Smiling Babies – The Best Medicine For All Of Us
When it comes to babies, nothing is more painful than to see them hurt. The good news is how much we can do to maximize their chances of living well… and it starts before they’re born.
Good prenatal care increases every baby’s chance to go full term and have a healthy weight at birth. The benefit to Moms is easier pregnancies.
New research shows how good prenatal care can go beyond birth and set the stage for better health as future adults. While not yet proven, there seems to be an association between malnutrition in uteri and an increased risk for obesity, heart disease, and diabetes in later years.
The March of Dimes supports programs that focus on pre and post natal care so both babies and mothers have the best chance to live happy and healthy lives. Regular doctor visits before and after birth means possible complications are identified and treated as soon as possible.
By supporting babies’ health, we minimize healthcare costs and increase our chances to see more babies smiling.
It is important to have a good daily routine that includes 3 basic steps: cleanse, moisturize and protect. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Use a gentle cleanser and wash your face every morning and night. Follow that up with an appropriate moisturizer for your skin type. For day time, always wear sun protection. SPF 30 is best. Reapply throughout the day. This will protect your skin from sun damage and skin cancer.
The link between oral health and systemic health has been well established through evidence-based research. Brushing and flossing don’t just make your smile look good. When you establish a daily oral health routine, you prevent pathogens that cause conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes from entering your system. Poor oral health is also tied in with aspiration pneumonia.
Too often, adults are the “unwitting suppliers” of prescription medications for their children. The problem lies in how prescription meds kept in medicine chests and purses that are too easy to reach. Kids are naturally curious and ignorant of the consequences of trying something that doesn’t appear to be dangerous.
Every February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness of good dental health in children and how this affects them later in life. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums when people are young does have lasting benefits. For one thing, it leads to fewer and shorter visits (and probably less tears!) to the dentist. It also produces prettier smiles!
