Halitosis (bad breath) is something that most people have to deal with from time to time. But with some people it is a chronic embarrassing problem that cannot be treated by over-the-counter cures. Bad breath is not just simply caused by a lack of brushing and flossing or a pungent meal. There can be several other causes of this problem. If you still cannot get rid of your bad breath even after diligent brushing and flossing and regular trips to your dentist, it’s time to delve deeper into what may be causing this serious problem.

Chronic bad breath can be caused by underlying medical issues and should not ever be ignored. Chronic low-grade sinus infections, liver disease, gallbladder disease, diabetes, and allergies are just a few of the medical causes of bad breath. Another common source of halitosis is the presence of anaerobic bacteria that hides in your mouth. These bacteria thrive and grow in an oxygen-free environment and are often found in the grooves of your tongue and the pockets of your gums. Daily brushing and flossing just can’t get to these bacteria. Another source of halitosis is tooth decay and infection as is gum disease (periodontal disease).

Masking the Odor – breath mints, mouthwash, etc. actually contain alcohol and dry your mouth out creating a more hospitable environment for the bacteria that make your breath bad. Breath mints and gum are a temporary fix but do not cure bad breath; some, in fact, just make it worse. (more…)

We know that having kids means having dirty floors from time-to-time, having less money, repeating ourselves and feel wiped out a lot of the time.  Normally, we all handle the responsibilities of parenting with a smile but occasionally we just don’t think, or, at that particular moment, do not care.

After we have said our peace, we typically catch ourselves and wish we would have said it differently.  We will NEVER be perfect parents and we should not berate ourselves for our mistakes, but, we should try to teach the children by giving them clear and precise directions without personal attacks.

It is important to send a message to your children that you are correcting a situation not criticizing the child. Children hear demands and negatives as threatening. Children need to hear what they are doing wrong and how to correct the situation. Children internalize messages similar to us adults. They feel hurt when they are chastised and although our job, as parents, is to teach our children, we need to be careful the message they are receiving.

Most of us get tired of repeating ourselves. When we feel we have said it enough times, whether it be that particular day or this is the same song we have sang too many times, we get frustrated and our tempers can begin to flare. Sending the wrong message can do more damage. Children will shrink from harsh words rather than resolve the situation.

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A “fully open” adoption is one in which the birth mother has ongoing visits with the child after the child has been adopted and is being raised by their adoptive family. In the past fifteen years or so, fully open adoptions have become more common as a result of proponents of fully open adoptions pushing the idea on birth parents and adoptive parents. Some people believe that having the open relationship benefits the children.

Some adoptive parents-to-be are scared by the idea of a fully open adoption, and there are a number of birth mothers who have fears about ongoing contact, as well. There are no studies that prove that ongoing contact between birth parents and a child that has been adopted is really in the child’s best interest, and many adoption professionals actually don’t feel a fully open adoption is the best solution.

It is likely that an adopted child would benefit greatly from having information available to them, things like photographs, health histories and possibly letters from their birth parents. If an older child requests to meet his or her birth parent, every effort should be made to arrange the meeting – but to force a fully open adoption on a child who may not even desire to have ongoing contact with the birth parent(s) does not seem to be beneficial or in the best interest of the child. Adoption agreements are typically arranged before the child is even born – how can you know at that point if the child needs or wants to have ongoing visits with the birth parents in the years to come? (more…)

When blood pressure is high, it starts to damage the blood vessels, heart, and kidneys. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and other problems. But if you don’t measure your blood pressure, you won’t know when it’s high, because there are usually no symptoms.

Healthy adult with normal blood pressure (119/79 or below), have your blood pressure checked at least every 1 to 2 years. If your systolic blood pressure (the first number) is 120 to 139 and/or your diastolic blood pressure (the second number) is 80 to 89, you are prehypertensive. This means that your blood pressure is higher than normal but not high enough to be high blood pressure. It is a warning that your blood pressure is going up. If you are in this category, you should have your blood pressure checked as often as your doctor advises, or at least once a year.

While, adults with other risk factors for heart disease or evidence of disease caused by high blood pressure need to have their blood pressure checked more often. A home blood pressure monitor makes it easy to keep track of your blood pressure.

For the most part people generally care about their families. Most people can take all sorts of insults that are directed to them personally, but you had better not talk about our loved ones. In knowing this I cannot figure out why we do not realize the potential harm we put in our homes. Maybe this is due to a lack of understanding or maybe it is due to good advertising or maybe it is due to the fact that we have never taken the time to consider what I am about to share with you.

Everyone also has the right to know about what chemicals and toxins are used to make up our “consumable products”. The sad thing is that these companies spend millions of dollars in advertising their products, but they do not have to tell us anything regarding any health risks associated with those products. Only 1% of toxins are required to be listed on labels. Regulation only requires labels to indicate if the products are combustible, corrosive, poison, etc. Do you really know the potential health risks associated with these products? Whether a toxin actually causes harm is based on several factors such as: potency; rate of exposure; dose; and individual sensitivity. The risks associated with toxins are as follows: cancer, irritation to your skin, eyes, stomach, and lungs, liver and kidney problems, learning and developmental disorders, and in worst case scenarios-death. (just to mention a few) (more…)

You can make revisions to your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms of heartburn. Here are some things to try:

• Change your eating habits – It’s best to eat several small meals instead of two or three large meals. After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down. Late-night snacks aren’t a good idea. Chocolate, mint, and alcohol can make heartburn worse. They relax the valve between the esophagus and the stomach. Spicy foods, foods that have a lot of acid (like tomatoes and oranges), and coffee can make heartburn symptoms worse in some people. If your symptoms are worse after you eat a certain food, you may want to stop eating that food to see if your symptoms get better.
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
• If you get heartburn at night, raise the head of your bed 6 in. (15 cm) to 8 in. (20 cm) by putting the frame on blocks or placing a foam wedge under the head of your mattress. (Adding extra pillows does not work.)
• Do not wear tight clothing around your middle. Lose weight if you need to. Losing just 5 to 10 pounds can help.