Antibacterial Mouthwash Could Save You Trips to the Dentist

Most people hate going to the dentist. I mean what sounds fun about sitting in a cold chair, staring at the ceiling, while holding your mouth open for hours, letting someone else stick their hands inside your mouth – not to mention the drills and other pointy metal objects? Yeah, that does not sound fun to me either.

But we need dentists in our lives. And when you have a good dentist, these visits won’t seem as painful. Toothaches can be one of the more excruciating pains a human can experience. When your mouth becomes infected it even can hurt the rest of your body’s health. For example, when you experience major gum infection, it is 83% likely that you will get a sinus infection. If the gum infection is not treated within 10 days, the rest of your body is in danger of infection.

Another thing that people may not realize is the importance of using an antibacterial mouthwash on a daily basis.

Did you know that by using mouthwash daily it will actually fight gum disease to such a great extent that could save you trips to the dentist? Well if not, here are some more Fun Mouthwash Facts to help you start using mouthwash to cease gum infection and reduce dental trips!

·         The first mouthwash was developed with the intention of being used as an antiseptic in surgical settings. It made its first appearance in 1879. However, it was later adapted to domestic use as an aide to brushing teeth. Thus, the first general mouthwash was sold over the counter in 1914. The mouthwash was distributed under the trade name "Listerine".

·         Mouthwash has also been used for a variety of different interesting treatments. One of the most bizarre uses of mouth wash was for the treatment of dry scalp in the 1920's. Mouthwash has also been used as a facial cleanser as well as an after-shave lotion. This could probably be because of the high alcohol content of the traditional mouth wash.

·         Mouthwash has also been associated with a condition known as 'hairy black tongue'. This condition results from the overuse of mouthwash. Like everything else, it is important to use mouthwash in moderation.

If you have a gum infection or tooth infection, top dentists in your area should recommend that you use an antibacterial mouthwash to help stop the infection from spreading. They may even prescribe a specific mouthwash to help reduce the infection. So start using mouthwash daily to fight gum disease! I guarantee it will help reduce tooth and gum infections and save you painful trips to the dentist.

#1 Best Treatment for a Whiter Smile ~ Top Dentist Approved

In a Dental 2013 Press Release, Dr. Mark Icard of Harrisburg, NC said: "Tooth discoloration occurs for many reasons. Certain foods and beverages can darken the enamel, and other times it's a medication or health factor that diminish a patient's white smile.”

Now, we all know that food and drinks injure our enamel. Tea, Coffee, Dark Soda and even Berries are some of the most popular offenders that make our smiles less bright. However, despite popular belief, simply using teeth whitening strips are not enough to give you the bright, white smile you deserve and want.

Dr. Icard continues saying, “Patients typically try to deal with tooth discoloration with over-the-counter whitening products or home remedies. Unfortunately, basic whitening kits and strips don't do justice to patients' teeth because patients' issues differ. Some patients need more than a whitening treatment. Other cosmetic treatment might be more effective and long lasting."

For exterior tooth stains, the American Dental Association recommends that patients consult with a top dental professional regarding whitening procedures and questions. You can use whitening strips and home remedies, but if you want the whitest smile, you should talk to your top dentist.

Another thing that people don’t realize is that most tooth discoloration comes from internal stains. If you notice a lot of tooth discoloration, it is probably from tooth trauma or worn enamel, and you should have a dentist examine your teeth. Veneers are often the best way to solve tricky tooth discoloration and will give you a brighter, whiter smile.

In conclusion, the best way to have a whiter smile is to consult with your top dentist to see what should be done for the best personal results.

Avoid Jack Fraud This Winter: Shop Securely Online

Online shopping is great for many reasons; you can find stuff online that “brick-and-mortar” stores don’t offer, often times you can order something and personalize it to make gifts more special, and you can do it all from the convenience of your own home in your pajamas!

I know that a lot of people don’t like shopping online because they feel it is not secure. The truth is that there are a lot of fraudulent websites out there, online hackers, identity thieves, unsecure check-out pages, etc. However, there are also a lot of ways to make sure that when you are online, you are secure.

During the winter season, I do as much of my shopping as I can at home and online. When I shop online, I don’t have to go anywhere to pick up my items and I don’t have to deal with crazy angry parents looking for the last “Tickle Me Elmo” on the shelves. I also love online shopping because I know the tricks ofkeeping my personal and financial information secure while shopping online.

In this article, I will be sharing with you my online shopping secrets, to help you stay secure while online.

1.      Protect your computer. It always drives me crazy when I hear about people complaining about online fraud and then you come to find out that their own computer is not PCI Compliant or secure. That is just asking for Identity Theft! If you are like me, then much of your life is conducted on your computer. This is why I ensure that my own computer is secure.

2.      Visit Wisely. The first rule to online shopping is: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Before I purchase something online, if it is from a site I am not familiar with I do three things to verify it.

a.    First, Check to see if it has a security seal or trust logo posted on their website. If you don’t see a security seal displayed from a trust online verification company like Trust Guard, it is probably not a secure site.

b.    Next, Check the contacts. I always make sure that the business’ address and phone number match up. If I can’t find the info on Google, I don’t trust it. If I can find it on Google, then I verify it even more and call the number to get more information. If a website does not have a mailing address, phone number, and email address, then it is not a company I want to do business with.

c.    Third, In the URL Bar at the top of your page, check to see if a little secure lock pulls up when you are checking out. If this does not happen, then the check out page is not secure. The lock is the sign that the company has a current SSL certificate.

It is not hard to be secure online. Keep these tips in mind as you avoid the Jack Fraud this winter and shop securely online.

How to Reduce Online Fraud

The National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded Pennsylvania a $1.1 million grant as part of the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace,
(NSTIC,) a public-private initiative to seek ways to create a so-called identity ecosystem that lets individuals choose from an array of credentials to transact business online. They are launching a development to protect its state’s residents from fraud.

In a recent interview with the State Information Security Media Group (CISO), Avakian says, "This is really going to enable convenient, secure, privacy-enhancing online transactions for our customers.This grant is going to enable secure online transactions which should also reduce fraud.”

As always, some citizens are upset that so much money was granted to CISO to prevent online fraud. I am proud of PA for recognizing how severely dangerous online fraud, identity theft and hacking has become. With everything taking place online in today’s world, any steps we can take to be more secure and prevent fraud are crucial.

In the interview, Avakian discussed how the pilot project:

·         Is set up to help reduce fraud for businesses and consumers, with research to back-up software systems which will prevent fraud and provide more accessible trust seals and security scans.

·         Will “piggyback” on existing enterprise directory services that provide single identities to state employees. This will decrease identity theft.

·         The grant will also benefit and employ outside identity verification services.

More states should take a stand against identity theft and hackers and make a difference to prevent online fraud. You don’t even have to spend $1.1 million, like the State of Pennsylvania, all it takes is raising a little awareness.

Online Banks Require Website Security

According to a recent survey conducted by Kaspersky Lab, approximately one third of online users do not feel safe when conducting financial transactions online. Online merchants have noted feeling insecure when running financial transactions online with their computers, laptops and tablets.

This same survey also revealed that an additional 28% of people using a smart phone do not feel comfortable engaging in financial transactions using mobile banking applications. In fact, when the Kaspersky Survey was broken down even more, they found that only 22% of tablet users and 27% of smartphone users are unconcerned about entering financial information from their gadgets. This means that on average, over 75% of consumers and bank account holders are worried about their personal information being accessed online.

Because of this survey’s results, financial institutions and bank representatives are shifting more and more toward online methods of delivering safe and secure services to their consumers in hopes of easing some of their concerns.

Most online users are unaware of how dangerous it can be to process transactions online. Here are some key tips to help you be secure online in every aspect.

Run Security Scans on your own computer. By making sure that your computer or tablet is secure and works with PCI Scans like those offered by Trust Guard, then you will be able to know that your private information is going to be blocked by hackers trying to breach IP Addresses.

Trust Your Bank. If you can’t trust that your bank’s website is secure, you may want to switch banks. The online world is huge, and you should be able to feel secure enough to log in to your online banking and take care of everything. One of the best ways to know if you bank’s website is secure is to see if the URL is marked with a lock next to the web address. This Lock Icon is to inform you that the website has been verified and all information posted on it is secure and private through an SSL certificate. This is one thing I always look for; not just for my online banking, but also for all secure checkout pages I visit when purchasing anything online. If I am shopping online and don’t see this security lock near the URL when checkingout, I leave the page and do my online business elsewhere. 

Example of a Secure Banking URL:

 

As an online banking user, you deserve to feel safe and secure while online. It is your responsibility though to make sure that you are doing everything you can on your end to be secure. Secure your computer with security scans and only visit websites that display secure trust seals and SSL locked domains.