Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 22, 2024 Sy Senior a Dear Savvy Senior, I have arthritis and hand tremors that affects my grip strength and makes brushing my teeth diffi cult. I’ve read that electric toothbrushes can help make the job easier. Can you make any recommendations for seniors? Arthritic Alice Dear Alice, For seniors who suff er from arthritis or have other hand weaknesses or tremors, an electric toothbrush is an often turned to solution for keeping your teeth clean. At the push of a button, an electric toothbrush will do everything but shake, rattle and roll to do the cleaning for you, and most come with a wide, slightly weighted handle and rubberized grip that make them easier and more comfortable to hold on to. How to Choose With dozens of different electric toothbrushes on the market today, here are several points to consider to help you choose: Cost: The cost of electric toothbrushes will range from $10 for a model with replaceable AA batteries to more than $200 for some models with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, multiple brushing modes, smartphone integrations, and other features. How much are you willing to spend? Brushing action: Brush heads tend to be either “spinning” (they rotate very fast in one direction, then the other, and bristles may pulsate in and out) or “sonic” (they vibrate side to side). Both methods are eff ective and a matter of personal preference. Electric versus battery: Choose a brush with a builtin rechargeable battery and an electric charging station. They’re much more convenient and cost eff ective than toothbrushes that use replaceable batteries. Brushing timer: Since most dentists recommend brushing for two minutes (most adults average about 45 seconds), get an electric toothbrush with a built-in brushing timer – most have them. Some brushes will even split the two minutes onto four 30-second intervals and will notify you when it’s time to switch to a diff erent quadrant of your mouth. Extra features: Most higher-priced electric brushes come with extra features like Senin r ior or by Jim Miller Easy-to-Use Dental Care Products for Elderly Seniors cleaning modes, pressure sensors, a charge-level display and more. There are even “smart” toothbrushes that connect to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth to track brushing habits. What extra features do you want? Best Electric Toothbrushes According to Consumer Reports – an independent, nonprofit product testing and research organization – the top electric toothbrushes for 2024 are the Oral-B iO 7 Series ($150); Oral B Genius X 10000 ($200); Bruush Electric Toothbrushes ($95); and the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 ($120). And the top rated low-cost electric toothbrush is the Brightline 86700 ($30). The New York Times Wirecutter, another popular product reviewing service, rates the Oral-B Pro 1000 ($40) as the best electric toothbrush followed by the Philips Sonicare 4100 ($40). Easier Flossing Tools If fl ossing has become challenging too, a good alternative to traditional string fl oss are fl oss picks. These are disposable plastic-handle tools that have fl oss threaded onto them, which makes them easier to hold and use. DenTek, Oral-B and others sell packages for a few dollars or check out the Listerine UltraClean Access Flosser, which comes with a toothbrush-like handle for a better reach. Some other fl ossing products to consider that are easy on the hands are the WaterPik Power Flosser ($15), which gently vibrates to dislodge embedded food particles between your teeth. Or consider a water fl osser, which use high-pressured pulsating water to remove food particles and plaque and will stimulate your gums in the process. WaterPik offers a variety of water flossing products at prices ranging between $40 and $140, as does Oral Breeze, which off ers the Shower Breeze and Quick Breeze water fl ossers (around $40) that connects directly to your faucet or shower head. All of these dental care products can also be found at your local pharmacy or retailer that sells personal care items or online. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 15 meets Freestyle, starring the Classic Supremes, The Cover Girls, P2, Lance Bernard Bryant and Jovian Ford. DJ Ricky will spin club classics. The event is slated for March 8. VIP Tickets are $75 per person for reserved seating, buffet and photos with the artists. Doors open for VIP tickets from 6-8 p.m. General admission tickets are $65 per person for reserved seating only. Doors open for general admission tickets at 8 p.m. Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets are available by Order Online at Kowloonrestaurant.com or the Kowloon front desk or charge-by-phone: 781-2330077. For more information, call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781-233-0077 or visit online at www.kowloonrestaurant.com Wednesday fi reside chat at Breakheart The state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) invites the public to join agency staffer Ben Jenelle, DCR District 5 Fire Warden, by the fire in Breakheart Reservation’s Visitor Center on Wednesday morning (Feb. 28, 10 a.m.). This off ers visitors a unique opportunity to engage directly with a DCR expert and learn more about the agency’s work, with a specifi c focus on Breakheart Reservation. Learn from a fi rsthand account of the Breakheart fires from the Spring/Summer of 2022 and understand their impact on the reservation. The Warden will tell us about the measures taken by DCR to manage and mitigate future fi re risks. Maple sugarin’ time! Come to Breakheart Reservation Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for this fun annual event. Experience the process of maple sugarin’ from tapping a tree to sampling real maple syrup. The hands-on tour includes the history of maple sugaring from Native Americans to today, tree identifi cation & tapping, wood splitting, the evaporator and a tasting station. For more information or questions, please call 781233-0834 or stop by the Visitor Center at Breakheart Reservation, 177 Forest St., Saugus. Winter is calling at Breakheart If you love hiking, nature and the great outdoors, there’s a lot going on this winter at Breakheart Reservation – courtesy of the state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR). All programs are free and open to the public. An adult must accompany children. Reasonable accommodations available upon request. Parking fees may apply depending on the program location. For more information, please email Jessica Narog-Hutton, Visitor Services Supervisor, at jessica. narog-hutton@mass.gov Here are a few programs that DNR has in the works: · On Sundays now through March, why not do something easy, like a Sunday morning hike from 10 a.m. to noon. Check in at the Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). Join the Park Interpreter for a weekly guided hike. Each trip will highlight natural and historic features that make Breakheart unique. Hikes will be moderately paced and range from two to three miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. This activity is best suited for ages eight years and up. The hike will be canceled in the event of heavy rain. · On Thursdays now through March, the Camp Nihan Educational Center (121 Walnut St., Saugus) will off er the Wild Breakheart Series from 9 to 10 a.m. Join Breakheart staff for this rotating nature series that will explore diff erent aspects of Breakheart in the wintertime. This month learn about animal tracking. Discover how tracks that animals leave behind can tell us a story about what they do when no one is around. In March be a part of the Breakheart Birding Club. Discover what birds are starting to come back for the spring and what birds stay from the winter. · On Fridays now through March, check out Kidleidoscope from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). Come join a park interpreter for a story time and nature walk. Complete a small craft and explore the woods! Walks are gently paced and approximately one mile, though not accessible for strollers. This activity is appropriate for families with children who are three to five years old. Meet at the Visitor Center. · On Saturdays now through March, “Step into the Past” from 10 a.m.to noon at the Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). Join the park interpreter to discover the park history. Hikes are about two and a half miles and of moderate difficulty along rocky trails with several stops. Best for adults and older children with a keen interest in history. Meet outside the Visitor Center. This activity will be canceled in the event of rain. · First and third Saturdays: Stories in Stone: Breakheart has been shaped not only by nature but by the many people who have called it home. · Second and fourth Saturdays: Glacial Giants: Countless clues to a glacial past dot the landscape. If one knows where to look, this hidden geologic history can be revealed. About The Saugus Advocate We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is noon Wednesday. If you have a story idea, an article or photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978-683-7773. Let us become your hometown newspaper. 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