What Causes Cavities And How To Prevent Them

Cavities can be a real pain in the teeth. They’re a common health problem worldwide, people of any age can get them, they’re difficult to completely avoid, and some people have teeth that are just prone to getting them, now matter how much sugar they avoid. But what exactly causes cavities, and can anything be done to prevent them?

 
Cavities are small holes in the teeth that form where there are weakened areas in the hard surfaces of the teeth. This tooth decay and damage can happen for several reasons.These include improper or insufficient cleaning routines, sugary drinks and snacks, bacteria in the mouth, and poor-quality tooth enamel. Cavities that are left alone continue to enlarge and deepen and the decay will reach into the deeper layers of the gumline and nerves. Infection and tooth loss are entirely possible.

Avoid sugar and starches

Sugar and starches cause plaque to form, and plaque that sticks around can harden into tartar, which creates a protective shield for bacteria. Acids in plaque dissolve minerals in the hard enamel layer and holes form. The bacteria and acid continuethrough and eat into the layer of dentin, which connects to the nerves of the teeth. Tooth pain could be an indicator that a cavity is present. Further damage occurs when the bacteria moves through to the pulp, where nerves and blood vessels reside. This is when more serious pain and toothaches start.

Your local professionals like Hawthorne Village Dental Care should be visited regularly to find and care for cavities. Affected teeth can be cleaned and fillings put in to stop the growth of the cavity and prevent a new one from forming at that site. Your dentist and dental hygienist can help with tips for preventing cavities. This includes proper brushing and flossing, plus professional cleaning and rinses, regularly.

Increased risk factors for cavities include eating food that sticks to the teeth like

• candy
• desserts
• ice cream
• honey
• soda
• chips
• and crackers

Plus sipping on sugary drinks sees a constant stream of sugar washing over your pearly whites. It’s important to brush and floss regularly to remove the starch, sugar, and debris that form plaque, and to get rid of the plaque already there. Teeth that are hard to reach at the back get cavities most often. If you’re not getting enough fluoride from your toothpaste, from your city’s drinking water, or through treatments at the dentist, this can also lead to decay.

Heartburn, Heartbreak

Acid from heartburn can affect tooth enamel. Having a dry mouth can lead to more damage because saliva, and components within it, can’t clear debris and plaque away. Old fillings and damage caused by teeth grinding can also create spaces for bacteria to grow.

Other ways besides brushing and flossing that can help with prevention is visiting the dentist regularly; rinsing your mouth with mouthwash that contains fluoride; dental sealants that can be professionally applied to the chewing surface of teeth; drinking from the public water supply and not bottled water; avoiding snacking on sugars and starches and to brush teeth after consuming these foods; antibacterial treatments; and chewing on prescription gum.

Ask your dentist about these options and which they recommend for your personal situation.  

This is a guest blog entry.

Everything You Need to Know About Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine combines modern Western medical practices and understandings and combines it with alternative therapies such a stress-reduction techniques, supplements, herbal medicine and acupuncture. Integrative medicine encourages people to question their health and the clinical nature of therapies in the context of wellness (not sickness) which empowers people to be active participants in their own health. As a wellness-driven medicine, integrative medicine does not look at issues in the context of treating patients, but in the context of treating issues.

All throughout recent history, medicine has focused on treating the symptoms rather than treating the patient who is being affected by an illness or ailment. Whilst this form of medicine is sometimes successful, it isn’t always so. For example, in emergencies, western medicine is more of a quick fix that doesn’t always get to the root of the actual problem being complained of. Because the individual is ignored, and it is the symptoms which are given all the attention and treatment, the patient does not get 100% better and will likely find themselves back in hospital.

How Does Integrative Medicine Work?

Our human bodies are complex machines which intertwine different systems so that we can function. Integrative medicine looks at the various factors which impact how these systems work, or don’t work, in each person and takes an individualized approach to providing treatment. Integrative medicine recognizes that what is right for one patient is not necessarily right for another. There are several factors which need to be considered such as lifestyle factors and health history, for example, and providing a blanket approach to treatment like western medicine tends to do is not always going to provide the most optimum results.

The overall success of integrative medicine is very dependent on there being an open relationship between healthcare practitioners and patients. And, in-order to treat a patient properly, healthcare practitioners must know everything there is to know about a patient such as health history, diet and lifestyle. This is known as patient-centered care.

What is Patient-Centered Care?

In short, patient-centered care is an idea practiced by most healthcare practitioners who subscribe to integrative medicine. Patient-centered care is the very core of integrative medicine and it is all about making sure that the patient is put first, beyond anything else. The practitioner makes sure that the patient is provided with everything they need in addition to traditional western medical practices in-order to make a quick and full recovery where there won’t be a high chance of recourse. By putting the patient first, it is not just the illness which is treated but the entire mind, body and spirit all at the same time.

In the U.S., recent legislative changes in the arena of healthcare have elevated integrative medicine by openly stating how important it is for healthcare practitioners to focus on all healthcare options available, not just clinical medicine. To this effect, many healthcare practitioners now take a more holistic and integrative medical approach to their treatments.

In addition to the above, employers have begun to align their healthcare premiums with the relative health and wellness of their employees. This creates accountability for health - if you aren’t healthy, you will pay more - and helps to complement patient-centered care. Integrative medicine can be supplemented with Integrative Therapeutics products which are created with integrative medicine practices in mind. Integrative Therapeutics are widely recognized as the leading provider of integrative medicine and their range of supplemental products are often provided during their treatment programs. They are conveniently available to buy through Blue Sky Vitamin.

3 Ways Integrative Medicine Benefits Patients

1. It Targets the Root of an Illness

The medical community widely understands integrative medicine to get to the root of problems rather than just slap on a quick fix, and the current trend within medicine is to “treat the person” rather than “treat the symptoms.” Rather than simply addressing a current problem, integrative medicine looks towards the root of the problem and doesn’t just treat symptoms, but teaches the patient how to change their habits or practices which caused the problem in the first place. In the long-term, this is very effective and keeps people out of hospitals.

2. It Addresses Chronic Problems

Integrative medicine is fantastic for people who suffer from long-term chronic problems which are difficult to treat. Because doctors need to spend a longer amount of time with patients suffering from chronic issues so that they are able to fully understand what is going on, integrative medicine naturally fits in with its “treat the individual” approach. In an age where many medical appointments last no longer than 15 minutes or so, personalized approaches and attention to patients is an infinitely effective approach. Patients who have chronic issues suffer for longer because traditional medicine has not figured out how to address the underlying problem. Because integrative medicine works to bring the whole body into better balance, it results in the clearing up of symptoms much quicker.

3. It Ensures Patients Are Personally Cared For

Integrated medicine looks at the entire picture rather than symptoms alone, so doctors need to spend a lot more time with patients in-order to get to the root of a problem. Also, patients who get to spend more time with their medical practitioners naturally feel better about the treatment they are receiving, and this can, in some cases, speed up the healing process which can easily be slowed down by stress, anxiety and an unwillingness to undergo certain treatments. Remember, integrative medicine is not concerned with getting rid of symptoms, it is concerned with addressing the causes of your symptoms so that they go away and don’t return.

Should I Consider Integrative Medicine?

It’s all down to you and what your own medical practitioner thinks - after all, we are not all health experts. That being said, if you are suffering from a problem and want to get to the root of it, especially if it is a chronic problem which is persistent and is not going away despite your doctors’ best efforts, then it could be the right thing for you.

Although Western medicine in many cases does work with its approach of delivering drugs and treatment regimens which treat the symptoms, this isn’t always the case. With integrative medicine and supplements, you are getting treatments and products that work by fighting the root cause of an ailment, illness or chronic condition. By fighting the root cause, you are able to banish the symptoms and stop them from returning.

Think of it like pulling weeds out from your garden. If you completely remove the entire weed from the ground by uprooting it, it won’t come back. However, if you merely pull the leaves but leave the roots there, it will rear its ugly head again. Medicine works in the same way.

Whilst integrative medicine is a relatively new idea, there has been a lot of research which has demonstrated it to be a serious modern medical practice and it has even found its way into law. Medical professionals are beginning to appreciate the importance of not only treating the symptoms, but treating the patient, too.

This is a guest blog entry.

The Hidden Question of Help and Harm With Daily Use of Antiperspirants

It's important to stay up to date on news reports regarding potential health risks. But the modern news cycle often moves a little too fast for the public good. Today the major news outlets are constantly in search of sensationalistic stories. This is in large part why it often seems like foods that are reported as healthy one day are called unhealthy the next.

Many science and medical reporters are quick to extrapolate from a single suggestive study. That kind of quick reporting simply doesn’t work well with medicine. Instead, one needs to carefully consider long-term studies and real-world use.

This cycle of concern tends to repeat itself over and over again. The best way to escape it is by taking control and carefully examining the claims. This is also why it’s time to examine our culture’s use of antiperspirants. It's one of the most recent examples of public health concerns. But the only way to know if antiperspirants are harmful or harmless is to take a more careful look at the evidence.

It's actually fairly straightforward to give an answer to someone asking the question is antiperspirant bad? But people should understand why that’s the case. Otherwise, it’s easy for that cycle of misinformation to continue. Antiperspirant is totally harmless and poses no significant risks to one's health. But understanding why people think it’s bad, and why that’s not the case, can help inform future decisions.

As a recent story showed, most people will readily adopt sound methods to improve their health. But to do so they need to see how medical information is spread.

How misconceptions arise

The bulk of people’s concerns over antiperspirants stem from scientific sources. But the larger issue is that people seldom come at them from the actual source of that information. In theory, the proper method of reporting involves medical or scientific journals.

A reporter discovers some interesting work within his or her field of interest. The next step is to wait for that study to undergo a process called peer review. A researcher submits the study to relevant scholarly journals. At that point, experts go over the study to look for problems. The most common reasons for rejection involve experimental design.

A study has to be carefully designed to prove one specific point. This process involves reduction of any complicating variables. Along with this a study usually concludes with a general analysis of the data in order to provide a conclusion. This is the other main point of contention during the submission and peer review process. It’s quite common for the journal’s staff of experts to disagree with the conclusion stated in the article. Researchers are like anyone else. They tend to hope for big results from their work. This unconscious bias can make even the best-intentioned people reach the wrong conclusions.

The big problem stems from the fact that reporters often sidestep this process. They talk to researchers before the peer review phase. As such, they’re often extrapolating from flawed data. The researchers and reporters mean well. But the result is confusion amid the public.

Other possible causes

Another issue comes from factual information which is incorrectly extrapolated by the public. With antiperspirant, this took form with fears regarding aluminum chloride. People assume that unwanted or toxic substances are purged from the body via sweat. And reasoning from that foundation, they feared anything which inhibited sweating could cause absorbed material to stay in one’s system instead of coming out through sweat.

In the case of antiperspirants, they feared aluminum chloride would enter from the application and then stay trapped in the body. In reality though, this simply shows people’s incorrect assumptions about biology. Humans only excrete water and electrolytes when they sweat. The liver serves a dedicated function of processing potentially toxic substances and then excreting it within urine.

That said, the idea that antiperspirant would even enter into the circulatory system and leapfrog to the nearest large mass of tissue is improbable at best. The world is full of dust, dirt, and debris. And the human body is quite good at keeping foreign substances from absorption. Otherwise, every pet owner would have their dog or cat’s hair swimming around in their veins.

A proper focus on health and antiperspirants

As the New York Times recently pointed out, exercise is the closest thing we have to a wonder drug. People tend to focus so much on unfounded rumors about negative health effects that they neglect positive proven research.

An antiperspirant isn't unhealthy. By itself, it's totally neutral. It's neither healthy or unhealthy. But it can serve as a tool to make workouts more fun and social. Which makes antiperspirants a fantastic tool for overall positive health.

This is a blog post by Nancy Evans.

10 Common Mistakes That Damage the Knees

Life moves fast and doesn’t always give you much time to pause and think about the treatment of your knees. Unfortunately, if your knees do decide that they’ve had enough, then ultimately, life will be paused and the injury will be the only thing you can think about.

The best way to prevent this knee trauma is to regularly evaluate your daily choices and then rectify any errors accordingly. Learn about 10 common mistakes people make with their knees and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Not Exercising Enough
One of the most common causes of any physical injury is a lack of activity. If you’re spending all day sitting down at your desk or lying on your couch, then your knees will get used to this lazy lifestyle and they will slowly weaken as a result. Avoid this at all costs, even if you only go for a short walk every day.

2. Exercising Too Much
On the other side of the exercise argument is when you push your knees too hard. If you’re increasing your workout load, do so gradually, being very cautious of any unfamiliar movements and then taking the necessary time to rest afterward. Life is all about moderation and this includes exercise too.

3. Smoking
Which parts of your body are not being damaged by smoking? Can you think of any? Cigarettes increase your carbon monoxide levels while depriving your entire being of its required oxygen intake, and this includes your knees. In fact, tests show that smokers with arthritis lose substantially more cartilage than those who don’t.

4. Ignoring Pains
There is no value in panicking about every creak from your knees, but do take note of these sensations. If a pain persists or escalates, then get some rest and speak to a medical professional immediately. Remember, the sooner you repair any damage, the better your chance of full recovery is. Following your doctor's orders, some compression for the knee area may also be a good idea while you carefully approach low impact exercises to maintain your joint mobility.

5. Not Stretching
As any athlete will tell you, stretching the body is an imperative part of the process to step out of harm’s way. Without these motions, the muscles may be stiff and this makes them very vulnerable to potential injury. However, stretching is not only limited to intense exercises, and should also be performed whenever you’re about to play some sport, go on a hike, or have simply been sitting at your desk for too long.

6. Wearing the Wrong Shoes
Feet are all different, hence why it doesn’t make sense to nonchalantly pick up a shoe based on its appearance. Always get your footwear fitted properly by a professional, paying close attention to comfort and the arch support. It’s also worth mentioning that you should always wear the correct shoe for your intended action. If you’re running, then wear running shoes. If you’re hiking, then wear hiking shoes. If you’re not, then don’t.

7. Lifting Heavy Objects
When lifting heavy objects, it is important to leave your spine out of the equation and rather bend your knees, meeting the item on the floor then raising it from that position. However, this is not some miracle foolproof solution, and if you lift beyond your capability or repetitively perform these movements, your knees could develop some serious troubles. Know your limits and don’t be too proud to ask for help.

8. Being Overweight
Unfortunately, any excess of weight will force unnecessary pressure on your frame, and your knee joints are going to take the brunt of this stress. But when your knees are already under threat, how are you expected to lose those pounds? A good start would be to participate in low impact activities (such as swimming or cycling) while keeping a strict eye on your diet.

9. Eating Incorrectly
Weight issues aside, there are also certain foods (such as refined carbs or those sugary temptations) which are inflammatory, meaning that they may cause your knee joints to swell up. For this reason (and many other reasons) cut back on the junk food and dairy while stocking up on more vegetables, fruits, and omega-3s

10. Tripping and Falling
It goes without saying that most people would never trip and fall on purpose. However, it’s the sequence of events leading up to these incidents which are often the individual’s fault. Make it your mission to always maintain a clear path from any side of your house to the other by removing loose rugs, electrical wires, and clutter while also mopping up any spills as soon as they happen.

This is a guest blog entry.

Six Tips for Choosing A Personal Injury Lawyer

Whether you are driving to Chicago for your work, checking out a mall to shop, or even just consuming a commercial product, you can become injured because of the actions of other parties.

This is why, without the ideal attorney, injured victims can have a difficult time getting the compensation they should get to. Getting a good lawyer therefore may be easier said than done, since a lot of lawyers are out there.

In case you want to get in touch with personal injury law firms, feel free as they can help you complete such cases.

Here are some tips before you get a personal injury lawyer.

Check Out the Lawyer’s Past Experience

You should look for an attorney who has experience in similar case before. You can also check out state and county bar associations that can provide you with leads when it comes to local lawyers who may have experience or knowledge in various cases of personal injury, including negligence, wrongful death, malpractice, and libel, among other cases.

Seek a Meeting with the Lawyer

It is crucial that you meet the lawyer before you begin your personal injury case. If you decide to skip the initial meeting, there may be problems with the case you are pursuing, as well as the settlement you want to pursue.

Right Questions Should Be Asked

In your initial meeting with the lawyer, it is better to ask various questions to make sure both parties are clear with the goals and end-results of the case.

For instance, how much will the lawyer receive for the lawsuit? Are there other payment plans? Can he or she handle such a case, and when will the case most likely end?

You might want to also check out the record of the lawyer or law firm he or she represents in such cases.

Do Not Forget to Research

Even after you have finished your initial meeting with the lawyer, it is crucial that you should continue your research of all lawyers before the court makes any final decision.

Be wary of lawyers who merely want to go after police accident reports, file court filings, or media attention.

Guarding Your Lawsuit

In most cases, personal injury cases can be settled out of court. Therefore, it is possible you can get a settlement without the need for you to file a lawsuit.

A legitimate personal injury complaint can help you respond to information from the medical facility or hospital and avoid the need to file a lawsuit.

Given the importance of this decision, it makes sense to talk to several firms or individuals before making a decision.

Be sure to ask about the attorney's experience with your specific type of claim, and whether he or she will be personally handling your case.

Personal Injury Cases May Take Time

An injury victim of course would want to check on the cost of the case. This is where a good and idealistic lawyer comes in.

People are going to chose a law firm if it has what it takes to pursue a personal injury case. In that case, it is always better to chose an experienced legal expert who is knowledgeable about the issue at hand, helping you with the issue as you go along.

Filing a medical malpractice case does not have be difficult, since there are so many guidelines to help you.

This is a guest blog entry.

How to Pursue a Medical Malpractice Case in Indiana: The Basics

You live in Indiana and your son needs an emergency appendectomy. The doctor from the nearby hospital tells you the procedure is going to be smooth and quick. A week later, the doctor looks at the x-rays; it turns out the surgeon that conducted the appendectomy left a small razor inside the abdomen of your son. Now it is causing some infection.

Now the surgeon wants to take out the infected parts of your son’s body and which means he has to stay at home for a month for his body to recover. For this extra surgery, who will pay for it? What about your son missing school or even you from work since you have to attend to his needs? Can your son recover from the pain he has been forced to go through because of the incompetence of the surgeon? Here are some tips to help you. You may also want to seek an Indianapolis medical malpractice law firm to fully help you.

Check the time limits

First, when did your son have the operation? The personal injury lawsuit should be filed within two years during the incident.  Statute of limitations eliminates a plaintiff’s ability to recover compensation if too much time has already passed since the incident. This is to prevent patients with old injuries from suing hospitals or medical facilities long after a treatment or operation happened, when witnesses and even medical records may have already disappeared.

Who Are You Going to Sue?

You can start begin by suing the health care professional who caused the injury. But sometimes, lawyers will include many defendants from the hospital, or even the hospital itself, to possibly maximize the settlement you would get.

The medical facility can be liable under a doctrine called “respondeat superior”.  This means that an employer, in this case a hospital, should be held responsible for any action of its personnel or staff who is performing his or her duties being an employee. The hospital can also be sued using the doctrine of “corporate negligence”. For instance, if the facility fails to review employees for their proper credentials, or keep sanitary conditions, or if a patient gets discharged improperly.

You can also sue a pharmaceutical firm for a product liability lawsuit if it manufactured a medicine that has unreasonably adverse side effects of which you are not notified. This also applies to a firm that manufactured or designed a defective or poor medical device.
 
Preparing a Lawsuit

The personal injury lawsuit starts when you lodge a complaint before the local courthouse.
Your complaint should contain details about the incident that caused the injury, identities of the parties that are involved in the incident, and why compensation is needed.

It may also be a good idea to get an experienced lawyer who is an expert when it comes to personal injury cases.

Many medical malpractice lawyers can work with you on a contingency fee basis. This means the lawyer is only going to be paid a portion of the settlement that you receive. In short, the lawyer does not have to be paid until your case wins.

Medical Negligence Suit

In order for you to win in your lawsuit, you must be able to effectively show that the conduct of the health care professional did not meet the standards of medical care, and that this problem led to your injuries.

This means you should get an expert witness who can better articulate the standards when it comes to medical care and explain the shortcomings of the doctor or health care professional.

Estimating Your Damages

The crux of your lawsuit should focus on the financial losses or economic damages as a result of the injury. These include the costs as a result of what happened, medical bills, as well as the loss potential income because you are unable to go to work.

This is a guest blog entry.

4 Natural Ways to Significantly Improve Health

You have probably heard about the phrase, “the best things in life are free.” Well, this is actually true when it comes to quality time with family and friends. What is more, there is a bunch of ways to save money even if you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle.  It may not be easy at first, but the benefits it will provide later are unmatched.

Be More Active and Try Exercise

Exercise is one of the best ways to achieve a healthier lifestyle, especially since it offers dozens of health benefits. Still, do not see it as a magic bullet whatsoever. You can go for a brisk walk for half an hour a day, which should be enough to dramatically reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, heart, and other leading killers.

Keep in mind, too, that a lifetime of regular exercise can improve your brain function, meaning that you will become more active and independent. This allows you to be mindful at all times in any given spaces/areas.  If your cognitive functioning works well, you are aware of your surroundings and this prevents the possibility of hurting someone. Besides, compensation for the victim’s estate can be financially challenging.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

This one is definitely easier said than done. Believe it or not, obesity rates significantly climbed over the past five years. In fact, not a single state in the country saw a decline.

Sure, it is difficult to either lose weight or keep it off. Still, studies show that when you start to lose weight, your health improves dramatically. If you have a normal weight, make sure to maintain it. You can do so by consuming calories and exercising as often as you can. A healthy diet also comes with the abundance of fruits and vegetables, among many others. A perfect way for you to shed some calories from your diet is through drinking water instead of sugary beverages. The latter accounts for more and more calories in the American diet.

Quit Smoking

This is a no-brainer but many people do not follow it. In case you didn’t know, lung cancer is still the number one leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Add to this the fact that in between 80% and 90% of cases of lung cancer, smoking is reportedly the leading cause.

There is good news, though. That is, smoking rates are starting to fall in the U.S. Well, this is thanks to a good number of new nicotine replacement therapies. This could be anything from patches to nasal sprays. It only means that quitting has become a lot easier than before.

According to a recent analysis, nicotine replacements have the potential to double the odds that smokers will eventually quit. New medications are all about helping smokers kick the habit for good.

Find Joy From Friends or Families

Enjoying life and maintaining a circle of supportive friends can make a huge impact to your overall health. It is really is true that friendships may be second only to quit smoking, so you can prevent the possibility of heart attack. But as far as people with extensive social networks are concerned, they are very likely to have calcification in the arteries. The latter is pretty much a sign of heart disease risk.

Another effective way to increase your happiness is to surround yourselves with cheerful friends. Believe it or not, a person like you is likely to be happy if a close contact is happy.

Now is the perfect time to start living a healthy lifestyle. Not tomorrow but today.

This is a guest blog entry.