Dental problems are on the rise, and most of the time, studies relate them to cavities and tooth decay. A report of WHO states that oral diseases have become the most occurring noncommunicable disease. According to the report, oral diseases have affected almost half of the world population, mainly because of an unhealthy diet and the use of addictive substances. Our oral health determines our communication ability. It is also an indicator of our overall health condition. Therefore, critical dental issues need more attention.   What is a root canal? The phrase ‘root canal’ refers to the cavity within the middle of the tooth. The treatment procedure involves repairing a decayed tooth. A tooth can decay from several reasons like excessive consumption of sugar, tobacco smoking, not maintaining oral hygiene, etc. In a root canal treatment, the dentists clean the pulp out of the severely decayed tooth, after which the doctors seal it.   What is a dental crown? A dental crown, as the name suggests, is a cover or cap that sits over a tooth. The crown helps to maintain the shape of the tooth, strengthens it, and also makes it look stylish. A crown covers the visible white portion of the tooth and your friends can easily detect it. The crowns use metals like stainless steel, but there are other options also available like all-resin or all-porcelain crowns.   Why do we need dental crowns? Dental crowns are the protectors of weak teeth. They help to keep a decayed or cracked tooth in its place. A dental crown restores a broken or worn tooth and covers the teeth that have dental stuffing in them. One can also opt for crowns to hide misshapen or ugly looking teeth. After root canals, dentists apply dental crowns to prevent re-contamination of bacteria, which can damage the restored tooth.   Do you need a dental crown after a root canal? If you are knowledgeable of the general opinion, you may think that you need a crown after a root canal. But it’s not that simple! Root canals are essential for chewing teeth that are towards the back of the mouth. The teeth at the front do not need crowns most of the time. Root canals are best suited for the teeth that go through the most grinding and can be subject to quick decay. Go through the following points to understand the feasibility of a dental crown after a root canal procedure:   The process of a root canal involves the extraction of pulp from inside a tooth. This can seriously weaken the tooth or make it a subject to quick decay as dentists remove its dentin, enamel, and pulp, thwarting any natural future growth for the tooth. Therefore, after dentists apply artificial fillings, they advise the patient to opt for a crown that will save this weak tooth from fractures.   Teeth at the front, such as incisors and canines, rarely need a crown as they [...]

Everyone experiences the feeling of a swollen or bloated stomach in their lifetime. Not only does bloating impart pain or uneasiness in your stomach, but it also imparts the feeling of tiredness and crumminess in your body throughout the day. Bloating is one of the most common illnesses that individuals all over the world face. Typically, the reasons for bloating rise from unhealthy lifestyles and diets such as lack of physical activities and eating junk foods. This creates different digestive disorders in your stomach, resulting in bloating. Presently, numerous conventional medicines have come up to cure bloating. Still, it is not a serious disorder which can be cured easily by adopting a healthy lifestyle and eating healthy foods. Below we have listed some natural and effective remedies for gas and bloating. Have a look!   Remove Junk and Processed Foods Junk and processed foods contain a lot of unhealthy fats and carbohydrates, which makes digestion hard. These foods increase the population of harmful bacteria in your gut by killing the good bacteria. Consume substantial fiber foods that can be easily found in certain fruits and vegetables. These foods help in softening your stool, imparting smooth bowel movements. Certain fruits that are high in fibers are bananas, strawberries, mangoes, etc. Certain vegetables that are high in fibers are carrots, spinach, beets, sweet potatoes, etc. Apart from them, there are whole grains and nuts that are rich in dietary fibers.   Green Tea A cup of green tea a day cleanses your body and aids in proper digestive functioning. It is rich in antioxidants, which improve the metabolism of your body, resulting in adequate detoxification. This tea also has anti-inflammatory properties, which help in fighting inflammation in your stomach due to excessive toxins. It also helps in curing constipation, which is the primary cause of bloating. Apart from green tea, some other foods that are rich in antioxidants are spinach, beans, plum, dark chocolate, blueberry, beetroot, resins, etc.   Fennel Seeds Fennel seeds are also one of the most consumed ingredients to treat bloating naturally. You can directly chew it or can drink fennel tea. It helps in getting rid of stomach cramps, bloating, and gas. It is rich in fibers, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps in killing harmful bacteria and increasing the good bacteria population in your gut. It aids in smooth and regular bowel movements and reduces inflammation in the stomach. Fennel seeds have a more significant amount of positive results when combined with different herbal medicines for reducing swelling. However, persons who are diagnosed with cancer and who are pregnant must not consume it.   Bananas Bananas have loads of potassium, which makes them a great ingredient to get relief from constipation and gas. Bananas balance the level of sodium in the body, which improves the digestion process. It is valuable to note that this fruit also helps in structuring the individual's microbes in the stomach that is vital for your body's well-being. It is also rich [...]

Denmark, Switzerland, and Finland are the top three countries with the best quality of life in 2019. A statistical analysis report by Sleep Junkie ranked over 70 countries from around the world, looking at key factors such as financial stability, freedom of choice, and life expectancy. Here’s how the top three measured up.   Denmark With a population of 5.6 million, Denmark topped the charts as the happiest place to live. Denmark claims one of the smallest wealth gaps between classes in the workforce, an excellent healthcare system, and a sound balance between life and work. Denmark also maintains a 100% literacy rate.   Switzerland Switzerland comes in at a close second as the best quality of life country in the world. Switzerland boasts a great education system and excellent infrastructure, as well as a booming economy in a population of 8.5 million. It also doesn’t hurt that Switzerland has one of the lowest obesity rates in Europe at 8%.   Finland Coming in at third place is Finland. Despite frigid temperatures, Finland has a high standard of living, with low corruption levels and more forest per square mile. With a population just below Denmark at 5.5 million, Finland is one of the safest countries to live due to the low population and tight-knit communities.   What Determines Happiness and Long Life? Happiness is the key to a longer life. A 2011 study conducted at UC Berkeley took 3,853 participants between the ages of 52 and 79 and divided them into three groups, depending on the participants’ current level of happiness. Over a period of five years, all participants were monitored and asked questions to determine their average happiness. The results showed that the low happiness group had a 7.3% death rate, the medium happiness group had a 4.6% death rate, and the group with the most average happiness had a 3.6% death rate. This study conducted by the National Institute on Aging showed surprisingly strong results linking happiness to life expectancy, even when factoring in chronic health problems, depression, and financial security. The study also found that the absence of happiness was more detrimental to overall health than negative emotions like anger, sadness, and depression. -- Sources: https://www.sleepjunkie.org/the-lifestyle-index/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/228380/people-who-pay-more-for-eco-friendly-products-and-services/ https://www.gfmag.com/global-data/non-economic-data/happiest-countries https://www.pnas.org/content/108/45/18244 About the Author Meg Riley is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and a full-time writer focused on sleep health and the mattress industry. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Sleep Junkie. She has her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University where she studied Advertising and Public Relations and wrote articles on the student experience for College Magazine. Her writing and research has been featured on Healthline, PhillyVoice, Daily Waffle, Boss Magazine, and more.

We live in a world where stress is a direct side-effect of the lifestyle we lead. Due to this, many aspects of our lives are negatively affected by stress and one of those aspects includes our sleep and sleeping patterns. You may have noticed that you can’t seem to relax enough to fall asleep or that your mind is running a hundred miles per hour whenever you want to go to sleep. This can easily be related to stress. The inability to fall asleep is known as insomnia, a disorder that causes us to lose precious sleep.   The Connection Between Stress and Insomnia There are many different causes of insomnia, but stress is believed to be the main one. Stress and insomnia are closely related and can wreak havoc on your overall health. You can easily notice if the lack of sleep or inability to sleep is related to stress. Just follow your sleeping patterns and if you are able to fall asleep once some of the stress has been relieved – you have your answer. In this case, you will know that stress is, in fact, the cause of your insomnia. In order for us to function normally, we need to have at least 7-9 hours of sleep. And suffering from insomnia can seriously reduce this period and thus cause different health issues.   Physical and Mental Consequences of Both Stress and Insomnia Not getting enough sleep negatively affects both our mental and physical health. If you don’t get enough sleep you won’t be able to concentrate or function normally and due to this, your job will suffer just as well your life in general. Some of the most common physical and mental side-effects of insomnia include high blood pressure, depression, and other disorders and illnesses.   High Blood Pressure If the periods of your lack of sleeping are long, you should be worried. It’s believed that people who don’t get at least 6 hours of sleep are at risk of developing high blood pressure. Sleep helps regulate stress hormones and it keeps your nervous system healthy. That’s why your lack of sleep can affect your body’s ability to regulate stress and thus leads to high blood pressure. High blood pressure then leads to many serious problems such as heart diseases and other health issues.   Depression Stress and insomnia, when mixed together, can lead to depression. People who aren’t getting enough sleep become restless and anxious. Anxiety is a well-known trigger of depression. Stress, insomnia, and anxiety are all responsible for depression, and the relationship between all of these factors is much more complicated than it seems. People who don’t have trouble sleeping are at less risk of developing depression than those who have. That’s why treating insomnia can prevent the development of depression.   Teeth Grinding Other less serious but equally important physical effects that stress has on our health include teeth grinding and clenching. Teeth grinding is known to cause [...]

Myotherapy that translates to "muscle therapy" is a form of physical technique (PT) used for assessing, treating and relieving musculoskeletal pain caused by the dysfunction of myofascia or skeletal muscles. It is basically a combination of trigger point therapy with different manipulation and soft tissue massage such as joint mobilization, dry needling and muscle energy technique. It is very different than simple muscle massaging and he techniques also differ for muscle massage and myotherapy.   What Are the Symptoms of Myofascial Dysfunction? Myofascial are fibrous, thin tissues that are present around every muscle of the body. Your tendons and ligaments comprise of myofascial in bundled state. You should choose a registered therapist from any reputed organization before you go for muscle therapy or myofascial. When these tissue sheets are damaged, severe pain is experienced along with symptoms like: Muscle Stiffness Constant and deep ache Sore spots on various muscles Numbness Tight joints Recurring pin & needle sensation or prickling sensation Certified myotherapies analyse the symptoms and then determine the type of treatment that will be suitable. Apart from this, therapies are also useful for curing tension headache, sports injuries, pain due to improper posture, tennis elbow, chronic back pain, muscle sprains and shoulder impingement syndrome as well.   Understanding Role of a Certified & Reliable Myotherapist The true essence of this technique can be witnessed when you count on a certified myotherapist. The myotherapis can effectively asses and then treat connective tissue i.e. tendons, ligaments, muscles, tissue coverings and joint capsules using hand-on methods and other specialized techniques. essentially, the myotherapis will incorporate the following steps in their treatment: Get a detailed in-sight of the patient's medical history Observe the affected tissues, gait and movement   What Are the Techniques Used in Myotherapy? As mentioned earlier, myotherapy involves a wide range of treatment, which is provided with respect to the assessments made by myotherapis and these are: Massage, incorporates remedial and sports techniques Hot & cold therapy Moving the affected parts gently through its range of motion Acupressure or trigger point therapy Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) Dry myofasical needling Different techniques of the therapy are usually delivered by the myotherapist in sessions and each session lasts approximately for an hour. The therapist must know the trigger points of applying pressure before they finish the therapeutic portion.   How Beneficial Can Myotherapy Be for Treating Muscle Dysfunction? Myotherapy can be beneficial for patients who suffer from musculoskeletal and associated conditions in not just one but many ways and some of them are: Corrects Posture: The myotherapis design individual treatment regime based on present condition and needs of the patient. Due to this, the muscles get strengthened and the overall posture of the body is improved to a dramatic extent. Reduces Stress: Various forms of massage catered via myotherapy help in combating anxiety, stress and enhance your well-being. This is the reason why most of the patients remain relaxed throughout the treatment. Improves Joint Movement Range: The full movement of joint [...]

You know that brushing your teeth twice a day is the key to good oral care and gum health. However, most of us have no idea which kind of toothbrush we should be using to keep plaque and disease at bay. Just as there are various consumer options available in this modern world, there are also numerous choices offered when it comes to toothbrushes and dental care. The good news is that the American Dental Association has confirmed that both manual and electric toothbrushes are excellent at removing the plaque in our teeth that can cause disease and decay. Both manual and electric toothbrushes have their unique pros and cons to offer today's consumers. Here's your guide to both choices so that you can make a more informed decision for your family.   The Benefits of Electric Toothbrushes Electric toothbrushes are corded or battery-powered toothbrushes that rotate or vibrate to help you with removing the plaque build-up from your gums and teeth. The vibration helps to banish dirt more rapidly as you complete your typical brushing routine. According to some studies, the micro-movements facilitated by electronic toothbrushes could mean that you can remove more plaque from your teeth. Cochrane has made an analysis of numerous reports, and they found that after 3 months of use, an electric toothbrush can reduce plaque by up to 21% and gingivitis by 11%. Electric toothbrushes do the majority of the work required in brushing your teeth for you too. These devices are excellent for people with limited mobility, such as those with arthritis or carpal tunnel. Some electric toothbrushes also come with a timer built-in, so you can always make sure you reach the dentist-prescribed amount of time for brushing. In some cases, you can also reduce waste with an electric toothbrush, because you only throw away the head, rather than an entire brush.   Are Electric Toothbrushes Always Best for Brushing? Electric toothbrushes seem to offer a more efficient way for people to brush their teeth. One study found that people were generally more focused when they cleaned their teeth with an electric toothbrush. In turn, this also meant that it was easier for them to get a brighter smile. However, electric options might not be the right solution for everyone. Often electric toothbrushes are more expensive than regular ones. Though there are a range of more affordable electric toothbrushes out there today, you'll generally spend a lot more than you would on a simple manual brush.   The Benefits of Manual Toothbrushes Though a manual toothbrush might not offer the same highly-optimized brushing experience that people get with an electric toothbrush, it is far more accessible. These toothbrushes are simple, easy to use, and available to even the most budget-conscious consumer. What's more, as the primary tool for cleaning your teeth, manual toothbrushes are still highly effective for any user. Manual toothbrushes are also cost-effective since they don't need to be charged or powered when you use [...]