When adjusting to new dentures you may notice minor differences in your speech. Lisping or whistling is not unusual. It may take a week or two to adjust, but natural speech will return with practice. Speaking in front of a mirror and reading aloud are excellent exercises to speed up progress. Swallowing before speaking will help to secure the denture in place. Staying hydrated is important as you may experience a dry mouth, which can inhibit proper suction and your denture may drop when speaking. If the problem is chronic, your denturist may be able to make other recommendations.
Balancing Your Blood Sugar Levels
Balancing blood sugar levels through diet is essential for overall health and managing conditions like diabetes. Here are some dietary tips to help achieve optimal blood sugar balance: 1. Choose complex carbohydrates: Opt for whole grains, legumes, and vegetables, which provide fiber and slow down glucose absorption. 2. Include lean proteins: Incorporate sources like poultry, fish, tofu, and beans, as they promote satiety and stabilize blood sugar levels. 3. Eat healthy fats: Incorporate sources like avocados, nuts, and olive oil to help slow digestion and prevent spikes in blood sugar. 4. Control portion sizes: Be mindful of portion sizes to avoid excessive carbohydrate intake. 5. Limit sugary foods and beverages: Minimize consumption of sugary snacks, desserts, and sugary drinks. 6. Regular meal timings: Stick to regular meal timings to maintain consistent blood sugar levels. 7. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Why Should I get a Bone Density Test?
A risk factor assessment is an important first step in alerting you to your risk for osteoporosis. However, it is not a scientific way to predict whether your bones will become porous. Many people who develop osteoporosis have only a few of the risk factors. This is why medical testing is so important. The tests are known as Bone Mineral Density (BMD) tests and are completely safe, painless, and accurate. A BMD test can tell you whether or not you have osteoporosis and how likely you are to develop it in the future, helping you make decisions that may prevent fractures or further bone loss.
Acupuncture & Cognitive Decline
Acupuncture has shown promising potential in addressing cognitive decline. By improving cerebral blood flow, it enhances oxygen delivery and reduces stress hormones like cortisol while increasing serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine—specifically linked to memory. Acupuncture also promotes cholinergic and dopaminergic neural transmission, facilitates neurotrophin signaling and nerve growth factor, and protects cerebral neurons from apoptosis and oxidative damage. Furthermore, it regulates glucose metabolism, suppresses acetylcholinesterase, and decreases levels of amyloid beta proteins in the brain regions associated with cognitive decline. Research suggests that combining acupuncture with drug therapy may be more beneficial for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease than drug therapy alone, highlighting its complementary role in Western medicine.
Avoid Summer Food Poisoning
Foodborne illness peaks in the summer, as more people are cooking outside without the safety controls of a kitchen. Symptoms of food poisoning typically include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. The severity and duration of symptoms vary depending on the type and amount of contaminated food ingested. Common causes of food poisoning include improper food handling, inadequate cooking, cross-contamination, and consuming expired or spoiled food. It is essential to practice good hygiene, proper food storage, thorough cooking, and regular handwashing to prevent foodborne illnesses. If food poisoning is suspected, seeking medical attention, staying hydrated, and resting are crucial for recovery and avoiding complications.
Don’t Fear Fats!
Eating healthy fats is essential for overall well-being. Healthy fats provide a range of benefits for the body, including supporting brain function, promoting heart health, and aiding nutrient absorption. They are a rich source of energy, help maintain healthy skin and hair, and assist in hormone production. Incorporating foods like avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and fatty fish into your diet can increase your intake of these beneficial fats. However, it’s important to consume them in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Remember, not all fats are created equal, and opting for healthy fats can contribute to a healthier, more nourished body.
Gum Disease While Wearing Dentures?
Dentures are a common solution for individuals with missing teeth, providing functional and aesthetic benefits. However, it’s important to remember that wearing dentures does not eliminate the risk of gum disease. In fact, improper denture care can contribute to gum problems. Gum disease can manifest as redness, swelling, and bleeding gums. When plaque and bacteria accumulate on dentures or denture-supporting tissues, it can lead to inflammation and infection. To prevent gum disease, it’s crucial to maintain proper oral hygiene by cleaning dentures thoroughly, letting your gums rest, and brushing the gums and tongue. Good oral care ensures a healthy smile, whether you have natural teeth or dentures.
What is Vibroacoustic Therapy?
Vibroacoustic therapy, a unique form of treatment, combines the benefits of sound and vibration to promote relaxation and healing. By delivering low-frequency vibrations through specialized equipment, it stimulates the body’s sensory receptors and encourages a deep sense of relaxation. The vibrations have been found to reduce muscle tension, alleviate pain, and improve circulation. This therapy also utilizes soothing music or sound frequencies to enhance the therapeutic experience. It has shown promise in various conditions, including stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and sleep disorders. Vibroacoustic therapy offers a non-invasive and drug-free approach to wellness, harnessing the power of sound and vibration to promote physical and mental well-being.
Consistency and Caregiving
Consistency is important when it comes to caregiving for a variety of reasons, including: 1) Developing trust – Your loved one will see the same face each time and get to know their caregiver. 2) Facilitating communication – Good communication between family and caregivers is essential to doing what’s best for your loved one. 3) Reducing accidents – Avoiding medication mishaps, etc. 4) Being aware of health changes – Recognizing what’s normal and not normal for your loved one. 5) Preventing scheduling conflicts – Knowing you won’t have to step in unexpectedly. 6) Providing peace of mind – Helping everyone feel good about home care.
7 Days of Self-Care
Self-care refers to any activity we do purposefully to take care of ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. On July 24 each year, people celebrate Self-Care Day – but any time is a great time to start practicing self-care. Why not try seven days of self-care to create new, healthy habits? Day 1: Unplug from technology for the day. Day 2: Declutter your physical space and mind. Day 3: Nourish yourself with food, water, sleep, and exercise. Day 4: Create something with your hands. Day 5: Listen to your feelings. Day 6: Express yourself to others. Day 7: Explore something new!
2 Essential Ways to Empower Relationships
Wanting to strengthen your relationships? Allow them to feel cherished and thought of often. By reaching out and telling them what you really enjoy and like about them, it makes them feel appreciated. Taking someone for granted leads to complacency and dulls the relationship connection. Everyone wants to be seen, acknowledged and celebrated even if they don’t say so. Most of us are conflict avoidant, so having a clearing model that is easy to use when differences arise is necessary to help work things through. Taking full ownership of our feelings, naming the specific behaviors that upset us and asking for what you need instead of blaming or becoming defensive is a game changer. Every relationship at some point needs to clear resentment or misunderstandings, when you can do it quickly and efficiently, they don’t build up.