Gingivitis: Prevention and Treatment Methods

Gingivitis is a common periodontal disease and can become a serious problem if allowed to go untreated. The disease attacks the tissue at the base of the teeth, called gingival tissue, and causes swelling and inflammation. It occurs when food particles and other substances are left on the gum line where sticky plaque and hard tartar forms at and below the gums.

Dr. Tien Jiang, assistant professor in oral health policy and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, says with the correct oral care gingivitis can be controlled with proper teeth brushing and routine dental cleanings. If left untreated, inflammation from gingivitis can lead to an irreversible form of gum disease called periodontitis, and damage the tissue and bones supporting the teeth. If your dentist suspects periodontitis, they can use x-rays to see how far the disease has advanced.

Studies have linked inflammation of the gums to a higher risk of many serious diseases including heart, stroke and dementia. Poor dental hygiene like not flossing, smoking, misaligned teeth, diabetes that is not well-managed, and infections in other parts of the body can put you at higher risk for gum disease.

While early gum disease usually does not cause symptoms, as the disease progresses; signs include sore, red, sensitive, or swollen gums. Gums that bleed when brushed or flossed, mouth sores and bad breath are other symptoms.

Dr. Jiang says prevention and treatment begins with home care and should include brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. Pay attention to areas where plaque tends to grow such as between the teeth and at the gum line. If your dentist visits show lots of plaque buildup, they may recommend using anti-plaque or anti-tartar toothpaste or mouth rinse.

At the dentist’s office, your dentist or dental hygienist is equipped to remove plaque deposits before gingivitis can cause more serious problems. For cases where inflammation is below the gum line, they have special tools to clean the area. Your dentist’s office is also a good place to learn how to properly care for your teeth.

MorningStar at Jordan provides exceptional senior living in Centennial, Colorado. Our 55 well-designed suites for assisted living are available in spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. Residents enjoy amenities including chef-inspired meals, bistro, theater, salon, general store, all-season porches and fireside patio. To promote a healthy, engaged lifestyle, our daily calendar is full of wellness programs and activities such as exercise classes, games, crafts and entertainment. In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood provides 29 suites for all-inclusive, specialized dementia care. Contact us or visit our website to schedule a tour of our beautiful community.

MorningStar has considered it a privilege and responsibility to “cast a new light” on senior living, inspired and empowered by our unique mission: to honor, to value, to invest. Our passionate commitment to serving seniors has proudly earned us a reputation for satisfaction that is second to none. Contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living and dementia care in Centennial, CO. 

Source: health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gingivitis-reversing-and-preventing-early-gum-disease

MorningStar at Jordan Offers an Elevated Dining Experience

MorningStar at Jordan is a vibrant community offering assisted living and memory care in Centennial, Colorado with easy access to shopping, restaurants, medical facilities and other services. We are one of ten MorningStar Senior Living communities in the Denver area.

As a MorningStar at Jordan resident, you will be treated to a whole host of resort-style amenities and services including an elevated dining experience. All residents are treated to meals prepared under the supervision of our Executive Chef and served restaurant-style in our beautiful dining rooms. We understand that food is a healing medicine unlike any other and is one of the great joys of living.

Our meals are prepared largely from scratch using the freshest ingredients from the highest quality local producers. MorningStar’s Chef looks forward to feedback from residents and is open to suggestions. At each meal, residents have the opportunity to self-manage dietary restrictions with choices of low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, vegetarian, low fat, gluten free and dairy free options.

We also believe in BrainWise foods and use ingredients known to support brain health with their high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Thus, as MorningStar’s culinary team strives to create meals that delight the eye and palate, they also leverage the phenomenal benefits of superfoods such as Omega 3 fats, berries, dark chocolate and leafy greens.

Our community offers 55 stylish assisted living suites for those that need help with the activities of daily living. In addition, our Reflections Neighborhood has 29 suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s or other dementia-related diseases. While residents’ apartments are their own private nest, our community also has inviting common areas both inside and out that are designed to encourage residents to sit and relax with friends. Please contact us or visit our website for more information and to schedule a tour.

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003. We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about one of the finest senior living communities in Centennial, CO.

When to Consider a Memory Care Community

A Place for Mom’s website explains how many people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia can live independently with or without the help of in-home caregivers or family members. However, they also stress there may come a time when the disease progresses to a stage where the person’s safety and physical well-being is in jeopardy and more care is needed.

As a person with Alzheimer’s may have good days and bad, it can be hard to tell if they would be better served in a memory care community. Experts say signs include: has their appearance changed? Do they look unkempt and have they lost weight due to forgetting to eat? Do they appear agitated and confused? Are they unable to carry on a conversation?

Your loved one’s healthcare provider can help you decide if it is time for memory care. Dr. Philip Branshaw, an internal medicine specialist in Batavia, Illinois, says, “When talking about memory care . . . I’ll center the talk around [the person’s] ability to perform their activities of daily living.”

A Place for Mom says to gauge a senior’s abilities and safety, your doctor may ask if they:

• Get lost on routes they take frequently, such as going to the grocery store or taking a walk around the neighborhood
• Have trouble remembering to eat or drink
• Are forgetting to take their medication appropriately
• Are struggling to bathe regularly or get dressed as usual
• Had a fall or been to the emergency room recently
• Leave the stove on after preparing food

Along with assisted living, MorningStar at Jordan provides compassionate memory care for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Our holistic approach to memory care is designed to affirm the value of the person and to find ways to celebrate the smallest successes. Beginning with dedicated caregivers to activities, programs and meals tailored to our residents’ special needs, we bring a deep understanding of the disease to our care. Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living communities and memory care in Centennial, CO.

Source: aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/is-it-time-for-memory-care

The Impact of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Digestive Health

The last several years have brought probiotics and prebiotics into the spotlight. However, it can be confusing as to what the difference is between the two and the role they play in our bodies. Experts say both are important to our health; probiotics are beneficial bacteria, while prebiotics are food for these bacteria.

In other words, “Probiotics are live bacteria found in certain foods or supplements and can provide numerous health benefits. Prebiotics are substances from types of carbs (mostly fiber) that humans can’t digest. The beneficial bacteria in your gut eat this fiber.”

The Harvard Medical School explains that our large intestine has 100 trillion good bacteria essential to our health called microbiome. These good microbes help maintain healthy bowel function. Each person has their own unique microbiome from birth and we add to the good microbes by the food we consume. However, a diet high in sugar and fat can negatively affect gut health by encouraging the growth of bad bacteria, allowing them to grow faster and colonize more easily, without as many helpful bacteria to prevent it from happening.

Research shows certain foods like yogurt and kefirs with live, active cultures are beneficial to adding to our microbiome. Unpasteurized, fermented foods like kombucha, miso, sauerkraut and sour pickles contain healthy microbes but most packaged fermented foods are pasteurized, which destroys the microbes. The best way to get around that is to learn to ferment foods at home.

Experts say while there are many probiotic supplements on the market, it is not easy to find exactly what you need. Most probiotic supplements contain just a few bacterial strains, compared to the many stains naturally found in the gut. “Although there are many claims made by probiotic products, there’s now reliable, evidence-based support that certain probiotics — like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium (bacteria), and Saccharomyces boulardii (yeast) — are generally safe and helpful in specific conditions.”

MorningStar at Jordan is a luxury assisted living communities in Centennial, Colorado, a suburb south of Denver. Along with our stylish studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans, we offer a whole host of amenities, care services and wellness programs. Please contact us or visit our website for more information about outstanding assisted living and memory care at MorningStar.

MorningStar at Jordan’s foundation is based on the mission to honor God, value seniors and invest in our staff to create a unique senior living experience. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we provide the finest assisted living and memory care in Centennial, Colorado. Please contact our team to inquire about availability, pricing or to set up a tour.


Sources:
healthline.com/nutrition/probiotics-and-prebiotics
healthline.com/health/probiotics-and-digestive-health/how-long-does-it-take-for-probiotics-to-work#choosing-a-probiotic

Brain Games Boost Mental Fitness

Over the last couple of decades, researchers have found brain-training games may help improve attention levels, logic skills, and memory as well as enhance cognitive function in healthy subjects. Shaheen Lakhan, MD. Ph.D. FAAN, a physician-scientist and clinical development specialist and founding neurology department chair and curricular dean at California University of Science and Medicine writes the following: “The brain is just like a muscle - it thrives on exercise! As a neurologist, I'm thrilled by the incredible potential of brain games to help people flex their mental muscles, activating underused brain circuits to sharpen cognition and skills like focus, speed, and memory.”

Experts say effective brain games include Sudoku and crossword puzzles. With crossword puzzles, cognitive skills used include recollecting past verbal knowledge and memories. Sudoku relies on short-term memory, which is often one the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease, and requires the player to look ahead to plan out subsequent moves.

Android and iOS offer apps for brain games that are either free, include in-app purchases or require a subscription to open more games. One game is Elevate that centers on reading, writing, speaking and math; and allows you to customize training on areas you wish to focus on. Another game, Luminosity, was involved in a study that showed people who played the games for “15 minutes a day at least seven days a week for three weeks experienced improved attention and motor speed.”

MorningStar at Jordan is a beautiful 55+ community offering assisted living and memory care in Centennial, Colorado. Our focus is on providing everything residents need to live their best life with resort-style amenities, best-in-class dining, and an array of senior care and hospitality services. In addition, we pride ourselves on giving residents the opportunity to explore new things, stay engaged and enjoy themselves with a variety of wellness programs and activities. Visit our website to see what sets our community apart from other assisted living communities and why MorningStar is a great place to call home.

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003. We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about one of the finest senior living communities in Centennial, CO.

Source: verywellmind.com/top-websites-and-games-for-brain-exercise-2224140

Maintaining Arm Strength is Important for Seniors

We know balance exercises protect older adults’ safety and stability by preventing falls as well as helping maintain independence. The Harvard Medical School explains keeping arm strength should also be a goal for seniors.

The fact is as early as our mid-thirties, arm strength and overall muscles start to decline and continue to do so around one percent each year thereafter. Once we reach our sixties, experts say arm strength is declining by as much as 3 percent each year, and not only reduces our range of motion but increases our risk for injuries.

Functional strength improves quality of life, and having a strong upper body is important. Maintaining and/or building up arm strength benefits our bones and balance as well as preventing falls. Experts point to two important muscles that control our arm movements: biceps, the muscles located on the upper arm; and triceps, the muscles at the back of the upper arm. Both sets of muscles help us lift, carry and push.

Improving arm strength is easy to do at home and doesn’t require fancy gym equipment. Check with the Harvard Medical School or other sources on the Internet to find examples of exercises targeted toward seniors. To get started, all you need is a pair of two- or five-pound weights depending on your size and/or condition. As you gain strength, you can move up to heavier weights. However, before beginning any new exercise, please check with your healthcare provider.

At MorningStar of Boulder, we believe in providing seniors an all-encompassing environment for residents’ well-being and safety to comfortably age in place. Our retirement communities offer a fitness center and a range of fun programming to enhance fitness.

In addition, we provide senior care and hospitality services along with luxury amenities and a choice of well-designed floor plans. Located on the southeast side of the city, our beautiful community is convenient for medical facilities, shopping, and other services. For more information about outstanding assisted living in Boulder, CO, please call us or visit our website.

MorningStar has considered it a privilege and responsibility to “cast a new light” on senior living, inspired and empowered by our unique mission: to honor, to value, to invest. Our passionate commitment to serving seniors has proudly earned us a reputation for satisfaction that is second to none. Contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living Boulder, CO offers.

Selecting Among Assisted Living Communities

A US News & World Report article discusses how to determine which assisted living community would be the best fit for you or a loved one. They explain that while there may be similarities between communities, upon closer scrutiny, each one will most likely have its own strengths and weaknesses. It is also a good idea to take into account things like personal preferences and location; and you may find it helpful to take a look at the checklist provided in the article.

To begin narrowing down the various communities, visit their websites to get answers to commonly asked questions. From there you can call to inquire about availability and pricing, and if the place sounds good, go ahead and book an in-person tour. While at the community, make the effort to speak to as many people as possible. Try to be there during an activity to see how engaged residents are, and join the group for lunch if you have the opportunity.

Furthermore, this is a good time to discuss the range of senior care options to determine if they can provide the level of care you need. Ask about policies regarding joining the community and what happens if it doesn’t work out. If there is a daily calendar of activities and events, ask for a copy. You will also want to know if they provide transportation for doctor’s appointments and other errands. If you do eat a meal, what did you think of the quality? Another thing to pay attention to is the cleanliness and smell of the community.

As mentioned earlier, location is important. Is the community convenient for your family and friends and close to your doctors and other personal services? When visitors do come, is there adequate parking? Is there a relaxing spot to sit outside when the weather is nice?

Now consider personal preferences. Does the size of the community matter to you? How does the list of amenities stack up to things you are interested in doing? For example, is an onsite salon important or do you enjoy spending time outdoors? Would you like to attend services at an onsite chapel?

At MorningStar of Boulder, we offer assisted living suites in a variety of stylish floor plans featuring high ceilings, kitchenette, private heating & cooling and housekeeping services. For your safety, every suite has a handicapped-accessible bathroom and emergency call system. We also provide residents comprehensive care services along with luxury amenities, wellness programs and activities to enhance quality of life.

In addition, for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, we offer compassionate, all-inclusive memory care in our distinct Reflections Neighborhood. Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003. We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about one of the finest assisted living communities in Boulder, CO.

Source: health.usnews.com/best-assisted-living/articles/assisted-living-checklist?