Beautiful Smile, Beautiful You!

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Photo Credit

When it comes to beauty, confidence and even well-being, a smile can make a drastic positive difference if used in the right way. Randomly smiling and hoping things will get better doesn’t work, but the power of a smile cannot be ignored. It’s linked to many positive benefits and there’s even research to suggest that people are treated differently if they show a smile.

A smile can even help with your self-esteem, boost your confidence and even help you improve interactions with customers, colleagues and virtually everyone in your life. However, getting that perfect smile can be tricky and you might feel like it's a pointless endeavor. It does take a lot of time to build your ideal smile, but it can be achieved as long as you take the right steps.


Dental Hygiene and Smiling Go Together

One of the nice things about trying to perfect your smile is that it goes together with your dental hygiene practices. A lot of people lack the self-esteem to smile because they believe that their teeth aren’t shaped well, not white enough or embarrassing due to a lack of dental care. A trip to the dentist can help in more ways than you think, and you can easily search online for practices like www.claritydentistry.com. There’s no excuse not to visit your dentist at least twice a year for a regular checkup that will give you the confidence to smile in public and reap the benefits.

Smiling Induces Pleasure–Even If It’s Forced

Research has shown that smiling actually induces pleasure in the brain. In fact, that level of pleasure is greater than indulging on a sweet snack like chocolate. There’s a lot of science behind this, but it boils down to the facial muscles we use to smile and how they stimulate our reward system, improving our happiness levels and giving us a more positive outlook on the day. This is entirely based on the body and the muscles you use, meaning that even a forced smile can brighten up your day.

You Smile, They Smile

Smiling is contagious. Much like laughing, once you see someone do it, you’re probably going to follow their example and smile as well–especially if they’re looking directly at you! Smiling comes with many benefits and you can spread that joy by simply smiling at others. If someone smiles at you, shoot a smile back and watch that mood of yours improve almost instantly. Even if it’s a fake or forced smile, it’s better than nothing and can help you spread the joy a little. Smile in the workplace, at your barista or even your customers at work–you’ll be surprised what it can do for you.


I hope that this article has given you some inspiration and advice on how you can take your smile to the next level. Whether it’s improving your dental hygiene or making you more approachable, focusing on your smile can make a huge difference in the way that you live your life–so why not take advantage of those benefits?

How To Brighten Your Smile

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Want to save your smile? Here are several ways to combat discolouration and decay and keep your teeth looking white and shiny.  

Brush more regularly

Brushing your teeth more regularly can also help to make them whiter. We should all be brushing our teeth morning and night for two minutes at a time. If you don’t already do this, adopting this routine could be an important first step to keeping those teeth bright.

Break the bad habits

There are a number of habits that are bad for our teeth. Smoking is the biggest culprit – not only does it discolor teeth and cause bad breath, but it can lead to oral infections and diseases. Quitting smoking is certain improve your oral health and help your teeth to get whiter. Your sugar intake is also important – cutting down on your soft drink consumption can make a significant impact to your teeth. Other bad habits that stain teeth include drinking lots of coffee and drinking red wine regularly.

Upgrade your toothpaste

You can also try using different toothpastes to help whiten your teeth. There are a number of special whitening toothpastes that contain ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide and activated charcoal – these pastes can help to remove plaque and stains from deep within the enamel. You can also try DIY toothpastes such as baking soda and water.

Try whitening strips

Whitening strips are small plastic strips that mold to the teeth using a special whitening adhesive. The best whitening strips can help to remove plaque and stains that are deep within the crevices of our enamel. There are lots of different strips on the market to try using all kinds of ingredients such as activated charcoal and hydrogen peroxide.

Chew gum

Chewing gum can also help to clean your teeth and remove stains. There are special whitening gums on the market than contain xylitol and other ingredients to help make your teeth whiter. Try chewing these gums throughout the day and see the difference.

Invest in professional whitening

A more rapid and effective way of whitening teeth could be to invest professional whitening. Veneers are a popular form of cosmetic procedure that involves capping each teeth with a white porcelain layer. This can help to make your teeth appear white, although there are conditions such as not being able to eat certain foods after like fudge and toffee. Another procedure to consider could be laser whitening. This involves adding a bleaching agent to the teeth and then activating using a laser. This is a much more expensive form of treatment and it can leave your teeth slightly sensitive, however it is guaranteed to make your teeth whiter more instantly than any other form of whitening.

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Ways Vanity Can Be Good For You

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Everybody’s a little bit vain. Some people are just a little more open about it than others. You can’t help but inspect yourself in the mirror each morning; appearance is something that we give great important. Of course, none of that means anything if you only strive to “look” healthy and not actually “be” healthy. The greatest way to achieve the former is to strive for the latter. You can use vanity as the motivation to start looking after your body better, but the key here is that you should be doing things which are genuinely making you healthier and not just making you “look” healthier. Here are some ways in which vanity can be a good thing for you.

Getting into shape the right way.

Getting into shape is pretty much impossible when it feels like a chore, so you need to think about a way to approach exercise and healthy eating which suits your lifestyle. You could try small tricks such as switching your large dining plates for smaller ones so as to force yourself to prioritize healthier carbohydrates and nutrients in your meals rather than overloading on unnecessary extra food. Everything should be eaten in moderation (even healthy fruits and vegetables), so smaller dining plates could help with that. Making substitutions with empty carbs for nutritional carbs is also important.

 In terms of keeping your body active, don’t force the gym or cycling if neither of those activities are exciting to you. You want a form of exercise that you can stick to because it fits nicely in your routine. Perhaps walking or jogging are relaxing to you because you can enjoy the scenery of your local park as you do so. Perhaps you’ve always been keen on martial arts or swimming; there are so many different ways to get your body moving, so just find something that suits you. Maintaining muscle strength and cardiovascular health is important for your heart and your body as well as your appearance in the mirror.

The smart route to pearly whites.

Everybody wants white teeth, but not everybody cares about whether they’re healthy or not; you may have had them whitened, but does that say anything about plaque build-up or the healthiness of your gums? You should be flossing as well as brushing your teeth; avoiding plaque and tar build-up is the smartest way to avoid gum disease and other health problems with your teeth or mouth in general. You could always consider affordable dental care if you were put off visiting your last clinic regularly because of the expense, as your health shouldn’t be something that you have to put a price on; you should always prioritize it, and that goes without saying.

Sleeping well can improve your appearance.

Those bags under your eyes and your slouching posture are both things which diminish your appearance. Both could be improved by simply sleeping well because better energy levels mean better concentration and better posture in your office chair or at home (rather than slowly sinking into your seat as you begin to doze off). Of course, sleeping well is important for your body so many different ways. It’s not just about getting enough sleep but sleeping in a bed which supports your body and its posture. You don’t want to have aches and pains throughout the day; ensure your mattress is supportive. Ideally, you should change them every seven years.

Looking after your mind.

You might be wondering how your mental state could possibly affect your physical appearance, but there’s a clear link between the body and the mind. Your stress levels, for example, can have a huge effect on your facial appearance. Blemishes such as acne definitely flare up during periods of intense stress, so it’s important to work on taking better care of your mental health. Practice meditating to focus on centering yourself, and you might notice the physical benefits.

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Looking After Your Hard Parts

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The human body is formed from a vast selection of different materials. Of course, you have probably heard that the human body is mainly made from water. And, this is true. But, this water is found within a lot of the more complex structures you find; people aren’t just balloons. This variety of materials is one of the reasons that your body needs so many different nutrients and vitamins to keep going. It’s not just the food you eat which impacts your body, though; there are loads of factors. Unfortunately, covering each part of the body would require a scientific journal. So, this post will have a narrower focus; the solid parts of your body.

To start, it’s best to consider the most important hard part of your body; your bones. Bones are used as the frame for your body. Without them, you’d be unable to stand, sit, or even hear things. Your bones are incredibly important; so, it’s worth looking after them. To start, calcium is a huge part of this. Calcium is used by the body to strengthen and repair bones. But, without it; bones can develop to be weak. A lot of dairy products are rich in calcium; but, sunlight will also promote its production. So, simply going outside could be enough. This isn’t the only way you can protect your bones, though. Oils, like cod liver oil, contain Omega 3; which is great for your bones. And, of course, during your normal life, you should be looking to avoid large impacts and injuries to your bones.

This next area is one of the most important to a lot of people; their teeth. This part of your body is one that most people you interact with will see. Having teeth misaligned or missing altogether can have a huge impact on your appearance. Of course, this sort of issue isn’t disgusting or ugly; but, it makes a lot of people feel self-conscious about it. To start, you should be brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. This ensures you don’t have any residue on them which could cause decay. Along with this, you should also plan regular trips to the dentist. These professionals are experts in mouths who have studied for many years to get their job. And, with oral surgery becoming more and more popular; most of the procedures are incredibly safe. This makes trusting them much easier. 

The last consideration on this list isn’t a huge problem for a lot of people. But, it could still make your life a lot easier. Nothing is worse than chipping a nail just after you’ve paid to have them done up nicely. In this sort of situation, one thing can be blamed; the strength of your nails. Some of the best supplements for this are creatine which is what nails are made from. This sort of product can also cause health issues, though. So, a more natural approach should be taken. There are loads of foods out there which are great for this part of your body. And, as a nice side effect, this will also improve your hair; thanks to the two parts of your body being made from the same stuff.

 

Hopefully, this post will give you an idea of what can be done to start protecting the solid parts of your body. Most people don’t realise how fragile these parts of the body can be. Keeping them healthy is incredibly important; especially as you get older. Life can be made much more comfortable with work like this.

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Take Better Care Of You: Health Tips For Maintaining Inner Beauty

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It’s easy to forget to take care of yourself sometimes.  With more demands on our time and attention from work, children and family, the importance of keeping healthy can take a back seat.  It’s time to make a change to your health and maintain a better, longer lasting version of yourself.

We all know the rules.  Exercise often, eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated.  But there are other important factors we are missing.  When was the last time you saw your doctor, for example? How long have you been ignoring that ache in your neck? I’ve gathered together a short guide of changes you need to make now. Small changes for a better future.  So sit back, grab a cup of green tea and read on …

I won’t kick start this with hydration but will instead highlight the importance right now and get to it later.  Drink.  Drink 2 litres a day.  Every day.  Instead we’ll start by looking at fitness.

Your heart is the only thing between you and death.  If your heart fails, well that’s essentially the end of it all.  So keeping it healthy and and strong is vital.  Experts advise we take a minimum of 25 minutes of exercise per day. This can range from gentle walking to more high impact sports such as running.  Cardio fitness is the key to a nice strong heart but there are so many exciting ways to get the heart pumping.  Here are three to get you inspired

1: The Quick Morning Cardio Burn

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If you don’t have time to make it to the gym, wake up and smash a 15 minute cardio wake up call.  Simple exercises like one minute reps of jumping jacks, squat thrusts, sit ups, high chests and running up and down the stairs, repeated 5 times each (Only pick three and mix them up everyday)   Or include a short weight lifting routine as I wrote about in this blog into your quick cardio.  It will give you a super snappy cardio buzz before breakfast.  You can jump in the shower and feel the extra energy boost.  Cardio exercise increases your metabolism all day so you can feel smug that you have set the town of your day and enjoy a guilt three latte at lunch.

 

2: The Enthusiastic Run

Running isn’t for everyone but, don’t knock it until you have given it a good go.  Running with interval sprints of thirty seconds for 30 minutes is a real fat burning cardio boost which will help trim you down whilst toning your muscles.  You need to ensure you have the correct trainers and kit to protect your limbs as this is a high impact sport.  The very best thing about falling in love with running is that it is completely free and you can do it absolutely anywhere.  Put your music in your ears and pound away the miles.  Mix running up with something like swimming to keep your body moving without constant high impact on your joints.

 

3: Think Different!

Horse riding may not look like it’s burning much in the way of calories but a one hour horse ride burns the same calories as a 30 minute run.  It is also extremely good at building up your core muscles and working your inner thigh.  Giving you a cardio and toning exercise all in one.  Make sure you stay safe by wearing all the correct kit and find a local riding school that gives lessons in a school or takes you out and about on brilliant hacks.  You won’t even notice your heart is getting a workout.  You might notice it the following day in your muscles though!

 

If you can include 20-30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise into your daily routine, you will be well on the way to improving the health of your heart.

 

Next on the list of things we usually put on the back burners are regular health checks with a doctor or our dentist.  As we grow older we need to keep an eye on things.  Prevention is most definitely better than cure, but with certain illnesses we can be blissfully unaware of any changes until it’s too late.

Our teeth suffer years of abuse without a good hygienist, so get online and use http://dentists.nhere.me to find a local dentist and go for regular check ups and cleans. This is especially important if you have children.  Kids watching their parents taking care of their teeth are twice as likely to take care of their own.  Make it fun.  Brush together and get your kids to enjoy visits to the dentist.  

Finding a good doctor is also important.  Women over 20 should be having regular smear tests and women over 35 should be having well women tests. Check your breasts often and at different points in your cycle so you get to notice any changes in the shape and feel of them.  If you notice anything out of place, make an appointment and get a second opinion.

 

Keeping a little back for yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can bestow upon your body.  Mindfulness.  Relaxation.  These two simple things are so often forgotten, but without them we can suffer unhealthy habits and even create mental health issues we could have avoided.  Meditation is particularly helpful at putting your monkey mind to task.  Our minds can create huge problems for relatively minor issues.  Learning to control that is the key to lasting inner peace.

Yoga is a fantastic release for stress and can be practiced either first thing in the morning to energize you, or with a little meditation last thing at night to prepare your body for sleep.  You don’t have to find a class to learn the basics with lots of handy tips on line like these, just find a comfortable, clutter free area and a quite 15 minutes then practice the slow, low impact movements whilst allowing your mind to run free of all the chatter.  

Inner peace is something that we need to help us solve problems and make better decisions.  Lying in bed with a million worries and anxieties will lead us to a pattern of no sleep and sluggish behavior.  Lack of sleep can have serious impact on our day to day lives.  Creating havoc with our skin and general health.  Find peace, relax and sleep!

 

Lastly, I mentioned it in the first half of this article, hydration and a healthy balanced diet.

You will not find one article in the world on health that doesn’t stress the importance of drinking pure water every day.  Amounts range, but setting yourself up for the challenge of 2 liters a day, will make remarkable changes in your life.  From your brain to your skin and your general energy levels, water will change the way you take on the world and help you form better decisions.  Cells need water to regenerate so, a little like plants, without regular water we will slowly wither away, health will deteriorate and eventually we’ll die!

 

Clean eating, removing processed and sugary foods from your diet, will give your digestive system a happy detox.  Homemade meals with fresh local ingredients or, better still, home grown ingredients will ensure heart, cell and brain health.  A balanced diet is proven to decrease your risk of many cancers and increase your life expectancy so get to it!

Take better care of yourself, look and feel more beautiful and enjoy life, longer.

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