Don’t take for granted that brushing your teeth would suffice in ensuring good oral hygiene as the teeth only covers 23 percent of the oral cavity.

Even for those brushing their teeth at least twice daily, the regime only helps to clean one fourth of the oral cavity excluding the tight gaps between the teeth and the difficult to reach spots.

Thus, it is evident that brushing your teeth alone will not help in preventing the formation of bacterial plaques on the teeth and gums that contributes to tooth decay and gum diseases.

That is why flossing to remove food residues between the teeth and disinfecting the whole oral cavity with an antiseptic mouthwash are highly recommended.

The floss helps to clean between teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach while the antiseptic mouthwash helps disinfect the teeth and the whole oral cavity, and prevents bad breath.

DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY

According to the Malaysian Dental Association President Dr S. Sivanesan, a number of studies conducted in several developed nations confirmed that most individuals failed to (more…)

Instead of using talcum powder which poses health risks, consumers should use traditional bedak sejuk (rice talcum), says the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP).

The association made the call following findings in the United States that suggest that women who use talcum powder are 40% more likely to suffer from ovarian cancer.

CAP president S.M. Mohd Idris said bedak sejuk (powder made from rice flour) and powder made from corn flour were good alternatives to talcum powder.

He cited a study from the Harvard Medical School in the United States that found, from a sample of more than 3,000 women, that those using talcum once a week had a 36% higher risk of getting ovarian cancer while those using talcum daily faced a 41% higher risk.

A website that provides medical news, www.news-medical.net, reported that the study also revealed that the risk was greater still for those with a certain genetic profile.

The study’s lead researcher, Dr Maggie Gates, was also reported as saying that women should avoid using talcum powder in the genital area until more research was done,

Mohd Idris told a press conference yesterday that, despite the dangers associated with talcum powder, there were numerous talcum powder products in the market.

Some of these products were also baby products, he said. (more…)