Families

With increased attention to juvenile obesity and related health problems, finding ways to improve lifestyle behaviors is emerging as a top priority for many parents.

Healthy Kids, a program from Alere health management systems, provides parents with seven easy-to-implement strategies for helping children develop healthier lives.

1. Talk about it. Sit down with your children to discuss healthy changes to their habits. Changing your children’s eating and activity habits means committing to changing your own habits, so look for changes the entire family can embrace. Make sure to listen to what your kids are saying when it comes to food and activity. Then commit to providing the support and encouragement they need to be successful.

2. Make healthy choices easier. You can’t always control your kids, but you can control the environment at home. Encourage better choices by:

•  Keeping healthier foods on hand, such as whole-grain, low-sugar breakfast foods and portable healthy snacks.

•  Eating together often – at least three or four times a week.

•  Having active games available – for use during “no TV” times.

3. Make healthy food fun. Children can and do understand the importance of healthy eating. It’s the parent’s job to show a child that healthy eating is not only important, it can also be fun and help them to feel better and get more from life. When possible, families should grocery shop together to find healthy, new foods. Make it interesting for younger children by going on a scavenger hunt in the produce aisle, and challenge older kids to see if they can find healthier ingredients for their favorite burritos or pizza.

4. Make it taste good. Kids won’t eat if it doesn’t taste good. Look for recipes – starting with favorite and familiar foods – that can easily be made healthier. Also, encourage youngsters to get involved in preparing foods with fun, age-appropriate activities.

5. Get active together. Make being more active a family affair. Your children will learn healthy habits from watching you. Find activities you can do together as a family, everything from walking to school together to spending the day hiking or biking. Remember, this is a long-term commitment. If you go back to old habits yourself, your children will probably follow suit.

6. Keep track. Record your family’s food choices and activity level. Over time this can be a useful tool in noticing changes and keeping you and your family accountable. Remember, if you stray off course, don’t quit. Determine what led to the lapse – a busier schedule, lack of planning, etc. – and find ways to get back on track. Remember to stay with it. Your family will benefit.

7. Be positive. This may be one of the most important things you can do when encouraging better health for your kids. Maintaining an upbeat attitude – and avoiding nagging or negative comments – can help build confidence and make your child more willing to stay with a plan for a healthier lifestyle.

Article courtesy of www.fivebuckbits.com.

Children

Here are ten tips to keep your children’s teeth healthy at any age!

1. A child’s dental health starts before birth, so expectant moms should consume lots of calcium-rich foods like leafy greens, fortified cereals, and dairy or soy products.

2. Just because you can’t see your baby’s teeth doesn’t mean they aren’t there.  Simply wiping your baby’s gums with a clean gauze pad after feeding can remove harmful plaque and bacteria.

3. Take your child to the dentist by his/her first birthday to check for decay and to address habits like thumb sucking.

4. Children under age 2 should not use toothpaste. As soon as the first teeth appear, brush with a little bit of water. After age 2, toothpaste can be introduced in pea-sized amounts.

5. Teach your child proper brushing techniques. By age 6, most kids can brush their own teeth. Choose a brush that has soft, rounded bristles and teach them to use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, using circular brush strokes to reach all surfaces.  Be sure they spit out the toothpaste, rinse with water, and avoid swallowing any toothpaste.

6. Don’t forget to floss! As soon as any two teeth touch, it’s time floss between your child’s teeth. This helps eliminate decay in places where a toothbrush can’t reach. This is true for you too!

7. Watch snacks foods like crackers, bread, and other carbohydrates that can cause tooth decay if allowed to sit in your child’s mouth. Always brush or rinse after snacks.

 8. When you can’t brush, some dentists recommend older children and adults chew sugarless gum, which increases saliva to help wash away bacteria.

 9. Make trips to the dentist fun for your child by reminding him or her that the dentist is a friendly doctor who is helping take care of his or her teeth.

10. Keep the dentist informed about your child’s health–especially if your child is ill, taking medications or has any known drug allergies.

For more information, visit www.ada.org.

Pregnancy

Most pregnant women in America don’t see their dentists for important oral health care nearly as often as recommended, which can cause ongoing health problems for both mother and her baby.

In fact, fully a quarter of pregnant women didn’t see the dentist at all during pregnancy and 38 percent visited the dentist just once. That’s one key finding from a survey of American children’s oral health, recently conducted behalf of Delta Dental Plans Association.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, about 50 percent of women get “pregnancy gingivitis,” a disease that makes the gums sore and swollen. In some studies, pregnant women with gum disease have given birth to low-weight or pre-term babies, who are at risk for many serious diseases including chronic lung disease, brain injury, motor and sensory impairment, learning difficulties and behavioral problems.

Dentists can identify gum and teeth problems during a routine checkup. Besides brushing, flossing and chewing sugar-free gum, women should get a thorough dental exam if they are planning to become pregnant. They also should get their teeth cleaned professionally once they are expecting.

Article courtesy of www.fivebuckbits.com.