Expert Moms and GSK's Virlix and Ambrolex Summer Campaign Launch

     Vitamin Sea, Beach Please, Halo-Halo, Graduation, and a whole lot more means one thing- Summer! Summer is here and everybody is on full vacation mode. I know a lot of you are going to the beach this month or heading to your most-awaited overseas trip while some will just do their vacation at their homes. It's a season full of relaxation and enjoyment but there are things that we should take in consideration while we are on vacation.

     Summer is fun but the scorching heat can be a problem for some. The rise in temperature brings with it a variety of diseases and exposes us and our kids to a lot of environmental triggers that can ruin our fun in the sun. Don’t let cough and allergies stop you and your kids from enjoying the sunny season. Sharing with you below the highlights of what we learned from the Expert Moms Get Expert Help from GSK this Summer event held at the Patio of Makati Shangri-la last March 30, 2016 below :)

Expert Moms and GSK's Virlix and Ambrolex Summer Campaign Launch

     During the event, experts from GSK explained to us the difference of cough and allergy plus we also learned how to make our own bento boxes from Kat Maderazo of Bento by Kat. Well, bento box is a fun way of preparing kids' meal. I presume that you've seen different bento box designs and some of them are too cute to eat. The event was hosted by one of the GSK mom experts- Rica Peralejo Bonifacio.

Expert Moms and GSK's Virlix and Ambrolex Summer Campaign Launch
Dra. Shiela Chua, Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio, and Kat Maderazo

     It was a fun afternoon because of this bento making class. It's my first time to make a bento box and I think I'll be doing it from time to time now that I've learned different tips and tricks from Kat Maderzo. Look at my bento box, isn't it to cute to eat? Bento box is a sure and fun way to let picky eaters eat healthy and nutritious food, right?!

Expert Moms and GSK's Virlix and Ambrolex Summer Campaign Launch
My black cat bento box :)

     Rica is a GSK expert mom and during the event she shared to us some of her experiences on how she handle her son's cough and colds and how to combat allergies. His husband is prone to allergies that's why she gave us tips and what medicine to use should the need arise.

Expert Moms and GSK's Virlix and Ambrolex Summer Campaign Launch
GSK Expert Mom Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio

“As a mom, I want to make sure that summer would become a memorable time for the whole family. My husband and I always make sure we take care of ourselves first so we can take care of our son, Philip. Being in tip-top shape allows our whole family to have the best summer and enjoy our vacations. Of course our priority is to keep Philip healthy, so we always make sure we are prepared with the necessary medications whenever we travel just in case he gets sick.

     Sharing with you the difference between cough and allergy below and what are the important things you should consider if you or your kids encounter these diseases this season. It's important to know the difference so that proper medication will be given to the patient. 

Expert Moms and GSK's Virlix and Ambrolex Summer Campaign Launch
Mascots Allergenius and Barry the Berry

Cough and Colds

• Cough and colds are quite common even during the summer because of erratic weather patterns that causes a shift in temperature. 
• Coughing is a natural reflex and is usually a sign that your child's body is trying to rid itself of an irritant, such as mucus or a foreign object. The most common cause of cough in kids is an upper respiratory tract infection from one of more than 100 cold viruses1. Other common causes of cough include infection, asthma, allergies/sinusitis or pollution. 
• Although cough is quite common, having a kid with cough is something you should take seriously as it may easily be passed on to other children with weakened immune systems. Cough caused by viral infections may result in fever, headache, and pains.
• Transmission may happen when an individual makes direct contact with an infected individual, or even infected surfaces such as doorknobs, computer keyboards, and gadgets and then touching their nose and mouth. 

Two kinds of cough: dry cough and productive cough (cough with phlegm)2.

• For productive cough, pediatricians can recommend protussives such as Ambrolex® (Ambroxol), to enable the cough to get rid of excess mucus in the airways3. 
• Unfortunately, a lot of cough medicines have a bitter aftertaste, which children dislike and often spit out, making medicine time difficult for moms. Ambrolex®, however, has a sweet blackcurrant flavor that kids will love, making cough medicine time easier for moms, and allowing their children to get better, faster.
• Should moms or their husbands also suffer from cough, Ambrolex® comes in thrice-a-day tablet and once-a-day capsule formats for adults that are both easy on the budget.

Expert Moms and GSK's Virlix and Ambrolex Summer Campaign Launch
Ambrolex 7.5 mg/ml Oral drops for kids
Ambrolex OD 75 mg Capsule for adults

Allergies

• To have allergies is to have the body’s immune system overreact to foreign substances or even a change in the environment. 
• When the body detects a foreign or potentially harmful substance, it produces antibodies and histamine, which are then released into the blood stream to fight it off. At that point, an inflammatory reaction happens. Some of the common symptoms of allergy are asthma-like symptom such as rapid, shallow breathing, wheezing, and cough. Other symptoms that can be observed are sneezing, itchiness, or development of rashes4.
• Allergic reactions may also be triggered by allergens or substances that can be found in food such as peanuts, milk, eggs, seafood, etc. A lot of children also develop allergies to plants, pets, house dust mites, mold spores, or medications, especially antibiotics4.
• When allergy happens, use the antihistamine that is trusted for 20 years, Virlix® (Cetirizine). It contains Cetirizine, an antihistamine that helps you manage the symptoms of your family’s allergies. 

Expert Moms and GSK's Virlix and Ambrolex Summer Campaign LaunchVirlix® (Cetirizine)

Expert Moms and GSK's Virlix and Ambrolex Summer Campaign Launch
 Dr. Sheila Chua, GSK’s Medical Affairs Manager

“Allergies don’t have to ruin your family’s summer fun. All you have to do is take note of what causes allergies among your family members and try to avoid them, so as to manage your allergy symptoms”, says Dr. Sheila Chua, GSK’s Medical Affairs Manager, and a practicing Dermatologist. “It also helps to always have a trusted allergy medication in your bag whenever you travel so you can easily address the symptoms of allergies when they occur.”

    Led by celebrity-host and Expert Mom herself Rica Peralejo, the campaign seeks to educate mothers on how to correctly and promptly address cough and allergies for the entire family. Thank you to GSK for having me and for sharing all the tips on how to protect my family from cough and colds and allergies. I know that this diseases can be prevented but not all the time. 

Expert Moms and GSK's Virlix and Ambrolex Summer Campaign Launch

     I think being an Expert Mom is all about ensuring that the whole family is happy, healthy, and free from disease. I’m very happy to be part of the Expert Moms campaign because I think it’s exciting to meet other moms who are keen on keeping themselves healthy in order to take care of their families,” says Rica.

To know more and share tips on how to be an Expert Mom, 

visit: www.facebook.com/MommyDoc

Good Times!~

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event

     As a mom, I want the best for my son but in my opinion it's hard to give the best if you don't have the resources and if you are not aware of the basic things with regards to health and wellness. Our child's health is the top most priority especially in their growing up years. I admit that I only knew few things about raising a child when I got pregnant but I've learned a lot from everyday experiences. But there's one thing that I think I've taken for granted in Kenzo's health- the oral care department. 

     Brushing thrice a day is not enough. There are more things that I need to know and learn about child's oral care. There are myths that I need to debunk and there are so much more to learn in children's oral care that I need to start teaching my son so that he will be equipped with proper knowledge as he grow up. My parents were so busy back then that's why I admit that I don't have healthy smiles growing up. In this post, I will share with you all the important things about children's oral care that I've learned during our quiz-off with Colgate. 

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event

     Colgate took oral care awareness to a higher notch when it held the “Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives” quiz-off last August 26, Wednesday, at the Seda Hotel in BGC. The invited mommy bloggers had a blast during the quiz night style event. I'm so glad that I was invited in this kind of test-you-knowledge kind of event. I learned a lot from the basics of oral care to the most confusing and complicated ones.

     “Oral care is and will always be one of the core aspects of a child’s health and well-being. By presenting facts and debunking oral health myths in an engaging way, we are making it relevant to the representatives of new-age moms, the bloggers,” shares Robillo.

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event

     Colgate’s resident dentists, Dr. Bong David, Dr. Louie Quiambaoand Dr. Noel Luna, as well as the BSBF/Public Health/Professional Oral Care Digital Manager, Diomar Escat, also busted some general myths and misconceptions, and even shared useful trivia about kids’ oral care.

HERE ARE THE FACTS/TRUTH everyone should know about oral care:

1. The perfect angle to tilt the toothbrush is 45 degrees for optimal reach.

     So how do you brush your teeth? Are you doing it the right way? Think again. You have to tilt the toothbrush in 45 degrees like what you see in the photo below. After brushing SPIT- yes, SPIT DO NOT GARGLE with water then spit again. Gah, for the past 30 years of my life I'm doing the brush, gargle, and spit ritual. 

     This is so wrong according to Colgate's resident dentists. Gargling with water defeats the purpose of your toothpaste. It will only rinse the fluoride that will protect our teeth from oral cavities. NOW I KNOW!!!! After the event, I always make sure that I just spit the remaining toothpaste in my mouth. No rinsing at all. It feels odd at first but after a week, I get used to it already :)

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event
Model of a child's teeth

     Another thing is to use soft bristle toothbrush and brush your teeth for 2 minutes. Use a sweeping motion in upper and lower front and back part of the teeth. Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes for the outer and inner chewing surfaces of the teeth. Don't forget to brush your tongue too.

     Colgate has a wide range of toothbrushes suitable for your oral care needs. This Colgate Slim Soft toothbrush is the newest addition that will give a deeper and healthier clean.

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event
Colgate Slimsoft Charcoal Toothbrush

2. It is best to rinse with a non-alcohol based mouthwash before brushing your teeth.

     A non-alcohol or alcohol based mouthwash doesn't matter as long as you use your mouthwash before brushing your teeth. Why? Using mouthwash after brushing will defeat the purpose of fluoride toothpaste. It will just rinse the fluoride that protects our teeth. Also, using mouthwash before brushing will loosen up the particles stuck in our teeth.

     You can use Colgate Plax mouthwash for a cleaner, fresher, and healthier mouth. It cleans hard to reach places in your mouth. Kills bacteria up to 99.9%, protects for 12 hours and there's no burning sensation like other brands in the market.

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event
Colgate Plax Peppermint Mouthwash

3. The acidity of your food or drink must be considered before brushing your teeth.

     We all know that we need to brush our teeth right after eating so that we'll get rid of the bacteria that sugary foods leave in our mouth. BUT there are instances that brushing our teeth right after eating can affect our tooth enamel. That's why we have to consider first the acidity of food or drink before brushing our teeth.

     According to the Mayo Clinic, if you've consumed anything acidic, you should avoid brushing your teeth for at least 30 minutes. Foods containing citric acid, like oranges, grapefruits and lemons, weaken tooth enamel. Brushing too soon after eating them can damage the enamel in its weakened state. Consequently, it's a good idea to brush your teeth before eating an acidic food and to drink a glass of water when you are finished to wash away the acids. As an alternative to waiting to brush your teeth, try eating nutritious foods that are low in carbohydrates and sugar after eating something acidic. This will help reduce the harmful acids that such foods can create.  

4. 9/10 Filipino children have cavities.

     Recent studies shows that 9 out of 10 Filipino children have cavities. This number only shows that there's a negligence in the family about children's oral health. Colgate is here to help and they have a campaign to raise awareness in oral health and hygiene.

5. The ideal length of floss is 20 inches.

     I'm guilty! I don't floss my teeth everyday. It is recommended to floss your teeth everyday so that particles of food that is stuck in between your teeth will loosen up to totally get rid off.

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event
Colgate Total Mint Dental Floss

6. There are 500-650 types of bacteria species living in the oral cavity.

     How many is that? Lots. That's why it is very important to know the do's and dont's about oral health in children and in general as well. 

7. Mouthwash takes care of the spaces inside the mouth that your toothbrush cannot reach.

     Yes this is true that's why it is recommended to use mouthwash before brushing your teeth. Or if you can't do this before brushing your teeth, wait at least 1  hour after brushing so that fluoride from your tooth paste will be absorbed by your teeth first before your mouthwash rinse them.

8. Tooth stains are caused by internal and external factors.

     Stains are caused by external factors like coffee, tea, and wine. If you smoke, your teeth will get those nasty stains too. Not only that, there are internal factors that can stain teeth and it includes tetracyline, a known antibiotic that treats acne. If you're a long time user of this medicine, then you're teeth are prone to stains.

9. Primary or "baby" teeth can get cavities that spread to other teeth, if left untreated.

     Baby teeth can get cavities, obviously from the milk. If left untreated, bacteria from oral cavities will spread to other tooth and will be prone to cavities. More details about children oral care below.

SOME FACTS AND MYTHS ON CHILDREN’S ORAL CARE

1. Retain the milk teeth as much as possible.

     If you're thinking that you need to get rid of that milk teeth right away, think again. These primary teeth will serve as a guide on your child's permanent teeth. That's why as long as the milk teeth are intact, let it stay there. If your child's teeth have cavities, visit the dentist immediately. He/she will assess the condition of your child's teeth. If there are holes due to cavities, it is best to have a tooth filling to cover the cavities. Extraction is not advisable as long as there's no sign of permanent teeth coming out yet.

2. Bring your child to the dental clinic at an early age.

     You may say at 1, 2, or 3, years old right? But it is best to bring your child to the dentist as soon as you see a tooth at 6 months perhaps? Yes, you should bring  your child to the dentist at an early age so that he/she will get familiar to the place. Don't bring them if your child is in pain, it will not be a happy trip to the dentist if for the first visit, their teeth will undergo filling or extraction.

3. Babies Can’t Get Cavities.

     As I've said above YES they get cavities. From the formula milk they drink and if they are already eating solid food at  6 months.

4. Once a Tooth Is Treated, the Decay Stops.

     The decay stops as long as you practice strict and proper oral hygiene. But nobody's perfect. We can't prevent our little ones crave for sweets. We can't stop them from eating candies but we can prevent them from getting cavities by teaching them at an early age the importance of oral hygiene.

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event
Kenzo and his Colgate Spiderman Toothpaste

5. What amount of toothpaste is appropriate for young ones?

     It is best to use a pea-size amount of toothpaste for our little ones. If they still don't know how to spit, Colgate's anti-cavity toothpaste for kids is highly recommended. There's Colgate Spiderman Toothpaste that makes brushing fun everyday. It comes in bubble fruit flavor in a sparkling blue gel that gently cleans young teeth and helps protect against cavities. It only contains around 550 ppm fluoride so it's safe for kids who can't spit toothpaste. For the little girls, there's also a Colgate Barbie Toothpaste to make brushing fun and exciting!

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event
Colgate Toothpaste for Kids

6. Sugar Is the Only Thing That Causes Cavities.

     NO. It is not only sugar that causes cavities but the acid-producing bacteria in our mouth that feast on carbohydrates like starch from food that we love like bread or potato chips. Bacteria loves them too!

    Good news! Colgate's newest variant of toothpaste that can neutralize sugar acid is here. So if your child can and knows how to spit, you can share this toothpaste variant with them. Remember: share this with them if they really know how to spit to avoid ingestion large amounts of fluoride.

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event
Colgate Sugar Acid Neutralizer Toothpaste

7. Aspirin Next to a Tooth Will Help a Toothache

     I'm not sure if you're familiar with this but placing an Aspirin like Medicol inside the cavities will help a toothache go away. Aspirin is a pain reliever, it will relieve the pain of the aching tooth caused by cavities but it will not treat the underlying cause of your toothache. Visit the dentist for the best treatment. Always remember to brush your child's teeth everyday. It's the first defense against cavities. Kenzo's supporting Colgate's campaign for zero cavities :)

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event
Colgate for ZERO CAVITIES!

8. When is my child ready to get orthodontic braces?

     Your dentist will help in assessing the right age to get braces but as early as 6 years old, if the condition of the teeth says so, then you can give it a shot.

     This post is a bit lengthy because I really, really learned a lot! There are other things I want to share like the sealant and fluoride varnish but that will be on my next post. I want to thank Colgate Philippines for having me. The bloggers’ event serves as one of the toothpaste brand’s efforts to keep parents abreast about the importance of proper oral health for them and the rest of the family.

Colgate Healthy Smiles for Healthy Lives Mommy Bloggers Event
Nuffnang Mommy bloggers with Colgate’s resident dentists, Dr. Bong David, Dr. Louie Quiambaoand Dr. Noel Luna, as well as the BSBF/Public Health/Professional Oral Care Digital Manager, Diomar Escat

    Robillo continues, “As long as Colgate is alive and well, it will continue to promote the oral welfare of every Filipino family. Healthy lives start with healthy smiles.”

For more information about Colgate- their products, oral care tips and other important facts about oral hygeiene visit their Oral Care Center:

 www.colgate.ph 

Good Times!~

Is Safe Drinking Water Really Safe?

     Life is so precious. We only live once that's why we must  nurture our mind and body the right way. Life is like water, it's one of the most important substances on earth. A man can live days without food but definitely not without water. Water is important and has many uses in our lives. One of the many uses of water is to satisfy our thirst. Let's talk about drinking water and how 'safe' potable water nowadays.

     The article posted by Rappler entitled "How safe is your drinking water," is a mind-opener. With easy access to drinking water nowadays, I think some of us are not sure if those mineral/purified drinking water are really safe to drink. But there some individuals who are very easy to persuade. I mean, as long as they see a sanitary permit or if the seal of the bottle is tightly closed then there's nothing to worry about. But for me it's way beyond the superficial. For more information about the article which contains facts and figures, you can click the link I posted above.

Is Safe Drinking Water Really Safe?
photo from rappler

     Anyhoo, I want to share a not so good experience with water refilling stations. Because of what we had experienced before, I feel not safe with mineral and purified drinking water bought from the refilling stations. Yes, they are in a decent place, they passed the standards that's why they have license to operate but after these processes, the assurance that the mineral water sold are really clean and safe to drink doesn't stop there.

     From my experience, we bought a gallon of mineral water in a nearby refilling station. Knowing that they have many customers and we're recommended by our neighbors and family friends, we have a peace of mind that we are drinking clean and safe water. Not until the day that we bought a mineral water that smelled vanilla essence. We assumed that the container was used by another customer in making  'gulaman' and the refilling station wasn't able to clean the gallon properly. So there, the negligence of the workers that refilling station in keeping the containers clean leaked because of our experience.

     What if it's not 'gulaman'? What if some inconsiderate customers have used the container to store other kinds of liquid that we don't know. In the first place, these containers are supposed to be used for mineral/purified water only. But that's the truth I guess, we'll never know if the water that we deemed pure and safe is really safe. I'm not generalizing that mineral and purified waters sold in the market or in the refilling station is not safe. It's just that I think we need to be more vigilant and be mindful that these establishments are in following strict rules in terms of handling, preparing and storing the water that our family will drink.

     If we really want to make sure that we are drinking pure and clean water, I guess having an in-home water purifier will make us feel secured. We value life that's why we need to make sure we are what we drink and what we eat are clean, right? If we drink contaminated water, we are risking our lives because we all know that there are different kinds of diseases that we can get from contaminated and unclean water. Let's be vigilant and put the safety of our family at first. It's also our responsibility to make sure that we drink clean and safe water for the welfare of our family. 

What's your stand on the article? Share your thoughts below.

Good Times!~