In 2000 when the publication of ‘Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General’ was released, it identified oral health as a national problem. According to the report, American people were losing their teeth owing to poor dietary and lifestyle habits. There were rising reports of dental caries in children as young as 2 years old. Middle-age people were witnessing tooth decay as a major health issue. 

The Surgeon General’s report also cited a few findings: oral disease affects our overall health, lifestyle behavior is the major cause of tooth decay, and oral diseases are highly preventable. In this article, we will be discussing major tips to attain the best dental hygiene and care from the best dentist in downtown Manhattan. 

The rise in tooth decay and other dental problems

Since our childhood, we have been taught to brush twice daily, floss religiously, and get regular dental checkups, yet the staggering number of dental caries, tooth extraction, and root canal treatments suggest something is missing from our oral care. Although there is a plethora of fluoride treatments, mouthwashes, and periodontal care, there has been more dental decay in the last 2 decades than in the previous century. Let’s have a look at some of the leading tooth decay problems:

• Dental caries: dental caries remain the most prevalent dental problem affecting children more than adults. It is now being called a “silent epidemic” due to its epidemic proportions. Though a very small percentage of the population is affected by dental caries due to genetic problems, the majority of the population owes this problem to poor diet and bad lifestyle choices. A combination of factors like bacteria, sugar, starchy food, tea, coffee, wines, tobacco, and frequent snacking, all are the leading causes of dental decay. Eating too much sugar and carbs results in bacteria forming plaque on the surface of teeth. These bacterias produce acid from the sugar that we eat, damaging the enamel of the tooth. Once the enamel (tooth’s protective layer) is eroded, acid attacks the dentin of the tooth and gets deep down to the root of the tooth. 
• Gum problems: Gingivitis is another leading oral problem caused by a bacterial infection due to plaque formation on the teeth. Poor oral hygiene and bad eating habits are the main causes of Gingivitis. Symptoms include red and swollen gums. These gums also bleed very often. The sensitivity of the teeth also is heightened if you have gingivitis.
• Periodontitis: When gingivitis is ignored, it may lead to a severe form of gum problem called periodontitis. It is an acute form of gum disease in which the patient may lose his or her permanent teeth due to receding gums. Bad breath and a metallic taste in the mouth are other symptoms to look out for. Periodontitis should not be ignored as it may trigger an inflammatory response in your body
  
• Sensitive teeth: gum problems and weak enamel often leads to sensitive teeth. You may feel sensitivity while sipping on hot or cold drinks. Sharp pain is felt when you eat or drink cold and hot foods. Not one but many factors lead to sensitive teeth such as – root infection in the tooth, broken tooth, worn-down fillings, receding gums, or any gum problem. Sensitive teeth are also prone to cracks and breakage. 

Important dental tips from one of the leading dentists in downtown Manhattan to prevent tooth decay

Today, dentistry is at the dawn of understanding that there is a relationship between the mouth and the rest of our bodies. Scientists have researched that there is a correlation between oral health and overall health. It was Dr. Reinhard Voll who reasoned that most of our health problems are related to our oral health problems. According to him, any infection that our mouth harbors affect our health. After this, there has been a paradigm shift in the health care delivery in dentistry. Though oral diseases are rarely life-threatening, they have become a major health problem due to their high prevalence and may also impact a person’s social and psychological life. It is important to maintain very good oral health as it is a leading health indicator. Oral problems like dental decay or dental caries is a common chronic childhood disease, it is highly preventable through making the right dietary and nutrition choices along with visiting your dentist regularly. Dental decay is a chronic, diet-dependent bacterial disease, resulting in considerable pain and extensive treatment. So, have a look at some important tips that will help you in maintaining good oral care and health:

• The early signs of tooth decay can be seen in babies who have unrestricted bottle feeding, drinking juice, or sweet food. To prevent early childhood caries, the best dentists in downtown Manhattan recommend restricting the milk bottle feeding time. Putting your baby to sleep with a bottle in his or her should be a complete no-no. The sugar in milk or juice will let the bacteria feed on it and thus will damage the teeth. Introduce a sippy cup by the time your baby is one year old.  Also, start with the oral hygiene routine early. This will help your child get accustomed to regular oral care.
• As your child ages and is old enough to spit out, introduce him or her to a toothpaste containing fluoride. Brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride-based toothpaste will help your teeth to remain clean. Dentists also recommend rinsing your mouth ideally after every meal or snack. Flossing is another routine that helps keep your teeth clean.
• One of the most important tips that the best dentist in downtown Manhattan recommends is to avoid frequent snacking and sipping. When you eat or drink anything other than water, the bacterias in your mouth start attacking the sugar of the food or drink, producing acid. And, when the enamel or dentin is compromised, tooth decay starts happening. Mindful eating is the trick to keeping your teeth as well as your body clean from the inside.
• Eating nutrition dense and healthy food is very imperative in preventing tooth decay. Our mouth is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. These bacterias are forever hungry for food that we eat. Bacteria feed on starchy and sweet food that gets collected in the mouth, leading to the formation of plaque. Without proper cleanup of plaque, it eventually becomes tartar. All this leads to the weakening of enamel and tooth decay. Many scientists and researchers have proved that processed foods, additives, and sugars are the main reasons behind many dental problems. Maintaining good oral hygiene alone will not help you in fighting against decay. It is important to change your dietary habits too if you want a healthy smile all along with your life.

An attractive smile, the ability to chew and speak well, and mostly the freedom from pain and sepsis – all this is achievable if we follow proper dental care and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Remember, the vast majority of dental problems are preventable. We just have to make wise decisions and help our kids to make healthy choices for a better lifestyle. Remember, our mouth is a portal to our body. Let’s keep it healthy to enjoy overall well-being. 

Visit www.manhattanbeachdentalcenter.com to know more about keeping your dental woes at bay. Manhattan Beach Dental has the best dentists in downtown Manhattan who know perfectly well how to customize dental treatment plans according to your dental needs. Providing solutions to every dental problem, Manhattan Beach Dental is the leading family and cosmetic dentistry clinic based in Manhattan. Visit our website to discuss your dental needs and problems. 

Nowadays, everyone leads a busy life routine. No one has the time to do grocery shopping every other day. The best solution is to buy all items you need in bulk form. But the problem begins when you have to store them. Food spoilage is one of the growing problems because of the unsafe storage methods. Rotten food is the one cause that can participate in food poisoning. It is crucial to make sure that you appropriately store the food. Any error or ignorance from your end in food storage can cause big trouble for you by your side.

You can double up the problem when you have to store the veggies and fruits. Veggies and fruits are fragile items that require extra attention. On a commercial level, many restaurants and cafés use the freezing technique. Freezing can help you store the items in bulk form. You can also get a cold room for sale for commercial storage. Know that freezing is the best methodology to preserve food items. In freezing, you can slow down the growth of bacteria to a minimum level. It is better to opt for freezing when you want to store the food item for a long time.

Potatoes are one of the most loved staple foods. Many people think that potatoes are safe at room temperature. But know that you need to opt for freezing to ensure the long shelf life of potatoes. It is safe to freeze the potatoes to perverse the taste and texture. There are many ways you can freeze potatoes for secure storage. Below we are listing the safest ways you can keep your potatoes frozen. You can read the below methodologies to know the tricks.

Freezing raw potatoes: 

This one is the most common method to freeze the potatoes. All you need is to wash the potatoes under fresh tap water. This step is essential to remove any dirt from the potatoes. After washing them, you need to dry your potatoes. Take a clean and dry cloth piece. Now, let the potatoes dry on the cloth. After drying, take an airtight container or a sealed Ziploc bag. You can keep the potatoes in this Ziploc bag. You can also cut the potatoes into cubes if you do not have enough space in the freezer. Another thing you can do is peel the potatoes and then freeze them.

Freezing blanched potatoes: 

Blanching is one of the most known ways to save food items. Blanching will help you while you cook the potatoes. The potatoes will be half done and require less time in cooking. For blanching, take a pot and fill it with water. Put the pot on heat and let it simmer for a minute or two. On the other side, wash the potatoes and cut them into cubes. Not dip the potatoes pieces into the hot water. Let the potatoes boil for three to four minutes. Take the potatoes out of the pot and let them cool down. After cooling down, pack them in an airtight container and put them in the freezer.

Freezing mashed potatoes: 

Freezing mashed potatoes will also require doing some prep work. First, wash the potatoes. Now dice them in cube shape. Now mash the potatoes with salt to taste, butter and milk. You have to keep mashing the potatoes until they become smooth. You can also season the mash potatoes if you like. Now put the mashed potatoes in a Ziploc bag and store them in the freezer.

Freezing grated potatoes: 

Your hash browns will require some grated potatoes. For this, wash the potatoes and peel them. Now, grate the peeled potatoes. Drain the grated potatoes and make hash brown patties. Now, take a pan and add oil to it. Turn on the flame to heat the oil. After that, you need to shallow-fry the hash brown patties until they become light brown. Make sure the heat is medium. Now, take them out, and place them on a cooling rack. Cool the patties and let them pack in a Ziploc bag.

As the prevalence of hearing loss and impairment in babies increases, neonatal hearing screening has become crucially important. Research suggests that two out of every 1000 babies are born with permanent hearing impairment. Such hearing impairment can be in one or both ears, so getting a hearing assessment for your baby is essential in order to figure out the nature of the hearing problem(s). 

Hearing impairment in one ear of a baby is hard to detect because, typically, people confuse it with low hearing efficiency. Early management of hearing impairment can help a child adjust well in the future. Otherwise, hearing loss can impair a child’s development and adjustability in society. 

Why Is It important?

Neonatal hearing screening is essential both for physical and mental health. Hearing is directly related to all aspects of life. Children with hearing disabilities may have a comorbid communicational disorder that may lead to further mental health problems. 

When hearing loss is detected at an early age, the child gets a chance at learning language and communication through visual aids. A therapist can apply various programs and techniques to ensure the child learns to speak even if they cannot hear. They develop bonding with other children like them and understand how to interact effectively.

Your baby needs to be appropriately tested immediately after birth and throughout their childhood. If not treated in early childhood, hearing problems may become chronic and even incurable. Parents are recommended to seek hearing screening at Audiology Centre West or go for any other professional audiology services that are specialized in handling newly born babies. 

If you properly screen your child’s hearing in early childhood, your child will perform better at school, communicate well with others, and get along with their peers and society. 

Interventions

Intervention services regarding your baby’s hearing health should begin at or before six months. Some hearing interventions that parents should keep in mind and seek out include:

• Seeking the help of trained professional audiologists specializing in dealing with neonatal hearing problems.
• Seeking assistance from mental health professionals to help their child with communication. 
• Joining family support groups
• Joining family support groups.
• Other options include hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive devices.

Conclusion 

An impaired sense of hearing can deprive babies of many environmental cues. Early hearing assessment for babies is a must because they can’t express their hearing issues like adults. This inability to tell about their hearing efficiency makes the caregivers responsible for getting them assessed.