Healthy Living - Parenting Healthy

How To Get Kids Enthusiastic About Dental Hygiene

There’s great news in the dental sphere for parents and kids alike: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that fewer kids have cavities! The latest statistics compiled show that around 43% of kids aged two to 19 have cavities, down 50 per cent from four years previously. Of course, as far as kids are concerned, any cavity is superfluous. The pain and anxiety associated with tooth decay can be avoided by ensuring that kids are motivated to stick to their dental routine. Follow these tips and your kids will be flashing their pearly whites for many years to come.

Finding the causes of tooth decay in children

Before building a tooth hygiene strategy, it is vital to be aware of most common culprits, which include consuming a diet that is high in refined sugar (including cookies, pasta, and bread), sharing utensils with others (since bacteria can be passed on), and failing to clean teeth regularly. Getting kids used to a healthy, Mediterranean-style diet comprising lean protein, Omega-3-rich fats, and plenty of seasonal fruits and vegetables, will seriously reduce the likelihood of decay. Moreover, this type of nutritional regime will help them stay at a healthy weight and hopefully be the start of a healthy relationship with food throughout their lifetime. Get kids excited about nutrition by using informative apps. Teach them to look for ingredients such as fructose, partially hydrogenated oil, or additives when you go shopping, and have fun in the kitchen by encouraging kids to help you prepare meals.

Pre-tooth hygiene

A child’s routine should start early, even before they grow any teeth! Parents should pass a clean, warm, wet cloth over the gum area to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria. You can also use gauze for this purpose, wrapping this material around your pointer finger and rubbing it along the gum at least once a day. If your child is teething, use cold water, which will help soothe the pain. Once your child starts on solid foods, repeat this step after each meal. As teeth begin to come through, you should use a toothpaste made for your children, brushing twice a day. Be particularly thorough with the back molars, which tend to be the first teeth to develop cavities.

Professional dental visits are key

The standard time at which children are advised to see a dentist is six months after the eruption of the first tooth. Dentists will ensure you are cleaning your child’s teeth correctly, and let you know if they have particular fluoride needs. Your dentist will look at your child’s teeth, jaw, bite, and gum health, to identify any potential issues. Sometimes, the removal of tartar or plaque buildup will be required, in which case gentle cleaning will be recommended by your dentist. Parents should also know that emergency dental services are available, should their child need it. In other words, do take your child to the dentist in case of an emergency – don’t put it off, as it will help you avoid future complications. In a normal case scenario however, kids should see the dentist every six months, though more visits may be required if orthodontics or other treatments are required.

Getting children excited about dental hygiene

In order to motivate kids, it is important to get them excited about brushing their teeth. There are electric toothbrushes such as the Philips Sonicare for kids, which come with colorful, fun apps that ‘accompany kids’ during brushing, showing them the angle at which to place their toothbrush and encouraging them to stay on each tooth for the right amount of time. These toothbrushes also have fun features such as stickers, bright colors, and other ways for children to personalize their toothbrush.

Making it a fun experience

The best way to teach children the importance of a healthy diet and dental hygiene is by setting a good example. Add a bit of fun to the process by brushing your teeth alongside your child. Use music or dance to create your own special ‘routine’. Soon, kids will see brushing as a highlight of their day. When they are old enough to use floss, encourage this habit, as a way to keep cavities at bay.

To ensure that kids brush their teeth regularly, ensure they visit a good dentist, adopt a regular brushing routine, and add a few fun ingredients into the equation. Having a beautiful, cavity-free smile is vital when it comes to being self-confident. Empower your kids to smile from ear to ear throughout their lifetime, both at work and in social settings.

Thoughtful Ideas, Gestures, and Small Gifts For Him

April 20, 2022April 20, 2022 Erin Sluka

The falling in love part of a relationship is simple. The tricky part is keeping it going. That takes effort, energy, consistency, communication, compromise, nurturing, continual thoughtfulness, and it goes on.

A thriving, strong partnership is nothing to take lightly. If you’re creative with your romantic gestures, always ensuring to keep your partner guessing, the flame will flourish.

Each person will be different in displaying love and a caring attitude. It’s important to allow uniqueness from one person to the next and recognize any expression, small or large, as significant and contributing to overall success. Learn what men found as the most romantic thing a woman has ever done for them.

Let’s look at some thoughtful gestures, gifts, and ideas for the man in your life.

The important thing is that there is mutual satisfaction and needs are met. Each person should feel special from thoughtful expressions, gestures, or even small gifts not only when there’s an occasion or a milestone but in the off-time when a feeling strikes.

In order to show thoughtful gestures of affection for the man in your life, so he understands how much he means, you need to do something he would least expect, that would be difficult to forget.

As long as you can keep him guessing, the partnership won’t become dull, nor will the spark fade. View here for guidance on small gestures that have a major impact. Check out a few thoughtful expressions and small gifts for him.

Love messages

The day-to-day can become hectic with little opportunity to interact except maybe the typical “good morning” and sometimes “good night” (if there aren’t late hours), and usually, these are via text when you’re dating. Often seeing the other person is something reserved for weekends.

A good way to surprise a boyfriend with thoughtfulness is to use a post-it pad to paste love notes in conspicuous places throughout the apartment.

An example could be on his pillow attached to a flower you picked, on the counter in the kitchen with a small batch of cookies you baked, little gestures to make him smile and that he won’t forget.

Favorite meal

The adage is the “fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” You can buy his favorites from almost any restaurant or make one of the foods that he likes of yours, or you could get a little creative.

For most men, there’s nothing like a home-cooked meal from mom. As a partner, a genuinely thoughtful gift for your boyfriend would be to reach out to your his mom to learn his favorite dish, the recipe, and how to prepare it.

A suggestion is to practice once or twice before making the dish for real. When you’re ready, invite your partner over for the spread with the table set beautifully, the lights dimmed, candles lit, and music on. When you reveal the dish, watch his mouth drop, and you can beam as he enjoys every savory bite.

Surprise party

When your boyfriend lets you know that he was the one selected for a promotion that he’s been striving for in his career, you know there needs to be a celebration aside from merely praising him for his accomplishments.

The ideal thoughtful gesture is to reach out to colleagues and any close friends or family nearby for a surprise party in his honor.

There’s no more fitting expression of happiness for the person you love or a way to congratulate a partner than to do so with a celebration surrounded by those he admires and those he cares for.

It’s also considerate to find a small token to commemorate his achievement. It doesn’t have to cost much , but perhaps find a starfish along the beach to represent his star status in the company.

Final Thought

Thoughtfulness comes in many forms. It doesn’t have to be a huge, over-the-top gesture. In reality, when you think of thoughtfulness, what comes to mind is subtlety, albeit something unforgettable.

These are usually not gifts or at least not something that you would commercialize or spend money on (at least not a lot). Typically these are expressions or gestures that carry meaning and intent, a thought that the person will always remember, that keeps your relationship thriving.

Healthy Living

How to Eat Healthier and Cheaper at Work

March 30, 2022March 30, 2022 Erin Sluka

Many people have goals of eating differently at work. Sometimes, they wish to eat healthier. Other times, they are working to save money. Regardless of the reason, they want to stop hitting the drive-thru.

However, when you’re at work and lunchtime is finally on the horizon, you’re starving and just want something tasty to eat. Even if you packed a nice, healthy sandwich and salad, you might be tempted to forego it in favor of a thick, juicy burger.

The good news is that you can eat delicious food at work without spoiling your diet, your health, or your budget. Take a look at the following tips to get started.

Find Some Inspiration

A thick turkey sandwich can be absolutely delicious, but not if you have to eat it every single day. If you’re going to brown-bag your lunch, it’s important to find some new foods that you’ll love.

Start by looking up tasty lunch recipes. You can find some easy recipes for things like Taco Salad in a Jar, Muffin Tin Lasagna, Quesadillas, Tuna Melts, and much more.

Make a Plan

After you’ve found some recipes you want to try, make a menu for your workweek. Then, make a grocery list so you can be sure you have all of your ingredients on hand.

If you have children, you might want to pick up some extra ingredients. You could make enough of your new favorite recipes to send with them to school, making your school mornings a little easier.

Also, be sure while you’re at the store to pick up any storage bags, bowls, and utensils you might need. The more you have on hand, the easier this task will be.

Take Time to Prepare

Here is the part that can make or break your lunch menu: preparation. It’s easier to start this over the weekend or on other days off if you work on weekends.

Take out your menu and recipes. Spend some time cooking any meat, storing it, and freezing it. Also, chop up any vegetables, mix up dry ingredients, roll out any dough – anything you can prepare ahead of time is best handled during your off time.

The night before work, check your menu again. Take out any prepared ingredients and put everything together in your lunch bag. Store what needs to stay cold in the refrigerator and leave other items lying neatly on the counter. In the morning, you’ll simply need to grab it all and walk out the door.

Another good tip is to invest in a slow cooker if you don’t have one. There are many soups and other dishes that you can set to cook all day or overnight. This is great for nice, healthy lunches, but you can use it for dinner, too. Imagine throwing one meal into the slow cooker, feeding your family that night, and taking the rest for lunch the next day. This is a great way to simplify an entire day of eating.

Healthy Living

Different Medical Problems That Prevent People From Driving Cars

March 14, 2022March 14, 2022 Erin Sluka

Has somebody close to you recently been diagnosed with medical problems that prevents them from being able to drive an automobile? Many different reasons make it unsafe for people to drive a car. Because operating a vehicle requires a certain amount of decision-making skills, attentiveness, motor skills, and vision, people who have conditions that impair these processes should no longer get behind the wheel. Some people are born with certain ailments that make it impossible to ever begin driving from adolescence. Luckily, many areas have transportation services for individuals who can’t drive themselves places. Many various problems inhibit an individual’s ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Psychiatric Conditions

When a person has been diagnosed with a psychiatric illness that limits their ability to make rational decisions, then it should be in question whether or not this person can drive a car. If someone has a condition that alters the decision-making process, then it could affect driving in a negative way. Usually, only extreme mental health conditions prevent people from being able to operate a car.

Vision Impairments

When people lose their vision past a certain point, then they no longer can see well enough to drive. When you go into the motor vehicle office to get your license, you are given a series of brief vision tests. Unfortunately, when people have vision conditions that make them fail these tests, they can no longer carry a license to drive. This is not only for their own safety but for the safety of the others on the road as well.

Physical Disabilities

Although modern technology allows many people to live full lives after experiencing situations like amputation, sometimes physical disabilities can affect a person’s ability to drive. Some types of palsies make it hard for a person to move their limbs correctly, which could affect operating a vehicle. When a person is completely paralyzed, they can use voice controls to do some things, but it’s not enough to drive.

Heart Problems

Many people who have just suffered a heart attack or have undergone major heart surgery are usually advised not to get behind the wheel until cleared by a doctor. This is because when the heart has gone through major trauma, the risk of having another heart attack is incredibly high. If you are prone to sudden severe chest pains, this can blur your vision and make you feel confused. People also blackout during a heart attack which would have lethal consequences if it happened to a driver while the car was in motion.

Developmental Disabilities

Certain developmental disabilities make it unsafe for a person to operate a vehicle or other heavy machinery. Usually, these conditions are diagnosed at birth. Some people with developmental disabilities can drive if their disorder is very mild.

A variety of different disorders have an influence on driving safely. Operating a car requires a lot of responsibility, stress, and the ability to think and act quickly. Leaving the driving to someone else is usually the best option.