353. 10 tips to keep your smile looking good

1. Brush your teeth at least two / three times daily, preferably after meals and before retiring;

2. Use a brush of appropriate size, soft and with a small head to prevent injuries to the teeth and gums;

3. Search Always use a toothpaste with 1,000 to 1,500 ppm of fluoride (ask your dentist which toothpaste best suited for your teeth);

4. Avoid brushing your teeth only in the horizontal puts the brush slightly tilted in the passage by the teeth, so they do not wear over time;

5. Use dental floss daily before brushing to remove food debris and bacteria that exist between spaces and between the teeth and gums;

6. Follows the recommendations of your dentist in the use of elixir for rinsing;

7. Seeks to maintain and clean the teeth, especially along the gum line, preventing plaque and tartar;

8. Makes a regular dental review, preferably of 6 in 6 months, and an oral check-up at least once during the year;

9. Maintain a balanced diet and seeks to replace the candy for more nutritious foods like cheese, fruit and vegetables;

10. If you have sensitive teeth visit a dentist because it may be an indicator of dental caries, tooth fracture.

Professor Escovinha

352. Opening speech of the Minister of Health in the hearing of the Parliamentary Health

Opening speech of the Minister of Health

the hearing of the Parliamentary Health

(April 21, 2009)

* * *

President of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, ladies and gentlemen, Social Communication: It is with great pleasure that I am here to answer questions from the gentlemen. I expressed my readiness for some time, but for the sake of this House, only now been realized.

This year the National Health Service (SNS in Portuguese language) is 30 years. In those decades there were many demographic, social, economic and cultural rights to which the SNS has had to adapt. We have given continuity to the reforms that are part of this government program, implementing the measures deemed relevant. The policies are certain to lead to the end. Our responsibility is to the citizen. Thirty years later, we call for a National Health Service refreshed and able to respond to new needs, but based on the same principles: universal, free general and tend, as one of the foundations of the Portuguese Health System.

(...)

The extension of the Oral Health Programme to the younger: The allocation of vouchers to pregnant women and elderly dentist beneficiaries of the solidarity supplement for the elderly, which to date amount to a total of more than 50,000 checks, was a success. It was decided to extend this program to younger students.

Later this month, children and youth with 7, 10 and 13 years who attend public schools will have access to oral health consultations and, if necessary, be entitled to two or three checks for dental treatment. This measure is the necessary complement to the Prevention of existing dental caries. In total, 190 000 children will be covered.

Are also being made available over 20,000 vouchers for dental treatment of children with needs identified in surveys of global health, the 4-5 years before entry to compulsory education.

Portal do Governo

351. Oral hygiene in children under two years - advice for young daddies!

Oral hygiene for children should be taken seriously early on, as it is in childhood that gives the calcification of permanent teeth. And children learn the importance of taking care of teeth and hygiene of your mouth, parents should lead by example, brushing teeth in front of her. Then, it is interesting to buy a toothbrush for children motivate her. She must really enjoy brushing their teeth the greater their interest and affinity with the brush, the better.

The child should be encouraged to chew it happens to a good development of the masticatory apparatus. Teeth are essential for speech, since the early loss of teeth can damage the pronunciation of some phonemes or causing bad habits, such as the interposition of the tongue. And the aesthetic function is also very important because children who lose a baby tooth too soon become a joy by colleagues, and this can cause psychological problems.

Toilette kit with:

-Cut nails with non-slip grip;

-Toothbrush for the little ones;

-Brush teeth / gum stimulator for the newborn;

-Brush and Comb with Soft Grip handles;

-Comb-newborn;

-Gloves (2 pairs);

-8 Files.

Before two years

=============

During this phase, clean the teeth of your child. Use gauze or a wet diaper on the gums, even before the onset of first teeth. When these start to rise, do the following:

-Stay-behind the child, and with one hand, move their lips and cheeks of the child. With the other, brush sides of outside and inside of the teeth in a circular motion;

-Brush the upper teeth (chewing surface) with movements of coming and going;

-Brush the tongue.

Important: Use the toothpaste is not recommended at this age, because it contains fluoride, which is toxic if ingested in large quantities. If you want to use the folder, apply a very small amount. Do not risk it. In case of large intake of toothpaste, call your doctor immediately.

Professor Escovinha

350. S. Pedro do Sul: City distributes oral hygiene kits to children

About 1200 children attending schools in the first cycle of basic education and garden-schools in the municipality of S. Pedro do Sul will be covered with an oral hygiene kit consisting of a toothbrush and toothpaste, offered by the City Council. Delivery of the first kits took place on April 14, the School of the first cycle of basic education from the village of S. Pedro do Sul. The activities are in charge of the team of School Health Center for Health S. Pedro do Sul and Technical Education in the City.

The project, developed in partnership with the Center for Health S. Pedro do Sul in the context of Education for Health, has as main objective to work with children in general hygiene and oral hygiene in particular, promoting the acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies to promote their oral health. In addition, the program intends to demonstrate the importance of maintaining oral health for a healthy lifestyle; changing oral hygiene habits, raise awareness about the importance of consulting a dentist regularly, and in children implement the good habit of brushing their teeth after meals.

For Councillor for Education and Social Welfare of the municipality, Rogério Duarte, a good gift for parents, guardians and society in general can offer smaller is the possibility of having a healthy dentition, which accompanies the end of their lives. The town hall, attentive and concerned about the welfare of future generations, wants to give the kick-off for a process that judges be extremely important - health, oral health in this case. We believe that children today, a day to recognize how important it was for your health this initiative.

Alderman also notes: "It is our belief that the stakes that we have been doing in education and training in our children proud of will in the near future."

Notícias de Viseu

* * *

All campaigns raise awareness for oral health are welcome. For this initiative the City of S. Pedro do Sul, raises the question whether the promoters of the initiative were careful to do before the screening of the oral health of all children involved and whether it's because your referral doctor.

At a time when senior political leaders of the country are more concerned to discuss if the schools become the gateway to the distribution of condoms to adolescents without economic needs and hunger than providing health care to those who need such as bread to the mouth, the remainder goes to local government bridging the obligations of the Ministries of Education and Health (since they do nothing for the primary health of children and adolescents who attend schools in the country, voted to all kinds of abandonment and the fate of their day to day).

Shameful, very shameful behavior concerning oral health care of children and adolescents, by the Government, Members of the majority in parliament and even the President of the Republic, that a country that is part of the European Union.

349. The mouth should not be treated when only gives problems

The Medical and Dental (Caldas da Rainha), located at Rua Heróis da Grande Guerra, number one hundred and three, second floor, aims to provide its patients the highest standards of clinical and scientific rigor. A native of Lisbon, the dentist Gonçalo Seguro Dias acquired the Medicine and Dentistry in 2003 and now divides his work between Caldas da Rainha and Lisbon. It is also an assistant of surgery and oral medicine at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Lisbon.

He graduated from the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Lisbon and attended Columbia University, an institution of higher education located in New York City. Their main concern is that their patients have good oral health.

According to the dentist, the mentality of the Portuguese in relation to oral health is changing. A few years ago most people used the dentist only when they had toothache. Today people are increasingly looking for fixed solutions, have more care than they did a few years ago, he said, adding that it is essential to the maintenance of oral hygiene. Therefore, the doctor advises that patients resort to dentists from a young age to allow for preventive action.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - Nowadays we hear a lot of dental implants. What are they?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - The dental implant is an artificial means for replacing a lost or more roots, being constituted of titanium, which is a material that is not rejected. We are talking about a technique that has 97-99% success.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - Who can put them?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - Anyone can make implants, provided that your dentist does not find any contraindications.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - And it is a very complex procedure?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - No, this is a technique that has evolved in recent years and has simplified the whole procedure. Initially, under local anesthesia (similar to one used to treat tooth decay), your dentist places the number of implants planned and appropriate to his case (depending on the number of missing teeth). After 3-5 months, is made final fixed prosthesis that replaces missing teeth, and that will be supported by the implants placed above.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - And any dentist can do the procedure?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - This is a surgical procedure and as such should be performed by a specialist. Of course, people should inform themselves about the process and obtain all possible information. Everything must be explained to the patients.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - Is it really possible for a person coming out soon with teeth fixed?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - Yes, in most cases we can so that patients can leave the clinic with teeth fixed provisional.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - There are a large number of people seeking these treatments?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - I can tell you that in 2008 we did 400 implants, patients who have Portuguese, English, Irish, Swiss, etc.. That is, to a large number of people is the only solution.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - Recently participated in the "Doctor, I need help," TVI. Possible transformations are really so great?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - Nowadays, everything is possible. We managed to give teeth to patients with bone, without bone, it's all a matter of technique. What patients need to understand is that it is a process that takes several steps.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - In your opinion, what are the main merits of the program?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - I think he was a very important role in informing patients about many aspects of dentistry, somewhat demystified a series of concepts.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - And how is the oral health of the Portuguese?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - Bad for the average of developed countries. Eventually we had patients between thirty and forty years old with no teeth who can not chew ... this is quality of life? My big battle is to try the Portuguese begin to think that the mouth is an essential commodity and not a necessary evil that must be treated only when it gives problems.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - How does the dentistry in Portugal?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - We have in Portugal of the finest dentists worldwide. We have professionals who are required to take courses abroad which are engaged in exciting projects at the colleges. In this respect we improved a lot over the last decades. Now what is possible is not the same dentist know everything about every area. If we want to work with quality, we have to work as a team by areas of expertise. This is the future. It's the only way to guarantee our patients that are having the best treatment. So today we have a great team and my motto is quality.

Marlene Sousa
Jornal das Caldas

348. oral hygiene

Oral hygiene is a very old practice and is part of building and strengthening positive self-image. The main oral diseases and changes caused by a poor oral hygiene are: dental caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and halitosis.

The plaque, responsible for the onset of the diseases mentioned above, consists of microbes (bacteria) and components of saliva that strongly adhere to teeth, a condition that allows it to withstand the forces of self-cleaning physiological, related to the movements of the tongue and cheeks.

Dental caries is a localized disease and with origin in bacteria. These bacteria, from the sugars of foods, produce acids that cause a loss of minerals from the tooth, forming a cavity with time on it.

Gums that are red, swollen and bleed easily, are signs of gingivitis.

Periodontitis is inflammation and destruction of tissues supporting the teeth in the mouth, or there is bone loss and alteration of the gums, making teeth with mobility and "emaciated."

These diseases can cause an entry of bacteria into the blood threatening the entire body (eye disorders, heart, bone, gut, kidneys, lungs, glands, joints).

Halitosis, or bad breath, derives from the Latin halitus which means breath and the Greek suffix osis meaning condition. Halitosis can become a serious problem because of the difficult interpersonal relationships or decrease self-esteem.

The first step to eliminate or alleviate halitosis, is thought to have good oral hygiene, cleaning the tongue with a brush or own cleaners and before bedtime gargle with mouthwash.

Holders of dental prosthesis, should always wash it and after meals and dip once a week in disinfectant solutions.

They should drink plenty of water during the day, especially if you feel dry mouth and particularly in this case, one should stimulate the salivary glands with chewing gum and sugar free candy, because saliva has a cleaning function and protection of mouth.

It is important to make a diet rich in fiber foods, avoiding spicy and with a strong odor (onion and garlic) and being a long time without eating, because food is the best way to stimulate the salivary glands. Tobacco and alcohol are agents to prevent, as well as dry mouth, are great promoters of halitosis.

If you have good oral hygiene and halitosis persists, consult your dentist or dental hygienist, because only they can tell if you have other factors that cause halitosis, such as dental caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, low salivary flow and excess plaque and tartar.

Preventing oral disease:

1. Brush your teeth after the main meals and at bedtime, with a brush or soft and medium hardness with a fluoride toothpaste and keep it in your mouth for at least two minutes;

2. Pass the floss once a day;

3. Use mouthwash as they have an important role in preventing tooth decay and tooth sensitivity;

4. Making a healthy diet (avoiding sweets between meals and consuming foods with fiber);

5. Consult the dentist or dental hygienist twice a year.

Sofia Machado
Médicos de Portugal

347. Balance of the National Oral Health

The Directorate - General Health

* * *

This serves to request, under the School Health Programme of the Directorate General of Health, detailed information such as balance, about all the interventions made at school during the past academic year or, alternatively, in the last calendar year, related to oral health.

Given that the program is aimed at promoting oral health, monitor the implementation of the Global Survey of Health, at 5-6 years and 11-13 years, promoting the development of personal and social skills and identify children at risk of psychiatric disorders, promote equity among students, and aims, among others, to promote and protect health and prevent disease in the educational community and contribute to the promotion of healthy lifestyles, with the audience throughout the educational community of Gardens childhood, School of Basic Education and Secondary Education and other institutions with intervention in middle school, and in compliance with the Protocol signed on February 7, 2006 between the Ministries of Health and Education, asked if a detailed assessment and broken by regions and districts of interventions in schools as part of oral health, particularly the number of consultations with the specialty of Dentistry that children and adolescents have had access after the protocol, and the treatments carried out and monitoring currently done in primary schools and secondary schools in the country.

More thanks to the release of other partnerships as well as any information that becomes relevant and to be circulated to all schools, to ensure equal access to the program by all children and adolescents enrolled in primary and secondary schools across the country.

346. CONSTÂNCIA: Protocol in the area of Oral Health

On April 7, Constância saw signed the Protocol for the Integrated Development of Activities for the Protection and Treatment under Dental Oral Health / School Health, an initiative which took place in the Grand Hall of the Town Hall. The protocol was signed between the Health Center, the Chamber and the Assembly of Schools of Constância.

The protocol is designed primarily to reduce levels of dental caries in permanent teeth of young people who attend the first and second cycle of basic education in the Council of Constância, to supplement the basic program of oral health in Constância, ensuring that all children of school age first and second cycle have access to this program.

O Mirante

* * *

Another initiative to praise starred locally; it is good that these initiatives will serve as an example to the rest of the country.

It is expected that there will be results and that they are always disclosed and made public, it is necessary that the established protocols and produce real results that do not pass a simple theoretical maneuvers then later did not produce any real effect and cause unnecessary spending through the budget public.

345. The oral health proposed by the parties represented in parliament

Note: I await responses from the PS, PSD, PCP, BE and PEV

* * *

The European strategy and the goals set by the World Health Organization (WHO) oral health suggest that by 2020 at least 80% of children under 6 years of age are free of caries, and at 12 years, the DMFT does not exceed the value of 1.5.

Portugal has a National Oral Health Promotion, established in 2005, while reading the program, citizens are also aware that the public sector is responsible for the promotion of health, prevention of oral diseases and provide dental care eligible to be held in the National Health Service (SNS in portuguese). The truth is that health care medical-dental are neither more or less satisfied by the SNS.

There are currently six thousand dentists in Portugal, entered the Order of Dentists, number more than sufficient to meet national needs. In this regard, Chairman of the Dental Association said a few months ago, that the Order may be required to limit access to the profession. One reason for the excess of dentists due to the number of faculty and students enrolled, which is very large thus hampering the full flow of these professionals in the Portuguese labor market. It is noted that every year, leaving the job market for six hundred new graduates and about two hundred forty-seven Portuguese dentists are working outside of Portugal.

However, despite the apparently high number of dentists in our country, the oral health care in the SNS is practically nonexistent! From what we know, there are only forty-three units of dentistry across the country, these units only treat inpatients and serious.

Initiatives of the CDS:

1. To try to confirm the number of dental units in June 2008, the CDS-PP sent a written question to the Minister of Health, questioning how dental services / dental exist in Hospitals SNS: how many and what are the Centres Health and Family Health Units that have oral health care, and how many dentists and dentists performing functions in the SNS, broken down by Hospitals, Health Centres and Family Health Units. The CDS-PP has already remanded this question two more times - the last on 9 April - and, until today, the Minister never answered, as is their regimental duty.

We can thus conclude that despite international recommendations and despite the existence of a National Programme, the measures of this Government to ensure the oral health care to citizens became only the distribution of vouchers dentist, presented the State Budget 2008 and for children, pregnant women and elderly.

2. The CDS-PP has presented several times, a legislative initiative calling for the inclusion of dentists in the careers of Technicians of Health, which was rejected by the Socialist majority.

3. Professionals also argue that all liberals - medical and oral health technologies included, naturally - practicing voluntary action, giving their time free to treat the health of the disadvantaged, may deduct, in paying their taxes to the state, the hours devote to volunteering.

The CDS-PP considers that many steps must be taken regarding oral health. Measures that translate into the following questions: where is the intervention for the prevention of dental caries, which should be undertaken in schools? Has been or is being done? In which schools? How many children and adolescents cover? How many people can use the SNS for oral health care, with guarantees of attendance? In what parts of the country? Number of training sessions were made with families Portuguese? How many campaigns and sensitization were carried out at national level? The Ministry of Health makes the evaluation of services provided by contracted dentists? How is this assessment? Portugal will be able to achieve the goals set in 2020 by WHO?

Unfortunately, these questions remain unanswered. Worse, these and many more matters relating to oral health continue without action by this Government. Remain forgotten.

Portugal, a European Union country in the XXI century proud to distribute computers in schools, prides itself on in times of crisis, when investing in megalomaniac projects like a new airport or the high speed train, but can not proud to provide its citizens with some of the most basic healthcare and basic as are oral health care.

It is in cases like this we believe that Portugal must look humbly to a Lusophone country, Brazil, whose oral health is the most advanced in the world. This country made a political decision for decades to bet heavily on dental health, as a factor in public health law. Began awareness campaigns throughout the country (the size incomparably larger than Portugal) to instill in people an idea: a smile with healthy teeth is critical. In schools, children and young people are followed from early to a constant preoccupation with hygiene and oral health, in hospitals, all are monitored to no longer care for their teeth.

Therefore, Portugal will take on oral health as a priority, including:

- Creating effective campaigns among the population (mainly young);

- Dignity of the profession;

- Creating greater career or contracting with the state dentists.

344. Nutrition education: Advice for parents

Nutrition education

* * *

Prevent tooth decay by reducing the cariogenic food involves not only reduce the amount of intake of sugars, but also and mainly to its frequency. Also under this view, institutions have an important role, since they may promote balanced diets, with low consumption of sugary foods (eg, one dessert a week, a bread and butter instead of sweet).

There are very useful materials in Portuguese, in this area, including the Manual para uma Alimentação Saudável em Jardins de Infância (Guide for Healthy Eating in Kindergartens) and Manual de Educação para a Saúde em Alimentação (Manual of Health Education in Food), which they recommend. The diet should include foods that encourage chewing. However, there are people with problems in this field which usually eat porridge. It should therefore be careful not to add sugar to these preparations. The food rewards given for any successful task should not be sweetened.

Technicians should sensitize institutions and parents to the importance of low consumption of sugary food and soft drinks, stating that:

• sugary foods, solids and aosdentes members are the most cariogenic;

• the effect of cariogenic foods is greater if they are eaten between meals;

• A good diet is the selection of natural foods, fruit, vegetables, grains and fibrous foods.

(taken from Professor Escovinha)

343. Set brush and toothpaste for children

CopyRight @ Feltro & Outros

342. Analysis of the National Study of Prevalence of Oral Diseases in 2008 (Part 7)

Oral diseases in childhood and adolescence

* * *

The National Study of Prevalence of Oral Diseases 2008 identifies tooth decay and disease periodontist in children and young Portuguese, which comes on top of fluorosis in certain geographic areas.

The calculation of the indices of dental caries has shown that its value grows with increasing age of children and young people, which can assume a condition attached to a neglect of oral health as children and young people grow and / or greater attention to oral health of children when they are smaller. We can not forget the changing environment that children and young people are going on as they grow older, which may also contribute to the development above. Are the gardens-schools and schools of the first cycle more apt to support and help in better and more consistent than the other levels of higher education? If yes, why?

Dental caries at 6 years old - Very troubling is the discrepancy observed between the various regions of the country: "In the temporary dentition, Madeira, with a DMFT of 3.61, had the highest prevalence of disease, the difference being statistically significant compared to the national average. In the permanent dentition, the Azores, had a DMFT of 0.24, which was triple the national average. The regions of Central (0.02), Lisbon and Tagus Valley and the Algarve (0.03) had the lowest values: these changes are statistically significant. (...) For health regions the proportion of temporary teeth decayed (at six years old) was very high, ranging from 83% in the Alentejo and the Azores and 94% in Lisbon and Tagus Valley."

These contrasts show clearly the lack of opportunity of access to oral health in much of the country, constituting a grave injustice committed on children living in disadvantaged areas, in other words, health oral evidence to the discrimination made in favor of richer regions, always hurting the poorest regions (absurd logic if we are talking about national cohesion, as are children living in poorer regions that have fewer guarantees of oral health).

Link: The National Study of Prevalence of Oral Diseases 2008

341. What is the Oral Health that political parties want to Portugal?

To the Presidents of Parliamentary Groups of the PS, PSD, PCP, CDS-PP, BE and PEV: Serve the present to ask the various political parties and parliamentary groups represented in parliament have the courtesy to make the blog ORAL HEALTH which its line of action and proposals for action at the level of provision of oral health care that preconization for the general population and vulnerable groups in Portugal, with a view to the next for new legislative elections from 2009 to 2013.

Now they are after thirty-five years after the April 25, 1974 and more than twenty after integration of Portugal in the European Union, oral health in Portugal continues to be treated in an anachronistic and pitiful by governments, with occasional interventions and front, without any remedy the root causes, which call to inform all the Portuguese by the solutions that various political organizations they work in the next legislature to radically change the current landscape of providing oral health care in our country.

Thanks to the submission of proposals (maximum two A4 pages) which will be published on the blog ORAL HEALTH, so the Portuguese can be informed and can choose those they deem best serve the people and country.