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standing in their place. It reminds me of parenting, in a way: Things change right before your eyes. But it’s not just the park; the neighboring city has grown vertically, with massive skyscrapers taking shape rather than deciduous palms. Some 22 highrise buildings are under construction across 65 acres of land near the park. I also saw how, briefly, the pandemic changed Ala Moana dramatically. Paradise Amid a Pandemic I don’t need to tell you this, but the pandemic shut everything down. Ala Moana was no exception. The bustling park became a ghost town. Tourism dropped off a cliff. People did not know what to do and what not to do. This resulted in some odd policies at the park. For
instance, you could not sit on the beach, but you could go surfing. Apparently, COVID-19 loves the beach but hates to get its feet wet? Past and Present Years ago, my wife and I lived near the park. We spent four years in a cramped 600-square-foot apartment within eyesight of Ala Moana. It’s surreal that now people will shell out millions for the same square footage and location and call it luxury. Times change, and people change, but Ala Moana will always be the beautiful go-to spot for clearing my mind and enjoying the scenery Hawaii is famous for.
–David Bennett
THE NECESSITY OF GOOD DENTAL CARE SENIOR SMILES
No one wants a visit from the tooth fairy long after their baby teeth are gone. Taking care of your teeth is essential at all ages but is especially vital for older adults. Unfortunately, research shows that the older we get, the more we neglect our teeth. This results in a high percentage of older adults missing some or all of their teeth. This doesn’t just affect our dental health — it also worsens our quality of life. Keeping up with our dental hygiene benefits our bodily health, and neglecting it can lead to a plethora of problems. Here is why and how you should keep up with your dental hygiene when you are older! The Denture Domino Effect Edentulism is a fancy word that means missing some or all of your teeth. According to research published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, up to 78% of older adults have edentulism, which can have a significant impact on the rest of the body. When a lack of teeth or reliance on dentures limits what you can comfortably eat, you may resort to eating softer foods, often full of saturated fat and cholesterol. This further compounds things and makes it harder to take care of your oral
hygiene. But with care, you can maintain a healthy diet with edentulism and prevent further harm to your teeth.
Keeping the Tooth Fairy Away Here are some general tips from the medical community for maintaining your dental hygiene when you are older:
• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste • Floss at least once a day • Rinse with antiseptic mouthwash daily • Schedule regular cleanings and oral exams with your dentist If you struggle to maintain a healthy diet because of a lack of teeth, try steaming or mashing your vegetables to make them easier to consume. Alternatively, smoothies and soft beans can help! It may seem hard to keep up, but the effort is well worth it. Your mouth and your body will thank you for it.
2 hawaii.seniorhealth.pro
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