Dr. Bob's Mouthly Report

Reuters reports “By using the right words and repeating the phrases, adults can help young kids get over picky eating behaviors and eat healthier foods,” researchers concluded after working “with 87 preschoolers from two early childhood education centers, testing whether repeat exposure and the correct phrasing would help preschoolers try four foods that are generally less accepted by little kids: tomatoes, bell peppers, lentils and quinoa.” The article adds, “Saying ‘Lentils will help you run faster,’ for instance, encourages preschoolers to understand the benefits and pick the foods they want, the study authors write in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.” 

“Previous studies have shown that adults struggle with how to talk to young children about food,” said lead study author Jane Lanigan of Washington State University in Vancouver.

Most children between 4 and 8 years old don’t meet recommended guidelines for vegetables, grains and fatty acids, and they tend to eat too many empty calories.

“Conversations are sometimes inaccurate or not helpful or even harmful in terms of helping a child learn to eat healthfully,” she told Reuters Health by email.

A new study published by the American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that added sugar labels could result in a savings of more than $30 billion in healthcare and more than $60 billion in societal costs over a 20-year period. If the labeling leads to a reduction in sugar intake as the study’s authors predict, it may delay or prevent nearly a million cases of heart disease and diabetes.

Though federal guidelines suggest that added sugars make up less than 10% of daily caloric intake, Americans average 13% or more. Most of that sugar comes from sugar-sweetened beverages, but other primary sources include grain and dairy desserts, fruit drinks, and candy.

But more consumers are striving to decrease their sugar consumption. A survey from Label Insight found that 46% of shoppers are more likely to purchase products with “low sugar” labels. To help consumers make better-informed decisions about sugar intake, the FDA announced added sugar labeling in 2016, which should be fully implemented by the start of 2021.

Over the simulated 20-year period (2018-2037), they found that added sugar labeling could:

Prevent 354,400 cases of cardiovascular disease and 599,300 cases of diabetes mellitus

Save $31 billion in net healthcare and $61.9 billion in societal costs

Encourage consumers to reduce their sugar intake by an average of 5.8g per day

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Facial pain is common and often the result of headaches and injuries. However, other causes of facial pain include nerve conditions, jaw and dental problems, and infections.

Facial pain can originate from a specific area of the face, or it may radiate from another part of the head.

Doctors often categorize facial pain into one of several types, including:

dental pain, which relates to problems with the teeth and gums

nerve pain, or neuralgia, which relates to conditions that affect the facial nerves

temporomandibular pain, which relates to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the muscles of the jaw

vascular pain, which occurs due to issues with blood vessels and blood flow

Some sources of the pain involve Headaches, Injuries, TMJ Disorders, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Dental Abcesses, Sinutitis, and Sialadentitis.

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Possibly, though you certainly don't have to start a gum habit if you don't already chew gum.

Here's the lowdown: Chewing a stick or two of gum won't magically help you shed pounds. Chewing certainly doesn't burn many calories, and it won't undo the calories you just packed away from, say, a large meal or a Thanksgiving feast. Still, for certain individuals, popping a piece of gum could be a helpful strategy when it comes to shedding pounds, especially if doing so helps you steer clear of midday snacking, nighttime nibbling or caving in on dessert.

"I think for some people, it could be a useful tool. ... Everyone has things that can possibly help them on their road to weight loss, and little behaviors like gum chewing can make a big difference for some," said Keri Gans, a registered dietitian nutritionist and author of "The Small Change Diet."

Gum chewing can be useful in two ways, according to Gans. For some, putting something sugary in their mouth after they've eaten can signal that the meal is over. "Some people need something sweet at the end of each meal and will search for dessert. If they pop a piece of chewing gum, maybe it can do the trick," she said. You'll also save the calories you might have otherwise consumed in an ice cream cone or piece of cake.

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Is your tongue strawberry red, or brown or white, or wrinkled? Does it burn, or have painful sores? Some symptoms are harmless, while other may need to be followed up by your dentist.

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