Health and Wellness

What is a “prophy”?

Dental prophylaxis, often shortened to “prophy,” is a fancy way of saying “professional teeth cleaning.” It’s a crucial part of keeping your mouth healthy and preventing problems with your teeth and gums.

Regular dental checkups, ideally every six months, are essential for your oral health. A prophy helps prevent gum disease and cavities. It also helps keep your breath fresh and your smile looking its best.

Think of it this way: You brush your teeth every day, but a dental prophy is like a deep clean for your mouth, getting into all the nooks and crannies that you can’t reach at home.

In this article, we’ll explain the prophy definition, walk you through the procedure, discuss its benefits, and answer some frequently asked questions.

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Taking good care of your teeth and gums is the foundation of good health. When you don’t prioritize your oral health, you set the stage for problems like plaque and tartar buildup.

While people often use the words “plaque” and “tartar” to mean the same thing, they are actually different. This article will explain the differences between plaque and tartar, how each one forms, and what you can do to prevent them.

If you don’t remove plaque and tartar, you can develop cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.

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Sore throats are a fact of life, but not all sore throats are created equal. Two conditions that often get confused are strep throat and mononucleosis, sometimes called “mono.” They share some of the same symptoms, but they have very different causes, treatments, and possible complications.

Getting the right diagnosis and treatment is essential to avoid serious health problems. While both conditions can be painful, they require different approaches to care.

This article will compare strep vs. mono, covering everything from causes and symptoms to diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and potential complications. Understanding the differences can help you get the right care when you need it most.

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Coughs and colds are the worst. When you’re stuffed up and coughing, you want relief, and fast. Luckily, there are many over-the-counter medications available to help you manage your symptoms.

Two popular choices are Mucinex D and Mucinex DM. But what’s the difference? And which one is right for you?

This article provides a detailed comparison of Mucinex D and Mucinex DM, including their ingredients, uses, side effects, and warnings, so you can make an informed decision when you’re standing in the pharmacy aisle, trying to figure out which one is best for your cough and cold symptoms.

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Age spots, also known as solar lentigines, are very common. You’ve probably seen them on your face, hands, or arms. These spots are usually harmless blemishes caused by sun exposure and excess melanin production.

Melanoma, on the other hand, is a serious form of skin cancer. It can be life-threatening if it’s not detected and treated early. Melanoma is often characterized by irregular borders and changes in size, color, or shape. It’s critical to keep an eye on them.

The goal of this article is to help you tell the difference between melanoma vs age spots, providing you with the information you need to identify them. We’ll also discuss risk factors, prevention strategies, and when it’s time to seek medical advice.

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Aseptic technique in healthcare is critical for infection prevention and patient safety. These practices help to drastically reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

This article explains the differences between medical asepsis and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis is all about reducing the number of microorganisms and preventing their spread. Surgical asepsis, on the other hand, is about creating a completely sterile environment, free of all microorganisms.

We’ll cover what aseptic technique is, what medical asepsis looks like, and what surgical asepsis is. Then, we’ll directly compare the two.

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Lumps and bumps on your feet are pretty common, and they can be caused by a number of things — some more serious than others. Because feet are often out of sight, they can be out of mind, and it’s easy to miss changes that might need a doctor’s attention.

While most bumps and lumps on the foot are harmless, early detection is key for some conditions. Foot cancer, while rare, can progress rapidly if left untreated. So, if you have a lump on the side of the foot or anywhere else on your foot, it’s important to get it checked out by a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis.

This article will cover some of the more common causes of foot lumps and bumps, including bunions, plantar warts, and cysts, as well as the treatment options available.

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