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24 The QUEE NS Courier • health • march 3, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com ▶health Improve your home’s indoor air quality and energy efficiency Most of us spend the majority of our as quickly as this weekend, to improve time indoors. Ironically, that’s where air quality and energy efficiency in your allergens, mold and other irritants are home: most at home. In fact, the EPA finds 1. Take care of your home’s heating, ventilation that pollutant levels can be two to five and air-conditioning system. times higher inside our homes than Energy use costs the average American outside. home about $2,000 a year, according In addition to making it easier to to the U.S. Energy Information breathe, research shows that a home Administration. About 41 percent of with clean air also pays up to $300 less that goes toward heating and 6 percent in annual heating and cooling costs. for cooling, the EIA says. Regular Here are five steps you can take, some maintenance - including twice-yearly servicing by a professional, and regular air filter changes by homeowners - can help your HVAC system operate at peak efficiency. 2. Change HVAC air filters regularly and reliably. Filter changes are especially important for two reasons. First, a clogged filter makes your system work harder and consume more energy. Second, a clogged filter is the primary cause of home heating and cooling system failures that can cost thousands of dollars to repair. If you always forget to change your air filters, an air filter monitor, like those offered by CleanAlert, can help. The monitors wirelessly alert you when an HVAC filter is clogged and needs to be changed. Visit www.cleanalert.com to learn more. 3. Ensure your home is properly ventilated. Americans tend to think their homes should be completely air tight. While you don’t want cool air to escape in summer or warm air to get out in winter, it is important to vent contaminated air and excess humidity from your home year round. Make sure kitchens and bathrooms have operating exhaust fans to help vent stale, contaminated or moisture-laden air from your home. 4. Kick the habit, and don’t indulge anyone else’s habit in your home. Just as smoking impacts the health of the person who’s smoking, secondhand smoke greatly affects the quality of indoor air. Improving indoor air quality is just one more reason to give up smoking. And while it may seem harsh, don’t allow others to smoke in your home, either. Smoke residue - which contains carcinogens - can linger on surfaces long after the smoker has departed. 5. Add a touch of green life throughout your home. A 30-year NASA study found that houseplants are very effective at cleaning indoor air. Sure, room air purifiers serve the same basic functions, but houseplants won’t add to your utility bill while they’re removing contaminants from the air and emitting fresh oxygen. Plus, houseplants give your home a burst of color, beauty and life. NASA recommends one houseplant per every 100 square feet of home. These five tactics are simple, speedy ways to get started with improving your home’s indoor air quality and overall energy efficiency. You can find numerous other steps with a simple online search or view this list of top tips to improve air quality and save energy. Courtesy BPT MALOCCLUSION AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE Malocclusion affects 74% of American adults. If you have malocclusion, it may affect your periodontal health, because it is difficult to remove plaque when teeth are not aligned. Periodontal disease can begin as hum redness or bleeding while brushing your teeth or using dental floss, and you may notice halitosis, or bad breath. If not treated, hum inflammation can become worse, leading to soft tissue damage, receding gums, the formation of pockets between teeth and hums, bone loss, and eventually tooth loss. THE PROGRESSION OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE When teeth are crowded, plaque with harmful bacteria can attach to the tooth surface down to the bottom of the pocket. Plaque can be difficult to remove from crowded areas because it is difficult to brush and floss here. Bacteria can cause gum tissue surrounding the tooth to degrade, and if not treated, result in bone loss. WEAR AND TRAUMA Poorly aligned teeth can also create unnatural stress and pressure on teeth and jaws. Teeth that are subject to excessive pressure can develop chipping and notches at the gum line called abfractions. Premature wear can lead to poor root support, loose teeth and eventually, tooth loss. STRAIGHT TEETH ARE HEALTHIER TEETH Straight, properly aligned teeth can help you avoid the negative effects of periodontal disease. HEALTHIER GUMS Properly aligned teeth are easier to brush and floss than crowded or crooked teeth. Properly positioned teeth can help gums “fit” more tightly around them, which may lead to better periodontal health. IMPROVED HYGIENE With good oral hygiene, the chances of having plaque retention, tooth decay, and periodontal disease can be reduced. COURTESY OF ASTORIA DENTAL GROUP 32-17 BROADWAY ASTORIA, NY 11106 SMILEdr.com • 866-511-5444 CLIFFORD E. DEGEL, D.D.S. CARMEN EVERY – DEGEL, D.D.S. Healthy Gingiva Gingivitis Periodontitis Advanced Peiodontitis FREE DENTAL EXAMINATION AND X-RAYS Discount Coupon NEW PATIENTS RAFFLE TICKET - 1st Prize: $2500 In Dental Treatment 2nd Prize: One Zoom In-Office Whitening Procedure Each Month Through May 31st, 2016 Astoria Dental Group Donation: $0.00 25th YEAR ANNIVERSARY Multi Specialty Physical Rehabilitation Center SPINAL & SPORTS INJURIES, ARTHRITIS, POST SURGICAL & MORE! • Pain Management • Internal Medicine • Acupuncture • Chiropractic • Physical Therapy We accept most types of Insurance & Workers Compensation Please call to make an appointment: 516-218-2222 40 East Merrick Road, Suite #104 · Valley Stream, NY 11580


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