Dr. Mauk’s Boomer Blog
Each week, Dr. Kristen Mauk shares thoughts relevant to Baby Boomers that are aimed to educate and amuse.
Dr. Kristen L. Mauk, PhD, DNP, RN, CRRN, GCNS-BC, GNP-BC, FAAN
Guest Blog: 6 Ways to Naturally Reverse and Heal Decayed Teeth
There is no argument about one thing – brushing is important when you have dental braces. Without proper oral care, you may face issues like tooth decay or cavities. If you do notice a cavity, there is a way to naturally reverse the decay and heal the teeth. Let’s see how you can do that.
- Make Changes in Diet
You can reverse tooth decay by making a few changes in your diet. Some adjustments include:
- Limit the consumption of sugary foods and drinks as sugars can cause plaque and cavities.
- Consume more calcium-rich foods such as broccoli and dairy to strengthen the teeth.
- Add Vitamins and Supplements to the Diet
Certain vitamins help in producing saliva. This, in turn, prevents the bacteria from staying on the teeth. Some vitamins also help in making the teeth stronger. Adding nutritious food to the diet can heal your teeth naturally.
Foods that promote salivation include peas, bananas, and brussels sprouts. Take supplements of Vitamin B, D, iron, and magnesium if you cannot get them from your diet. Eating whole-grain foods and seafood can give the required dose of nutrients and improve oral health.
- Practice Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene practices help in protecting the teeth from early decay. Also, make sure to follow a strict oral hygiene routine when you have braces.
- Brush twice a day to remove food particles stuck in the teeth and to keep them clean.
- Floss at least once a day to remove plaque and food that gets stuck under the gums and brackets
- Use a mouthwash to get rid of bacteria in the mouth
- Maintain Necessary pH Levels in the Mouth
Our teeth stay healthy in an alkaline environment. As soon as the pH levels start to dip below the neutral 7, our teeth will start to break down and demineralize.
When there is a pH imbalance, it can create an environment for bacteria to grow and thrive. Avoid foods that can cause pH imbalance such as coffee, citrus fruits or sugars.
Use a remineralizing toothpaste as it can increase the pH level of the mouth and strengthen the tooth enamel.
- Consume Natural Probiotics
Bad bacteria that cause infection search for smaller areas in the teeth to hide. They would decrease the pH value of the mouth as well. Probiotics help in offsetting the acidic pH in the mouth. Consume foods that are rich in probiotics such as curd, kombucha or sauerkraut.
These foods stimulate the production of healthy bacteria in the mouth. This further helps in preventing plaque build-up or decaying of teeth.
- Oil Pulling
This is a simple yet very effective detoxification process for teeth care that includes swishing oil in your mouth for a few minutes. This technique can prevent plaque build-up and gum diseases like gingivitis. Do not swallow the oil and rinse with warm saltwater after swishing. Follow this by brushing your teeth.
Though these natural methods can be very effective, remember that everyone responds differently to these methods. You must also visit your orthodontist regularly to make sure there are no dental problems.
Author Bio:
Dr. Satish Pai is an orthodontist and an Ivy League trained dentist who has served as a faculty at Columbia University. He believes that a perfect smile not only makes a person look great but feel great. As the founder of Putnam Orthodontics and a Partner at Rome Orthodontics, he is dedicated to providing the best orthodontic treatments to his patients. He also writes to educate people about everything orthodontics and the importance of correctly aligned teeth along with good oral health. In his free time, you can find him golfing, doing yoga or surfing, and spending time with his family.
Five tips for Grandparents to stay connected with family
With the birth of my daughter’s second child, I began to reflect on the important role that grandparents can play in the lives of their grandchildren. Here are five essential tips for older adults who want to have a lasting influence in the lives of their children and grandchildren.
Visit often. For those of us fortunate enough to live near our children and grandchildren, it is easy to see them often. Grandparents may even be the caregivers while parents are working. Visits don’t always have to be planned. Sometimes the best family time is a spontaneous invitation to dinner and a movie. However, sometimes distance can prevent regular visits. Some grandparents make it a goal to see their distant grandchildren once every 6 weeks or every few months. Be sure to take advantage of technology for your time together. Set a regular time to Skype or do Face-time. Don’t miss out on the subtle changes in those early years while babies are growing. Exchanging pictures may help, but they don’t replace the in-person experience. You may even think of relocating to be closer to family. For older grandchildren, be sure to have their cellphone number. Text them often and exchange pictures to stay involved in their lives and let them know you are available to them. Even small connections throughout the week (but without being annoying to teenagers of course) can make a difference in your relationship with your grandchildren.
Offer to help in practical ways. Working parents with young children will need a break at times. Ask how you can best help. Offer to keep the children for an overnight while mom and dad have a special dinner or weekend getaway. Many grandparents like to take their grandchildren on trips without the parents. Places like amusement parks, the zoo, or day trips to the water park or national forest all provide good diversion and quality time with Grandma and Grandpa while giving parents a rest. For even more quality time, take the older grandchildren on a cruise, camping in the mountains, or to a resort without their parents. For the mom with a newborn, take meals to the house (if you live close), do her grocery shopping or laundry, or send her a new bathrobe to show you are thinking of her. A favorite role model of mine sends the grandchildren a “baby shower in a box” with all sorts of goodies when she can’t be present due to distance or health concerns.
Plan special activities. Special activities need not be expensive. This could mean a trip to the park with Grandma or a special morning walk each week with Grandpa. My father used to take every grandson on a bow-hunting trip when they turned 12 years old. This was a rite of passage for every boy in the family. Grandpa would mount their first deer head for them and buy them a special hunting knife to commemorate the occasion. The girls in the family would take a trip to a Disney resort while the men were hunting. Grandchildren remember these events forever.
Attend special events. How fortunate are the kids whose grandparents are able to attend basketball and volleyball games, swimming tournaments, and Grandparent’s Day at school! Take advantage of being able to attend those dance recitals and school plays. If you live far, plan your visits to be able to attend some significant events like graduations, wedding showers, or school performances. This makes lasting memories with your family.
Be a constant in their lives. My parents divorced when I was 9 years old, and my paternal grandparents were the one constant in my life at that time. When a child’s world is jolted by change, grandparents can be that steadying influence that doesn’t change. They provide stability and security in an unsteady world for a child. The most important thing to remember is to be there. You don’t have to be the all-star parent or grandparent, but your children will remember that you were there for them when it counted the most.
Guest Blog: What You Need to Know About a Hemilaminectomy Procedure
This procedure is one of the safest, most minimally invasive treatments for a herniated disc. A Hemilaminectomy procedure is performed on patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. This diagnosis can come from several issues, such as Arthritis in the spine, which all result in pinched nerves. This procedure is perfect for someone suffering from a condition that occurs when the nerves are being pinched, resulting in severe pain running down the legs and into the feet. So here is what you need to know about the Hemilaminectomy procedure.
What is a Hemilaminectomy Procedure?
A hemilaminectomy is a surgical procedure performed on patients afflicted with lumbar spinal stenosis. This type of spine disorder occurs when the spinal column disc has been compressed over time and onward, which causes ongoing severe pain and discomfort for the patient.
The lumbar spinal discs are cushions of cartilage that sit between vertebrae. This condition occurs because of the pressure that builds up on these discs over time, which causes the pain to be extreme.
How is the Hemilaminectomy Procedure Performed?
This surgery is performed through a small incision on the back. Then special retractors are used to push apart the muscles in the mid-section of the back. This is a much more delicate surgery that must be performed through a small incision.
Because of this, it is usually performed on anyone under general or spinal anesthesia. As long as there are no problems with the patient, they should be able to wake up from the surgery in a few hours and go home after a day or two. This procedure is the least invasive option for patients who have chronic problems with their back.
When You Should Consider a Hemilaminectomy Procedure
This operation should be performed when symptoms of chronic pain are present. Some of these issues can occur from a pinched nerve that travels from the back down to the legs. It is also a procedure that is an option when there is a pressing issue with any of the pinched nerve issues.
Sometimes, this spinal disc can become herniated, which means that the pressure has become too much for it to handle and causes pressure on nearby nerves or bones. This is one of the most common conditions seen in lumbar spinal stenosis.
Sometimes, you can freeze off this spinal disc with a surgical fix by freezing it with an instrument, but Hemilaminectomy is the ultimate fix for this condition.
How Long Does Recovering Take After the Procedure?
Patients who undergo the Hemilaminectomy procedure will benefit immediately from this operation. After the surgery, most people have a day of recovery time before they are allowed to go home.
In most cases, patients return and participate in their normal activities within a few weeks of their Hemilaminectomy surgery. This general timeline is important because it provides comfort to the patient, knowing what they should expect when they decide to undergo this type of surgery.
The Risks of a Hemilaminectomy Procedure
As with any surgery, some risks come with it. Risks can include internal and external problems that may arise during the procedure. Some of these risks can include:
- Blood clots in the legs
- Bleeding
- Nerve damage
- Infection
- Spinal Fluid Leakage
- Allergic reaction to the anesthesia
In addition to this list, some risks are more common after a Hemilaminectomy procedure. This is because it is a less invasive surgery involving limited incisions in the patient’s back. After several months into the recovery process, it is possible at some point for the herniated disc to be recurring to a small degree.
This is something that most patients don’t have to worry about after a few months of recovery, but some patients do deal with a recurrent disc for the rest of their life. In such cases, it is important to get checked regularly.
Conclusion
The Hemilaminectomy procedure has become the preferred choice for most doctors regarding a full spine fix. This is because this procedure involves less invasive incisions, resulting in quicker recovery and improved patient comfort. This type of surgery is an option that is best for patients with debilitating conditions that affect their daily lives.
Five Tips to Surviving Your Husband’s Retirement
I remember when my father retired at the age of 62 from a busy career as a pediatric surgeon. I thought he would be bored, but he had already compiled a notebook full of chores to do around the house, places he wanted to go, and a bucket list of other accomplishments that had been put on hold. Shortly after his retirement, my Mom confided in me that it was a bit of an adjustment having Dad home all the time. Suddenly, Mom said she seemed to no longer be able to cook right after about 40 years of doing this on her own. Dad had a better way to do things, after all. Once I saw Mom trying to wrap a gift and the wrapping paper seemed too small for the size of present. Dad was trying to give her step by step instructions and after snapping at her, Mom let him wrap the gift himself. Now, while I do concede that Dad was able to wrap the gift absolutely perfectly with the allotted paper, Mom and I gave each other a knowing glance and smiled. Ah, retirement.
So, when my own husband announced that he was going to retire and sell his share of the business at the age of 51, I knew I had to take some action to give our marriage the best chance to survive and thrive against this new challenge. After all, when my father-in-law retired, my mother-in-law had to encourage him to get a part-time job so she could have some “peace”. Even she was a bit concerned when my husband decided to take early retirement. Here I offer my short bit of wisdom, gleaned not only from my own experience but also from many wise women who gave me their sage advice to prepare for this season of life: when your husband retires.
Set the ground rules. I had fortunately learned during a brief period when my husband was working from home that there were certain things that would have to be agreed upon before he ever retired if we were to live peaceably. For example, he was not allowed to take over any of my former responsibilities unless I asked him to. Driving the kids around to activities can be helpful, but trying to wash the shrinkable clothes was not. Taking us out to eat after I worked all day was fine, but trying to take over the kitchen was off limits. Helping the kids with business math (not my area of expertise) was great, but trying to be the full-time homeschool Dad was not going to work for any of us.
Have separate work spaces. Jim and I cannot share a computer. I teach partially online and spend lots of time working from home with consulting. We agreed early on that he would set up a separate place in a different part of the house for his computer and desk. This has created much harmony over sharing the work space.
Allow everyone time to adjust to the change. I must admit that it took me several weeks, maybe even months, to realize that my husband was truly going to retire. Once he was home all the time, the reality gradually set in, but I kept reminding myself to give us all an adaptation period as if we were starting a new job orientation, because things were definitely going to change. Our two teenagers were the most leery of Dad being home all the time. For them, the ground rules (i.e. “please just let us do our work and don’t change our routine”) were particularly essential.
Accept your differences. My husband is a problem-solver and savior. He likes a challenge and wants to fix everything for everyone if he can. While I admire this about him, I didn’t want him to fix the nice structure and functionality by which our home was already running. I learned to embrace his strengths and encourage him to accept my weaknesses (like overindulging in carbs and worrying about things I can’t control). He likes to exercise every day, watch sports, and spend time on the landscaping. I would rather take the kids to the movies and go shopping. And that had to be ok.
Embrace the positives. While I was a bit skeptical about how our lives would change with my husband retiring so soon, there are so many things to celebrate that I am daily embracing the wonderful opportunities and blessings that his retirement has brought to our family. We are free to travel more. He accompanies me on business trips, even to China twice! He is much more relaxed and pleasant. It makes our family happy to see him have the time and resources to do what he enjoys. Jim keeps busy all of the time and yet does not have the daily pressure of work-related stress. We spend more time with family and have plans to move nearer to the grandchildren and to a better climate.
For all the women who are warily facing their husband’s retirement, take heart. I can honestly say that with some forward and deliberate planning, my husband’s retirement is one of the best things that has ever happened to us!
Guest Blog: Best Ways to Support a Loved One After a Stroke
A stroke is a serious, life-changing event that occurs when the brain becomes cut off from its oxygen supply due to bleeding or a blocked artery. Fortunately, many people are able to regain most of their cognitive function by following the guidance of their doctors, physical therapists, and speech pathologists. If your loved one has recently suffered from a stroke, there are many ways you can help facilitate their recovery and improve their quality of life.
Rebuild Skills Through Stimulation And Repetitive Practicing
While recovering from a stroke can be a long and often frustrating process, it is important to help them stay on track through purposeful stimulation and repetitive practice. Practicing simple daily tasks is necessary for the neural pathways to rebuild efficiently. Even simple, repetitive motions like leg bends and hand exercises are critical if your loved one is to gain full recovery after a stroke.
Help They Stay Consistent With Full Body Exercises
Your loved one’s physical therapist plays a critical role on their path to stroke recovery. They know exactly which exercises to prescribe for their clients in order to address any lasting effects their stroke has had on their mobility and quality of life. If your loved one struggles with walking after a stroke they may be instructed to complete a series of core, leg, and feet exercises to improve their mobility. Be sure to help them practice these moves on a regular basis and provide ample encouragement along the way.
Don’t Underestimate The Healing Power Of Sleep
Sleep is a powerful healer. Studies have shown that those who have experienced a stroke are more likely to regain mobility and improved neuroplasticity if they receive a healthy amount of sleep every night. Subsequently, stroke survivors who struggle with sleep issues such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome tend to have poorer recovery outcomes. If your loved one is struggling to get enough sleep after they have suffered a stroke it’s important to let their doctor know so they can get to the root of the underlying issue.
Boost Neurogenesis With A Healthy Diet
Your loved one’s diet can play a huge role in how well they are able to recover from a stroke. Certain types of foods promote healthy brain functioning and neurogenesis. You can help your loved one incorporate these foods into their diet by helping them with their grocery shopping and incorporating foods like fish, fresh berries, and nuts into their diet. Leafy greens, legumes, and whole wheat are also good choices for stroke patients. Be sure to consult their physician before making dietary changes, especially if they also have special restrictions due to diabetes or high blood pressure.
Prevent Regression By Helping Them Maintain Consistency
Recovering from a stroke can be a lengthy and frustrating process, especially since mobility gains are often incremental. This can be disheartening for loved ones who may have lived a very robust and active lifestyle prior to their stroke. Not only is recovery frustrating, but it can also be a lonely experience, especially if your loved one has lost their ability to communicate as well. Try to be as active as possible in their recovery process and provide ample encouragement along the way.
Incorporate Apps Into Their Recovery Treatment Plan
Aphasia is a common condition that affects a person’s ability to understand and communicate and is commonly associated with stroke. Aphasia presents differently in all patients and can be as mild as a speech impediment or as catastrophic as total communication loss. Fortunately, there are inexpensive apps you can download for your loved one that will help them improve their language and cognitive skills. If you’re unsure which apps would be most beneficial you should consult their speech pathologist. They will be most familiar with your loved one’s specific needs and can point you in the right direction.
Closing Thoughts
Although there might be some plateaus along the way, you can help your loved one successfully recover from a stroke. By helping them stay consistent with their exercises and accompanying them to their appointments whenever you can, your loved one has a greater chance of regaining their cognitive abilities and significantly improving their quality of life.