Wellness Archives - Serendipity Mommy

Tell-Tale Signs You Need Root Canal Treatment

January 17, 2020 by Mandy

Ask any dentist and they will gladly confirm that tooth extraction really is a last resort, and root canal treatment is often the preferred option that allows the tooth to remain in place. If you are wondering why it is so important not to extract teeth unless absolutely necessary, once a tooth has been removed, the teeth on either side have now lost the critical support and this means they will loosen over time.

Here are a few of the signs that tell you root canal treatment might be required.

Sensitivity To Heat & Cold– If you wince when drinking hot or iced coffee, this is because of exposed nerves, which might be due to a cracked or chipped tooth, or possibly gum disease that has reached the nerve section of the tooth. The best solution if you are experiencing this kind of discomfort is to make an appointment with a local dentist, who can carry out a thorough oral examination to determine the cause of the sensitivity. Sensitive teeth are a problem for many Australian people, although root canal treatment is not always the answer, and the only way to know for sure is to visit your dentist and ask them to examine you.

Constant Pain– If you are suffering with a constant pain at the base of a tooth, this could well be due to a serious infection, and in some cases, root canal treatment is recommended, and by making an appointment at a Brisbane endodontics clinic, an expert can give you a diagnosis. Of course, toothache can be caused by many things and in a lot of cases, other forms of treatment are advised.
Swollen Gums– Swollen gums signify that something is wrong under the surface of the gums and it is usually accompanied by pain, which might be due to a deep infection. In many cases, the tooth is fine and the inflammation will clear up with some medication, yet there are times when the root is damaged, and rather than losing the tooth, root canal treatment is the best option.
Dark Tooth Discolouration – This could be due to root damage, which affects the small blood veins and causes a dark discolouration, and this is often because of extended periods of tooth decay, due to poor oral hygiene. If you notice a dark discolouration at the base of one of your teeth, make an appointment with your dentist and he or she would carry out a thorough oral examination to determine the cause and recommend a treatment.

Without root canal treatment, many people would have no choice but to have teeth extracted and this can cause a whole new set of issues, as the teeth on either side will soon work their way loose and this is a very difficult thing to treat. Only a qualified dentist can perform root canal treatment, which involves removing the substance in the root canal, cleaning out the space, then filling it with a special composite material that retains the tooth’s strength.

Benefits of Hydrating Aloe Vera Juice For Your Skin

December 11, 2019 by Mandy

Aloe vera is a plant with a well-deserved reputation for healing properties. The juice of the aloe vera plant is included in many natural skin care treatments, such as the best organic face wash, because of its superior hydration properties. Discover what sets aloe juice apart from other lightweight moisturizers and makes it ideal for daily use on acne-prone skin.

Lightweight Hydration

Aloe is a go-to ingredient for quenching thirsty skin, particularly after cells sustain sun damage. The juice of this plant has a unique ability to smooth over the epidermis, locking in moisture without leaving behind a greasy residue that could clog pores. These properties make aloe vera juice an effective counterpart to an oil based acne treatment. The juice of this succulent is also rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C and folic acid, all of which are essential for skin health.

Reduced Irritation

The juice of the aloe vera plant can also reduce reactions such as pain and visible redness while working to repair damage on the cellular level. Aloe suppresses the triggering enzymes for inflammation with compounds such as acemannan, which may be helpful for acne as well as skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.

Aloe vera juice is also a source of polysaccharides, which are compounds that support cell turnover and damage repair. This plant-based product also contains the pain-relieving enzyme carboxypeptidase. The regenerative properties of aloe juice are most potent when the leaves have been cold-pressed and minimally processed.

Improved Absorption

Aloe vera juice and gel both contain lignin. These organic polymers promote the penetration of other treatments through the epidermis and deep down into the dermis. This is another reason why the juice of the aloe plant is recommended for topical use with the best acne oil treatment. Aloe vera juice also features antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agents such as plant phenols, salicylic acid and sulfur.

Clarification and Exfoliation

Most acne sufferers are familiar with salicylic acid. This acid naturally occurs in aloe, which enables the juice of this plant to function as a gentle exfoliant. The high rate of absorption makes it possible for aloe vera juice to thoroughly clarify skin. Other compounds present in aloe can limit the production of tyrosinase, an enzyme that triggers the formation of skin discoloration. Antioxidants such as glutathione peroxide may also help to fade existing skin damage. As aloe vera juice is absorbed into skin, it also increases collagen and elastin production while promoting fibroblast activity.

Two distinct products, gel and juice, are sourced from the leaves of Aloe Barbadensis Miller and other common varieties. The juice referred to as Aloe Latex is a yellow sap found between the inner skin of leaves and the gel. This liquid drips from cut leaves and has a bitter taste and strong smell. Aloe vera juice is effective at hydrating skin without clogging pores or provoking irritation. Whether you apply juice directly to skin or look for natural products that contain active botanical compounds, you shouldn’t overlook the nourishing properties of this effective, lightweight moisturizer.

Long Time No Talk: How to Talk to Family You Haven’t Seen in Ages

November 28, 2019 by Mandy

Has a distant relative recently friended you on Facebook? Did you randomly bump into an ex-partner in the street? Or have you found yourself sat next to an old colleague at a dinner party?

Whenever you find yourself reconnecting with an old friend or relative, awkward silence may fill the air. You may find yourself wondering how you managed to converse all those years ago!

In those “long time no talk” situations, how can you reconnect without sounding like a rambling idiot? Read on for the answer.

Conversing in Awkward Situations

Meeting or chatting with someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time can feel extremely uncomfortable. Especially if it’s an unexpected event, such as meeting at local funeral homes when a relative has died. Or bumping into each other in the grocery store.

Either way, it can be hard to think on your feet and say the right thing. So how can you use your words wisely? Follow these simple tips.

Think Before You Speak

If you know you’re going to meet up with old friends and family members at an upcoming event, such as a wedding or funeral, keep a few questions in mind. Try these for conversation starters:

How’s life?
What are you enjoying at the moment?
It’s been 5 years since we last met, what are your highlights?

And while it’s always good to reminisce about the past a little, try to focus on the future too. Plans, hopes, and dreams are all good topics of conversation.

Show Some Love

If you’re happy to see someone, then show some emotion!

A big hug, a smile, and a warm demeanor can break down barriers. You could even say, “I’m happy to see you” or “I was just thinking about you the other day”. Showing love is the best way to ease a potentially awkward situation.

Build Bridges and Apologize

While drifting apart is a natural part of life, you may be at fault. If you feel like you could have been better at keeping in touch, try a small apology. You could say, “I’m sorry I did such a bad job at keeping in touch after we left college”.

But don’t sit there sticking out your bottom lip waiting for the other party to apologize. Take the initiative to build broken bridges. Don’t come across as stubborn or arrogant.

Is it worth it apologizing?

While some toxic relationships may not be worth revisiting, some may be extremely good for you. In fact, research shows that friendships may affect life expectancy. So if you keep leaving friendships behind, you might live to regret it.

Avoid Unmentionables

Of course, in any relationship there are unmentionables. Don’t kill the conversation by asking uncomfortable questions or bringing up bad experiences from the past. Even if you’re trying to make light of something.

This is vital when you’re reconnecting with an ex-partner. Saying something like, “How’s that girl you cheated on me with?” is going to bring the conversation to a complete stop.

Go With the Flow

While having some topics in mind, be fully prepared to go with the flow of the conversation. You’ll find as you start reconnecting, the conversation will become spontaneous. Instead of worrying about what to say next, listen to what they’re saying.

Basically, don’t try too hard. Let it flow naturally.

Keep in Touch

While some relationships are better left to family reunions or events you can’t avoid. Some relationships might be worth saving. This time instead of drifting apart, try to keep in touch.

At the end of the conversation, take their contact details. Tell them, “I’d like to keep in touch”. Or arrange a specific date to meet up again in the future.

Reach Out and Reconnect

Instead of waiting for a chance encounter, you might want to reach out to family members and friends you’ve lost touch with. How can you reconnect? You could try one of these methods:

Write an annual “newsletter” with your latest family news, and encourage your loved ones to send one back.
Use social media to reconnect. Video calls, photo likes, and even simple text messages can rebuild a broken bridge.
Hold a reunion reminiscing on “the good old days” while flicking through old photos and mementos.
Retrace your ancestry and build a family tree.

It might feel daunting to reach out, but once you get chatting it’s often easier to rekindle your relationship than you might have imagined.

Long Time No Talk—The Struggle Is Real!

If you’ve met up with an old friend, the first thing that might roll off your tongue is, “long time no talk”. But instead of letting the situation get even more awkward, follow these tips and reconnect like a pro.

For more tips on how to deal with moments that make lose your cool, check out #thestruggleisreal section of this blog.

Hospice – From A Patient’s Point of View

November 18, 2019 by Mandy

Being told that you don’t have a long time to live is certainly not a feeling that can be comprehended and absorbed easily. It takes time to adjust to this new life. I am terming this phase as a new life as everything changes. Right from your lifestyle to your social circle, nothing remains the same.

Speaking from my own personal experience, I was your normal boy next door. My life revolved around family, work, and friends. Although I didn’t live with my family but was still quite close to them. My friends were my lifeline and work, my passion. I always thought of myself as a privileged guy as I was earning doing something that I was passionate about – writing. I still remember the day I got this job offer as a creative content writer; I just couldn’t contain my excitement.

Little did I know my life would change so drastically. I knew cancer was a fatal disorder but when I suffered from, only then I understood how lethal it can prove to be. Doctors tried chemotherapy but eventually gave up saying that my body isn’t reciprocating as it should. It did come as a shocker even though I had already mentally prepared myself for this when I was initially diagnosed.

Instead of crying over what had happened or what is going to happen, I decided to take the matters in my own hand. I wanted to spend my remaining living days happily, surrounded by my loved ones. Thus, I decided to opt for hospice about which I had a deep understanding because of tons of articles I had written related to this care, as part of my job.

The important decision to take here was the selection of a hospice care facility. After thorough discussion, deliberation, and research, I zeroed on Good Heart Hospice & Palliative Care, a prominent name in LA. The major reasons why I selected this center was their 24×7 availability, individualistic approach, professional behavior, and goodwill.

During my initial meeting with them, I was sure that I had taken the right decision. They were very attentive, empathetic, and willing to walk the extra mile for my comfort and convenience. As I was feeling so low due to my illness, they boosted my morale and gave me a guarantee that my life quality will improve and these last few months will become the most memorable time for me.

I decided to take this care at my parent’s place since I wanted to spend the maximum time with them. My siblings and friends visit me daily, they do it even now too. As a matter of fact, I have a movie night planned with them tonight. Right after I am going to finish this draft, I am going to select a movie (if you have any suggestions, share with me in the comment section below).

The best thing about Good Heart Hospice & Palliative Care is regular visits by hospice experts and volunteers. While the experts help in pain management, counseling, and medical needs, volunteers give me company when my family and friends are busy with their jobs. They do actually make an effort to keep me occupied whenever possible, for which I am really grateful to them.

To put it simply, hospice has given me a new lease of life, even though for a limited period of time, but all thanks to Good Heart Hospice & Palliative Care. I can’t thank them enough for their physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental care and support. Even when I have required their services at wee hours of the morning, they attended me and helped me to feel better.

All in all, living with a fatal, incurable disease is not easy. You are often left counting your remaining days. However, hospice care from a reliable facility such as Good Heart Hospice can prove to be extremely helpful. It’s been for months since I am received care from them and this duration has really infused positivity and hope in me. Although I know I have limited time to live but I am trying my best to live every moment; for myself, my friends, and my family.

How to Stop Allergies Immediately for Your Children

November 18, 2019 by Mandy

Parenthood is often a double-edged sword. The love we have for our children is like nothing else, but that love comes with other side effects: fear and worry about their well-being. Seeing your child suffer through allergies is fun for no mother or father.

That’s why so many parents are curious about how to stop allergies immediately. No one wants to have to see their child fight through irritating symptoms for a moment longer than they need to. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to help cut allergies out of your child’s life.

Not all will work for every child, but all the tips below are worth trying out. Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.

Block out the Allergens

It may sound too simple to be true, but it’s really the best way: keep the allergens away. The more you keep your kids around access to whatever their allergy may be to, the more chance they’ll have to suffer through the consequences.

That means shutting your windows during pollen season, not going to that friend’s house with the dog, or keeping that certain kind of vegetable out of the home.

There’s a lot you can do around the house to help stop the spread of allergens and keep them out of your home. Turn your air conditioner to recycle mode so that it filters just the air that is already indoors around. This will keep pollen and outside allergens out.

You should also clear your air filters as much as possible. Dust and all sorts of potential allergy issues get caught in here, and leaving them uncleaned can create dirty, problematic air. You can even invest in a humidifier for allergies if you want to ensure the air in your home remains clean.

Investing in air purifiers and keeping away from strongly scented detergents and cleaners also can help to make your child more comfortable during an allergy flare-up. Creating a strong and pure environment at home is really one of the best things you can do.

Do Laundry More Frequently

Allergens can stick to our clothes. This is an important fact to understand if you really want to prevent allergies in your child. That means when you go for a walk or spend some time doing activities outside, you are interacting with allergens.

When you come back to the home, you are bringing these allergens in with you. If you want to avoid allergies, it can be best then to toss your clothing off immediately into the laundry hamper. Put new clothes on.

This will be true for both you and your child’s clothing. Everyone has the possibility of bringing allergens into the home, so it will need to be a team effort to keep these allergens out. You might not be able to maintain this system year-round, but it’s something you should keep in mind at least during the highs of allergy season.

When you do wash your clothes, consider doing it at a high temperature. Research has shown that high temperatures can destroy nearly all allergens.

By the same token, if you have pets that live both indoors and outdoors, you’ll need to better monitor their behavior during allergy season. They can easily bring allergens into the home, so you should keep them out of your bedroom and off the furniture.

See a Doctor

Modern medicine has come a long way, and if your child is suffering from allergies, there may be a medical solution. If you haven’t ID’d your child’s triggers, that’s the first step. If you don’t know what’s causing allergic reactions, you won’t know how to best prevent them.

That being said, you probably have already taken that first step forward and you may have already had medication prescribed. This medication isn’t intended to remove allergies as much as it is there to help dull symptoms.

However, it might be worth checking in with your doctor and seeing if the medication you’re using is still the best option. You may be using an over-the-counter medication when something prescribed would be better, or vice versa.

The most important thing is that your child takes the allergy medication as suggested by a doctor, and not just when they begin to experience symptoms. Doing so can really limit its effectiveness.

If pills aren’t doing the trick, there may be a nasal spray that could be better. Veramyst and Nasonex are two examples of nasal steroid spray that have been very popular in those who suffer from seasonal allergies.

Last but not least, if your child suffers from allergies year-round, it might be worth seeing if there are more extreme measures that can be taken. You can look into immunotherapy, where an allergy specialist administers shots over the course of several months.

This can be quite expensive and often painful for small children. Your child would likely not be too excited at the prospect of constant shots. But if their allergy symptoms are very severe and show no signs of fading, this might be the only option available to you.

How to Stop Allergies Immediately

If you see your child suffering, you want to do anything you can to stop it. Knowing how to stop allergies immediately is as simple as reading and implementing the above information into your everyday life.

Need more parental advice, tips, and tricks? Check out the rest of our blog for more information.