Are Sugar-free Drinks and Chewing Gum Safe for Your Teeth?

So, do you think sugar-free drinks protect your teeth? You also believe sugar-free chewing gum to cause no harm to your dental health? Since both these items are marketed as beneficial to teeth and gums, you too easily buy into the claim without giving any consideration. What if experts say you’re wrong?

Well, first thing first- not all sugar-free products are safe for your teeth. Recent researches have started to punch hole to marketing ploy to peddle certain drinks and foods in the garb be being sugar-free. So, you don’t need to jump the gum on any product that is sugar free.

Even xylitol is not safe  

You’re consistently reminded how your sugar-free products are laced with xylitol -- the sugar alcohol – which can help fight against tooth decay. You’re told that this ingredient is approved by top medical and dental agencies.

Most people believe that xylitol is tooth-friendly, so they instantly grab any sugar-free item with this ingredient on the label. Studies have revealed in recent times how foods containing xylitol are not safe for your teeth and body.  

In fact, these items can cause serious dental problems. So, it’s better to stay informed and make good choices when it comes to sugar-free items.

Downside of sugar-free items

It’s true that sugar-free items don’t contain sugar, so their consumption is less likely to cause the formation of caries. They are thus effective against the risk of tooth decay. Their utility however ends here itself, because they have the ingredients that can cause other dental problems.

Here are some of the downsides of sugar-free items -

• Sugar-free foods and drinks may not cause caries, but they can lead to dental erosion due to their ingredients
• They are loaded with acidic flavouring that can lead to dental erosion over time
• The preservatives found in sugar-free products can weaken the tooth enamel
• Any food or beverage that is acidic can harm the tooth enamel and cause tooth erosion
• Even sugar-free sodas and sports drinks are bad for your teeth and they should be avoided

Sugar content vs acidic levels 

Clearly, you have to check two things while buying any food items or drinks – sugar content and acidic levels. Both these are bad for your dental health and a bit care with them can help you maintain the strength of your teeth.

Follow these tips with foods and drinks -

•  If possible, stop consuming erosive products to save your teeth from needless damage
• Stop trusting sugar-free items much and try to reduce their intake drastically for better dental health
• Rather than obsessing over sugar-free items, give more focus on acidic levels of the foods to protect your teeth
• Stick to low-sugar intake and increase your oral care to minimize the harm
• Visit the dentist regularly for oral checks and cleanings to stay on top of your dental health

In overall, being informed is the best way forward in maintaining dental health. And yes, ask your dentist about root canal treatment cost to be on the safe side in case you face tooth decay issue.

                                                             

Read more...

Xmas Gift Ideas - Christmas Gift Baskets for Your family

Christmas seems to be the favourite time of the year for most! It includes everyone from children to senior citizens. Other than the cakes, wine and cheese evenings, this is also the time to gift your loved ones. And when it comes to gifting your family, you sometimes can fall short of ideas. It is especially true if you have more family members and friends on your list to gift. However, today you can think of a Christmas gift and find something similar online. If not, you can always get the ingredients and customise it the way you want to. Discussed below are few interesting Christmas gift ideas for your family.

image:pixabay.com/en/retro-gifts-christmas-tree-vintage-1847088

1.   The early morning tea/coffee gift basket

Do you have a tea or coffee lover in your family? If yes, then this is the best idea to play around. You can always add in your gift basket other things than coffee or different types of flavoured tea/s. Get a delicate looking teacup to add to the gift. For coffee lovers, get a coffee mug and a cold coffee maker flask as well. You can get some roasted coffee beans to add an impact. Add other ingredients like stirrer, sugar and morning biscuits to make the gift complete. And you can add in a little Santa figurine to give it a Christmas signature. Check out other Christmas gift hamper ideas - hampercreations.com.au online to improvise on this idea.

2.   The winter Christmas gift pack

This gift idea is best suited for a woman. If you have an aunt or sister who loves to take care of her skin and is inclined towards body care, this gift will do her good. Fill in the gift pack with lots of winter goodies. For instance, get the best quality lip care balm, winter body lotions, winter face packs and hand lotion as well. Add in a spa coupon with it if you can. Additionally, add in Christmas cupcakes and cookies.

3.   The popcorn and cookies basket

Is there anyone in your family who loves to binge on popcorn and cookies during movies? Does he/she love feasting on it while watching a movie? It is the best gift for them. You can fill in your basket with plain and flavoured readymade but fresh popcorn. Along with that get them popcorn packs that they can make at their end. Add in an assortment of cookies. Go ahead and add a variety of sauces such as Tabasco and Tartar sauce in mini packs.

4.   The holistic Christmas basket

Do you have a family member who is vegan and has spiritual lifestyle choices? You can count on this basket for him/her. You can start preparing this basket by getting packs of nutritional herbs such thyme and rosemary. You can also pack in quinoa, chia, and flaxseeds in small quantities here. Add in eggless and gluten-free cupcakes and cookies. You can also add in a meditation CD and a couple of tumbled crystals such as Jasper, amethyst, and moonstone.

Different family members have different choices. To be able to gift them is a tough call. If you have a joint family, you can count on these creative and useful Christmas gift ideas. Or you can take inspiration and create your own Christmas gift basket and make the most of it.

Read more...

5 Reasons why we should all spend more time with animals

For many of us, life can be a struggle just to put food on the table. Why, then, do millions of us continue to fork out money to keep and look after pets? At first it does not seem so obvious, but company in the presence of animals can vastly improve our quality of life, making the economic sting worth it. Here are five reasons why we should all spend more time with animals:

My furry friends

Animals reveal a little about our selves

Philosophers have always wondered about the human connection with animals, but it wasn’t until the late twentieth century that a new branch of evolutionary biology—called ‘evolutionary genealogy’ emerged to really shine a light on our understanding.

By analysing DNA, we can tell how closely related certain organisms are to us, or how distant they are. For example: a chimpanzee, our closest living relative, is only 2 per cent different in its DNA to humans. That means that, for everything that makes humans so special, it is all there in that 2 per cent difference.

In short, the picture of evolutionary genealogy has allowed us to “paint a picture” so to speak, on our place in the natural world with the animals. Such an understanding humbles us and makes us feel relaxed.

Animals help our mothering instinct

It is often thought that women have a natural affinity for some of the more dependent animals as a way of testing the waters into motherhood. The pets that we keep that require our constant affection, feeding; nurturing; and love, are often great “test trials” for the mothering instinct. After all, if someone cannot look after an animal, what could possibly make them capable of looking after an infant child?

We see ourselves in animals

Human beings are ‘mammals’; that means we share biological factors with other mammals that make us all, together, unique, such as mammary glands.

When we look at other mammals, we can often ‘relate’ to them more than other animals—this is known as the ‘mammalian connection’. Mammals, especially young mammals, have characteristics we can see in ourselves and our own children. Factors like playfulness, curiosity, vulnerability, and even clumsiness.

These factors often bring us immense joy; much like with the first point mentioned above, this joy ‘reminds us of who we are’ and humbles us more.

Is it a coincidence that we find mammals cute and cuddly, and less so with crocodiles, and even disgust with insects? No—the further we move away from those ‘related’ to us, the less familiarity we have with them. 

There is no ‘emotional baggage’ with animals

It is an unfortunate reality that humans can judge each other: we can be jealous, vindictive, aggressive, and spiteful. With animals, this emotional baggage is gone. Instead, we are allowed to “escape” into the presence of our pets and animals, knowing they do not operate to the same social conventions as our peers.

Animals ask nothing except for our company

Spending with animals delivers immense psychological benefits including stress reduction and increased levels of happiness. In fact, 90 per cent of pet owners believe their pets improve their overall quality of life—perhaps, precisely because they do not ask for anything apart from our company.

Pets often love us unconditionally. As a result we should all make a little more time to be with animals; it might just make all the difference.

For a more visual presentation of the information that you’ve just read, take a look at this handy infographic.

Read more...