Registering with a New Dentist

With renting and moving for work becoming more common than ever, people no longer stick with the same multi-generational family dentist Dublin that they used to.

And it’s far too easy when moving into a new area with all the things going on to forget about registering with a local dental surgery. That is until something urgent happens and you are persuaded by severe discomfort to find out who your local practitioner is.

You can make everything an awful lot easier by registering with your dentist before you get to this point. That said, if you are in need of urgent dental care most clinics maintain space on their daily schedule for same-day emergency appointments, so you should get in contact with them as soon as you need to.

Still, it would be a lot easier for you to get emergency dental care with a team that you are already registered with.

Registering with a New Dentist |

Registering with a New Dentist

When you are looking for a new dental surgery, geographic location should only be one of your considerations; it is quite likely that you live within a range of 5 local surgeries in any major city,  so unless you’re in a small village, you should be shopping around.

Not all dental surgeries are equal and even among those who are equal in stature, they have different focuses. Perhaps one dental team has built itself around cosmetic treatments and the other around restorative care. Depending on your needs you should find the dental team that fits you.

If you have a dental aversion or any other concerns about seeing a dental professional, finding an empathetic practitioner would be your first priority. There are clinics that have made serving nervous patients their priority and have set up their entire clinic to be homely and as non-dental- surgery-like as possible.

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Transferring From a Past Dental Team

If possible, your new dental clinic will want your records transferred from your previous one. Although this used to take several weeks, with most dental records now digitised this has become fairly trivial. It allows your new clinic to continue any treatment procedures started previously, as well as seeing any notes that may have been made about possible risks. That said, most clinics will want to take initial X-rays as a new baseline and as part of your initial assessment and introduction to the clinic.

During a physical examination, there will be a priority to check things like fillings, crowns and any prosthetics which require additional maintenance. Based on this other measurements will be made of plaque levels, pocket depth and measurements so that any gum recession can be tracked; collectively this is referred to as charting and although patients may be unaware of it, it is one of the key methods that dental teams use to see problems before they occur and allow them to be nipped in the bud.

Failure to be registered or regularly attending check-ups with a dental team results in charting becoming patchy and ineffective. This is one of the main things that you lose by not being registered with a team and even if you have no symptoms, maintaining your regular dental check-ups is important for your long-term health.

Related: What to Expect at the Dentist

Confused about braces as an adult?

When you are an adult who has misaligned teeth, it can feel tough in daily life; especially at staff meetings or when going out with friends. And if you grew up in the last 30 plus years, you may believe that the only way to realign your smile is by using a metal brace.

Confused about braces as an adult?

But, this is no longer true; there are now more options than ever before to get you the straighter smile you want and in this article, you will be introduced to some of the most popular ones.

A brief guide to your options

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So, what are some of the different orthodontic options which an orthodontist in Stoke-on Trent is likely to offer you?

Clear braces

OK, so many people confuse a clear brace from an invisible aligner and it’s easy to see why.

But, a clear brace is typically fitted to your teeth, much in the same-way as a regular orthodontic brace but the brackets that have affixed it to your teeth are clear.

This makes it more visually discrete, as the wires which run across the front of these brackets are often thinner too. They are often worn for shorter periods of time too, with the shortest clear brace being the Six Month Smile, which corrects misalignments that have occurred with the front 6 teeth in around 6 months (hence the name).

Invisible aligners

Almost everyone has heard about invisible aligners; afterall, Invisalign is now an extremely common part of orthodontics that takes place in dental surgeries. Made from a thin, clear plastic, these aligners are custom-fitted to your teeth and come in a set of aligners that need to be worn in a precise order to be effective.

Related: Invisalign at Your Local Dental Clinic

They usually take an average of 6-9 months to realign most patients’ teeth and can also be used to straighten the teeth of teenagers. But, they have to be kept in for 22 hours per day to work, making it important for anyone using an invisible aligner to adhere to this.

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Orthodontic braces

Everyone knows someone who has worn an orthodontic brace; they are made from metal and are placed across the front of the teeth. Commonly used for childhood orthodontics, these braces can also be used to correct misalignments that occur in adults and will require tightening every 6-8 weeks to work. With adult patients, it can take up to 24 months for the teeth to be straightened. But, as there are now other orthodontic options available, it is more than likely that your dental team will use this brace type in conjunction with another, such as a clear or invisible aligner, which will be more discrete and easier to use.

Lingual braces

Like traditional braces, Lingual options are fitted to the teeth but are placed at the back as opposed to the front. They require tightening on average every 6-8 weeks and can take around 24 months to work. Unlike traditional braces, the brackets are made from gold (very classy!) and this brace is renowned for being discrete.

 

Are there any advantages to dental implants?  Of course, there are!

Are there any advantages to dental implants?  Of course, there are!

When you have missing teeth, life can feel hard; you have to smile in group photos with your mouth closed and you are restricted to eating softer foods.  And, even if you have restoratives like dentures, there are often still issues with movement and sores forming on the gums. Yikes!

This brings the topic nicely to dental implants. Affixed to the jaw, these restoratives will never move and, following a short surgery to fit them, once they have fused with your jaw, they should last a lifetime.

So, no more blisters or sores, just great looking, functional teeth.

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Advantages of Dental Implants

So, what are some of the other advantages of having dental implants fitted?  A dentist in St John’s Wood answers that question below.

1. Immovable

Dental implants cannot move once they have fused to your jaw, meaning you don’t need any glues or additional adhesives to hold them in place.

The fusing process can take up to 6 months, depending on your age and health, but once it is complete, those implants are there for at least 15 years!

2. Minor

The surgery surrounding oral implants is minimal and, depending on your dental team and clinical need, it may be performed in one sitting.

3. Painless

As you may know, many people have concerns about dental implants causing discomfort during the fitting. However, your dental team will ensure that your jaw is sufficiently numbed before the procedure starts, meaning that there will be no discomfort when you are getting your new gnashers fitted!

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4. Life-long

Assuming that you care for them correctly, your dental implants should last the rest of your life. This means that you will have to treat them as you treat your natural teeth; they will need daily brushing, flossing and will need to be examined by your dental team bi-annually and you will also need to keep an eye out for things like gum disease or signs of infection.

If you suspect any of these, contact your dental team immediately.

5. Anti-allergy

Some patients have concerns that dental implants will be rejected by the body due to an immune response. But, this is not true; almost all oral implants are made from titanium, which is inert and will stay in place once fused. So, there is no need to worry about allergic reactions or your body rejecting your newly fitted dental implants.

6. Natural-looking

Many patients worry that the crowns of oral implants (the teeth) will look fake next to their natural teeth. However, crowns are designed to seamlessly blend in with any natural teeth that you may have if this is the goal.

If you want to have an entire set of teeth replaced with a glowing white Hollywood-esque set of teeth, then that can be achieved too! Just tell your dental team what you want.

7. Types

If you aren’t able to have endosteal implants fitted for whatever reason, there are different types of dental implants that can be used. Ask your dental team about suitability for subperiosteal, zygomatic or even mini implants.

Related: Replacing Teeth

Dental Implants – Are They Worth the Procedure?

Dental Implants – Are They Worth the Procedure?

When suffering from tooth loss, which can happen due to a number of reasons, the impact on both the physical and mental health of the patient can be great.

Dental implants, which are sturdy, natural-looking and are considered a long-term solution are therefore one of the leading tooth replacement procedures offered.

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How does the process work?

Once the loss of a tooth has occurred it is important to contact your dental team as soon as possible so that no further damage to the area can occur.

A consultation will take place, where a series of physical examinations, photographs and in some cases X-rays will be taken to ensure that the jawbone has sufficient depth for the implant to be effectively put into place.

Once this has been established the procedure can often be carried out on the same day.

To begin with, a local anaesthetic will be applied to the area and a small incision within the gum will be made followed by the insertion of the implant screw or post. Whilst this may sound extremely daunting, this procedure is extremely common and with the local anaesthetic in place, only mild discomfort should occur after the procedure has been completed.

Once the screw is inserted into place the area will, in most cases, be left to heal. This enables the surrounding bone to regenerate around the screw ensuring an extremely secure base for the restored tooth.

In most cases, a temporary crown or bridge will be put in situ and after some healing time, a permanent solution will be put in place.

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Is this treatment suitable for everyone?

Whilst dental implants Nottingham are often the preferred choice for tooth replacement due to their stability and long-term benefits, unfortunately, those with unhealthy gums or weak bones may not be able to have this particular treatment.

It is important to have these aspects of health in place so as to provide the stability needed for this procedure. This will always be discussed and decided within your consultation and if there is a way around the procedure your dental team will discuss this with you at the time.

Related: 5 Things to Look for When Choosing the Ideal Dental Team

Aftercare

Immediately following the surgical procedure the patient will be encouraged to rinse their mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash. This is then recommended on a daily basis for at least one week post-surgery so as to maintain the overall health of the area whilst healing.

Just two weeks later an appointment will take place where the area will be examined to ensure everything is healing efficiently.

For those with temporary crowns or bridges, depending on the amount of healing that has occurred, a discussion will take place as to when the permanent crowns can be attached.  This is dependent on the individual case so please do not worry if your dental team is not considering this yet.

Please note, all dental treatments and procedures, including those mentioned within this article, need thorough consultation. All patients are therefore advised to seek further information and advice from their local dental team before undergoing any treatments.

Replacing Teeth

Replacing Teeth

Yes, it is entirely possible with modern restorative dentistry to replace teeth. These teeth don’t even have to be lost recently; you could replace a tooth that was lost 20 years ago.

It really is extraordinary to be at a point where a dentist can provide dental implants Harley Street.

Brief History of Dental Implants

This has not always been the case, however, one of the big factors which slowed down dental implants from becoming the norm was the sedation that was required to perform such surgery safely.

In the early days of dental implants (1910 to 1980), it was assumed that full sedation was necessary in order to perform dental implants; this kept them restricted to the operating theatres in hospitals and universities that taught dentistry.

At this point, it would be fairer to compare dental implanting to an experimental procedure that was only performed by the top dental researchers in a select few locations.

Another setback is the syllabus of your standard local dentists; implanting is not part of a dental degree. But with more dentists attending additional training after their standard dental degree in order to grasp the fundamentals to the implant technology, most dental surgeries will have at least one member of staff who is qualified to perform implants.

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Making Dental Implants

The fabrication of dental implants in dental laboratories has also become commonplace and with the adoption of using digitised medical records, X-rays, and design specifications, biodata can easily be shared between the clinic and a dental laboratory.

The oral prosthetic which is fixed into the jaw by the implant follows many of the same design considerations as a crown, with enamel shade and translucency matching being a priority in order to result in seamless natural-looking results for the patient.

Treatment Time and Implantation Procedure

Over its development, the treatment time of implants has been progressively shortened, but it still takes 4 months in the best-case scenario for an implant to fully integrate into the jaw.

There is ongoing research into the use of possible drug therapies to increase the rate of bone growth to reduce this interval, allowing the loading of the implant where the prosthetic tooth is actually placed in the mouth to occur sooner.

Implants are very common with older patients who are more concerned about the success rate of their procedure rather than the length of the recovery time. The implant is securely held within the gum as it is integrating, minimising its disruption to the patient’s everyday activity.

The Future for Dental Implants

There is active work on the use of dental implants to immobilise dentures; the current industry standard is 5 equally placed implants, which has been shown to be effective in the vast majority of cases.

This has the advantage of reducing the cost to the patient whilst also simplifying the procedure. Whether dental implants become standard for an immobilised denture is yet to be seen, but is an exciting progression.

Another area of active research is the use of hormonal growth factors impregnated into the implant itself to encourage bone growth.

Related: How to Prevent Complications After Dental Implants

Invisalign at Your Local Dental Clinic

Invisalign at Your Local Dental Clinic

Invisalign status provider systems are not just based on some arbitrary sales target but on the successful implementation of their orthodontic products.

Their partnership system works with local clinics all around the world and they provide the manufacturing expertise and software engineering that allows Invisalign to produce aligners that clear and provide results.

We recommend that these aligners should be used with the oversight of a dentist Sydney CBD.

Related: What is Invisalign?

Too many online dental aligner companies have fallen into the trap of providing their aligners directly to patients based on poorly executed DIY home moulding kits.

This has led to some controversy around the dental aligner. As these aligners are fabricated but home moulding kits with the treatment schedule managed by little more than a calendar app, they often fall short of achieving the orthodontic potential that can be achieved in a regular clinic.

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And it’s because of the consistent achievement of Invisalign products that many dental teams have been awarded with diamond provider status.

So, if you are looking for the best orthodontic results with this aligner, ask your local surgery if they can offer it and avoid online providers.

Why Do Dental Teams Like Invisalign?

The truth is that Invisalign products are excellent in quality, especially in relation to their manufacturing and the speed of their turnover.   Without them, dental professionals would not be able to offer clear aligners which have become more and more popular with adult orthodontic patients.

Their clear aligner system allows dental patients to receive orthodontic treatment in a subtle and practical way, each of the aligners is only designed to be worn for two weeks as part of a long serious because of this relatively short time period of use they can be very thin and light without any risk of them wearing out whereas standard orthodontic braces have to be fairly robust.

The aligner itself is also accompanied by a full range of other technologies, such as an app that you can use to track your progress in parallel with your dental team (thus freeing up appointments) and it also comes with predictive software.

Once the images of your teeth have been entered onto a computer, orthodontists can predict the movement pattern more accurately, providing you and your local team with a more accurate, predictive model.

This makes clear aligners very subtle and easier to wear in everyday life. Actually, if you live in the Sydney area you may have spoken to an Invisalign patient in the street and not even realised they were wearing an aligner.

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Dental teams also appreciate that the clear aligner is not a silver bullet and they will always put the needs of their patients first.

Aligners are best suited to the front four teeth for mild-to-moderate misalignment; anything more severe would require a traditional brace and professionals are always clear with people when explaining their treatment needs and their expectations.

That said, you may be more suited to what is known as a combination treatment, by starting orthodontic care using traditional braces, quickly transferring over to clear aligners when the more challenging aspects of the orthodontic procedure are completed.

DISCLAIMER

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

What’s Healthy Eating About… Really?

What’s Healthy Eating About?

The first time I started questioning whether I really knew what healthy eating was about, was almost 30 years ago. I moved to a small town in the Klein Karoo called Montagu and met the renowned fruitarian, Essie Honiball.

At the time, Essie was 67-years-old and the picture of health, a joyful, sociable lady with boundless energy. She would come down to the hot springs, where I worked, to swim with her friends.

Essie told me she felt and looked younger than she did in her 30’s when she was dying of TB (Tuberculosis). She firmly believed that switching to a diet almost exclusively of fruit, nuts, and seeds was what saved her.

Essie Honiball lived to the age of 89.  Here’s an interview with Essie at age 86.

What Do We Need to Eat?

In Biology and Home Economics class at school, I had been taught we all needed to consume a varied diet of meat, fish, starch (grains), dairy, vegetables, and fruit.

The lesson was clear. If you’re not eating a balanced diet consisting of all the recommended food groups, you won’t get all the nutrients you require for good health.

  1. Proteins
  2. Carbohydrates
  3. Fats
  4. Fibre
  5. Vitamins
  6. Minerals
  7. Antioxidants
  8. Water

Yet I discovered that for some people, it was possible to live on fruit alone.  This idea blew my 20-year-old mind.  I didn’t become a fruitarian myself, though I’m sure it must have encouraged me to eat more fruit.

I went through my own health challenges in my late 20’s and started tuning into what my body needed. I started juicing and doing fruit and veg cleanses. I discovered that my body functioned best on fresh fruit and veggies.

It was while I was cleansing and juicing that I felt my healthiest, my energy levels were always through the roof, I was slim, happy, sleeping well, and free from pain.

Yet, for years, I kept following the healthy eating guidelines we were taught at school.   Eat all 5 food groups, have everything in moderation, drink 8 glasses of water, sleep 8 hours a night.  I knew the drill.

That’s what I was taught at school and so I believed it was the truth.  But is it?

Related: Aligning All 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness

What are We Designed to Eat?

On 9th September 2020, I made the switch to a wholefood plant-based diet.  My friend Mariana called me from Joburg for a catchup chat and encouraged me to look into it.

Mariana had been suffering from debilitating bouts of rheumatoid arthritis and found that she was able to virtually reverse her condition if she ate a plant-based diet. When she slipped back to eating normally, her symptoms would flare up again.

Mariana sent me some YouTube links to videos by Doctors who advocate a plant-based diet and I found the information so compelling, I decided to join Mariana in following a plant-based lifestyle.

One of the segments I found really interesting, was this. Humans are not designed to eat meat. We think we are because again, we were always taught at school that humans are omnivores, but it turns out we are not.  When you look into our physiology, it appears that we are actually natural herbivores, plant-eaters.

If you look at our jaw structure, we are not built to be carnivorous. We can’t kill an animal and tear it apart with our teeth.

Would we eat these piglets?And instinctually, we don’t want to.

If you saw a little rabbit or piglet with a broken leg on your path, what would you do?  For most people, our natural instinct would be to comfort and do what we can to save the wounded animal.

What would a dog or cat do in the same situation? Pounce!  And gobble it up. Because they are natural carnivores, meat-eaters and happy to prey on defenceless creatures.

The thing is, that by the time we see fresh meat in freezers at the grocery store, it’s been neatly chopped up, cleaned and packaged and we don’t think of it as a creature at all. We didn’t have to kill it ourselves so we don’t spare a thought for the life of the animal we are about to eat.

What is a Wholefood Plant-Based Diet?

It’s kind of like a vegan diet because it’s mostly vegetables, fruit, and grains but the emphasis seems to be more on eating plants and whole grains for optimum health.

You can call yourself a vegan and eat fried chips and loads of processed vegan delicacies.  That’s not the idea with a wholefood plant-based diet.

On the other hand, you can call yourself wholefood plant-based and sometimes eat eggs, dairy, fish, poultry or meat, from the best possible sources, such as organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised or wild-caught.

We were taught at school to eat a balanced diet of meat, fish, dairy, grains, fruit, and veg but what's healthy eating about, really? What were we designed to eat? And which foods makes us feel best?Why Eat a Plant-Based Diet?

I’ve found that people choose to live a vegan or plant-based lifestyle for three compelling reasons:

  1. To protect animals from harm
  2. To protect the environment
  3. To protect themselves from preventable diseases

What to Eat on a Plant-Based Diet?

So, what do people consume on a plant-based diet?

  • Vegetables – in season, fresh and organic where possible
  • Starchy vegetables – such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut
  • Fruits – including berries and melons
  • Nuts – ideally raw, unsalted macadamia, walnuts, brazil nuts and cashew nuts, almonds and nut butters
  • Seeds – such as pumpkin, flax, chia, sesame, sunflower and hemp seeds
  • Whole grains – such as rolled oats, brown rice, quinoa etc.
  • Legumes – chickpeas, lentils, peas, peanuts, black beans, etc.
  • Unsweetened plant-based milk – soya milk, almond milk, coconut milk etc.
  • Healthy Fats – avocado, coconut oil, olive oil
  • Plant-based protein mushrooms, tofu etc.
  • Herbs and Spices – including seasonings like nutritional yeast
  • Coffee, Tea, Herbal Tea

How to Eat More Fresh Fruit and Veggies? 

We’ve got so used to reaching for yummy goodies loaded with unhealthy sugars that we forget to eat our fresh fruit and veg.

Here a few quick tips to help you get in more fruit and veggies on a daily basis.

  1. Buy a variety of fresh, fruit and veggies, including berries, melons, nuts and seeds
  2. Begin each meal with raw, fresh fruit or veg or salad
  3. Aim to eat at least 5 different colours at each meal
  4. Begin or end your meals with veg and lentil or bean soup
  5. Make fresh smoothies or juices as snacks

Related: What is Health and Wellness About?

What Not to Eat on a Plant-Based Diet?

  • Fast food and fried foods – pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs, fries
  • Refined Foods – white bread, pasta, doughnuts, cakes, cookies, biscuits
  • Packaged and convenience foods – crisps, biscuits, health bars, frozen dinners
  • Processed animal products:  bacon, ham, macon, etc.
  • Processed vegan products – such as vegan meat, butter or cheese
  • Artificial sweeteners – and food or sauces containing artificial sweeteners

What to Avoid on a Plant-Based Diet?

Many plant-based advocates follow a vegan diet but if some feel they need to supplement their diets with animal sources, for whatever reason. If you’re going to introduce some form of animal product into your diet, follow the guidelines below.

  • Meat – eat very rarely, and if you do, make sure the animals are grass-fed, pastured and treated humanely, where possible
  • Dairy – as above
  • Poultry – free-range, grain-fed and organic, where possible
  • Eggs – as above
  • Seafood – wild-caught from sustainable fisheries, where possible

What’s Healthy Eating About?

So, what’s healthy eating about… really?

For me, it’s a wholefood plant-based diet, because of what I’ve read and researched about the many health benefits. And also because of how I feel when I’m eating loads of fresh fruit and veggies.

Essentially, you get to decide what healthy eating is about for you.  We are all different and our bodies respond differently to what we eat.

What I can tell you, is that your taste changes very quickly when you make the switch to a plant-based diet. Foods you thought you could never live without (like cheese, cream or meat) no longer hold their appeal.

I invite you to try it out for a week or two and see how you feel.

This post was sponsored by Anti-OxidantFruits.com. All opinions are my own.

Aligning all 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness

8 Dimensions Health Wellness

Health and Wellness have been a big focus in my life.  I started teaching Aerobics when I still in High School and took over my Mom’s gym shortly after I finished school.

A couple of years later I also started studying and practising a number of different modalities, including Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Shiatsu.   I became particularly interested in holistic health and healing.  I was fascinated by how the mind, body and spirit are all connected.

I delved deep into every aspect of health and wellness over the years because I wanted to know how every secret on how to live long and prosper.

And yet, it took Harold at Bodybuilder Solutions to introduce me to the idea of the 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness. Have a look at this post: https://bodybuildersolutions.com/the-best-resources-for-mental-health-and-physical-wellness/

And, here they are.

All 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness

I’ve placed them in the order that makes it easiest for me to remember, starting with the 4 that align with some of the chakras (or energy centres in the body).  I used their corresponding chakra colours on the infographic below.

There is a tremendous benefit in aligning all 8 dimensions of health and wellness. Because that's when you feel a sense of peace, satisfaction and well being. Do you know all the 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness? If not, discover them in my latest post as well as keys I've learned over the years to help me align them. This post was sponsored by Bodybuilder Solutions. All opinions are my own. #8DimensionsHealthWellness #8DimensionsWellnessChart #8DimensionsWellnessInfographic #health #wellness #wellbeing #selfcare

1. Physical (the base or root chakra)

2. Emotional (the sacral chakra)

3. Intellectual  (the solar plexus)

4. Spiritual (the crown)

The last 4 are not energy centres in our body but relate to aspects of our daily lives that can impact our health and wellness.

5. Social (Relationships)

6. Occupational (Work)

7. Financial (Money)

8. Environmental (Surroundings)

Related: What is Health and Wellness About?

While it’s virtually impossible to be focusing on all 8 of these all the time and have them all in perfect balance, it’s certainly something worth striving for.

You might put so much of your time and energy into mastering one aspect of your life that the others go out of kilter.

On the other hand, when you achieve success in one area it may give you the confidence and motivation to tackle other areas of your wellbeing.

And there is a tremendous benefit in aligning each dimension of health and wellness and feeling they are all working together in harmony. Because that’s when you feel a sense of peace, satisfaction and well being.  A feeling that all is right with your world and you’re doing just fine.

In this post, I’ll aim to give you some of the keys I’ve learned over the years that have helped me achieve this alignment in my own life, in the hopes they help you too.

Let’s take it from the top.

1. Physical Health and Wellness

Physical Health and Wellness

Deep down I think we all know the answers to this. They are simple to learn, but not easy to implement.

  • Exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes, at least 3 or 4 times a week)
  • Eat nutritious foods (especially plenty of fresh fruit and veg)
  • Get enough sleep (6 to 8 hours a night)
  • Drink enough water (around 8 glasses a day)

Those are the basics.  We all know them but we get caught up in what this expert claims and what that diet promotes and what that organisation recommends.

Related: Natural Ways to Support the Immune System

Here are my personal keys to making these work for you.

Exercise

You’ll only do it regularly if you love it and can incorporate it into your life. So find something you really enjoy doing. For me, right now, it’s walking my dog and jumping on the trampoline with my son, because that’s all I have time for.   But at other stages of my life, it’s been swimming, gym, dancing, yoga, pilates.   What moves you?

Nutritious Foods

I recently went wholefood plant-based which means I mostly eat a healthy vegan diet. Though I know that’s a big ask, so if this just sounds too extreme to you, please start adding more fresh fruit and veg into your diet and avoid eating overly processed foods and especially processed meats.

I have discovered it’s a brilliant lifestyle choice, especially if you are overweight or have heart disease, Type 2 diabetes or any other preventable health condition.   But don’t take my word for it. I’m just following the experts.

Here’s a great overview of plant-based nutrition by Dr Anthony Lim

Disclaimer: Please note that none of the recommendations in this post is intended to replace the advice of your Medical Doctor. Please consult a doctor or registered health practitioner if you have any health concerns.

Sleep

Stop all digital activity, including watching TV at least half an hour before you go to sleep to have a good night’s rest.

Hydration

Water or tea is best.  One or two coffees a day is fine. A glass of wine a night (or your favourite drink) is fine but don’t overindulge too often.  In my book, sodas are a no-no.  I could go into the long explanation of why but then we’d never get to the rest of the post. 

2. Emotional Health and Wellness

Emotional Health and Wellness

We all want to be happy and free from anxiety, yet, sadly, most people aren’t.  We live in a world where millions of people are suffering from depression, anxiety disorders, insomnia and nervous tension and have resorted to medication for relief.

There are many natural ways to be happy and free from worry and I believe it starts with choosing happiness.

Once I made a conscious decision to live a happy life, the natural ways found me.

Here are some of the things that make me feel happy and at peace.

  • Guided Meditation or Visualisation
  • Being out in nature
  • Being in contribution
  • Caring for loved ones
  • Playing with or reading to my children
  • Caring for pets
  • Dancing, singing or listening to music

But what about those stubborn or particularly heavy emotions you just can’t seem to shake?

I’ve found Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or Tapping) to be most useful in helping me release unwanted emotions.

For example, here’s a tapping session I did on Disappointment.

Once you know the basics of how to EFT, you can tap on any emotion that’s upsetting or depressing you.

The deeper you go, the more relief you feel, which could mean working on childhood wounds or past hurts that have stuck with you for years.

Related: How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

3. Intellectual Health and Wellness

Intellectual Health and Wellness

To be healthy intellectually, it’s important to use your mind by doing things like:

  • reading
  • study
  • research
  • travelling
  • and other intellectual pursuits that broaden your mind

It’s equally important to clear your mind of stress, worry and limiting beliefs.

I read a funny meme at a coffee shop the other day.

It said: “Give me coffee to change the things I can change and wine to accept the things I can’t.”

I’ve discovered that what causes most of our pain, suffering and stress is believing things should be different than they are.

So my best piece of advice for a happy life is to accept those things you can’t change and change the things you can.  i.e. Do your own inner work.  Let go of all those thoughts about what others did or should have done, what they said or should have said.

Instead, turn your thoughts to who you are, who would like to be around and what you would like to do with your time. Be in your own business.

Again, easy to say, not so easy to do. Until you meet Byron Katie and use her simple technique to unbundle those stresses and beliefs and turn them around.

Byron Katie designed a process of questioning your stressful thoughts, called The Work.

Here’s Katie doing The Work with someone on How to Have a Clear Mind and Healthy Body.

The Work is a great way to get clear on the thoughts that have been holding you back or dragging you down, sometimes for years.

I’ve found the best breakthroughs in my own life have come when I start out by doing The Work and then shift into EFT if big emotions come up.

These processes sound simple but they are life-altering. Try them out for yourself, especially on your most painful experiences and you are likely to see what I mean.

4. Spiritual Health and Wellness

Spiritual Health and Wellness

Our spiritual journey is deeply personal and a path only we can walk. This journey is usually ignited by the religion, faith or path we have followed since childhood.  For me, that faith was Christianity and it led me to A Course in Miracles.

Learning and teaching A Course in Miracles has given me tremendous peace.

Here’s one of my favourite lessons in A Course in Miracles.

Lesson 47, God is the strength in which I trust.

The spiritual perspective is that pain and suffering are caused by believing we are separate from God.

In a sense, this is the same concept Byron Katie teaches, just in different words. Where Katie might call it questioning what is or questioning the truth, on a spiritual level, when we question what is, we are questioning God.

When you draw nearer to God in…

  • prayer
  • praise
  • meditation
  • stillness
  • communing with nature, or
  • when you give love, and
  • forgive yourself and others..

you access your God-mind where you can safely embrace the peace that passes all understanding.

Related: Mama, When Last did You take Care of You?

5. Social Health and WellnessSocial Health and Wellness

Social health and wellness relates to our relationships.

We all know that if we are in an abusive relationship, whether it’s a parent, partner, child, work colleague or friend, it can take its toll on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

We also know that when our children “get in the wrong crowd”, their health can suffer.  Peer pressure and social pressure can drive people to do things they would never do on their own.

Just as unhealthy relationships can be devastating for our personal wellbeing, healthy relationships can turn our health around.There is a tremendous benefit in aligning each dimension of health and wellness and feeling they are all working together in harmony. Because that's when you feel a sense of peace, satisfaction and well being. #8DimensionsHealthWellness #8DimensionsWellnessPin

In my life, I’ve been extremely fortunate to have wonderful parents as role models.  My Dad was a Minister so I grew up in the Church. That really helped me build a strong healthy social structure within a loving community.

That foundation helped me seek out healthy role models at school and in the workplace.

It is far more difficult for children who grow up with unhealthy role models at home, to make healthy choices in their adult relationships.   This is where public service becomes important.

Our relationships with those in authority are extremely important, especially when we are younger and still building our strength and courage to stand up to authority when needed.

One amazing Grandmother, one child-centred Teacher or one caring Sunday School Teacher can change the trajectory of a child’s life and make the world of difference in a community.

If we want to see a healthy society, the responsibility falls on each one of us to give back to the community in whichever way we can.

6. Occupational Health and WellnessOccupational Health and Wellness

For me, occupational health and wellness have always started with being passionate about your work.

Job satisfaction is a huge part of your overall happiness as well as your health and wellbeing.  After all, most of us are working for the greater part of our day.

What’s interesting to note is that job satisfaction seems to have increased in 2020, according to this article: https://legaljobs.io/blog/job-satisfaction-stats/.

Perhaps the pandemic is creating a happier workforce because more people have been able to work at home or perhaps it’s because people value their jobs more now that so many jobs have been cut during the pandemic.

My best advice on the work front is similar to my advice on exercise. Find something you love to do, something that makes your heart sing, something that makes you jump out of bed in the morning.

Get to know your personality, your strengths, your weaknesses and be your biggest advocate.

7. Financial Health and Wellness

Financial Health and Wellness

Our relationship with money is usually complex.

Financial wellness is not only about how you make money, spend money or save money but also how you think and feel about money.

We grow up with a number of beliefs around money and they are not always healthy.

If you faced lack in childhood and you don’t address your money beliefs and money blocks, you may be facing lack in adulthood too.

So I would start by doing the internal work.

  • Examine your money beliefs and create new healthy beliefs.
  • Figure out why you want to make money
  • Where you want to spend your money
  • How much you want to keep and
  • Where you want to invest your money
  • And then you can turn your attention to the how.

If you’ve been hitting a few money blocks, you may find these money afformations helpful.  Afformations are much like affirmations, except they are questions rather than statements.

Isn’t it interesting how all these dimensions tie-up?  When you look at one dimension, you can see how each plays into the other.

  • Your work affects your finances.
  • Your thoughts and feelings affect your finances.
  • Your relationships affect your finances.
  • Your physical health can affect your work which in turn can affect your finances, etc.

And of course, vice versa.  Each dimension of health and wellness impacts the other.

8. Environmental Health and WellnessEnvironmental Health and Wellness

Your environment can affect your health in many ways.

For example, living in the city is considered more dangerous to your health than living in a small town out in the countryside. Not just because of the faster pace, traffic congestion and added stress but also because of the smog and noise pollution.

Cities bombard and sometimes overload our senses.

Your home or work environment can also affect your health. Most people find living or working gin a chaotic or cluttered environment to be more stressful than a clean, well-organized home or office.

And then there’s our impact on the environment, how we contribute to the health of our environment.

We all know by now that we can make simple lifestyle changes to improve our environment:

  • Recycle
  • De-clutter
  • Conserve Water
  • Plant trees and flowers
  • Use natural products
  • Consume less (minimalism)

But did you know that the single most impactful thing you can do for the environment is to stop eating meat?

Animal agriculture is having a devastating effect on the environment.

This video explains how the meat and dairy industry works.

Here are just a few ways eating a vegan or plant-based diet, positively impacts the environment:

  • Saves water (because our livestock consumes a lot more water than we do)
  • Reduces greenhouse gases, the leading cause of climate change
  • Reduces air pollution
  • Protects the rainforests
  • Protects endangered animals

Of course, the choice is always yours.  It’s not easy to stop doing something you’ve done all your life, especially if it’s something you enjoy, like eating meat or cheese.

I have found that when I find enough compelling reasons to make a change, I make it.  And it sticks.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy implementing some of my key pointers on the 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness into your life.  I invite you to play with these ideas.

Try one or two of them on and see if they fit.  I’d love to hear which ideas resonated with you. Feel free to leave a comment below.

This post was sponsored by Bodybuilder Solutions. All opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: Please note that this article is not intended to replace the advice of your Medical Doctor. Please consult a doctor or registered health practitioner if you have any health concerns.

How can tooth loss be treated with Hertfordshire dental implants?

How can tooth loss be treated?

Tooth loss can be a very distressing condition that can affect abilities that most people take for granted, such as speaking, eating or smiling confidently.  Tooth loss is not only capable of negatively impacting these abilities, but it can also impair mental health and cause depression and anxiety.

What causes tooth loss?

One study concluded that there is a correlation between tooth loss and an increased risk of cerebrovascular events. However, it is important to note that correlation does not always mean causation: the correlation between these two variables could be due to other lifestyle factors that cause both tooth loss and stroke, such as smoking or poor diet.

Nonetheless, it is best to prevent tooth loss. Tooth loss is caused by tooth decay that reaches the pulp tissue, periodontitis and injuries.

To mitigate tooth decay and periodontitis, practise good oral hygiene habits by brushing your teeth twice a day and using an antibacterial mouthwash and dental floss.

You can prevent dental injuries by wearing a mouthguard when engaging in a higher risk activity, as this can afford valuable protection.Tooth loss can be a very distressing condition that can affect abilities to speak, eat or smile confidently. How can tooth loss be treated?

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants are small metal appliances, which look very similar to a normal everyday screw. These are not simple screws, however. Due to the implants being made out of titanium, they are able to integrate into the tissues where they are implanted, in this case into the jawbone and the soft tissues surrounding it.

When you get dental implants, your dentist will initially screen you for any signs of tooth decay or periodontitis, as these will have to be treated before the process can begin, to ensure a higher likelihood of the implant working.

Once you are deemed fit for the operation, the surgery will happen and usually, about 3 months are left for the wound to heal and for the implant to integrate into the bone and the soft tissues.

Once the wound has healed appropriately, your dentist will order the replacement teeth that will be attached to the implant, meaning that you will now be able to eat, smile and speak without any worries.

Benefits and alternatives

Dental implants have a diverse array of benefits. While relatively expensive compared to other treatments of tooth loss, in the long run, an implant pays off, as it is a permanent solution that normally lasts almost a lifetime.

As the implants integrate into the jawbone – just like a natural tooth’s root – they are very resilient to the enormous amounts of pressure exerted on them through chewing.

Another important benefit is that dental implants do not require any specific aftercare. They simply need to be brushed, just like regular teeth.

Dental implants have numerous alternatives available as well, however.

One of the alternatives to dental implants is a dental bridge. In dental bridges, a replacement tooth is attached to adjacent crowns on the neighbouring teeth.

Other alternatives include dentures, however, these are thought to be less of a long-term solution and certain types can even facilitate tooth loss and damage.

What’s a Cosmetic Dentist?

What’s a Cosmetic Dentist?

If you are not happy with your smile, there are various ways a cosmetic dentist can help. This type of professional oral care involves improving the appearance of your gums, teeth, and overall smile. In this post, we will be telling you a bit more about the procedures performed by a professional cosmetic dentist like this dentist South Tampa.

What Does a Cosmetic Dentist do?

A cosmetic dentist performs various dental procedures, from minor repairs to major surgeries. Cosmetic dentistry has gained a lot of popularity over the years. Even these procedures may not be considered as vital, cosmetic treatments can contribute immensely to restoring your smile.

6 Commonplace Cosmetic Procedures

If you are not happy with your smile, there are various ways a cosmetic dentist can help. This type of professional oral care involves improving the appearance of your gums, teeth, and overall smile.  #whatsacosmeticdentist #cosmeticdentistry #dentistsouthtampa #sponsoredpost1. Teeth Whitening

This is one of the most basic cosmetic treatments and also the least pricey.

Teeth become stained over time from eating, drinking, certain medications, and smoking.

After removing tartar, plaque, and other debris from the teeth, the teeth surface is bleached to leave them with a whiter and brighter appearance.

2. Dental Veneers

Veneers are fine, white shells that are made with resin, medical-grade porcelain, or ceramic and they are custom-made for every patient to match their natural teeth.

Before the veneers are applied, the cosmetic dentist must remove some enamel from the tooth surface for the shells to bond authentically to the front of your teeth. Dental veneers are a suitable solution for those with damaged enamel, crooked teeth, or that have gaps between their teeth.

3. Dental Onlays and Inlays

Also referred to as indirect fillings, onlays and inlays are used when the patient’s natural teeth are too decayed to support a standard filling. These fillings are made in a dental laboratory and are bonded in position by the cosmetic dentist.

Inlays are when the material gets bonded in the middle of the tooth whereas onlays are when the filling covers several or one sections of the tooth or the entire tooth surface.

This procedure is a good substitute to a crown since it strengthens and restores the tooth after deterioration and preserves more of your tooth’s natural surface.

4. Dental Crowns

Dental crowns or dental caps are fitted over the damaged or decayed tooth. They help prevent the debilitated tooth from breaking. They are also used cosmetically for covering severely discoloured or disproportionate teeth.

Dental crowns are often used in other dental procedures like dental bridges, root canals, dental implants, or enamel fillings.

5. Dental Bonding

With this procedure, a moldable resin is applied to the tooth and hardened under ultraviolet light.

Afterwards, the material is trimmed, shaped, and polished to naturally blend into the tooth surface.

Bonding is used for repairing cracks, misshapen, or chipped teeth as well as tooth decay.

This treatment is more affordable than crowns or fillings.

6. Dental Implants

After tooth loss or severe tooth decay, dental implants are utilized for replacing teeth.

  • The cosmetic dentist affixes a screw to your jaw for support.
  • The implant is then inserted into the missing tooth’s bone socket.
  • With time, your tissue and bone fuse to the implant, supporting the replacement tooth inside your mouth.
  • Once it is properly affixed, the dental implant will blend into the adjacent teeth.

Should I see a Cosmetic Dentist?

Motivations for Consulting with a Cosmetic Dentist

There are various reasons why you might want to consult with a cosmetic dentist, including:

  • Misshapen teeth
  • Missing teeth
  • Tooth decay
  • Discoloured teeth
  • Crooked teeth
  • Damaged teeth (chips, cracks, etc.)

Should I see a Cosmetic Dentist?

If you have decaying, discoloured, missing or damaged teeth and have difficulty speaking or eating, you may want to book a consult with a cosmetic dentist.  Especially if you’re finding dental problems have impacted your self-esteem.

If you are not happy with your smile, the condition of your teeth can be drastically improved by a cosmetic dentist.

This post was sponsored by Muscaro and Martini Dentistry Tampa. If you’re looking for a cosmetic dentist South Tampa, they are committed to helping you look and feel and smile your best.