Many older mothers are considered high risk. It can be dangerous to have a child later in life. More things can go wrong with both the pregnancy and the birth. This can be scary and stressful for the mother so any good news will be very welcome. Read more to learn some good news for older soon-to-be mothers.
Bleeding Gums During Pregnancy: What You Should Know
Pregnancy comes with a whole host of fun side effects. Weight gain, acne, swollen feet, heartburn — all are commonly experienced by women during pregnancy. But there’s another symptom of growing a tiny human inside you that might catch you off guard: bleeding gums. One of the less-talked about symptoms of pregnancy, bleeding gums are actually pretty routine (if a little squicky) experience for many women. Statistics show nearly half of pregnant women go through something similar during pregnancy. Read on to find out more about this particular phenomenon and what you should do if you’re experiencing it.
The Cause
One of the many effects of the hormones running rampant through your body all of a sudden is that they can inflame tissue, specifically on your gums. This alone will make your gums puffy and prone to bleeding when you brush and at other times. The hormones also make your gums more susceptible to bacteria that can cause gingivitis. This condition, appropriately known as “pregnancy gingivitis,” will also cause your gums to be sore and cause them to bleed.
Don’t Ignore It
While gingivitis and inflamed gums won’t be a huge danger on their own, they can cause other problems if left untreated, and they’re all in addition to the pain and discomfort that will not go away unless you address the issue. Specifically in the case of gingivitis, tooth decay can occur in extreme scenarios, and we bet the last thing you want to do while you’re pregnant is have oral surgery of any kind. Even though there are plenty of pregnancy safe anesthetics, we’re pretty sure you’ll have a better time with preventative care instead.
What To Do?
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, now’s the time to up your dental care game. Brush often, but softly — you want to keep your mouth clean, but irritating your gums further won’t do any good. Flossing is also a must as it’s necessary to get at bacteria wedged between your teeth that your brush won’t reach. Mouthwash is also effective, but alcohol-based brands might cause discomfort if your gums are tender. Consider a non-alcoholic brand like Biotene if your Listerine feels too intense. Finally, visiting your dentist on a regular basis is essential to proper mouth care. No one can get your teeth as clean as your dentist can during a routine cleaning, and he’ll also be able to spot any potential problems that could pop up. Sometimes the best medicine is prevention.
Fall Off the Healthy-Eating Wagon? How to Get Back On
Have you and your family’s healthy eating habits slipped in recent months? When schedules get busy, it’s tempting to go the fast food route. Get back on track by convincing your family to try a new vegetable and fruit every week for the month of March. Favor plant-based protein, like beans, over meat. How about trading standard grains for whole grains? You can even involve the community by hosting a healthy recipe contest.
Fall Off the Healthy-Eating Wagon? How to Get Back On
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5 Steps to Break Free From Binge Eating
Food not only nourishes the body but soothes and satiates as well–which is a big reason why our relationship with food can get really complicated. Anorexia and bulimia may be the most commonly talked about eating disorders but binge eating (not to be confused with occasional overeating) is actually the most common eating disorder in the United States. It impacts up to an estimated 5 percent of the population, 40 percent of which are men–a surprising fact considering other forms of eating disorders are typically twice as common in women.
5 Steps to Break Free From Binge Eating
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Replacing Missing Teeth: Why It’s Important
A common symptom of aging (or contact sports) is the loss of teeth. Our chompers don’t last forever, and when they start to wear out, they need to be safely repaired or removed. If you’ve undergone a tooth extraction or have simply lost one, and it’s not totally obvious, it may be tempting to save money and time by not replacing it. Unfortunately, you could be landing yourself in hot water down the road. Here are some reasons why it’s important for your health to replace a lost tooth or teeth.
Self-Esteem
You might have a great sense of self and be totally comfortable with the way you look. However, a prominent missing tooth isn’t as socially acceptable as a unique fashion sense or hairdo. The cultural connotation of missing teeth isn’t positive, and regardless of your personality, it’s bound to get to you at some point or another. If you don’t believe replacing a lost tooth is going to have physical health benefits, consider the mental health benefits, too. There is nothing wrong or superficial in fixing a problem because it makes you emotionally uncomfortable.
Your Jaw and Gums
Your smile isn’t the only thing missing a tooth, your jaw and gums will be affected, as well. Your teeth stimulate your gums which, in turn, adhere to your jaw bone. If you’re missing teeth, even one, the gum will be less stimulated and more likely to recede. This could result in the loss of more teeth and other dental problems if the teeth on the other side of the jaw start slowly moving into the gap left behind.
Your Face Shape
If you have lost multiple teeth, that will definitely have an effect on the shape of your mouth. If your teeth keep shifting back to make up for the new space in your mouth, you will notice a distinct change in the layout and appearance of your face. Your cheeks will sink in because they aren’t supported by the row of teeth they once were, and your jawbone will recede when it has less teeth. This could result in a collapsed bite. All of these problems will make you look older than you actually are.
If Not Now, When?
If you’re planning on replacing a tooth, but are delaying, don’t. In nearly every case it’s the best course of action to take care of these replacements sooner rather than later. Otherwise other teeth could shift and the shape of your mouth could change in such ways that they would prevent a proper replacement. If you have the means to take care of the problem immediately, that is exactly what you should do.
8 Healthy Meal Hacks to Steal From Dietitians
Like steel-cut oatmeal, but don’t like waiting 40 minutes?” asks Maggie Moon, MS, RDN, author of The MIND Diet. “Add oats and water according to package directions, and use the porridge setting on your rice cooker. Do it at night, and you’ll have perfect steel-cut oats in the morning. Rice cookers can also steam vegetables, cook fish in 15 minutes, or even slow-cook chicken or pork—just add broth and aromatics.
4 Tips to Prevent Discoloration After Teeth Whitening
The last thing you want to deal with after paying to have your teeth whitened is unsightly discoloration. Luckily, tooth discoloration is a problem that can be cured before it even starts with a little preventative maintenance. Here are four tips that, if properly adhered to, should help to prevent tooth discoloration.
1. Use A Straw All The Time
Making a habit out of using a straw will only benefit you in the long run as it will help siphon whatever you are drinking away from your teeth. This is a great way to keep any sugary, stain-inducing liquids that you may already have a habit of consuming throughout the day from staining your teeth.
2. Avoid Foods, Beverages, And Products That Will Stain Your Teeth
Certain foods and beverages with high sugar and acid content will contribute to tooth discoloration. Some of the most popular and widely-used culprits are coffee, tea, wine, tobacco, candy, soda, fruits and vegetables with a high acid content (like tomatoes and blueberries), and (gasp) even soy sauce. Additionally, avoiding food in-between meals gives your saliva a chance to dilute any acids that could be remaining from the previous meal.
If you are not able to entirely eliminate tobacco and coffee from your diet, at least attempt to limit your intake–as prolonged use will surely stain your teeth and wear on your enamel.
3. Keep A Strict Oral Hygiene Schedule
Making sure that you are brushing and flossing your teeth within a half hour of each meal is an essential step to preventing tooth discoloration and a great way to keep your smile bright and healthy. Additionally, rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash will aid in the prevention of bacteria that cling to your teeth and cause stains, discoloration, and other preventable issues.
4. Have Your Teeth Professionally Cleaned On A Bi-Annual Basis
Having your teeth cleaned on a bi-annual schedule greatly reduces the risk of discoloration. It is also beneficial to your overall oral health as your dentist can recommend other preventative treatments or spot any unforeseen problems during your visits.
Additionally, if you are not satisfied with the color of your teeth, or find that they are prone to discoloration, request that your dentist make a custom-fitted tray so you can whiten your teeth at home. As always, be sure to consult with your dentist concerning what whitening formula is best for you.
Hold That Pose: Yoga May Ease Tough Depression
Yoga is fun exciting, and gets your body in the best of condition. Many women participate in yoga, but men also enjoy it. Not only does yoga help you get the best body, it also frees you spiritually and mentally. There is new proof that even suggests yoga may benefit tough cases of depression. Could yoga really have such an impact?
Most Women Stop Drinking After Positive Pregnancy Test, Study Finds
Throwing back a drink or two now and again is something that many people enjoy, including women. A new study provides a bit of comfort to the world, since findings indicate that women usually immediately stop this habit upon learning of a pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of many conditions a baby can acquire when mom drinks during pregnancy, so this news is outstanding.
Most Women Stop Drinking After Positive Pregnancy Test, Study Finds
Are Crunches the Best Workout for Abs?
Even if you’re not looking to get a six-pack—and believe us, it’s really not worth it—you’ve probably done some sort of abs exercises. You’ve heard a strong core has lots benefits, from improving your posture to preventing injuries, and if you’re being honest, you also want that elusive flat stomach. So you add crunches to your workout.
Key Takeaways:
- Cardio and diet are essential when looking to have a flat stomach
- spot reduction is impossible
- there are many exercises to strengthen your core besides just crunches
“studies suggest the path to a flatter stomach has just as much to do with cardio and diet as it does with working that midsection.”
