An oral health exam is critical to the maintenance of your overall wellbeing. You should have your mouth checked at least once a year for prevention and treatment of any ailments. Even if you don’t have any live teeth, it’s important to make sure there are no signs of infections or early signs of cancer, growths, or cysts, and that your dentures are fitting you well. Leaving problems untreated usually leads to pain, periodontal disease, or tooth loss, and could make treatment more difficult, so it’s best to deal with problems early, or, if possible, prevent them.

Did you know hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used around the globe by world-class athletes and celebrities like LeBron James, Tom Brady, Justin Bieber, Floyd Mayweather, and Keanu Reeves for its improved healing effects? By increasing stem cell circulation, lowering inflammation, and decreasing recovery times, HBOT helps athletes stay on top of their game longer than ever. Others often take advantage of this therapy because it increases their collagen, improves their skin’s condition, and increases their metabolism, helping them to stay fit and trim. This affordable treatment can also improve brain function and help with sleep to improve daily life.

Digestion, blood pumping through our veins, and breathing are just a few of the functional rhythms inside us that we rely upon to live. When we are unwell, we sometimes say that we are feeling ‘out of sorts’ or ‘out of sync’; it is a bit like losing one’s rhythm. We know when we have found it again because we feel more ‘in the groove’. Music therapy can be helpful in re-discovering that intrinsic rhythm when retrieving it ourselves is a struggle (as with mood and social cognitive disorders; rehabilitation from brain injury, stroke, or heart attack; cerebral palsy; Huntington’s disease; etc.).

Proper functioning of our skin cells is the foundation of healthy skin, and healthy skin is beautiful skin! As our outermost defence layer, our skin is susceptible to damage: scars caused by acne and burns, stretch marks, hyperpigmentation, and of course wrinkles and fine lines. Micro-needling reduces wrinkles, pore size, and acne scars by treating the root of this damage. During a treatment, special micro-needles are used to create thousands of micro lesions in the dermis, and this stimulates growth factors that induce collagen and elastin production in the skin, improving the function of the cells and thus the texture and appearance!

The outer ear can benefit from a good cleaning now and then but in most cases, there is no need to clean the ear canal with a cotton swab. During showers, enough water enters the ear canal to loosen any wax. The skin in your ear canal grows in an outward, spiral pattern. As it sloughs off, ear wax goes with it. Someone with heavy wax build-up may need a trip to the doctor. If you think wax could be affecting your hearing, contact your hearing professional. They can assess the situation by looking inside your ear with an otoscope and suggest your best course of action.

Being able to say no sometimes is an important adult skill. Asserting yourself is helpful for personal growth — but not always easy! Sometimes we can be afraid to threaten our relationships by saying what we want or need. It can be hard to find the confidence to rock the boat a bit, and harder to practice those skills. But setting boundaries in relationships gives you the space to be yourself — plus better well-being and health, and better ability to connect in ways you want. Finding confidence, the right phrase, good support, and then practicing are all helpful. Counselling can give you a neutral, safe place to work this out.

To make these delicious and nutritious energy balls, you will need: 8 soft pitted medjool dates (soak in water if need to soften), 1 cup Fatso Peanut Butter, 1 C wheat/gluten-free oats, 1 C almond flour , 2 TBSP dried cranberries and/or raspberries.

Blend first 4 ingredients in food processor until combined.
If too sticky add more almond flour, if too dry add a bit of water.

Roll into balls and refrigerate for up to a week or freeze if desired.

Are you having problems in your relationships? Are you wondering if it’s you? When we have been hurt, it can be really hard to take chances again. Being open to others is vulnerable! We can get anxious and lose out on great connection. But protecting ourselves from others too much can interfere with a great life. Sometimes we need help figuring out how to open up to people – and what reasonable boundaries to set. Counselling is a safe and neutral place to work this out.

Mary Munro, MaryMunro.ca