Which type of brace should you choose: Invisalign or Traditional Braces

Article by Remarkable Smiles.

When considering braces, patients always struggle to decide if they should choose Invisalign or traditional braces. Although both brace techniques do achieve the same results: a perfect smile, they are quite different in terms of appearance, cost, and treatment time.

Appearance – If you are looking for a discreet brace that can be removed to eat and clean teeth, nothing beats Invisalign. Invisalign is virtually invisible and often people find it hard to tell if a patient is wearing braces. However, traditional braces now come with clear brackets and wire, which make them less noticeable.

Cost – Traditional braces are more affordable than Invisalign. Nevertheless, more insurance companies are now covering the cost for Invisalign. If cost is a factor in your decision, traditional braces are the best option.

Treatment time – Invisalign has improved their braces and are now comparable to metal braces in terms of treatments time. However, since Invisalign is removable, patients tend to forget to wear their aligner, which extends their treatment time. Traditional braces, on the other hand, have shorter treatment times as they cannot be removed.

Visits to your Orthodontist – If a patient chooses Invisalign they will spend less time at their orthodontist’s office as they can switch to their next set of aligners at home, with visits every 6 weeks. While with metal braces, patients will need to come in every four weeks to get their braces tightened.

Results – Both metal and Invisalign provide excellent results straightening teeth and correcting bite. However, some complex cases will work better with metal braces as they allow for more control.

A perfect smile not only improves a person’s self-confidence, but it enhances the health of a person’s teeth and gums.  Since correctly aligned teeth are easier to clean and less susceptible to damage and decay.

This article was written by Remarkable Smiles Orthodontics.  Dr. Mark Rashidi at Remarkable Smiles is a highly experienced Orthodontist in Mission Viejo, serving the Orange, Irvine, Anaheim Hills, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, and other areas. Call today to get more info.

Health symptoms that may indicate a decayed tooth

Article written byElite Dental Group.

Dentists will advise patients to do a root canal if the soft tissue in the center of a tooth is decayed. The procedure will involve removing all decayed particles to preserve the tooth. Additionally, a dentist will disinfect the area with antibiotics, filling the empty root and sealing the area.

Here are some symptoms that may indicate a tooth is decayed.

Pain – If you feel deep persistent pain near your face, jaw, or teeth chances are you may need a root canal procedure.

Sensitivity to hot or cold food – If you feel a dull or sharp pain when you drink a cup of coffee or a cold glass of water, you may have an infection that has damaged your blood vessels causing sensitivity.

Tooth bruising – Teeth that are damaged from the root will take a grey-black color. The tooth becomes discolored because it does not receive adequate blood to maintain its healthy appearance. However, discolored teeth can have many causes other than decay.  

Swollen gums – Gums that are swollen and tender are an indication that a build-up of acid and dead tissue is causing an infection inside the gums.

Pain when eating – Severe tooth decay will cause pain when the tooth is touched because as the pulp dies, its waste products irritate the ligaments causing sensitivity and pain.

Chipped or cracked teeth – Teeth that are chipped or cracked can be weaker and more susceptible to bacteria. Even an accident can damage nerves causing the pulp to die.

Loose teeth – Infected teeth can feel loose, as the tooth breaks down, it softens the bone holding it in place.

Elite Dental Group together with Dr. Andre Eliasian is one of the best Dentists in Glendale, CA. The clinic’s services include wisdom tooth extraction and dental implants plus all forms of cosmetic dentistry. Their clinic offers modern facilities in a friendly, non-intrusive environment that is client-focused.

How safe is the Covid-19 vaccine?

Article written by Francis Dunn, Miami, FL

Receiving the Covid-19 vaccine is your best chance against the virus. If you are concerned about getting vaccinated, it is important to understand the facts regarding the vaccines’ safety and effectiveness, before getting vaccinated.  

The science – When the virus was identified there were scientists around the world trying to generate a cure. The high level of collaboration and information sharing between countries and organizations has aided in creating a vaccine that is safe and effective.

Investment – The number of clinical trials and research that has been done on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, are a good indication of their safety and effectiveness.

Production – Although this vaccine was developed within a year, the vaccine still had to pass several trials to be distributed to the public. Companies producing the vaccine had to present human clinical trials which were monitored and authorized.

Although the vaccine is safe, it has shown some short-term side effects that are common when receiving any vaccine. You may experience side effects 8 hours after receiving the vaccine, which can include pain near the injection site, tiredness, body pains, headaches, and chills.

These side effects may mean taking time off work and/or requesting assistance with childcare. It is important to rest for 1-2 days following the vaccine as your body will need time to adjust and generate an immune response.

Although taking the vaccine will not guarantee that you will not get the virus, it does reduce the severity of the symptoms to a great extent.

Francis Dunn is from Miami Florida. He works as a data engineer and clinical analyst in the biotech industry. For the past 25 years he has focused on improving the world of healthcare using disruptive technologies. At DMDconnects, Francis Dunn discovered new ways to create revenue streams while managing enterprise clients. He was able to triple the size of client service teams while keeping the sales force motivated to win.

Why you should change your mattress every 7-10 years

If you’ve been waking up each morning with aches and pains, then you may need a new mattress. This is one of the first signs that people see when it’s time to change their mattress. Quite a few people are sleeping on a mattress is that are 10 years old or older. The reason for this is probably two-fold. People just naturally believe they can’t afford a new mattress and it can be hard to give up your old one. We all get used to our mattress and pillow and we feel like we won’t be able to get used to anything new.

With long-term financing, you can afford a new mattress. There are actually some very strong reasons why you should change your mattress every seven to 10 years. Let’s take a look at those below:

Old mattresses are unhealthy-we all shed our skin daily especially at night while sleeping. Those dead skin cells can get embedded in the mattress causing breathing and allergy problems.

You don’t sleep soundly-If you want to be your best each day, then you need a great night’s rest every night. But when you’re sleeping on an old worn-out mattress, you’re probably tossing and turning a lot.

You wake up sore each morning-It’s no fun to wake up feeling awful.

Stains and odors-Over time, a mattress can get lots of different stains and odors from potty accidents and sweating at night.

Creaks and squeaks-An old bed may be making all kinds of weird noises at night that are keeping you awake.

Are You Living in True Abundance?

Article by The Global Spiritualist Association

Are you committed to living your dream life? We all have those dreams of what we’d like to do if we had the time and money. But often we get sidetracked by life itself. We work hard to pay the rent and bills and our dreams can get further away. It can help if you have a bit of money in savings so you can take some time to meditate on how to get your dream life going.

Try to take the time each day to meditate. Begin with deep breathing exercises to clear your mind of all the junk. Then focus on positive things like family members you love or joyful memories from the past. Concentrate on the things you’d like to have in your dream life. Do you want fulfilling relationships? Most of us do want people in our lives that love and appreciate us.

You may also want material possessions. We all feel that we’d be happier if we had lots of money. Though this is sometimes not the case, it can really help if you don’t have to struggle with money problems all the time. You can feel relaxed, as if you can go after your dream job or relationship. Below are just a few other things to consider:

Stop making excuses!

Add value to others.

Realize your potential.

Never give up.

Dream big.

When you reach your goals, be thankful. Don’t take anything for granted. Each time you achieve something on your list, celebrate!

Founded by the great Teacher Zhang Xinyue in 1999, The Global Spiritualists Association has grown to become the largest Spiritual Growth Research Institute for Spiritual Teachers in the world. The Global Spiritualists Association attracts the best Spiritual Teachers from many professional fields around the globe.

Tips for buying exercise equipment

Once you’ve decided to get fit, you’ll probably start looking around at gyms in your neighborhood. Many of us are still concerned about going out to places like gyms where lots of people gather. A great alternative is to buy your own exercise equipment for use at home. Below we’ll give you our top five tips so you can get the right exercise equipment for your needs.

Know your Budget and Stick To It. Begin by deciding how much you can spend and whether or not you want to pay cash or finance the equipment.

Know Your Fitness Goals. Do you need to lose weight? Do you want to add muscle mass? Are you trying to just simply get healthy? Knowing your fitness goals will help steer you in the right direction.

Don’t Assume You’ll Upgrade Your Equipment at some Point. Often people think they’ll start out with a few inexpensive pieces of equipment and then upgrade later. But if you take this route you may not move forward with your fitness goals at all.

Be Realistic About Your Current Fitness Level. We tend to think of ourselves more generously then others. Get in front of a mirror and truly look at yourself. Make a note of your measurements and weight before you begin your journey.

Ask Others for Advice. If you have some friends who are into health and fitness, ask them what their favorite pieces of equipment are at the gym.

If you’re ready to buy some new gym equipment but don’t have much cash, then why not visit Curacao Credit where you can find exercise equipment financing. They have some of the lowest prices and best financing options.

Oral cancer: Why early diagnosis is your dentist’s responsibility

Blog submitted by Dane Levy, Attorney of Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California

The Oral Cancer Foundation projects that oral cancer will kill over 9,750 people per year, with one person dying from oral cancer every hour of the day. According to Northeast Delta Dental, oral cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, not because it is the most painful, but because it is often diagnosed too late. Dentists often realize their patient has oral cancer only after it has spread to the surrounding areas.

In light of this, the easiest and most effective way to treat oral cancer is after early detection. And according to the accepted dental standard of care, your dentist should be able to recognize the symptoms of oral cancer. Successful cancer treatment could depend on their expertise and training in the dental field.

Unfortunately, negligent dentists have misdiagnosed oral cancer, betraying their patients’ trust. In past dental malpractice cases, dentists have failed to notice oral cancer by not performing necessary x-rays and not doing biopsies after seeing warning signs. Your dentist is the first line of defense between you and oral cancer. When your life could depend on their services, there is no room for careless, haphazard treatment.

If you are a victim of misdiagnosed oral cancer, you deserve to be compensated for your damages. Attorney Dane Levy is an OC dental malpractice lawyer with years of experience winning high-profile cases. He’ll use his USC Dental School education to make sure you win your case in court. Contact the Levy Law Firm today for more information.

Disinfecting your furniture due to COVID-19

Blog provided by Wicker Paradise

Are you worried about your furniture storing up germs and harmful microorganisms? After the effects of COVID-19, keeping hands and surfaces clean is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. No matter what material your furniture is made of, homemade or store-bought disinfectants can be one of the most effective ways to protect you and your family from exposure to COVID-19 and other sickness-causing germs.

If you have the opportunity to go to the store, you might find disinfectant wipes or sprays that are effective at killing almost all the germs on a surface. If you want to make sure a specific disinfectant product can protect you against COVID-19, you can check the EPA’s list of products that are effective against the virus. However, it may be difficult to find disinfectants at the store, as those products are predictably in demand during this time. If you can’t buy any disinfectant wipes or sprays, you might be able to create a disinfectant solution from the products you already have at home.

Familiar substances such as ammonia and bleach can be added to water to create homemade disinfectant solutions that work just as well. Two tablespoons of ammonia in one gallon of water are usually enough to get the job done. When it comes to making a bleach solution, it’s ideal for your solution to be at least 50% water. It’s also important to note that ammonia and bleach work great by themselves, but should never be mixed together, as combining ammonia and bleach is toxic.

All of us at Wicker Paradise wish you and your family safety and good health during this season. If you need wicker and rattan furniture, outdoor replacement cushions, or Treasure Garden umbrellas, feel free to order these online from Wicker Paradise’s website.

Oral cancer: It’s your dentist’s job to find it

Blog submitted by Dane Levy, Attorney of Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California

When people think of going to the dentist, they might think of having their teeth cleaned, root canal procedures, or getting crowns/dental implants. What some might not know is that it’s also a dentist’s job to identify oral cancer, even in its earliest stages. The consequences of failing to do so can be disastrous for a patient’s health.

As with all forms of cancer, treatment for oral cancer will be easiest and most effective if it is diagnosed at the earliest possible moment. According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, the reason why the death rate for oral cancer is so high is not that it is difficult to identify; it is because many cases of oral cancer have been discovered far too late for the patient to treat it successfully. There is no way to understate this issue’s importance. Dentists who are careless about identifying oral cancer are gambling with their patients’ lives.

Historically, the compensations patients have received for misdiagnosed oral cancer have been appropriately huge. One woman was awarded $15 million for a misdiagnosed lesion that progressed into stage IV oral cancer. If you have suffered from a case of misdiagnosed oral cancer, you may be entitled to sue your dentist for compensation.

Dane Levy is a dental malpractice attorney who has experience winning high-profile oral cancer dental malpractice cases that have resulted in million-dollar settlements. If you need a dental malpractice attorney California, contact the Levy Law Firm today.

Traveling? 5 Tips for Appreciating the Food Better by Eric Moxam

Food is an integral part of every culture. If you’re traveling and want to immerse yourself in the local culture as much as possible, that means eating everything you can!

However, are you concerned that you won’t appreciate the food enough? Sure, you know it tastes good, but do you understand where it’s ingredients come from, its history, and cultural significance? If you want to be an excellent food tourist, you need to be able to say more than, “Mm, this is yummy.” Like how Eric Cody Moxam is interested in cultural cuisines, here are a few tips for going beyond what your taste buds immediately detect:

Research ahead of time

Of course, you want to know what you’re getting yourself into before you arrive. Research local staple dishes and ingredients and double-check for anything you are allergic to or otherwise cannot or will not eat. For instance, people with celiac disease should research how many gluten-free meals there are in the country they are about to visit.

You may also need to psych yourself up to try things you have never tasted before. Is squid new to you, but popular where you are going? You’re going to want to give it a try, so prepare yourself. Embrace new experiences instead of turning your head too quickly. Should you expect lots of savory dishes? Sweet treats? How does the local culture define “spicy”? (what you consider spicy, for instance, might be mild to someone else!). Researching ahead of time will also give you an idea of dishes you are excited about, so you know what foods to pursue first.

Let the locals tell you what to do

Do you want an authentic experience? Then ask the locals what to do. Not just any local, though—do you ask random people at home what their favorite dish is and expect them to show you where to find it? Likewise, are you a food expert who would appreciate a tourist asking you a bunch of questions about cultural foods they need to try? Probably not.

Instead, ask the locals who are knowledgeable and are willing to share that knowledge. One of the best experiences you can participate in is a food tour: sign up to be part of a guided group with an expert who will take you to some of the best establishments around. Whether it’s a street food tour or bouncing between restaurants, you can trust your guide’s knowledge and let them share dishes that you might never have thought to order.

If you have local friends, though, feel free to ask them what their favorite places are. Even if your friends aren’t foodie experts and the establishment has lots of menu items you are familiar with, you’ll get a glimpse into the day in the life of someone who lives there.

Don’t listen to snobby reviews

While researching places to eat online, you will undoubtedly browse a few testimonials. You will likely gravitate toward establishments with lots of high ratings, but try to look past the reviews. Some people give negative reviews for extremely insignificant things, and you don’t want to miss out on an incredible meal because someone’s snobbiness skewed your perception. Plus, some countries have different norms when it comes to service that people from other cultures don’t understand. Keep an open mind when reading what other people think of places to eat.

Engage your senses

If you’ve ever been wine tasting, then you know that it entails much more than taking a sip and deciding if you like it or not. Sometimes, you’re instructed to visually enjoy the wine in the glass, swirl it around, and smell it before tasting—and then you swirl it around again inside your mouth, and you can take a slurp of air to oxidize it even further.

You will appreciate food more if you engage all of your senses. Soak your meal in visually, inhale its aromas, feel its weight in your hand or on your fork, and relish its texture. To invoke positive emotions and release feel-good chemicals in your brain, pay more attention to your food than your first taste instincts (and some tastes are acquired!).

Keep track of what you eat

You don’t want to try something delicious and forget what it was called the next day. Keep track of the dishes you taste and record your thoughts in a notebook or an app. Bigoven and Zomato are examples of apps you can use to share your favorite recipes and learn about others’, and when you keep track of your favorite foods, you can try making them for yourself at home.

Food is a complex and critical subject, so you don’t want to miss out. How do you appreciate food on a deeper level when traveling?