Basketball and Wellness Retreat

When we think of basketball, we think of dribbling and shooting. However, do you ever think about the possible wellness aspects of basketball? While you can play basketball a lot, sometimes the best players are those who also focus on wellness and happiness, associated with basketball. In this, we’re going to discuss basketball, and the wellness aspects of this, and how they can improve one’s playstyle. 

Meditation 

Meditation is great, not just because it relaxes the body, but it also helps with overthinking and focusing too much on distracting thoughts. While on the court, these thoughts can bother you, wreaking havoc on the bodyand mind. However, when you use meditation, you learn to acknowledge and dismiss those thoughts. 

Players who utilize meditation tend to play better on the court and have a better understanding of mental aspects of oneself. With meditation and wellness, people can properly follow the plays and focus better, making them better players. 

Yoga 

Yoga is another great activity, and while it may not seem like it’s related to basketball, it sure is. Think about it, with yoga, you stretch and move the body, improving one’s ability to move about on the court better. Flexibility is a focal part of one’s ability to handle oneself on the court, and can attribute to better speed, along with ball control. 

Yoga also is very relaxing, and can reduce stress, which does befall many players that play. However, it can be a little hard to start with at first.  With basketball, you’ll notice though that movements are faster, and you’ll be more in tune with your body. An hour yoga session in between basketball workshops is a good way to help keep the body limber, build mindfulness, and overall wellness.

Nutritional Aspects 

What many players forgo, is nutrition. However, half of the power that one has is through nutrition and taking care of your body. With proper nutrition, you provide the body with the fuel necessary to give them everything that they need to work well. So if you want to really improve your game, look at what you eat. 

Giving players a crash course on nutrition is great.  This is valuable for many, because so many people don’t know the basics of nutrition. They eat whatever they want and then wonder why they aren’t getting results or don’t have any.  Teaching people the importance of proper nutrition is essential.  It helps with so many aspects and improves the lifestyles of players too. 

Massage Therapy 

Finally, we’ve got massage therapy. Players might not understand this, but massaging and massage therapy is a great way to improve one’s basketball abilities. 

It helps with blood circulation and getting it to the area. When you play basketball, you are using and wearing down muscles. with massages, it can help push blood to there, so that they can heal faster. It’s great for fighting off muscle fatigue and soreness, improving the abilities of such. 

So yes, there are tons of holistic activities that you can add to your repertoire, and you’ll be able to, with this, craft the best aspects that you can, offering the right types of help that you can. 

Put these in between workshops and camps, and you’ll know for a fact that this is good for the muscles and body. 

You can also do this after practice too as a supplementary activity that can really improve the overall aspects and generate great health and wellness that works with it too. 

It isn’t just the game, it’s also the other little aspects that’ll improve your body and mind too.

Single Tooth Implants

Implants are revolutionary, and a great way to replace one’s teeth.  With over 120 million Americans not having at least one tooth, and 36 million without any teeth, this is a huge deal. Implants have changed the means in which you treat lost teeth. Whether you have partial or full dentures, or just need one or two teeth replaced, implants are a great way to boost the feel, look, and the function of these teeth naturally. 

What Implants Are 

Implants are essentially a cylinder made of titanium screws that get placed on the jawbone, fused in, and help with the missing teeth. Once these are put in place, then the dentist can put mounts or crowns on this. In essence, it’s replacing the teeth to make it real. 

Who’s Eligible for This 

For some interest, they may wonder if they can get implants. After all, bridges, along with dentures aren’t very comfy, and because of that, it can be quite hard to take care of. 

Some people might not have bone or the tooth support, which contributes to issues with oral hygiene, gagging, and discomfort. 

Many times too, people look at implants because bridges need to have something to rely on, and that might not be possible for some.  Implants however, don’t need teeth next to them to hold this in place, and they usually are prepared beforehand. 

To get implants,. u need minimally the following: 

• Healthy gums 

• Enough bone to support this or be eligible for bone grafting to replace the bone. 

• Excellent habits and visits on a regular basis, which help with the long-term health and success of these implants. 

Costs 

Costs of this do vary, especially since they can be done by maxillofacial and oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and also periodontists. But some dentists may take extra training and learn to put this in. 

Implants are more expensive than dentures and bridges, and keep in mind that most carriers won’t cover more than 10% of the fees, so you’ll be paying out of pocket more than likely. 

Types of Implants 

There are different types of implants for you to use, and it can be good for you to look at the options. 

The first are endosteal implants, which are implants that are implanted onto the jawbone directly.  Once the gum tissues are healed, then another surgery is used to connect the implant and the post together. A crown or artificial tooth is attached there, and It can also be grouped on a denture or bridge. 

The second is subperiosteal implants, which are used when someone doesn’t have enough jawbone. Essentially, a frame is put underneath the jawbone below the gums. They heal, and the frame is within the jawbone. These posts get attached and protrude out in the gums, and the teeth are then mounted directly to the posts. 

Missing teeth isn’t good to have, and it can cause some problems with talking, smiling, and other health issues. Implants fix this issue. 

Single Tooth Implants 

Essentially, single tooth implants are for just one tooth. The dentist places the implant within the jawbone, and then, it gets fused to the bone directly. The implant is essentially the “root” for the teeth. Crowds are then attached to replace said teeth. 

In order to be a candidate for this, the jawbone does need to be strong enough, and the bone grafting will help with this. 

They also will look as well at medical history. If you have liver disease, a severe bleeding disorder, or diabetes, you might not be eligible to get these implants.

Breath-Friendly Foods for Freshness

 Mouth freshness is important. The last thing you want to do is go in and have some food that just makes your breath reek right before an interview, right? Having the right foods for your oral health and freshness is not only good for your breath, but also your body.

Our diet does impact our freshness. Not just in the short-term with onions and the pungent scent. If you have bad foods, it causes your breath to get stinky and smelly. The solution? Breath-friendly foods that will make your breath smell good, and bring you confidence.

The Foods for Bad Breath Fighting 

Fighting bad breath is not just through brushing and flossing frequently, but also eating foods that are good for preventing such.

Apples are a great one, and they are good as well for a lot of antibacterial reasons.

Parsley is another. Chew a sprig, and you’ll be able to keep the bad breath away.

Yogurt is another. Because it is strong in calcium and other nutrients, it’s good for fighting even the worst of the bad breath that’s out there, making it even better for you as well.

Finally, green tea. It’s good for natural detoxification, and also is good as well for clearing out impurities. Just be mindful that if you do have this, there is a risk that it might stain teeth, so make sure to have some water on hand. 

Probiotics for Bacteria 

If you’re having all of these and would like to make your breath even stronger, consider a probiotic.

This is a healthy culture of bacteria, and when you consume this bacteria, it helps to create a stronger gut. It ousts out the bad bacteria, leaving the good bacteria in its wake. Overall, it’s a great addition for your own healthcare. While it doesn’t totally prevent this bacteria, having some probiotic foods, including yogurt and such, will really make this good for you to have.

Foods to Avoid 

Now, let’s go over foods to avoid. These are the foods that are healthy to have, but will make your breath reek.

Some of these are short-term. Others may consistently happen if you’re eating them a lot.

First, is garlic. Due to the allicin in it, it will create a pungent scent, especially in your mouth. It’s a scent that’s hard to get rid of. Now, garlic is great as an antibacterial, but it’s almost too good at its job, so it should be avoided if short-term breath is what you want to keep fresh.

Then there are onions. Onions again, are good for you, but they contain a sulfur compound that releases gases when they are mashed or cut together. When the gases mix with bacteria, it creates further gases, exacerbating bad breath.   It can linger for hours, and sometimes last overnight.

To get rid of it, lemon water works, or you can rinse with baking soda.  

Finally, there’s sugary snacks. Again, these are tasty, but they are basically food for the teeth, so if they continue to consume this, it releases more bacteria, and causes it to smell. Either way, it’s not good, and you should avoid this.   try to, if you have sugars, afterwards have something healthy or drink some water or milk to flush it out.

Diet is not only important for the here and now, but also for long-term results. Having the freshest breath that you can is important. Fresh breath isn’t always an indication, but there’s a lot of great benefits to making your breath smell good, so make sure that you take care of your oral health today!

Oral Health Tips for Pet Owners

Pet owners need to take care of their pets whenever there are problems. Did you know that if your pet’s teeth are a mess, chances are yours will be too.  a lot of times, people don’t realize that their pet’s health can actually affect your health, which is quite surprising. 

Here, we’ll go over the common issues with a pet’s teeth, and how, as a pet owner, you can prevent these risks for your pet’s health, and your oral health. 

Oral Health Problems and Zoonotic Diseases

Your pet’s oral health can actually be shared with a human in some cases. These are called zoonotic diseases, which can transmit to humans. 

One example is plaque. The plaque of a dog can be a form of resistance to microbes, and can be shared with a human if there is close contact. So if your dog licks your face, it has a chance to share those microbes.   Children who have dogs tend to notice these genes in their plaque more than a child who grew up not around dogs.

Another is periodontal pathogens. Dogs and cats can get periodontitis just like how we do, but it can also be transmitted to different species in some cases. This is actually very common for animals in households that may share a water bowl for example.   If they are sharing various receptacles, it does increase the risk with however many dogs are within the household too. 

Dental Health and Pets 

Pets can have the same issues that humans have with their teeth. Gum disease, plaque, and even gingivitis can happen in animals. Just like with humans, these can fall out, resulting in needing to use different means to consume the foods they have. This does impact nutrition as well. 

Using oral products is a good way to prevent this from getting worse.   Brushing the teeth daily helps prevent dental disease and bad breath. Brushing on the regular does remove the bacteria that’s there, stimulate your gums, and also fights bacteria under the gumline area. 

There are plenty of different dental care items as well you can get for animals.   Some are good for them even if they’re made for humans. However, not all toothbrushes are good for animals, as some of the human ones may damage the gums, cause stress to the animal, and just be bad at cleaning.

Try to get them checkups for cleaning on the regular. While some animals like cats may not need cleanings until they’re older, dogs benefit from this, and once a year they should get in for a cleaning so that they’re able to have healthy teeth for the long run.

It’s also a great thing to do especially to find out if there are any problems with your pets. Oral health issues do pop up randomly, so keeping in mind that there is a problem with oral health is good. by properly taking initiative, you too can care for your pet. 

Overall, oral health is important, and the connection between this and a human’s oral health is unfortunately more common than you’d think. As a pet owner, you owe it to yourself to have the proper initiatives in place for your pet, and this of course, includes oral health. Taking care of this now will prevent some major issues from happening down the line, and can ultimately save your pet’s teeth if you’re not careful. 

Taking care of it now will also make things better for pet owners who want to keep their pet around for the long haul too.

Techniques to Have a Whiter Smile

We all want to have a whiter smile, and it’s important to consider these factors. However, sometimes it can be hard, due to lifestyle decisions or even just the state of our teeth. Here are some ways for you to have a whiter smile, both in the office, and also through natural means. 

Why Discoloration happens 

Discoloration happens for a variety of reasons. Some people may genetically have less vibrant smiles. 

More often than not, however, we cause this. plaque and bacteria will grow, causing your teeth to yellow. If there is gingivitis and other tooth issues, the enamel might be further ruined.

It’s also caused by the foods we eat. Are you a coffee fanatic or do you love red wine? Well chances are, you’re going to have a smile that’s a little less bright.  These foods stain your teeth and can only be taken off with a dentist’s help. 

Finally, it is caused by more harmful types of lifestyle activities we take.   Alcohol Can do this, but smoking is another. Smoking is not only bad for you, but it opens the door to oral cancer, and can cause your enamel to be permanently compromised, which isn’t fun for everyone. 

Now that you know why it happens, here’s a few ways to have a whiter smile. 

At home 

At home is the first option that we have. You can get toothpastes that whiten the teeth naturally or go to the dentist’s office for a take-home whitening kit. This can be a whitening tray, where you put it in your mouth for a period of time.

They’re good if you need a little bit of vibrancy, but they have their flaws. For starters, you’re not going to see a huge change. It might be good for a shade or two lighter. If you have serious discoloration, it might not work.

As well, it also might cause tooth sensitivity, a common problem amongst those who get whitening treatments. It can cause sensitive teeth, which isn’t always fun to deal with. 

But, for the price you pay, it’s far cheaper than other methods of trying to whiten your teeth.

In-Office 

There are also in-office whitening treatments. 

These are done in one session and can cause your teeth to get multiple shades lighter than they would if you were doing this at home.   The best part: it’s strong, so it will naturally stay.

There is bleaching, Zoom whitening, and other means to make your teeth shining and vibrant. The biggest downside to this is the costs. It isn’t cheap and might be hard to afford. 

But if you get this, you can usually maintain it for a while. It isn’t permanent, but it can give you the confidence that you’re looking for.

Natural Alternatives 

There are a few ways for you to naturally whiten your teeth. Bear in mind that they aren’t perfect and might not actually give results. 

The first is activated charcoal, which you can put in your mouth, and grab onto the plaque and other remnants, contributing to stains. The downside with this is it does interact with other medicines. 

Baking soda is another. It’s a bit rough, but it does remove the surface stains without causing damage to the enamel.

Apple cider vinegar can also remove surface stains. You dilute this with water, then swish it about to remove the surface blemishes.

Finally, hydrogen peroxide. It acts as a natural bleaching agent, in order to whiten teeth, along with disinfecting and removing the plaque that’s there.

These all work together to make your smile nice and white.

Innovations in Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are something that a lot of kids are getting. This is because they're essentially caps that get put on the teeth, in order to prevent decay from getting in the pits of sensitive teeth.   This is good for kids because their oral habits are not fully developed, and it can protect those adult teeth while the others come in. 

However, did you know that there are now new advancements in sealants and materials? Here, we’ll go over sealants, and why they’re so effective. 

New innovations? 

Dental sealants aren’t just plastic caps on the teeth, but they’re a way to offer lifelong protection for your mouth. 

One example of this is fluoride-infused sealants. This is for delivering fluoride to the enamel of the tooth, and it’s something that’s a self-bonding polymer gel technology that doesn’t require mixing or curing. 

Another is longer-lasting resin for the sealants, which means that they’ll last longer. 

Then there are ceramic based sealants too, which means that they are stronger and will last longer. They also tend to look more like natural teeth. 

Finally, you’ve got hydrophilic resin sealants. These are far less sensitive to the moisture that’s there when applied, which enhances the bonding to each surface. All of these work together to improve the protection against tooth decay. 

How effective Are sealants 

Sealants are effective as can be for cavity prevention in the mouth.   While mostly for kids, some of them are good for adults. This is especially true when a dentist puts these on the back molars, where food can get stuck in the keep particles that are there.   

Some studies have found that sealants work mostly in groups that are ages 6 to 11 years old. This is because they’re at that age where cavities are effective, and in turn, it can keep the teeth protective for a long time. 

In general, adults that have deeper fissures tend to benefit the most from these sealants, so keep that in mind when choosing a sealant and whether or not it’s worth using. 

Why do they Work? 

Well, dental sealants create a sort of protective layer against bacteria and various food particles that might get on these surfaces. When you’re young, it’s harder to clean up these parts, so when you’re able to clear all of them, you’ll benefit from it, so it’s worth looking at, especially if you’re interested in getting your teeth nice and protected. 

It leads to long-term better oral health, prevents tooth decay, and also stops the cavities that would otherwise be there. 

They are recommended for children because of the age that’ it’s effective, some people put them on kids sooner, and some a bit later. It usually happens when the first teeth are lost, and the back molars are starting to form.  

The dentist will clean where they are, apply to composite resin, dry it as needed, and from there, you’re free to go. It’s against a very simple procedure, but if you’re looking to take care of your teeth for the long run, then you’re in luck. 

Dental sealants are the premier way to protect your teeth, and create long-term comprehensive dental care. There's a reason why dentists will recommend these, since they offer levels of protection you might not get otherwise. If you're looking to improve yourself or your child’s oral health, or are looking to further understand the benefits of dental sealants, then you’re going to want to make sure you get them, for they will provide long-term oral health and care in ways never thought possible. 

How Athletes Can Better Protect Your Teeth

Athletes need to get their heads in the game, but they also need to make sure they’re properly protected. That of course, means their oral health. Athletes do face unique dental challenges, and it can be a problem for some athletes. Some of them might not realize that they have these issues until way after the fact.

Here, we’ll go over some of the problems that athletes have with their oral health, and how to appropriately take care of it to prevent it. 

Contact sports and Dental Injuries 

Football, hockey, basketball, even martial arts have a lot of contact. Most blows are supposed to be on the body, but occasionally the face gets hits. Football tackles sometimes are hard blows, occasionally straight to the mouth.

This of course, means that the teeth could be knocked out. a knocked-out tooth is a problem. While you can put it in milk until you get to the dentist, it sometimes is hard to put back in. losing that tooth affects the smile and your confidence.

If you plan on playing sports that are a high risk, making sure that you know how you’re getting hit is important, because you can prevent future trauma not just for the mouth, but your headgear too. 

Sugary Drinks and Energy Gels on Dental Health 

The other major issue athletes face is that the energy drinks that they get are loaded with sugars, to the point where it’s totally excessive. In this instance, it can cause bacteria to grow, and over time, the teeth will break down.

Even sugar-free energy drinks contain acids, and having so many of these is not good for one’s oral health, and they are loaded with caffeine as well. 

This poses a problem for a lot of athletes, because when you don’t take care of your dental health, it creates further issues down the line. 

What you Can to do Prevent This 

So you don’t want to get your teeth knocked out, right? and you don't want to lose them either. 

The best thing to do is to buy protective gear. For instance, mouthguards are going to be your best friends. They even have mouthguards that you can get just for sports. Putting that in your mouth will protect your teeth and preserve your smile. That way, in the event of a hit, your teeth don’t get knocked out.

The same thing goes for helmets. A good, protective helmet will prevent head trauma and mouth trauma.   This is a given for most sports, but if helmets are optional in your athlete’s league, get them one right away. 

A helmet can not only save the dental trauma, but it also prevents head trauma such as concussions, which can impact brain health. 

Maintaining Strong Gums and teeth 

If you are an athlete, you should always make sure that you maintain healthy teeth and gums whenever you can.

Besides your protective gear, try to make sure you have only the minimum of sugary drinks and snacks. If you’re going to have a sports drink, opt for the low sugar ones. Then, if you have one with sugar, you down it with water to clean it out.

Make sure your oral health is compromised either. brush your teeth at least twice a day, or thirty minutes after having your sports drink, and make sure to floss once a day. Go see your dentist as much as you can, so that they can look at your mouth and determine the next step. If there are issues, they can handle it there.