Bruxism 101: Tips for Treating Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching

If you are like a large percentage of Americans, then you are probably suffering from stress. While we think that stress only takes a toll on our mental health, our minds and bodies are so closely entwined that what affects one can have disastrous consequences for the other. One common effect of chronic stress is called bruxism, a disorder in which patients grind their teeth, clench their jaws, or both. People who grind or clench often do it without noticing, or they do it at night, causing chronic pain in the jaws and face. Bruxism can also cause fatigue, damage teeth, and could lead to the complete deterioration of the jaw joint over time. If you suspect that you grind or clench at night, here are some tips for relieving the pain and stopping the habit.

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1. Become aware. If you sleep with a partner, ask him or her to note if you grind your teeth at night. If you wake up in the morning with a tired and strained jaw, this is another sign that you are grinding or clenching. Except for eating or talking, when you aren’t otherwise using your jaw, your upper and lower teeth should not be touching. If they are, and you don’t even notice it, then you’ve been clenching.

2. Visit a dentist and inquire about a mouth guard. If you’ve been grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw for a prolonged period of time, a mouth guard will correct the positioning of your teeth and protect them at night. Ask your dentist to determine if you need a mouth guard, which he can create to custom fit your bite. Mouth guards and splints are available over-the-counter and come at a fraction of the price, but they may not be as effective.

3. Avoid gum, popcorn, or any foods that require lots of chewing. To lessen the headaches and pains that are often caused by bruxism, it’s important to avoid unnecessary strain placed on your jaw muscles as much as possible, especially when you’re first starting to correct the problem.

4. Get serious about treating stress. Unless you’ve had a serious accident that has damaged your jaw, the leading cause of bruxism is extremely unhealthy levels of chronic stress. Since stress is the underlying cause of bruxism, the only way to treat the problem effectively over the long term is to engage in stress management techniques. Eat healthy meals, engage in regular exercise, sleep regularly for at least seven hours a night, and try relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga.

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The Facts Concerning the Side Effects Of The Acai Berry

Inside the health industry there are lots of products on the market, all claiming to drastically change your life for the better. This could cover anything from dramatic and extreme weight loss to invincible health to skin as pure and as radiant as the sun. Lots of people are drawn in with the claims used to market such products, with little thought to any potential side effects. This is down to the fact that if a product is marketed the focus is solely on any potential benefits, and side effects are seldom mentioned. For this reason you should be so careful when consuming something that promises to lead to remarkable changes to ones body. One particular product is the Acai Berry. This small, purple berry is the topic of much debate with many claiming it can result in better health and dramatic weight loss. However it is also important to think about potential Acai Berry side effects that may be experienced whilst trying to achieve these goals with the help of this berry. 

 

If we start with considering what the Acai berry is. This berry is small and not dissimilar to a blueberry. It possesses a variety of properties of nutritional benefit from high levels of antioxidants and fibre and also essential fatty acids. It is because of this makeup it has been pioneered heavily among the world’s best ‘super-foods’. Additionally it is because of this berries unique structure that there are very little unwanted effects to it. The most significant change that many report feeling after consuming the Acai berry or a product that contains the berry was a boost in energy levels, sounder sleep and weight loss, no doubt brought on by having higher levels of energy and a greater level of activity. People consuming the Acai berry have also noticed a decrease in appetite! Plus because of the fact that the Acai berry is a naturally occurring fruit, there are few negative side effects unless you are allergic to it!

Many products, even though they contain the Acai berry, this isn't the only ingredient. Companies promoting Acai berry products, especially for the weight loss, will combine other products with the Acai berry to boost the weight loss effect. They could still market their products under the guise of the Acai berry, though the truth is some companies use very little of the berry within their wonder-products. These products are the type to be wary of - the weight loss-inducing drugs combined with the Acai berry might have severe side effects which are not immediately apparent. These can include fever, vomiting, hot and cold flushes, shaking along with other harmful side effects.

So, if you're thinking about this small berry that claims to boost metabolism, suppress appetite and fill the body with antioxidants and improve health them there are numerous suppliers of this wonder-berry so finding a supplier is quick and easy. Just be careful of any extreme claims of weight loss or health benefits and be sure to check ingredients within any Acai berry products.

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Holiday Drinks Make the Holiday Season Enjoyable

Get festive at your next gathering with some holiday favorites.

One of the very best parts of the holidays is the food and drink that seems to be everywhere at once! It seems like once Halloween is over, everywhere you go has food and drink to celebrate the holidays. Whether or not you like it, the holidays are a very caloric time!  Everyone knows about fruitcake, pumpkin pie, peppermint sticks and the other highly traditional holiday fare.  However there are also a lot of great holiday related drinks that are enjoyable and are easy to make at home.  Whether you are hosting a large gathering or just having a few friends over, it is always a good idea to consider what sorts of drinks you can serve over the holidays.  Luckily there are many options for children and adults alike, who may be interested in trying something delicious and new.

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Egg Nog is the old standard traditional drink and can be enjoyed with alcohol or without.  While not everyone loves eggnog, making a cup of eggnog and adding a shot of espresso is a great way to wake up this old favorite, and enjoy the taste of cream and nutmeg while getting a little bit of a caffeine fix, too.  Egg nog is traditionally made with brandy but you can sub in whiskey or some other sort of liqueur  to cut the sweetness of the mixture and make things a little stronger.

Another delicious and traditional holiday drink is Irish Coffee.  This excellent winter warmer contains coffee, Irish whiskey and sugar. It is obviously not for children but for adults it is an excellent winter warmer that's just perfect for after dinner or with dessert during the cold months of the holiday season.  You can make it with any sort of coffee that you want to and top it with any whiskey that you have in the house. If you are serving it with dessert, whipped cream can make a nice final topping for your Irish coffee.

Another traditional holiday drink that can be dressed up several different ways is hot chocolate.  No matter what your taste is, hot chocolate is one of the most delicious and enduring traditional drinks of the winter holiday season.  You can make it with a mix, you can make it from actual melted chocolate, or with the kind of syrup that is often used in chocolate milk.  For an extra kick, sprinkle some cayenne pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg in with the chocolate before you add the liquid.  Many people use hot water for their hot chocolate, but for a truly effortless, creamy taste, you will need to be sure that you are using milk.  Skim milk or soy milk are fine substitutes as well.   This is another drink that can be improved or at least amended with the addition of coffee.  For those of us who truly enjoy coffee in all of our beverages, adding a shot of espresso, or just some traditional coffee is a great way to liven up the coffee and make it more of a mocha drink. 

Another holiday favorite is mulled wine.  Heavy with spices, warm and fragrant, mulled wine that has been simmering for a while is an delicious and tangy way to enjoy the holidays. You can buy mulled wine at a store, or simply make it at home by adding spices and seasoning and heating it over a low flame.

Along the same lines is, of course, champagne.  New Year's Eve just wouldn't be the same without a bottle of champagne to toast with, and most other holiday gatherings feature a similarly wonderful toast at midnight to celebrate the holiday. 

Happy Holidays!

About the Author

Kara is a writer and avid blogger. She actively writes about gift giving, food, and even coffee accessories for a coffee blog. 

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Common Exercises to Increase Height by Stretching the Spine

Among the common exercises to increase height, swimming tops the list. It is a very helpful exercise ensuring multiple benefits. One of the healthiest sports, swimming not only toughens the skeletal frame of the body, makes the bones stronger and boosts the growth but also straightens the spine and stretches the limbs to increase body height. Besides height increase, other benefits of swimming are prevention of backbone distortion, posture improvement, overall fitness and flexibility as well.

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Exercise 1, Cobra – This stretching exercise to increase height requires you to lay your body on the floor facing down the floor. Keep your palms under the shoulders. Arch the spine up to as far extent as possible. Hold the posture for 5 to 30 seconds and repeat the process at least three times.

Exercise 2, Super Cobra – Among the stretching exercises to increase height, it is a bit tough to do for the beginners. Keep your arms in a perpendicular line with the floor and arch the spine to the farthest extent. Position your body in an inverted 'V' posture. While doing this, bring your chin against the chest. Then, come back to the beginning position. Repeat the process two or three times keeping a gap of 10 to 20 seconds between the repetitions. 

Exercise 3, Cat Stretch - Rest your body on hands and knees in touch with the floor. Breathe in while bringing the spine down and raising the head up. Breathe out when you arch the spine up and bring the head down.

Exercise 4, Super Stretch – Stand up straight and raise your hands up as high as possible. Then, lean your body slightly towards back to get the lower spine stretched. Maintain a gap of 4 to 7 seconds between one repetition and the other.

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Laser Use in Surgery

Laser surgery is quite simply surgery that uses a laser, instead of a scalpel, to cut tissue. The main benefit of a laser is its superficiality, which reduces the recovery time for patients after an operation. It can be used for many procedures. Some are very simple, such as the laser scalpel, which means that a surgical laser is used in place of a scalpel in an otherwise standard medical procedure. Other procedures are more complex, such as laser resurfacing, in which a laser is used to dissolve the molecular bonds of a material. Below, I will discuss different surgical techniques that make use of lasers.

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• LASIK: Probably the most well-known use of medical laser equipment, LASIK is a relatively simple operation for correcting near-sightedness or far-sightedness in vision. An irregularly shaped cornea is the cause of bad vision, so the surgery is performed on this part of the eye. Corneas that are too steep cause nearsightedness and corneas that are too flat cause farsightedness, because the eye’s point of focus is in front of or behind the retina. In the first step, the surgeon uses a laser to create a flap on the cornea’s surface. In the second step, the surgeon folds back the flap to allow access to the cornea. Then an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea so that the focal point hits the retina in the correct spot. Upon completion, the surgeon puts the cornea back into place, and it will heal without need of stitches.
  
• PROSTATE TREATMENT: Green lasers are used for the treatment and/or reduction of enlarged prostates. The laser vaporizes and removes tissue obstructing the prostate.
  
• TATTOO REMOVAL: Lasers are now the most common method of removing a tattoo. The laser targets the ink with pulses of concentrated light that break the ink into fragments, which are then naturally expelled from the body.
  
• LASER BODY SCULPTING: One of the most exciting new uses of laser equipment is in body sculpting, an alternative to liposuction. Laser body sculpting uses a low level, “cold” laser (meaning that the beam is not hot like a standard laser) that seek out fat cells and puncture their membranes. Once the membrane is punctured, the fat cells leak, and the fatty content exits your system through normal bodily functions. Laser body sculpting is much safer than regular liposuction, as it carries no health risks, no recovery time, and no strange side effects like lumpy, misshapen skin. The patient simply lies down underneath the laser for twenty minutes, then turns over and lets the laser work on the other side for another twenty minutes. Since there is no recovery period, recipients will be up and running the very same day.

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Skin Care Tips: 3 Things You Should Avoid

When it comes to skin care people often think of the expensive skin care products available in the market. They think that those products can solve all the problems. However have you ever thought that in most cases the issues are a result of our own negligence? If we take a few measures we can slow down the process of aging and protect our skin from damage.   

A few steps taken each day can really help your skin to get a younger and fresher look. The basic anti aging care guide is easy to follow. Here are a few things that you should never do to your skin.

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Avoid Sunburn:

The one thing that you should never to do your skin is sun burn. The idea of sun tan may sound great. But sun burn actually takes you one step ahead in terms of aging. Sunlight contains the harmful UV rays which can damage your skin severely resulting in aging before time. Avoid exposure to sun. If it is an unavoidable situation and you have to go in the sun use sunscreen, umbrella and sunglass.

Avoid Junk Foods:

Some food items can simply ruin your skin. Pizzas and burgers may look great and they may have good taste but they are neither healthy for your body nor for your skin. Good diet is absolutely necessary for glowing skin. Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. On the other hand avoid things like ice cream, chocolates, pastries, chips, cold drinks. Besides you should also quit the habit of smoking and in taking alcohol if you are addicted as they are equally harmful for your skin.

Don’t Ever Dehydrate Your Skin:

Drinking lots of water is very important for those who want glowing skin. Water plays a crucial role in making your skin look healthy. Drink plenty of water each day and make sure to drink filtered water.

Just follow these simple skin care tips and you will notice a remarkable change.

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Guest Post: The Negative Effects of Stress on the Body

We all experience stress. Stress is the body’s reaction to any threat, challenge or demand. While excessive stress can be harmful to our bodies, some stress is healthy. For example, it is stress that helps us move quickly in a dangerous situation. However, too much stress can really wear on our mind, body and spirit.   

Effects of Stress

The side effects of unmanaged stress are often debilitating. Chronic Pain can result from constantly putting stress on your body.  Stressed out individuals can also develop other issues, including:

 

·          Insomnia

·          Anxiety

·          Depression

·          Substance abuse

·          Digestion woes

·          Headaches

·          Over- or under-eating

·          Decreased immune function

·          Heart disease

Unfortunately, stress manifests itself in health conditions that can impair our everyday lives, making our routine tasks seem insurmountable.

What causes stress in our lives?

Stress can be a result of many factors such as not exercising enough, taking too heavy a course load in law school, or being faced with serious financial woes. Relationship problems such as a failing marriage, the loss of a close friendship, or other relational breaks can also provide a great deal of stress. The demands of an overwhelming job or intense work environment are other common stressors. But stress affects people differently, with the events, situations and circumstances causing a different stressful reaction in different people. While some amount of stress is unavoidable, it is possible to effectively manage your stress by following some simple guidelines.

What can we do to overcome stress and its nasty side effects?

While there is no universally applicable solution, there are some practical techniques that can bring relief. The best thing to do is maintain a consistent exercise and nutrition program. Eating healthy, whole foods will help your body perform at its optimal level and avoid disease and illness. Regular exercise is possibly the most effective stress management technique as it produces “feel good” endorphins and is a wonderful release of tension.   Consulting a health fitness specialist is good way to learn more about reducing stress through exercise.

Another great way to help reduce and manage your stress is to change your thoughts by focusing on the positive and on the present moment. Be sure to schedule time for yourself to do what you enjoy as a way to unwind and rejuvenate. In this process, you must learn to say “no” to the demands on your life that you simply don’t have time for or do not want to do.

Learning to free up your schedule will leave you feeling less stressed and more fulfilled. Managing stress may be difficult and it may take time to master, but you owe it to your health and your happiness to eliminate the unnecessary stress from your life.

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