DENTAL HEALTH

 

Smile.  People light up when you smile.  You gotta care for the choppers, but many folks neglect their teeth.  I know of a young man now 20 years old that hadn't been to the dentist since he was 12.  Due to a service commitment he was finally forced to go see a dentist.  He had ten cavities.  Actually, he was lucky it wasn't worse.  Many serious illnesses can be traced back to dental infections.  This is a big deal.

I have spent quite a bit of time with dental hygienists and dentists over the past several months and have gathered that pretty much everyone needs to step up their game when it comes to regular care and treatment of our pearly whites.  So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... 

 

1) Invest in a powered tooth brush and use it twice a day for a minimum of two minutes.  The research is startling.  The advantages over manual brushing are great.  There are several brands to choose from. 

 

2) Floss once daily at a minimum.  It is a good idea to floss after meals and even lightly brush after meals as well.  This can be done with a manual toothbrush and even without toothpaste.  The area where plaque builds up most quickly is the lower front teeth.  Just work this area a bit. Keep these items in your desk at work or in your car. 

 

3) Use a good quality mouthwash frequently.  Countless choices here that offer a variety of benefits.  Some taste better than others that's for sure.

 

4) Have your teeth professionally cleaned once or twice a year.  Something to consider, many cities have dental hygiene schools and these students frequently need patients to work on (under the supervision of a highly trained and skilled instructor) for a fraction of the normal cost. 

 

5) Visit a dentist regularly.  Preferably build a relationship with a dentist you trust so that you can put together a life long treatment program.

It is not enough to just focus on diet and exercise.  Dental health is a huge part of our physical wellness and if you like your smile, it can boost your confidence.

Enjoy life!

OFF SEASON TRAINING

OK, maybe you don't have an off season.  But, I pretty much do.  In the summer my activities focus around baseball, golf, horse riding and the lake.  So in the winter, I try to build up my body so that I can participate in these summer activities to the best of my ability.  So, for this TIP FROM A MAN... I am going to share my winter routine:

 

Resistance Training - I enjoy lifting weights.  That is just me.  Some don't like this, but I do.  After I warm up on the treadmill for 5 - 10 minutes, I lift upper body and legs three times per week.  I work back and core three times per week on alternating days combined with cardio.  I have a routine that I follow but I mix it up regularly because I am a believer in the 90 X theory of muscle confusion.  I do three sets of 8 - 10 repetitions and adjust the weight so that I hit failure  (I can't do any more) on each set.  I allow a one minute rest period between each set (no longer).

Cardio / Core - I certainly don't enjoy doing cardio as much.  Just saying.  Three times per week.  Weather permitting, 30 minutes of road running.  Indoors, 30 minutes on the treadmill, elliptical,  or spin bike.  I need to vary this work, because I don't like it as much.  Just saying.

Stretching / Yoga - We must stretch before each work out.  Don't cheat.  Also, in the evening when I am catching a bit of TV, etc., I get down on the floor for an extended stretching period never taking my eyes off of the flat screen.  I strongly encourage you to find a yoga or Pilate's class if you can work it in.

Cross Training - Being active is what it is all about.  In the winter months I play racquetball, snow ski and love to go bowling.  I also try to sneak in a bike ride whenever the roads are clear and the temperature moderates (not that often).  This winter I am going to start a new activity of snowshoeing.  We have huge amounts of great terrain near where I live so I am really looking forward to it.  The downside is that this is mainly a daytime activity so with my work schedule combined with the shorter hours of sunlight, I'm afraid that this might only be a Saturday deal.  I used to play a lot of basketball but I don't play much anymore.  For me it is too easy to roll an ankle or to have someone take out my legs.  Too much risk.

So there you have it.  Combined with a shower and a sauna, steam or hot tub this is about 1 hour time commitment six days a week.  I dedicate the other day of the week to rest, recovery and worship.  Baseball roars back in March so I have four months to get ready for the first pitch!

Enjoy life!

 

VOTE

Today is November 6, 2012.  Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... please exercise your right to VOTE!  It is our privilege, our civic duty and our social responsibility.  May the winner of our presidential election be the person who can: 1) Unite our country.  United we stand, divided we fall. 2) Return our country to economic prosperity based upon principles of fiscal discipline, self reliance, encouraging innovation and compassion for those unable (not unwilling) to provide for themselves. 3) Protect us from those forces that seek to cause war upon peace loving people.

May God bless the United States of America.

Enjoy life!