Schedule A Visit With Your Dental Hygienist

Each year you make your list of important healthcare and health maintainance visits to enter into your daily planners and appointment books. It's a good plan to enter for yourself and your family members each, a visit with the Dental Hygienist.

The Dental Hygienist is a member of the team at your Dental office. The Hygienist can be a valuable resource person for you. He or she can answer your questions about helpful products available for your oral health, such as interdental brushes, antimicrobial rinses, and antiplaque agents. The Hygienist can assist you and your family as needed by teaching the correct techniques for cleaning of the teeth, tongue and gums.

Your Dental Hygienist will see you at a minimum of every six months to provide a professional cleaning; this is in addition to your visit with the Dentist. At home, continue to Brush your teeth a minimum of twice each day to remove plaque. At a minimum of once each day, continue to floss between your teeth and your gum line to prevent gum disease. Begin using a new toothbrush every three months.

The Hygienist can guide you to identify foods that you should limit as well as food choices required for healthy teeth and gums. Having healthy nutrition habits, daily cleaning of your mouth and visits to your Dental office will help you and your family to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

By Charity Francis-Munson, FNP

Where is "your" Health Care Proxy?

If tomorrow you woke up, unable to speak, unable to write, unable to nod your head, unable to
move, unable to care for yourself; Who would you choose to make decisions about your healthcare needs?


When you arrive at the hospital, someone is going to have to give permission for you to receive
treatment. If you need surgery or a blood transfusion; Who will sign on your behalf ?
If the hospital wanted to perform procedures that you do not want; Who will refuse on your behalf?

If you already know that if your heart were to stop, you don't want to be revived; if you already
know that you do not want to be placed on an artificial respirator (a vent or breathing machine) Who will communicate this to the doctors for you?

Who do you trust enough to speak for you? Who knows how you feel about surgery, blood transfusions?, artificial respirators?, organ transplant, artificial feeding? What you want done if your heart were to stop beating? What to do if the doctor said you were brain dead, or in a coma? Do you want to donate your organs?

The person you choose is your healthcare agent. The form you write your wishes on, along with the name and contact information of your healthcare agent is the health care proxy document.

Speak with your healthcare provider, ask questions about the healthcare Proxy.

If you don't have a healthcare proxy, someone will make choices for you. That someone may not be a person you trust, or who knows what you want. That someone may make choices for you that are completely opposite to what you want.

Provide your healthcare agent with a copy of your healthcare proxy document.
Travel with a copy of your healthcare proxy. A copy of it should be made available for your chart when you are receiving healthcare services.

by Charity Francis-Munson, FNP

Travel with a list of your Medications

Travel with a list of your medications.

Keep this list in your wallets and pocketbooks next to your driver's license.

Take your list with you each and every time you have a medical appointment.

Update your list each time a medical provider makes a change; such as increasing a dosage.

This list should include medications you are allergic to; all vitamin supplements, herbal remedies, home-made cocktails and potions.

Always volunteer any changes in your medication regimen to each and every health provider. By ensuring all of your health care providers see your list, you are helping to decrease the risk of medication errors. For example it helps to avoid prescribing you medications that should not be combined.

Even if you have a photographic memory and are very knowledgeable about your medications and health; You should keep a list because during a crisis, you may become overwhelmed and uncertain of specifics; especially if some of the medications are new to you.

In the unfortunate event that you are rushed to an emergency room, unable to communicate your needs; your list will help to ensure your therapeutic regimen of maintenance medications will continue without an extended delay.

Next to your list of medications; you want to have a list of your medical problems. List all surgical procedures and hospitalizations. Include any allergic reactions that you experiened during a diagnostic testing.

By Charity Francis-Munson, Fnp.