Smart Senior – Page 2

7 Simple Ways To Hide Carpet Stains Until The Pro Carpet Cleaners Attend

So, you have finally booked professional Perth carpet cleaners to come and give your carpets the proper clean they so desperately need. The problem is they are in so much demand it will be a couple of weeks before they can come round. You look at your carpets and see how dirty they are and the many stains they have, and start to panic.

Between now and when the carpet cleaners are due, you have your sister visiting with her husband, and it is hubby’s birthday next week, and when you always invite a few friends round for drinks. What are they going to think when they see the state of your carpets and all those stains? They will think you are lazy and keep an unclean house. Aaarrgghh!

Ok, time to stop panicking because none of that is going to happen. Why? Well, because we have some awesome ways for you to “hide” the stains in your carpet until your professional carpet cleaners can deal with them properly. They may not remove them completely, but they will at least stop you fretting about your friends and family seeing them and passing judgement on you.

Suffer From Dentophobia? How To Overcome Your Irrational Fear Of The Dentist

When we think of people having phobias, the more common ones such as arachnophobia and claustrophobia come to mind. Whilst many people are terrified of spiders and enclosed spaces, there is also a significant number who have a debilitating fear of dentists, and for the record that is known as dentophobia.

At this point, we must make a distinction between phobias and fears. Most people have some level of fear regarding specific things they dislike and that can include spiders and the dentist. However, when those fears are irrational, cause you to behave in certain ways, and make you mentally traumatised, they become phobias. The problem is that a phobia of the dentist can negatively impact your oral health, and that is adding one problem on top of another.

To try and help anyone who has either a fear or a phobia about visiting their dentist, we are going to suggest some ways you can try to overcome them. What we are not going to say is “pull yourself together” because we are sure you have heard that a thousand times, and unless someone knows exactly how you are feeling, advice like that is far from helpful.

Exposure Therapy

This is known to help resolve lots of different phobias and works on the basis that you chip away at your phobia a little bit at a time. In the case of dentophobia, you take small steps towards being able to have your dentist treat you. You could start by driving to the dental surgery’s car park. Next time, go into the reception area. You might speak to the receptionist or the dentist on your next visit.

Moving on you might sit in the dentist’s chair, and just relax there for a while. Next time have an examination but not treatment. Next, a session where the dentist takes an x-ray and so on until you can have full appointments such as a cleaning or teeth whitening.

Why Some DIY Tooth Whitening Methods May Do More Harm Than Good

Everyone wants to look their best, and one of the features that contribute to us looking good is our teeth. The cleaner, brighter, and whiter they are, the more our smile beams, but unfortunately, not everyone’s teeth are whiter than white. Many people suffer from tooth discolouration, and their proper course of action is to visit their dentist to ask that they whiten their teeth professionally.

In most cases this would be the recommended way to whiten teeth, however, it cannot have escaped your notice that there are also numerous DIY teeth whitening solutions available. These come in several forms such as whitening toothpaste, whitening powder, whitening strips as well as a whole raft of homemade recipes which it is claimed can whiten teeth ‘naturally’.

Let us state here that many people use these teeth whitening options and have had good results with no side effects or secondary issues. However, that is not the case for everyone. Teeth whitening done on a DIY basis does not always produce the desired result, and worse, it can lead to other issues. Below are some examples of how DIY tooth whitening can go wrong.

5 Must-Haves In Your Estate Plan

Research has revealed that not only have Australians not put time or effort into estate planning, but half of them don’t even have a basic will. That means that if they should die before putting one in place, their assets may not go to the people they were hoping for, and dependents may not end up with those who can care for them the best.

If the fear of not having control over who gets your possessions has spurred you to take action, you might be wondering what you need to do next. For the most comprehensive plan for your loved ones to follow once you pass, ensure your estate plan incorporates the following:

A Will
A will is a legal document that outlines how your assets should be distributed when you die. Typically, there are instructions for your loved ones to follow and even some lifestyle requests, such as scattering your ashes somewhere lovely.

When putting your will together, you must have at least one executor to ensure your wishes are followed. This document must also be witnessed.

5 Reasons Why You Don’t Need to Fear the Dentist

For many decades, dental care was something most people feared. In fact, older generations were subjected to sometimes painful procedures that made them fearful of visits throughout their adult life.

However, technology has evolved in leaps and bounds, which means that some of the most common reasons why people used to fear going to the dentist are no longer relevant.

If you have been putting off a visit for much-needed dental implants, dentures, or just a check-up, the following information may help you see that there is nothing to fear.

What’s Involved in Estate Planning?

Not everyone realises that estate planning and wills are not the same things. While your intention can be the same, there can be much more involved in estate planning as a whole, rather than simply putting together a will.

If you’re unsure what’s involved in either estate planning or will creation, the following information may prove helpful.

What is an Estate Plan?

An estate plan involves creating a plan for your assets and any investments when you die. It ensures your loved ones are provided for while also making sure your assets make it to the people you wished to benefit from them.

Estate plans incorporate the making of a will, your superannuation death nomination, power of guardianship, power of attorney, testamentary trusts, and medical treatment wishes if you’re no longer able to communicate.

While having an estate plan in Australia is not a legal requirement, it can be a worthwhile plan to make sure your family and friends are well cared for in the event of your passing.

5 Reasons Why Older People Fear the Dentist

The highest rate of dental fear is in the 40-64-year age range, with many people in this group avoiding trips to the dentist as much as possible.

However, dentists themselves are not scary people. They are like any other adult, just doing their job and providing a service. So, why do people fear them? Dentists shouldn’t take it personally because these common reasons for dental fear below have nothing to do with the dentist themselves.

Past Bad Experiences

Dental technology has come a long way in the last few decades, but it can be hard to see that if you’ve had previous bad experiences with archaic technology.

Most Common Mistakes When Planning a Will

One of the best things you can do for yourself, your family, and their future, is put time into planning wills. Even though you may not think you have enough assets to require a will, the threshold can be a lot lower than you might think.

Wills allow you to have some control over who gets your assets when you die, including your estate, pets, and children. Whether you’re in the process of creating a will from scratch or upgrading the one you already have, make sure you take some time to plan and research. By doing so, you may be able to avoid some of the following mistakes.

Failing to Create a Will At All

Estate planning and will creation can take some time. So much time, in fact, that you may put it off until it becomes too late. Once you have a will in place, it can require minimal upkeep.

Therefore, it can be worth setting time aside to think about your estate and who you would like it to go to. Everything from life insurance policies and superannuation to personal belongings and cars should be factored into a will.

If you don’t make your intentions known in a legal document, you may never be able to ensure that the people you wanted your assets to go to will receive them. Your death may even result in court cases to split assets between family members with legal intervention.

Why Dentures Might Be the Best Option for You

Whether you’ve lost your natural teeth to decay, disease, or even an accident, you might be wondering what your options are. Your dentist might recommend dentures, which are especially common among older adults.

However, not everyone is convinced that dentures are the right option for them. While it’s true that dental implants might also be of value, there are several reasons why dentures could be even better for your unique situation.

They Are Comfortable to Wear

Technology is evolving all the time, which means that uncomfortable dentures your own grandparents wore several decades ago may not be the same dentures you can expect to wear. It’s true that it can take a few visits to your dentist to achieve the correct fit, but these visits are worth it for your overall comfort.

Most Common Types of Laser Eye Surgery to Help You Decide

Many people decide to get laser eye surgery when they are tired of wearing contact lenses and glasses. They don’t have to worry about making allowances under helmets or experiencing discomfort when swimming and partaking in adventure sports.

However, it’s easy to become overwhelmed when you start looking at your laser eye surgery options. There are so many different laser surgery types available, and not all will suit your needs.

Fortunately, your eye care specialist can walk you through the best options. Still, we’ve included the most common surgery types available in today’s market.

Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

Out of all laser eye surgery options, LASIK or laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis would have to be one of the most popular. It’s fast, offers the quickest recovery times, and is also one of the most comfortable options for patients.

This type of eye surgery involves two lasers to reshape the cornea rather than blades. It’s also one of the most preferred options for conditions like presbyopia, astigmatism, hyperopia, and myopia.

When your appointment time rolls around, you will experience laser treatment for just a few seconds on each eye, and you will be able to drive and do most daily activities within 24 hours. It may offer you much-needed peace of mind to know that LASIK is FDA-approved.