This month marks the first six months since I “officially” retired. Here are a few takeaways from this period.

Transitioning to a New Stage

The first months of retirement may feel similar to when a wedding is being planned. When the day finally arrives and then the honey moon is over, reality sets in! Now what do you do?

Expectations seem to be a big issue in the early stage of transition, much more than I had anticipated. I faced the challenge of creating a new daily and weekly schedule. Then I started filling it up with events and appointments that began to fill in the calendar more and more.

It then turned out that my retirement “expectations” and those of my spouse didn’t align as well as we had intended.

Even though we had discussed the bigger picture of wanting to travel, activities to do locally, and time with family and friends, we – or rather I – did not anticipate that having a calendar full of various engagements was going to be an issue. I liked staying busy and liked taking on new challenges.

But now I wonder, is it possible that how men think about spending time in retirement is much different than how women envision it?

Time for Your Significant Other

From my male perspective, not assuming all men or all women think the same way, having “things and activities” is part of the fun of retirement. So, what are your thoughts on the following questions:

• Do men look at retirement as the time when they can finally fill up their calendar with activities and events that do not always include their spouse?
• Do women think of retirement as finally having their spouse being able to have the time to focus on them now that work is no longer the priority?
• Does it matter if both spouses had careers or if one was a stay-at-home spouse and the other was working outside the home?

Does this ring true with how most couples feel? Have you had this type of conversation with your spouse post retirement? Do you feel like the calendar is getting filled up with a good deal of activities or other interests that are not being done jointly?

We had this conversation early on and decided to have a “date day or personal day together” where we would not schedule other activities. This is a good idea but the execution of it is not always as easy as the intention.

The Question of Health Insurance

Medicare and Social Security retirement benefits are other issues that many newly retired couples face. Depending upon the age at which you retire, you may need to get professional help with making decisions that could impact your financial wellness throughout your retirement years.

The decision of when to start receiving social security and Medicare Part B, C, and/or D can be challenging. Failing to timely enroll for Medicare Part B can be very costly as the penalty is permanent and will impact your cost for the rest of your life.

There are some exceptions that will allow for delaying the start of signing up for Part B, but these are limited, and you need to be sure you get the help to make the best choice of when to enroll and which options to take in your particular circumstances.

One big issue is the drug/prescription benefit. You will need to review exactly which of your current medicines are covered and the costs for each in order to determine the best prescription benefit option for you.

The Financial Side

Did you know that if you are past the Full Retirement Age (FRA) for Social Security, you may be able to go back as many as six months from when you first sign up to receive retirement benefits and get a lump sum payment for those past months?

In addition, if you planned to wait until age 70 to begin receiving benefits but something occurs in mid-year of your age, you will still receive a “pro-rated” benefit. For each month that you delay, you gain an additional credit for postponing the start of receiving benefits.

If you are at the midway point of your age, you will effectively receive about half of the increase you would have obtained by waiting until your next birthday.

This becomes important in determining when to start receiving the benefits. Many people have been told to wait until reaching age 70 to begin receiving SS benefits as they will get about an 8% increase for each year after reaching FRA.

However, do you know that this does not affect the benefit your spouse may receive as a spousal benefit as that is based upon the benefit calculation of your own FRA?

If your spouse does not have a higher benefit under their own work history then it may be important for them to start receiving spousal benefits as soon as they reach FRA, assuming you have already started receiving benefits.

So, you see, retirement is more complicated than just “getting out of the work force.” There is that, but life doesn’t end there. In fact, it seems to begin anew.

What types of things do you do with your spouse to stay engaged in your relationship post retirement? Have your expectations for life in retirement come to fruition? What have you done to guarantee your Medicare and Social Security benefits post retirement? Please share in the comments below.

I grew up seeing some of my older relatives remove their ‘teeth’ before going to bed. Sometimes, they expressed discomfort with chewing or dentures that were either too tight or too loose. I decided early on in my life that I was not going to go down that same road.

As the saying goes, “ignore your teeth and they will go away.” I wanted to keep my teeth because my smile was just too important to me!

So, I go to the dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings, floss daily and avoid sugary foods. During my visits, my dentist or hygienist usually says things along the line of “keep your gums healthy and they will help keep you healthy.”

I always smile and thank them for the advice. Honestly though, I just wrote their comments off as great marketing – a way to keep me coming back.

I now know that they were giving me sound advice since research is proving more and more that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Also, people with gum disease may have a higher risk of various other conditions such as diabetes, dementia and cardiovascular problems.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gum line that can affect the bone that supports and surrounds your teeth. Just like your intestines, your mouth is home to different types of bacteria. When all the types of bacteria are in balance, your gums are protected from disease-causing bacteria.

However, disturbing the bacteria balance provides an opening for disease-causing bacteria and other microorganisms to invade the gums.

According to the British Dental Journal, activities like smoking, taking certain medications like antibiotics, poor oral hygiene and poor diet may disturb the balance of bacteria in our mouth and enhance the activity of these disease-causing bacteria.

This increase in disease-causing bacteria generally results in your body’s immune system, and the white blood cells that get rid of them, to produce substances that not only destroy the bacteria but also damage your gum tissue. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to loss of teeth.

How Can You Be Proactive?

While going to your dentist regularly, brushing and flossing, and reducing your sugar intake will go far in preventing bacterial infection and reducing inflammation of your gums, those steps alone are not enough.

You may want to avoid smoking because people who smoke are more likely to develop gum disease. Also, discuss with your doctor any effect the medications you take may have on your gums.

Consider using a periobiotic toothpaste. I have been using this specialized toothpaste for over a year. It reportedly has a probiotic that competes with the unhealthy strains of oral bacteria and helps to maintain my gums healthy.

Finally, you need to make sure that your gums are getting the nutrients they need, and in the right amounts, to stay healthy.

A good analogy is trying to lose weight by only exercising and not changing your diet. The reality is that no amount of Stairmaster will make up for scarfing down a dozen donuts! The same holds true for your gums.

Many studies have shown that a balanced diet plays an essential role in maintaining periodontal health. If your diet is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, you’re probably getting most of the nutrients your gums need. Some of the critical nutrients include the following:

Vitamin A

There is evidence that vitamin A may help improve periodontal health. It can be found in carrots, liver, sweet potatoes, eggs, cod liver oil and green leafy vegetables.

B Vitamins

Deficiency in the B vitamins may lead to bleeding gums. B vitamins have also been associated with speedy healing after gum surgery and other periodontitis treatments. You can find the B vitamins in foods such as bananas, eggs, avocado, leafy vegetables and peanuts.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is critical for bleeding gums and inflammation. For more information, you can read my article about our need for vitamin C.

Vitamin D

Clinical studies have suggested that a deficiency in vitamin D may cause gum inflammation and a delay in healing after gum surgery. Your body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to the sun.

There aren’t a whole lot of natural food choices to get your daily vitamin D requirements. As a result, it may be important to speak with a competent physician about taking a vitamin D supplement.

Vitamin E

A few studies report positive effects of vitamin E in maintaining good gum health. This vitamin can be found in poultry, meat, fish seeds and cereals.

Vitamin K

Not having enough of vitamin K may lead to bleeding gums. You can find it in green vegetables and egg yolks.

Calcium

Calcium is critical for the maintenance of our teeth. A deficiency in calcium may affect our gum health. This mineral can be found in many foods naturally, including nuts, seeds, leafy vegetables and dairy products.

Gum Disease and Boomers

Periodontal disease is at epidemic proportions. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 70 percent of boomers over age 65 have moderate to severe periodontal disease.

This may be due to medical conditions and medications which not only affect the balance of bacteria in the mouth but also the ability to absorb some of the critical nutrients described here. For example, some over the counter medications may prevent you from absorbing calcium and certain vitamins from the food you eat.

If you have any of the following symptoms, you should see a dentist as soon as possible:

• Tender or red gums
• Gums that easily bleed
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Noticeable hard, brown deposits at the gum line
• Changes in how your dental appliances, e.g., bridgework, may fit

As with anything to do with your body, the best way to know if you´re getting the right balance of nutrients to keep your gums healthy is to do a nutrient test.

Armed with this information, you can better work with your healthcare provider to protect your gums and overall health. After all, a smile is the best makeup we can wear!

What is your experience with oral health in general and periodontal health in particular? Have you noticed any changes or done anything differently in recent years? Have you ever been diagnosed or treated for periodontal disease? How did you deal with it? What is your routine to keep your gums healthy? Tell us about it. Please join the conversation.

French skin-care brand Biologique Recherche has been making its line of the ever-elusive (yet highly praised) P50 lotions for more than 40 years now. This line of “balancing exfoliators” is just as well known for its skin-transforming benefits and unrivaled cult following as it is for its pungent stench. However, countless beauty editors and skin-care aficionados are more than willing to dismiss the potions’ signature scent—the result of a proprietary blend of vinegar and horseradish with a dash of onion—because fans swear it actually works.

According to the brand, these toners enhance the skin because they “speed up the epidermis’s natural exfoliating process and the reconstruction of the epidermal shield.” In other words, it sloughs off dead skin from the surface much like chemical exfoliants and retinoid products, thanks to its blend of trusted anti-aging ingredients including sulfur and lactic acid. But the P50 solution is different than its fellow exfoliators because it’s chock-full of unusual ingredients that you’re used to seeing in your kitchen cabinet, not your skin care: onion extract, horseradish, thyme. Despite the formula’s strong acid blend, the additional ingredients are said to help restore your skin’s PH levels and limit the amount of irritation associated with stronger exfoliating products.

 Biologique Recherche.

There are currently seven versions of the lotion, with a range of strengths available depending on your exfoliation tolerance and personal skin concerns. The original—and undeniably most coveted—is the original P50 1970 solution. It contains a controversial ingredient called phenol, an antiseptic acid compound often used as a paint thinner but also found in some oral sore throat medicines (hence the numbing sensation upon application that many users have reported).

Fans of the lotion (aptly nicknamed “facial in a bottle”) praise the cultish elixir for its fast delivery of visible anti-aging benefits. Some even likened the results to Botox treatments. While it’s doubtful that P50 is a Botox alternative, it’s fairly evident that most people who have tried this stinky toner are pretty loyal to it, if not utterly obsessed. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find if you’re not a beauty editor, nor is it easy on the wallet. Because it’s technically only sold by licensed aestheticians and at professional spas (no, you can’t order it on Amazon, beware of counterfeits!) it’s pretty tough to get your hands on this stuff.

While die-hard fans insist P50 an irreplaceable skin-care hero in their beauty cabinets, we’ve found a few phenol-free dupes that will do a similar job without requiring an endless black market hunt or an invasive stench.

Ulta.

While it’s primarily marketed as a blackhead removing toner, this K-beauty staple has attained its own cult-level status for its powerful pore-unclogging properties. Like the P50 toner, this formula also contains niacinamide and BHA (salicylic acid) to decongest clogged pores and slough off dead skin cells. It’s also infused with willow bark extract to help soothe skin and minimize irritation.

Target.

If you perform a quick Google search for Lotion P50 dupes, you’ll find the majority of results include this affordable toner that you can buy at Target. This acid toner does have a few main differences from the P50, however. First of all, its acid base is glycolic acid, not lactic like P50’s. It’s also formulated with ginseng, which can help boost circulation in the skin, giving you a rosy glow while reducing puffiness. It also contains aloe vera to combat the irritation from the acid and other harsher actives to help keep pH in balance and reduce redness as well.

Dermstore.

While not a budget dupe, the SkinCeuticals Equalizing Toner’s main active ingredient is, like the P50, lactic acid. Known as an effective yet hydrating acid, lactic acid is great for mature, dry and sensitive skin types because it effectively exfoliates with less redness, dryness, and peeling associated with the other AHAs. It’s also touted for its “equalizing” or balancing properties, like P50, thanks to soothing ingredients like aloe vera and circulation-inducing chamomile extract.

Moon Juice.

This newly launched skin solution by adaptogenic wellness brand Moon Juice has quickly become a beauty-editor-approved dupe for Lotion P50. In fact, Moon Juice founder Amanda Chantal Bacon actually designed the formula after falling love with Biologique Recherche’s lotion only to be dismayed by the elixir’s concoction of questionable ingredients. Inspired by the undeniable efficacy of P50, Bacon formulated Beauty Shroom with a blend of similar actives including lactic acid and niacinamide but swapped out the phenol and horseradish with anti-inflammatory reishi mushroom, offering a “cleaner” version.

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My husband and I just celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary. We met almost 50 years ago. We are getting old. The years have passed so quickly. We look older and, many days, feel older.

But I generally don’t mind. I care less about the passing years and more about being whole, having inner peace, being someone who still contributes to this world and who gives and receives love and affection.

Getting older doesn’t really bother many of us. In an article I wrote, I explain how we do our best to thrive and accept that as one chapter of our lives ends, the next chapter begins.

It is true that some of us navigate the aging process better than others. Here are some things that I have observed in my coaching practice about people who do well as they age. They have these traits in common and can be an inspiration to all of us who are trying to improve their outlook and attitude.

A Zest for Life and a Curiosity for Learning New Things

Being hungry for life is different for each of us. It depends if we are shy and introverted, or outgoing and extroverted, by nature. It is also influenced by our energy level and personality.

People who flourish as they age are open and like to try new things. They are curious and are actively involved in their surroundings. They meet new people, read different books, take up a new hobby or attend classes.

Some feel more comfortable with activities that are familiar while others seek more adventure, but neither group is stagnant. They are engaged in their lives and live fully.

Movement Is a Way of Life

Some have a regular exercise program, others don’t, but they are always in motion. They are out and about, meeting people, running errands, gardening or walking. Movement is part of their lives and not just a scheduled activity.

Social Support

They have people around that they can depend on and who depend on them. Some are very involved with a large group of family members or friends in their community.

Others have a small intimate group of people around them. The number doesn’t matter. What does matter is their sense of having a support system, connection, affection and genuine concern with and for others.

Resilience

Life happens to all of us. We all deal with challenges, whether they are financial, health-related or connected with personal relationships. I have learned that it is not what happens to us but how we react to it that defines the quality of our life.

People who thrive as they age find a way to get through the hardships and appreciate what life is still offering them. They are able to roll with the punches.

They Accept

They accept and embrace the reality of what is in their lives today and let go of those things that didn’t work the way they wanted or envisioned. There is a recognition that we really don’t have control over everything that happens to us.

People who thrive recognize their past mistakes, let go of grudges and hard feelings and forgive themselves and others. They learn to accept their relationships with their family and friends, good or bad and can move on.

Great Boundaries

They know what they want and what they don’t want and make no apologies for being who they are. They don’t take on activities that they really don’t want to do just to be polite or spend a lot of time with people who make them unhappy. They are centered and know their place in the world.

I believe that we become more and more ourselves as we get older. We become more comfortable in this world and we realize what a wonderful gift this life is.

As Orpah Winfrey said, “Getting older is the best thing that ever happened to me. I wake up every morning rejoicing that I’m still here with an opportunity to begin again and be better.”

What traits do you think are most important in living a healthy and happy life in your 60s? How would you describe your approach to aging? Please share your thoughts below!