Have you noticed blood on your toothbrush as you brush in the morning? Is your gum reddish and tender to the touch?

We hear and read a lot about health care everyday. Most of it deals with the well being of our heart, kidney or over all health. Finally, what is left is our oral cavity. We neglect our oral health- the mouth, the tooth and the gums for nearly 12 hours after brushing once in the morning.

Your dental health is dependent on your gums. The gums may get infected by bacterial growth that can gradually destroy the tissue surrounding and supporting the teeth. And any damage to your gums may cost you your teeth and perhaps the prettiest of smiles. Gingivitis and Periodontitis are the most commonly found periodontal (gum) diseases. At least 70-80% of Americans are troubled by some kind of Gingivitis. And some types of gingivitis advance into Periodontitis, a more serious condition. Periodontitis is a gum infection that can eventually lead to tooth loss if neglected or left untreated. Untreatable Periodontitis often calls for surgery.

Gingivitis is mild and may give the patient little or no discomfort. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of dental plaque resulting from natural bacteria in the mouth. As it builds up it destroys the bone and eventually the tooth. In some, a deficiency of B or C is the cause for gum disease while in some others it is due to genetic factors or heredity. The use of tobacco, administration of certain drugs , health conditions like diabetes or hormonal changes can also contribute to Periodontitis. More commonly, Periodontitis may develop due to poor or inadequate oral hygiene along with low immunity. It may occur to some women during pregnancy too.

Some of the signs of gum disease are:

• # red, swollen or tender gums
• # bleeding gums during brushing
• # gums that have pulled away from the teeth making your teeth look longer
• # persistent mouth odor
• # bad taste in your mouth
• # pus between the teeth and gums
• # new spaces developing between teeth
• # loose teeth

Gum disease starts as an inflammation or infection of the gums with the gums bleeding as you brush. Many people do not neglect their dental health but are not aware of their infection until it manifests in the form of inflamed or bleeding gums. The condition seems to appear and disappear periodically in a few of those affected. Your Periodontist will need to run an X-ray to find the depth of the damage it has caused to your bone and teeth. You may notice loosening of teeth and shift in the position of teeth in people in the advanced stage of Periodontitis.

It is important to seek immediate medical advice to reverse such damage. Gingivitis is a preventable and treatable medical condition. Right treatment at the right time and the practice of good oral hygiene at home can treat periodontitis effectively. Doctors may advice scaling and root planing at this stage which would get rid of the tartar and the bacteria build up in the mouth. Root planing will further prevent any possible tartar by smoothing the surfaces. Antibiotics will take of the rest of the infection.

If the condition is advanced and not responding to the nonsurgical treatments your periodontist may suggest

• Bone grafting
• Soft tissue grafts
• Flap surgery
• Guided tissue regeneration

The best way to prevent Periodontitis is to practice good oral hygiene. Choose a suitable toothbrush with the help of your dentist. Clean your teeth after each snack or meal. Brush and floss regularly. At last not the least, eat a healthy and balanced diet.

Flash a beautiful smile!

-Aparna K V

Tags: homeopathic, chinese, weight loss, acupressure, asthma

Headaches are quite common and are perhaps the first among the reactions elicited by the body in response to fever, stress, strain, nervousness, weakness and even certain infections. Infact some individuals experience it so often that they learn to live with it. However not all headaches are like, some are mitigated by house hold remedies but there are others which are stubborn enough to remain unchanged in intensity. These may suggest a chronic illness …migraine. If a patient experiences three or more headaches in a month, there are chances that he is suffering from migraine.

What is migraine

This is a condition where the blood vessels and the nerves in a specific part of the head are constricted abnormally to almost squeeze themselves up to give rise to a throbbing pain in that section of the head. This is accompanied by symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Some individuals may also experience warning signals before the pain begins in the head. These are typically in form of flashes of light or sudden darkness in front of the eyes. These signals which warn the patient of the symptoms of migraine occurring typically minutes before the headache are termed as aura. Numbness or tingling sensations may be persistent throughout the migraine attack.

Causes of migraine

A lot of people get migraines — about 11 out of 100. The headaches tend to start between the ages of 10 and 46 and may run in families. Migraines occur more often in women than men. Pregnancy may reduce the number of migraines attacks. At least 60 percent of women with a history of migraines have fewer such headaches during the last two trimesters of pregnancy.

Until the 1980s, scientists believed that migraines were due to changes in blood vessels within the brain. Today, most believe the attack actually begins in the brain itself, and involves various nerve pathways and chemicals in the brain.

A migraine attack can be triggered by stress, food, environmental changes, or some other factor. However, the exact chain of events remains unclear.

Migraine attacks may be triggered by:

• Allergic reactions
• Bright lights, loud noises, and certain odors or perfumes
• Physical or emotional stress
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Smoking or exposure to smoke
• Skipping meals
• Alcohol
• Menstrual cycle fluctuations, birth control pills
• Tension headaches
• Foods containing tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans), monosodium glutamate (MSG), or nitrates (like bacon, hot dogs, and salami)
• Other foods such as chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, avocado, banana, citrus, onions, dairy products, and fermented or pickled foods

Natural cure with Fever few

• What is Fever few

Fever few ( Tanacetum parthenium ), a member of the sunflower family, has been used for centuries in European folk medicine as a remedy for headaches, arthritis, and fevers. The term fever few is adapted from the Latin word febrifugia or “fever reducer.” Fever few products usually consist of dried fever few leaves, but all parts of the plant that grow above ground may also be used for medicinal purposes

• Can migraine be treated naturally

Fever few gained popularity in the 1980s as an alternative to conventional medications for migraine headaches. A survey of 270 migraine sufferers in Great Britain revealed that more than 70% of individuals felt substantially better after ingesting an average of two to three fresh fever few leaves daily

• Chemical composition of fever few

The most well-studied and abundant group of active compounds in fever few are the sesquiterpene lactones. Of these lactones, parthenolide is the most prominent. Many of the pharmacological effects of feverfew extracts are attributed to parthenlide which helps relieve smooth muscle spasms. In particular, it helps prevent the constriction of blood vessels in the brain (one of the leading causes of migraine headaches). Parthenolide also inhibits the actions of compounds that cause inflammation.

Tags: Ayurvedic, diabetes, homeopathic, herbal, chinese

Pregnancy is filled with a multitude of changes.  It is easy for women to feel out of control over the changes that take place in their bodies and long for some sense of normalcy and authority. 

The cuteness industry doesn’t miss an opportunity to capitalize on this desire.  The market is filled with products that claim to give new and expectant mothers back their youthful skin.  Stretch marks are often an unpleasant side effect of pregnancy and many women find themselves looking for a solution to these disagreeable skin issues.

What is a Stretch Mark?

A stretch mark is actually a tear in the dermal or center layer of skin caused by sustained stretching of the skin.  Certain medications and hormones can also cause stretch marks.  They appear as deep red or purple furrows in the skin that are recurringly referred to as striae for their stripped pattern of occurrence.   They are permanent and can only be purged by surgical removal of the affected skin by a synthetic surgeon.

Many products claim to erase, fade or put a stop to stretch marks. Among the oldest and most popularly trusted products are stretch mark oils.  Many types of oils are used for stretch mark treatment.  Some of the more popular stretch mark oils are Vitamin E oil, Vitamin A oil, olive oil, emu oil, and squalene oil. These stretch mark oils are popular during pregnancy to help increase the elasticity of the skin to help it better withstand the stretching that occurs during