It’s National Children’s Dental Month, and many dentist offices around the country are celebrating in different ways. One dentist office in Connecticut is using this month as a way to raise awareness for children’s oral health.
According to WTNH, Sweet Tooth Pediatric Dentistry is taking steps to encourage parents to bring their child in for their first dentist appointment by the time they turn one. Dr. Erica Pitera says she has patients in her office as young as one and two years old who already have tooth decay. Pitera suggests that parents bring their child into the office as soon as they see their first tooth coming in. She also encourages parents to help their child kids start brushing their teeth immediately, as soon as they start to appear in the gums. Many parents fear that their child’s teeth are too little to be doing this, but a finger toothbrush or a small infant toothbrush is the way to go.
The American Dental Association, Oral-B, and Crest have teamed up to promote good oral hygiene throughout the month of February. The motto of this year’s National Children’s Dental Month is “Brush Your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth for a healthy smile.” Superior Telegram says National Children’s Dental Month started back in 1941 in Cleveland. It was a one-day event and eventually became a week-long event in 1955. In 1981, the event became a month-long observance. The two-city event soon expanded nationwide.
Dentists across the country encourage good oral health at an early age. This annual event helps enforce that. Along with children starting their regular dental visits by the age of one, Parents should make sure their children are visiting a dentist on a regular basis. Even though you might think your child’s baby teeth do not matter, they matter more than you may know. Getting your child on track with routine oral health behaviors will provide them with a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
As for this year’s motto, Dr. Pitera says Fluoride Varnish should be used every six months to give your child the extra minerals that they need for their teeth to grow.
Study: Tackling Childhood Obesity Can Prevent Being Overweight as an Adult
Childhood obesity is on the rise, and if the rates keep growing, more than half of the children in the United States will face some serious health and body image issues.
According to a new study out of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, more than 53% of children will be obese by the time they turn 35. The study also found that if a child is obese at a very young age, it’s a pretty good indicator that they will be obese as an adult.
The Pharmacy Times says the study used a simulation model which predicted long-term weight-gain from childhood to the age 35. It tested a group of 41,567 children and adults to determine that obesity will continue and become harmful if things do not change.
The researchers conducting the study found that three out of four children who were obese at the age of two will definitely be obese at the age of 35. However, they also found that those who struggled with severe obesity at the age of two, but who were able to get help early on, were less likely to be obese later in life. The key to preventing the problem is early detection and early intervention.
However, it’s important to note that just because a child isn’t obese throughout their younger or teenage years, that doesn’t mean that they won’t be obese as an adult. The study also found that over half of children from ages two to 19 will be obese in the future, even though they aren’t dealing with weight problems today.
According to Centre Daily Times, obesity as a child can lead to bullying, mental health problems, and other physical hurdles. They are more likely to be teased by their classmates and have a higher risk of developing a chronic illness. These chronic health issues can range from diabetes and asthma to joint and bone problems.
The national childhood obesity rate currently sits at 18.5%. Preventing or tackling the issue while the child is young will take a team of experts, a lot of time, and a lot of hard work. However, it will be worth it in the end.
Tablecloths, Cookbooks, and Treadmills: Items You Won’t Find In Modern Homes
The average American household has roughly 300,000 items inside it.
Many of those items, like vacuum cleaners or toilets, have been necessary for decades and will likely continue to be important and useful for another hundred years. Some of those items are specific to each household and have varying degrees of importance. And many of those things are essentially pointless in the 21st Century.
Here are a specific few items that will likely go the way of the Dodo bird in the years to come:
Tablecloths
According to Realtor.com, families are eating together less often, which results in fewer people buying tablecloths all over the world.
“Convenience is key in this day and age, so tablecloths have naturally been going out of style as families would rather easily wipe down their messy table after dinner, rather than washing a nice tablecloth after every meal,” said Carson Yarbrough, of Offers.com. “Many new tables seen in homes today are designed to be pieces of art on their own, designed to be exposed.”
Gas Stoves
Homebuyers are done with gas stoves and are looking to induction cooktops instead. Will these futuristic stoves become the new standard in our modern world?
“These provide quick and even heat distribution, which reduces the time it takes to heat a pan or boil water,” added Elle H-Millard, industry relations manager at The National Kitchen and Bath Association.
Treadmills
There are college students in the U.S. right now that have never seen a treadmill before. Millennials are much more inclined to enjoy their Fitbits and smart watches and run around outside than walk on a big, bulky machine. Wearable technology will likely end up replacing treadmills in every home as Millennials slowly replace Baby Boomers.
Cookbooks
Did your mother or grandmother have a treasured cookbooks, or twelve, stuffed full of handwritten recipes and notes? Cookbooks once were a great addition to every home in the country. They looked nice above the stove, they were a great addition to coffee tables, and they were actually very helpful for people who wanted to learn a new recipe. Now, pretty much every cookbook is two clicks away on the Internet.
Technology is changing the world more and more each day right before our eyes. Hold on and appreciate these items as long as you can, because you never know what’s going to go obsolete.
Study: Are Childhood Sleep Apnea and ADHD More Related Than We Thought?
Doctors are warning parents about the hidden dangers of sleep apnea in their children.
Sleep apnea is a disease that is prevalent in as many as 18 million Americans, but it is usually associated with people who smoke, snore, or have weight problems. It is caused when an obstruction in the airway stops people from breathing in their sleep, and the most classic symptom is heavy snoring.
There are a lot of health risks associated with sleep apnea besides lack of sleep. During an average night’s sleep, a sufferer of obstructive sleep apnea may experience up to 60 apneas per hour — meaning they completely stop breathing 60 times during the night. And since the person is asleep when it is happening, many people are never diagnosed. This is exactly why doctors say it is so important for parents to pay attention to their child when they’re sleeping. Read this Parent’s Guide to A Child’s Sleep.
Dr. Sydney Butts, an ear nose, and throat doctor in New York City, explains to ABC News that many parents are under the impression sleep apnea only happens to adults. However, Butts explains that children can be prone to both central and obstructive sleep apnea, and it is imperative for parents to be on high alert every night at bedtime.
Dr. Butts also says that sleep apnea is one of the most common reasons a child would need their tonsils or adenoids removed. But she also cautions that there are more symptoms of sleep apnea in children than snoring, including trouble focusing at school, constant irritability, depression, or even bed wedding.
There’s also a new study that links the attention disorder ADHD to sleep apnea. According to the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, those with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder suffer from lower levels of sleep. New data even shows that some children are misdiagnosed with ADHD when they really have sleep apnea.
In the study, the researchers looked at subject’s circadian rhythms, which is the natural cycle of how a person sleeps and wakes. They found that subjects with ADHD had higher levels of the sleep hormone melatonin, which means that they were falling asleep later and waking up earlier.
This study wasn’t the first to be completed relating sleep apnea in children and its effects on ADHD, or vice versa. The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City completed a study in 2012 that found those who snored and suffered from sleep apnea had a 40% to 100% chance of developing ADHD before the age of 7.
With these findings in mind, scientists and doctors are hoping to change the way ADHD is diagnosed and treated. Nowadays, the common treatment for ADHD is a stimulant that lasts for 12 hours. These medications can cause children to stay up later than normal hours, making them go to sleep later, which just causes a never-ending circle of hyperactivity and sleepiness.
Doctors are hopeful that this can lead to changes for many children with chronic sleep issues. Currently, one in every 10 children across the nation between 4 and 17-years-old have been diagnosed with ADHD, but with these studies in mind, that might just change.
Looking For The Perfect Present? Try These Creative DIY Gifts To Brighten Up Any Occasion
The holiday season is still months away, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need to put your knitted thinking cap on and come up with gift ideas for your friends and family. Whether you’re attending a wedding or baby shower, a birthday party, or a night with the girls, you may be stuck on what to bring that won’t require a ton of time, skills, or money. Often, the DIY route can be a great way to go — and you don’t have to be all that crafty, either. Here are just a few homemade gift ideas to get you started.
Memento and Photo Holders
We may capture moments by digital means these days, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want physical copies of photos in our homes. You can opt to create a scrapbook. If your recipient has a lot of blank space, you can make them a set of DIY wall frames to add some fond memories into their home. Experts recommend that when creating a gallery wall, frames should be separated by a three-inch space — so if you want to go the extra mile, make sure they have the room first. Another adorable idea? Hand-painted rock photo holders. This is an excellent choice when you have multiple recipients or want to make a gift for someone you don’t know well. If the recipient has a beautifully curated social media feed or is a budding shutterbug, you can even arrange to have Instagram snaps printed out.
Sweet Treats
Hosting the event or simply want to show someone how sweet they are? You can’t go wrong with baked goods. Cupcakes, donuts, and even cake pops are easy to make at home and are always crowd-pleasers. Plus, it’s fairly simple to factor in dietary restrictions (like no gluten or all-natural options). You don’t have to be boring with your plating, either. There are tons of ways to present them in creative ways. Stick your cake pops in a wooden box to make them into a mock floral arrangement or make your own cupcake stands to go along with the DIY theme.
Pampering Products
Any birthday girl, bride-to-be, or expectant mom deserves to be pampered. What better way to show you care than to give her some self-care must-haves? Instead of spending a ton at Lush, you can make your own bath bombs, sugar scrubs, or sleep salves. Top everything off with a DIY microwaveable eye mask and put it all in an attractive box or basket for a much better alternative than a trip to Bath and Body Works. Not only is making everything yourself a great way to personalize a spa day, but your recipient will know that everything is all-natural and is made with no harmful chemicals.
When you’re stuck on what to give the girl who already has everything, putting your creative juices to good use can be the ideal solution. You’ll create a one-of-a-kind gift that your recipient will love while saving money and learning a new skill at the same time.