Monthly Archives: January 2022

The AU Government’s Continuing Programmes to Ensure Good Dental Health Among Australian Citizens

In the past 30 years or so, the national government of Australia launched initiatives to improve dental health in all Australian states and territories. The ongoing National Oral Health Plan (NOHP)2015-2024 for one, ensures availability of funds in providing dental services and dental health improvement programs. Spearheaded by the Council of Australian Government (COAG) along with state and territory governments, have collaborated with dental professionals, consumer organisations, community sector and policy makers.

Through the NOHP 2015-2024 programme, the reach of the water fluoridation program has expanded; After all, the addition of fluoride content in drinking water has been deemed as important in reducing tooth decay in both Australian children and adults. The NOHP has also made it possible for priority populations across different jurisdictions, to gain access to dental care services.

Common Causes of Poor Oral Health in Australia

 

Aside from lack of fluoridation in some of Australia’s water supplies, the following are some of the most common causes of poor oral health in Australia:

  • Excessive intakes of sugar-rich foods;
  • Alcohol and tobacco consumption;
  • Poor oral hygiene habits;
  • Absence of regular dental check-ups;
  • Scarcity of affordable public and private dental care services, and in some cases, lack of private dental clinics.

How does Poor Oral Health Impact a Person’s Wellbeing?

Generally, poor oral health leads to tooth decay or caries, which when left untreated, causes periodontal or gum disease. These are oral diseases that more often that not destroy mouth tissues and reduce the functionality of the mouth, as chewing and swallowing food become more difficult.

According to the NOHP 2015-2024, poor oral health creates psychological impact that in turn can negatively affect health conditions as results of poor nutrition. Existing chronic disorders, including stroke and cardiovascular problem.

Successful NOHP 2015-2024 in Australian States and Territories

In some Australian states and territories, the campaigns for good oral habits and conditions have convinced many Australians to choose dental implants over false dentures, to replace their damaged or missing teeth.

 

Unlike traditional artificial teeth that tend to slide around when chewing food, dental implants as replacement teeth offer comfort and stability as they work like real teeth, especially when looking to replace multiple lost or damaged teeth. The dental implants perth clinics offer are the most highly recommended because their artificial tooth root is made of titanium. Yet costs and fees associated with dental implants are not the only considerations as there are also risks that tend to vary from patient to patient.

10 Ways Pediatrician Mothers Take Care of Their Own Children

Mother holding her toddler daughter

 

Keeping her own kids healthy, ever wonder how a pediatrician does it? We did, too, so to share their trade secrets, we asked some top mom-doctors. Here are their simple (and simply surprising) strategies.

Encourage imaginative play and exercise

Lack of physical activity may be a major reason behind childhood obesity and illness, so Jean Moorjani, M.D., a pediatrician Orlando, Florida, encourages old-fashioned play by instituting “tech-free time” after homework is completed. Out of the house to play, she also regularly shoos her two kids.

Wash hands frequently

Your mom was right. Every single doctor we talked to emphasized the importance of washing hands before meals; after using the bathroom; after touching or twiddling with pets and animals; and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. All those gentle nudges toward the sink are worthwhile, although children (and big kids, too!) need plenty of reminders. Hand washing is the best thanks to preventing the spread of germs.

Ditch antibacterial soaps and heavy-duty cleaners

“Don’t go too crazy with hygiene,” says Katja Rowell, M.D., a family physician, child feeding specialist, co-author of Helping Your Child With Extreme Picky Eating, and mom of 1 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Research has shown that while antibacterial soaps and chemical cleaners kill or inhibit bacteria, they also destroy the nice bacteria that help keep us healthy. Simple soap and water are adequate for hand washing, and mild cleaners (such a vinegar and water) are great for many household cleanups.

Keep kids home when they’re sick

Taking it easy for some days boosts your child’s chances of a fast recovery. A baby who continues to travel to daycare or school could catch a secondary infection or perhaps spread the virus to a different child.

 

ALSO READ: The Unsung Benefits of Steroid Use

 

Offer healthy meals and snacks

Knowing that a healthy diet is the bedrock of excellent health, Josie Znidarsic, D.O., a family physician at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. That’s why she offers her two daughters many fruits and veggies and limits their exposure to added sugar.

Don’t ban food

Dr. Rowell routinely allows less-than-healthy options and resists the urge to label food “good” or “bad.” “We enjoy Cheetos together with Brussels sprouts and homemade stir-fry,” she says. Her reason? she points out that “kids can find yourself really craving them when foods are forbidden while some can set them up for eating problems later in life. Nearly like inoculating kids is allowing occasional ‘junk food’ with meals and at snack times. The food loses its mystique, and children learn to manage it as just another food.”

Keep vaccinations up so far

Dr. Moorjani says “a task model for my kids is what I also attempt to be. Every fall, I make a briefing for our entire family to travel to our regular pediatrician, and everyone in all of us rolls up our sleeves—myself and my husband included—to receive our yearly flu shot.”

Give a daily probiotic

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your systema digestorium. They’re often called “good” or “helpful” bacteria because they assist keep your gut healthy. Recent research suggests a link between probiotics and therefore the system, so to support system health, Dr. Znidarsic gives her kids a daily probiotic gummy.

Let kids feel their feelings

increasing susceptibility to colds and other illnesses, poor emotional health can weaken the system, in line with the American Academy of Family Physicians. By recognizing and respecting his feelings, help boost your child’s health. Dr. Rowell says “to attach and to feel their emotions, by allowing them space is better to start with. I try and say things like, ‘That appears like it absolutely was really hard’ or ‘I’m sorry you are going through this.'”

Insist on sleep

Kids who are sleep-deprived are more prone to germs and viruses, so about her kids’ sleep schedule, Dr. Znidarsic is “pretty regimented.” She models good sleep habits and also explains the importance of sleep to her kids. Dr. Znidarsic says “as it is also something we adults do for ourselves, too, we let our children know that it is not only important for them.”

 

𐌢