Your teeth shouldn't be your afterthought!

Hi Diva's!

When we speak of wellness and being healthy we think about mind and body, but often forget about our teeth and oral hygiene. I mean we brush our teeth every day, but not necessarily floss or use mouthwash. Did you know that you should visit a dental hygienist two times a year (every 6 months) for a cleaning? The reason is that when we eat every day our mouths get filled with bacteria, plaque and/or tartar. Our toothbrush and floss can only reach about 2-3 mm of the infected area. The tools that dental hygienists use enable them to get deeper in the crevices of our gums to get the bacteria hidden within the gum line. Not only does this remove the bacteria, but it prevents tooth decay, gingivitis, some oral cancers and tooth degeneration. Who wants tooth degeneration, where your teeth loose bone, loosen and eventually fall out? Can you say dentures?  We remember to enjoy and indulge in foods, but really need to take more care of our teeth. Try to floss every time you eat, or at minimal before you go to bed at night.

If you have sensitive teeth, toothpastes, floss and mouthwash that have fluoride are best for you. Fluoride protects your teeth from cavities and decay. It can also help strengthen the enamel on our teeth.  Fluoride is located in most treated water as well, but isn't enough to handle all of the bacteria we get on a daily basis.

There is one more thing that brushing your teeth and flossing will do for you. If you brush your teeth and floss every time you eat a meal, you will eat less the next time around. Who likes the combination of fluoride and food..You usually wait a little while before you eat after you brush your teeth!

Remember!!!

• The longer you wait to see a dentist. The more it will cost you.
• Brush and floss after you eat. You will eat less. 
• Food and Fluoride don't mix according to our tasting palette!
• Visit your dental hygienist twice a year. They can catch and prevent oral cancer in its tracks!

You remember to eat, so remember to floss. Keep that smile nice and bright! Many thanks to my dentist, dental hygienist and dental assistant for keeping me with a healthy smile!! I have learned so much from you!!! Chow.

Will you stop calling your lifestyle change a diet?

Hi Diva's!

Throughout your lifetime how many diets have you been on? How many times were you successful? Did you sustain a healthy weight? These are some questions I would like for you to think about the next time you convince yourself to go on a diet. Most people diet for a period of time, lose the weight and then gain it back plus more. Does this pattern sound farmiliar? There are subliminal messages in our brain that just don’t like the word “diet”.  Instead of calling it a diet, try a lifestyle change. Diets don’t last because most of them require you to omit certain foods from your tasting palette.  If you have been eating something all of your life, your mind will not allow you to go cold turkey and stop eating it FOREVER... If you omit food from your meals you will eventually crave that food and overeat it. 

Did you know that the same sensors in the brain that tell a drug addict to use drugs or an alcoholic to drink are the same sensors that tell you to crave sugars, junk food or to be a compulsive eater? We eat or don't eat when we are depressed, in doubt, happy or sad. You have to be really strong willed to eliminate foods from your meals and most of the world is not, which is why obesity is now an epidemic. A good idea is to eat everything that you want in moderation, bake instead of frying, incorporate exercise, eat your fruits & veggies, replace your bad fats with healthier fats and most importantly have a support system!

Stop setting yourself up for failure with fad diets. Continuously tell yourself that you are in this to win this and for the long haul!! Change your life!

It all sounds complicated, but it is all very simple. You didn’t gain that weight in a heartbeat and you will not lose the weight in a heartbeat. Take your time with your weight loss and wellness goals, be persistent and remember that skinny is not always healthy. You will see results I promise!!! Toodles.