Mainak's Blog

Diet, Diabetes and Oral Care.   With 50.8 million suffering from diabetes, India continues to be the ‘diabetes capital’. Problems with teeth and gums can be more common for people with diabetes, so good oral health is important to prevent complications developing. And by 2030, nearly 9% of the India’s population is likely to be affected from diabetes, according to a study of International Diabetes Federation. This raises concern about looking after teeth and gums as it is an essential part of learning to live with both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Indians now need to seriously consider good oral health as it contributes general overall health. Diabetics are more susceptible to developing oral infections and gum (periodontal) disease than those who do not have diabetes.  You need to therefore keep blood sugar within a normal range to reduce risk of oral health problems. Dentists at Stoma Advanced Dental Care advised eating a balanced diet, gett...

Securing your baby’s oral health for the future! Formation of milk teeth begins even before you are sure that you have conceived!! That is during the 6-8th week or by second month of pregnancy and that of permanent teeth by 5th month of pregnancy. So any nutritional deficiency during this period can lead to defective tooth structure, defective integrity and strength of supporting structures like gums, bone, inner lining of mouth, salivary glands. The nutrients that are important for formation of healthy teeth and supporting structures are: Calcium, Phosphorous, Fluoride:  All minerals are building blocks of teeth. Deficiency can lead to compromised tooth integrity, weaker tooth structure, that is more prone for decay. Vitamin D, Potassium:  They help in absorbing calcium and in turn, improving bone density and thus ensuring strong jaw bones. Deficiency can affect the availability of sufficient calcium for development and strengthening of crystalli...

Toothaches can kill you !     Please take a dental abscess seriously! We have at Indian Dental Association (IDA) time and again advocated the importance of oral health and called ‘The mouth is the gateway to the whole body’,  it’s sad that people are not aware of how deadly a tooth abscess can be; people generally think --, “It’s just a tooth/my gums.”  But the teeth and gums provide a direct path into the rest of your body, and you have some extremely vital organs very close by. Toothache can be caused by a variety of reasons: - Decay/Cavities:  The basic reason for toothache is cavity. Bacteria gets in causing pain and can be cured usually by a simple filling. Gum Disease:  (periodontal disease, Gingivitis) This is when the gums become inflamed and deep ‘pockets’ that trap bacteria are formed. When gum disease is left untreated, tooth pains. The treatment is deep cleaning — sometimes referred to as scaling or scraping — and a ...

Management of sports injuries The most common injury to the primary teeth is dislocation of the front teeth. A primary tooth that is loose may be left in place or, if interfering with the bite, it may be removed. In many cases, a loose tooth will heal without treatment. Injured teeth that are very loose may need to be removed if there is a possibility that the tooth could fall out easily or cause the child to choke (eg, while sleeping).  Anyone who participates in sport should wear appropriate safety equipment to prevent tooth (crown) fractures, tooth intrusion, extrusion, and avulsion and temporomandibular joint dislocation. The treatment or management of dental injuries depends upon the type of injury and whether the injured tooth is a primary (baby) or permanent (adult) tooth. Dislocated or loose primary tooth — The most common injury to the primary teeth is dislocation of the front teeth. A primary tooth that is loose may be left in pl...

Is Chewing Gum Good for Teeth? Many people chew gum habitually and mindlessly, chewing away for hours each day. It’s important to know how chewing gum affects our dental health. Yes, it is, but not all the time and it depends on what type of gum you choose to chew. Chewing gum can help prevent tooth decay, as long as you select a sugarless gum. Chewing gum causes your mouth to produce more saliva, which helps neutralize and rinse away some of the acid that forms in your mouth when you break down food. So, if you chew gum after a meal, you may be helping to protect your teeth and promote oral health. Also, the minerals generated by the extra saliva can even help strengthen your tooth enamel, which also reduces your risk of dental cavities. However, chewing gum isn’t all good news. If you make a habit of chewing gum that contains sugar, the bacteria can feed on the sugars and do more damage to your mouth. Chewing too much gum can lead to excess wear and tear of ...

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF TRIPHALA? Did You Know About These Amazing Health Benefits Of Triphala? Ayurveda, the ancient system of medicine, healthcare and well being places immense importance on Triphala. Triphala is a herbal mix made of Amla, Haritaki, and Bibhitaki, 3 fruits dried and powdered in equal measure; hence the name.Here are some amazing health benefits of triphala: 1 . Improves Eyesight Amla strengthens eye muscles and cleanses the eyes of foreign objects. Haritaki or harad prevents eye conditions like cataract and glaucoma. Regular use of triphala water has been known to improve vision and slow down the deterioration of the eyes and conditions related to it. Mix 1-2 tablets or ½ teaspoon of Triphala powder in 300 ml of water, soak overnight. Filter this mix and use it to wash your eyes with, every morning. For best results use a copper vessel to store the Triphala water. 2 . Regulates Metabolism Good metabolism is the key to good health. Ay...

🔞 REDUCED SEX DRIVE IN WOMEN? HERE ARE 6 REASONS YOU MAY BE UNAWARE OF! Reduced Sex Drive In Women? Here Are 6 Reasons You May Be Unaware Of! Loss of libido ( also known as reduced sexual drive) is a common problem affecting both men and women. While statistics show more than 40% of women experience some changes in libido throughout their life, a persistent decrease in sexual interest can be a major concern and must be addressed. Here are some of the most common reasons for a reduced sex drive in women: 1 . Increasing age As a woman begins to age, the testosterone levels ( the steroid hormone that regulates the sex drive in women) that are at their peak during the early 30s, begin to decline towards menopause. This significantly reduces their sexual drive. 2 . Fluctuating Hormones Women go through a lot of changes in their estrogen and testosterone levels every month. Especially during the crucial period of pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, and menopause, the hormones in the...

Know Your Numbers: Uric Acid If your doctor has advised uric acid test, then it is probably to diagnose or treat a condition called gout in which uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints causing redness, swelling and pain. However, the uric acid level could also indicate underlying health problems including cardiovascular disease. So in this series of Know Your Numbers, we will be discussing what uric acid test means and what the results indicate. What is uric acid? Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism. It is excreted by the kidneys and the intestines. Most of the uric acid produced is excreted through urine or feces. However, any changes in the production or excretion mechanism can lead to excess uric acid in the body, which in turn leads to its accumulation. What are the normal levels of uric acid? Depending upon the test methods and the labs, the normal range of the uric acid might vary. Hence, check with your doctor to understand your test results. Th...

THIN PEOPLE WITH DIABETES MAY BE AT A GREATER RISK OF DEATH Thin People With Diabetes May Be At a Greater Risk Of Death : Normal weight adults with new-onset diabetes may be at a greater risk of death than their overweight/obese counterparts, suggests a study. A group of researchers gathered data from five different studies and identified 2,625 people with diabetes, all of whom were above 40 years of age. A fasting glucose of 126 mg/dL or greater or newly initiated diabetes medication with concurrent evaluation of body mass index (BMI) were used for establishing diabetes diagnosis. During the study, nearly 10% of those with new-onset diabetes were considered to have a normal weight (BMI 8.5 to 24.99) at the time of diagnosis. The researchers suggested that although being overweight (BMI >=25) heightens the risk for developing diabetes, additional factors such as family history, ethnicity and age may also contribute significantly. The results demonstrated that people with norma...

STAY AWARE: 6 DENGUE FACTS YOU MUST REMEMBER Stay Aware: 6 Dengue Facts You Must Remember With the onset of monsoon, the risk of mosquito borne infections is on a high.Every year, our country struggles with dengue, with a huge number of people getting infected and some of them requiring hospitalization. Dengue is an extremely common viral infection which is transmitted by mosquitoes and presents as high-grade fever, body aches and pain in the joints.Here are some essential facts that you should know about Dengue 1 . WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS -Dengue should be suspected when you have a sudden onset of high-grade fever with a severe headache, pain behind the eyes, abdominal pain, body aches, rash and vomiting. The fever can lasts for 5-7 days. -Around 3-7th day of illness, the fever will be very less or even normal. -This marks the beginning of the critical phase where there could be a rapid decrease in decrease in platelet count. -It is important to monitor the platelet count and watc...

9 EVERYDAY HABITS TO KEEP YOUR KIDNEYS HEALTHY 9 Everyday Habits To Keep Your Kidneys Healthy Kidneys are bean shaped organs almost the size of a fist and are located on either side of the spine. They contain millions of tiny blood vessel clusters that filter waste from our blood. They help flush toxins and waste matter from the body through urine. Also, kidneys influence our blood pressure, stimulate the making of red blood cells, and maintain our body’s calcium levels and vitamin D activation. So, maintaining a good health of this vital organ of our body is highly crucial. Follow these 9 habits to keep your kidneys healthy: 1 . Drink plenty of water A natural and easy way to ensure that the kidneys are functioning to their maximum level is to drink around 10-12 glasses of water daily and to pass out urine when the bladder is full, without holding or controlling the need to pass urine. Odourless and colourless urine is an indication of the kidneys functioning well without accumu...

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE SURPRISING HEALTH BENEFITS OF EPSOM SALT? Did You Know About These Surprising Health Benefits Of Epsom Salt? Epsom salt essentially is magnesium sulphate by composition. Going skinny-dipping in baths enriched with this mineral compound is the easiest way to reap its vast array of health benefits as it is easily absorbed by our skin. What is even cooler is the fact that Epsom salt is easily available, cheap and non-toxic. A few ways in which Epsom salt improves human health: 1 . Relieves stress The wise amongst us vouch by the relaxing effect of an Epsom-salt bath. This is because magnesium prompts the body to produce serotonin, our main relaxer and on the side, checks the exciting adrenaline secretion thus helping the mind and body attain peace. 2 . Maintains elasticity of arteries t is believed that regular Epsom-salt baths prevent hardening of our arteries and formation of blood clots. This contributes a great deal towards prevention of cardiovascular d...

7 FOODS YOU SHOULD AVOID IF YOU HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL 7 Foods You Should Avoid If You Have High Cholesterol : Cholesterol is an organic molecule of fat found in every cell of the body and in the blood of all animals. It is essential for the proper functioning of our cell membranes and production of hormones. While there can be negative health benefits associated with low cholesterol, cholesterol deficiency is rare.  High levels of cholesterol are far more common and are often linked to unhealthy eating habits. Those with high cholesterol are also more prone to heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol is mostly found in animal food products, and thus, vegetarians are likely to have lower cholesterol than non-vegetarians. 1 . Margarine Once thought to be a healthy alternative to butter, margarine can be just as loaded with cholesterol.  Since margarine is made from unsaturated vegetable oils, most people assumed it would be better than butter, which was known to conta...

DID YOU KNOW HOW ICE IS SO GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN? Did You Know How Ice Is So Good For Your Skin? Skin icing is gaining much popularity for younger looking, blemish-free skin and with good reasons too. This easy, affordable and natural remedy can be utilised for most skin conditions such as pimples, inflammation, and wrinkles or sagging. Problems related to sunburn, under eye puffiness and dark circles, can also be treated with the simple application of ice. But before you begin using ice, it may help to know all the ways in which ice can work like magic for your skin: Improves blood circulation Applying ice to the skin, the low temperature restricts blood flow which can, in turn, reduce inflammation. Once the ice is removed, the warmer temperature sends a fresh flow of blood to the affected area, clearing toxins along the way. This results in an instant glow to your face. Regular icing over a longer period of time can prevent wrinkles and sagging. For an easy, low cost freshening up...

6 FOODS TO HAVE FOR A HEALTHY EYESIGHT 6 Foods To Have For A Healthy Eyesight : We’re constantly making efforts to stay physically fit. However, we take for granted our eyes and their health. Our eyes, just like any other part/ organ of our body, require adequate nutrition to perform their functions and remain healthy. Eyes require nutrients such as vitamin A, C and E, lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3, zinc, etc., to stay healthy. Deficiencies of any of these nutrients can be a cause of various eye-disorders. A well-balanced diet can help provide these essential nutrients and thus help boost eye sight, maintain eye health and even prevent a plethora of eye conditions such as glaucoma, dry eyes, poor night vision, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). While you can opt for food supplements to keep your eyes healthy, incorporating the following foods in your diet is a better way to keep your eyes in check: 1 . Fish Omega-3 and Omega-6 are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) tha...

PEOPLE TAKING MEDICINES FOR HEARTBURN COULD BE AT A HIGHER RISK OF DEATH People Taking Medicines For Heartburn Could Be At A Higher Risk Of Death : People who take commonly prescribed acidity and heartburn medications could be at an increased risk of death, suggests a study. -The drugs, known as proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), neutralise the acid in the stomach and are widely prescribed to control the symptoms. -The researchers examined medical records of 3.5 million middle-aged Americans taking the medicines for over 5 years and compared those taking  PPIs to a group of patients receiving a different type of acid suppressant known as an H2 blocker. -The researchers found that people taking the medicines were at an increased risk of early death and the risk increased the longer they took them. -In patients taking H2 blocker tablets, there were 3.3 deaths per 100 people over one year. In the PPI group, this figure was higher at 4.7 per 100 people per year. -The team also report...

NEW TECHNOLOGY TO DRAW BLOOD SAMPLE New technology to draw blood sample. This technique will be very useful for locating the vein & for drawing blood.

OBESITY MAY PUT YOU AT INCREASED RISK FOR CERTAIN CANCERS Obesity May Put You At Increased Risk For Certain Cancers : Being overweight is a common risk factor for several health conditions, however, recent studies confirm the association of obesity with certain cancer types. -A recent study conducted by researchers from Harvard focused on understanding if being overweight would put an individual at an increased risk of cancer. -In the study, the researchers reviewed about 100 published articles and evaluated about 36 types of cancer to understand the relation between cancer and obesity. -As per the study, of the 36 cancer types studied 11 cancer types (colon, rectum, biliary tract (liver and gallbladder), pancreas, breast, endometrium (uterine lining), ovary, kidney, and the gastric cardia) were found to be associated with increased risk of obesity. -Experts also suggested that there may be a link between obesity and other cancers, but so far the evidence is relatively weak. -Fin...