Simple Tips to Lose Belly Fat By Courtney Smith

Some will say that the hardest fat to lose is belly fat. You may have it from years of poor diet or maybe you just had a baby. Regardless of where it came from it needs to go, and I think you will agree with me, the sooner the better.

One thing you should keep in mind when working off that belly fat and that is you did not build it up overnight and it may take a little time to get rid of it. Even with this being said, you should be able to start seeing results within a short amount of time. Just be consistent and give what you are doing time to work.

Tip 1 would be to reduce your sugar intake. Try and avoid, as much as possible, sweets and foods that are high in sugar. You can also use some sugar substitutes if you have sweet tooth.

Tip 2 is that you should eat a "good" breakfast. This will help with maintaining a high metabolism throughout the day and will aid in fat burning. Some things to consider eating would be fresh fruit and whole-wheat toast. For other meals I would suggest staying away from heavily processed foods, you may also want to cut down on dairy a little.

Tip 3 would be the exercise. You will want to focus on an exercise or two that you really enjoy doing; this will help you to do it consistently. If you cannot find something you enjoy doing then pick something that you do not mind doing. You can do crunches and scissor kicks to help target that specific area.

Free Guide For Belly-Fat, learn more about how to lose that belly fat and have that flat stomach you want.

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5 Killer Tips on Successful Flossing By Sue Davies

Flossing should be a key part of your dental hygiene routine.

Flossing your teeth on a daily basis will not only keep your mouth and breath fresh it also reduces the bacteria left in your mouth from eating and therefore stops tooth decay and gum.

The bacteria left in your mouth from eating through the day will produce acid, which eats into tooth enamel; these bacteria also emit sulfur compounds, which add to the problem of bad breath.

If you don't floss regularly and allow plaque to remain in between teeth it will eventually harden into a substance known as tartar. Tartar is a hard substance that can only be removed by your dentist.

Tip 1 - Choose a waxed nylon floss.
This wax coating means that the floss will glide between your teeth easier than the unwaxed versions. If you have wider gaps between your teeth you can try using tape floss, which is wider and will catch more food particles.

Tip 2 - Tear off enough floss for your whole mouth.
You really need to use a section of floss about a foot and a half long each time you floss. Wrap one end of the floss around your index finger and the other end of the floss around a finger or your thumb on your other hand, almost like you would hold an elastic band before pinging it!

Tip 3 - Curve the floss.
Once you have the floss in between two teeth gently curve the floss around one tooth and slide gently back and forth - this will catch any particles stuck onto the side of the tooth.

Tip 4 - Use a new section of floss for each tooth.
Remember to move to a new clean section of the floss for each tooth. Using the same section will just spread the bacteria and food across your mouth instead of clearing it onto the floss.

Tip 5 - Always rinse afterwards.
After flossing remember to rinse your mouth out, either with a mild mouthwash or with cool water, this will remove any food particles left in your mouth from flossing.

By including flossing in your daily dental routine you are reducing your chance of getting bad breath, gingivitis and gum disease.

Floss daily for a fresh mouth and clean pearly whites.

Sue Davies has created a complimentary report, including tips on how to banish your bad breath for good. To download it instantly visit http://www.banishbadbreathforgood.com

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How To Ease Tooth Pain Until You Can Get Into The Dentist By Dr. Scott Watkins

Toothaches can be one of the most irritating things because of how much pain it can cause, it is almost enough to drive you crazy. The worst part about a really bad toothache is the constant throbbing that never seems to go away. It seems like every time you breathe or move the pain intensifies, no matter how hard you try to avoid the tooth that hurts. Majority of the time this pain is caused by a cavity, but sometimes that pain can be caused from an abscess tooth or an injury to the mouth.

The only way to fix any of those problems is to go into the dentist, but even the best dentist might not be able to see you immediately. With a toothache sometimes even having to wait a day to get into your dentist can seem like forever. The good news is there are quite a few things you can try to help ease the pain until you can get into the dentist.

Tip one:

Try gently removing any food particles from the tooth with your toothbrush or dental floss. Afterwards swish some warm salt water around in your mouth to help ease the pain and to make sure that all of the food particles have been removed. The good thing with the warm salt water is it can be done as often as necessary.

Tip two:

When you are eating try to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. Also try to stay away from foods that are very hot or very cold as this could cause the tooth to hurt even more. Also sticking with soft foods will help to avoid putting pressure on the tooth. Be sure to gently brush your teeth after eating to avoid having food particles stuck in the tooth.

Tip three:

Try putting a cotton ball soaked in clove oil directly on the tooth. Clove oil has soothing and infection-fighting properties that might help to relieve the pain. If this makes your tooth ache worse immediately remove the cotton ball and rinse your mouth really good with warm salt water.

Tip four:

You can also try placing a tea bag between the infected tooth and your cheek or holding the tea bag gently between your teeth.

Tip five:

A tried and true method is using an ice pack. You can use frozen vegetables in a bag, a zip lock sandwich bag with a few ice cubes, or a regular ice pack to help provide relief. Simply hold the ice pack on the outside of the cheek closest to the tooth that hurts.

Tip six:

You can also use over the counter topical medications that contain numbing medications. The medication used to numb the tooth can be lidocaine or benzocaine. Orajel is an over the counter product that you apply directly to the tooth and it usually provides instant relief.

Tip seven:

You can also take over the counter pain relievers such as aspirin, Tylenol, and ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is probably the best choice because it contains an anti-inflammatory that will reduce any swelling in your gums, as well as provide pain relief. Some people might recommend that you chew the pain relievers or rub it on your gums, but do not do this as it can cause new or further injury to the gums.

Tip eight:

If the pain does not get better or just continues to get worse you can go to the nearest emergency room to get prescription painkillers.

Regardless of what method or methods you use to help relieve the pain you need to get into the dentist as soon as possible. Remember when going to see the dentist be sure to tell him about anything you did to help relieve the pain.

Dr. Scott Watkins and Dr. William Watkins are leading dentists in Dallas, Pennsylvania. Dr. Scott Watkins and Dr. William Watkins specializes in Dallas Smile Makeovers, Dental Implants and Sedation Dentistry. Visit us for more information on Dr. Scott Watkins and Dr. William Watkins and the Wyoming Valley Smile Center, or call (570) 675-1138.

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Teeth Whitening Tips By Chloe Harkin

Most whitening procedures use hydrogen peroxide (the same chemical used to bleach hair), or carbamide peroxide to lighten stains and brighten the natural colouring of your teeth. In general, the quicker the method of bleaching (as little as one hour) the more expensive it is. Less costly methods of tooth whitening can sometimes take weeks to work. After treatment the whiteness can last for years, but this does depend on your lifestyle. Eating and drinking foods that stain tooth enamel will speed up the decline more quickly. However, regularly using whitening toothpaste, which has a very small concentration of peroxide in it, will help keep teeth brighter for longer.

TEETH WHITENING METHODS - IN BRIEF

Laser Bleaching

"I'll be the first to admit, dental office teeth whitening has come a long way in the past 10 years. Now, the most popular teeth whitening dental office procedure known as Laser Bleaching is a much shorter process. Basically this teeth whitening procedure consists of the application of a concentrated peroxide gel onto your teeth, then for the next hour you sit in a dental chair with your mouth wide open, while a special light (usually argon) is shined onto the teeth whitening paste that in turn chemically reacts with the peroxide to complete the teeth whitening process in as short a time period as possible. This teeth whitening procedure does work. Although, many dentists say that you get a whiter smile by repeated tray applications because the teeth whitening peroxide stays in contact with your teeth for longer periods of time. The downside is that you still get stuck with that fat $500 - $1,000 bill. And you still need to either come back 6 months later for another teeth whitening or you're given some take home whitening items!"

BriteSmile a leading accelerated technique is $500-$600 for a one-hour treatment. It involves gas-plasma light technology developed by a NASA scientist. A gel with 15% hydrogen peroxide is applied and then activated by light during three 20 minute sessions. A quote from BriteSmile:
"good oral hygiene and regular professional care will help maintain the BriteSmile results for about two years"

Dentist Supervised Treatments

These are generally just as effective as well as being slightly cheaper. They start from $300, but you have to watch out as some dentists will charge up to $650 for these! The dentist takes an impression of your teeth, and subsequently makes a flexible plastic mould which has a thin space for the whitening fluid. You can either wear this overnight, or wear from one to two hours a day for two weeks. Don't choose the overnight system if you are a light sleeper! The amount of carbamide peroxide in the gel can vary from 5% to 30%. For example, Colgate's overnight system uses 10% which is a fairly low concentration. High peroxide levels are obviously more effective but can irritate gums and make teeth feel sensitive.

Over the Counter

The Food and Drug Administration prohibits products sold in drugstores from having a concentration higher than 3% for hydrogen peroxide and 10% for carbamide peroxide. I will give you a few examples of the most successful brands available.

Rembrandt Plus Superior Bleaching System, $32.50: two plastic 'Comfort-Fit Mouthguards'. Wear them for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day and according to the packaging, "expect results within a week". I would personally advise that like all over the counter methods it may take more time and effort than this due to the imprecise fit of the mouth trays.

Crest Whitestrips, $44: The thin strips are inexpensive and easy to use, but they do require a fair amount of discipline and patience. You peel them off a plastic backing and stick them on your teeth for 30 minutes, twice a day. However, they only have 5% hydrogen peroxide and therefore take 28 days to show results.

Whitening Toothpastes: Let me just start off by saying that these have many drawbacks, particularly as they take a very long time to show any real results. Like many cosmetic products nowadays, many claims made are misleading. For example, the success of whitening toothpaste is directly related to how long and often you brush your teeth for. BUT, over brushing your teeth can cause the loss of tooth enamel and this can't be replaced. They are a much more effective product once laser treatment or moulds have been used, in order to prevent discolouration.

I have done a lot of independent research on the subject of teeth whitening, related treatments and products. All the information and reviews can be found at http://www.teethwhitetips.blogspot.com or an excellent free report by an industy expert can be obtained by e-mailing teethwhitetips@getresponse.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chloe_Harkin

Maryland Improving Affordable Dental Care for Children by Susan Braden

Maryland is working to make affordable dental care available to its citizens -- especially its children. According to a 2010 report by the Pew Center on the States, nearly 17 million children nationwide live without proper dentistry each year. Maryland is one of the few states attempting to right this situation. Only 6 states in the report received a grade of "A" for sufficient care, and Maryland was one of those states.

Maryland entered the national spotlight in 2007 when a 12-year-old resident died of an infection from an abscessed tooth, which fatally spread to his brain. After the incident, Maryland residents appeared to realize that the quality and availability of care for children in their state had to change. In 2008, Maryland took quick action to improve the quality of its Medicaid by adding more providers, and investing $7 million in reimbursement rates.

The Pew Center report notes that "Unlike so many of America's other health care problems, the challenge of ensuring disadvantaged children's dental health and access to care is one that can be overcome." Though Maryland is attempting to overcome this situation, unfortunately, there are not very many other states that are actively pursuing obtaining oral care for more of their young citizens.

The main problem in other states is simply a lack of available Medicaid dentists -- the reimbursement rate for Medicaid does not make them as much money as insurance coverage does. When children are not able to have regular checkups, both their oral health and overall health can be at risk. According to the report, twice as many people do not have oral health coverage as those who do not have health insurance.

Lack of low cost care is a serious problem that requires an immediate remedy. The Pew Center on the states report had this to say about finding affordable dental care: "There are a variety of solutions [that] can be achieved at relatively little cost, and the return on investment for children and taxpayers will be significant."

Feline Gum Disease by Robin Owl

Cats have dental disease too. According to Dr. Arnold Plotnick of Manhattan, feline periodontal disease affect cats that are 5 years and older. It leads to tooth loss, heart failure and sinus infections. It is also known as the inflammation of the tissues that surround and support the teeth. This kind of disease weakens the teeth of the cat and it may lead to other more serious medical conditions.

There are signs and symptoms that may affect the cat's health. These include the appearance of the teeth and gums. There are yellow or brown spots on the teeth, reddened edges of the gum lines or receding gum lines. It also includes mouth pain, difficulty in chewing food and blood-tinged drool, loss of appetite, pawing of the mouth area, facial swelling, and rubbing the face against floors, walls or furniture. This condition occurs in more than 80% of cats starting at the age of 3. The signs may be detected and it is done in a timely manner and it can be prevented.

There are two main causes of the disease. First are the over-crowded teeth. Secondly is based on the genes of the cat. It may also be due to poor oral hygiene, tartar and plaque buildup. When the teeth are crooked, this may lead to gum disease. Some cats may be able to fight against gum disease while others experience it at the early age. Cats that are pure breed are more prone to develop the disease. Some pure breeds like Persians, Siamese and Himalayans suffer from this disease.

There are also types of gum disease. It can take in different forms. Gingivitis is the mildest. In this condition, the gum tissue is swollen and infected. It occurs when there are deposits of tartar near the gum line. Harmful bacteria may attack the gum tissue causing inflammation. It will lead to periodontal disease that will attack the alveolar bone and the ligaments and may cause the loss of teeth. It may also be in the form of plasmactic lymphocytic stomatitis. It occurs when the cat is allergic to the plaque deposits. It will have inflamed gums.

To prevent your cat from the gum disease, you must take good care of it by giving it a regular dental care and maintenance. There is special formulated toothpaste that is suited for your cat's teeth. You may ask your veterinarian about it. You can take it to the veterinarian to take dental exams to prevent any upcoming problems in dental area. The doctor may recommend oral radiographies or x-rays to identify the disease if it is severe or not. Often, that cat will be anesthetized. The tooth debris with any infection will be removed.

Orthodontist Selection by Joseph Burch

Their main focus is on the prevention and treatment of "improper bites". Failure to receive orthodontic care when necessary can result in serious tooth problems including misplaced teeth, crooked jaws and generally poor dental health. Orthodontics is one of several subclasses of dentistry.

Like most health related issues, the sooner you catch a dental problem the better. Orthodontic check ups are no exception. It is a widely accepted norm that by the age of at least seven all children should receive some kind of orthodontic evaluation. Many issues that orthodontists deal with can take years to fix and catching them at an early stage could end up saving you hundreds if not 1000's of dollars.

Some adults who needed treatment as children, but whose parents didn't have the resources or opportunity to provide them treatment, often think it's too late for them to get help. While an older adult's jaw and teeth may no longer be growing, they can still be shaped with professional help. Don't underestimate what a well trained and well equipped orthodontist can accomplish when they get you into their office! Even small improvements to your jaw and tooth alignment can pay off over the years in greater comfort and longer lasting teeth.What specifically does an orthodontist do? Basically they use various procedures and specific tools to shape and sculpt the jaw and teeth so they grow in as straight as possible. Again, the sooner a problem is dealt with the better. The good news however, is that even if you have needed and avoided treatment for years, it is not too late; in order to avoid early loss of teeth and other mouth problems, it is still worthwhile for adults to get to an orthodontist. New procedures and treatments are constantly being developed and a good orthodontist will keep up-to-date with the best and newest techniques.

It's not easy to find a good orthodontist in some locations. Obviously, if you trust your dentist, go with thier recommendations at least initially. Be sure to query acquaintances, look at some online reviews, and of course check out the websites. In addition, be sure to:

Start a spreadsheet in your computer, or go low tech and use a piece of paper to begin recording and organizing information about each possible orthodontist you come across during your research.
Figure out if you are covered under insurance or benefits and perhaps bring it up when talking to the receptionist.
If you've done some online research, you should be aware of some current trends in the field. Ask about them to see if they are familiar with them and if they offer them; this is a good sign if they do, as it illustrates they are up-to-date.
Given the possiblity of cancellations and short notice visits from their existing clients, be prepared with your schedule in case they want to get you in sooner than you expected.
Once you've done the initiall call through, review your notes and make a short list of potential offices and doctors.
Call your shortlist with any remaining or new questions you've come up with, and/or to schedule a consult.
A good orthodontist and office staff will happily answer all your questions. The more you know about each place the more informed of a decision you can make!