Chinese New Year 2014: The Year of the Horse
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4712 begins on Jan. 31, 2014.
Chinese months are figured by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.
Speaking of the Year of the Horse, did you know that a horse’s teeth are often used to estimate its age, hence the sayings “long in the tooth”, “straight from the horse’s mouth” and “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”.
Your dentist Columbia SC advises that just like humans, horses can have problems with his dental hygiene. Common ailments include loose and/or broken teeth, excessively worn teeth, infected teeth and gums and even gum disease.
And whether you’re talking about humans or horses, it’s important to catch dental problems early. According to your dentist Columbia SC, 63 percent of baby boomers with an oral symptom considered to be a key indicator of a more serious health condition were unaware of the symptom’s link to the condition. Failure to recognize that oral health holds valuable clues to overall health could negatively affect their overall health by delaying treatment for more serious health conditions.
Regular oral exams by your dentist Columbia SC can catch some diseases at their earliest stages, when they are most treatable.
Baby boomers are especially vulnerable to developing diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease, the risks of which increase with age. Researchers believe that symptoms of these conditions can manifest in the mouth, making dentists key in diagnosing the diseases. Since most people have regular oral examinations, their dentist Columbia SC may actually be the first health care provider to diagnose a health problem in its early stages.
Seeing a dentist regularly helps to keep your mouth in top shape and allows your dentist Columbia SC to watch for developments that may point to other health issues. A dental exam can also detect poor nutrition and hygiene, improper jaw alignment and signs of developing oral problems.
Whether you’re a baby boomer or not…and whether you’re celebrating the start of 2014 or 4712…start the year off right by calling your dentist Columbia SC office today to schedule your first dental appointment of the year.