When it comes to dental health, all we usually think about is cavities, plaque and tartar, yellowing of teeth and the way the teeth look when smiling. We tend to overlook the gums. However, gum health is very important. Gum disease can affect the alignment of your teeth and lead to severe complications wherein the bone and fiber supporting the teeth are destroyed permanently. The good news is that taking care of your gums is not very difficult. Here are 5 gum care tips for better oral health. Brush your teeth twice a day Ideally, you should brush your teeth once in the morning and once at night before going to sleep. Use a soft or medium-bristled toothbrush to clean the tooth surfaces using short, back and forth strokes. You should pay special attention to the gums at the base of each tooth. Toothbrushes should be changed every 3-4 months or as soon as they start looking frayed. Floss regularly In addition to brushing your teeth, one of the most important gum care tips for better oral health is that you should also floss regularly. This is because flossing can help you clean parts of your mouth that the toothbrush does not reach.

There are a number of treatment methods available to deal with cancer. The treatment procedure opted for depends on a number of factors such as the type of cancer, stage, physical health, and age of the individual. Some common options are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Out of these, chemotherapy and radiation, in particular, are main cancer treatments that can cause prolonged side effects. Nausea and vomiting: One of the main side effects of cancer treatments, these can severely affect the quality of one’s life. Nausea refers to the sensation of feeling like one might throw up at any time whereas vomiting can occur due to certain smells, anxiety, or taste. These side effects can occur before, during or after the treatment. If not kept under control, they can lead to further problems like dehydration, malnutrition, and loss of appetite. Anti-nausea medications, drinking more fluids, and eating small and regular meals are some options that will help in easing these symptoms. Hair loss: Also known as alopecia, hair loss is one of the main side effects of cancer treatments. Treatment methods like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy affect the cells responsible for hair growth. Different treatment methods affect them differently.

Spinal muscular atrophy is a classification of genetic disorders in which a person does not have the power to control the movement of their muscles due to a loss of nerve cells in the spinal cord. In this condition, one suffers from the loss of nerve cells in the spinal cord, called motor neurons, which is why it is categorized as a motor neuron disease. It most often affects babies and children, making it difficult for them to use their muscles. There are some treatment options for spinal muscular atrophy in the form of medications and therapy, but these only help manage it, they do not cure it completely. Causes of spinal muscular atrophy Spinal muscular atrophy occurs when motor neurons in the spinal cord do not work or stop working due to changes in genes called survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) and SMN2. It is a disease that passes down through families. A child has it because they got two copies of a broken gene and one from each parent. The geneses are what provide instructions to make the protein that is required for the functioning of motor neurons. A problem with SMN1 will lead to SMA. An issue with SMN2 will affect the type and severity of the disease.

The cervix is the lower end of the uterus which connects to the vagina and cancer that occurs in this organ is called cervical cancer. 90% of the cases of this condition are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). It is easy to ignore certain early signs as they are easily confused with the symptoms of other conditions, which can lead to fatal consequences. Here are a few early warning signs and symptoms of cervical cancer that you should know about. If you find your body exhibiting one or more of them, get yourself checked with your gynecologist right away. Abnormal bleeding and menstrual cycles Every woman’s menstrual cycle is different. However, most healthy women bleed between 2-5 days and the bleeding is the heaviest in the beginning and slowly reduces towards the end. If you notice a sudden change in your menstrual cycle which includes weeks of bleeding, heavy bleeding, or bleeding between your usual cycle, consider this to be one of the early warning signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. While this could also mean other conditions such as PCOD, it is always safer to discuss it with your doctor. Bleeding and pain during sexual intercourse Many women bleed slightly and experience pain during the first few times of sexual intercourse.

Ovarian cancer occurs in the ovary, which is a part of the female reproductive system and is responsible for the production of eggs. In the United States of America, presently, it is the fifth most common cause of cancer-associated death among women. Ovarian cancer is also termed as the “silent killer” because usually, it goes undetected in the early stages when there may be few or no notable symptoms at all. In this article, we shall find out what exactly causes this disease and also take a look at the main treatments for ovarian cancer. Cancer occurs when some mutated cells grow and divide in an uncontrolled manner. The precise cause of ovarian cancer is not known, but some factors can increase the risk of the disease. These factors are as follows: Family history A family history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer can increase the risk of the disease. Age Ovarian cancer can occur at any age but is most common in older women. Inherited gene mutation The gene mutation associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increases the risk. Obesity Obese women have a higher chance of developing this condition. Menstrual cycle Starting menstruation at a young age or starting menopause at a later age, or both, may escalate the risk of developing ovarian cancer.