Get your FREE prescription drug discount card  You can save from 10% to 85% on the cost of both brand name and generic prescriptions immediately.

There are no claim forms to fill out and no limits to the number of times you or your family can use the card. Drug discounts are available only at participating pharmacies. The Pharmacy Discount Program provides discounts for its members at certain participating pharmacies for drugs and other healthcare supplies. You can also save on smoking cessation aids and diabetes supplies. These savings are based on the fact that we have over 56,000 pharmacies processing millions of prescriptions annually.

Having Dental work during early pregnancy? I am two months pregnant and I had a dental appointment within the next two weeks to have my wisdom tooth pull since it has been starting to cause some pain. This was set up before I knew I was pregnant.

I have yet to go to a doctor which I am making an appointment for. My question is just how safe is it to have the tooth extracted during early stage of pregnancy? Since I like to still take care of this tooth and going seven months with a bad tooth does not seem like a good idea to me.

Gene Linked to Food Allergy-Related Disorder – Scientists have linked a region of a human chromosome with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a recently recognized disorder that can cause difficulty eating and is associated with allergies to certain foods. They’ve also identified a gene that’s likely involved in the disorder.

EoE is characterized by inflammation and accumulation of a specific type of immune cell, called an eosinophil, in the esophagus. Symptoms of EoE vary with age. In young children, a major symptom is spitting up food. In older children and adults, the inflammation and swelling can cause food to become stuck in the esophagus. Symptoms may improve with a special liquid formula diet or a diet that lacks 6 highly allergenic foods: milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanut and seafood.

EoE differs from more common food allergies, which can have serious consequences as well. Little is known about what causes EoE, but the disease runs in families, suggesting that specific genes may be involved. Source: http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/march2010/03152010allergy.htm

Learning how to brush your teeth

How do you start getting your child to brush their teeth.  My son is almost three and I am still brushing his teeth, because he will not do it on his own.  When he does try he just chews on the tooth brush he does not really brush his teeth.

Is he still to young to brush his own teeth?  Should I wait until he is older to get him to brush his teeth right?  Or is there a trick I can use to get him to brush is teeth correctly?

Fluoridated toothpaste should be introduced when a child is 2-3 years of age. Prior to that, parents should clean the child’s teeth with water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. When toothpaste is used after age 2-3, parents should supervise brushing and make sure the child uses no more than a pea-sized amount on the brush. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.

Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist has two to three years specialty training following dental school and limits his/her practice to treating children only. Pediatric dentists are primary and specialty oral care providers for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health needs.

Every child deserves a healthy start in life, but when it comes to oral health, many children face significant challenges. Children in low-income families tend to have higher rates of tooth decay and have greater difficulty accessing ongoing basic dental care. Some key points that highlight the severity of the problem include:

• Over 40% – 50% of children will be affected by tooth decay before age 5.
• A trip to the emergency room for crisis care is the first “dental visit” for over 25% of children seen in a children’s hospital.
• Of the 4 million children born each year, more than half will have cavities by the time they reach second grade.
• While 9 million children in this nation do not have medical insurance, more than twice that number — 23 million — do not have dental insurance.
• Oral health issues affect children in poverty and minorities far more than other groups.
• According to the May 2000 Surgeon General’s report, Oral Health in America, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related conditions.

These statistics are staggering! And they are the very reason HSHC has partnered with the AAPD and the Office of Head Start on the Head Start Dental Home Initiative. It is also the reason the Grants and Programs Committee of the HSHC Board of Trustees has worked tirelessly to develop a new service-based focus for the Foundation. HSHC will address key barriers to comprehensive quality oral health care for all children — specifically Access to Care. In addition, the Foundation will invest in research through our new Oral Health Research Grants and the Future Dental Researcher Fellowship, to ensure that we can provide the most up-to-date science and evidence-based care to all children.

 Through these new initiatives, Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children is poised to be the leading advocate for children’s oral health care.

Source: http://www.aapd.org/foundation/

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the recognized leader in pediatric oral health, announced new oral health guidelines for expectant mothers and infants following its 62^nd Annual Session in Honolulu, Hawaii. The guidelines call for all pregnant women to receive counseling and oral healthcare during pregnancy, and also that infants receive an oral health risk assessment and oral care by their first birthday. These steps will contribute to optimal oral health for both mom and baby.

 “There is evidence associating periodontal disease and increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight,” said AAPD’s Immediate Past-President Dr. Beverly Largent. A recently published study found significant differences between women treated for periodontal disease and those who were not treated. The findings suggest that incorporating periodontal care may result in improved pregnancy outcomes.

 “Because premature births have become the number one obstetric problem in the United States, we felt the need to provide more guidance about necessary oral care for expectant moms, in addition to promoting oral health as a key part of pregnant women’s overall health,” said Largent.

 The guidelines are based on studies that suggest that proper dental care during the perinatal period may help prevent preterm and low birth-weight babies and is an important aspect of overall health for pregnant women – allowing them to enter delivery in optimal health. Many women, however, are unaware of the implications poor oral health can have on themselves and their babies and often don’t seek oral care during pregnancy.

 Additionally, mothers with poor oral health may be at greater risk of infecting their children with the bacteria that causes cavities, increasing their children’s caries risk at an early age. Because cavities in infants are preventable, determining which mothers are at the highest risk improves opportunities for preventive intervention.

 “Every expectant mother should receive a comprehensive oral health evaluation and risk assessment,” said Largent. “Dental treatment is safe throughout pregnancy, and this is a time when expectant mothers need to be screened for oral risks, counseled on proper oral hygiene and receive necessary dental treatment.”

 The updated guidelines also address proper oral care for infants and toddlers, the age group most susceptible to early childhood caries (ECC), which is an infectious but preventable disease that causes tooth decay and potentially more serious health issues. When left untreated, ECC can affect speech and communication, eating and dietary nutrition, sleeping, learning, playing, and quality of life – even into adulthood. The guidelines outline how simple changes in a mother’s oral hygiene, diet, use of topical fluoride and sharing of eating utensils can significantly reduce a child’s risk for ECC.

 Additionally, because physicians, nurses and other health care professionals see expectant or new mothers and their infants on a regular basis, the AAPD guidelines also encourage health care professionals to talk to their patients about proper oral care. In addition, the AAPD recommends that curriculum at medical, nursing and allied health professional programs include education in perinatal and infant oral health.

 For more information on perinatal and infant oral health or to view the updated guidelines, visit http://www.aapd.org.   Ssource: http://www.aapd.org/media/pressreleases.asp?NEWS_ID=1018

Find the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water. (Do not scrub or clean it with soap — use only water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket immediately and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with cold milk, saliva or water. Get to the pediatric dental office immediately. (Call the emergency number if it’s after hours.) The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

Source: http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/ecare.asp

Early Childhood Cavities Prevention: Early Childhood Cavities, which includes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, is an infectious disease that can be prevented. In Oregon, approximately two-thirds of low-income children have cavities. This is an amount approximately 40% higher than for children that are not in low-income families.

Early Childhood Cavities Prevention (ECCP) is a nationwide campaign to increase awareness about the importance of preventive oral health care in an infant’s first years.

More information about Oral Health Care for Infants and Children

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay: It’s never too early to prevent dental disease. Primary (baby) teeth are important because they act as placeholders for permanent teeth, aid in proper speech development, nutrition, and self esteem. Cavities can occur in children less than a year old.

A newly revised brochure, “Keep your baby smiling… Prevent early childhood cavities,” provides useful information about the importance of healthy baby teeth and recommendations to prevent cavities. This colorful and easy to read brochure replaces the popular “Prevent Nursing Bottle Mouth” brochure. This brochure is geared towards parents and caregivers and is appropriate for use in medical, dental, and other social service or public health offices.  Click here to download a pdf version of the brochure or email to oral.health@state.or.us or by phone at 971-673-1376 to order copies. A Spanish version is also available.

Source: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/oralhealth/programs/eccp.shtml