ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 18, 1997 TAG: 9702180065
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: health notes
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY
What do parents know, right? Certainly not a whole lot about children's dental care, if you believe a survey done by a toothbrush manufacturer.
Parents are responsible for those little white flecks on their kids' teeth. The flecks are caused, say the folks at Oral-B laboratories, by fluorosis, which comes from children under 6 swallowing toothpaste.
Parents let children use too much toothpaste, which means they have extra to eat. It's not a dangerous situation, but an example that adults need to brush up on their teeth-cleaning knowledge. So, here goes, parents:
*For babies up to 24 months old, clean the child's mouth with gauze pad or an infant washcloth after feedings and before bedtime.
*Also, begin brushing any teeth that have popped through the gums with a soft-bristled brush and continue washing mouth.
*For 2- to 6-year-olds, begin flossing where teeth are touching and teach child how to clean their teeth.
*In the 6- to 12-year-old period, begin turning tooth care over to the youngster, who by age 10 should be a first-class flosser.
Children, like adults, should be brushing twice a day.
If you would like first-hand professional advice about children's dental care, you can get it Saturday at the Virginia Western Community College Dental Hygiene Department. The Roanoke school, along with the Piedmont Dental Hygienists' Association, is sponsoring a tooth education program from 10 a.m. until noon.
Children can get a free oral screening for cavities and orthodontic needs, and children and teens who play contact sports can purchase a custom mouthguard for $10 to $12.
To get to the event in Anderson Hall, follow the balloons from the school's parking lot on Colonial Avenue.
Study on supplements
Calcium and vitamin D (3) supplements can help prevent bone loss in people who are taking prednisone or other low-dose corticosteroids, concluded a two-year study in which Dr. Lenore Buckley of Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia was the principal investigator.
The corticosteroids that people take for asthma and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis decrease the body's ability to absorb calcium. This results in a higher-than-usual number of spinal fractures in these people.
For protection, a daily dose of 1000 milligrams of calcium and 500 units of vitamin D (3) are recommended, Buckley said. Patients who try this need to be aware that indigestion and constipation are possible side effects, however.
CPR reminder
Adult CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training certification will be offered for $10 at special sessions March 15 from 8 a.m. to noon or 1 to 5 p.m. at the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, 325 Church Ave. Advance registration is required; call 985-3550.
Health careers camp
A two-week residential camp for 10th- and 11th-graders interested in careers in nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, medical technology or other primary health care fields will be held July 6-18 at Radford University.
Applicants must have a cumulative 2.5 grade-point average and at least a 3.0 average in math and science courses. The program is sponsored by the Southwest Virginia Area Health Education Center. Students can get application packets from guidance counselors. Application deadline is Feb.28.
Herbal steam
A tip from the People's Medical Society newsletter for relief of coughing and congestion:
Simmer a small handful each of sage and eucalyptus in 11/2 quarts of water for five minutes. Let the pot sit for five minutes, then remove the lid, make a towel tent over the pot and inhale the steam.
In Lynchburg
The first of six programs on caring for a cancer patient begins Thursday at Virginia Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg. Preregistration is required; contact (804)947-5127 or (804)845-0973.
Spirit fest
Saturday and Sunday, Three Feathers Bookstore and Grandin Galleria in Roanoke's Grandin Court area will provide an opportunity for visitors to dabble in the techniques of healing massage, have their auras (energy fields) photographed, and learn more about herbs, and other New Age interests.
The cost is $5 for lectures and $15 for some of the specialized consultations. For more information, call Barbara Thomas at 343-7700 at Three Feathers.
You can contact Sandra Brown Kelly at (800)346-1234, ext. 393, or at 981-3393 or through e-mail at sandrak@roanoke.com
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