If you are considering rosacea laser treatment, here are some facts that may help you to decide whether this is a good rosacea treatment option for your sensitive skin.

Did you know that one of out every five diagnoses made by dermatologists is for rosacea?

Rosacea is an unfortunately a very common chronic skin problem especially for people over 30. Some people begin to see signs of rosacea around age 25 with flushing and redness of the face.

If rosacea progresses, you will begin to see small red bumps on your face, some of which may look like acne sores. Eventually the face becomes permanently red and the skin thickens.

Although most rosacea sufferers are women, men who get rosacea are more likely to develop rosacea symptoms that cause the nose to become large and thickened.

If you begin to see signs that you may have rosacea, the time to take care of this is right now. Don’t wait! Even though there is no known medical cure for rosacea, you may be able to reverse or even eliminate many of the symptoms.

To do this you will need early rosacea treatment combined with healthy lifestyle and diet adaptations that will help your skin to stop the cycle of inflammation and redness.

Initial Rosacea Treatments

Most dermatologists will initially treat rosacea with medications and topical creams, along with lifestyle and dietary instructions to minimize your rosacea outbreaks.

Sometimes these rosacea treatments, combined with a more healthy natural diet, are enough to get your rosacea under control. Many cases of sensitive skin respond well to a less toxic diet and lifestyle. If not, then your doctor will likely recommend rosacea laser treatment.

Rosacea Laser Treatment

Rosacea laser treatments first were used in the 1980’s, and newer and gentler technologies were developed in the 1990’s. These have shown some promise in treating some of the more severe rosacea symptoms like red bumps, spider veins, thickened skin, and permanently reddened skin.

These do have some risks and side effects for sensitive skin, and so you want to be cautious in your approach, and to work with a very skilled dermatologist to minimize any risks.

How Laser Treatment Works

A laser emits wavelengths of light which act on the swollen blood vessels right below the skin which cause the redness. The laser effectively disintegrates the swollen blood vessels, thus reducing the redness in the skin.

Lasers can also stop the thickening of skin that happens with advanced rosacea which can enlarge the nose and cheeks. In severe cases of rosacea, lasers can help the skin to return to a more normal and healthy appearance.

Rosacea Laser Treatment Side Effects

When you have sensitive skin, it is wise to be cautious before trying any kind of laser or surgical treatments. It is always best to try all the other options first such as a rosacea diet, rosacea home remedies, and rosacea medications FIRST.

The reason for this is because laser treatments are intense. They cause temporary bruising which last 1-2 weeks before fading. You may also experience a temporary darkening of the skin. You may see a lot of swelling and redness on your face for a few days.

In addition, laser treatments are not a rosacea cure. You may need lifelong follow up treatments.

After all this, there is a chance that rosacea laser treatments may not work. And for some people, they may actually make your rosacea worse.

Types of Rosacea Laser Treatment

There are new technologies coming out all the time that are attempting to create the maximum benefits for rosacea patients, with a minimum of bruising, redness and other side effects.

Although some research suggests that laser treatments that induce bruising MAY be more effective, this isn’t an option that will work for many people who are unable to take several weeks away from their job until the bruising heals.

Most laser Treatments for rosacea fall into two categories:

Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) requires up to three treatments, spaced six to eight weeks apart.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a newer technology which bruise less, and which require four to six treatments spaced three weeks apart.

Some new technologies such as a high-energy, long pulse-duration pulsed-dye laser are now emerging which are demonstrating better results, less side effects and less bruising.

Other Considerations for Rosacea Laser Treatment

Most laser treatments for rosacea cost anywhere from $300 to $600 per session. These treatments are generally not covered by medical insurance. As I mentioned before, laser treatments are NOT a rosacea cure, and you will likely need lifelong follow up treatments.

Another important thing to consider is your choice of doctor. You REALLY want to be sure that you choose a very skilled, very experienced doctor who has SPECIFIC knowledge of how to use laser treatment with rosacea. The reason for this is that the doctor needs to create an even skin tone for the entire face. If he or she over treats an area, you will have a white patch on your face!

Rosacea laser treatment may be an effective rosacea treatment for sensitive skin if you have exhausted all other treatment options and still have not found relief from your moderate or severe rosacea symptoms. Educate yourself and be sure to choose an excellent doctor who has all the necessary skills, and who can help you make informed choices about your rosacea treatments. Done correctly, rosacea laser treatments have helped many people to ease their symptoms and to live more happily without the pain and embarrassment that rosacea can cause.

Understanding Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are actually a form of skin scarring, and appear as lines on the body that are off-color, soft, and slightly depressed as compared to the level of the surrounding skin. These marks are usually darker in color when they first appear, and can be purplish or reddish. Over time, they tend to fade to a lighter color. Stretch lines occur because of a tearing of the dermis, which often is the result of rapid weight gain or growth. This can cause the skin to be pulled and stretched beyond its elasticity, and tears occur which cause stretch marks. Pregnancy is often a common cause of stretch marks, even if a woman’s weight gain is not excessive. This is because there are hormonal changes that occur that tend to encourage the formation of these marks.

Areas Often Affected by Stretch Marks

Although stretch marks can occur anywhere on the body, the most likely locations are where the body stores fat. When fast weight gain occurs, these areas are the ones that are most likely to grow quickly, causing the skin to stretch beyond its elastic limits. The abdomen, thighs, buttocks, hips, and breasts are common areas for stretch marks, as are the upper arms. As a general rule, these areas of the body are most affected by weight gain, and as a result, are also most affected by stretch marks. Bodybuilders, weight lifters and teenagers often get stretch marks even in areas that are not generally prone to them because of growth spurts or the bulking up of muscles, both of which can stretch the skin.

Preventing Stretch Marks

Overall, the focus is often on preventing the formation of stretch marks in the first place. Although it is thought that a tendency towards stretch mark may be genetic, there are some things a person can do to help prevent the formation of these marks on the skin. Of course, the most important preventative measure is to avoid gaining weight rapidly. Moisturizers, lotions and creams that contain various extracts and vitamins are also commonly used to help keep the skin elastic and thereby prevent the occurrence of stretch marks. Although lotions and creams can help keep the skin in good condition and may help, they are not a cure-all when it comes to prevention.

Removing Stretch Marks

Although stretch marks are not harmful, they are somewhat unsightly, and as a result, people who get them often look for ways to remove them or at least reduce their appearance. Stretch marks will fade in color on their own, but the texture and stretched appearance will remain. There are creams that claim to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, but in most cases dermabrasion or laser treatments are needed to provide any real noticeable results. Additionally, because the abdomen is a common location for stretch marks, some people rely on a “tummy tuck” to remove stretch marks, since the surgery is designed to remove the skin where coincidentally most stretch marks tend to occur.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the digestive system whose symptoms include bloating, discomfort, abdominal pain and irregular bowel habits. In turn these symptoms can lead to depression. There is no known cure for IBS however one treatment that appears to be coming to the forefront is hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy is a treatment that many people have heard of, but they’re not entirely sure what it is or how it works. Typically a session of hypnotherapy involves a client/patient and a hypnotherapist (or in this modern age a CD or MP3). The session will first begin with some “pre-talk” where the hypnotherapist will explain what to expect from the hypnotherapy IBS treatment. Once this has been discussed the treatment itself will begin.

The hypnotherapy will begin with a hypnotic induction and then a deepener. This ensures that the client is in a trance state. It is difficult to explain a hypnotic trance because it can vary from person to person. Some people get a tingling sensation and feel very light while others feel very still and heavy as if they are sunk into their chair. During hypnotic trance a person is still aware of what is being said to them and they are not asleep or unconscious in anyway. Hypnotic trance is often described as an altered or heightened sense of focus, much like “being in the zone” while playing a sport.

Once trance has been established the hypnotherapist will embed certain suggestions into the mind of their client. In the case of IBS treatment the suggestions may revolve around helping the client to feel less stressed (as stress often makes IBS symptoms worse), more optimistic about the situation, relieve pain and discomfort, and regulate sleep patterns depending on the situation.

It may seem amazing to think hypnotherapy can help treat all these symptoms of IBS but scientific studies suggest that hypnotherapy is the real deal, not just for IBS but for many other issues too.

Back in 1989 scientists at the Frenchay Hospital in Bristol ran a study on the effects of hypnotherapy on IBS patients. 33 patients with IBS were treated with hypnotherapy over the course of 7 weeks. Of these 33 patients only 2 patients showed no positive effects. The condition of 20 of the patients improved and 11 were completely free of all their former symptoms. With those kind of results, if hypnotherapy was a drug, then doctors wouldn’t hesitate to prescribe it! Unfortunately few doctors are well versed in complementary treatment.

It’s also interesting to note that the hypnotherapy given to the patients in the study was a group form of hypnotherapy, meaning that the sessions were not catered to individual needs. This suggests that CDs or MP3s recorded by qualified hypnotherapists are highly effective, and they are much more affordable than hiring a hypnotherapist.

To answer the question, “does hypnotherapy work as an IBS treatment?” the answer is a resounding yes! If you are a sufferer of IBS and are looking for relief from your dire symptoms then give hypnotherapy a try today.

You will be truly astonished!

One of the most interesting articles I’ve read in quite a while is a piece by Dr. Konrad Hochedlinger, associate professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard Medical School.

The article appeared in the May 2010 issue of Scientific American.

In the article, Dr. Hochedlinger described the work of a number of researchers, including Shinya Yamanaka at the University of Kyoto.

Essentially, the issue that has hampered most of stem cell research is this: embryonic stem cells, while potent and capable of differentiation into any type of adult tissue, are fraught with ethical concerns.

What Drs Yamanaka and Hochedlinger have demonstrated is the ability to take adult cells that have fully differentiated into different organ systems and by using special techniques, returned these cells to the early embryonic stem cell phase. How cool is that!

The magnitude of the problem they have overcome cannot be underestimated. The normal sequence of events in the development of human beings is that as you grow in utero, your body is made up of early embryonic cells.

Early embryonic cells are pluripotential, meaning they can become any type of tissue, given the right set of circumstances. As you mature in utero, you reach the late embryo stage. At that point, your stem cells are transitioning from being pluripotential to becoming multipotential, which means they can become cells of a specific tissue type but not any tissue type.

And by the time you are ready to pop out of the womb, your stem cells have become adult stem cells, they are still multipotential but not pluripotential.

Now what these scientists have brilliantly done is to use nonpathogenic viruses (viruses that don’t cause disease) as delivery messengers to carry genes into fully differentiated adult cells and reprogram them so they become pluripotential stem cells. They are now called “induced pluripotential stem cells.” Unbelievable!

So how will this new technology be of use?

First, the author stated that they can use these induced pluripotential stem cells to study disease. If they take cells from a sick patient and convert them into pluripotential stem cells, they can get an insight into disease progression.

Second, by converting induced pluripotential stem cells taken from a sick person into healthy cells, they can deliver healthy cells back to that patient.

Obviously, the most exciting use is the possibility of taking these induced pluripotential stem cells and using them to generate new healthy tissue and replace damaged or diseased tissue. Another possibility is using these stem cells to correct genetic mutations.

The concerns regarding this research though are many. Not all induced pluripotential cells are effective. Some may not have received the entire proper genetic coding sequence.

Second, in some animal models, scientists have been able to get good control of disease but at the same time, unwanted side effects have appeared.

Much of the research is still being done in the lab where special culture plates, called petri dishes are being used to create models of disease. Hopefully, these models will aid in developing new medicines for disease. Dr. Hochedlinger raises other concerns about whether the process of creating induced pluripotential cells will ever be efficient enough to enable these cells to be used widely.

Also, there are concerns that some retained memory from before conversion into induced pluripotential stem cells might limit the use of these cells. And finally, induced pluripotential stem cells are capable of generating a new human embryo. This raises severe ethical concerns.

Nonetheless, the promise of this technology is such- particularly when it comes to arthritis- that I was thrilled to see it. Cartilage is difficult to grow because of lack of vascularity. There are no blood vessels to carry nutrients to damaged cartilage. It will be up to new technologies to repair and replace cartilage.

Still, our work at the Arthritis Treatment Center with autologous adult mesenchymal stem cells, and this new basic science with induced pluripotential stem cells look very promising. Stay tuned for more developments.

The mind is a crucial organ in the body, the purpose and function of the brain is very important in the day to day activities of the human being. The brain controls all functions of the body. It is important for an individual to maintain a healthy lifestyle that will work to better his brain capacity. Studies have it that the average man utilizes only a third of his overall brain capacity. This here shows how powerful the brain can be. Giving a boost to the brain can have many added advantage to any individual.

There are many methods people have used to boost their minds to perform certain tasks better. Some of these activities are the Yoga, listening to brainwave technology and use of drug. Just to explain what each method entails.

The Yoga

Yoga was invented by a Chinese monk, the art of meditation involves observing certain postures, and uttering soothing words to the soul. The practice has gained much popularity in western countries. This is as a result of its effectiveness in healing and suppressing depression. Training and practices advocated in Yoga are effective in the healing of the body and soul. However, as this may be the case negative responses from this meditation practice has evoked much debate.

Antidepressant Drugs

Use of antidepressants is the physician’s way of helping a patient boost his brain power. There a lots of antidepressant drugs in the market. They range from herbal to chemical based antidepressants. The use of these drugs can be very effective. However, reports of after effects are very often reported. The misuse of these drugs can also lead to brain diseases. The most common are schizophrenia; this comes from overdose of any serotonin antidepressants. Before any person engages in the use of these drugs proper medical advice should be first given.

Brainwave Technology Entertainment

This is the latest form of mind improvement products. The use of brainwave technology has been highly utilized among many individual today. The fact that you need no form of practice, or you need not to practice any words to achieve results makes this method an attraction to many people out there. Brainwave technology uses binaural beats to concur with brain frequencies. Frequencies from this beats are played in such a way that they enable the brain to slip in different brain states. Many people have attested to the positive attributes concerned with this method of mediation.

Consistence use of any of the above method will give results to a boost in your brain power. However, as discussed you need to be very particular if you are to use Yoga or drugs to attain your mind freedom. This method will not work to all of us. The best method so far is the brainwave technology. This method has no known side effects or after effects whatsoever. Engaging your research skills in getting the best of any of the mentioned products is highly recommended, however the effectiveness will vary with each and every of them.

Acne is something that cannot be avoided by everyone. Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of them. What a lot of individuals are doing to rid the problem involves the use of cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and daily washing of face with facial wash. Is this what you do?

The form of removing acne externally is just fine but you can do better if you will also try to solve the skin condition internally. This is because the problem or root of acne does not only come from external factor but from the inside as well. So instead of focusing too much on chemicals you put on your skin, take a moment to check some natural ways of avoiding acne. They might just help you when you are in an emergency situation, like meeting the love of your life.

One natural way to avoid acne is by cleaning your face twice a day, first is the morning when you wake up, and next before you go to bed. These are the best times to clean the face because these are crucial times. Everyday even if you are not outside dirt can accumulate on your face, aside from the fact that you need to be fresh for the day.

Next step, you need to clean your face before you sleep, because if you sleep without cleaning off the dirt that accumulated on your face, it will seep in and cause acne. Also, make sure that you use a clean towel, and it should be a towel that is used only for your face. That way, the dirt will not return to your face when you use the same towel for your body. It would be like putting dirt from your body into your towel and then into your face

Moreover, do not use your regular soap on your face. Soap is made for your body, and not the sensitive skin of your face. You might have tried it already, and I am sure you noticed how dry your skin became after you tried it. Soap washes away moisture from the skin and this can make the skin prone to acne. Always use soap that is made for your facial skin.
Avoid putting perfumes on your face. They have chemical contents that can possibly irritate your skin, causing rashes or something worse. Your facial tissues are very sensitive, so the face is not the proper place to put your perfumes. You have a lot of other places you can apply your perfumes on. Just avoid applying them on your face.

Furthermore, besides hygiene your diet can also increase your chance of acne if you continue to eat food that triggers this condition. So consider adding fresh fruits into your diet. Fruits have a lot of minerals that can help your body fight off stress, which will also help make you look younger.

Fruits and vegetables cleanse your body of toxins. The more colorful your fruit diet, the healthier you are. So do not be afraid to add some blue and red to your green and yellow diet. It can only help you look better. These are just a few of the many other natural ways of avoiding acne. When it comes to your skin, it is always better to be safe than sorry. As much as possible, do not put any foreign materials on your skin that is not made specifically for it.

Dry facial skin is a vexing yet benign ailment that we everyone has to deal with sooner or later . Even though facial skin is nurtured more than any other part of our body, it is also fragile and very exposed to the elements. Clothing protects the skin on the rest of your body, but the face can’t be kept covered always .

Complexion problems on the face are very common skin problems. Dryness, for instance, may last up to several days and even though certain remedies seem to work temporarily, it can become a chronic condition. Facial dry skin is common during the winter but some people may experience this throughout the year. There’s no need to fret and restoring your skin is actually quite simple, even without anti wrinkle creams .

When the skin is unable to retain moisture and the sebum level decreases , it becomes dry and looks rough. It seems like it is being stretched like the skin of a drum , feeling very uncomfortable and sometimes even itchy. Exceedingly dry skin looks cracked and chapped which can cause a great deal of pain . Dryness can affect every area of your face, but the lips and cheeks seem to be most commonly found .

Dehydration is the basic and most frequent cause of dry skin anyplace on your body. If you are not getting sufficient water throughout the day or consuming excess caffeine or high fructose corn syrup , you could experience the unwatned side effects of mild dehydration. Unhealthy eating habits could also be impacting your dry skin problem . Vitamin A and vitamin B deficiencies are known to contribute to this widespread problem.

Certain harsh soaps, creams, make-up and cleaning products might cause irritation to the skin when they come in contact with it. If you are prone to some allergies and take allergy medication, the drugs can make all your mucose membranes very dry as well. Even environmental factors such as excessive sun, wind or cold also lead to this problem. As you can see, the reasons for dry skin are endless, but so are the remedies.

Keep your skin hydrated by drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water daily . Eat a nutritious diet which should include fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and grains . Raw foods are particularly beneficial in matters of skin dryness . Foods high in sulfur, like onions, eggs and garlic are must for a soft and supple skin. You should also have fresh juices of vegetables & fruits instead of sugar laden soft drinks .

Try to completely eradicate the consumption of fried foods, soft drinks, candy bars and other junk food . Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they contribute to the dehydration of your body . Chamomile or Mentha piperita tea has been found to be beneficial for treating a dry skin problem .

Remember to moisturize every day but always on a clean face. Exfoliate skin often with a mild, non-abrasive product. The moisturizer will be much more effective after this process. When you wash your face, remember that hot water may feel good but in fact, it dries your skin . Always use lukewarm water and do not scrub your skin with harsh sponges or even the towel.

There are many natural wholesome skin care products that contain a complete therapy line for your dry facial skin. If you wish to eliminate the annoying symptoms of dry facial skin always choose a simple, natural day cream that’s light yet shielding against the elements. Discard any cosmetic with harsh chemicals or unfamiliar substances that will only aggravate the itchiness and tightness . With very easy effort on your part you can get rid of skin dryness for many years to come.

Chemical based hair loss products have side effects that can seriously affect your health. Chemicals are not good as they tend to change the chemical composition of cells or hormones which have no connection to the hair whatsoever. The less serious side effects include gaining weight, itching of the scalp, and headaches. There are more serious side effects which include lowered sex drive, erectile dysfunction. Losing your hair is a stress on its own without having to experience health problems. You could rather go for the natural products that have been proven to be successful and effective at putting a stop to hair loss without any side effects at all.

Almost all natural treatments for hair loss date back to hundreds of years. You will be surprised to be told of a treatment that was used by your great grandmother to take care of her hair. Natural treatments are derived from plants such as rosemary, sage, saw palmetto, nettle and aloe vera. These remedies may be in the form of oils or poultices. Rinses, gels and creams can be made from natural ingredients.

Aloe vera is one of the most common and widely used plants in natural remedies. This herb is good for healing skin on the scalp that has been irritated. Irritation may be due to use of hair chemicals, tight hairstyles or thermal treatments. Imbalances of pH also cause hair loss of which aloe vera balances the pH. Hair follicles are also cleaned especially when they have been clogged by oils from the sebum gland. There is promotion of enzyme activity essential in the process of hair growth.

Rosemary is another common herb that acts as a stimulant. It is more effective when used in conjunction with sage. The combination promotes the generation of new hair follicles. It also stimulates the follicles to come out of resting and continue the cycles of hair growth. These herbs can be made into a rinse which can be used after shampooing. The leaves are boiled and then strained.

Oils can be made from grape seed, lavender, cedar, thyme and other herbs. The oils tend to cause the scalp to relax such that it can start the process of healing. The arteries leading to the scalp are widened such that there is increased flow of blood. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients which are essential for the use by the hair follicles.

Procerin is medication that is commercially manufactured. Its ingredients are comprised of extracts from plants such as saw palmetto, nettle, avocado oil, pumpkin seed and grape seed. Procerin works by inhibiting the production of DHT by combining with the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. It is manufactured into pills and a serum which only target DHT production and nothing else.

All natural treatments for hair loss are safe to use. There will be no side effects that will stress your body or your mind. Massaging the scalp will contribute to the better absorption of the herbal treatments. It is certainly better to use these treatments for healthier growing hair.

For various personal reasons, most men will like to have bigger and longer penises. Fortunately there are several ways to achieve this objective of penis enlargement. So if you want to increase the size of your penis, then you should know what the various options are and whether the methods are safe and affordable.

To enable you to choose a method, you should have an understanding of your penis structure and how each of these methods work so that you can make a better decision when choosing a penis enlargement method.

The penis is made up of two large chambers located at the top part of the penis shaft known as the Corpora Cavernosa. The chamber that is located at the bottom of the shaft is known as the Corpus Spongisum.

The former is responsible for the size of the penis during an erection because about 90 percent of the blood that flows into the penis during an erection is contained here. On the other hand, the Corpora Spongisum is responsible for ejaculation and the function of passing urine. So if you desire to have a bigger or/and longer penis, you have to use a method that can increase both the width and girth of the corpora cavernosa.

There are many methods to do this job and the more common ones are penile exercises, penis enlargement pills, patches, vacuum pumps, stretching tools and weights and of course, penis enlargement surgery. So let us explore some of these options.

a) Penis Enlargement Surgery - This should only be considered as a last option and even so, I do not recommend it. This is because the pain and stress you will go through in this option far outweighs whatever penile size gain you may achieve.

Furthermore, any surgery will come with possible risks of side effects besides being an expensive option. Some of the bad side effects are well known. So why take the risk and expenses of an operation while there are many other methods to increase the size of your manhood?

b) Penile stretchers and weights - Well, while these devices may work to a certain extent, stretching of the penile tissues could result in injuries. So the risks again outweigh the benefit.

c) Penis Exercises - There are many exercises to enhance the size of your penis. Perhaps the most common exercise is the Jelqing method which is thought to be introduced from the Middle East. This is an ancient Arabic traditional method passed from father to son when the young man who is getting married soon, his father will teach him the penile exercise for him to get a bigger penis to satisfy his wife to be.

d) Penis Pumps - Using a penis pump to enlarge one’s penile size is also a fairly common method. However, the uses of these pumps do not enlarge the penis permanently. Furthermore, just like in using stretchers and weights, there is a physical force applied and thus may cause injuries to your penis. These pumps are actually more useful for men with erectile dysfunction rather than for the purpose of enlarging your manhood.

e) Penis Enlargement Pills - These are pills made from natural herbs and thus is said to be free of any side effects. These herbal pills help to increase blood circulation to the genital region and heal stressed penile tissues to aid the re-growth these tissues thus increasing penile size.

This way of increasing your penile size is very popular with men who cannot find the time for other methods of penis enhancement and who are wise enough to realize that some of the physical methods may be dangerous to their sexual health.

Better yet, from anecdotal testimonials, some men who use penis enlargement pills usually experience better orgasm and a marked improvement in their ability to control their ejaculations. How’s that for size?

Sometimes it’s very easy to find a myriad of reasons to not visit your dentist at least twice a year for a checkup. Yet there are many more reasons why you definitely should take the time for these important visits that can not only protect your smile, but your overall health as well.

During your checkup, your dentist will examine your teeth to make sure that they are free of cavities or other problems. If cavities are caught when they are just getting started, they can be removed and filled before they cause severe damage to or completely destroy a tooth or even spread to the surrounding teeth. And if a tooth has become chipped or cracked, your dentist can identify the issue and correct it before it can cause pain or even break off and create additional challenges.

Your dentist will also check your gums to ensure that they are free of gum disease (also known as periodontal disease). Gum disease has very few, if any, symptoms before it gets to the point that it is doing damage to your teeth, gums and the bones that hold your teeth. But with a thorough examination, a dentist can diagnose this disease in its very early stages, which is important to your overall health because it is estimated that “80 percent of American adults” currently have some form of periodontal disease. And periodontal disease that is left to move into an infection has been found to be a risk factor in systemic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

Your dentist will also screen for oral cancer, which could actually save your life because each year more than 300,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed worldwide and more that 7,500 deaths are caused annually from this disease. Yet when it is found and treated early, oral cancer can be controlled.

Along with making sure that your teeth and gums are healthy and that there are no problems that can affect your overall health, your dental checkup is also a good time to talk to your dentist about teeth whitening, a smile makeover or any other aesthetic concerns you may have in regard to your teeth and your smile. With the dental technology of today, everyone can have a beautiful smile. Your dentist can go over all of the options that are available and recommend the ones that will work best for you.

Taking the time at least twice a year (and even more often if you have ongoing issues) to go to your dentist for routine checkups will also save you money because problems that are diagnosed and treated when they are in the beginning stages are much less expensive than those that have been allowed to develop into real issues.

So the next time you find yourself beginning to make excuses as to why you can’t schedule your routine dental checkup, think about the reasons you should…it can save you money, save your smile and just possibly save your life.