“Cha-may weeya ”
Siletz
Health
Medicine Talk
Community
Tooth Talk
Clinic
Information on the
Freshstart Program
by Linda Kreutzer, RDH
by Danelle Zosel-Sanderson
Basic Brushing
Toothbrushing! How boring! On the
contrary. Good daily brushing can keep you
out of the dentist’s chair. Have you ever been
bored at the dentist?
Proper technique takes time and
patience, but the end result is well worth the
effort. Here are some easy tips to make your
toothbrush work better for you.
1. Don’t rush! Brush all inner and outer
surfaces of all teeth, every day. Two to three
times per day is recommended. Keep the
bristles angled against the gumline with a
gentle even pressure.
2. Do use a soft toothbrush. It’s hard
to believe that a soft toothbrush actually
cleans plaque from teeth better than a hard
brush. Hard bristles can cause receding
gums, leading to tooth sensitivity and
root exposure.
3. Remember to also brush your
tongue. Think of the tongue as a “shag”
carpet, collecting germs and bacteria.
Brushing the tongue does wonders for
keeping your breath fresh, too.
4. Do replace your toothbrush every
three or four months. A worn toothbrush can’t
do the job a new one can, and an old brush
can injure the gums.
5. Don’t scrub! Better to brush using
small circles. Remember you are using a
toothbrush, not a scrub brush!
6. Brush your teeth at least twice per
day. The most important time is before going
to bed. Don’t let all that bacteria stay on your
teeth all night long, feasting on teeth
and gums.
7. Always use toothpaste with fluoride.
Children should use a small, pea-sized
amount of fluoride toothpaste after every
meal and at bedtime.
Toothbrushing does not have to be
boring. A few minutes twice daily can do
wonders at keeping your teeth healthy and
free from tooth decay and gum disease.
Remember to floss as well as brush each
day, too. “You only floss the teeth you want
to keep.”
24
Dr. Fred Scriver gets a reel for his fishing
vacation. He resigned from the Siletz
Community Health Clinic to return to
Alaska for summer fishing.
The American Cancer Society’s
freshstart program is designed to help
participants stop smoking by providing them
with all of the essential information and
strategies needed to direct their efforts
at stopping.
The freshstart program consists of four
one-hour group sessions that take place
twice weekly over a two-week period.
Freshstart contains all of the elements that
have been found to be meaningful in helping
smokers stop smoking and stay
off cigarettes.
The program addresses smokers’
behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. If you or
anyone you know is interested in the
freshstart program, please contact the CHA
in your area or Danelle Zosel-Sanderson at
the Siletz Community Health Clinic.
Kids Benefit from Fitness Activities
Many children in the United States are physically unfit. The problem is getting worse
because of too much TV watching and computer game playing, and fewer physical
education classes in school. A poor diet only makes the problem worse.
Physically unfit children can become unhealthy adults. Physically fit kids:
♦
4“
4-
4-
4-
4-
4-
4-
4-
Sleep better
Are happier
Get well faster when sick
Have better posture
Have more endurance and better concentration
Keep fat off (are thinner)
Have better coordination and balance
Perform better in school
Have high self-esteem
By age 5, physical activity should be part of a child’s daily routine. If a child eats right
and exercises a lot, he or she may never have to worry about getting too fat. Exercise
burns off calories and sensible eating controls calories eaten. Fit parents are good role
models. Limit TV watching, exercise daily, and serve healthy foods.
Set family exercise levels to the least fit member of the family. Exercise should be fun
for kids. The goal should be to get a total of at least 30 minutes of physical activity
every day.
Plan family games such as plastic horseshoes, frisbee, softball, tug-of-war, nerf
football, kickball, soccer, jump rope, hoola hoop, and tag games. Turn on music and exercise
or dance. Plan vacations around exercise such as canoeing, hiking, and biking. Make
household chores a family exercise time: rake leaves, shovel snow, orclean house. If kids
get bored or tired, ease up and switch activities. The key to a fitness lifestyle change is to
make it fun and do it as an entire family. When children are older, they will exercise regularly
on their own.
Active children need to drink lots of fluids (water is best) before and after exercise.
And they need plenty of healthy foods to give them the energy and nutrients needed for
active play.