How to Prepare Your Child for a Dental Visit

Visiting the dentist for the first time can be a scary experience for children. To help ease anxiety, you can help your child prepare for a dental visit by: brushing teeth regularly, checking your child’s mouth daily, reading books about dental care to your child, being patient and reassuring with your child, talking with your children about what to expect at dental check-ups, deciding whether or not to see a pediatric dentist, calling the dentist in advance to have your questions answered, visiting the dentist’s office before the appointment, preparing your kids for short dental visits, asking your dentist to tell your children what to expect at future visits, informing your child of possible treatments. Good dental habits are formed by creating a favorable dental experience for your child. You can do this by preparing your child for a dental visit. Here are helpful ways to get your children ready for a dental visit:

1. Regularly brush your child’s teeth - Get you child used to dental care by regularly brushing his teeth. Using of soft bristled brushed can remove plaque while stimulating your child’s gums. Use a mild toothpaste that is specifically formulated for young children.
2. Check your child’s mouth daily - Take time daily to check the inside of your child’s mouth. Talk to him about his teeth and count them. Make it a fun experience for him. Use a mirror to show him his teeth after a cleaning so he can appreciate how sparkling white they are.
3. Be patient and reassure your child - Should your child show any anxiety or fear over dental check-ups, offer him some reassurance. Remain patient with him. Remember to make this an enjoyable experience for everyone. Holding your child on your lap during the visit might help too.
4. Talk to your children about dental check-ups - It is important to discuss possible treatments your children might have. They need to know what to expect. To maintain proper dental health, schedule routine check-up every six months.
5. Call the dentist before scheduling your first appointment - As soon as you have chosen your child’s dentist, call and ask questions about the practice and the dentist’s style. Ask for a rundown of what your child can expect during the visit. Don’t make your dental visit experiences a basis for what will happen during your kid’s dental check-up.
6. Visit the dentist’s office before the first dental appointment - Ask the dental staff to schedule you for a tour, preferably a week before your child’s scheduled dental check-up. This will make you both feel more comfortable with the new environment.
7. Prepare your child for a short visit to the dentist - Try not to over-emphasize your child’s upcoming dental visit. It will just prolong anxiety for everyone. Gently remind your child the day before and the very day of his visit. This first visit will be short. Proper dental care and the overall condition of your kid’s teeth are the primary things to be discussed.
8. Discuss possible future treatments your child may need - It is important to be honest with your child about other possible treatments. A simple cleaning and regular dental exams are not involve pain and are easy to discuss with children. However, when there is a need for further treatments that imposes pain, make sure to honestly tell your child the realistic expectations involved.

How I got into the blogging craze

IT was not a couple of months ago that I got hooked into blogging. Before that, I found it absurd that people would post their thoughts and their daily activities for all the world to see. I found it even more absurd that peo ple would post on their blogs yet change the preferences to private so other pe ople will not read the entries. I thought, "Why create an online diary if you a re not going to make it public anyway?" So I shunned the idea of creating my own blog, even as my friends maintained ei ther a personal website or an account with a blog site. But everything changed two years ago. My friend sent me a link to her blog, and I decided to check it out. Within minutes, I found myself absorbed in reading her blog and was amused at how many people gave their inputs to her entries.

It was more like an onlin e community where you can share your thoughts with your friends and they get to share their points of view as well. It was then that I realized that blogs are more than just personal diaries wher e you write your daily activities. Rather, blogs are powerful tools for communi cating with others. Nowadays, people use their blogs to share their most intima te thoughts, such as political views, entertainment rants and raves, and cultur al views.

Blogs like that of Newsbreak and PCIJ are just some of the popular online journals that people regularly visit to read ab out political insights and editorials. That was when I decided to start my own blog. I created an account with Blogspot, one of the popu lar blog sites today. What got me hooked into Blogspot, or Bs, is that it al lows you to create and participate in an online community where you can connect with hundreds of people. Itâs also a plus that most of my friends have Bs accounts, making it easier for me to connect with them. Having an Bs account also l ets me get in touch with my friends because I can read their entries and share my comments. It also gives me the venue to create new relationships, like parti cipating in online communities and groups.

Ive been maintaining my blog for a while now. I've posted all kinds of entries, from my personal takes on political issues to seemingly mundane topics like love and friendship. Yet, I'm proud of my blog because I'm able to share my in sights and take part in that great world of discourse and gossip.

Be a catalyst, write blogs

THE proliferation of weblog tool and publishing platforms, such as Blogspot, Wordpress and its evolution to include multimedi a content such as art sketches, photographs, music and video drove a shift in p aradigm of publishing and sharing information. Everyone has power to become an author and publisher. In the corporate space, executives use blogs to deliver opinion on the industry and information on their products and offerings. Then thereâs the personal blo g. For most of us, the blog has become the extension of dairies, chronicling pe rsonal events and a sentimental log of personal statements on almost anything. For some, it becomes a therapy to deal with pain or loss. Still, others try to provide entertainment by dishing out entries of a fictional, intelligent house help. Sharing anecdotes, opinions or thoughts is inherent to us Filipinos. 

Given this and the blog, it is all but possible to turn the Filipino blogosphere as socia l catalyst for positive change. The act of blogging in itself is a form of stru ggle to express opinion. The written (or typed for online) word is mightier than the sword. T he word stares back at readers, compelling them to react and argue with the str ing of letters. And with the comments box even more accessible now than ever, o pinions are poured upon -- making a collective output from the thoughts of blog gers and readers. Blogs pave way for more open, wider discussion of critical to pics. Everyone has liberty to voice and fight for their ideas on an equal platf orm. Yes, it paves way for us to agree to disagree. Blog technology and good English are assets Filipinos can use to unite words in to stories and demand change. 

I believe it is high time most Filipino blogs mov e beyond being online diaries. Wear a different lens to discover blogging in a new perspective: a platform to contribute to positive change. Type a satire, a fictional story or a funny anecdote of social issues relevant to Filipinos. We have a thousand topics to write on news we see, hear or read. Awareness without action is not enough -- react, disagree and discuss the Filip ino social reality.

10 Ways to Spice up your PC

You already have your monitor, your CPU (the Central Processing Unit), your keyboard, mouse and printer. The recent Windows Microsoft’s OS (Operating System) is already installed, as well as other basic office programs. Your PC seems to be complete yet you find yourself bored with it. Here are 10 easy steps to liven up your PC:

1. Add other hardware and accessories.

High-performance speakers or headphones that give off quality sound from the mp3s and other sound files can be bought from almost any electronics or computer shops. While you’re at it, why not upgrade your printer with those that can act as scanners, colored and black and white printer as well?

2. Change the basic desktop settings from time to time (wallpapers, icons and others).

Wallpapers, icons and cursors can be changed. You can do this by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting Properties. If you find the wallpapers, icons and cursors boring or uninteresting, there are online sites that offer good ones for download. Changing these settings will give your PC a more personalized and creative feel to it.

3. Add a screensaver.

Screensavers of different themes and designs can also be downloaded from the internet. Cartoons, animals, nature scenes — you name the design. It will be fun to look at after you have left your PC on standby mode for a couple of minutes.

4. Install PC Games.

Free computer games like Bookworm and Text Twist challenge the vocabulary and minds of just about anyone. They may be a bit simple and generic but they can give life to your boring PC. But they definitely serve the purpose when find yourself with nothing much to do.

5. Install Photoshop and other graphics editing programs.

There are many things that you can do with graphic editing programs. You can edit and enhance photos from your digital camera. You can also create your own wallpapers or desktop backgrounds and icons out of your photos or designs.

6. Get yourself an internet connection.

The internet is a good source of news and information. It also makes correspondence with family, friends, business partners and clients easier. Once connected, you gain access to networking sites and other entertainment domains where you can watch movies, music videos and other video clips for free. You can also compete with players from all over the world in a multitude of online games.

7. Install or subscribe to reputable anti-virus software.

Norton and McAfee are two of the leading anti-virus programs that protect your computer and rid it of viruses that cause harm to it. They can be downloaded online and are provided to those who need them by subscription. You can also download free trial anti-virus software before you make any subscription.

8. Download music or rip music from your CDs.

Programs like Apple’s iTunes and Windows Media Player can rip music from CDs. Programs such as iTunes also has a vast library of songs up for purchase and download. At 0.99 cents, you can already get any song that you like.

9. Upgrade your PC with an added RAM or an extra hard disk.

The Random Access Memory (RAM) determines how fast your computer can function. With a high-performing RAM, your desktop can function with relatively less fear of malfunctions. RAMS with a capacity of 2 to 3 gigabytes can be purchased in electronic and computer stores.

10. Get a DVD-writer or an external storage.

External hard disks that store up to 250 gigabytes-worth of computer programs, files or documents, videos, images and sound files are for sale in the electronics and computer shops. There will be no fear of running out of storage space when downloading more files if your PC is supported with an external hard drive.