Self Care | Lauren Kinghorn

When Do You Need Hospice Care?

Posted on January 23, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

Hospice offers a range of services to those who have a debilitating disease that affects their quality of life to the point that they are unable to do things for themselves.

When Do You Need Hospice Care?

How do you know if you or someone close to you needs hospice care?

Any individual who is suffering from a life-restricting condition is eligible for palliative care. This may include various types of diseases, with the most common ones being AIDS or cancer. This specific type of care offers support and guidance for patients who need palliative care and their families.

Keep in mind that various hospices might have different admission criteria contingent on their restrictions (available staff, geographical location, etc.) and resources.

However, one thing they all have in common is their commitment to providing palliative care to those who need it. The patient must however consent to join the hospice programme and is central in all decisions that are made.

What is the Role of Hospice?

Regulating symptoms and managing pain
Offering psycho-social guidance and support
Bereavement support
Equipment (such as wheelchairs, etc.)
Spiritual guidance
Emotional support

Some Health Conditions which may require Hospice Care

ALS

There are two elements in end-stage ALS that may determine hospice care, the ability to swallow and the patient’s ability to breathe.

Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease

Once patients who suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia have an impaired quality of life and are unable to move around, speak, get dressed, or bathe themselves, they could be good candidates for hospice care.

Cancer

The most obvious reason for a cancer patient to be eligible for hospice care is the person’s functional status or his palliative performance.

Liver Disease

Patients who have liver disease that are eligible for hospice care, are those who have returning signs of hepatic failure, which includes frequent varicella bleeding, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy, who also meets other guidelines.

Renal Disease

Many patients and their families choose not to begin or stop dialysis for various reasons, especially when a patient is older than sixty years.

Sepsis and Concomitant End-stage Disease

Thousands of individuals die each year from sepsis and the annual expenditure for readmissions exceeds $3.5 billion.

Services that Hospice Offer

Home-based Care

Teams of professionally trained and supervised caregivers travel to the person’s house and offer support and training on how families can take care of their homebound loved one at home.

Hospice in-patient Facilities

Some hospices have in-patient facilities that offer twenty-four-hour palliative care. There are typically limited beds available and only patients who fit a particular criterion are eligible for admission.

Hospice Community Centres

Hospice workers work from community centres and offer palliative care to patients that are still relatively well and mobile. At these centres, various skills are taught, and projects are initiated that generate income.

Hospice Billing

To have an understanding of doctor billing for hospice patients, you must first understand that hospice is not like other Medicare processes, and is viewed as a patient-based benefit. Once the patient chooses hospice, all decisions are based on patient-centred preferences and care.

Once the patient is referred to hospice, the patient chooses to stop curative care for the terminal diagnosis. The attending doctor and hospice team physician or medical director must certify that the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness continues its normal course.

Some hospices make use of a hospice billing company to help them comply with the most up-to-date regulations and manage their financing and accounting, so the hospice staff can focus on what’s most important, caring for their patients.

Conclusion

We hope this article was useful and that you have access to all the information you need if you or someone close to you are suffering from a life-debilitating disease and require homebound or in-patient facility care.

Natural Ways to Support the Immune System

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

This post was sponsored by Vitamium

Finding natural ways to support the immune system has become a hot topic lately, with the Coronavirus pandemic in full force. While building the immune system can’t stop you from contracting the virus (or any infection for that matter), having a healthy immune system may help you get over it faster and have milder symptoms.

But before we get into what builds your immunity, let’s start with the basics.

What’s the Immune System?

Simply put, the immune system is our body’s natural defence system against infectious diseases.

As we develop, our immune system develops with us. We’re born with natural or innate immunity and also receive passive immunity from the antibodies in our mother’s breast milk. As we get exposed to diseases or vaccines throughout our lives, we develop adaptive or active immunity. So getting ill actually builds our future immunity.

However, our immune system can also break down as we age and it’s usually because of poor lifestyle choices.

How to Support the Immune System?

Following a healthy diet and lifestyle is your best chance at a healthy immune system.

If you’re not doing all this already, here are the dietary and lifestyle changes we recommend you make.

Let’s start with a healthy diet.

Dietary Changes that Support the Immune System

What foods support the immune system? We all know the answer to this, deep down, don’t we?

It’s fresh fruit and veggies of course. And nuts and berries. Organic if possible. And you’ll want to eat a variety of these every day. All the colours of the rainbow if you can.

I took these benefits to heart and switched to a wholefood plant-based diet 90 days ago. Which means I started incorporating way more of the good stuff than I was eating before and eliminated virtually all processed foods, meat, chicken, fish and all dairy products.

Yeah, I know, it’s not for everybody, right? And even following this incredible diet, touted to be the healthiest diet on the planet by many highly respected Doctors, I’ve still had to supplement because I’m missing out on some important nutrients.

So let’s talk supplements. If you’re following the Standard American Diet (SAD), you’re almost certain to be deficient in nutrients that boost your immunity. Here’s how you can rectify that.

Invest in Immune Support with Elderberry

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Vitamium’s Elderberry capsules contain potent antioxidant ingredients known to support your immune system.

Elderberry Extract
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin B6
Zinc
L-glutamine HCL
Echinacea
Garlic powder
Turmeric

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Get Eldeberry Capsules at HALFPRICE here.

Lifestyle Changes that Support the Immune System

While diet is probably the most important change you can make, there are other healthy lifestyle choices that also support your immune system. Here are 6 changes you make today, that won’t cost you a dime.

1. Get Active

Find some form of exercise you love to do and do it regularly. You don’t have to run a marathon. It could be something as simple as walking the dog every day. Or as fun as going out dancing.

2. Destress

Find a way to let it all hang out. Whether it’s just kicking back and stroking your favourite pet or lounging about in a hammock. Stress is known to weaken the immune system so slow down a little and smell the roses.

3. Hydrate

Drink plenty of water every day. If you really can’t stand water, you could try herbal teas. Avoid carbonated drinks as they are usually loaded with sugar and phosphates. And avoid having too much coffee or alcohol as they tend to dehydrate (and there’s the sugar problem again).

4. Laugh

Recent studies such as this one have proven that laughter truly has medicinal benefits. Watching funny videos increased T-Cells (the fighter cells of the immune system). Worth giving a try, right?

And it’s worth mentioning that simply being a positive person has a positive effect on the immune system.

5. Sleep Well

Get a good night’s rest as often as you can. To help you relax into your 8 or so hours a night, switch off the TV and your digital devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime, avoid caffeine after midday and

And while we’re in the bedroom… did you know that sexually active people take less sick days?

6. Love Well

Being in a loving relationship is good for the immune system. But this isn’t bad news for singles. Fostering loving relationships with your friends, family and pets has the same effect on immunity.

And here’s one final lifestyle change we highly recommend that can save you money – if you’re a smoker.

7. Stop Smoking

If you’re a smoker your risk of getting respiratory tract infections is greater and those infections are more likely to escalate into life-threatening illnesses like pneumonia.

How would you say your immune system is doing based on the dietary and lifestyle tips above?

Please note that none of the advice in this article is intended to replace the advice of a medical professional.

Also, we advise you to follow all government regulations designed to protect you from succumbing to the coronavirus. Continue social distancing, wearing a mask in public and sanitising frequently.

This post was sponsored by Vitamium. All opinions are my own.

6 Tips on How to Look Younger Naturally

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

This post was sponsored by Vitamium.

We all wish that we could take a sip from the fountain of youth to stay youthful forever but unfortunately, this is not possible. However, there are certain things that you can do to look younger naturally and to stop the ageing process in its tracks.

1. Try to Avoid Unnecessary Stress

Stress can lead to physical changes in your body that fast-track the ageing process. Surges of cortisol and adrenaline results in your blood pressure rising and your heart beating faster. With the daily stresses and a global pandemic, we all feel the pressure. Try to do relaxing activities or meditation to give yourself and your body a break.

2. Invest in Quality Natural Skincare Products

There are plenty of well-known products available on the market that promise incredible results but the sad truth is that most of them are filled with chemicals that can do just the opposite.

Invest in superior quality natural skincare products like this Vitamin C Professional Facial Serum by Vitamium. This serum promotes healthy, glowing skin and even skin tone the natural way.

It’s a natural plant-based product containing not only vitamin C and E but also powerful active botanicals, including witch hazel, aloe vera, organic jojoba oil, botanical hyaluronic acid and MSM.

It is free from any artificial fragrance, additives and stabilizers. This product is one of the best anti-ageing serums on the market because it contains beneficial antioxidants that repair damaged skin as a result of UV rays and the hyaluronic acid increases hydration.

What’s more, if you order this product now, you can enjoy 50% off by using the coupon code NEWYEAR50 upon checkout. (This is a limited time offer, so hurry).

3. Include more Healthy Fats in Your Diet

Omega-3 fatty acids which are found in walnuts, seeds, and salmon are excellent for stabilizing your mood, preventing visible signs of ageing, lowering inflammation in the body, and maintaining healthy bone strength.

4. Practice Yoga

Yoga is the perfect body and mind workout and promotes better posture, enhanced mood, more energy, and less stress. By practising conscious yoga breathing techniques, you become more aware of the link between your mind and body. This can translate into significant anti-ageing benefits.

5. Eat Superfruits

Pomegranates provide more health benefits than any other fruits. The juice is useful for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which could in turn delay the onset of atherosclerosis which help lower the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease or certain forms of cancer. Pomegranates also provide skin protection against damage caused by harmful UV rays.

Goji berries contain five hundred times more vitamin C in weight than oranges and are also rich in carotenoids (a type of antioxidant), iron, magnesium, vitamins B1, B2, B6, and E, zinc, calcium, and 18 amino acids.

All these components assist with stimulating the release of human growth hormone that naturally improves sleep, that helps you with looking younger and boosting your immune system.

6. Drink Green Tea

Green tea has many health benefits and is known for reducing the risk of breast cancer. It also helps with the prevention of colorectal, bladder, and cancer recurrence and improves your metabolism.

Drinking just one cup a day can assist with keeping your brain sharp as well as reducing the onslaught of ageing.

Conclusion

We trust this post was informative and helpful and that you will use it as a guide to look younger the natural way.

Do you have any beauty secrets to share on how to look younger naturally?

This post was sponsored by Vitamium. All opinions are my own.

How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

Let’s face it, since the onset of the global pandemic, it’s not always been easy to stay positive. What with lockdown, social isolation, and having to use hand sanitizer and wear face masks all the time.

Yet we all have to do our bit to stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus. Because people are hurting, hospitals are packed to capacity and many of us have either battled Covid-19 ourselves or lost loved ones to the disease.

In this post, we will be sharing our tips on how to stay positive during the pandemic and remain as comfortable as possible.

Invest in Mask Ally to Make Wearing a Mask More Comfortable

Some of us who work in industries that deal with lots of walk-in customers are forced to wear masks all the time. As well as teachers and pupils, lecturers and students and everyone in the medical field.

It is often not very comfortable with your glasses fogging up, having trouble with breathing, and your lipstick clinging to your mask, not to mention your face overheating.

But, these are just some of the discomforts we have to face until the pandemic blows over.

Here’s some good news. If you have to wear a mask all day, there is a way to stay comfortable. We have come across an excellent product that can do just that.

Mask Ally is a mask holder that you wear inside your mask to create some breathing space between the mask and your face.

The Benefits of Mask Ally

- - 3D Mask holder support that allows you to breathe easier.
  - Extra room that avoids your glasses fogging up
  - Made with superior food-grade silicone that is washable, safe, and reusable
  - No more lipstick smudges in your mask
  - Prolonged mask life
  - Increased airflow prevents your face from overheating
  - Keeping your mask cleaner for longer with less contact

Mask Ally is offering a special discount. Scroll down to the end of the post for details.

Combat your Stress Levels through Relaxation

Stress can be very bad for your emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing. Stress can lead to all sorts of health effects like headaches, anxiety, fatigue, social withdrawal, chest pain, and more.

Making time for yourself to relax can assist with reducing these side effects and allow you to reboot and refocus your energy on positive thoughts.

Connect with Loved Ones

We all try to avoid social contact and opt for staying confined in our homes, but you can still connect with friends and family online. You can video chat with them on your phone or laptop and share your experiences. Sometimes all you need is to talk to your best friend or a loved one to feel better and to cope with your current situation.

Exercise Frequently

Looking after yourself and your body is essential, now more than ever. Exercise is not just beneficial for physical wellbeing but also emotional and mental wellbeing. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that help you with feeling more positive. You can go for a family walk or do stretches and exercises in the garden. Don’t forget yoga is an excellent exercise for body and mind.

Take Breaks from the News

I know it is easier said than done but reading, watching or listening to the news can be upsetting when you are reminded repeatedly of what we are facing currently.

Keep yourself informed but remember to only look for updates on the pandemic on reliable sources. Fake news can do a lot of damage and with situations like these, you are bound to come across plenty of it.

Accept what You Can and Cannot Control

There is only so much that you can do to control the situation and to remain safe. Remember to focus and acknowledge the feelings you are having and make the most of situations and safety measures that are within your control.

Conclusion

We hope that you have found this article helpful and that we have done our bit to assist you with staying more positive during the pandemic.

What’s kept you the most positive during this last rather unusual year? Feel free to share in the comments below.

This post was sponsored by Mask Ally. All opinions are my own.

Mask Ally is offering you 35% off AND free shipping via this link.

Sugars: The Good and the Bad

Posted on November 19, 2020 by admin

Description: For a long time, studies have linked the consumption of sugars to chronic and life-threatening illnesses. This doesn’t mean that all sugars are harmful. Read through this article to differentiate the good and the bad sugars.

The good sugars and bad sugars list consists of two main categories – monosaccharides and disaccharides. Monosaccharides are sugars found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Such sugars are very nutritious and healthy for the body. Disaccharides are those found in meals, cakes, and table sugars.

Thus, consuming more disaccharides creates a stream of bad sugars likely to cause chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Read below for more in-depth insights on the bad and the good sugars.

The Good

Good sugars are available in authentic and non-processed vegetables and fruits. You can train your body to consume the good kind by eating natural fruits and vegetables.

Such sweeteners have all the essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals needed for body functions. The good sweeteners in unprocessed vegetables and fruits have high water content and are very suitable for running body processes.

Consuming natural fruits and vegetables helps your body harvest the good sugars for teeth since the fibre content works well in strengthening gums and teeth. Again, good sugars for diet support metabolism and maintain a healthy cardiac and digestion system.

The Bad

The bad kinds are randomly added sweeteners to enhance the taste. These refined and high-processed sweeteners lack essential elements for body function.

The more you consume them, the harder it takes for the body to digest and convert them to energy. In such circumstances, they convert to calories and fats that settles in the adipose tissues.

The bad kind content clogs the upper respiration system, belly, and brain from the adipose tissues, which overworks the body, leading to life-threatening and chronic illnesses. So are sugars good for you? The answer is yes. Just mind, which you’re letting in your gut.

Perhaps you’re under a ketogenic diet, and this information got you worried about bad and good sugars. The good kind list comes from natural fruits and vegetables, while added sweeteners make-up the bad kind group. Thus, to maintain the ketogenic process and live a healthy life, you need to ditch the added sweeteners and replace them with agave nectar keto plus fruits and vegetables.

Bottom Line

Good sugars contain essential nutrients and are grown naturally without processing. The bad kinds are available in the local stores and are manufactured out of fruits and vegetables. Look out for the type of fruits and vegetables you consume.

Note that genetically modified foods contain added sweetener compounds to support growth, which ends up being unhealthy.

Which do you consume more, the bad sugars or the good sugars? Share your experience with the bad kind.

About the Author

Adam Reeve has been a professional personal trainer and fitness instructor for over 10 years. He is also a life coach, wellness writer, and low carb diet enthusiast.

Image Credit: Pexels

The Benefits of Emsculpt

Posted on August 12, 2020 by Lauren Kinghorn

No matter what society teaches, everyone is beautiful, and no one type of body should be deemed ‘perfect’. Feeling good is more important than looking good, which is why any beauty-enhancing procedure should be sought out for an individual’s personal self-esteem, not because of the expectation of others.

For many people, unwanted fat is a source of insecurity. Whilst exercise and following a healthy diet can massively aid towards weight loss, some stubborn areas of fat are harder to shift which is why Emsculpt, a non-invasive procedure, was developed.

What is Emsculpt?

This method aims to contour and shape the body by building muscle, reducing fat, and tightening the skin. It works through directing electromagnetic energy onto a specific area, and this forces your muscles into contracting.

Through exercise alone, it is very difficult to get the muscles to do this. As a result of these contractions, the muscle reconstructs itself and the unwanted fat in those areas begins to fade away more easily.

It is safe and has effective results

This form of body sculpting is safe and has been used by a lot of men and women for years with very little, if any, negative side effects. Like many similar procedures, Emsculpt is approved by the FDA and is therefore legal and safe for people to explore.

It is non-invasive

Unlike other fat-removal processes such as liposuction, this is a non-surgical body sculpting procedure, involving no incisions or anaesthetic. This means that patients can continue with their daily activities almost immediately after the treatment and are not required to set aside any recovery time.

It is long-lasting

This technique targets fat cells and destroys them through a series of treatments. Whilst patients may still experience weight gain if they consume an unhealthy diet and neglect exercise, it will only cause remaining fat cells to expand, not the ones which have been destroyed. The muscle gained during this procedure is not permanent, but patients will see noticeable results for at least six months, or longer, which could be prolonged through weight training and muscle-building exercises.

It looks natural

This procedure leaves patients with natural-looking results. The best results occur after a series of sessions that are spaced out one week apart.

Sessions only take 30 minutes and as the fat starts to dissolve over several weeks, patients can expect an average of 15% weight loss and 16% muscle growth in their target areas, though these results can vary from person to person.

Most people qualify for it

Almost everyone can benefit from this procedure, but it is especially effective for men and women who aren’t extremely overweight and just want to tone and shape their target areas. This is not a miracle cure for obesity, but alongside exercise and a healthy diet, it can drastically sculpt and contour a patient’s body for a leaner looking figure.

Have you got stubborn weight that’s difficult to shift? Which methods have worked for you and is Emsculpt one of them? We would love to hear about your experience. Share your weight loss journey in the comments below.

The Symptoms, Causes & Treatment of Oral Cancer

Posted on July 10, 2020 by Lauren Kinghorn

Oral or mouth cancer could form in any area of the oral cavity; under or on the tongue, the cheeks, gums, roof of the mouth and even the lips. Cancer is defined as the growth of cells that damage the surrounding tissue and it can be life-threatening if not treated, so it is very important to have regular oral examinations at your dental clinic.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

The symptoms of oral cancer include the following:

A mouth or lip sore that does not heal
A reddish patch inside the mouth
Loose teeth
A lump or growth on the inside of the mouth
Difficulty in swallowing
Earache
Dramatic weight loss
Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or a change in the pitch of the voice

If you have any of the above symptoms, you should see a dentist Varsity Lakes has, for example. If you leave elsewhere, go to the dental clinic near you. It is vitally important to get yourself checked or make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

Risk Factors for Oral Cancer

There are certain things that can increase the risk of contracting oral cancer, which include:

The use of tobacco of any kind; cigarettes, cigars, rolling tobacco, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco and even snuff
Excessive alcohol consumption
Excessive exposure of the lips to the sun
A weakened immune system

All of the above can increase the chances of contracting oral cancer, so you should make sure that you do not engage in the consumption of tobacco in any form, plus limit the number of units of alcohol that you consume. If you would like some further reading on oral cancer, there are informative articles on the topic that you can find online.

Oral Cancer Prevention

There are no proven methods to prevent the onset of oral cancer, yet you can reduce the risk if you:

Never smoke or use tobacco of any form
Only drink alcohol in moderation, if at all
Shade your face from the sun, as the lips can become cancerous due to excessive exposure to the sun

The other form of prevention is to have regular dental check-ups, at least twice a year, as this gives the dentist a chance to examine you orally, and should he or she discover symptoms, tests can be carried out in the form of a biopsy, which involves removing a tiny piece of tissue that can be tested in a laboratory.

Treatment of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer can be treated in much the same way as cancer in other parts of the body, with surgery to remove the affected tissue, or chemotherapy treatment, which kills cancer cells.

Drugs can also be prescribed, depending on the stage of development of the cancerous growth, or a combination of treatments might be recommended.

Like all forms of cancer, the earlier it is discovered, the more chance there is of successful treatment being carried out, so if you feel any discomfort in your mouth, it is best to be safe than sorry and make an appointment with your dentist.

When you make an appointment for a dental check-up, your dentist will include checks for signs of oral cancer, which will ensure that in the event you contract oral cancer, swift treatment can be carried out.

Have you ever had to battle oral cancer? Which treatment worked best for you?

This post was published in partnership with Mediabuzzer.

Featured Image Source: Unsplash 2nd Image Source: Unsplash

Your Practitioner can Recreate Your Smile after an Accident

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Lauren Kinghorn

Recreate Your Smile after an Accident

If you have been involved in an accident that has resulted in your teeth becoming damaged then it is important to seek dental advice as soon as possible to make sure that no underlying damage has been caused.

However, after you have been checked over and had the all-clear, it is important to know what options are available to you when it comes to restoring your smile to its former glory.

Your dentist in Harley Street has a range of treatments available that can help you to replace missing teeth, cover up chips, and generally make you feel confident about your smile again. Nobody should have to suffer after an accident, especially when it comes to their smile.

Has one of your teeth been chipped?

It is incredibly common for people to chip a tooth, especially if their tooth has become weakened due to not being taken care of properly.

Whatever the reason your tooth has become chipped, your dental practitioner will want to do whatever they can to help you when it comes to repairing your smile.

Chipped teeth can leave people feeling self-conscious and upset about their appearance, and if it is one of the front teeth that has been chipped it can be extremely noticeable.

Veneers
are an efficient and straightforward way of covering any chips that you may have. They attach to the surfaces of your teeth and make them appear longer or wider, depending on your needs.

You can have one veneer to cover up one chipped tooth, or you can have a whole set fitted to make all of your teeth appear even and in some cases brighter.

Veneers are made of porcelain so look and feel exactly like your original teeth, and they will hide any small gaps that you might have between your teeth too.

Knocked-out teeth can easily be replaced

Sporting injuries are one of the main causes of knocked out teeth, but thankfully there are several treatments available to replace your teeth and leave you with a completed smile instead of a broken one.

Dental implants are a popular way of replacing teeth. They can last for up to twenty years when they are taken care of properly and provide people with a natural-looking set of teeth that feel and act as their original ones did.

When you have implants you will have small titanium screws inserted into your jawbone, and these screws will be used to support your new artificial teeth.

If you only need one tooth replacing then you will only need one screw inserted, and a crown will be attached to this. The screws act as the root of your tooth, and the crown is tooth coloured, completely blending in with your remaining teeth.

If you have had more than one tooth knocked out then it is likely that a partial denture or bridge will be used to restore them.

If you are missing teeth on either side of an original tooth then a bridge will be used to replace them, whilst if you have several teeth missing in a row your practitioner will provide you with a partial denture instead.

Do you need to recreate your smile after an accident?

Thoughts about Braces in Kings Hill

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Lauren Kinghorn

The word ‘orthodontic’ means ‘to straighten teeth’ which is exactly what braces in Kings Hill aim to do whilst restoring the function and aesthetic appearance of the teeth.

Orthodontics is a form of dentistry which has been around for many years, that works to rectify dental aberrations using various types of different braces to realign the teeth within the mouth in a variety of ways.

Aside from readjusting the position of the teeth within the mouth, orthodontics can also be used to address gaps in the teeth, as well as realign the jaw, resulting in a healthier mouth overall.

Are braces right for you?

Braces may be suitable for individuals who are suffering from overcrowded teeth, crooked teeth, or an overbite (front protrusion of the teeth).

Despite the common misconception, braces are not only suitable for younger individuals or teenagers but are also commonly used by adults.

The word ‘orthodontics’ may trigger an image of traditional metal braces within the mind, however, there are now many discreet forms of orthodontics within the modern field of dentistry.

How do braces work?

All forms of orthodontics differ greatly in the way they work, however, they all strive for the same end result: a straighter, and therefore a happier smile.

In terms of traditional metal braces
which can be used to treat more severe overbites, these work by using a combination of both metal brackets and wires, to apply pressure on the teeth. In order to encourage the teeth to move into the desired position, the orthodontic wires are tightened regularly, gradually moving the teeth into a better place.

Looking for a more discreet option?

Despite traditional metal braces producing undeniably effective results, some patients may be reluctant to receive obvious dental work.

Adults who are looking at receiving braces may look towards more subtle options, as they may feel as if obvious orthodontics may cause them hindrance in their career, or social life.

Aside from adults, clear aligners may be suitable for a wide array of dental cases, even individuals who have previously received braces, and need a ‘freshen up’ (they may have failed to maintain their results using retainers).

How do clear aligners work?

Clear aligners (arguably the largest brand provider being Invisalign) work by slowly adjusting the position of the teeth within the mouth. The transparent plastic trays are replaced every few weeks, allowing the teeth to reach their desired position.

Clear aligners are transparent plastic trays which are moulded perfectly to enhance a patient’s individual smile, they have risen dramatically in terms of their popularity in recent years, due to their invisible appearance.

The Invisalign process

During an initial consultation, a patient will work with their dentist to distinguish whether Invisalign is right for them. Once a dentist has approved a patient for the treatment, the initial impressions can be taken, and the process can begin.

Invisalign has produced thousands of happy smiles nationwide, however they may only be suitable for patients who are not suffering from severe overbites and overcrowding.

How often does Invisalign have to be worn?

It is suggested that Invisalign should only be removed for eating and cleaning, therefore patients should be wearing them all day and night. Despite this recommendation, aligners are removable, meaning they have a degree of flexibility which patients greatly appreciate.

Do you have any thoughts about braces in Kings Hill? Share them in the comments below.

What is an Hygienist in Richmond?

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Lauren Kinghorn

A dental hygienist in Richmond (also commonly referred to as an oral hygienist) is a dental healthcare professional who specialises in both educating patients in dental hygiene and in deep cleaning of the teeth and gums.

Dental hygienists are dental professionals who are registered with a dental association within their country of practice.

Dental hygienists are specialists in detecting and preventing gingivitis and periodontal disease which cause bad breath, tooth loss, and staining of the teeth.

Gingivitis often goes undetected due to the fact that it is painless, however, it can cause problems later, and therefore needs to be treated.

What do hygienists do?

Dental hygienists
have received either a bachelor degree or the equivalent in dental hygiene, ensuring they are fully qualified to deliver treatment.

Dental hygienists work either independently, or alongside standard dentists to ensure a patient’s hygiene is of a good standard. In terms of the treatments they provide, dental hygienists strive to prevent and treat oral diseases and infections.

Dental education

One of the key roles of a dental hygienist is dental education. Hygienists educate patients on the correct way to brush their teeth, floss, or use mouthwash, in order to further prevent the build-up of plaque, and tartar.

Aside from cleaning, dentists may also advise patients on certain lifestyle factors, such as diet, smoking, and the consumption of highly pigmented food and drink.

What to expect from a dental hygiene appointment?

During a dental hygiene appointment, patients can expect to receive many thorough cleaning treatments. Arguably the most common treatment is the removal of plaque and calculus that can build up on the surface and the bottom of the teeth.

Aside from the removal of plaque, dentists may also suggest a treatment to remove staining on the teeth. The teeth are initially polished and then treated using pholyatic, antimicrobial materials, resulting in cleaner teeth and a healthier smile.

Step by step

Patients who feel anxious about receiving dental hygiene treatments may feel more comfortable knowing what to expect from their appointment.

Initially, a hygienist will assess the overall dental area, highlighting any possible risk factors and the severity of plaque on the teeth.

Once the dental area has been examined, a scale and polish may be administered, this is a rigorous cleaning treatment which uses a special dental paste.

Nearing the end of the dental appointment, a hygienist may give advice regarding the patient’s hygiene routine, one example of this may be the correct way to use interdental brushes.

The life benefits of visiting a dental hygienist

Many patients who are recommended to a hygienist may be sceptical, however, hygiene appointments are always worthwhile.

A dental hygiene appointment can not only drastically reduce the chances of developing gum disease and the risk of tooth loss, but can also reduce the risk of cavities, and bad breath.

A personalised treatment plan

Patients who have dental implants, bridges, dentures, or braces, may feel as if they do not require a dental hygienist appointment, although this is not necessarily the case.

Patients with forms of restorative dentistry or orthodontics may be advised on a unique dental hygiene routine, in order to take care of their artificial fixtures (such as implants) and their natural teeth.

We trust we covered all aspects of your question, what is an hygienist in Richmond.

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