health in children can cause chronic infections and poor nutrition due to the inability to eat without pain or discomfort. Pain from infections can lead to sleeplessness and affect growth and weight gain, as can poor nutrition. A healthy diet is important for providing children with the proper vitamins and nutrients that are needed for proper growth of teeth, gums and a strong immune system, says the ADA.

The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body and can exhibit warning symptoms that something bigger might be wrong. Dry mouth can be common when you are thirsty or on certain medications, but can also be a sign of Parkinson's disease, anxiety disorders, depression and diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is important that you get your mouth checked regularly for any symptoms that might be a sign of something bigger, especially for patients with braces.

You should be able to differentiate symptoms that appear in the mouth regularly and when to be alarmed. It is common for women to have swollen gums and cold sores before their expected time of menstruation, but those normally go away once menstruation begins. Swollen and inflamed gums are also a side effect of some oral contraceptives. Gingivitis is also common during pregnancy and expecting mothers should be sure to stick to their dental hygiene routine to ward off any extra plaque that may build up.

It is important for people with crooked teeth to seek help from an orthodontist. Crooked teeth can add to the severity of oral diseases and potentially affect the way a person eats, breathes and talks. When left untreated, these issues can lead to more serious issues like bite problems, sleep apnea and speech impediments, just to name a few. New braces can irritate the mouth, but it is important to be able to differentiate bigger warning symptoms from normal braces irritation.

Keeping up with oral health not only benefits your smile, but your entire body. It is especially important for teeth to be clean if a patient has braces, even if the braces- invisible braces such as Invisalign- are removable. Good oral health reduces the risk of tooth decay, which may slow down treatment time for orthodontics patients.

Maintaining good oral health is as simple as flossing and brushing teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.

Arthritis And Related Conditions - How To Treat Them Naturally and Successfully

As May is National Arthritis month, promoting awareness about a study recently conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on arthritis shows a rather alarming increase this disease has taken. The average person may believe this to be a condition associated with an aging population, however, even arthritis among children (juvenile arthritis) is also a relatively common occurrence.

As the first of America's baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) advance into late middle age, arthritis and other related rheumatic conditions such as fibromyalgia, gout, and scleroderma are taking up an increasing amount of health care spending. The recent study on arthritis conducted by the U.S. CDC spanned a six year time period from 1997 to 2003, and documented a 25 percent increase in the number of Americans succumbing to painful arthritis and other related rheumatic conditions.

Some 46 million (or 1 in 5) Americans suffer from arthritis, up from 36.8 million six years ago. The $81 billion price tag associated with treating these conditions represents about 3 percent of the gross domestic product. Baby boomers are leading the pack in this spending increase. Out of the newly 9 million people being diagnosed with arthritis and other related rheumatic conditions during this six-year study, 66 percent were between the ages of 44 to 64.

Interestingly, too, according to the researchers of this study, was that most of the increases in arthritis and other rheumatic related conditions occurred among people who also had other health worries such as diabetes, obesity, and heart conditions. This particular group seen an increase of 28 percent, up from 31.8 million to 40.8 million, compared to a 6 percent increase for those who were otherwise healthy, 5 million to 5.3 million.

Being overweight or obese are definite prime culprits for putting you at an increased risk for developing arthritis and its related conditions. A higher level of body mass index will put you at a higher risk for developing osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, and results from the wear and tear of normal movement. Osteoarthritis in the joint this year will eventually become a joint replacement years down the road. The pressure of gravity causes physical damage to the joints and surrounding tissues. Symptoms are:

1. pain

2. swelling

3. tenderness

4. decreased function

Rheumatoid arthritis is a little different, it is an autoimmune problem that occurs when the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium (cell lining inside the joint). If left untreated over the course of years, a gross disfigurement of the affected joints begin to appear in fingers, toes, knees, and elbows. This is a very chronic, and potentially disabling disease that causes symptoms such as:

1. joint pain

2. stiffness

3. swelling

4. loss of joint function

Arthritis is really not just a single disease. There are actually around 100 different variations of arthritis, or other related rheumatic conditions. Arthritis literally means 'joint inflammation', and the term 'itis' actually means inflammation. So, in essence, any part of your body can become inflamed and painful due to arthritis. Some rheumatic conditions can result in debilitating, even life-threatening complications, and affect other parts of the body including muscles, bones, and internal organs.

In conclusion, drug treatment options did rise sharply during this six year study period (24%). But, other costs such as hospital stays dropped, so that actual per-person spending evened out to remain unchanged. Researchers concluded that the main reason for increased spending on treatment was due to the newly increased number of people developing arthritis.

In comparing the rising cost of treating arthritis, how do you suppose these findings compare to the rising costs of other health care problems Americans are being diagnosed with in general?

Clearly, the only control that seems to make much sense at all is to help educate and motivate people to become healthier. There is no question that the incidence of arthritis does seem to increase with age, however, nearly three out of every five sufferers are under the age of 65. You can not control the aging process, no one can, of course. However, you can choose to make yourself healthier, that is an option that is realistically doable for anyone.

Getting enough exercise to help increase joint mobility in arthritis sufferers is one option that is consistently being preached. But,it alone will not be enough, it is very hard to freely move painful joints through exercise that are chronically dry and dehydrated. Diets need to be addressed and modified. Increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids and other whole food nutrients will swing the odds in favor of a successful remission of symptoms.

F. Batmanghelidj's book "How To Deal With Back Pain and Rheumatoid Joint Pain" is an inexpensive self-help manual anyone can read to learn more about water's amazing role in relieving joint pain naturally. In this short paper back book, you will learn that joint pain is simply just a signal that your body is emitting to let you know that your joints are thirsty and dehydrated.

Listen to that signal, give your joints what they need to be healthy and stay lubricated every day with nothing more than pure water!

Joint Pain

Joint pain can affect one or more joints in the human body. An injury or inflammation of joints can cause it. Some of the other reasons for joint pain include rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The former is an autoimmune disorder causing stiffness and pain in joints while the latter involves degeneration of cartilage at a joint. Osteoarthritis is quite common among people in their mid-forties and older.

Another reason for joint pain could be bursitis. It refers to inflammation of the bursae. The bursae are sacs filled with fluids. They act as cushions allowing free and smooth movement of muscles and tendons over the bones. Apart from this, some of the other common causes of joint pain include septic arthritis, tendonitis, infectious diseases (such as influenza, rheumatic fever, hepatitis etc), external injuries including fracture, strains or sprains due to unusual exertion, gout, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, etc.

It is advisable to consult a doctor if joint pain persists for more than a couple of days. Home remedies are often effective, but before using them it is always better to diagnose the cause and nature of the joint pain. This could be done easily with the help of few medical tests that are not very expensive.

Contrary to the common perception, joint pain is no longer associated with old age; it could affect a person of any age group. Joint pains are affecting more and more young people. This is said to be due to long hours working on computers, increasing stress, improper dietary habits and neglect of physical fitness.

Joint pains can affect even a physically fit person. This is evident by the increasing number of sportspersons complaining of joint pains. The time taken for recovery from joint pain can vary from a few weeks to a few years.

Nutritional Dog Arthritis Supplements: Australian Ingredients That Work On Joint Pain

Your dog's recovery from canine arthritis has many components. It's not just about their joints. It's also about their diet, weight, and activity level. An all-natural supplement should include ingredients that are effective on joints while also providing nutrition and energy. Australia is the foremost country in harnessing these ingredients against joint pain.

Canine arthritis comes in two types: degenerative joint disease and rheumatoid (inflammatory) arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis must be treated with antibiotics prescribed from your vet, so it's a good idea to get your dog's arthritis diagnosed before choosing a supplement.

Degenerative joint disease is the most common type of arthritis found in dogs and is also called osteoarthritis. It occurs with old age and is often genetic. Osteoarthritis causes joint pain because of the deterioration of the cartilage and bone in the joints of old dogs and the reduction of synovial fluid that lubricates the joints. This causes painful bone on bone action. Symptoms of canine arthritis include stiffness, limping, loss of range of motion, and difficulty getting up or down.

For owners, the downward spiral of their best friend can be upsetting. It's important to take action when it comes to your dog's joint pain, as there are supplements on the market that can get them going again. Treatment of joint pain and inflammation often includes vet prescribed painkillers, injections, and NSAIDs. These options come with serious side effects to your dog's liver, kidney and gastrointestinal tract. The alternative to these costly and unhealthy treatments are all-natural supplements.

Most owners turn to glucosamine powder or fish oil to treat their dog's arthritis. This treats the most obvious problem, joint pain, but ignores the co-factors in your dog's health. The discomfort of arthritis and inflammation causes most dogs to become inactive and overweight, putting even more strain on their already deteriorating joints. The most effective and efficient all-natural supplements should include ingredients that promote activity and a healthy diet, as well as including glucosamine or a marine extract, such as shark cartilage.

Holistic vets in Australia are already using these requirements and are encouraging owners to look for these nutritional types of supplements over one-ingredient supplements. Australia produces several ingredients with a quality that is much more effective than ingredients sourced from other countries. This is due to their tropical climate and environmental awareness in prohibiting pesticides and promoting organics.

The top four ingredients that any good natural dog arthritis supplement should include are: turmeric, celery seed, papain and cayenne.

1. Turmeric has long been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders and speed wound healing. In a dog supplement, the enzymes of the turmeric herb have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that may reduce the swelling in your dog's joints without upsetting their stomach.


2. Celery seed treats arthritis and fluid retention, which helps with joint pain, yet it also stimulates appetite. As your dog begins to feel better and become more active, this will serve to get him up and going, starting the cycle of a healthy diet and an active life.


3. Australian Papain comes from the sap of a papaya. The sap contains a protein digesting enzyme that rids your dog of intestinal parasites. This will ensure that you dog responds to the supplement well, processing the ingredients without a problem.


4. Cayenne is the key ingredient that gets your dog active again. It decreases fat intake and increases metabolism, both at rest and when exercising. This will help you dog shed weight and get active.

These ingredients provide nutritional health and a kick-start for an active life. When combined with a naturally occurring glucosamine and a marine extract, your dog will be on the road to recovery from joint pain and inflammation.

What Is TMJ and What Can Be Done About It?

Temporomandibular joint disorder usually referred to as TMJ disorder or TMD, is a chronic ailment that affects many people. This disorder is responsible for dozens of symptoms that can arise when there is a problem with the joint between the jaw bone and the skull. If you put your fingers just in front of your ears and open and close your mouth you will feel exactly where the TMJ is. There are two of them - one on each side of your head and they are used a lot.

Just as in your backbone, there is a disc between the jaw bone and your skull. When you chew you apply a lot of pressure to your TM joints and the disc is there to distribute that pressure to spread it out along the contact points. The TMJ is used a lot every day since everyone has to eat and chew food but it's also used when we talk and yawn. It's one of the most used joints in your body.

Some of the most commonly complained about symptoms caused by the TMJ disorder are headaches, migraines, earaches, toothaches, neck pain, and clicking or popping sounds when the mouth is opened or closed. But there are many other symptoms that are all centered on the head and neck. In some of the more severe cases the jaw will shift on one side when the mouth is opened causing it to be lopsided and painful.

Many times a doctor will recommend surgery to fix this problem but you should be very careful there. The main problem with surgery is it can be very painful and expensive. You should also consider that the TMJ disorder is a physical condition and most physical conditions can be treated successfully with therapy. It would be very prudent to do everything possible and explore all other options for TMJ therapy before resorting to a surgery where the recovery interferes with your ability to eat and speak.

Probably the chief cause of this disorder is grinding your teeth or clenching your jaws while you are asleep. That would be caused by stress, tension, or anxiety and no matter how you go about treating the symptoms of your TMJ you will need to treat the stress also because when you grind your teeth or clench your jaws in your sleep you will be undoing any benefits gained through whatever TMJ therapy or treatment you are using.

That brings us to the question of what can you do about TMJ disorder. Probably the most logical course of action is to use a two pronged treatment plan. First you will need to figure out a way to reduce stress. There are many different ways to do this including Yoga breathing exercises, listening to soothing music, talking to others with the same condition, therapy sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist, taking walks in a park, and trying to take items off your "to do" list.

Then, while you are treating your stress you can begin treating your TMJ symptoms with exercises designed to be TMJ therapy. When it comes to physical therapy there is a specific guideline that all physical therapy exercises are focusing on. First you want to use exercises that reduce any swelling and stretch the muscles to allow the joint to have a more normal range of motion. Then you want to do exercises that repair and strengthen the muscles around the joint so there is less of a chance the problem will return.

So when it comes to treating your TMJ it's all about therapy. You have to use tension reducing therapy to lower your stress level and attack the root cause of your TMJ disorder and you should use TMJ therapy exercises to treat your symptoms. If you can find some simple exercises that help you relieve the pain and cope with your symptoms it will be simply a matter of consistently finding the time to do these stress reducing therapies and your TMJ therapy.

When Bursitis Pain Attacks the Shoulder

Shoulder bursitis is one of the most common causes of upper arm pain. The shoulder bursa can be described as a bag filled with fluid that lubricates and surrounds the muscles and tendons of the shoulder. When inflammation occurs, this is called bursitis. When bursitis pain attacks the shoulder, diagnosis and treatment is required to restore the shoulder back to it's normal state.

The shoulder actually has more than one bursa. The subdeltoid bursa is the largest one, and the one that is most likely to cause a problem. The subdeltoid bursa is also referred to the subacromial bursa. When the subdeltoid bursa becomes inflamed or irritated, it can be difficult to move the shoulder or even perform daily activities that involve use of the arm.

What Causes Bursitis in the Shoulder

Injury is the most common cause of shoulder bursitis. This can be a result of a fall, a blow to the shoulder, or even overuse, such as exercising or repetitive movements that a person is unaccustomed to. Overuse of the shoulder joint and muscles can lead to pain that can be quite debilitating. Sometimes the pain seems to start out of the blue with no recollection of injury or any event to trigger the pain. Inflammation associated with the shoulder tendon is called "tendonitis."

Symptoms Associated with Shoulder Bursitis

With shoulder bursitis, chronic joint pain is the main problem. The pain typically starts out gradual and increases over time. The pain normally is located on the outer part of the shoulder and can sometimes be sudden and severe.

This pain can be felt over the deltoid muscle area around the shoulder. It can also spread down the arm to the elbow or wrist. This bursitis pain can be affected by lying on the affected side or trying to reach above your head.

Some people have what's called a "painful arc of movement." This simply means that there is no pain when the arm is not moving, but they develop pain when attempting to lift the arm. This usually occurs when raising the arm to about 60 degrees of elevation. Once the arm extends beyond the 90 degree point, the pain eases or subsides completely.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Your doctor will perform an exam and a series of manual tests, one of which is called an impingement test. This is to determine whether there is inflammation of the bursa or the tendons.
It may be necessary to perform blood tests and/or x-rays. An ultrasound is most commonly used to diagnosis true bursitis.

There are several treatments options used for bursitis. Your physician may recommend one or all of them.

* Pain medication or anti-inflammatory medications
* Rest the affected area
* Physical therapy performed by a physical therapist, chiropractor, or osteopath
* Securing the shoulder by utilizing a sling or brace
* Acupuncture
* Natural supplements to restore the shoulder back to its normal function
* Arthroscopic surgery to remove the bursa

The first thing you must do is determine whether or not you have bursitis. Once a diagnosis is made, your physician can implement an appropriate treatment plan for you.

Safeguard Joints That Are Prone to Injury

Many of us take joint health for granted. The strange thing is that you can injure a joint and not even know it. Injury can take place by simply overusing a particular joint or wearing the wrong type of footwear. But once an injury has taken place, it can lead to a gradual degeneration of that joint. The cartilage can begin to tear and bone rubs against bone causing pain and inflammation of surrounding tissues. Joint pain can often manifest after the age of forty and after that the need for joint pain relief can grow more intense. By caring for your joints now, you could avoid pain later.

Which joints require the most care or joint support? Let's take a look at 10 joints that are most prone to injury.

Joint Support for Elbows: Injuries to the elbow joint can occur when playing sports like mountain climbing, racquet sports, baseball, or any sport that involves a throwing or swinging action like golf and volleyball. Elbow injury could also be caused by an occupation that involves repetitive use of the elbow joint.

Joint Support for Ankles: The ankles bear the largest weight. Injuries to the ankle usually occur when we step on uneven surfaces and twist the ankle. Vigorous physical activity such as jumping, landing on a hard or uneven surface can also cause injury to the ankle joint. Joint pain relief becomes vital since it can limit our mobility.

Joint Support for Knees: The knee joint is a weight-bearing joint. Common knee injuries can be due to a blow to the knee by a fall, a sudden stop while running or a twist of the knee, or overuse. Pain can gradually increases with age.

Joint Support for Back joints: Historically the lower back usually incurs more wear and tear. The back bears the weight of the body, but also bears extra stress when we lift heavy objects. Laborers and athletes who do weight training are more susceptible to back aches. Injury can also occur due to poor posture or being overweight. Joint pain relief may be found by massage therapy. Injuries to the back can be difficult to rehabilitate and are more likely to recur.

Joint Support for Shoulders: Being a ball and socket joint, the shoulder joint is flexible and affords wide range of motion. Pain here can arise due to poor posture, wear and tear, overuse, aging, sports such as baseball or tennis, even repetitive household chores that affect the shoulders. Many have found joint pain relief by adopting a proper posture or giving adequate recovery time between sports events.

Joint Support for Neck: A pain in the neck can be due to contact sports, lifting heavy objects or a jerking movement of the neck. It can also be due to poor posture or sitting at your desk for extended periods without stretch breaks. Stretch exercises for the neck can help bring joint pain relief.

Joint Support for Wrist: The most common injury to the wrist is linked to joint impact due to a fall or an accident. The wrist can also suffer injury due to poor positioning of the wrist on a keyboard for prolonged periods. Repetitive use in daily activities can also trigger wrist pain.

Joint Support for Fingers: Wear and tear occurs more easily and shows itself gradually. Simple tasks become difficult such as paring an apple, knitting, or opening the lids of a jar. Joint pain relief may be found by increasing circulation and regular exercise.

Joint Support for Hips: The hips are weight-bearing joints. The cartilage can begin to wear and tear faster especially for those involved in sports like golf, skiing, track, soccer or football. Professional dancers are also prone to hip pain as are those who over-exercise. Many find joint pain relief through low impact exercises.

Joint Support for Toes: Injury here is more common among people who play on artificial turf.. People who wear footwear that does not give support to the forefront joints are also prone to toe injury.

Some of you reading this may think the damage is already done, what can I do? There aren't any ways to bring back time but fortunately there have been scientific breakthroughs that can help restore joint health to some extent.