Ah – ah- ah- ACHOO!

Keeping Your Distance From the Common Cold and Flu

It seems everyone in your home or your office is sneezing up a storm. Your daughter’s nose won’t stop running. She has a low-grade fever and is complaining of a sore throat. Or your colleague in the office next door is hacking away with a deep chest cough. You know that with each cough, germs are being spewed into the air. You wish he had called in sick.

When those around you are suffering from the common cold, there is one strong feeling that probably accompanies your sympathy for them – a strong desire to not “catch” whatever ails them, be it a bacterial or viral infection. Whatever it is, you surely don’t want it.

How Can You Arm Your Immune System for Its Fight Against the Cold or Flu?

There are many commonsense approaches to keep in mind when those around you have a contagious illness: Wash your hands often. Avoid direct contact with the person’s belongings (especially any phone the person may have used!). Use ample amounts of hand sanitizer. Don’t grab a tissue from a tissue box in a common area. Don’t eat food off of a platter from which those who are sick may have also eaten.

Think About Your Face

When there’s a nasty “bug” going around, don’t touch your mouth, nose, ears or eyes with unwashed or unsanitized hands. The bacteria or virus that is causing the illness that is tormenting those around you enters your body through your mouth, your nose your ears or your eyes. Think about how often you casually wipe your eyes after you’ve been working at your computer for an extended period, or how you might casually itch near your mouth or nose. Even resting your chin in your hand is dangerous territory when you’re trying not to get sick. Touching your face is the fastest way to introduce illness-causing germs to gain a foothold in your body.

Boost Your Immune System and Stay Healthy!

Here are some ways to support your body’s natural germ-fighting defenses:

•    Brush your teeth. Yep – it sounds a little silly, but brushing your teeth can help remove some of the germs that may have entered your mouth in an effort to make you the next victim of that wicked cold or horrid flu. Before you brush your teeth, make sure you thoroughly wash your hands. Also, make sure your toothbrush is clean. If it’s more than six weeks old, get a new one. Toothbrushes should be thrown out after you have used them for about four to six weeks. Beyond that window of time, your toothbrush is simply too worn out to be effective. If your toothbrush is newer than that, pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on the bristles between brushings and be sure to let your toothbrush dry out before you brush again. Hydrogen peroxide will wipe out the harmful bacteria hiding in your bristles, and bacteria can’t survive on dry nylon bristles. You could even splurge and buy yourself a second brush. By alternating use between two brushes, you can ensure that your brush is dry and bacteria-free before you brush again.

•    Take some probiotics. Probiotics for digestive health can help boost your immune system, because they fortify the native bacteria in your digestive tract. By supplementing with a digestive probiotic, you‘re giving your digestive bacteria a little extra help as they wrestle with the foreign, illness-causing bacteria. While you have probiotics on your mind, add EvoraPlus and EvoraKids oral care probiotics to your shopping list. Oral care probiotics help support gum and tooth health by crowding out harmful bacteria in the mouth. EvoraKids is formulated specifically to address the oral care needs of children ages 3-10, while EvoraPlus is the proper formulation for those over the age of 11. EvoraPlus not only supports gum and tooth health, it also naturally freshens breath at the source and gently whitens teeth.

•    Boost your vitamin C intake. What your mother and grandmother told you is true: drink your orange juice! Orange juice isn’t the only way to get vitamin C, though. Many vitamin C supplements are now combined with other immune-boosting supplements. These products are so common that you can likely find them at your local pharmacy, or in the supplement section of your favorite grocery store.

Don’t fall victim to the common cold and flu! When those around you are suffering with a cold or the flu, taking precautions can help you from becoming the next person who needs a sick day.

Stop the Nagging Cycle!

Looking for Ways to Help Kids Brush Better?

“Brush your teeth!” You say for the 5th or 10th or 28th time this week. Why do some kids need constant reminders to brush their teeth?

If you’re one of the many frustrated parents who finds yourself wondering that very thing fairly often, one of the major things to consider is whether your messages about the importance of good oral hygiene are geared toward the right audience.

Teaching Preschoolers About the Importance of Good Oral Care

Getting most preschoolers to brush their teeth regularly (and well) is as simple as finding ways to make it fun. Try different things, like putting a mirror low enough for your child to see himself while he brushes (kids love to look at themselves in the mirror!) or make up your own silly “brush your teeth” songs. If those ideas don’t seem like the ticket to getting your kiddo to take up the task of thorough, regular brushing, consider making brushing a fun game, or creating a sticker chart, which, once completed, promises a reward.

How to Discuss Oral Care with Younger Grade-Schoolers

By the time many children have entered grade school, they are much more comfortable with trips to the dentist’s office. This is very handy for teaching kids about the importance of brushing! Ask your dentist to talk about how good home-brushing and flossing habits can mean less time getting their teeth cleaned by the hygienists. Your family dentist is also one of your best allies in explaining how important brushing and flossing are to avoiding cavities.

Oral Care for Older Grade-Schoolers

As our children get a little older, it gets much harder to make sure they are taking good care of their hygiene in general. By approximately the age of 10 (depending on the child), children are far less willing to have their parents checking on their cleanliness. No more peeking in the shower to make sure they’re actually soaping up; way more moaning and complaining when you tell them to smile so you can check for plaque.

By those same ages, however, children DO understand the concept of responsibilities – at least better than younger children. If you are able to teach your older grade-schooler that it is his or her responsibility to keep teeth well brushed and flossed, you’re well on your way to ensuring that child’s good oral health.

If that child isn’t buying the “responsibility talk,” however, perhaps he or she would be more motivated by consequences. When used properly – by not being harsh or threatening things you would not deliver – consequences can be a good motivator for stubborn children. Figure out their currency. Is it video gaming? Watching TV? Going to a friend’s house? Tell him or her that the consequence for not brushing and flossing is losing that privilege they hold so dear. Then follow through – every time. Yes, it’s hard for both of you. But poor oral health is harder – for both of you!

Using the “Fear Factor” to Show Your Preteens the Necessity of Brushing and Flossing

If your preteen – or even young teen – is still slacking on his or her brushing and flossing, one of your best weapons is showing them evidence of the consequences of not taking responsibility for their oral health. Yes. That’s right. Google some really ugly pictures of tooth decay, print them out and get ready for a serious discussion about how your teen’s teeth could easily turn out that way if they can’t come to terms with a few minutes of brushing twice a day and once daily flossing.

As harsh as it sounds, this little dose of reality is all it takes for most preteens and young teens – who are highly concerned with their appearances! – to step up to the sink and get the job done right every day.

No matter the age of your child, there are ways to make sure they learn the importance of proper daily oral hygiene.

If you’re looking for other ways to support your children’s oral health, consider adding oral care probiotics to your child’s brushing and flossing routines. EvoraKids Wild Very Berry probiotic chews are specifically formulated to meet the oral health needs of children. For children ages 11 and up, EvoraPlus probiotic mints not only meet those needs – they also freshen breath. If your preteen or teen has that infamous teenager bad breath, they might really need the extra boost!

Choosing the Best Toothpaste

Why Whitening Toothpastes May Not Make You Smile

If you think your smile might be less-than-white, you’re probably tempted to try out a whitening toothpaste.

It’s much easier to stain a smile than it is to whiten it. All you have to do is drink staining beverages, like coffee, tea, cola or red wine, or eat staining foods, like blueberries, beets, spinach or chocolate, and your smile can easily start to yellow.

Did you know that the inside of our teeth – called the dentin – is actually yellow? Is it any wonder then that as we age, the outer layer of our teeth – called the enamel – starts to yellow as well?

And it’s only natural that as our smiles start to get a little less than the really white-white we prefer, we want to reach for what seems like the easiest-to-use whitening product – whitening toothpaste. But what if that toothpaste is actually making your smile more yellow in the long run? It could be.

Whitening toothpastes often contain baking soda, an abrasive that is often used to help remove stains on hard surfaces, from your teeth to your kitchen sink. While these toothpastes may make your teeth whiter at first, ongoing use of whitening toothpastes, however, can roughen the surface of your teeth, attracting more stains.

How About Truly Whitening Your Smile?

What if there was something just as simple to use as toothpaste that could whiten your teeth so gently that it could be used every day? Actually, there is. Probiotic mints are great if you are looking for tooth whitening that is simple, quick, effective and safe. EvoraPlus® contains a patented blend of probiotics that releases a gentle, low-dose of natural hydrogen peroxide that whitens teeth while supporting gum and tooth health and freshening breath.

What’s even better is that EvoraPlus probiotic mints are 100% natural and made in the USA. They are safe and effective!

EvoraPlus oral care probiotics are now available online, as well as at many mass market retailers, including Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Hannaford, Sweetbay and many more. Simply visit Evoraplus.com to see a full listing of the retailers carrying this innovative mint.

If you’re looking for a naturally whiter smile, on-going tooth and gum health and truly fresher breath, try EvoraPlus!

Doggy Dental Downers

What’s Happening In Fido’s Mouth?

Whether your pooch has stinky smooches or crooked teeth, it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on what goes on inside his mouth. Just ask your veterinarian – your dog’s mouth is the gateway to his good health.

Here are some common oral conditions dogs may encounter:

Calculus, or tartar. Tartar looks a little different in dogs than it does in humans. In dogs, calculus is generally brown (instead of yellow, as it is in humans). This condition, which overlaps both the tooth and the gum line, is one of the most common dental problems that dogs may encounter. If left untreated, calculus can lead to abscesses and tooth loss. Moreover, an extreme case of calculus can lead to internal organ damage because bacteria can travel from the teeth into the blood stream.

Brushing your dog’s teeth, or gently rubbing his teeth with gauze, will help prevent the buildup and subsequent hardening of plaque and forming of calculus.

Malocclusions. This dental problem that is commonly faced by puppies when an adult tooth erupts before the baby tooth has fallen out. This can cause inflammation and tooth breakdown, and, if left untreated, sometimes causes an infection. Malocclusions can also cause adult teeth to erupt in the wrong position. Malocclusions cannot be prevented, but keeping an eye out for them can keep them from causing any harm. The critical window to monitor your puppy’s mouth is between 14 and 24 weeks old. If you suspect an adult tooth is growing in below or behind a baby tooth, call your dog’s veterinarian.

Gingivitis. Just like in humans, harmful bacteria in the mouth can build up on teeth, causing inflammation. This is called gingivitis. This inflammation can, in turn, lead to receding gums, loose teeth and, eventually, tooth loss. This is another reason to make sure your dog’s teeth are free from plaque.

Periodontal disease. Harmful bacteria strikes again! Periodontal disease is a serious, harmful condition caused by an imbalance of harmful bacteria in your dog’s mouth. One of the primary symptoms of periodontal disease in dogs is bleeding gum, so look for red or dark brown spots on your dogs chew toys. Severe periodontal disease in dogs has been linked to kidney failure, heart conditions and other life-threatening illnesses. If you suspect your dog has periodontal disease, be sure to contact your vet right away.

You can keep Fido’s breath sweet as a puppy’s and his teeth clean and white by adding a scoop of oral care probiotics to his food once daily. These beneficial bacteria crowd out the bacteria known to cause bad breath.

Bad Breath Might Be a Bad Sign

Is Bacteria Attacking Your Pets’ Organs?

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three – Pet lovers are sure to find this statistic very startling, since most of us still thik of our pets as puppies and kittens at age three!

Does Your Pet Have Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is caused by the accumulation of dental plaque and inflammation of the tissues in the mouth. When the gums become inflamed, enzymes start to break down the connective tissues surrounding the teeth. This breakdown of tissues allows harmful bacteria that naturally reside in your pets’ mouths to pass through the tissue and into the bloodstream, where it can affect the liver, kidneys and heart.

The hallmark symptom of periodontal disease in pets is bad breath  -  the kind of bad breath that makes y0u not want to share a smooch, no matter how much you love your dog or cat.

If you mention that breath to your vet, he’s likely to recommend that you brush your pets’ teeth – a task that can be messy and stressful for both you and your pet.

I Love My Pets, But I Hate Their Breath!

Don’t worry! There’s a very simple way to eliminate stinky breath. By adding oral probiotics to your pets’ food once daily, you can improve the population of good bacteria in your pets’ mouths. These beneficial bacteria – or probiotics – eat the same foods and populate the same areas of the mouth as harmful bacteria. When you give the beneficial bacteria the upper hand, they return the favor by pushing out the harmful bacteria.

And with that, viola!

Bye-bye bad breath!

Stinky Kitty Kisses

What Your Cat’s Bad Breath Could Be Telling You

Does your kitty like to kiss your face? Your chin?

The old wives tale says that when a cat rubs against you with her face – be it your leg, your face, your hand… you get the picture! – she is being affectionate. That’s super cute and sweet, but if she’s rubbing against your face and she has fishy kitty breath? Yuck.

Why do Cats Develop Bad Breath?

Sometimes our cats develop bad breath for the very same reason we might develop bad breath if we never cared for our teeth. A simple build-up of plaque and tartar on your kitty-friend’s teeth can act as a fantastic breeding ground for the bacteria that produce the volatile sulfur compounds responsible for bad breath.

Simply learning to brush your cat’s teeth two to three times each week could eliminate her bad breath. If you’re not that patient, or if you think your cat might not be game for a good tooth brushing, you may consider sprinkling oral care probiotics on her food once a day. These friendly bacteria help reestablish the bacterial balance in your cat’s mouth, crowding out the bacteria responsible for foul-smelling breath.

If your cat’s bad breath cannot be resolved by basic oral care, it could be a sign that something is wrong. If your cat has consistently bad breath, take her to the vet.

If you notice that your cat’s breath smells, look for signs of dental or gum disorders:

• Does your cat seem to be in pain?
• Has her appetite decrease, or does she seem to struggle eating?
• Is you cat unable to keep food in her mouth once she gets it there?
• Does she paw at her mouth?
• Has she begun drooling?

All of the above are symptoms of a dental disorder, which could include an abcessed or damaged tooth, gum disease or even the presence of a foreign object lodged between teeth.

Other Causes of Bad Breath in Kitties

There are also several other underlying conditions that cause feline bad breath that can only be successfully diagnosed by your veterinarian, including kidney disease, feline leukemia virus and feline stomatitis.

Easy Ways to Save!

Simple Money Saving Tips For Grooming Your Dog At-Home

Taking your dog’s grooming into your own hands is a great way to cut back on the expense of owning a pet, especially this time of year when the hot, sticky summer weather requires more bathing and grooming.

Bathing, nail trimming and oral care are some of the many ways you can be involved in grooming your dog. Here are some tips to help you curb your expenses at the groomers.

Invest In a Good Shedding Brush

If you don’t brush your dog with a good grooming rake or shedding brush before putting him in the tub, his loose hair and dirt will end up everywhere – on your hands, in the tub and down the drain. The world’s best-selling shedding brush is called the Furminator for a reason – it truly does remove a lot of loose dog hair, especially if your dog sheds a lot.

Nail Trimming Tips

Nail trimmers are another area where you want to spend your money wisely. Buying quality clippers will help you avoid splitting a nail, which not only hurts your dog – it could lead to an infection.

Unless your dog is super calm and cooperative, you might want to try clipping his nails while he sleeps, at least until you get your technique down. Be sure to trim only the very ends of the nails and to not nip the quick, which can cause pain and bleeding.

Getting Into the Bath

When it comes to bathing, each dog generally has his own preferences. Some dogs don’t mind a soapy romp with the hose in the backyard. Other dogs may prefer to be immersed in warm water. If it’s the first time you’re bathing your dog, try to find someone to lend a hand, in case you need it. It’s nice to have one person in charge of soaping and making sure the soap is thoroughly rinsed while the other runs the water.

Cleaning Teeth

It’s recommended that we brush our dogs’ teeth three times each week, if not every day. If your dog has smelly kisses, you probably understand that recommendation. A much simpler way to keep your dog’s teeth clean is to simply sprinkle Teddy’s Pride Oral Care Probiotics on his food once a day. Unlike any other pet oral care product available, the ProBiora3™ probiotics included in Teddy’s Pride™ Oral Care have been formulated to inhibit the growth of the bacteria that cause bad breath.

You don’t need to know all the tips of the grooming trade to keep your dog clean and fresh smelling at home! Just roll up your sleeves, roll out the hose and say goodbye to doggy smell!

Stinky Kisses!

A Simple Way to Kiss Dog Breath Goodbye

There’s really nothing quite like smelly pet breath. You want to snuggle with your dog on the couch while you watch a compelling season finale, but his breath is so bad he’s either banished to the foot of the couch or to the floor.

Same deal with your cat – when her breath is bad, there is no way you’re willing to share your pillow with her. She can find another cozy place to settle in for the night.

Bad breath is the number one complaint of pet parents everywhere. It seems there is so little we can do to freshen their breath – I mean, take a deep whiff of their food! It’s no wonder their breath is a little more than we can bear!

And then there’s the fact of tooth brushing. We’re supposed to do it; in fact, we’re supposed to brush our cats’ and dogs’ teeth at least once daily, but few pet parents do. Brushing a dog or cat’s teeth is more can be a real hassle.

So think about what your breath would smell like – and what  your teeth and gums would look like – if you hadn’t brushed your teeth for, say, 3 years. What if your pet is even older – 10, 12, even 18 years. Think of all that plaque and tartar that has built up in their mouths! It’s no wonder their breath is killer.

What if there was one simple step you could take just once daily that would make your pets’ breath fresh like a puppy or kitten in just a few weeks? What if all you needed to do was balance the bacteria in your pets’ mouths and it would put an end to the foul breath?

It really is that simple with oral care probiotics. By simply sprinkling Teddy’s Pride Oral Care on your dog or cat’s food once daily, the beneficial bacteria in your pets’ mouths crowd out the bacteria that cause the volatile sulfur compounds that make dog and cat breath so smelly.

How the Bacteria in Your Pets’ Mouths Affects Their Organ Health

What’s Going On in Your Pets’ Mouth?

Periodontal disease is caused by the accumulation of dental plaque and inflammation of the tissues in the mouth. When the gums become inflamed, enzymes start to break down the connective tissues surrounding the teeth. This breakdown of tissues allows harmful bacteria that naturally reside in your pets’ mouths to pass through the tissue and into the bloodstream, where it can affect the liver, kidneys and heart.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association , 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three – a startling statistic for sure.

How Do You Know if Your Pet Has Periodontal Disease?

The hallmark symptom of periodontal disease in pets is bad breath. I’m not talking about run-of-the-mill dog or cat breath, but the kind of breath that makes you turn your head away when your kitty or pooch comes looking for a smooch.

If you mention that breath to your vet, he’s likely to recommend that you brush your pets’ teeth – a task that can be messy and stressful for both you and your pet.

Is There Another Way to Improve My Pets’ Breath?

Actually, there’s a very simple way to eliminate stinking breath. By adding pet oral probiotics to your pets’ food once daily, you can improve the population of good bacteria in your pets’ mouths.

These beneficial bacteria – or probiotics – eat the same foods and populate the same areas of the mouth as harmful bacteria. When you give the beneficial bacteria the upper hand, they return the favor by pushing out the harmful bacteria. And with that, viola! Bye-bye bad breath.

Follow Teddy’s Pride on Twiter.

Do You KNOW Where Your Dog’s Mouth Has Been?

Busting the Myth that Your Dog’s Mouth is Cleaner Than Yours

It seems like ever since I was a kid, I’ve heard people say that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than mine. Considering my dog doesn’t have opposable thumbs and is unable to brush his own teeth twice daily – none-the-less floss! – that didn’t seem to ring true to me, so I decided to do a little research.

I’m Not the Only one Questioning the Validity of That Claim!

Type the words “are dogs” into your Google search bar, and the second suggestion that pops up is, indeed, “are dogs mouths cleaner than humans?”

It seems the myth of dogs having cleaner mouths than humans was based on the concept that unless a dog has rabies, if they bite you, there is no bacteria in their mouths that should cause you to have an infection from the bite. This theory, apparently is based on the idea that most disease are species-specific. This Moment of Science Video explores the myth behind the theory that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s mouth.

Dog Mouth vs. Human Mouth

Then, when you take it a step further and consider that dogs are known for eating everything from your trash to dead animals to their own feces, even that particular theory doesn’t quite stick. If a dog has bacteria from feces or a dead animal in its mouth, and that dog bites you, there’s a pretty good chance that the bacteria from that dog’s bite could cause an infection.

If you take into consideration what a dog is willing to eat, it stands to reason that doggy kisses aren’t exactly clean, either. There is a way, however, to make your dog’s breath at least smell kissing fresh.

Probiotics Crowd Out the Bacteria That Make Doggy Breath So Stinky

If your dog’s breath is less-than-kissing-fresh, pet probiotic sprinkles added once daily to your dog’s food may just be the answer. These beneficial bacteria coat your dog’s teeth, gums and tongue to crowd out the bacteria responsible for bad breath that leaves you turning down your doggy’s kisses.