One of the best things that you can do for your overall health and wellness is be informed. The more you know, the better suited you will be to make decisions and choices that will benefit you from the inside out. Ignorance is not bliss. We are awarded this one body for the entirety of our lives and it is our complete responsibility to take care of it if we expect it to take care of us. 

Fortunately, we live in a day and age where anything that we want to know or learn we can access with a few little clicks on a keyboard. Because Parker Dentistry Facial Rejuvenation and Wellness cares so much about your health and wellness, we have composed a list of our top six online resource choices to help you stay in the know about oral health, general health, and wellness and lifestyle topics, trends, research, and tips. 

Parker Dentistry Blog

http://www.parker-dentistry.com/blog.html

The aim of the Parker Dentistry blog is to provide short weekly articles on important topics relating to oral health and hygiene, cosmetic and family dentistry, facial rejuvenation and anti-aging, nutrition and Juice Plus+, mindfulness and yoga, and healthy lifestyle choices and practices. We try to keep our content short, sweet, inspiring, and informative. We have hundreds of archived articles that you can look through if there is a specific topic that you are interested in learning more about. 

MouthHealthy by the American Dental Association 

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en

This easy-to-navigate dental website has information on all topics relating to oral health and hygiene. You can find useful and applicable information about nutrition, specific symptoms and conditions, ADA approved and sealed products, life stages of the mouth, and even a dental visit FAQ. They also offer great tips for keeping yours and your family’s mouth in excellent health.. 

Oral Care Guide by Colgate 

https://www.colgate.com/en-gb/oral-health/basics/brushing-and-flossing/family-guide-to-oral-health

Colgate has organized several different oral care guides on their website. This simple and to the point site has some great tips about how to take care of your teeth and your mouth. You can also find concise information on different conditions, diseases, procedures, cosmetic dentistry options, and products to help you and your family keep those pearly whites sparkling. 

Well+Good

https://www.wellandgood.com

Well+Good is a great website to check in with regularly. This website has a wealth of inspiring and beautifully created content relating to wellness, fitness, nutrition, home, travel, mental health, and healthy lifestyle choices. The articles are engaging, informative, and offer wonderful advice, tips, and resources for leading your best and healthiest life. 

Greatist

https://greatist.com

Greatist is filled with amazing articles about food, fitness, body, life, and products. This is a website where you can find delectable and healthy recipes, the latest and greatest products, motivating stories, how-to’s, self-esteem boosters, embarrassing questions answered, and even some helpful relationship advice. All things health and wellness can be found on this inviting website. 

Healthline

http://www.health.com

Healthline is a very informative but not bland or boring comprehensive health and wellness website. The site is sectioned into A-Z topics, life, beauty, oral health, weight loss, food, fitness, and news. This site is fantastic when you are curious about a specific health or wellness topic, as well as for just browsing through their entertaining and informative articles. 

It seems our approach to health is more often reactive than proactive. We visit our primary doctor or dentist when something is wrong. We are called to action when our health has declined, and we expect quick fixes. This system and approach to health is flawed. It is far easier to maintain our health than it is to find it again once we’ve lost it.

A significant percentage of chronic diseases and aliments are to some degree preventable. For example, heart disease. Heart disease can be caused by tobacco use, high blood pressure, poor diet, high cholesterol, excessive weight, and inactivity. Making positive lifestyle choices can greatly reduce your chances of battling heart disease. The same goes for strokes and certain types of cancers. Gum disease is another preventable malady that in its advanced stages can contribute to other inflammatory diseases. Bi-annual cleanings, a proper daily hygiene routine, and a healthy diet can prevent periodontal disease.

The point is, your health is in your hands. Being proactive will spare you from having to be reactive down the road, which can be expensive, time consuming, painful, and even life altering. The little steps you take throughout the year to keep your health in check will play a major role in your future health and overall happiness.

Here are some way to be proactive about your health:

1. Stay on top of your annual and biannual check-ups.
2. Trust your body and your instincts. When something doesn’t look or feel right, don’t write it off.
3. Make a list of questions and concerns prior to seeing your doctor. This will help you address everything that is important to you during your appointment.
4. Know your family medical history.
5. Keep your body moving. When the option presents itself, take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator; for shorter distances, bike instead of always driving; take your dog on an extra walk; or go outside and play with your kids or grandkids.
6. Set realistic exercise goals doing something that you actually enjoy doing.
7. Drink more water and give up those sugary beverages (or at the very least limited them).
8. Incorporate Juice Plus+ into your life. Ask Honi or Blake about this health game changer.
9. Stop smoking.
10. Sleep more. When we sleep, our body performs critical functions. It is also when we sleep that our body heals and repair itself. Sleep it crucial for our cognitive functions, as well.
11. Manage your stress levels. Stress is an incredibly damaging force. Managing your stress levels involves finding ways to avoid stress and release the stress that does come into your life. This is different for everyone but could be as simple as just taking a long walk, meditating for five minutes, or sitting outside with a cup of tea.
12. Spend more time doing the things that you love to do with the people whom you love to do them with. A positive mindset and overall sense of happiness greatly contributes to your physical health.