About Alcohol, The Holidays, and Your Oral Health

Holidays can provide great dangers for our dental health, with the endless variety of rich sweet foods available. One often unconsidered risk to our teeth this time of year is alcohol. For many people, the holiday season involves consuming more alcohol than the rest of the year. This increased intake can put your teeth at greater risk of decay, so maintaining your oral hygiene is more important than ever.

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There are several risks that present themselves when consuming alcohol during the rest of the year. The potentially increased intake of the holiday season only increases these risks and makes them more of a concern. Combined with the sugary foods that are available at every turn during this time of year, the following risks come from alcoholic beverages:

• Sugar Content – The amount of sugar found in most alcoholic drinks can be relatively high. As our oral bacteria thrive on sugar, sweet drinks can pose a severe risk. This may mean you want to reconsider a sugar-rich choice and choose something with a little less sugar in it. Dry champagnes and wines are an excellent low-sugar alternative.
• Dehydration – Wishful thinking aside, you’re not getting any meaningful hydration from your alcoholic drink. Dehydration can lead to dry mouth, which puts our teeth at additional risk. Saliva plays an essential role in protecting our teeth; in its absence, decay advances faster.
• Staining – Darkly colored alcohol comes with an additional risk, and that’s potential dental staining. Sangria, red wine, and other darkly colored beverages can dull your teeth and cause lasting discoloration. Whitening toothpaste is usually sufficient to counteract this staining.

There are also the risks of acid damage in the event of overindulgence. If you’ve overindulged to the point that vomiting becomes an issue, the acid involved can cause severe damage to your teeth. This is of particular concern to those with a habit of overindulgence.

Some Final Notes On Drinking Alcohol and Your Oral Health

As with any popular activity, alcohol consumption comes with its share of myths. Some of these myths pertain directly to the effect alcohol has on your teeth. We’re going to take a moment to address some of those below:

• Beer Doesn’t Stain Your Teeth – Just because most beer doesn’t have a dark rich color doesn’t mean your teeth are safe. While lighter-colored beer does have less of an effect, it’s a combination of the acids in the beer and the malts and barleys that cause staining.
• Citrus In Your Drink Helps – This is another case of wishful thinking. While citrus in your drink does nothing to prevent them from becoming stained, it can weaken your enamel. Weak enamel is more susceptible to staining.
• Alcohol Can Prevent Cavities – While some mouthwashes contain alcohol, that isn’t the same experience as drinking an alcoholic beverage. Not only is alcohol potentially more damaging to your teeth, but drinking tends to make the imbiber snack more.

Be Fully Prepared For Upcoming Allergy Season

Spring may herald an end to winter and the beginning of outdoor fun in the sun, but it also marks the opening of seasonal suffering for allergy sufferers. Even worse, recent years have seen the allergy season extend as the years have longer periods that are warm and are warmer. Mild winters only aggravate the situation, making it a perfect storm of pollen and allergens the moment it starts to warm up. This means that allergy sufferers will be sneezing, getting itchy eyes, and suffering from the post-nasal drip and coughing earlier than ever. If you’re like most allergy sufferers, you’re wondering what you can do to arm up before the worst of it hits.

Preparing For Allergy Season The Right Way

Getting prepared is easy enough when you follow these four steps. Each of them is aimed at easing the misery pollens can bring into your life, so take careful note.

• Preload Your Medications – If you usually wait until you’re in the thick of allergy symptoms to medicate, it’s time to change that habit. You’ll save yourself considerable misery by starting to take your medication the moment you notice allergies or even earlier. This will help prevent your immune system from going haywire and prevent it from becoming your worst enemy.
• Spring Cleaning Now! – Dedicate yourself to digging into spring cleaning early this year. A thorough cleaning of your whole home, including dusting, often missed areas, can help create a safe-space from allergens. Curtains, rugs, and furniture all need special care as common places dust can build up.
• Tell Mold No Way – Basements, bathrooms, and kitchens should be a particular focus as these are areas where mold likes to gather. With detergent, water, and a little bit of effort, you can ease your allergy concerns by eliminating mold in your home.
• Stay On Top Of Your Day – Pollen counts are tracked all over the country and reported to users of the Allergy Alert Map offered by the AAAAI (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology). Knowing when peak pollen hours occur and when a day is expected to be particularly bad can be of great help to allergy sufferers.

Following these tips are going to help your allergy season be a much less daunting experience, so start getting prepared today!

One Final Tip – Change Up Your Schedule

While this isn’t an option for everyone, those who are able would do well to change their daily schedule to take advantage of low pollen hours. Pollen is particularly prevalent in the early mornings and when it is hot and dry out. Take advantage of those cool, rainy days and try to sneak your time out into the afternoon to avoid the worst pollen levels, and you’ll have a much better time of things.

New Year’s Resolution: All About Your Family Wellness Visit

As the new year begins, it’s a good time to start making important decisions about your family’s health. The best way to begin is by scheduling a wellness visit for all the members of the family. During your visit, your physician will go through your medical records, ask questions about your health since your last visit, and make sure everything is up to date. Your wellness visit is an important part of your overall care; it allows your physician to monitor your progress and identify growing trends or signs of health problems ahead.

How To Prepare For Your Family Wellness Visit

When you’re getting ready to visit your physician for a wellness visit, there are some things that you can do to prepare. The time you have with your doctor is limited and important, so it pays to plan ahead for your visit. While you’re there, you want to bring an open mind and be sure to ask questions about maintaining and improving your health. Also, be sure to ask about when you should get your next screenings for your colon, prostate, etc.

• A list of questions for your doctor
• Complete health records
• Complete list of the supplements and medication you’re taking
• Notes about symptoms, signs, or changes in your health over the past year

Another thing that is often suggested, especially for inexperienced or elderly patients, is bringing along a friend or family member. This person can be a second set of ears for you and serve as an advocate for you if necessary. This can be a good idea even for those who have a positive relationship with their physician just to ensure you remember their guidance clearly.

The patient should be made to understand that he or she must take charge of his own life. Don’t take your body to the doctor as if he were a repair shop. – Quentin Regestein

The Benefits Of Regular Family Wellness Visits

There are many benefits to seeing your physician on a regular basis, starting with the fact that preventative care visits are covered under most insurance plans. This is your opportunity to check in with your provider and ensure that everything is going well with your health, and express your thoughts and concerns with your doctor.

During your visit, you’ll receive a series of tests and check-ups that are designed to catch the presence of medical conditions. These include checking your blood pressure, weight, height, and other vitals, including your reflexes. They’ll also check for any sign of cognitive impairment, reduced range of motion, and problems with balance. These tests give a clear view of your current health status and tell the doctor if there’s anything to worry about.

Your wellness visit is going to give you peace of mind concerning the overall health of your entire family, so make sure you schedule this year’s visit today!