Wednesday

Make Your Life Easy With A Walk In Bathtub

By Stephen Daniels

To those with limited mobility, standard showers and bathtubs can be difficult and unsafe to use. This can make the once simple task of bathing frustrating and complicated. Frequently, showers don't have the anti-slip protection and grab bars that are needed, or a seating area that can make the task easier. Walk in bathtubs, however, have all this and more, contributing to both safety and relaxation.

Handicap accessible bathtubs are a comfortable and easy-to-install alternative to traditional showers and provide all the safety features usual set-ups miss. Every year, manufacturers introduce handicap bathtubs that include height-adjustable, easy-to-use faucets and shower heads as well as strategically located grab bars. In other words, walk in tubs are all about your comfort and safety.

Showers that are handicap friendly generally have a very low threshold or are completely level with the floor, providing maximum accessibility. However, walk in tubs let you opt for either a shower or a nice soak in the tub without the worry of how you will get in and out of the bath. Soaking in warm water isn't a mere luxury - it can go a long way towards soothing aches and pains. Walk in baths often come with a shower head that can be either hand-held or wall mounted and can be set at the right height for your needs.

A surprising number of different walk in bathtub models and styles are manufactured today. An inward or outward opening door set in the side of the tub is the primary feature that sets them apart from other tub types. This door allows for a much safer and easier entry and exit into the tub than traditional baths. Outward opening doors may be safer in some cases, as the door can be opened even when the tub is full if there is an emergency. However, inward-opening doors are usually preferable in that they require less room, and they are also self-sealing due to the water pressure when the bath is full.

Excellent for either showering or bathing, "sit-in" tubs are generally the most popular models. They feature a chair-height seat that is easy to get in and out of. Other units feature powered seats that can lower and lift you safely and easily in and out of a traditional height bath. This allows you to enjoy full-length bathing without the worry of slipping and falling. While practically every model boasts anti-slip surfaces and convenient grab bars for added safety, many newer tubs also have hydrotherapy jet options. These jetted tubs have added therapeutic properties that can aid further in soothing aching joints and sore muscles.

Many different sizes and types of handicap accessible tubs are available to accommodate your needs and lifestyle. Short models are designed for various hard to fit places, including many that are specifically made to fit into the same space as a traditional shower stall. Long tubs are similar in size to traditional baths, allowing for more room to relax and enjoy a soak.

As you'll need to be inside the tub both while it fills and empties, most walk in tubs have special features. One important feature is a thermostatic mixer, a temperature regulator that makes sure all water comes out at just the right temperature for your comfort and your safety. Many units have quick filling features as well. Another major issue is how quickly the water can drain. Seniors could catch a chill from sitting for several minutes in cool water as they wait for the tub to empty. Many models offer dual drain systems, or even pumps that can drain the unit in under a minute, to solve this problem.

No matter if you would like to soak in the tub every day, or you primarily intend to take showers but would like the option for an occasional bath, walk in bathtubs make your life easy by providing maximum comfort and safety. - 26706

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What is Bruxism?

By Ellen Roberts

Teeth grinding referred to as bruxism is considered to be both a medical and a dental problem. Simply defined, it is the act of consciously or unconsciously clenching your teeth either during the day or while you sleep. Teeth grinding usually happens during sleep. Have you ever had a roommate or a sleeping partner that snores? Well you might have had one that grinds their teeth in their sleep as well. However, unlike snoring, teeth grinding sounds are a little on the low side, although it can be as bothersome as well. This is because it affects both the teeth and all of the structure near it, including the head.

Grinding your teeth at night can cause a painful jaw in the morning. Over time, teeth grinding can cause serious tooth damage, such as cracking of enamel. Many people who grind their teeth find their jaw is tense during the day as well, but the worst grinding happens at night. And this is where the real problem arises. Teeth grinding can keep your sleeping partner awake, causing relationship difficulties. If you grind your teeth, you will know the problems that it can cause.

The most likely culprits to teeth grinding are things like stress, sleep disorders, crooked or missing teeth and having an abnormal bite, where the upper and lower teeth do not come together normally (known as malocclusion). Tobacco, caffeine, alcohol or drug use may also cause teeth grinding. In rare instances, teeth grinding can be a side-effect of antidepressant medicines. Having a vitamin deficiency (such as of calcium or magnesium) may be linked with teeth grinding, so it's important to follow a well-balanced, nutritious diet and take a multivitamin supplement if needed. Also, short-term teeth grinding may be caused by an illness, such as a cold, ear infection, pinworms or allergies; check with your doctor if the grinding continues after the medical condition has passed.

Most of the time, treatment is not needed and many children will stop grinding their teeth on their own. If left untreated, however, teeth grinding can sometimes damage the teeth or cause headaches and tmj (temporomandibular joint) pain. Your dentist may recommend a mouth guard or appliance (a splint for the teeth) to protect the teeth and possibly prevent grinding. Orthodontic correction may be needed if the teeth or jaws are poorly aligned.

Keeping the jaws relaxed in the daytime by not chewing on pens, pencils, fingernails or gum may prevent grinding and clenching at night. Finally, treating and preventing stress or anxiety through counseling, relaxation, exercise, meditation, hypnotherapy or any number of other stress-relief methods may help eliminate teeth grinding as well. For more information on how to prevent or cure bruxism just go to the link below. - 26706