Childhood cavities seem inevitable – nearly every kid gets one at some point or another – and baby teeth aren’t permanent, so it’s no big deal if kids occasionally skip brushing and flossing, right? Pediatric dentists disagree. Despite the common belief that baby teeth aren’t important, taking care of children’s teeth will help them develop healthy adult smiles.

Baby teeth serve the same important functions as adult teeth: kids use them to chew and speak. On top of that, baby teeth preserve the structure of the gumline and “save space” for adult teeth to grow.

When a permanent tooth is ready to erupt, the baby tooth above it loses its root, becomes loose and falls out, leaving room for the adult tooth to emerge. If that empty space is too small or nonexistent, the adult tooth will push other teeth out of the way or come out in the wrong place. One out-of-place tooth can affect the placement of other teeth, resulting in maloccluded, or crooked or crowded teeth. Maloccluded teeth are more difficult to clean and more prone to disease. They may require expensive orthodontic treatment to correct, and can affect children’s self-esteem.

Childhood cavities can affect the health of adult teeth as well. Cavities are caused by bad bacteria that live in the mouth, and those bacteria don’t disappear when baby teeth fall out. Adult teeth will face the same conditions that a child’s baby teeth did.

Some oral care products can help young children keep their mouths healthy, even if they lack the dexterity to be expert brushers and flossers. For example, an oral care probiotic chew, such as EvoraKids, will provide good bacteria to the mouth. Good bacteria adhere to chewing surfaces, where they compete with harmful oral bacteria for nutrients and space. Because bad bacteria have less room to grow, they also have less room to attack teeth.

Parents can ensure that their children have healthy adult mouths by demonstrating good oral hygiene from the start. Parents should teach their children to brush and floss, provide healthy foods and schedule regular check-ups with a pediatric dentist.

Baby Teeth Are More Important That You Might Think was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

You often hear that you should match your home’s design to your personality and interests, but few color swatches come with names like “Reads Paranormal Romance Novels,” “Hikes on Weekends” or “Gleek.”

To help you figure out what color palettes will best suit your personality, Mohawk Flooring provides the following quiz:

What Is Your Design Personality?

You’re making big plans for the weekend. What are they?
A) Participating in a charity walk
B) Antique shopping
C) Inviting friends over for dinner
D) Touring a haunted house

You’re making your favorite dish. What is it?
A) An all-organic risotto cooked with ingredients from the local farmer’s market
B) A Moroccan tangine cooked in an authentic ceramic pot
C) Macaroni and cheese, with chocolate chip cookies for dessert
D) A decadent chocolate mousse

What’s hanging on your wall?
A) A batik tapestry made by an Indonesian women’s collective
B) Framed vintage travel posters
C) Family photographs
D) An Edvard Munch print or, alternatively, an Edward Cullen poster

Mostly A’s: Idealist. Those out to save the world will feel at home with Earth-inspired colors, such as cocoa, cinnamon, stone and taupe. In addition to choosing a natural color palette, look for products that conform to your ideals. For example, buy a green-certified carpet made from recycled materials. Mohawk SmartStrand Featuring DuPont Sorona is 37 percent bio-based.

Mostly B’s: Eclectic. You love authentic and vintage finds and enjoy layering colors and patterns. Try shades like rose, olive, turquoise and seafoam.

Mostly C’s: Homebody. You’re all about warmth and comfort, and you like to keep things cozy and intimate. Vary between neutral colors and warm shades.

Mostly D’s: Mysterious Stranger. You appreciate romance and intrigue. Evoke an Old World sense of fantasy with deep, rich shades of navy, purple, red and teal. Exotic hardwood floors with deep, rich hues add to the veiled allure.

Take a Home Decorating Personality Quiz was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Many aging baby boomers expect to exercise well into their seventies, and most plan to live independently for as long as possible. Luckily, companies are designing products that help boomers retain their active lifestyles.

To help consumers find products that are easy to use at any age, the Arthritis Foundation developed its Ease of Use program, which employs testers with moderate-to-severe arthritis to evaluate products. The Arthritis Foundation provides the following tips for boomers unwilling to let age interfere with their favorite activities:

•    Choose exercise equipment that reduces strain on joints. Baby boomers love their exercise, so it can be frustrating when knees, hips and backs protest after running or cycling. But there’s no reason that boomers can’t make adjustments that allow them to continue their favorite activities.

For example, gym rats can find indoor exercise equipment specifically designed to avoid straining hips, knees and shoulders. The NuStep 4000 Recumbent Cross Trainer received the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease-of-Use Commendation for its comfortable seat and ability to provide an effective upper- and lower-body workout without stressing joints.

•    Make bathroom cleaning more accessible. Bending and scrubbing can add unwanted pressure to joints and muscles. Products like Scrubbing Bubbles, an SC Johnson cleaning product, have incorporated innovative ways to ease unnecessary work from the necessary evil of cleaning the bathroom. Scrubbing Bubbles’ Automatic Shower Cleaner is a breakthrough cleaning system that automatically sprays cleaner to eliminate the build up of tough soap scum and mold and mildew stains. The cleaning formula combines with the water on your shower walls to begin working immediately.

•    Eliminate bending and kneeling. As you age, climbing on chairs to reach tall shelves or stooping to fish through low cabinets becomes less feasible. Designing your home to put your possessions in reach can help you stay independent as you age.

When purchasing cabinets or other storage spaces, look for features like adjustable shelving, pullouts and extensions. For example, The Diamond Logix 36 Inch SuperCabinet with Rollouts and Pullouts has three roll-out trays, dual storage and two wire pull-out baskets, so you don’t have to reach, kneel or bend to access items.

For more information, visit www.arthritis.org.

Boomers: Don’t Take Old Age Laying Down was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

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What Colors Best Fit Your Personality? was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

For a truly unique vacation experience, try deep sea fishing in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica offers one of the healthiest fisheries in the world, where twenty-fish days are not uncommon, and fish simply don’t come in small sizes. Los Sueños Marina, which is home to an extensive charter fleet certified by the Costa Rican Ministry of Tourism, reports that dorodo average 40 pounds, and yellowfin tuna often push past the 300-pound mark. Other fish, including wahoo, roosterfish and snapper, as well as sailfish and marlin, also call the coast of Costa Rica home. Maybe the good fishing explains Costa Rica’s ranking as one of the happiest places on earth.

The good fishing might explain Costa Rica’s ranking as one of the happiest places on earth. Vacations and sportfishing at Los Sueños Resortt and Marina can be accommodated by Stay In Costa Rica, a tourism group that has 10 years planning fishing charters with boats ranging from 25 feet to 65 feet.

Never been on a deep sea fishing boat? Stay In Costa Rica (www.stayincostarica.com) offers the following tips for first-timers:

•    Look for an experienced deep sea fishing charter. A qualified deep sea fishing boat will take you to the best fishing spots and provide the correct bait for the fish that you want to catch. Fishing licenses are required and cost $25 per year. All good boats practice catch and release on all bill fish to ensure good fishing to the future generations. There are restaurants that will cook your catch when you bring in Mahi Mahi or Tuna. There are also chefs that will cook your catch at the privacy of your accommodation.

•    Guard against seasickness. Even if you’re fishing in Costa Rica, which is known for its gentle, smooth waters, you might get disorientated on the boat. If you get sick, stay above deck and concentrate on the horizon line. Avoid strong smells, like that of the bait, until the nausea passes. Taking motion sickness medication before you board can help you avoid the issue altogether.

•    Come prepared. Bring sunglasses and a hat or visor. Be sure to drink plenty of water while on the boat. Don’t forget sunscreen; even if you stay in the shade, the glare off the water can give you sunburn. And don’t forget to bring your camera. After all, you’ll want to record your big catch!

Tips for Your First Deep Sea Fishing Trip was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

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For years, you may have overlooked a handy tool in the fight against cardiovascular disease: your toothbrush.

Studies link tooth and gum health to heart health. A 2005 review from Finland’s Helsinki University Central Hospital, which was published in the “Journal of Periodontology,” found that chronic inflammation, such as that found in gum disease, increases the risk that a patient will develop heart disease. A 2010 survey of 12,000 people in Scotland found that, over an average of eight years, those who rarely or never brushed their teeth were 70 percent more likely to develop heart disease than those with twice-daily brushing habits.

Researchers don’t quite know how the connection between oral health and heart health works, but that doesn’t mean that you should dismiss the link. Brushing your teeth might be the easiest, simplest way to keep your heart healthy.

Of course, brushing your teeth isn’t the only way to take care of your mouth. Here are some tips:

•    Avoid smoking. If you smoke, stopping is absolutely the best thing you can do to improve your health. Speak to your doctor or dentist about ways to help you quit.

•    Use oral care probiotics in addition to brushing and flossing. You can do more than simply brushing and flossing every day. Oral care probiotics, like EvoraPlus, may help make up the difference. Probiotics, or good bacteria, adhere to tooth and gum surfaces, where they leave less room for harmful bacteria to attach to grow. You can learn more about EvoraPlus at www.myevoraplus.com.

•    Don’t let sugar stay on your teeth between brushings. Drink water after eating or drinking liquids to rinse your teeth. Don’t bathe your teeth in sugar all day by continuously eating or sipping beverages like soda. Instead, have sugary liquids with meals and limit snacking. Stay away from foods that are likely to stick to teeth, such as candy, and try having an apple instead. Apples increase saliva production, so they actually help rinse your mouth of cavity-causing bacteria.

Your Heart is in Your Mouth: Good Oral Hygiene Could Mean Healthier Hearts was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com