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11 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Saturday, March 7, 2009 TRAFALGAR RIDGE OPT0METRY 481 North Service Rd. W. A4, Oakville, ON Ashley Johnson Hopedale Shopping Centre Suite 220, 2nd Floor 905-847-2210 2387 Trafalgar Rd. Oakville (HomeSense/Winners Plaza) Dr. Lesley Naumowich Dr. Rosenblat D.D.S. 905-827-0301 Question: Q: Why would your Real Estate Agent recommend hiring a cleaning service before putting your house up for sale? Q: A: What causes bad breath? While many believe that bad breath comes from the stomach, usually it is a problem of the mouth. What you eat, how you clean your teeth, gums and tongue are usually the culprits. Any food particles left in the mouth attract bacteria, causing bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing regularly-after evey meal if possible, flossing daily and cleaning your tongue as far back as you can go will remove these particles. If you cannot brush after a meal, drinking water and chewing sugarless gum can help too. Of course some foods like garlic, onions and certain spices can linger for up to 72 hours after eating, even if you brush well. They are absorbed during digestion and expelled from the blood stream through your lungs! Dry mouth can be a cause of bad breath as well. Saliva normally cleanses the mouth by removing food particles where bacteria use to grow. Dry mouth can be caused by alcohol use, certain medications and breathing through your mouth or smoking. So again drink plenty of water, and sugarless gum and mints can help keep your mouth moist. Of course smoking itself causes bad breath, amongst other problems. Bad breath can also be an early sign of periodontal gum disease. This is an infection of the gums and jawbone. As it progresses the bactei causing it irritates the gums, builds up and will cause loosening of teeth. Brushing and flossing will remove food debris around teeth and just under the gumline. Professional dental "cleanings" are vital to help remove bacteria deeper under the gums. Medical conditions like diabetes or other infections in the nose, throat and mouth can also be involved so a visit to a dentist can help narrow down the causes of bad breath. 905-338-0377 Why do my children need an eye exam if a vision screening is performed at their school? your house it always recommended to it A: Whenitsselling outside as wellisas inside. First impressionshave often look best, are what sell a house. A clean and uncluttered home certainly makes the task of selling a home far less complicated. Clean windows and windowsills, furniture dusted, mirrors and glass surfaces shining, clean, sanitized and sparkly bathrooms (mould free) and kitchen, washed baseboards and clean and spotless floors ­ having all these things done adds value to your home. Having a clean home is as important as having it staged in the selling process. Having a professional cleaning company come and clean your home in preparation for sale takes some of the stress of what can potentially be quite a stressful time in your life. Owning and selling a home is one of the biggest investments you can ever make. You want to anything in your power to make sure you get top dollar from that investment. For more information please contact Merry Maids of Oakville at 905-847-2210. Answer: A vision screening does not replace a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist. According to the Ontario Association of Optometrists, as many as 43% of children with vision problems are able to pass a vision screening. Secondly, considering that 80% of learning is done through the eyes, it is important to have your child's eyes examined before they start school in order to give them the best opportunity to succeed. As well o well, vision screening programs are no longer as common as they once were and it is possible that they aren't even in place at your children's school. In Ontario, OHIP covers children 19 years of age and under for an eye exam every 12 months. It is in your child's best interest to see an optometrist and have a comprehensive eye exam. To schedule an appointment for an eye exam call 905-338-0377 Great things star t with a warm healthy smile. the dentist@dentistry4.com www.dentistry4.com NEW PATIENTS & WALK-INS WELCOME SPRIGGS INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED OAKVILLE · MILTON · BURLINGTON SCOTT JOHNSON Managing Director 159 CHURCH ST. OAKVILLE, ON L6J 1N1 Oakville (905) 844-9232 Burlington (905) 681-4035 Mississauga (905) 798-7527 Nancy White Sheridan Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning presents a new and exciting 905.847.8433 www.homeinstead.ca/3014 Laid Back Socially Active Adults Do Best In Senior Years Fax (905) 845-1634 Web: www.spriggs.ca E-mail: info@spriggs.ca Q. I'm curious. Are there any studies about how temperament impacts agingissues such as dementia? A number of studies have pointed to the fact that being socially active is a positive lifestyle for seniors and one that seems to lessen the impact of dementia. Recent research has revealed that those who are active and not easily stressed seem to enjoy an added benefit. It even works for those not so socially involved. The study found that people who were socially isolated or inactive but relaxed had a 50 percent lower risk of developing dementia compared with people who were isolated and prone to distress. The dementia risk was also 50 percent lower for people who were outgoing and relaxed compared with those who were outgoing but prone to distress. "In the past, studies have shown that chronic distress can affect parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus, possibly leading to dementia, but our findings suggest that having a relaxed and outgoing personality in combination with an active lifestyle may decrease the risk of developing dementia even further," says study leader Dr Hui-Xin Wang, at the Aging Research Centre (ARC) in Stockholm. "The good news is, lifestyle factors can be modified as opposed to genetic factors which cannot be controlled. But these are early results, so how exactly mental attitude influences risk for dementia is not clear," said Wang. The research is published in the January 20, 2009, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. It stands to reason that seniors can reduce their risk by guarding against isolation and making companionship a priority. If you are a family caregiver to an older loved one, do everything you can to ensure that your senior is able to get out and enjoy the company of people of all ages. If your senior is homebound then consider hiring a companionship service such as Home Instead Senior Care. A Home Instead CAREGiver can help older adults by providing companionship from a few hours up to 24 hours a day, on weekends and even holidays. CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured, and many are seniors, too. Q: Job Finding Club Question: I am looking for work ­ how do I get started? What is the best way to handle a traffic offense? to talk to your A: It's always wisecommitting to anyIndependent Insurance Broker before action. Signing a guilty plea, assures a conviction for which you were charged. When ever possible its always better to contest the case. If you are charged with a major offence such as `Careless Driving' you should endeavour to have it reduced to a minor conviction such as `Following Too Closely' or `Improper Lane Change'. This could benefit your driving record and possibly your insurance premium. If a speeding conviction involves demerit points, you would be wise to try to have the demerit points eliminated by having the speed reduced. This may help reduce the fine. However, a conviction with or without demerit points will affect your insurance record and may impact your premium. If you can successfully have the violation charge dropped, you will have the optimum solution. Insurance companies always view any conviction and note it accordingly. This is another reason you should always talk to your Independent Insurance Broker. "For past questions and answers in Ask the Professionals, please contact us." Answer: Make a plan! This means preparing a checklist of what you need to have organzied prior to job searching. 1. Set up an area in your home that can be used as your `office' space. 2. Review and revise all job search documentation. Note: Make sure that the terminology in your resume reflects current job related language using keywords that are relevant to your field. 3. Prepare a list of companies that you want to work for. 4. Call the individuals that you plan to use as references and tell them that you are looking for work, forward them your revised resume. 5. Visit your local library and community resource centre for relevant and current job search tips. For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, contact Scott Johnson or Tom Chuchmach at 905.847.8433 or to become a CAREGiver go to www.homeinstead.ca/3014 407 Iroquois Shore Rd. Rm A11, Oakville ON L6H 1M3 905-845-9430 ext. 8026 www.sheridaninstitute.ca If you have any questions these professionals can answer, please write to: "Ask the Professionals" c/o The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Road, Oakville L6K 3S4 or fax to: 905-337-5568