Archive for the ‘Wellness, Fitness and Diet’ Category

The Army Ranger Fitness Test

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Get ready, because you are about to be tested mentally and physically. Becoming a Ranger will take mental toughness, stamina, intelligence, and endurance. Before you even get to Ranger school, it is important to make sure you can meet the minimum requirements. The Army Ranger School is one of the toughest training programs in the world, so you want to be ready.

The minimum requirements are:

- 49 push-ups in less than 2 minutes

- 59 sit-ups in less than 2 minutes

- 2 mile run in less than 15:12

- 5 mile run in less than 40 minutes

- 16 mile hike with 65 lbs on your back in less than 5 hours and 20 minutes

- 15 meter swim with gear on (pass/fail)

- 6 chin-ups

There will be other testing too. Like, night and day land navigation tests, terrain runs with the Malvesti obstacle course, and a 12-mile foot march.

It is most important to get used to walking with 50 lbs. on your back, because you will do this everyday at Ranger School. Even though you want to make sure you can meet the minimum requirements, you will want to make sure you can eventually meet the recommended requirements. As a Ranger you need to strive for the best and that includes your testing.

Here are the recommended scores:

- 80+ push-ups within 2 minutes

- 80+ sit-ups within 2 minutes

- 12+ chin-ups

- 2 mile run within 13 minutes

- 5 mile run within 35 minutes

- 16 mile hike with 65 lbs. on your back within 4-5 hours

- 15 meter swim with gear (pass/fail)

There are three phases in Ranger school, the Fort Benning Phase, Mountain Phase, and the Florida Phase.

The Fort Benning phase is conducted into two parts, the first part is called the Ranger Assessment Phase (RAP), this phase is held at Camp Rogers. This phase will include the testing listed above. The second part of the Benning phase will have obstacle courses and long marches as its physical fitness requirements. The second part will also include field exercises like, ambush and reconnaissance patrols, airborne operations, close quarters, and air assault operations. You will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge through a series of cadre and student led tactical patrol operations

The Mountain Phase is the second phase. This phase will last for 20 days and 20 nights. In the Mountain Phase you will learn how to operate in small units while supporting yourself and your subordinates in the extreme conditions of the mountains. You will be trekking through rugged terrain, while experiencing hunger and sleep deprivation to see how you handle emotional stress. You will sleep and eat in these conditions for up to 3 weeks, while eating no more than 1-2 MRE’s a day (meals ready to eat).

The Florida Phase is third phase. In this phase you will learn how to operate in small boats exercises, ship to shore operations, stream-crossing techniques, and jungle and swamp survival techniques. The Florida phase lasts up to 16 days and nights, which will test your leadership skills.

Many people lose up to 25 -30 pounds during these three phases, so get ready for some grueling tests.

Jackson is a personal trainer that has been helping people get in shape for a few years now. He has a passion for life and people. Ask The Fitness Dude is his site where you can ask any fitness related question, like How to train for a marathon.

5 Exercises That Slim Down Your Belly

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Looking good with your shirt off is fashionable in any season. Spring, summer, winter or fall, it’s one of those things that we all want, but only some of us make the time to achieve.

A chiseled torso is the envy of everyone else on the beach, at the park, at the gym, and in the boardroom. Of course, it also helps on dates, in relationships, and in the bedroom. The real mark of a hot body is, of course, having a slim belly.

Why a Slim Belly Looks So Good

People who care about how they look are usually not afraid to put in some work to achieve results. Many people spend a lot of time working their arms, legs, back, and chest to get the type of body others can only dream about. But, a common complaint among people who exercise frequently is that achieving a slim belly is hard to do, making it the final frontier in rounding out that perfect body.

The reason that a slim belly looks so good is that precisely because many people find it so hard to actually get. You see, as we age, men and women alike tend to gain weight each year. And, for most people, that weight goes right to the stomach. That is why, buried deep in our genetic makeup, we all equate a thin belly and washboard stomach with youth and sexiness.

Common Excuses People Make

Despite how rewarding of an achievement it is, people love coming up with excuses for why they cannot seem to get that slim belly. These include:

1. It is too much work.

2. I can’t find the time to eat and exercise the way I should.

3. I do not have the right genetics for it.

4. I do not know which exercises to do.

The Truth about Looking Your Best

The truth is, getting a fit stomach is not as much work as you might think: if you know what you are doing, that is. And, each of us has the same 24 hours in a day, so time management is really what it is all about. What about the excuse about having bad genes? Well, while it is true that some people are just born with a higher average metabolism, anyone and everyone can achieve a flat belly if they know which steps to take.

Exercises that Slim Down Your Belly

While diet is a major factor that cannot be ignored, exercise is also key. Here are 5 exercises that slim down your belly:

1. Walk at a brisk pace for at least 20 to 30 minutes each day. You can walk that distance all at once or break it into parts.

2. Breathe deeply. This may not seem like a “real” exercise at first, but make no mistake, it is. Breathing deeply oxygenates your blood (to help burn calories) and also works your abdominal muscles.

3. Get up from your desk, chair or couch once every 45 minutes to an hour. This keep your blood flowing more freely through your lower body and abdomen.

4. Do the bicycle crunch ab exercise. This one will tone the muscles underneath your belly fat so that when you burn off that fat, you will have something to show for it! To do it: lie flat on floor with your back pressed to the ground. Put your hands beside or behind your head, then bend your knees to a 45-degree angle. Slowly “pedal” your legs.

5. Do sit-ups on an exercise ball. This one, too, will tone your stomach into the washboard look you want. Just sit back on the ball as if you were lying on the floor, then do regular sit-ups.

Remember, seek and ye shall find. Put the effort into educating yourself about how to achieve and maintain that slim belly and you will be rewarded with the kind of body that you used to only dream about.

The crown jewel of a hot body is a flat belly and ripped abs. Get a complete how-to guide that will have you looking great in no time at: http://www.truth-about-abs.info.

What to Do About Bicep Tendonitis?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

What is Bicep Tendonitis?

Bicep Tendonitis is a condition that affects the area between the bicep muscles, where it meets the front of the shoulder. It hardly occurs on it own and often Bicep Tendonitis is often called as bicipital tendonitis. Athletes are most common people who suffer from bicep tendonitis. It develops because of a rotator cuff tendonitis. Bicep tendonitis is mostly ignored in the early stage and develops into a serious complication.

Symptoms of Bicep Tendonitis

The most common symptoms of Bicep Tendonitis is as follows

(a) There will some pain when you move your shoulder or arm.

(b) There will be pain if you raise your arm above your shoulder.

(c) When your shoulder is touched you will feel the pain.

(d) Shoulder may be red and swollen or you may feel a burning sensation around the shoulder.

(e) You pain gets worse in the night or while get up in the morning.

Causes of Bicep Tendonitis:

1. Repetitive use

The most common cause of Bicep Tendonitis is repetitive use and the strain caused due to the usage. Repetitive strain and usage can come in many forms and many sources. This condition is often developed by people who work on factories that are because due to their repetitive nature of work. Athletes and sports persons do develop tendonitis due to the repetitive movements involved in their sports.

2. Tendonitis because of Age:

When humans get older it is a natural process that tendons get harder and lose their elasticity. Due to this the joints will not able to move freely and the flexibility will be lost. As people get older they are tend to develop Bicep Tendonitis. From research it has been found that when body gets aged the changes in blood vessels affect the tendons.

3. Too Much strain

Bicep Tendonitis due strain is the major cause among the bodybuilders and athletes. It tends to develop when the athletes and bodybuilders put the tendons under too much strain without any proper warming up. Or the more strain that the tendons could not manage. This can be avoided by corrective training techniques.

4. Due to Injury

It is common for a Tendonitis to develop due to an injury. For example Bicep Tendonitis is caused by the result of shoulder or rotator cuff tendonitis. In these circumstances the tendonitis develops because the injury has not completely healed. This kind of cause can be easily avoided by allowing ample rest to injured part.

Treatment for Bicep tendonitis

The treatment is mostly resting the affected area and slowly getting into action after proper rest.

The basic treatment is to rest the affected area from making any more activities.

All the over head exercise should be avoided.

It’s better to apply ice pack every for 4 hours till the pain gets reduced.

The best thing to do for Bicep Tendonitis is to rest the affected area.

The affected area should get a rest of minimum 2 to 3 weeks.

How to Prevent?

As the saying goes ‘Prevention is better than cure’. It is always advised to warm up before any kind of exercise and should stretch and cool down after the exercise. If there is any little pain in the bicep area then apply Ice pack immediately. That will help to reduce the pain.

ATTN FITNESS PROFESSIONAL Get Your $299 Fitness Education Gift. Rick Kaselj specializes in helping clients use exercise to overcome their injuries. Rick shares his knowledge and experience with other fitness professionals through live courses, webinars and books. Rick has also just completed his third exercise & injury manual for fitness professionals Exercises for Rotator Cuff

The Male Andropause: The Causes and How to Cope With It

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

We have come across a condition called menopause, which is faced by women. Coming to men, there is also a corresponding condition, which is called Andropause. To be more specific, it is also called hypergonadism, a condition wherein the level of producing of hormone called testosterone will decline. Please go through the following content to get to know more about this condition and also the tips to cope up with the male andropause.

We know that the condition called menopause will remove the ability of having or bearing children, whereas Andropause is the fall down of sexual fiction in a man. Here, the testicles will reduce the amount of production of male sex hormone called testosterone and this is what basically happening here.

The estrogens of woman will protect her from some health problems and this is the same in case of man i.e. the testosterones will protect him from various health problems including bone fractures and heart attacks. In general, Andropause can be considered as a loss of sexual drive of a man and it is usually associated with the process of aging. The no morning erections as well as decreased libido are some common warning signs for the natural impotence mostly experienced by men suffering with Andropause condition.

His decreased libido and no morning erections are the warning signs of the natural impotence experienced by Andropausal men. Most of the men suffering with this condition are noticed to be deteriorating into a very depressed and passive state. Some major symptoms caused by this condition are such as memory failing, general fatigue, bitchiness (irritability) etc. Later, the patient will also face some other symptoms like increased cholesterol, high blood pressure, atrophy of the skin, increased abdominal fat, hemorrhoids, varicose veins and clogged arteries etc. All these conditions are caused due to loss of testosterone.

Well, the good news here for all patients suffering from Andropause condition is that many are absolutely reversible and all that required is some form of testosterone supplementation. It is seriously advised not to attempt any form of testosterone supplementation without the guidance of a well-qualified physician. Thousands of men have already been successful in overcoming this condition with the help of one or the other form of testosterone supplementation. You will be aware of the fact that there is a treatment called Testosterone Replacement Therapy, which is commonly done during the middle or old age of a man. The aim of this therapy is of course to forestall the natural maturating results and thereby overcoming Andropause condition.

On the other hand, an active life i.e. a life with regular exercises and proper diet is said to be more than enough to regulate the amount of testosterone production. Some testosterone supplements such as DHEA are also said to be safe and effective for tackling this condition. It is great to see that various physicians are now employing testosterone replacement by many convenient methods. Considering one such method will surely help the patient to cope up with Andropause.

SaJune Orlando Medical Center in Florida specializes in bioidentical hormones, hormone replacement therapy, anti-aging, detoxification, ob/gyn, nutrition and weight loss programs.

Perimenopause and Menopause: What Are the Benefits of Hormone Therapy?

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Are you a woman? If yes, then you have of course come across two disorders called Perimenopause and Menopause.

Perimenopause can be considered as a process of change, which will lead to other condition called menopause. It is usually noticed to get started during the late 30s and even early 50s in some cases. The lasting period of perimenopause will vary according to each woman, although the lasting period is usually said to be 2 to 8 years. This is the time where the woman will face a lot of inconveniences such as irregular periods and other types of symptoms.

Menopause is a condition wherein a woman will miss her period for one year and sometimes more. The conclusion of years of childbearing is usually marked by menopause. This is the reason why it is also sometimes called ‘the change of life’.

In most of the cases, the women have been noticed suffering from menopause while crossing the age mark of 47. On the other hand, there are also many women, who have missed their periods for a long duration in their mid 40s. Unfortunately, some will also face the same condition even in their 50s.

Benefits

Thousands of women have found a solution when it comes to treating of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms with the help of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). As we know, there are many irritating symptoms associated with these conditions like itchy and dry skin, night sweats, vaginal dryness, hot flashes etc.

Another nice thing about HRT is it will also reduce the risks associated with osteoporosis and moreover, thousands of women have improved their sense of well being and mood by going through this therapy. In addition, the ability of tooth loss and risk of colon cancer can also be reduced by considering this safe therapy.

Usually, the hormone called estrogen or a combination of two hormones called estrogen and progesterone will be supplemented during this treatment. It is obvious that when a woman is going through menopause condition, the adequate level of hormones like estrogen and progesterone will not be produced by the ovaries. This is the reason why HRT is employed for supplementing these hormones in some cases. Of course, it has been advised for all women to go through the risks and great benefits associated with this therapy before getting started.

Well, if you are suffering from any one of these two conditions and if you seriously looking forward to make the most of benefits offered by Hormone Therapy, then all that you have to do is finding a well-trained and highly experienced physician. Make sure that the physician is ready to mark his presence with the patient for maximum hours in a day. It is always better to discuss with the physician with regard to the complications and procedures associated with this type of treatment. Overall, if hormone therapy is employed in a proper way, it will surely bestow maximum benefits upon the patients.

To Your Health.

SaJune Orlando Medical Center in Florida specializes in bioidentical hormones, hormone replacement therapy, anti-aging, detoxification, ob/gyn, nutrition and weight loss programs.

Body Weight Exercises - Why They Are Perfect For Dads

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

With jobs to go to, kids to put to bed, homework to check, dishes to get done, and wives to spend time with, it’s really difficult for busy dads to squeeze in a workout. For example, I have a 3 year old son, a working wife, and a number of business ventures I’m involved in. To say my life is hectic is an understatement.

The easiest way I’ve found to stay in shape is to practice body weight exercises. They probably won’t bulk you up as quickly as lifting weights, but if pushups, situps, dips, and pullups are good enough for army commandos, then they’re good enough for me.

Here are some reasons why you should be doing body weight exercises:

Speed - Body weight and isometric exercises are fast. It is said that an isometric contraction can last for as little as 7 seconds for you to start benefiting from it. When done properly, isometrics recruit more muscle fibers than isolated exercises, and the more muscle fibers that are used, the more you build up your strength. Your workout can be completed in just half an hour.

Effectiveness - If you’re wondering how effective body weight exercises are, just ask the firemen, police officers, and elite fighters who do them on a daily basis. They won’t be the biggest guys you’ve ever seen, but they’ll be among the strongest. And that’s the only thing that matters. If you feel like you’re starting to plateau, you can add weights, increase the reps, do variations, etc. You can use weighted vests to add more resistance to your situps, pullups, etc.

Efficiency - What could be better than free? Body weight exercises are both effective and economical. Just think, you can finally start saving for that pony your daughter has always wanted! Not only are isometrics and body weight exercises financially efficient, they are time efficient. In certain styles of martial arts there is a strong emphasis on “economy of movement”, meaning you shouldn’t exert a lot of energy on something if you don’t have to. Focus on the task before you and get it done with an appropriate amount of effort.

Mobility - You can do body weight exercises anywhere. We all have cell phones and laptops, so we know how important it is to be able to move around. Why should we rely on exercise equipment and gyms? It’s a lot easier to do situps and pushups in the basement or living room than it is to drive to the gym and wait around for equipment to be free. Once you’ve learnt some of the exercises, you’ll see how easy they are to fit into your daily routine.

Obviously, weight training is important if you want to get stronger and build lots of muscle. If we could spend an hour in the gym everyday we would. But with a lifestyle that that has to accommodate so many non-exercise related tasks, body weight training is the best route for the rest of us.

Visit http://IronChestWorkouts.com to read more chest workout articles and tips.

Maintaining a Good Health For Men

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

The daily grind, hustle, and bustles can quickly degrade men’s health. These are not just the things to blame as men more often than not live a dangerous life for their health. These factors contribute to a weakened health.

However, amidst the unhealthy environment and way of life, a lot of people continually put up gallant effort to make health and wellness top priority. This is evident in the market where hundreds or even thousands of medicines and aids are available. Still, these products are not 100% reliable.

It is still how men live their lives that dictate the state of their health. Lifestyle has a lot to do of how one’s health is. The way one lives his life is evident on how his health condition is.

We will discuss some tips people often take for granted. These simple reminders and steps mean a lot and are crucial to maintaining good health for men. Read through and discover how much you have been missing out in staying healthy.

Did you know that stress cause a lot of sickness including cancer? Stress is really dangerous specially if unattended. Beat stress for a healthy life.

Laughter is really the best medicine. Being happy and laughing instantly relieves the body of much stress than any medicine or approaches can ever do. One must really put considerable amount of thoughts and effort to take stress away in their system.

Try to munch on some choco treats. In the contrary to what most have grown up to believe, chocolates are like magic pills to one’s health and soul. This choco-treat is make the state of the mind, thus the body follows, in a lot better condition, just do not forget to brush your teeth.

Eating the right food proves to be very important in maintaining good health. How many times did your mom tell you to stay away from junk foods? Over-eating on unhealthy food does not only make you fat but it also makes you age fast and incur lots of sickness.

Diet alone cannot make you healthy. Diet must be coupled with exercise. Make your body be invigorated by being active and exercising.

You need not lock yourself up in the gym and spend a lot to get fit. You can incorporate exercise in your daily itinerary and activities. You can walk a block to your office, for example, to get your cardio in good shape everyday.

We will discuss some tips people often take for granted. These simple reminders and steps mean a lot and are crucial to maintaining good health for men. Read through and discover how much you have been missing out in staying healthy.

Did you know that stress cause a lot of sickness including cancer? Stress is really dangerous specially if unattended. Beat stress for a healthy life.

A simple and good laugh over a joke proves to be as effective as taking a lot of vitamins. Find ways to unwind and tickle that funny bone to de-stress yourself. Relax once in a while and do not sweat the small stuff.

Did you know that chocolate is one of the best stress busters? Chocolate is really a wonder for the mind and body, when taken into appropriate amount. It releases happy hormones or endorphins in the body, making it relaxed and rejuvenated.

Eating the right food proves to be very important in maintaining good health. How many times did your mom tell you to stay away from junk foods? Over-eating on unhealthy food does not only make you fat but it also makes you age fast and incur lots of sickness.

Exercise maybe is a clich

What Gives Adults Bad Breath

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

There are a number of reasons why Adults have bad breath, and not all of them have causes directly related to neglecting their mouths.

Let us look first at non dental, and non medical reasons for suffering from bad breath.

The first and most obvious is in the morning, for the simple reason that the teeth weren’t brushed!!

There are of course all the dietary reasons people have bad breath, and primarily there is eating onions and garlic particularly in their raw state. The reason for this is the oils they contain which are taken into the lungs, and then of course breathing them out is unavoidable. Another cause of bad breath through food could well be after eating a curry, but this of course might be offensive to an English person whilst completely normal to an Indian, so equally the garlic onion combination is probably not noticed in France or Italy as much as in England.

Another cause of bad breath of course is smoking which lingers on the smoker’s breath.

Bad breath can be caused by a sinus infection which causes a post nasal drip. When this lands on the tongue it is attacked by the oral bacteria which exists in healthy mouths. The bacteria feed on the discharge and cause smelly breath. Similarly tonsillitis or a throat infection can give people bad breath, and a lack of food, for example when one is dieting and effectively starving will cause bad breath. For a time the Atkin’s Diet, high protein low carbohydrate which caused the followers to go into a condition called ketosis also causes bad breath.

In fact there are a number of bad breath causes related to medical conditions, so if none of the causes mentioned here are the reason, then it is important to see your doctor.

Finally we come to dental causes of bad breath which can be caused by food stuck in tooth cavities, dental decay, and it is the sulphur compounds produced by the mouth bacteria that causes halitosis.

Another dental cause is gum disease, and the presence of large amounts of plaque on the teeth, and again the associated bacteria. There is a disease caused Acute Ulcerative Gingivitis [AUG] which used to be called Vincent’s Disease, and in World War 1, was known as Trench Mouth. This is caused by a lethal mixture of poor oral hygiene, very high stress, and smoking which all combine to reduce the blood supply in the mouth causing parts of the gum to literally die. This halitosis is so bad you would smell the offending person as they entered a room several yards away, in other words possibly the most extreme of examples.

So what can you do about adult halitosis. There are five easy solutions for halitosis. The first is proper toothbrushing at least three times a day, and the second is taking a toothbrush to work is sensible. Thirdly using a mint flavoured ant plaque and tartar toothpaste with fluoride. Fourthly a tongue scraper, because a coated tongue is often the source of bad breath, and finally dental floss to remove the ‘hidden’ remains of your last meal.

If this doesn’t work, and it isn’t dietary or smoking, then go and seek the advice of your doctor

Sandy Gibson is the pseudonym of a practising dentist, author and newspaper correspondent. he also writes websites and suggests you check out his newest website Orthomatic Adjustable Beds and specifically Adjustable Bed Mattress

Help My Teeth Are Loose

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

It is a recurring nightmare for many people, that they waken up one morning to find out their teeth are loose, and panic, visit their dentist, or more usually try to find a dentist because their last visit was several years ago, and then discover they have to have one or several teeth extracted and a denture fitted.

If you are reading this, and you feel one or more teeth have become loose, you must see a dental professional without delay. Please don’t think that this is something that happens to everyone in your family because your parents and grandparents have false teeth. It doesn’t have to happen to you.

The process of gum disease begins with bleeding gums, normally almost ignored, and tragically many people won’t brush because they say it makes their gums bleed, and so it must be doing harm. This is the moment to brush harder, to use floss, the string between your teeth, and to visit your dental professional. Don’t be silly and act ostrich like with your head stuck firmly in the sand, because you are at the start of a rock downward road that could end up in tooth loss.

If this bleeding used to be the case and you didn’t seek advice because you thought it was cured, then think again. Your gum disease has gone under the gum, and it is burrowing away probably without you even noticing.

There are tell-tale signs if you can be bothered to look, and all you need is a well lit bathroom mirror. Just look at the gums where they meet your teeth. If your teeth look longer then it won’t be your age, but a serious, or potentially tooth loss threatening problem. Being long in the tooth isn’t any more a reflection of your age, more an indication of the health of your teeth and gums.

The gum should come up to a nice point between your teeth, and you shouldn’t be able to see a gap above between your teeth. Indeed if you can see a space, or the gum is now flat without the pointed bit, then you have a problem.

Are you finding your teeth are sensitive when you brush, or eating fruit like pineapple or when you have a cold drink, the chances arte the roots of your teeth have been exposed by shrinking gums.

If you aren’t sure obviously consult your dentist if you have one, but any doubt can be cast aside if you can see a line where the colour of the tooth darkens and that is above the gum edge. That is where your gum used to be in days gone by, before the slow steady sure progress of gum disease.

Finally if at the gum edge you can see a white, creamy, hard coating which you can just about get off with a finger nail, but with difficulty, you have scale, and a problem. If on the other hand the edge of your gum has a black line then this is almost certainly what dentists call sub gingival[under the gum] scale which needs removal by a dental professional hygienist.

All of these signs indicate serious problems in store, and the worst case scenario then is pain and swelling, caused by a gum abscess because the spaces between gum and tooth are now so large and deep you impact food down there and you develop an infection.

The tall and the short of it is this. If you have any of the above problems go and see your dentist.

Sandy Gibson is the pseudonym of a practising dentist, author and newspaper correspondent. he also writes websites and suggests you check out his newest website Orthomatic Adjustable Beds and specifically Adjustable Bed Mattress

Do You Have Gum Disease

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

As a starting point, most adults and very many children have gum disease, and whilst this sounds awful, and let’s face it gum disease is very widespread; indeed were it chicken influenza it could rightly be called a disease of pandemic proportions.

Having said that, and realising a comment like that is likely to panic some, it should be made very clear that a very large number of people have gum disease that is minor, and totally reversible with the correct care and attention. So you can probably relax, but do not lower your guard for one second. To help you understand; the vast majority of older people lose their natural teeth because the reversible early gum disease became advanced, and eventually became irreversible.

With no apologies for perhaps being a little over dramatic, and you might argue overstating the case, let us take a look at gum disease, and how you might discover you are a sufferer. By the way it isn’t contagious, so you won’t catch it from your partner, unless you have one of a very very few conditions in your mouth, and quite honestly you should not be worried at all about them.

OK, so firstly if you are reading this article the first thing to know is whether or not you attend your dentist regularly. This on its own is very important, and then ask yourself the question about whether or not your dentist gave you a scale and polish at your last visit, or did they send you to see a dental hygienist who cleaned your teeth. If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then you probably do have gum disease, although at what stage it has reached you will need to ask your dental health professional, and then take their advice.

As far as you are concerned, the question is this. Do your gums bleed either when you brush your teeth, when you are chewing or just spontaneously?

If the answer is yes, then in all probability you have what is called gingivitis, and this is the first stage of gum disease, and it is totally reversible. Why have you got it, well it isn’t from kissing, or using someone else’s spoon. What it means is that you are not cleaning your teeth well enough. As a result you are leaving plaque on your teeth, especially in the little nooks and crannies by your gum. Plaque consists of food particles, millions of bacteria, and the debris from the cells that line your mouth that fall off all the time. People who starve themselves with nil by mouth still make plaque, and plaque is public enemy number one.

Fortunately there is a simple enough remedy, and that is to become a more effective mouth cleaner. To do this there is a small item easily bought from the chemist called Disclosing tablets, or Plaqsearch. They stain plaque either red or blue, and then your task is to clean it off until there is no more stain left. You will need a new toothbrush with a small head, and something called dental floss, the string you pull between your teeth, to remove plaque where the toothbrush won’t go, which is between your teeth, and under the gum line. Be prepared for a lot of bleeding. This is good, and you should redouble your efforts, and if you have caught your gingivitis early the bleeding will stop within a month.

As a precaution you need to follow this up with a visit to your dentist or at the very least a dental hygienist just to get a fitness check.

Sandy Gibson is the pseudonym of a practising dentist, author and newspaper correspondent. he also writes websites and suggests you check out his newest website Orthomatic Adjustable Beds and specifically Adjustable Bed Mattress