Physical Health
Our body is the starting point for all our interactions with the world around us.
Sometimes we take it for granted and all the possibilities it gives us from dancing, to smiling, to walking in the woods, to playing games, to floating amongst the waves, to listening to our favourite tunes and many other endless joys.
Looking after our body is really important but can often be intimidating and feel exclusive when there are lots of societal pressures for what a body should look like/do/weigh and how to go about looking after it.
It’s really vital to remember that at the end of your day your body is yours, and no one else’s, all that matters is that it feels like a good home for you.
This page will give you information from how to access services when you are feeling unwell to how to sustainably improve general physical wellbeing so that you feel good in your body in the long-term.
Dental Care
Our teeth have such an important role to play in our lives. They help us chew and digest food, they help us to talk and speak clearly and they also give our face its shape. Our smile can give us greater confidence and spread joy to those around us. So it’s really important to give our dental health the best care possible.
Looking after our teeth by brushing them for 2 minutes twice a day, flossing, having a relatively low sugar diet and seeing a dentist can mean we can keep our teeth for life and avoid discomfort and illness. You might think you know how to brush your teeth but definitely check out this video even we learnt things we didn’t know about!
Dental Care- English
Dental Care- Arabic
Dental Care- Farsi
Dental Care- Tigrinya
Dental Care- Kurdish
Unfortunately dental care in the UK at the moment can be a real struggle to access. Here are a few tips on how to see a dentist:
If you are under-18
And registered at a dentist make sure to maintain access to NHS dentistry by booking an annual check-up with that dentist and attend appointments. If you are unregistered or have moved register with a dentist in your area. It is much easier to access dental care when you are still a child so this should be a priority.
Gentle Dental Mylor/Newquay is currently accepting registrations. Just go into one of their branches and fill out a referral form.
If you are over-18
And registered at a dentist make sure to maintain access to NHS dentistry by booking an annual check-up with that dentist and attend appointments.
If you are not registered ring 03330 063 300 or email emailing [email protected] to be added to the waiting list (wait until the end of the recorded messages and then select option 3 to register for the waiting list). It is worth checking every six months to ensure you are still on the list and the details they hold are up to date.
Accessing Emergency Dental Care
If you do not have a dentist or are calling out of hours call Cornwall’s emergency dental service on 03334050290, preferably when lines open at 08:30am on the dot, or email Smile Together.
Staying Active
Staying active can be really hard when there are so many other things that seem to take priority and we can often feel too tired to get up and move. It can also be made tricky because we sometimes have a preconceived idea of what staying active, sport and exercise, looks like and this can make us feel self-conscious and like we don’t belong.
Our advice is to shake off thinking about what it should look like as much as possible and focus on how it makes us feel. There are so many ways of getting active out there, from surfing to plugging your headphones in and going for a walk around your local park.
Why is Staying Active Important?
So what’s all the fuss about?
There are lots of benefits of exercise but here’s a brief summary with some links to further research and studies to get you inspired:
Reduces Risk of Chronic Illness
NHS England https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/exercise-health-benefits/
World Health Organisation https://www.who.int/health-topics/physical-activity
Makes you Feel Happier
Help Guide https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm
Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/physical-activity-and-mental-health
