Tips for Visiting Your Dental Office After Lockdown

Tips for Visiting Your Dental Office After Lockdown

Keeping up your smile is crucial to keeping up your physical health. It’s so important that it’s recommended that you visit your dentist every six months instead of whenever something comes up that requires an emergency visit. When you visit your dentist regularly, you’re doing preventative care.

Proactive Care

Just because you don’t have an immediate issue, that does not mean that you do not need to see a dentist. Your dentist will check your mouth for cancer as well as head and neck cancer. They will check you for any abnormal lumps on your head or neck and check for any red or white patches in the mouth. Doing these simple checks will catch any concerning issues before they become larger problems.

Regular check-ups with your dentist are also a great way to get feedback on your at-home dental care. They will be able to show you the proper way to care for your teeth in between teeth cleanings. If you are considering starting teeth whitening, they can tell you the best option for you.

Overall, visiting your dentist on a regular basis is great preventative care. They will catch problems before they become out of control. They can even give you advice about whatever your specific needs are. With that being said, you cannot let the current times deter you from looking after your oral health. If you’re worried about visiting your dental office, whether you go to TLC Dental or a family dentist you have known all your life, here are some tips for vising your dental office after lockdown and what you should expect.

Arrival Changes

Typically when you arrive to your dentist office, you show your insurance card and sign in. Now the process may be a little different. It may require some extra steps. All dental practices, no matter where you live, have to make sure that you’re feeling well enough to come into the office. You can expect to be contacted before you walk in to make sure that you are not showing any signs of COVID-19.

When it comes to making appointments or just showing up to your dentist office without an appointment, those days are long gone. Typically patients will have to call the office to schedule appointments. If you don’t have an appointment, you likely won’t be able to come into the office. They’re trying to limit the number of people in any given area at the dentists’ office, particularly in the waiting room.

Waiting Room Changes

Speaking of the waiting room, there are many changes to be made in this area too. A staff member at the reception may request to check your temperature, making sure that you do not have a fever. You can expect it to either be from an ear thermometer or those gun thermometers that can scan your forehead to check your temperature. You can also expect to have your hands sanitized upon your arrival.

Just like your trips to the grocery store, there may also be a protective barrier separating you and the receptionist. In some offices, you may be asked to wear a face mask along with shoe covers. They may also ask you to put your personal belongings in a clean bag to help reduce any accidental contamination of the virus. The waiting room will be modified to abide by the 6-foot social distancing rule, and you may not see as many people in the waiting room.

Dental Team Workflow Changes

You can rest assured that most dental offices will be well ventilated, meaning you do not have to worry about breathing in recycled air that may be contaminated with the virus. Do not be alarmed if your dentist is also wearing personal protective equipment like a face mask, face shield and gloves. You may or may not be able to spit in the sink, so you can expect to have your saliva suctioned out instead. There may also be some changes to where certain procedures are performed. For those that create high levels of spray, it may be done in a completely different room. There may be longer wait times in the waiting room because any non-emergency procedures will be prioritized under patients that need immediate assistance. Because they are making sure to clean the area thoroughly after each patient, the extra wait time in between patients may also be due to that. Rest assured that they have come up with smart techniques and best practices to reduce the spread of the virus, even in their dental office.

Tips to Help You Sleep Through the Night

Tips to Help You Sleep Through the Night

Getting a good night’s rest is imperative to staying happy and healthy. When you do not get enough sleep, it shows up in other areas of your body. It could negatively affect your hormones, exercise performance as well as how well your brain functions. Not getting enough sleep could also impact your weight. If you are finding it difficult to stay asleep during the night, or if you find yourself going to bed really late night after night, here are some sleep tips that can help you sleep through the night.

More Bright Light Exposure During The Day

When you expose yourself to natural, bright light during the day, it will help balance your body’s natural rhythm also known as your circadian rhythm. This rhythm helps you stay awake during the day and tells your body when it is time to go to sleep at night. More bright light during the day will keep your rhythm healthy, improves your daytime energy and improves your nighttime sleep quality. It can also help you sleep longer during the night. Make sure you get some natural daylight and if that is not possible consider artificial bright lights.

Reduce Blue Light Exposure At Night

Another way to help you sleep through the night is to reduce your blue light exposure at night. Blue lights come from things like your cell phone and computer. Your electronic devices are not the only emitter of blue light, but it emits the most. There are a few things you can do to reduce your blue light exposure. First, consider wearing blue light glasses at night. Next, there are also apps you can download onto your computer or smartphone that block blue light on your laptop, computer or your mobile devices. Lastly at least two hours before you to go to bed, you should not watch TV and turn off any bright lights.

Avoid Late Coffee Breaks

Caffeine has many benefits, but having caffeine too late in the day can wreck your plans of trying to have a good night’s rest. Caffeine excites your nervous system, preventing your body from fully relaxing at night when it is time to go to sleep. Keep in mind that caffeine can stay in your system anywhere between six to eight hours. With this in mind, it is recommended that you should not drink coffee anytime after 3-4 p.m.

Avoid Long Naps

If possible, try not to take long naps. You should also avoid irregular naps. Remember your circadian rhythm? It is a very delicate system that should not be disturbed. If you sleep during the day, this confuses your internal clock. When night time comes around, your body may not be ready for bed even though you are tired. If you take regular naps, this is different as napping regularly typically does not impact your quality of sleep at night. 

Sleep On A Schedule

When you go to sleep in a semi-fixed schedule, your body will start to expect when to get sleepy. It is recommended that you try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. It may be tempting to stay up late and sleeping in on the weekends, but that could be hurting your quality of sleep during the week.

How to Influence Good Vibes in Life

How to Influence Good Vibes in Life

Life is too short to be unhappy, right? However, it does have it’s challenges, and we’re only human at the end of the day. Whether we realize it or not though, we can influence the path our lives take. What we do on a daily basis could help to brighten our days in a variety of ways. Whether it’s manifesting a job promotion to finding peace within oneself, we can be cultivate joy. Here are some helpful tips on how to influence good vibes in your life.

Be Kind To Yourself

When did you last congratulate yourself for doing something incredible? Even if it was just waking up and getting out of bed in the morning, these can be successes. The reality is, we don’t do enough for ourselves when it comes to spreading positivity. If anything, we’re our own worst critic and enemy. That’s something that only you can control. No one else can control this.

When you’re trying to promote a more positive outlook, it starts from within. Start practicing that kindness where you can and figure out where you might be lacking that. Pause in those moments of success to give yourself a pat on the back. Don’t ignore those moments and treat them as if nothing significant has happened. We’re very quick to critique ourselves when we aren’t succeeding or even if we’re doing well but not quite where we think we need to be. Try to squash those thoughts and replace them with kinder words and a more positive attitude to everything you do, whether you succeed or fail at it.

Use Positive Words

Positive words can help when you’re trying to find motivation for what’s happening in your life. We all have the potential to achieve anything that we put our minds to. Sometimes, it’s just a case of being good to ourselves and also inspiring ourselves through positive words. Words are powerful. Words can create strong emotions. So when you’re struggling with something, give yourself a pep talk. When you’re self-assessing yourself for work or filling in a bio on your social media, look for positive words to describe your personality and traits. Avoid using negative words when you’re talking about yourself. The world already has enough negativity. Why add to it? Instead, replace it with positivity.

Consider A Mantra

A mantra is something you repeat to yourself often. A mantra can get you into a routine, especially if it’s inspiring. They come in various forms, including physical objects. The meaning of mantra beads is worth knowing, as it’s something you might want to try out for yourself. When thinking up a mantra, it can be something you say to yourself in the mirror every morning or last thing at night. You can write it down, say it out loud, or speak it in your mind. Whatever it is, make sure you repeat this mantra for as long as you can until it becomes true for you.

Smile More

Smiling releases endorphins that make you feel good inside. If you feel good, you project that positivity out into the world. Not only does it benefit you, but it also benefits other people to look at life a little more positively at times. Smiling is better than frowning. Often, we fake our way to feeling better by smiling and ‘putting on a brave face’. Finding happiness can be challenging in life, as life tends to throw a lot of obstacles our way. However, if we all smiled more, the world would certainly be a happier place in general. Smiling on the inside is the most important part of all this. To do this, find things that make you happy. Avoid doing those things that make you sad. If that means cutting certain elements out of your life, including people, then do it for the sake of your happiness.

Surround Yourself By Positive People

Positive people are the best type of people to be around. In life, you always want to have people who are going to lift you up. Anyone who wants to bring you down, whether intentionally or not, is not worth having in your life. We all like to feel valued and we all like to hear praise and support from others. The more you can create a core family and friendship group or circle, the better your life is going to be. Influencing positivity is important, and in a way, that attracts the right type of people towards you too. Don’t be afraid of letting go of the past. And if there are toxic people in your life, then maybe it’s time you took a step back from them. Friendships can change, you can outgrow them, or they can end up becoming too harmful for you and your well-being. Continue to surround yourself with positive people, and you’ll surely thrive.

Be A Goal-Setter

A goal-setter is someone who is driven. When you’re setting goals, you’re working towards something substantial, and that’s important in life. It can be hard enough to feel like you need to meet expectations set out by others, but really it’s all about what you set yourself. Start thinking about the things you want to achieve in life instead and focus on you. Look at the goals you’d like to achieve over the course of the year and work on making them happen. By ticking off your goals, it becomes a very satisfying task. So set as many goals as you feel is necessary.

Good vibes in life are all any of us want. So use these tips to make sure you’re putting out that positive energy daily.

How to Maintain Work-Life Balance

How to Maintain Work-Life Balance

The twenty-first-century woman has to juggle a lot. Although men and women both hold demanding jobs, society still demands that women play more roles than ever. According to the US Department of Labor, women represent 47% of American workers. This dynamic causes many women to feel pressured due to society’s expectations. But there are innovative ways to cope. Are you interested in how you can maintain an optimal work-life balance? Here are four points for you to consider.

Keep a planner for more work-life balance

Many career women advise that keeping a planner helps you outline all the necessary tasks during the week, both at home and work. Your planner prevents you from being overwhelmed with stress because it makes you aware of tasks ahead. You can get a diary or use the Notes or Calendar App on your phone to schedule personal and professional events. As a result, you will remain updated with meetings, birthdays, deadlines, date nights, etc., to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and improve your well-being.

Get your priorities straight

Many career women admit that the conflicting demands of their work and personal lives always question their priorities. It is crucial to set clear goals to give yourself direction in your personal and professional life. Outline what you aim to achieve and where you hope to be in the coming years. If your priorities lean towards a strong career, pursue it passionately. You need not allow childbearing to get in your way. If you want children later on, you can freeze your eggs to preserve them. Consider using the services of the Advanced Fertility Center to help you make timely future decisions freely.

Make a distinction between work and private life

Experts advise that you draw a fine line between your work engagements and your personal life’s demands, to prevent them from becoming too intertwined. You can achieve this by making your home a getaway from your career rigors. When you are at work, maintain a professional outlook by not receiving calls from home or texting family members, unless it’s an emergency. When at home, don’t receive calls from work. This calculated attempt at setting boundaries will allow you to enjoy both aspects of your life to the fullest. Therefore, you should always strive to balance both worlds to ensure that you are not overwhelmed by either.

Learn to delegate to have more work-life balance

A Columbia Business School study revealed that women are less likely than men to delegate their responsibilities because they feel guilty about doing so. Women perceive admitting overwhelm as a sign of weakness, leading them to take on more tasks than they can handle. Experts conclude that this might negatively impact their careers. You should fight this tendency as much as possible. Outsource labor at home – hire a nanny to help out around the house. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance from your spouse and other family members whenever you need it. At work, if you are in upper management, experts recommend delegating as many tasks as possible to the competent staff so you can enjoy free time to pursue big-picture activities. 

Healing Mind, Body and Soul

Healing Mind, Body and Soul

You can be the master of your own ship and learn to steer a steady course along the way to achieving health and well-being. The outcome comes down to maintaining a positive state of mind and allowing yourself time to process life’s little challenges.

It’s okay to say no

Being honest with yourself and not pushing yourself beyond your limits can work wonders. It’s okay to say ‘No!’ from time to time. Factor in some downtime to relax with a good book or to take a gentle walk in nature to unwind any little knots.

Find things that make you happy, and allow your body to rest, relax, and recover.

Meditation can help, and taking time to find the right headspace really can make a dramatic difference to your life.

Using a combination of healing treatments can also help with self-healing and self-development to support you on your journey.

Taking a holistic approach to the way you live can also be incredibly beneficial.

By giving yourself the time, you also open life up to embrace everything and everyone around you. Whatever direction you decide to take, make sure that it is right for you. Try not to be led away from your intuition. Instead, trust yourself on all levels.

Breathe and give yourself over to the joy of life in all of its shades and colors. You can do this and heal your life.

Alternative Treatments

There are also other alternatives to investigate. Let’s start by looking at what medical Marijuana can be used for and its success to heal minds, bodies, and souls. Looking after you is essential in your healing journey.

There is now a growing trend in setting up centers where people can receive various treatments using medical Marijuana in a certified setting.

Along with the likes of Harvest House of Cannabis, places offer various services and treatments to manage pain and illness.

Healing from the heart

Why not explore sound healing therapies such as Magic Bowls or the Tibetan Singing Bowls?

Sound waves resonate to produce healing and relaxing therapeutic effects.

You may wish to consider using essential oils, in a combination of oils to scent the air—aromatherapy treatments, either through scented oil burners, joss sticks, or aromatherapy massage.

You may also wish to look at acupressure or acupuncture as a treatment or therapy; both offer the same outcome to relieve and reduce pain by stimulating specific pressure points within the body.

The following therapies and treatments may also be of interest:

  • Yoga
  • Medicinal Herbs
  • Walking Meditations
  • Biofeedback
  • Hypnotherapy (Hypnosis)
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Guided Imagery and Visualization Techniques
  • Mindfulness techniques
  • Dream Therapy
  • Reiki and Energy Healing

Many treatments can be used as stand-alone treatments, or you can combine any of the above therapies, treatments, and techniques to bring your desired healing outcome.

May your healing journey take you to the heart of relaxation, rejuvenation, and recovery. Find your peaceful inner life, shut out the world’s noise, kick off your shoes, and rediscover the real you once again.

Dinky Doctor – Keeping a Child Healthy

Dinky Doctor – Keeping a Child Healthy

Being a new parent can often be a scary thing to face. While there are loads of resources out there that can help you to learn about this stage in life before it comes, most people will find themselves experiencing unique situations when it comes to their own child. It can be easy to worry about them when they are still in their infant years, with even the smallest of disturbances feeling like the symptoms of something major. When they can’t talk to you, though, they won’t be able to let you know what is wrong. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the steps that can be taken to make sure that your kids are nice and healthy as they get through their years as a baby.

Finding A Good Doctor

The first stage in this process is always going to involve looking for a doctor with the skills to look after your children. There will be loads of medical professionals in your local area, but they will have a wide range of experience and you have to look for someone who used to helping little ones. This hunt will have to start online, with Google giving you loads of routes to go down when you’re searching for something like this.

Review websites are a great place to go when you’re trying to figure out whether or not a doctor is for you. While their websites will make them out to be the best doctor in the world, their reviews and testimonials will tell a much clearer story. It’s always best to go to third-party websites to find reviews like this. Once you have found a couple of doctors that you like the look of, it will be time to start talking to them, giving yourself the chance to see if you will be able to get on with them for the foreseeable future.

They probably won’t be used to being quizzed about the work they do by potential patients. When you’re choosing something as important as this, though, you need to make sure that you’re making the right decision. Visiting the surgery can also help with this, providing you with an opportunity to assess their facilities and make sure that the place will be a good fit for your child.

Regular Appointments

Once you have a doctor to work with, the next stage in this process will involve setting up some regular appointments to make sure that your child is able to get the help that they need. This will give the doctor a chance to make a record of their development, ensuring that they are growing healthily and have everything that they need. This can also make it possible for your doctor to notice conditions before they form into something much worse. This sort of thing can often be handled online nowadays, but taking your child to see a doctor face to face is essential on occasion.

Doing Some Learning

One of the biggest issues that parents have when they are trying to work on their child’s health is figuring out what might be wrong when their little one is upset. They can’t talk to you, and this means that they will only be able to cry or make other noises when they are in pain or feeling discomfort. While you can’t talk to them, though, you can still observe the way that they act when certain things happen around them. There is a range of different common symptom groups that you can look out for.

  • Emergency Conditions: Babies are much weaker than adults, and this means that a relatively minor health problem for an adult can be very dangerous for them. When your child is struggling to breathe, seems to be in a lot of pain, or won’t wake up, it’s crucial that you call an ambulance right away, as this could be an emergency. It’s always worth working to remain calm in situations like this.

  • Allergies: Allergies are very common, but parents won’t always know what their children are allergic to until they’ve been exposed to it. It’s always easier to overcome something like this when you know what to look for. Understanding common allergy symptoms can make it much easier to spot something like this before it becomes an emergency.

  • Crying Wolf: Of course, there will be occasions when it will seem like your child is in peril, but they are simply acting out. This can be hard to deal with, though it’s usually worth spending the time and money to take them to the doctor when they are in this sort of position. You will never be able to tell for sure whether or not they are in trouble until you’ve seen a professional.

Dealing With An Emergency

Finding yourself in an emergency situation with your child can be a terrifying event. A lot of parents find themselves getting very stressed at just the thought of something like this, though it is crucial that you spend the time to make yourself calm when this happens. Being stressed will make it all too easy to make mistakes, and it always helps to have a cool head when something like this is going wrong.

Getting in touch with help will be a priority in this situation. You need to call an ambulance or a doctor as your first step after making sure that your baby is comfortable. Following this, you can spend time looking after your child, giving them the comfort they need, and making sure that their situation doesn’t get worse. You should avoid having other children around as you go through this.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of keeping a child healthy when they can’t tell you what’s wrong. A lot of people struggle with this, finding it hard to know what to do when they are dealing with a sick infant. Thankfully, though, there are loads of pros out there who can help you.