VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 9 • SEPTEMBER 2015
Refreshing Your Health
OPEN WIDE AND SAY “AAAAH” • Love your mouth • Caring for your gums • What you should know about dentures • Potty mouth!
Open wide and say “aaaah” ORAL HEALTH IS ONE SOME PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED UNTIL IT CAUSES PROBLEMS. MAINTAIN YOUR BEAUTIFUL SMILE AND VIBRANT LAUGHTER WITH THESE ORAL HEALTH REMINDERS. Love your mouth
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When we talk about oral health, we are not just talking about your teeth, but also your gums, the lining of your mouth and cheeks, and your tonsils. While all of these may seem minor, remember the last time you had a toothache, a mouth sore (singaw), or a sore throat—or how embarassing it is to discover you have bad breath.
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VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 9 • SEPTEMBER 2015
n fact, the mouth is a very important part of your body. We use it to take in nourishment (through eating). It helps us form our words to communicate. As the first part of the digestive tract, it is also our first line of defense against bodily harm from the environment, spitting out things that could be bad for us, such as food that has gone bad.
All of us have been taught how to take care of our mouths before: by brushing our teeth and flossing. But if this is the only thing we do, then
we are only taking care of our teeth, not the whole mouth. So what does it mean to be truly mouth-healthy?
Caring for your gums
1. Brush the gumline gently. The gum line, where your gums meet the teeth, is
5. Quit smoking. Cigarette smoke not
the place where most plaque starts. Plaque
only stains teeth, but also contains chemicals
is a thin film of food and bacteria that can
that can harm your gums and cause oral
harden to form tartar, and lead to cavities.
3. Don’t forget your B vitamins.
cancer.
Gently brush along the gumline using a soft-
Your gums are the first to give when your
6. Flossing? Flossing is a good way of
bristle toothbrush. Healthy gums should not
body is starved of vitamin B. Vitamin B-rich
cleaning the sides of your teeth and other
bleed.
foods include breads, cereals, beans, and
areas where a conventional toothbrush can-
2. Load up on vitamin C. Vitamin C
dairy products such as yoghurt. Brush your
not reach. However, many people have a
helps keep your gums strong. Eat citrus fruits
teeth after eating these sugar-containing
hard time doing it, and in many occasions,
and other high-vitamin C foods, such as gua-
foods.
do more harm than good by damaging their
vas and tomatoes. Eat also lots of fruits and
4. Chew gum. Chewing sugar-free gum
gums. If you know how to floss properly
vegetables, which can gently massage your
(eg, those that replace sugar with xylitol) is
(regularly, without any pain or gum bleed-
gums as you chew. If you smoke tobacco
an effective way to massage your gums.
ing), do it. But if you have a hard time doing
or easily get sick or have mouth sores, take
More importantly, gum-chewing stimulates
it properly, or your gums bleed when you
500 mg of vitamin C supplement every day,
your salivary glands to produce more saliva,
floss, use an interdental brush instead
preferrably at night. Brush your teeth after
which can neutralize mouth acids that can
to gently clean the nooks and crannies of
eating these sugar-containing foods.
harm your gums and teeth.
your teeth and gums.
Potty mouth! The potty or restroom is a bad place to store your toothbrush. It is full of germs that can contaminate your toothbrush (which you put in your mouth). Also, when you flush, the flushing action can produce a germ-filled aerosol that can reach your toothbrush. The bathroom mirror cabinet is also not good. Store your toothbrush is a wellventilated area where it can quickly air-dry. A well-ventilated kitchen or vanity area may be better.
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VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 9 • SEPTEMBER 2015
Wash that mouth 1. Brush your tongue. Your tongue
bacteria. Do not over-do it though: 30
that a brush won’t reach. But stay away
has lots of tiny finger-like protrusions
seconds is enough. Too much can harm
from mouthwashes that have alcohol
called papillae. Bacteria can seep at
your sensitive tongue lining.
(use an alcohol-free mouthwash). Alco-
the bottom of these protrusions, and
2. Use a mouthwash. A mouth-
hol does more harm than good on the
cause bad breath or infections. Gently
wash is no longer an option these days.
tissues of your mouth, as it can be drying
brush your tongue to lessen the mouth
There are just some parts of the mouth
and irritating to the mouth’s gentle lining.
What you should know about dentures 1. Fit. Dentures should fit properly so
cleaner is recommended at night. The
that it does not rub so much against your
rule is brush-soak-brush again. When
gums. If you get sores along the area
soaking, always follow the instructions
where your dentures fit on, visit your den-
on the label. Do not use bleach to clean
tist to have your dentures refitted or other
your dentures: this will weaken your den-
interventions.
tures. Brushing after soaking removes
2. Brush. Just as much as you brush
loosened dirt and excess denture clean-
your teeth, you should brush your den-
er, which could be harmful if ingested.
tures regularly to remove bacteria.
4. Remove. Let your gums rest at night
3. Cleanse. Your dentures are not part
by removing your dentures when sleep-
of your body, and so do not have the
ing. Place your dentures in cool water
natural body defenses other body parts
to prevent them from drying up and
get. Intensive cleaning with a denture
warping.
ActiveLink is an employee benefits management firm focused on corporate healthcare benefits. Our thrusts are to deliver a cost-efficient HMO plan and to ensure successful implementation through excellent customer service support and the use of our benefits portal (www.benefitsmadebetter.com).
Email us at inquiries@activelinkbenefits.com or call us at 8174606, and let us know when we can share our strategy. Let us help you make your benefits better!
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelinkbenefits.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2015 ActiveLink
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A Slice of Orange
is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD