“A Breath of Fresh Air”

The Power of Water-Benefits of Oral Irrigation

2009-08-13T14:23:00.019-05:00

Water is . . . Unconstrained, Uninhibited, Free to Move, Free to Form, Essential for Life, Cleansing, Refreshing, Pure, Dilutes, Rinses. Disrupts, Cleans, Dislodges, Flushes, Removes Toxins, Pollutants and Microbes.

The benefits of oral irrigation are numerous, but unfortunately

have been unknown to most. So what do we know ? Most folks brush and clean their teeth . . . but what about cleaning the gums ? what about the tongue ? The focus that we have given to our teeth has been towards those that are most visible. We'll typically brush in the back quadrants of the mouth until we taste our minty fresh toothpaste . . maybe, hopefully . . for 5 seconds.

Oral irrigation will "fill in the gap" of our home dental care. Brushing and Flossing are necessary, Oral Irrigation will complete the cleaning job.

Water is unconstrained in the fact that it will saturate and clean in the tightest of areas.

It will reach beyond that of the bristles of a toothbrush, and the reach of dental floss.

Water can and will reach subgingivally; even deep enough to reach the areas of infection caused by bacteria. Water is Free to Move and Free to Form in those commonly "overlooked" areas of the mouth. A toothbrush and dental floss is great to disrupt plaque, but not as sufficent to remove it. Follow this up with oral irrigation and the remaining plaque will experience further disruption, and also be diluted, then it will be gently flushed and rinsed from the mouth. This is a removal of food debris, toxins, pollutants and microbes (bacteria).

Not only is this benefical to one's oral health, but also to one's overall health. The mouth is the main portal of entry for sickness and disease; so by keeping the mouth clean, we are reducing our chances of becoming sick, along with the reduction of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease.

Here are a few signals to look for to determine whether you are successfully cleaning your teeth, gums, tongue and mouth. The first and most obvious is the smell of your breath . . that's right, (hold your hand up to your mouth, breath into it, then smell . . if that doesn't help, take note of the people you talk to and watch their expressions as you talk, if their nose scrunches up and they start gasping for air, that probably is a confirmation that you have bad breath) and secondly is the taste in your mouth, thirdly is how your teeth feel when you rub your tongue over them.

A major deception for us all is our minty flavored toothpaste. There's some great tasting stuff out there, but over a short period of time that flavor intensity fades away. Keep this in mind while you brush, and brush longer (2 minutes . . can you do it? . . sure you can). You can rest assure by following up with oral irrigation, that your mouth can and will be cleaner. Take note that flavored toothpaste and minty mouthwash will only mask and temporarly cover bad breath. Bad breath is primarily caused by toxins produced by bacterial plaque. So to remove this bacterial plaque will eliminate the cause of most bad breath.

So consider adding a Hydro Floss Oral Irrigator to your home care regimen, you'll feel and see the difference. The Hydro Floss is a professional grade medical device, Swiss designed and engineered, utilizing Magnetic HydroDynamics that has increased the benefits of oral irrigation by 50%.

Best to You, Steve

Breathe Deep, . . . Pause and Consider

2009-07-21T10:24:00.006-05:00

With all the News events of the day, with its "on-the-edge-of-your-seat" drama, the presented state of the Economy, and the recent deaths of many celebrities . . . I find myself in an empty whirlwind of sorts. It's like I'm being pulled from all sides . . . by things that don't apply . . by things that I can not control. It's the kinda thing that can make you dizzy, like a "spin zone", a distraction. I mention all this, to present where it has brought me.

Take a deep breath with me; . . . exhale . . . relaxing, isn't it ?

. . . This is where we all live.

With all the current events, I've found myself becoming more focused on my family . . and specifically focused on myself. I know that may sound vain, but let me explain.

I came to realize that there are many things that I have no control of,
but also found that my best opportunity was me.

Simple things started presenting themselves; even through stressful times, for example, the need for adequate rest. Taking care of One's self is the best thing we can do for ourselves; I had heard this so much throughout my life that I unknowingly started ignoring it. I'm hearing it now . . Proper Diet, Exercise, and Adequate Rest (have you every noticed at the end of most prescription drug commercials, after they have mentioned all the side effects, they always say, "a proper diet, exercise, and rest will make this drug work better").

So the focus is, to take care of One's Self. I've mentioned this in a previous post, and it fits well in this one . . . it goes like this . . . If you see your Dentist at least (2) times a year, then who is responsible for your Oral Health for the remaining (363) days ?

It has been discovered that our Oral Health has a tremendous effect on our Overall Health . . good or bad . . as it is based on how well we keep our mouths clean.

Most Brush, some Floss, fewer Irrigate.

Each of these tools are significant (a toothbrush, dental floss, and an oral irrigator), I recommend them all, with a specific focus on oral irrigation. For those of you who use an oral irrigator, you know what I'm talking about. The beauty of an oral irrigator is that it will compliment your toothbrush, as well as your dental floss . . how ? . . by rinsing out the plaque that a toothbrush and dental floss leave behind . . "it's a brush and a string for heaven's sake".

Oral irrigation will also "complete" the job by removing the plaque in those "hard-to-reach" areas.

Do yourself a big favor . . get a Hydro Floss . . it is the best on the market . . clinically proven to be effective over all other irrigators on the market . . Swiss designed & engineered for longevity in performance.

Great for your Health, Fresh Breath, and a Beautiful Smile !

Best to You and Yours,

Steve

The Fires of Inflammation

2009-04-22T10:36:00.012-05:00

INFLAMMATION . . aka . . DRAGON BREATH

- n. Localized redness, swelling, heat, and pain in response to an injury or infection.

Have you ever experienced inflammation ? More than likely, you have. Statistically, periodontitis (gum disease) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects 22% to 40% of the population with varying degrees of severity (Ref: Dept of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2010). To understand inflammation, it is imperative to look at the diseases that it causes, like arthritis, asthma, allergies, diabetes and heart disease. According to Floyd H. Chilton, Ph.D, author of "Inflammation Nation", one in three American adults suffer from arthritis, 64 million people have heart disease in some form, 50 million Americans suffer with allergies, 20 million have asthma, and more than 18 million people have diabetes.

The wild fires of Inflammation are devastating and are increasing. Research on the Oral/Systemic link has suggested that periodontal (gum) disease may be considered as a "focal" infection. This means that an infection can start in one place and reside in another (ex: step on a rusty nail and your jaw locks up). The infection that is caused by bacterial toxins in the oral cavity are transported via the bloodstream throughout our bodies, many times residing in our vital organs.

There are some simple steps that can be taken to reduce this fire-breathing dragon. The "Big 3" has been with us for decades and still remain true . . Diet, Exercise and Rest. A vital addition is to incorporate a daily regimen of good oral health practices. When it comes to Oral Care, I've created my own "Big 3" . . . Floss, Brush and Irrigate !

Best to You, Steve

Home Care: Brushing, Flossing and Irrigating

2009-03-09T12:07:00.012-05:00

I've been pondering a flaw in my own behavior . . . here it is . . . regarding my Oral Health, I make it a point to visit my dentist and hygenist at least twice a year, for check-ups and cleanings. In the past, I've sought the confirmation from these professionals that my oral health was good; then I noticed that I would somewhat neglect my oral health until the next visit to the dentist.
The flaw is revealed . . . I was putting the responsibility of my oral health (and thus my overall health) in the hands of my dentist (who is a great dentist, by the way). . . who I only saw 2 days out of the year ! The revelation came from the answer of this next question . . . So, what about the other 363 days left in the year ? . . . the responsibility falls on . . . Me, Myself and I.

A simple daily routine will insure a healthy mouth. I recommend this flow within the routine . . . Floss, then Brush, and finish with Irrigation. My reasoning for this particular order is the functionality and performance of each of these tools.

Flossing is probably the least favorite thing to do, but very important. The specific strength of floss is its ability to effectively disrupt plaque in between the teeth. Brushing has its particular place by effectively disrupting plaque on the tooth's surface. Please take note, that while these tools are efficient in disrupting plaque . . they are not as efficient in collecting and removing it (that is the plaque). This is where Irrigation comes in. To follow up the flossing and brushing with irrigation will insure that the disrupted plaque that these tools (toothbrush & floss) have left behind, will be removed. Not only removing this plaque, but also the plaque in those "hard-to-reach", "out-of-sight-out-of-mind" areas. I believe that you will be surprised (just as I), at what is rinsed out into the sink . . even after brushing and flossing.

My recommendation for dental floss is to choose your personal preference. There are many varieties, but basically they provide the same result. I will say that I do like Oral-B's floss. You can find this at any of your local drugstores.

My recommendation for a toothbrush is a "sensitive to soft" bristle. It has been confirmed that in the USA, we are overly aggressive when we brush our teeth (really striving to scrub good). The problem with this is, it can cause our gums to receed (not a good thing). I personal use a sensitive bristle toothbrush. These are not typically easy to find in retail stores, but rather dental websites. You can find these on Dr. Collins and the Hydro Floss websites (http://www.drcollins.com/, http://www.hydrofloss.com/ ).

Out of all of the oral irrigators on the market (and I've tried the majority), I recommend the Hydro Floss oral irrigator. It is primarily available only through the dental professional, and is considered a professional grade model. There are also published clinical studies that reflect its effectiveness. http://www.hydrofloss.com/
Best to You ! -Steve

Living a Healthy Lifestyle

2009-02-25T16:12:00.013-06:00

We all basically know what is required to live a healthy life, right? . . . proper diet, rest and exercise; but its what we don't know that can harm us and our families. Who would have ever thought our mouths would play such an extremely important part in overall health? . . . Periodontal disease . . aka . . gum disease, gingivitis, inflammation, and bleeding gums. When I first heard this my mind swirled with questions, primarily "How is this possible?". My curiosity fueled the search for some answers. Out of all the information I came across, it had to be the Surgeon General Report entitled "Oral Health in America", published in May 2000, that startled me most. It stated that periodontal (gum) disease effects a person's overall health, and also contributes to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung disease, kidney disease, anemia, hemophilia, premature births and underweight births.

. . .Whew, that was a mouth full . . . wait a minute, a mouth full of what? . . . Bugs ! . . . yep that's right, better know as "bacteria". So what's it doing in our mouths ? I kinda knew this, but then again I didn't . . the reason that there is bacteria in the mouth . . is to aid in the digestion of our food. I always heard that our saliva did that . . I didn't know that bacteria helped. Then I found out that there are over 6 billion bacteria in the intestinal tract . . once again, to aid in the digestion of our food. So if they are suppose to be there, what's the problem ?

Bacteria is a living organism, it eats and digest their food as we do . . . its the toxins in their waste . . Yep, you heard right . . that is causing the problem.

But I still was asking "How?" . . . then in conversation, a friend conveyed the best explanation. My friend asked me if I knew anyone that had heart problems and had to take nitroglycerine when they experienced chest pains, I said "yes" . . . they went on to explain that this person has been instructed to place a tablet under their tongue . . that the medication may dissolve and enter the bloodstream more rapidly, thus providing the relief they seek. The same thing is happening with the bacterial toxins . . they are entering into the bloodstream and "transported" to different organs in the body. I could see it, it made legitimate sense to me. So there you have it, a kinda lengthy condensed verison, but hey, this is a blog, tell me what you think.

Link to Surgeon General Report: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/oralhealth/

Best to you, Steve