Enjoyourlives.com Blog

Enjoy working, enjoy life! A man who knows recreation and leisure is a jolly man.

Say No to Your Dandruff!

Tags: , , , ,

dandruff-pictureDandruff is very common around the crowds.How to handle Dandruff?This article will tell you.

Dandruff is a widely well-known issue of the hair and can be a source of significant harm to ones hair. This is why it is critical to get the achievable measures needed for finding rid of dandruff. If you want to control your dandruff problem, there are several ways of doing so. You can handle your dandruff obviously or can also use other treatments for your dandruff.

A single of the normal methods of controlling dandruff is oiling the hair nicely as utilizing a good natural shampoo and conditioner. With the support of a light massage of the scalp with very hot oil, you can help your dandruff dilemma to a considerable extent. Coconut oil, almond oil and olive oil are also great agents for fighting dandruff. You ought to utilize one particular of these oils and then leave it in the hair overnight. In the early morning, before washing, a minor bit of lemon juice really should be applied to the scalp prior to washing.

If you want natural therapy for your dandruff issue, you can also use henna along with lemon, egg or curd for avoiding dandruff. Apple cider vinegar can also be applied to the scalp for avoiding dandruff. Soon after application, you ought to allow it dry and then wash the hair. This process may possibly be repeated day-to-day.

Other than the organic treatments, there are also a lot of other sorts of treatments available to support you with your dandruff issue. You can also use a two-punch shampoo technique for washing your hair in purchase to fight dandruff. Such a shampoo possesses the ability of killing the fungus that brings about the dandruff.

If you are going through dandruff issues, it is essential to maintain in brain that largely the trigger of the dandruff is a fungus that is induced when the hair is neglected and is not effectively taken care of. So, if you want to handle and battle dandruff on a typical foundation, you need to have to just take care of your hair and maintain on employing the natural techniques that can aid you battle the dandruff. A lot more significant remedies should be used only when other treatments prove ineffective.

So,do you know how to deal with dandruff?

How much Water do You Really Need a Day?

Tags: , , , , , , ,

drink water

Do you really need 8 glasses of water a day?What we have be told to know is that we need 6-8 galsses o water a day.It is said to be scientific.But a Scottish physician has blasted that standard in a British Medical Journal article, stirring the debate about how much water we should drink and how much is too much and bad for our health.Dr. Margaret McCartney argues there is no quality scientific evidence to support the recommendation, which she says can lead to over-hydration problems for some people.

Here’s what you need to know to sort hydration hype from good health advice.

Don’t skimp

The eight-glass formula doesn’t fit for everyone. It depends on your gender, size, and level of activity, other studies note. The Institute of Medicine calls for adult men to drink 13 cups of fluid daily (which totals three liters, or a little more than four tall reusable water bottles) and women to have nine cups (2.2 liters, or about the amount found in three reusable water bottles). That number changes according to lifestyle. The more active a person is, the more they will need to replace fluids. Larger people, pregnant and nursing women, and those who take dehydrating medications also will likely need to account for that by adding more water to their diet.

If you are active, it’s also important to account for your environment when calculating how much fluid you need. If you are exercising in temperatures that are very hot (likely leading you sweat more) or very cold (which can stunt your ability to sense dehydration), are an endurance athlete, or are active in a high-altitude area, you will probably need to up your water intake.

Don’t overdo it

The debate about how much water we really need to be drinking is centered around the risk of hyponatremia, or taking in more fluid that the body loses while sweating. It is a serious condition that occurs when there is not enough sodium (or salt) in the body fluids outside of the cells. This can cause swelling, including of the brain. Hyponatremia happens when a person sweats excessively in one stint, does not eat, does not urinate enough, and drinks a great deal of water. Symptoms include confusion, headaches, muscle spasms, vomiting, convulsions, and fatigue. In the worst cases, hyponatremia can lead to seizures, coma, and even death.

There are exceptions for medical conditions and other situations, but  athletes are often watched for signs of hyponatremia, especially those participating in endurance events like a marathon or triathlon.

Experts advise taking in some electrolyte-replacement fluids in addition to drinking water while you are exercising. However, you really only need a minimal amount to keep your body in balance and give you an energy kick. For example, it is recommended that runners out for 30 minutes to an hour take in three to six ounces of fluid every 15 or 20 minutes, including one sports drink. There’s also evidence that simply taking sips or swishing a sports drink will do the trick.

Don’t get sucked in to the sports drink hype

The risks of hyponatremia are steep, but take the hype about over-hydrating with a grain of salt. The multi-billion-dollar sports drink industry has pushed the idea that most people need more than water when they are active. However, some experts say that most people don’t need a lot of sports beverages, and that they often just add calories to diets. The CDC recommends choosing sports drinks that do not have added sugar, which can total 38 grams in just one bottle.

Consider these other drinks that carry the same benefits of electrolyte-replacement beverages but also have nutritional value or are less caloric:

  • Chocolate milk beat out water, sports drinks and regular milk in a recent study of what is the best post-exercise drink for our bodies. Lowfat milk has also been touted as an ideal remedy for muscles that have been rigorously exercised.
  • Coconut water is a nonfat beverage that has about half the calories of a sports drink while being high in potassium and antioxidants. Coconut water works best for average athletes.
  • Pickle juice is packed with sodium and, if you can bear it, can be added to water or made into popsicles for hot-weather workouts. There’s also scientific and anecdotal evidence that drinking a shot out of the pickle jar will help alleviate muscle cramps faster.
  • Beetroot juice has recently been recognized as a new “super drink” after one study found it helped competitive cyclists cut down their times by a few critical seconds. Not taking part in the Tour de France? Then keep an eye out for more research on how this alternative beverage might help weekend warriors.

Count other drinks besides water as fluids

It’s OK to include other drinks when you’re measuring how many fluids you take in per day. However, that isn’t a license to subsist on soda, coffee, and sugary drinks. Although caffeine in soda and coffee won’t dehydrate you, they shouldn’t be used to quench thirst or as a substitute for water. Add them to your fluid tally, but do reach for water more often than you pop open a can of bubbly stuff.

People who imbibe, particularly wine and hard liquors, should also be aware that those drinks with a high alcohol content can be dehydrating. Beer, however, is less dehydrating because it is predominantly water. Drinking a glass of water before and after alcohol can’t hurt fluid intake or the chances of avoiding a headache the next day.

Eat your water

You don’t always have to sip to stay hydrated. Experts say that 20 percent (or 2-1/2 cups) of the water we ingest comes from the foods we eat. Choosing the right water-rich fruits and vegetables will also add nutrients to your diet, fill you up, and may even give some oomph to your exercise.

Fruits like strawberries, cantaloupes, and peaches are packed full of water and potassium, which is the electrolyte shed when your body sweats. Adding more to your daily diet will help balance the fluids your body needs, regulate your heartbeat and circulation, and tastes better than chugging an energy drink.

Selecting foods that fuel your health while helping keep you hydrated will give you more bang for your buck. Watermelon offers a vitamin C boost, broccoli helps fight cancer, pineapple aids muscle recovery after a big workout, and yogurt ups immunity.

Sneak in the good stuff

If you’re up to your ears in cucumber salad or can’t manage to down another bottle of water, work in little ways to stay hydrated. Add slices of orange, lime, kiwi, or watermelon to a jug of water for a burst of natural flavor. Make a regular old glass of tap water feel fancier by adding fizz with a counter-top carbonator. Take 10 minutes once a week to stock your fridge, car, gym bag, and desk with water bottles so it’s convenient to grab water wherever you spend most of your day.  Finally, you can up your fluid intake with one little step by simply adding a straw to your glass of water.

How much water do you drink a day?

12 Tips to Help You Quit Smoking

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

quit smokingDo you smoke seriously?You must know the harm of smoking,and you know that you should not smoke any more.However,the most difficult thing is quiting smoking.You may have tried to quit,but you can not stick to do that.Your past failures are not a lesson that you are unable to quit. Instead, view them as part of the normal journey toward becoming a nonsmoker.

Here are 12 techniques that will help you quit the habit. Remember – you can do it!

1. Deep Breathing Perhaps The Single Most Powerful And Important Technique: Every time you want a cigarette, do the following. Do it three times.

Inhale the deepest lung-full of air you can, and then, very slowly, exhale. Purse your lips so that the air must come out slowly. As you exhale, close your eyes, and let your chin gradually sink over onto your chest. Visualize all the tension leaving your body, slowly draining out of your fingers and toes, just flowing on out.

This is a variation of a yoga technique and is very relaxing. If you practice this, you’ll be able to use it for any future stressful situation you find yourself in. And it will be your greatest weapon during the strong cravings sure to assault you over the first few days.

2. Taking In Fluids:
The first few days, drink LOTS of water and fluids to help flush out the nicotine and other poisons from your body.

Remember that the urge to smoke only lasts a few minutes, and will then pass. The urges gradually become farther and farther apart as the days go by.

3. Stay Away From Alcohol, Sugar And Coffee
Do your very best to stay away from alcohol, sugar and coffee the first week or longer, as these tend to stimulate the desire for a cigarette. Avoid fatty foods, as your metabolism will slow down a bit without the nicotine, and you may gain weight even if you eat the same amount as before quitting. So discipline about diet is extra important now. No one ever said acquiring new habits would be easy!

Nibble on low calorie foods like celery, apples and carrots. Chew gum or suck on cinnamon sticks.

Stretch out your meals; eat slowly and wait a bit between bites.

After dinner, instead of a cigarette, treat yourself to a cup of mint tea or a peppermint candy.

4.Taking An Oral Substitute
In one study, about 25% of quitters found that an oral substitute was invaluable. Another 25% didn’t like the idea at all – they wanted a clean break with cigarettes. The rest weren’t certain.

One can use cinnamon sticks, chewing gum or artificial cigarettes as a substitute. You will mostly find that after the first week of being a non smoker, you wouldn’t even need these.

5. Get Exercising
Go to a gym, sit in the steam, exercise. Change your normal routine – take time to walk or even jog around the block or in the local park.

6.Pamper Yourself
Go ahead and join a yoga class or maybe reiki – they’re great! Get a one hour massage, take a long bath – pamper yourself. Get yourself involved in a hobby.

7. Ask For Support
Ask for support from co-workers, friends and family members. Ask for their tolerance. Let them know you’re quitting, and that you might be edgy or grumpy for a few days. If you don’t ask for support, you certainly won’t get any. If you do, you’ll be surprised how much it can help. Take a chance – try it and see!

Ask friends and family members not to smoke in your presence. Don’t be afraid to ask. This is more important than you may realize.

8. Destroy All Your Cigarettes
On your quit day, hide all ashtrays and destroy all your cigarettes, preferably with water, so no part of them is smokeable.

9. Write It Down
Write down ten good things about being a nonsmoker – and then write out ten bad things about smoking. Do it. It really helps.

10. Don’t Pretend
Don’t pretend smoking wasn’t enjoyable – it was. This is like losing a good friend – and it’s okay to grieve the loss. Feel that grief, don’t worry, it’s okay. Feel, and you heal. Stay with it – you can do it!

11. Affirm Yourself
Several times a day, quietly repeat to yourself the affirmation, “I am a nonsmoker.” Many quitters see themselves as smokers who are just not smoking for the moment. They have a self-image as smokers who still want a cigarette.

Silently repeating the affirmation “I am a nonsmoker” will help you change your view of yourself, and, even if it may seem silly to you, this is actually useful. Use it!

12. Holding Out
Here is perhaps the most valuable information among these points. In Phase 2, the period which begins a few weeks after quitting, the urges to smoke will subside considerably.

However, it’s vital to understand that from time to time, you will still be suddenly overwhelmed with a desire for “just one cigarette.” This will happen unexpectedly, during moments of stress, whether negative stress or positive (at a party, or on vacation). If you are unprepared to resist, succumbing to that “one cigarette” will lead you directly back to smoking.

Remember the following secret: in these surprise attacks during Phase 2 – and they will definitely come – do your deep breathing, and hold on for five minutes, and the urge will pass.

In conclusion
Remember that if you quit you will live longer and feel better. Quitting will lower your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or cancer. The people you live with, especially children, will be healthier. If you are pregnant, you will improve your chances of having a healthy baby. And you will have extra money to spend on things other than cigarettes.

So get the information and support you need to make the stopping process a little easier. Seek the help of family and friends, and most important decide you want to do it and visualize yourself as a non-smoker.

7 Reasons Explain Ladies’ Tiredness

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Do you always feel that you are overly exhausted and that you can not bear any more.The physical complaint of being “worn out” is one of women’s top five health concerns when they visit their doctor.When you are tired,you should consider whether you have some uncomfortable of your body.Here is a checklist of seven biggies reasons about why you are so tired.

Heart Disease

Women manifest symptoms of heart disease differently than men. Twice as many women die of stroke or heart disease than any other form of cancer. If you have risk factors such as obesity, diabetes or high blood pressure be sure to have an annual physical.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency has been a large part of growing studies. For women, deficiency in this vitamin can lead to impaired bone strength. A simple blood test can help resolve the question. Reasons why we are deficient? Many women have milk allergies; we have decreased exposure to sun, which promotes vitamin metabolism; many women are vegan or vegetarian. The recommended amount is 600 IU daily for women under 70 and 800 IU for women over 70.

Anemia

Iron deficiency can be a major cause of anemia and fatigue. Once again, following a strict vegan or vegetarian diet can decrease iron rich foods you intake. Folate is also important for red blood cell metabolism—and therefore energy. Also, a female can lose a lot of blood during her period and this can lead to chronic anemia. If you do follow a strict diet, it is worth seeing a nutritionist once to be sure that you have proper vitamin and mineral supplementation to keep your blood count adequate.

Depression

Depression and fatigue fuel one another, it seems. Biggest advice, talk with your doctor about how you are feeling. Treating depression, even beginning to acknowledge it, will help.  Why live with something treatable?

Lack of sleep

When juggling so very much, women over-burn the midnight oil. I know that after the kids go to bed I often put in another hour of work and then load/empty/reload the dishwasher and the list doesn’t end. One night a week just go to bed and get that full eight hours… trust me, the dishes aren’t going anywhere on their own.

Thyroid problems

That little gland in the middle of your neck is your energy guru. Either overactive or under active, it can create major fatigue. If it’s underactive your energy just cannot get that boost. If it is overactive your energy stores burn out quickly. Thyroid problems are common in women, especially post pregnancy.

Sleep apnea

This is a major under diagnosed disorder in women. If you snore, please tell your doctor. Sleep apnea is a condition that halts your breathing through the night and your brain wakes you up to restart the flow of breathing. The result… you never get great deep sleep and feel very tired during the day. Treatment can really change your life.  If overweight, weight loss will also be recommended.

9 Foods are Good for Your Brain

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are you working hard with your strong brain?Do you want to become smarter? Many recent studies have shown how certain nutrients can positively affect the brain, specifically in areas of the brain related to cognitive processing or feelings and emotions.

Generally speaking, you want to follow a healthy diet for your brain that will lead to strong blood flow, maintenance of mental sharpness, and reduction of the risk of heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

We know that foods play a great role in our brain, as concluded in several studies led by a phenomenal neuroscientist at UCLA, Gomez Pinilla.

According to one study, the super-fats your brain needs most are omega-3 fatty acids. Your brain converts them into DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) which enhances neuronal communication and promotes neuronal growth.

Food and nutrients represent fuel to our bodies the same way that when we use our car we need to fill the gas tank. Unfortunately, we generally take better care of our cars than our bodies. Why is that? We are hearing frequently that consuming the right nutrients can help our health, aging process, and more efficient brain-body functioning.

With that said, I want to share with you 10 foods you must keep in your diet to maintain brain health:

  1. Apples: Eating an apple a day protects the brain from oxidative damage that causes neurodegenerative diseases such Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This magical nutrient that acts as protection is quercetin, which is a phytonutrient.
  2. Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate offers incredible concentration powers. It is a very powerful antioxidant containing natural stimulants that increase the production of feel-good endorphins. Trick: You need to find dark chocolate with less than 10 grams of sugar per serving for optimal benefits.
  3. Salmon: Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids, which studies have shown to be essential for brain function.
  4. Dried oregano: Certain spices have powerful antioxidant properties. In several studies, oregano was shown to have 40 times more antioxidant properties than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges, and 4 times more than that of blueberries or strawberries.
  5. Asparagus: Asparagus is rich in folic acid, which is essential for the metabolism of the long chain fatty acids in your brain.
  6. Lean Beef: Lean beef is rich in vitamin B12, iron and zinc. These vitamins and minerals have been shown to maintain a healthy neural tissue.
  7. Walnuts: Walnuts are rich in protein and contain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins E and B6, which all promote healthy neural tissue.
  8. Whole grains: Whole grains deliver fiber and vitamin E that help promote cardiovascular health, which helps improve the circulation to the brain.
  9. Yogurt: Yogurt and other dairy foods are filled with protein and vitamin B that are essential to improve the communication between nerve cells.

Make sure that from now on you select and plan a great menu that include these brain foods. Life is about choices and selecting the right nutrients can play a key role in your health.

Keep Your Skin from Summer’s Sunshine

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Sunshine is not lovely any more in summer.It brings you more troubles to you.If you do not have a good method to keep your skin from sunshine,you may get sunburnt.UV radiation is a known carcinogen, and sunburns are associated with an increased risk of malignant melanoma, a potentially life-threatening cancer.

Remember to apply sunscreen before you leave home for the beach, before you even get dressed. Most people forget to apply sunscreen to their eyelids, ears, the backs of their necks, their backs and the backs of their legs.

Have a buddy at home help you out with sunscreen application on your back. Sunscreen sprays, like Neutrogena’s Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock, also simplify the application process; you can even spray your own back with it. For your face, I recommend Neutrogena’s Age Shield Face Sunblock with SPF 110. It protects beautifully and effectively, doesn’t leave a white film and won’t clog your pores. Remember to reapply every two hours in the sun and after every dip in the water.

There are clothing lines and beach umbrellas available that have a UV protection factor, a measurement much like the SPF of a sunscreen. Look for the UPF when you are shopping and get added protection when you are out at the beach. I found a great beach umbrella with UPF at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Remember that being under an umbrella doesn’t protect you from UV rays that reflect off the sand.

Keep in mind that the sun can burn even dark skin. Given enough time in the sun, every skin type can burn. Never underestimate how much damage it can do; there have been many times that I have treated sunburns in people who went swimming on a cloudy day and didn’t think they needed sunscreen. The same goes for those who thought they’d close their eyes and relax for a minute in the sun only to wake up two hours later with blisters on their body.

Sometimes the increased humidity can cause increased sweat production, leading to comedogenesis, or clogged pores. In order to combat this, a prescription topical retinoid cream is necessary. The topical retinoid cream will clear out those pores and keep them clear. Ask your dermatologist which one is good for your skin type and how to use it.

Keep in mind all the water activities and sunscreens can end up irritating your skin; vary your activities so that your skin gets a chance to recuperate between your days at the beach.

While you are at the beach, if you happen to spot a mole on someone’s back that doesn’t match the other moles, let that person know. This sign, called the “Ugly Duckling” sign, could be an early melanoma. Letting that person know what’s on their back can save their life.

  • Author: steven
  • Published: Jul 12th, 2011
  • Category: Health
  • Comments: 1

The Wrong Way Of Diet Makes You Fat

Tags: , , , , ,

Are you sitting in front of the computer and reading this article now? Puts your hands on your belly,and feel how fat your belly is.You may think that i do not eat much and i am not a gourmet,but why i became a fat man?From a scientific point of view,your diet may has some problems.Next,i will help you know the myths of your diet that make you fat.

Image Detail

1.The more you work out, the better. You already know that exercise is one of the best things you can do to maintain your weight and boost your overall health, but overdoing it can actually have the opposite effect. “Working out seven days a week can weaken our immune system, strain our joints, and tire us out,” Snyderman says. “Your muscles need time to repair so they can be more efficient during your next session.” And if you’re exercising with improper form due to fatigue, you’ll actually burn fewer calories than if you were exercising correctly, she says. To prevent workout burnout, schedule at least one day off a week, and change things up a bit each session—by doing arm weights one day, say, and leg moves the next—to avoid overusing one set of muscles. Be sure to keep your back straight and not to lean on the handles of cardio equipment, to prevent injury and maximize calorie burn.

2.Muscle weighs more than fat. If you’ve been working out and the scale reading is higher than you’d like, it’s tempting to tell yourself, “Well, that’s just muscle weight.” After all, muscle’s heavier than fat, right? Not so much: There’s no such thing as “muscle weight,” Snyderman says. A pound of muscle and a pound of fat both weigh…a pound! But because muscle is more dense than fat, having more muscle on your frame than fat makes you look leaner. And there’s another benefit: One pound of muscle burns an estimated 50 calories a day, while a pound of fat burns about two calories a day—so the leaner you get, the higher your metabolic rate. “Aerobic exercise, like biking and running, sheds fat, while weight-lifting helps build muscle mass,” Snyderman says. “Doing both is a surefire way to rev up your metabolism.”

3.Fresh fruits and veggies are more nutritious than frozen or canned. Frozen and canned produce can be equally as healthful as—and even more economical than—the fresh stuff, Snyderman says. Frozen fruits and vegetables are often flash-frozen straight off the vine, which helps them retain nutrients. And some canned produce is actually more nutritious than the fresh, raw kind, since we absorb antioxidants like the lycopene found in tomatoes and the beta-carotene contained in carrots more easily when they come from veggies that have been cooked. Bottom line: “It doesn’t matter how you get your fruits and vegetables, as long as you’re eating them,” Snyderman says.

4.Weight gain is inevitable as you get older. “This myth stems from the fact that belly fat begins to creep on as we get older, but a bulge is avoidable,” Snyderman says. Most of that fat isn’t gained—it’s weight that’s shifted due to hormone changes, childbirth, or weakening bones. And you can slow the shift with strength training, according to a study from the National Institutes of Health: Overweight and obese women who lifted weights just twice a week saw a smaller increase in intra-abdominal fat (7 percent over two years) than those who didn’t exercise (their intra-abdominal fat went up 21 percent in two years). The sooner you start pumping iron, the easier it is to keep that belly trim down the road.

5.Yo-yo dieting wrecks your metabolism. It’s become common wisdom that depriving yourself of food—a.k.a. dieting—puts you into “starvation mode,” in which you burn fewer calories because your body needs to hold on to what little nutrition it’s getting; over time, the theory goes, your metabolism slows down for good. But “while extreme low-calorie diets do temporarily lower your metabolism, the effects don’t last,” Snyderman says. Researchers in Canada compared the resting metabolic rates of women who’d yo-yo dieted for an average of 18 years with what their metabolism should be for their height, weight, and age—and found no difference in 92 percent of the subjects. “Yo-yo diets don’t hurt you, but they do frustrate you because they mean you haven’t found the right way to keep the weight off,” says Snyderman.

6.You need to lose a significant amount of weight to see any health benefits. Meeting your weight-loss goal can be daunting, especially when you have a double-digit amount to lose. But shedding even just a few pounds can have a huge impact on your health. For every two pounds of excess weight you lose, your cholesterol drops an average of 3 points. And in a study from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, men and women were able to bring their blood pressure down after losing as few as nine pounds. “Our bodies can tell when we lose weight, even when it’s a minimal amount, and they adjust very quickly,” Snyderman says. “So even if you have a significant amount of weight to lose, taking it a few pounds at a time will boost your overall health—and make your ultimate goal more manageable.”

How to Keep Your Mouth and Teeth Healthy

TAGS: None

As you konw,we use our mouth and teeth to speech,to eat foods.So,taking good care of your mouth and teeth throughout your whole life can help prevent problems as you get older. Taking care of your teeth means brushing and flossing every day and seeing the dentist regularly.

But how to make our mouth and teeth health ,it is different to everyone.Beacuse it depends on how old you are.

Infants and children

Image Detail

The first set of teeth is already almost completely formed at birth. At first these teeth are “hiding” under the gums. These teeth are important, because after they come in, they let your baby chew food, make a nice smile and talk well. You baby’s first set of teeth also holds the space where permanent teeth will eventually be. They help permanent teeth grow in straight.

You can care for your baby’s teeth by following these suggestions:

  • Clean the new teeth every day. When the teeth first come in, clean them by rubbing them gently with a clean wet washcloth. When the teeth are bigger, use a child’s toothbrush.
  • Children under 2 years of age shouldn’t use toothpaste. Instead, use water to brush your child’s teeth.
  • Don’t let your baby go to sleep with a bottle. This can leave milk or juice sitting on the teeth and cause cavities that are known as “baby-bottle tooth decay.”
  • Encourage older children to eat low-sugar snacks, such as fruits, cheese and vegetables. Avoid giving your child sticky, chewy candy.
  • Teach your children how to brush their teeth and the importance of keeping their teeth clean.
  • Take your children to the dentist regularly. The American Dental Association recommends that children see their dentist starting at 1 year of age.

Teens

Taking good care of your mouth and teeth will help you have pleasant breath, a nice smile and fewer cavities. Here are some simple things you can do:
  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
  • Floss your teeth at least once a day.
  • Don’t smoke or chew tobacco, which can stain your teeth, give you bad breath and cause cancer.
  • Wear the right protective headgear while playing contact sports.
  • See your dentist every year for regular check-ups and cleanings.

Adults

Continuing good mouth and tooth care as an adult can help you avoid tooth loss, painful gums or other problems. Here are some helpful things you can do:
  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
  • Floss your teeth at least once a day.
  • Don’t smoke or chew tobacco.
  • Ask your doctor if your medicines have side effects that might damage your teeth. (For example, some medicines may cause you to have a dry mouth.)
  • Look inside your mouth regularly for sores that don’t heal, irritated gums or other changes.
  • See your dentist regularly.
If you have any problems with your teeth or concerns about your mouth, see your doctor or dentist right away.