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.
Community News
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.
Working Together to Meet Needs
The winter months can be difficult for all of us, with shorter, wetter days and finances still stretched from the holidays. When you don’t have enough money to feed yourself and your family or pay bills for basic necessities, it becomes unbearable. Your donation to the SOS Winter Emergency Fund helps residents in need with groceries, propane, prescription medications and other basic supports. To learn more and to donate, visit our website or come by our Community Services Centre in Parksville.
Literacy and Health
Most people, when they hear the word “literacy” think of reading and writing. What other skills are needed to navigate our world? We need to be able to work with numbers and use computers or cell phones to manage our money. What about being able to read medicine label instructions or understand health information from your doctor? This is known as “health literacy”. Health literacy can also include finding and using health information and services on the internet. And knowing whether or not that information is accurate. By increasing your health literacy, your health and wellness will improve.
The Journey to Better Hearing
Recognizing the signs of hearing loss in yourself can be difficult, and taking steps to address hearing loss can be even harder. Many individuals with hearing loss delay treatment 7-10 years and are often not sure how to seek assistance. With the right steps, creating a treatment plan can be simple.
Don’t Wait – Have Your Hearing Assessed
Once you start to notice signs of hearing loss, the first step is to obtain a hearing assessment. You can do this by contacting a local hearing health professional or obtaining a referral from your primary care physician.
During the hearing assessment, the clinician will determine your lifestyle and communication needs as well as the type and degree of hearing loss present. If a medical condition is identified a referral will be made to the appropriate health professional.
Hearing Aid Selection & Fitting
If hearing aids are recommended, the clinician will work with you to find the right product that will meet your hearing and lifestyle needs. A trial period with the chosen hearing aid is an important part of the process, as it provides you time to adjust to the hearing aids so you are able to assess the benefit accurately. It can sometimes take multiple visits to the clinic to have the hearing aids adjusted. It is important to establish a trusted relationship with your hearing health professional as hearing aids require ongoing maintenance and at a minimum should be checked annually.
NexGen Hearing offers free hearing tests and hearing aid consultations, hearing aid fittings, leasing options and sales. Book an appointment at one of our 45+ clinics in the BC Interior, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island by clicking here or calling 1-877-606-6671
Keep Betting in Perspective
March Madness (NCAA Basketball) is one of the biggest sports betting events across North America. According to a study at AmericanGaming.org reported on 888Gambler.org, in 2019, 47M Americans gambled on March Madness, with an estimated $8.5B wagered. More than 40M participants filled in over 149M brackets, with 18M Americans wagering about $3.9B on sportsbooks alone. And these are strictly American statistics. In Canada, online sports betting was recently legalized (August 2021), however, 3rd party apps abound, offering sports betting enthusiasts many opportunities and types of gambling. Keep sports betting fun and in perspective. Don’t let a game you can’t control, control you.
Be Aware of Scams
Most of us believe that we would never fall victim to a scam. Unfortunately, the scammers are good and so convincing that it happens to many people every year. Here are some tips: *Never give anyone permission to log in to your computer, whether in person or via phone. *If someone calls saying they are a family member in peril, always tell them you will call them right back! *The Canada Revenue Agency will never call you to ask for back taxes. Do not give the caller any information; hang up immediately. *Never pay a fine or penalty with Gift Cards. *If in doubt, call the non-emergency police number and ask for advice.
Medication and Supplement Review
Do you take a number of prescription medications along with over-the counter health supplements? Combining certain medications and supplements can cause medications to become ineffective and the combinations may even be harmful to your health. Many people do not have a good understanding of the medications that they have been prescribed, the supplements that they take or their possible harmful interactions. Your Personal Pharmacist can sit down with you to review your medications and supplements, answer any questions you may have and make sure you are getting the most out of your medication.
Benefits of a New Fitness Routine
There are many benefits to starting a new fitness routine – better mood, better sleep, and better mental and physical health to name a few. Additional benefits include many pain-free years of playing with your children and grandchildren and a capable, strong body to last a lifetime. A fitness routine should be as routine as brushing your teeth every day. If you only count the costs, you are always going to be where you are right now. Count the benefits! Not sure where to start? That’s where we come in. Book a free consult today!
