April is Oral Health Month! Here are five tips for maintaining good oral health: 1) Make healthy food choices and limit sugary and highly acidic foods to avoid tooth decay and acid erosion. 2) Don’t smoke or use tobacco products, which can stain teeth, cause gum damage, give you bad breath, cause tooth loss, and even lead to oral cancer. 3) Brush twice and floss once daily. 4) Make note of any oral issues you have, including sensitivity, bleeding, pain, or strange lumps. 5) Visit your dentist regularly. We now offer VELScope Oral Cancer Screening in our practice. The exam takes about 2 minutes and is completely safe and painless.
Community News
Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Conditions
Do you suffer from a nagging injury like tennis elbow, achilles tendonitis, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff injuries or plantar fasciitis? Shockwave therapy is one of the best research-backed treatments for chronic musculoskeletal conditions that have not healed properly. It involves the application of acoustic sound waves to kick-start healing, control pain, and restore mobility. Often patients will feel relief after their first treatment and can expect more significant and lasting changes within 3-5 applications. Shockwave Therapy coupled with Class IV Laser Therapy is evidence based and the gold standard in tendon healing.
Ask The Expert
Q: My husband insists he has good vision because of all the carrots he is fond of eating. Is there any truth to this? A: Nutrition is important for eye health, but there is much more to vision than that. If you’re worried about your husband’s vision, urge him to get tested. A standard test will measure his visual acuity, focusing, and general eye health, amongst other things. Carrot consumption does not guarantee good vision in anyone! If your husband does need vision correction, Mosaic Vision Care offers hundreds of innovative and eye-catching styles of frames to choose from.
Amazing Health Benefits
Amazing Health Benefits
Signature Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOO) are an excellent source of Biophenols, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, phytosterols, as well as vitamins K and E. They also have a high percentage of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that helps protect the heart. Add Signature Balsamic Vinegars to your meals for extra antioxidants, as well as iron, potassium, and manganese. They help to reduce hardening of the arteries, aid mineral absorption for better bone health, as well as stabilize blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Experience over 20 high-quality flavours at Signature Oil and Vinegar in Comox. For more detailed benefits visit SignatureWineCellars.ca
Remember 1-4-2
Have you heard of Canada’s Low-Risk Gambling Guidelines (#LRGG)? Guideline 1: Gamble no more than 1% of household income, e.g.: $60,000 annual gross income = $50/month. Guideline 2: Gamble no more than 4 days per month = roughly once a week. Guideline 3: Avoid regularly gambling at more than 2 types of games, including lotteries, sports betting, table games, slot machines, scratch tickets, horse racing, bingo, video lottery terminals (VLTs), and online gambling. Mental health & addictions, gambling type and reasons for gambling can make these guidelines difficult to follow. Reach out to VI Gaming Support! We’re here for you.
Local Business Spotlight
MOTION – Making life accessible for our community through mobility & home accessibility solutions. MOTION offers a wide range of life-changing equipment to make life accessible such as power lift recliners (lift-out chairs), walkers, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, adjustable beds, bathroom safety items, stairlifts, ceiling lifts, and more for clients of all ages. Whether a client is being fitted for equipment for the first time, needs an equipment repair or rental, or is looking to upgrade their solution, Motion’s knowledgeable team of experts is ready to deliver real solutions with real impacts. Because MOTION isn’t a place, it’s a partnership.
Brain Teaser Answers
1. Teeth. 2. One is roaring with pain; the other is pouring with rain.
3. He wanted to transcend dental medication!
Kiss Your Bad Breath Goodbye
Everyone gets bad breath from time to time – but bad breath that doesn’t go away could mean you have an oral health issue. The most common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene, other causes can include dry mouth, and certain medications. When you don’t brush your natural teeth and/or dentures regularly, this can cause plaque and tartar to form on your teeth(both natural and false). If you’re struggling with bad breath that doesn’t go away, it’s important to see your denturist. They will be able to evaluate your oral health and determine what steps to take next.
Anger’s Purpose
Anger’s main purpose tells you your boundaries have been crossed! Something was said or happened that needs to shift, change or stop. Discovering the un-met need under the anger, helps you to feel more understood and allows the layers of grief, hurt, and loss to emerge. Once you discover your unmet need(s), you then have the power to do something about it. Sometimes that means withdrawing and pulling back, creating new boundaries, speaking your truth or expressing your desires and needs clearly. Finding a productive way to express and diffuse your anger by journaling, boxing, or dancing is essential. Holding onto anger is toxic on our bodies and creates havoc, ill-ness and a bitterness that pushes people away…so release and let go as a gift of kindness to yourself.
Stimulate Your Brain with Change
Create change. Your brain will love you for it. Take charge of things you can change. Invite little changes into your life daily. It feels good and it will keep your neurons firing. Change stimulates your brain by providing new experiences. The change increases brain activity and builds networks of connections. Just small everyday changes will stimulate your brain. Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand, put your opposite leg in your pants first, rearrange things in your living room, drive a different way on a regular route, or try a new recipe. Keep your brain active and neurons firing.
Puzzles for a Strong Mind
Puzzling is a mental workout that stimulates both sides of the brain. Studies have shown that jigsaw puzzles can help improve visual-spatial reasoning, short-term memory and problem-solving skills, as well as reduce the rate of cognitive decline and dementia. It can help improve your mood by boosting dopamine production. Puzzling helps reinforce connections between brain cells, improving mental speed and thought processes. Engaging yourself in puzzle-making can serve as an exercise in mindfulness and help relieve stress. Puzzles are a great way to exercise the small muscles in fingers and eyes especially for those with arthritis or who have experienced a stroke.
