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 “The American Medical Association has officially recognized obesity as a disease”, reports the New York Times, calling it “a move that could induce physicians to pay more attention to the condition and spur more insurers to pay for treatments.” The decision to do so, taken at the association’s annual meeting in Chicago, goes against the recommendations of a panel which studied the matter for a year.

Here are the ways this decision could change your life:

• Your doctor will have to take obesity more seriously than before and will actively address it.
• You will have to recognize you are not well and need treatment.
• Insurance companies will have to redraft their reimbursement requirements. It will become easier for people who are obese to get reimbursed for obesity drugs, surgery, other treatments and counseling. In the past many people have had trouble in getting reimbursements.

There is nothing groundbreaking about this decision. The World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and even the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) already recognize obesity as a disease. IRS allows obesity treatments as qualifying deductions.

Although Medicare removed language from its coverage manual that said obesity was not a disease, the prescription drug benefit still includes weight loss drugs among the non-paying list. Expect this to change in time.

Obesity currently affects one in three Americans. It has doubled among adults in the past 20 years and tripled among children within a decade. A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report estimates that roughly half of American adults may be obese by 2040 if current trends continue.

The AMA resolution (420) to recognize obesity as a disease was based on the argument that it is a “multimetabolic and hormonal disease state” that leads to unfavorable outcomes like Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. According to the resolution, “weight loss from lifestyle, medical therapies, and bariatric surgery can dramatically reduce early mortality, progression of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease risk, stroke risk, incidence of cancer in women, and constitute effective treatment options for type 2 diabetes and hypertension”.

Recent studies have shown that even after weight loss obese patients have hormonal and metabolic abnormalities that are not reversible by lifestyle interventions. These will require multiple different interventions based on risk levels.

And hopefully, if obesity is a disease, airlines will no longer be able to penalize obese passengers.

Obesity puts you at high risk of diabetes, which can significantly increase your risk of gum disease.

Visit FreeDentistFinder.com 24/7 to find a local dentist or dental specialist in your area.

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Poor oral health of the mother during pregnancy can be bad for both the mother and the unborn child. Our article on 11 Things You Need to Know About Oral Health During Pregnancy[plz link to #342]is a useful checklist on how women can to protect their own health and that of the child.

One of the key points is that it is safe to get dental care while pregnant. Experts on this matter, such as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), all agree that it is perfectly safe. And getting such care is vital for your baby’s future oral and general health.

Here’s a brief look at the procedures that are safe any time during pregnancy

• Gum disease treatment and dental cleaning are safe any time during pregnancy.
• Amalgam replacement or removal is also safe at any time and there is no evidence that released mercury harms the fetus. Using rubber dam and high-speed evacuation reduces vapor inhalation.
• Radiographs or X-rays are considered safe any time during pregnancy provided thyroid collars (neck shields) and abdomen shields are used.
• Medications –A lot of medications, including pain relievers, antibiotics, anti-infectives and local anaesthetics are perfectly safe for pregnant mothers. Some of these may have definitive proof from human and animal studies while others have no such evidence.

Some meds are only prescribed for limited use during pregnancy while others should not be prescribed at all. The American Dental Association advices you to tell your dentist that you are pregnant before undergoing any treatment. It is also important to disclose what medications and supplements you are taking.

Your dentist may require a note from the obstetrician saying that dental care requiring local anesthesia, antibiotics or narcotic analgesia is not an issue.

Comprehensive information on specific drugs drugs that are safe during pregnancy, as well as what procedures are considered safe and unsafe during different stages of pregnancy are found in the Guidelines for Oral Healthcare in Pregnancy from the School of Dentistry, University of Washington.

You can learn more about baby dental and oral health, Kids Dental Health, Lifestyle, Diet & Nutrition in the FreeDentistFinder.com article archive.

If you need to contact a local dentist, visit FreeDentistFinder.com to find dentist or dental specialist located near you. You can also call 800-669-4869 any time to quickly get in touch with a local dentist.

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Did you or your family increase the amount of red meat you consume within the past four years? If you upped your red meat consumption by half a portion daily, you may be facing an increased risk (48%) of getting Type 2 diabetes within the next four years. Unfortunately the opposite is not true: cutting down red meat intake by half a portion only lowers the risk of diabetes by 14 percent. The relationships remained valid even after adjusting for body weight and the overall diet quality of participants.

These findings were published in JAMA Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association. The analysis covering more than 150,000 people was performed by researchers at the National University of Singapore. They used data from three long term studies of the Harvard University that involved doctors and nurses.

Previous studies have also lined red meat to diabetes. However, some doctors say that the problem is not the red meat itself, but the type of fat involved. Consumers could get over this issue by choosing lean cuts of red meat instead of high-fat cuts.

According to the American Diabetes Association, around 25.8 million children and adults in the United States or over 8 percent of the population may have diabetes. Around 7 million do not know it. A further 79 million people have prediabetes. One in about every 400 children and adolescents (those under 20 years) and over 11 percent of those 20 and older have diabetes. Of those who are 65 and older, more than a quarter (26.9%) have diabetes.

People with diabetes face higher risk of gum disease and serious oral health issues.

Visit FreeDentistFinder.com 24/7 to find a local dentist or dental specialist in your area.  

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The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) defines cosmetic dentistry as “dentistry aimed at creating a positive change to your teeth and to your smile.” But the American Dental Association does not recognize it as a dental specialty because many of the areas that come under cosmetic dentistry are covered by other dental specialties.

Learn more about the many aspects of cosmetic dentistry in the FreeDentistFinder article Do You Know About Cosmetic Dentistry? 

It will tell you more about tooth whitening, dental fillings, dentures, dental implants, orthodontics (braces), tooth bonding, veneers, crowns and bridges and cosmetic gum surgery. The article also provides a host of links to previous articles which provide comprehensive cover on these topics.

If you need cosmetic dental services, you can find a dentist by zip code at FreeDentistFinder.com. Call 800-669-4869 to get in touch with a local dentist. 

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Fluoride is valued for its cavity-warrior qualities. But new research suggests that fluoride exposure also helps strengthen developing teeth.

Fluoride exposure is important from 6 months onwards until at least 16 years, the period during which primary teeth and permanent teeth are growing. Because fluoride helps restore minerals that are constantly lost from teeth on a regular basis, adults too can benefit from fluoride.

Who else needs fluoride? Read the FreeDentistFinder.com article, Are You Getting Enough Fluoride? to find out.

Sources of fluoride

Fluoride is naturally found in food and water. Fruits and their juices, vegetables and vegetable products, cereals, pasta and rice contain natural fluoride.

Check out Are You Getting Enough Fluoride? for a list of fruits, vegetables and other foods rich in fluoride.

Around six in ten Americans live in communities that fluoridate their water supplies.According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some bottled water contain fluoride while others do not, as it depends on the source of water.

We know fluoride can be directly applied to teeth by way of toothpastes and mouth rinses. Fluoride can also be taken as a liquid, tablet or chewable tablet, usually once a day. You can find a comprehensive list of fluoride product brands from the MedlinePlus website of the National Library of Medicine. Some fluoride products require a prescription from your doctor or dentist.

Fluoride is not a magic cure. While it strengthens teeth and prevents cavities, it is not a substitute for daily brushing, flossing and cleaning.

Visit FreeDentistFinder.com 24/7 to find a dentist by zip code. You can also call 800-669-4869 to quickly get in touch with a local dentist.

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If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco, here are a few statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• More people die due to tobacco use compared to the combined numbers that die as a result of HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders.
• Smoking—cigarettes, pipes or cigars—increases the risk of dying from cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, and oral cavity.
• Smokeless tobacco causes cancer. The nicotine in it may increase the risk for sudden death from a condition where the heart does not beat properly and, as a result, the heart pumps little or no blood to the body’s organs.

Common effects of tobacco on your mouth

Here’s a list from the American Academy of Oral Medicine:

• Smoker’s melanosis is darkening of the gums
• Gum disease risk increases significantly for smokers; but tooth loss from gum disease is higher among women.
• Nicotinic Stomatitis or smoker’s palate
• Black hairy tongue
• Smokeless tobacco use can lead to soft tissue changes, gum recession and tooth abrasion
• Oral cancer

You can read more about each condition, their symptoms, treatments and prevention in How Nicotine Affects the Mouth, in the FreeDentistFinder.com article archive.

tl;dr: Quit smoking. Get a regular dental check-up.

Risks of tobacco drop the moment you quit. A regular dental check-up can help in the early detection of oral cancer and other problems.

FreeDentistFinder.com is the fastest and easiest way to find a dentist or dental specialist near you. Call 800-669-4869 to quickly get in touch with a local dentist. 

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Data presented to the American Academy of Oral Medicine recently based on an ongoing clinical trial shows that a new mouthwash containing iodine may help reduce bad cholesterol or LDL in those who rinse their mouth for 30 seconds on a daily basis.

The difference in LDL cholesterol levels were an unexpected result of the clinical trial. Says lead researcher, Dr Charles Gauntt: “We expected to see improvements in oral health, and we did. But we also monitored a number of biological markers for inflammation. The results showed the oral rinse had no adverse effects and users exhibited lower levels of LDL, or what many people know as bad cholesterol. This definitely merits further study.”

The three-month, phase II trial is followed by a longer phase II trial already under way. As with the previous trial, the new trial conducted by University of Kentucky Center for Oral Health Research will evaluate patients with gingivitis over a six-month period, monitoring their LDL cholesterol levels. Both are funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

Iodine plays a variety of important roles in the human body, including the functioning of thyroid glands and in helping the body’s immune response system. According to the American Thyroid Association iodine deficiency can lead to enlargement of the thyroid (goiter), hypothyroidism and to mental retardation in infants and children whose mothers were iodine deficient during pregnancy.

Because our body does not make iodine, it should be an essential part of our diet. Iodine is is found in dairy products, eggs, soy milk and sauce, shellfish, saltwater fish and seaweed. Iodized table salt and Iodine-containing multivitamins are also good sources.

An iodine containing mouthwash that can also help reduce bad cholesterol is indeed good news.

Visit the FreeDentistFinder blog and article archive for more oral and general health related content. FreeDentistFinder.com is the fastest and easiest way to find dentist or dental specialist near you. Call 800-669-4869 to quickly get in touch with a local dentist. 

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Your cup of tea or coffee contains caffeine, a naturally occurring chemical stimulant. Yes caffeine is a drug and shares a number of traits with drugs like cocaine, heroin and amphetamines. It uses the same biochemical mechanisms to stimulate brain function. And caffeine causes addiction.

Caffeine is a literal double-edged sword.

Risks: FDA considers 400 milligrams of caffeine as a safe daily level for adults. That is the amount of caffeine you get from four or five cups of coffee. Excessive consumption can put you at all kinds of risk.

Some people experience caffeine intoxication symptoms even after taking 100 milligrams of caffeine a day. They may feel nervous, excited and have a flushed face. Insomnia and problems with the digestive system are also symptoms.

Taking in 1,000 milligrams a day can lead to rapid heartbeats, muscle twitching, abnormal electrical activity in the heart and other problems.

Benefits: From over 19000 studies conducted over the past 30 years we know it has many benefits including:

• Helping with breathing problems in premature babies and kids who have undergone operations;
• Acting as a kick-starter for certain drug regimes;
• Ability to significantly cut down risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, cirrhosis, gallstones and diabetes in those who are regular coffee drinkers.
• Significantly reducing the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, colon cancer, cirrhosis, gallstones and diabetes in those who are regular coffee drinkers.

But the bottom line is that, after all those studies we really don’t know the full story about how caffeine effects us. This is why moderation is key.

Read more about health effects of caffeine and many articles on oral and general health topics at the FreeDentistFinder.com article archive.

Visit FreeDentistFinder.com 24/7 to find a dentist or dental specialist located near you. You can also call 800-669-4869 to quickly get in touch with a local dentist. 

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A recent study published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, concludes that “Parental sucking of their infant’s pacifier may reduce the risk of allergy development” in the infants. The enhanced immunity is thought to be the result of being exposed to microbes in the parents’ saliva.

Babies’ immune systems need to be ‘trained’ in order to improve immunity. Exposure to microorganisms in various ways—during breast feeding, in the home and even while exiting the birth canal—enrich babies’ microbiomes and thereby helping boost immunity.

TL/DR version: Among other things, licking pacifiers is a good idea because it helps babies build up immunity.

Although results showed that children whose parents sucked on their pacifiers to clean them were less likely to have asthma, eczema, and sensitization to allergens at 18 months of age compared with children whose parents did not, and the beneficial effects lasted until they were three years old, the response from the oral health community was negative.

“Drop Those Pacifiers!”, the American Dental Association told the parents and caregivers. “…Saliva harbors cavity-causing bacteria that can be transmitted to babies”. You can read ADA’s full statement at the ADA website.

So what should parents do? Make your decision after reading the detailed version of this post in the FreeDentistFinder.com article archive.

FreeDentistFinder.com provides an easy way to find a dentist practicing near you. Call 800-669-4869 24/7 to quickly get in touch with a local dentist. 

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We stumbled upon this treasure trove of health quizzes in the website of UC Irvine Health, associated with the University of California Irvine, UC Irvine School of Medicine, UC Irvine Medical Center and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

250 quizzes to check your knowledge on health related matters packed into one website.

Want to know more about acne, back care or caffeine? How about depression, diabetes or drinking water? Or perhaps you want to learn more about erectile dysfunction, fats in food, genital herpes or Halloween safety?

You can find many topics listed in alphabetical order. We are ending our list here because, if we spend more time on this quiz index, we may be moved to writing Dr. Seuss type lyrics, not dental blog posts—it is that inspiring and exciting. Don’t take our word for it, just out for yourself.

There are also many other useful health resources, including videos and animations in the multimedia room on this site. You will also find the other content of the Health Library very useful.

Our general health is inextricably linked with our oral and dental health. So much so that dental health may become a marker for detecting various other health conditions and disorders.

You can learn more about the The Mouth Body Connection in the FreeDentistFinder.com article archive.

Visit FreeDentistFinder.com 24/7 to find a dentist or dental specialist located near you. You can also call 800-669-4869 to quickly get in touch with a local dentist.

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