9 Health Habits That Are a Waste of Time

after reading this article, i might start going to the dentist 3 times a year instead the usual two

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Oh please! I haven't been to a dentist in 10 years. If you take care of your teeth, your teeth will take care of you. No wonder this country is so clueless about healthcare with idiot insurance companies having you running to a doctor or dentist for every little thing. What a bunch of neurotics.

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I go to the dentist twice a year, for cleaning. I've never had a cavity. I agree with whoever said this seems like it was sponsored by insurance companies.

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this so called nutritionist needs to learn about an amino acid pool

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I don't have dental treatment everytime I go to the dentist; however, I do get my teeth cleaned twice a year. I don't think this is excessive and it prevents the buildup of tartar on the teeth. The dental tech does consult with my dentist about the state of my teeth. He does not charge me for that consultation. I don't think advice about only going once a year is sound advice unless you don't have dental insurance and your income is limited.

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Let me guess......this article was "sponsored" or "endorsed" by an insurance company!! The people who run insurance companies care.....but only about the bottom line! They could give 2 s#!ts less about your health as long as you pay your premiums & rarely file a claim! And the claim processors as well as some of the Drs who work for them are idiots!!!! Plain & simple!

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I cannot believe Yahoo is still posting this!!! It's crap!!! Maybe the AMA & the ADA need to take action!!

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I believe the old adage is starve a cold, feed a fever. Colds don't usually affect your appetite, but fevers do. The principle is to not over eat with a cold, leave off phlegm producing foods such as milk when you have a cold. When you have a fever, drink plenty of fluids, whether it be carbonated soft drinks, juices, tea or water. Milk isn't recommended because it may clabber in the stomach, according to my late mother-in-law.

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This is all such a relief since I haven't been to the dentist in twelve years, never floss and only brush my teeth, let me see? once every few days!

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I would like to protest the insinuation that brushing and flossing twice daily and seeing your dentist twice a year are a waste of time. It is true that the twice-a-year bit was started by a toothpaste advertisement. However, you fail to mention that in the American Heart Association study, "more frequent scraping/cleaning was associated with more reduced risk" of heart attack and stroke. Oral inflammation is a HUGE risk factor for these and many other conditions (diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, various cancers, etc.). So yes, you can get by with only seeing your dentist once a year, but as the mortality statistics in the U.S. indicate, heart attack and stroke are serious killers in this country. I personally don't think we should be satisfied just getting by. As for brushing and flossing twice a day, the same thing goes. Bacteria and decay find their way into your mouth whenever you eat, drink, breathe...the ONLY way to keep the bacteria in your mouth at bay is by caring for your teeth regularly throughout the day. Ideally, you should brush and floss several times throughout the day, especially after eating anything sugary or acidic. The notion that brushing and flossing once a day is acceptable is not only incorrect, it's disgusting. Furthermore, oral biofilm associated diseases (diseases caused by the bacteria in the mouth) surpassed heart disease in 2006 as the #1 healthcare COST in the United States. Our healthcare costs for chronic diseases can be reduced drastically by simply paying more attention to our teeth--a recent study showed that semi-annual dental cleanings can reduce healthcare costs and complications for patients with diabetes by 25% each year. Please feel free to contact me for further information on the benefits of regular dental care and good oral hygiene. I am a dentist, but I stand for my patients' overall health.

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