How To Identify What May Be Causing Your Child’s Stomach Problems

When your little one has a stomachache, he or she may not always be able to communicate its source clearly. Pinpointing abdominal discomfort’s cause, however, is crucial to resolving the problem as quickly and safely as possible.

Common Causes of Children’s’ Digestion Issues

There are several reasons why your child’s digestive system may act up, but these are three of the most common:

Heartburn

If you think only senior citizens suffer from acid reflux, think again. Heartburn is surprisingly common in children. Even infants can battle reflux, which occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus due to issues with the valve that’s supposed to create a barrier between the esophagus and the stomach.

Gas

Excess gas (and the bloating that often accompanies it) can be incredibly uncomfortable on a little body. It’s most often caused by consuming gas-producing foods or taking in too much air when eating. There are also digestive system disorders that can cause increased gas to wreak havoc on your little one’s stomach, such as celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

Constipation

If your child doesn’t have regular bowel movements, or often has painful bowel movements, constipation may be to blame for his or her digestive discomfort. There are several causes of constipation, including food allergies and intolerance, a lack of fiber in the diet and an underlying disease or disorder that negatively impacts the bowels.

Kid Friendly Ways To Relieve Discomfort

From a full body cleanse to a different sleeping position, you have a number of options for soothing digestive discomfort. What works best for you child depends primarily on the main cause of the problem.

First, avoid foods that seem to trigger discomfort. Acidic and/or fatty foods are frequently to blame for heartburn, for example. Dairy products, meanwhile, may cause constipation in some children. Gluten can be the culprit behind both constipation and gas.

If you can identify problematic foods and eliminate them from your child’s diet, you can stop aches and pains before they start. Alternatively, you can try over-the-counter

remedies, such as stool softeners for constipation, activated charcoal or simethicone for quick relief from gas, and supplements such as Polisorb.

What is Polisorb?

It’s a substance-binding detoxifier that attracts problematic food as it moves through your child’s digestive tract. You might think of it like a magnet for stomach discomfort. The food that binds to it is passed naturally, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes. The supplement itself isn’t absorbed; only that extra slice of pizza or super-spicy taco is.

Paying attention to body positioning can also help ease digestive pain, particularly in the case of reflux. An elevated head makes it harder for stomach acid to reach the esophagus. Exercise and massage often resolve gas pain. Discouraging your child from napping after large meals or eating a bedtime snack can help, as well. You may also wish to add a supplement into your child’s diet to help support their digestive system – if you do, it’s always worth checking to see if there may be a gundry md coupon around that could help you save some money on this purchase.

When your child is in pain, you’d move mountains to make him or her feel better. The next time your little one’s stomach is upset, look to these common causes first. Choose the treatment plan that best fits his or her symptoms and needs, and don’t hesitate to consult your child’s pediatrician.

What are the advantages of Indoor glasses and how we can choose right frame of eyeglasses?

As a homeowner, you find it hard to protect your home from threats. You may have motion detection lights and an alarm machine to lessen the threat to your property. When you decide to upgrade your home windows, the use of safety glass protects your home also. The use of safety glass protects you from injury and reduces the damage posed by your window if they eventually break. 

Safety glasses also reduce the threat of sound pollution and control light transfer. Safety glasses have different uses in different fields, but the glass in sunglasses is most prominent. Nowadays, everyone uses sunglasses for different purposes; some use eyeglasses to improve their vision, but some use eyeglasses as a fashion and eye protection from UV rays. Sunglasses are of two types of indoor glasses and outdoor glasses. 

How can we get online eyeglasses cheaply?

At SmartBuyGlasses, you’ll find the best deals on designer eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses online. Make the most of their exclusive Black Friday offers, with 12% OFF sitewide, 15% OFF lens coatings (blue light block is a must-have!), 30% OFF progressive lenses, and even a buy 1, get 1 free offer from Arise Collective specs.

Brand that fits:

The accessories of this year are definitely our face mask and eyeglasses. Show off these luxe designer glasses from Fendi. Particularly for those individuals with a lower nose bridge and a wide forehead, these Asian Fit glasses have nose pads to prevent any sliding or unwanted movement and ensure that they stay in place securely.

Benefits of indoor glasses:

Keep away from squinting:

Homes, companies, and buildings with bright lighting and wide-open home windows are aesthetically attractive; however, an excess of vivid mild can also reason a variety of squinting. Squinting no longer best will increase your threat of growing wrinkles around your eyes over the years; however, the muscle strain can potentially purpose complications.

Reduce Eye harm from UV Rays:

UV rays damage your eyesight. Possibilities are that prescription indoor sunglasses are tremendous at protecting your eyes from adverse UV rays. UV rays are tremendously proper at penetrating glass home windows and harming you, even while you’re interior. Untreated glass windows will prevent most UVB rays from coming via; however, UVA rays will still come through. UVA is the type of radiation accountable for adverse macula, otherwise known as macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the maximum common reason for vision loss in older human beings, so wearing sun shades indoors often can probably help you to maintain your eyesight as you age.

Block blue light from computer system:

Most sunglasses filter the blue light that computer displays and cell phones emit. This blue light is harsh on the eyes, making it extra hard to recognize your eyes and increasing your risk of developing a headache. Similarly, blue mild is notorious for throwing sleep cycles out of whack, retaining people wakeful for hours after finishing with their electronics, although the screen is dimmed. Maintaining your sun shades on even as working with electronics will let you avoid these issues.

How You Can Still Buy Your Dream Home in 2020

There is a huge financial uncertainty due to COVID-19 as people continue to lose their jobs as businesses suffer. Owing to this home buying in 2020 may look like an intimidating process but you can follow the steps below to buy your dream home. You can also look to mortgage professionals such as Rex Homes for additional information on how to purchase this home.

1. Determine your down payment amount based on your funds: You can begin by analyzing your finances to determine the amount you can pay in down payment. It is usually recommended to put in 20% of your funds but you can consult a mortgage professional and evaluate options to put down less amount.

2. Define your monthly payment amount which will fit your budget: Next, you can evaluate what is a monthly mortgage payment amount that you can comfortably pay. It is suggested to keep room for flexibility so that you do not have to stress financially with your monthly payments.

3. Gather income and asset documents: The sooner you start this step the better. Financial documents can be tricky so allow yourself time to gather all your paystubs, bank statements, asset statements so that you are prepared with your financial document file if you are filing for a pre-approval or if you are consulting a mortgage professional.

4. Get a Pre-Approval Letter: You can contact a mortgage professional and get a pre-approval letter that you can provide to the seller. If you want to show the seller that you are serious about purchasing the house, getting a mortgage pre-approval is a good way to go about it. It will also help you be aware of your finances so you don’t try to purchase something out of your budget.

5. Shop for your home: The next step involves scouting all the options available as per your requirements and selecting the homes that fit your required criteria. A mortgage professional can help you evaluate all your options and assist you in drafting a formal letter to express interest in the homes you are considering for your purchase.

6. Send an offer: With assistance from your mortgage professional, you can send the offer, negotiate, and seal the deal.

7. Enjoy your new home: Once the purchase has been completed you can relax and enjoy your new dream home!

Saving and Budgeting Tips for your Dream Home

The key to successfully save for a new home is to make regular contributions and follow fixed budgets. You can open a separate savings account and set up automatic monthly payments to avoid any temptations of spending the money you should actually be saving for your dream home. You can also use the below options to add additional cash into your savings:

– Skip leisure travel for a year

– Lower your personal expenses

– Reduce your high-interest rate

– Borrow money from a relative

– Sell some of your investments

– Borrow money from 401(k)

– Get a second job

How can a good mortgage professional assist you?

A good mortgage professional can help you evaluate your income and finances and help you make the best decisions to successfully meet your savings goals. With the economic uncertainty surrounding the pandemic is it important to have a knowledgeable mortgage professional who can guide you through your home purchase process so that you are successfully able to secure your dream home in 2020.

Tips for Creating an Eco-Friendly Garden

More and more people are doing what they can to help the environment. Making more sustainable choices is good for your conscience as well as being good for the planet! People assume that gardens, by default, are eco-friendly spaces. After all, they’re green and luscious, right? 

Well, not in every case. People can choose garden furniture and features that aren’t so kind to the environment, making their garden spaces a lot less green! Don’t worry though, there are things you can do to make every facet of you garden eco-friendly. Here are a few tips for creating an environmentally-friendly garden.

Choose sustainably-sourced materials

Choosing sustainably-soured materials can really make a difference to the environment. Some garden materials, like tropical hardwood decking, require trees to be cut down and shipped around the world on a huge scale. As well as causing deforestation, the movement of tropical hardwood on huge ships causes a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. 

There is a better alternative to hard woods like this though. Composite decking can be made using recycled wood and plastic, making it a much better choice. No trees need to be cut down and some composite decking manufacturers save hundreds of tonnes of discarded wood from ending up in landfill every year, just by turning it into decking!

Collect and recycle water

The water that falls from the sky is perfect for watering your plants, but you can’t always count that it will rain when you need it to. That’s why collecting rain water is a really good, eco-friendly way of maintaining your garden. Not only will you save money on your water bill, but you’ll also be harnessing a free resource and recycling water that would otherwise have been lost to the ground. 

Collecting water is simple, all you need is a big container (like a water butt) that’s not under cover. The rain will do the rest! You can use your collected rainwater to fill your water can during drier spells. 

Long term investments rather than quick fixes

One of the main reasons why people’s gardens aren’t eco-friendly is because people choose quick fixes and cheap materials over longer-lasting investments. Of course, investing in a higher quality materials like composite decking is going to be pricier to start with, but over time, you’ll actually save yourself money because your deck boards won’t need to be replaced every few years. 

By choosing high-quality, durable materials, you’ll be discarding less waste over time. Your garden will last longer and will contribute towards a more sustainable way of living. 

Grow fruit and vegetables

Deciding to grow fruit and vegetables in your garden will benefit the environment and your hungry family! Food that’s grown organically in the back garden has travelled a lot less before it arrives on your table. The food in supermarkets is transported hundreds of miles, contributing to greenhouse gases in our environment daily.

There are some obvious health benefits to eating home grown fruits and veg an it’s usually cheaper too! So why not give it a go? You’ll be feeding your family high-quality food and helping to protect the environment too – a win, win situation.

Hopefully these tips will help you turn your garden into an eco-friendly oasis! 

Creating a Patio That You Can Use All Year Round

When you decide to create a patio area in your garden, you want to know that you’ll be able to use it whatever the weather. Patios can be expensive, so being able to use it for only a few months of the year seems like a bit of waste! In this blog, we explore how you can create a patio that you’ll be able to use all year round.

Paving that can be used in all conditions

Certain types of paving with cope better with the changing weather conditions than others. Choosing paving that remains slip and split resistant all year round is the first step towards getting more use out of your garden. Some natural materials are known to absorb a lot of surface water, which can freeze and turn your outdoor area into an ice rink!

Worse still, as the water expands inside the tiles, it can cause fractures and cracks to appear that weaken the structural integrity of the tiles and make them more susceptible to breaking. Natural stone also has inconsistencies and irregularities in its surface which can make natural paving even more prone to damage. In comparison, manmade materials like porcelain paving have been designed to provide excellent slip resistance and won’t chip, even in the most challenging conditions.

Porcelain paving is vitrified at a high temperature making it far more robust than natural stones like slate or limestone. The texture of porcelain paving can also be enhanced during the manufacturing process so that it’s highly slip-resistant.

Alternatively, you can use materials like decorative concrete to create a durable patio that will last for years. Concrete has come a long way in the past 20 years – it’s no longer the drab, grey material you might picture in your head. Zion Outdoors concrete contractors, or similar contractors near you, can help to design and install a concrete patio for you, giving you a beautiful new area you can safely use for dining, entertaining and relaxing in the sun.

Another way to make your patio better for use all year round is to invest in a shelter of some kind. Whether you choose a fully enclosed garden room or a simpler veranda or awning, covering your patio opens a world of possibilities for activities in inclement weather.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to see people inside our homes, so more and more gatherings are taking place outside in the garden. Having a covered patio makes hosting guests easy. You can dine, relax and socialise on your patio without worrying about a sudden rain shower catching you out.

During the warmer months, a shelter will come in very handy to provide shade from the blaring sun. Retractable awnings are particularly great over patios during spring/summer because they can be opened and closed to provide as much or as little sun cover as you need.

Invest in a fire pit or patio heater

If you’re worried about getting cold on your patio you can invest in a heater or fire pit to the space. Modern patio heaters come with all kinds of impressive bells and whistles. Some even feature integrated Bluetooth speakers, making them ideal for parties on your patio.

Prefer something with a little more natural charm? Fire pits can sit on your patio and will provide a lovely warming spectacle during the autumn & winter months. Grab a hot chocolate and a blanket and get ready for a cosy evening out on the patio.

During the summer months, some fire pits can even be doubled up as a patio BBQ, making the experience of sitting out in your garden all the more enjoyable.

Hopefully this will inspire you to make some changes to your patio so that you can get plenty of use out of it all year round.

Why Ongoing Pest Control Is The Smartest Decision For Homeowners

Pest management may not be a top-of-mind concern until you see a rat scampering around or cockroaches hiding in the kitchen cabinets. Sometimes, you may even wait until there are signs of a full-blown ant-infestation in your living space. That is the moment when you realize that you should have taken these pesky intruders more seriously and invested in an ongoing pest control strategy. Proactive, regular treatment is a much better approach as compared to turning to a professional exterminator only when there is an emergency. Here are some reasons why it is the smartest decision for homeowners.

Safety for your health and property

Keeping your living space clear of pests is vital to ensure good health for your family. Mosquitoes are carriers of serious diseases like dengue and malaria, while cockroaches and ants can contaminate your food. Rodents can destroy your property by causing structural damage and gnawing at furniture, furnishings, and wiring. Ongoing control is only a small price to pay when it comes to preserving the health of your family and the value of your property.

Extensive money-savings in the long run

Although calling over a professional for regular inspections and extermination costs you money, you end up saving a lot in the long run. Compared to the cost of medical treatment or damage repair, it may only be a fraction. Moreover, ongoing services cost much lesser than emergency extermination because you will probably need emergency services on the fly, often in the middle of the busy season.

Peace of mind

When it comes to getting rid of these troublesome intruders, DIY may not always be the best approach. These measures may repel the pests and get them out of sight, but they will surely find a hiding place and come out at the first opportunity. Experts wouldn’t recommend DIY as a substitute for regular pest control by professionals. With experts cleaning up your living space many times throughout the year, you can have peace of mind about driving the pests away for good.

Prevent nasty surprises

At times, there are signs of an infestation, and at others, you may not even have a clue about a colony of pests hidden at the most unexpected spot. If you don’t want any nasty surprises, make sure that pest control is not just a one-time task, rather a consistent effort. Your living space deserves attention, and this is one area you cannot afford to overlook.

Trusted advice for prevention

Apart from control treatment, ongoing professional services keep you one step ahead with proactive prevention. These experts implement the right measures to keep the pests out by

sealing entryways, installing barriers at the right places, and having preventive strategies in place. While insects and rodents will probably not be able to enter your home in the first place, the ones already insider will have no way to multiply and cause a major infestation.

Periodic or emergency pest extermination may save you some dollars, but it is not the best thing to do. Collaborating with a professional provider for regular checks and control measures is a better idea for long-term respite from these pesky creatures.

Take These First Steps to Make Your Stress Go Away

Stress is a very normal, very human condition. There is no need trying to eliminate it altogether. But you can make the worst of it go away. Stress can be worrying without being crippling. One can be depressed without having clinical depression. One can be anxious without suffering from anxiety. If you are feeling some stress these days, don’t panic. You are far from alone. There is nothing wrong with you.

Contextualizing stress is the first little step you can take toward making it go away. There are things going on right now that are actually stressful. You should suspect something wrong with you if you feel no stress at all. Look around you. The world as we know it is on fire. Tens of thousands are still being forced out of their homes due to the California wildfires. We are in a pandemic that, contrary to what some might tell you, is getting worse by the day. Businesses are suffering and closing for good at an alarming rate. This is all very stressful. But it is also manageable. Here are the little things that can help you manage it:

Start Saving Money

If a big part of your stress is related to money, you don’t have to let it take possession of you. The best thing you can do when you don’t have enough money is start saving it. By doing so, you take control of the situation and change the narrative.

Do you have a dollar? You can open a credit union savings account. There is great power in having a savings account. It is not just a matter of compiling a war chest. It is mostly about taking control over something that makes you feel powerless.

The power of a savings account is that you have a safe place to treat some part of the money you have as a seed for the future. It can start as small as you like. And it does not have to save the day anytime soon. It takes a while for savings accounts to grow. But it does grow. You can watch it and help it along. Just knowing that you have some small thing you can do will keep the stress at a minimum.

Increase Your Education

Work can be a constant cause of stress when you have it, and a cause of even more stress when you don’t. No one has complete job security. Far too many people are one bad day away from having no job of all.

The pandemic has left a lot of people without work. Some that are still hanging on to work are on the verge of their companies going out of business. If you are in the theater business, the restaurant business, or the retail/mall business, you are not on stable ground. You are dealing with the stress of wondering if you will have a job tomorrow.

There is nothing you can do about whether or not your company or industry will be around. What you can do is prepare yourself for even greater opportunities. This is the perfect time to go back to school. Enroll online. Take some classes at your local community college. Learn a new skill while there is time. Things will get better and people will go back to work. You have the power right now to prepare for an even better job when that time comes.

Learn to Unfriend

You really can have too many friends according to Dunbar’s number. That is the number of relationships a person can maintain, about 150. The story is even more grim when you drill down a little deeper. We can only have 5 very close friends.

This comes as a surprise to people who have dozens of close friends and hundreds of meaningful relationships. Those are the people more likely to suffer relationship stress. They only believe they have that many close friends. They are simply incorrect about those hundreds of relationships being meaningful.

They end up spreading themselves far too thin and trying to please everyone. They want to be everyone’s best friend which is simply not possible. Human brains aren’t made that way. We end up with a lot of toxic relationships that zap all our energy trying to maintain.

The solution is to cull your friend list by a lot. You don’t have to write goodbye letters to everyone. Just find 4 or 5 people you can’t live without and get to know them better. Super serve those friendships and you will find that the stressful and draining relationships fade away on their own.

You can’t defeat stress entirely. But you can render it harmless. Take control of financial chaos by saving money. Take control of work chaos by educating yourself. And take control of relationship chaos by focusing on the few that really matter. 

Take Time for Yourself

Constantly thinking and taking care of everyone else can be exhausting. It’s incredibly important to take time for yourself, and indulge in some self-care practices. You should make time for your favourite relaxing activities. Maybe you like to draw, or read, or binge your favourite television series to unwind. Alternatively, you could research online for a facial near me in Huntington, and book yourself in for a relaxing treatment where you can put your phone down, be completely isolated for a few hours, and immerse in a relaxing environment. Allowing the stress to build up and affect your body will negatively impact you mentally and physically, which is why it is so important to address any ongoing stressful situations.

You can’t defeat stress entirely. But you can render it harmless. You can take control of certain situations and learn to manage your stress better, by taking small steps to ensure you are dealing with things as effectively as possible.

Foods to Avoid If You Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome

If you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), your doctor might advise you to make a few changes in your diet to treat this condition’s symptoms. Adopting a healthy diet means watching what you eat, and consuming an ample mix of nutritious foods.

However, as we approach the December festive season, people suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome might notice that specific diets activate uncomfortable digestive symptoms.

It is impossible to come up with a single list of foods that trigger IBS symptoms because different people have different foods that cause these symptoms to manifest. With that said, research shows that avoiding some of the most common foods such as fried foods, dairy, and alcohol can result in:

• Less bloating

• A decrease in IBS symptoms

• Fewer cramps

• Regular bowel movements

Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome

According to medical experts, IBS is a persistent gastrointestinal ailment that happens to be the leading cause of abdominal disturbance and pain during bowel movements. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common condition that can reduce your quality of day-to-day life.

Most health experts agree that constipation, belly pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea are significant IBS indications.

This article will look at some of the common foods you need to avoid if you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, keep on reading to find out which foods you need to keep off your diet.

1. Gluten

Most people suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome tend to feel better when they avoid eating wheat and other foods containing gluten. Gluten is a protein composite group found in barley, wheat, and rye, which causes abdominal challenges to some people with IBS.

If you are the type of person who encounters worsening symptoms after consuming gluten products, medical experts advise you to adopt a gluten-free diet.

Luckily, the market is experiencing an upsurge supply of gluten-free products at a fast rate. If you are a fan of pasta, pizza, cookies, or cakes and would like to continue enjoying them, you can always opt for gluten-free substitutes.

Additionally, the market is flooded with many whole and nutritious substitutes to grains and flours that contain gluten. Some of them include:

• Coconut flour

• Sorghum

• Almond flour

• Oats

• Buckwheat

2. Insoluble Fiber

Always opt for dietary fibers as they assist in keeping your gut healthy while making your stomach feel full for extended periods. Foods that are high in dietary fiber include fruits, whole grains, and vegetables.

There are two types of fiber found in diets: Soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber is commonly found in oatmeal, beans, and fruits, while insoluble fiber is standard in vegetables and whole-grain products.

3. Fried Foods

French fries, fried chicken, and other fried foods are quickly emerging as the go-to foods in our fast-paced society. However, consuming too much of them can lead to serious health complications. The high-fat content found in these foods tends to be incredibly hard on the digestive system of people living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

According to health experts, frying food tends to change the food’s chemical structure, making it hard to digest, leading to digestive complications.

You can opt to grill or bake your favorite foods instead of frying for a more healthy option.

4. Dairy

For several reasons, dairy products tend to cause abdominal problems to many people suffering from IBS. Many dairy products are high in fat, which sometimes leads to stomach complications and diarrhea.

Also, many people have testified that milk plays a vital role in triggering their symptoms. However, it is unclear whether people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome are more likely to be lactose intolerant.

You can always opt for soy-based cheese and plant milk as dairy alternatives if you feel milk and dairy products give you digestive problems.

You can also opt to cut out dairy products entirely from your diet and focus on consuming calcium-rich foods such as beans, greens, seeds, sardines, and nuts.

Other Foods to Avoid

Other foods you might want to avoid if you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome include:

• Garlic and onions

• Alcohol

• Processed foods

• Caffeinated drinks

• Beans and legumes

• Chocolate

• Broccoli and cauliflower

Following the dietary advice above will hopefully help to reduce the frequency and severity of your IBS symptoms. However, remember to consult a doctor if the problems persist, as there is a range of medications available to help deal with the condition.

Proper Dental Care Is Essential

This article explains why good dental care matters and how it can contribute to your overall health. It also touches on orthodontics for teens and why Invisalign is quite popular right now. If you want to learn everything you need to know about dental care, continue reading.

What is good dental care?

Proper dental care is a combination of regular daily brushing and flossing. It also involves regularly visiting your dental care professional to make sure any possible issues are picked up before they become a bigger problem.

It also includes using mouthwash to get rid of small food particles that might be left behind after you have brushed and flossed. A good idea is to get a new toothbrush at least once every three months, preferably sooner if you can see that bristles are becoming worn and splayed.

Good oral health also involves eating a healthy diet that includes only a limited amount of added sugar, not using excessive amounts of alcohol, and trying to avoid tobacco use altogether.

The price of poor dental care

Missing, crooked, or diseased teeth or even worse, a misshapen jaw, will not only make chewing your food properly more difficult (and painful) than it has any right to be, it will also interfere with proper speech. Plus it could lead to costly corrective procedures.

Cavities are painful parts of your teeth where the enamel has decayed to expose the rot inside the tooth. Cold or hot food and also liquids will quickly send a painful signal that there is something wrong. The problem with cavities is that they will often not show any major symptoms until the tooth has been significantly damaged.

This is why it’s so important to regularly visit your dentist if you want to maintain not only healthy teeth but also healthy gums and a healthy mouth. The fact of the matter is that It’s much easier to treat early symptoms of tooth decay than to do something about advanced cases. As a result of recent developments in dental technology, treating tooth decay before it has advanced too much usually involves only slight discomfort. Modern medications numb the region of the decay and therefore eliminate any possible pain associated with filling the cavity.

Gum disease is another complication that can be caused by poor oral health. During the initial stages, it often appears to be mild, but if left untreated it can lead to much more serious problems. it could, for example, eventually cause infections, loss of teeth, and similar complications.

More serious health problems. Apart from complications to your gums and teeth, scientists have now discovered links between periodontal disease and other health issues such as strokes, heart complications, respiratory issues, and even diabetes. Read on to find out more.

How oral health is linked to your overall health

Few people realize exactly how important their oral health is. Are you aware that your oral health can often provide experts with a fairly good idea of the state of your overall health? Or that issues that start in your mouth can eventually affect your whole body?

Similar to other parts of your body, your mouth is literally teeming with bacteria. Most of them are harmless but not all of them. And since your mouth is a pathway to your respiratory and digestive systems, the bad ones can carry disease to those systems.

Normally proper dental care such as regular brushing and flossing combined with your body’s natural defenses can keep these bacteria under control. Without proper oral care, however, bacteria levels can escalate so much that it not only leads to tooth and gum disease but also infections in other parts of the body.

Something important to know at this stage is that some medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, painkillers, antidepressants, and diuretics can reduce saliva flow. And saliva is what washes down any food particles left in your mouth and neutralizes acids. This helps to protect your body against microbes that could cause disease.

Diseases and conditions that might be worsened by poor oral health

Research shows that oral bacteria combined with inflammation caused by periodontitis could actually play a role in numerous diseases. This can in turn increase the severity of oral health problems. Examples include:

Cardiovascular disease. Although scientists do not yet fully understand the connection, some research indicates that clogged arteries, heart disease, and strokes could be linked to the infections and inflammations caused by oral bacteria.

Endocarditis. This refers to when the inner lining of the heart valves or chambers become infected. It typically happens when germs or bacteria from other parts of the body (including the mouth) spread to certain regions of the heart via the bloodstream.

Complications during pregnancy and giving birth. Links have been found between periodontitis, premature birth, and reduced birth weight.

Diabetes. Researchers have found that individuals who suffer from gum disease have a more difficult time controlling their blood sugar levels.

Reasons To Not Get Laminate Countertops For Your Kitchen Unless You Absolutely HAVE To

With changing trends and needs, a variety of materials have been used over the years for kitchen countertops. But laminates have stirred a debate for quite some time now.

Laminates are made of wood byproducts and resin glued together, passed through heat and a hydraulic press, later laminated with plastic sheets. They have made a quick reputation in kitchen countertop options because of their low price and variety of designs. However, they aren’t durable in the long run, so they are a good option for someone who’s looking for a low budget kitchen remodelling.

But if you’re looking for something long term then here’s why you should keep laminate countertops are your absolute last option: 

1. Less Durability

Laminate countertops tend to last long when properly cared for but their durability is still way less than PVC and wood cabinets. Once the edges and corners of the laminate countertop start to tear off, it is extremely difficult to repair them and stick them back on. You might need to replace the whole thing which is just a dent in your budget! 

Laminate is being used for countertops, but according to the following quartz vs. laminate countertop comparison chart, laminate is less durable for countertops as well as cabinets:

  • Loses firmness in a humid environment but quartz, wood and PVC materials retain their structure. 
  • Contain particle board shelves and jambs which are less durable than plywood used in wood cabinets. 
  • Can’t be repaired once the edges lift off, unlike wood that can be sanded. 

Now that we know laminate is definitely not the right choice for you in you are looking for durability or live in a humid environment, let’s take a look at the textures and visual appeal:

2. Limited Visual Appeal

If you are an admirer of classic and traditional kitchen design styles, nothing can beat wood! Laminate countertops come in a variety of styles and finishes at a cheap price, but they lack depth and it can be easily distinguished from real wood.

There are some high-end expensive laminate countertops that are really similar to wood but they are definitely not budget friendly and why bother when you can get the real wood at the same price? Similarly PVC can be customised to a variety of designs and comes with a better durability and fire resistance than laminate. 

3. Cost and Resale Value

We get it, saving money on kitchen countertops sounds really tempting, and laminate countertops provide you with just the thing, But here’s the catch, they don’t add to your home’s resale value in any way. Whereas wood and other materials might be a little pricier, they are a top tier material and the extra money you spend on them will add to the resale value of your home.

On the other hand, if you save money and get yourself laminate countertops , they will wear out sooner and might just end up decreasing your resale value if anything. 

4. Maintenance & Care

Laminate countertops are no doubt really low maintenance and easy to clean. They can be cleaned with mild cleaning agents and don’t need any high end maintenance. But caring for laminate countertops is not as easy as cleaning them. As already established, they are prone to damage with humidity and also get damaged with heat and start to peel off. The repair costs on laminate countertops can be too high and you can’t save the edges from peeling off over time even with extreme care. It makes more sense to just get a good quality wood or PVC structure that will last you a long time and save you repair costs. 

Now that we have established that Laminate countertops are not the right choice for your kitchen given their less durability and visual appeal as compared to wood and PVC. They might be easy maintenance, and save money on kitchen remodel, but it is only for a short time and they’ll start to wear out sooner than wood and PVC. What’s the point of saving that money on something that isn’t going to last long? So don’t get yourself something that isn’t durable just to save yourself money on your remodel and end up spending more money on repairing it! Remember to only choose laminate countertop if you REALLY have to in case of unavailability of other options!