Community News
Smoking and Wearing Dentures?

We know that smoking can have a variety of negative effects on our health, but do you know how smoking can affect denture wearers or those with dental implants specifically? If you have dental implants and are also a smoker, your risk of dental implant failure increases. Smoking can also put you at greater risk for infection when having dental implants fitted. Healing time after any type of dental surgery is increased in smokers, since nicotine constricts your arteries and reduces blood flow to your gums. Finally, smoking can accelerate the bone loss that normally comes with losing your teeth.

Microchip Your Pet!

A simple procedure can save a lot of heartache. Your veterinarian can inject a microchip — the size of a grain of rice — beneath the surface of your pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. It’s almost instantaneous, but it contains contact information so that if you and your pet ever become separated, a shelter or veterinarian will easily be able to reunite you. Being separated from their owner, especially if lost in a strange environment, is traumatizing for an animal. Get your pet microchipped – then be sure to keep the information up-to-date if you move or change your phone number.

Scheduling Regular Dental Appointments

Keeping your mouth healthy can benefit your overall well-being, so regular visits to the dentist every six months are important. Having regular dental checkups can help prevent smaller problems from becoming bigger ones, and can keep your smile looking its best. Besides taking care of plaque and tartar, dental hygiene appointments also ensure you’re being checked for things like cavities, oral cancer, gum disease, and any abnormalities with your neck, jaw, or lymph nodes. Most health insurance plans cover regular dental hygiene appointments, making it easy for you to get the dental care you need and keep your mouth healthy!

Maintain a Healthy Bathroom

Bathrooms can be full of germs and bacteria, so besides cleaning weekly, it’s important to do a deep clean once a month. Because bacteria in bathrooms can cover all surfaces and spread quickly, cleaning regularly with antibacterial products can help ensure you avoid any illnesses or infections that can be caused by stomach and bacterial viruses. Mould is also a concern in bathrooms and can cause respiratory problems, as well as chronic health problems long-term. Keep these potential issues at bay by giving your bathroom a monthly deep clean, or call a cleaning service for a bit of extra help!

Overnight In-Home Care

If you or a loved one require in-home care, you know that the need for a caregiver doesn’t always end in the evening. Expertly trained caregivers can provide overnight care in your home, staying with you or your loved one to ensure any needs are met the way they are with daytime care. Overnight care can include things like administering medication, assisting with bathroom breaks, and moving positions in bed. Overnight care can be tailored to the specific needs of yourself or your loved one to help keep you or them comfortable at home, no matter the time of day.

Ultherapy

Ultherapy® introduces an effective, non-invasive alternative to surgery for a lift of the skin on the neck, jawline or brow. Harnessing the power of ultrasonic energy, Ultherapy® reaches deeply into the dermis to stimulate collagen production without the use of knives, needles, or fillers! Designed to treat skin laxity, this advanced ultrasound device delivers energy into the foundational layers of the skin to help promote the development of beautiful, natural-looking skin from the inside out without harming the surrounding or surface level tissue. From a single treatment, skin lifts and firms for improved skin tone and youthful definition

Naturopathic Medicine for Hot Flashes

Every woman will undergo menopause, but not all will experience hot flashes (the sudden warm feeling that can sometimes cause sweating or blushing). One theory on why this is the case points to changing estrogen levels in the body during menopause. Working with a naturopathic doctor can help you determine whether your hormones are at healthy levels. Other ways to avoid or manage hot flashes can include: 1) Managing stress through meditation, yoga, or counselling. 2) Getting enough sleep and exercise. 3) Improving liver and digestive system function. 4) Working to improve the function and health of your adrenal glands.

The Beauty of Aloe

The best beauty tools often come from nature! Using aloe vera as a skin care treatment has many benefits. It’s long been used to help relieve and heal sunburn by acting as a protective layer and replenishing moisture. Its antioxidant and nutritional properties are excellent for healing purposes. These attributes also make it a great everyday moisturizer, especially for those with oily skin. Men can use aloe vera after shaving to treat small cuts and soothe facial skin. Aloe vera’s ability to reduce inflammation is also useful to treat acne and signs of aging, as well as stretch marks.

Smell The Roses!

Spring is in the air! Wouldn’t it be great if you could smell it? Studies show that smokers lose some of their ability to smell. That can make life a lot less pleasurable. If you lose your sense of smell, you can’t appreciate the scent of spring flowers or freshly mowed lawn. Eating becomes a lot less rewarding too, since aroma contributes a great deal to the flavor of food. Life could even become more dangerous, since you may be less able to detect the odor of a gas leak or a house fire. There is some good news, however: Quit smoking and your sense of smell quickly returns.

Healthy Cake Batter Energy Bites

These fun energy bites the perfect snack for after school!
Ingredients: 1/2 c unsweetened shredded coconut, 1 c pitted dates, 1/4 c sunflower seeds, pinch sea salt, 2 tsp maple syrup, 1 scoop vanilla whey protein, 2-1/2 tbsp rainbow sprinkles.
Directions: Process coconut in food processor for 5 minutes, scraping down sides. Add dates, process until crumbly. Add sunflower seeds, sea salt, maple syrup and whey protein. Process until ball is formed.
Add in sprinkles and pulse to combine. Roll into 18 balls and store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for longer storage. ENJOY!

The Power of Touch

There are approximately 5 million touch receptors in your skin and 3000 on the tip of your finger. Whenever we get touched or when we receive a massage, our body releases endorphins that are natural pain-killers. Massage not only helps us relax, but it also gives our immune system a boost! Receiving a 45-minute massage has been found to increase the number of white blood cells that help defend the body from disease. Do you suffer from sleep problems? 60 minutes of massage have the same effect on your body as 7 to 8 hours of good sleep. The antidote to a stressful day or health ailments could lie right at our fingertips.