3 Kids and Us

How stress affects your oral health

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Parenthood, thy name is stress. Running a household teeming with kids is hardly ever a picnic; whether it’s from newborn needs or from teenage angst, you’re going to have your fair share of sleepless nights as a parent.

We all know the number that stress can do on you. Ranging from insomnia, mood swings, feelings of distraction and exhaustion, leaving your car keys in the freezer and forgetting you did so, stress does a number on your ability to think clearly and act accordingly. But did you know that the stress you experience can have a negative effect on, of all things, your oral health? It’s true — and here’s what you need to know about the connection between stress and oral health.

The Daily Grind

Ever been so frustrated by someone or something that you’ve just had to clench your teeth in anger? Or maybe you’ve been worrying yourself over a problem in your head and you realize you’ve been grinding your teeth for minutes or possibly even hours? Jaw clenching and tooth grinding is a common stress response — you might even do it unconsciously in your sleep!

Unfortunately, tooth grinding and jaw clenching is absolutely terrible for your oral health. Not only are you running the risk of damaging your teeth or their enamel, you’re also engaging in activity that’s a great way to earn yourself a headache or a sore jaw — or worse yet do damage to your temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Thankfully it’s not hard to treat tooth grinding. You can take steps during your waking hours to stay aware of what you’re doing and stopping the behavior, but to address an overnight problem you’re likely to need a dentist-approved mouthguard to stop yourself from grinding those teeth of yours down to nothing.

All Dried Up

One of the other big stress-induced oral health problems is dry mouth. While it’s normal to feel your mouth go dry in stressful situations — it’s part of your body’s fight-or-flight response — being under repeated stress means repeated instances of dry mouth, and this leads to some pretty unpleasant oral health issues that you’ll need to deal with.

Your mouth relies on saliva to protect itself from harmful bacteria. Repeatedly experiencing dry mouth means there’s no saliva to wash that bacteria away, and that can lead to issues like bad breath and advanced tooth decay. Gum disease and infection are all more common as well when you’ve got constant dry mouth, so it’s a bad scene all around.

There are ways to treat dry mouth. Chewing sugar-free gum can trigger saliva production, for instance, and you’ll have fewer problems doing so if you also stay away from caffeinated beverages and alcohol-based mouthwash. You should also consult your family dentist for the best ways to prevent and control chronic dry mouth.

It’s Not Easy

Thankfully, good oral hygiene practices, along with some help and advice from your dentist, can help resolve any of these stress-based oral health issues if you find yourself experiencing them. The best way to resolve these oral health problems more definitively, though, is to seek out the root of what’s causing them: your stress.

While it’s unlikely you’ll be able to just drop everything and take two weeks to lie on a beach somewhere, there are always little ways to de-stress and relax at home, even in the hectic life of a parent. Tag in your partner or another family member when you need a break. Get more sleep, drink plenty of water, listen to your favorite music, rob a bank — whatever works for you!

4 Reasons You Should Spend More Time Laughing

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Most of us don’t readily associate laughter with doing something productive or constructive. To the contrary, many people justify their disregard of humor by convincing themselves that they “don’t have time for it.” After all, if you want to “go somewhere in life” you’ve got to be serious about things, right? Well, not all the time. Studies indicate that squeezing in a good laugh here and there is actually much more than fun and games, as it can actually have measurable beneficial effects on your health and wellbeing. With that said, here are four major reasons why everyone should try to spend more time laughing:

1. Reduces Stress

Research has indisputably proven that stress is linked to a heightened chance of developing a wide range of disorders, as people who lead stressful lives are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses of all kinds. Science has proven that laughter directly reduces the level of “stress hormones” in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of developing new diseases while also improving the prognosis of existing conditions. In fact, surveys have shown that people who regularly browse humor sites like LOL Hit have better responses to stress than those who rarely enjoy comedy.

2. Enhances Mood and Memory

Did you know that even a fake smile or forced laugh has the ability to stimulate the feeling of happiness? Thus, just by making an effort to smile and laugh more you’re taking control over your moods in a positive manner. Furthermore, when you’re in a good mood you’re more likely to make healthy food choices versus when you’re in a depressed, junk food eating state of mind. In addition, learning new things while experiencing a strong emotion is the best way to retain information, so laughter has the ability to strengthen memories that are formed during or around the time of laughter.

3. Boosts Immunity and Fights Cancer

The stimulatory effect that laughing has on the respiratory, cardiac, and hormonal systems all combine to increase the development of T-cells and antibodies. By increasing the number of pathogen-fighting cells in the body, laughing provides a direct and immediate boost to the immune system. As if the benefits never end, you’d be surprised to learn that laughter also increases the level of interferon-gamma (IFN), which in turn stimulates NK cells, B-cells, and immunoglobulin – all of which play a crucial role in the body’s natural defenses against cancer and other degenerative diseases.

4. Enjoyable Exercise

Many people dread the idea of going to the gym or enduring a home fitness regimen, but laughing is so fun and easy that it doesn’t even feel like a workout, and yet it provides an excellent exercise for the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, back, shoulders, and even legs. If you’ve ever burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, then you know just how physically demanding it can be when you’re struggling to pull yourself together.

Heightened Creativity and a Better Social Life

Aside from the measurable medical benefits of laughter, it goes without saying that sharing a good laugh is a great way to improve your social life and spur bouts of creativity. People with a strong sense of humor are not only more likely to have plenty of friends, they’re also typically more creative than people who don’t rate humor as one of their best attributes.

5 Reasons You Should Explore a BSN Degree

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Source

While some hospitals and clinics require their RNs to hold a bachelor of science in nursing, you will find others that only require holding a state license as an RN. There are several advantages to furthering your education and the next logical step is to get that BSN. If you are still on the fence, here are five reasons to you may want to consider.

1. More Doors Are Open to You

With a bachelor of science in nursing from leading schools like Duquesne University, you will find that you have greater job opportunities. Some job postings are only open to candidates with that four-year degree and as luck would often have it, that would be the job you really want. If you are looking for the widest range of RN positions, you will need to pursue a BSN.

2. Higher Pay Grade

As of May 2017, RNs with a BSN earned an average salary of $69,697 while RNs with an ADN earned approximately $8,337 less. Understand that this is the average difference, but in many cases, the difference in salary is much greater. Remember, job options are far greater when you hold a BSN, so you can qualify for much better-paying jobs of your choice.

3. A Step up Toward an MSN

Many RNs are motivated to work up the ladder within their field. Some want to move on to a master’s degree in nursing while others want to move even higher up to eventually be licensed as a Nurse Practitioner. If you take that next step to a BSN, you are in a perfect position to increase your earnings and job opportunities exponentially.

4. Studies Beyond Clinical Applications

As a nurse who holds only a diploma or an associate degree, you will find that you are taught the basics of nursing. Yes, you will move beyond what an LPN can do and earn, but you will not have been taught other skills necessary to a position of leadership. With a BSN, you can be a team leader, a charge nurse, and are trained in critical thinking. Bear in mind that those extra two years can prepare you to carry responsibilities beyond clinical applications.

5. You Can Study 100% from Home

There was a time when it was extremely difficult for working nurses to advance their degrees. Now you can move from RN to BSN online without stepping foot into a classroom. This is why so many nurses now begin with a diploma or an ADN. They can begin earning an income so that they are self-sufficient while furthering their education.

After all, not only will you have greater earning potential and job opportunities, but you will be in a position to work towards even higher levels within the field of nursing. Whether or not you see that BSN as a stepping stone towards the autonomy of a nurse practitioner, you will find your chosen career that much more rewarding with the benefits derived from a higher level of education.

4 ways to increase your energy levels

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In order to make the most of every opportunity that life throws your way, it is vital that you have an enormous amount of energy to work with. Otherwise, you may find it difficult to stand out from your peers, push ahead with your plans, and ultimately achieve your goals. If you are currently concerned about your energy levels, don’t worry! It is never too late to take control. Below are four tips that will help you to do this.

Take plenty of breaks

Firstly, you need to make sure that you are taking plenty of breaks. This will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed by your daily duties and running yourself into the ground. If you are trying to strike the right balance between getting on with your day and taking some time for yourself, it is important that you have a list of suitable break time activities. For instance, you should visit Mt Baker Vape and explore their wide range of equipment. This will provide you with something fun and simple to enjoy during your breaks. You could also take a stroll outside or listen to your favourite playlist.

Work it out

You can also increase your energy levels by making an effort to get fit and active. Even if you struggle to get excited about exercise, there is sure to be an exercise activity that suits your interests. Perhaps you like to spend time with your friends and would benefit from a group workout session. Or, maybe you want to take in more fresh air and would enjoy going for a run in your local park. Whatever you decide, just make sure that your chosen activity is scheduled for a point in the day when your energy levels usually start to drop. This will help you to feel reinvigorated and ready for the challenges ahead.

Eat well

Another important step is to evaluate your diet and make sure that you are eating well. It is vital that you are following a balanced diet and getting all of the nutritional content you need. Ideally, you need to eat foods that will provide you with a slow release of energy throughout the day. You should also put together healthy snack boxes that you can keep in your bag or on your desk.

Enjoy a good night’s sleep

Finally, you need to make sure that you are enjoying a good night’s sleep. You can achieve this by establishing a strict bedtime routine. Firstly, you should switch off your technology and turn your phone to answer machine. Then, you should indulge in a relaxing bubble bath and change into comfortable clothing. Last but not least, you should unwind with some calming meditation or your favourite book. It is also vital that you go to bed at the same time every evening and set your alarm for the same time every morning. All of these steps will help you to achieve deep sleep and dramatically improve your energy levels.

How to Avoid the Pain and Misery of “Computer Elbow”

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If you’re a regular visitor to 3KidsandUs.com, then you hopefully know that it’s run by a family of go-getters who said goodbye to the corporate jungle and embraced life as digital nomads (and teach others to do the same!) Indeed, all we basically need is a laptop and access to the ‘net, and we can be as productive as folks in Fortune 500 enterprises — and much, much happier.

However, just like any other lifestyle choice, there are rewards and risks. And when it comes to the latter, one thing that almost everyone has to watch out for these days — but especially fellow digital nomads who spend hours a day typing and clicking — is a condition known as computer elbow.

Like it’s more familiar cousin tennis elbow, computer elbow is marked by the onset of pain in the fingers, hands and/or arms; especially (but not exclusively) the elbows. The bad news is that for a lot of people, computer elbow to some degree is unavoidable since they type and click all day — and sometimes, all night!

The good news, however, is that in most cases computer elbow can be reversed over time. Here’s the game plan:

  • Take a break! Yes, trust me: I know this is easier said than done. But time is the greatest healer, and your weary, aching fingers, wrists, forearms and (of course) elbow will thank you. Heck, even jet airplanes need rest from time to time.
  • Loosen up your taught, cold muscles and tendons prior to heading onto the digital landscape. Try this: extend your arm in front of you, and place the back of your hand against the wall (with fingers pointed to the side). Then, straighten your elbow and press against the wall. Hold this pose for a minute. This is a great way to stretch out your wrist. Just remember to do this gently, and immediately stop at the first sign of pain. It should feel good!
  • Use ice to reduce swelling and diminish pain. You can also alternate between hot and cold to increase blood circulation (about 5-10 minutes of cold, then 5-10 minutes of hot, repeated 2-3 times or as desired).

What’s more, your gear — or lack thereof — may be part of the problem. Don’t raise the back of your keyboard, keep your shoulders relaxed as you type, and use a wrist pad. Yes, I know it’s not all that convenient to lug one around, but it’s the lesser of two evils if it helps keep computer elbow at bay!

Some Final Advice

If the pain in your fingers, wrist, forearm and/or elbow persists — and especially if it worsens — then don’t ignore it: it’s not going to get better, it’s going to get worse. Speak with your doctor, who may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for a deeper look.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!