Looking for a Manahawkin Dentist?

We hope you’re using your toothpaste twice a day like you’re supposed to!  But remember, your Manahawkin dentist will tell you it’s not just enough to brush. You have to choose the right type of toothpaste, too.

And yes, it is possible to select the wrong type of toothpaste. Not all toothpastes are created alike. These days there are a great many varieties of toothpastes which are designed to address a wide variety of dental needs. Knowing which is the best for your family is a basic part of making good healthcare decisions.

Thankfully, we’re here to help. Follow these five toothpaste tips and you’ll make the right choice every time:

1) Choose A Toothpaste With Fluoride

This one is probably obvious, but is worth including anyway: you want to choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride is one of the most vital ways in which brushing can help you battle cavities. And believe us, you are mistaken if you think that all toothpaste contains fluoride. There are many “natural” toothpaste brands that boast about being fluoride free. They may be good choices for children under six, but for adults, a fluoride toothpaste is recommended by your Manahawkin dental office.

2) Do You Need a Whitening Toothpaste?

When you scour the store shelves, it’s not unusual to see a large number of whitening toothpastes. As a general rule, these are fine options that in some cases may help slow down the staining from day-to-day habits like coffee drinking. In some extreme cases, these toothpastes may even be able to lighten your teeth by up to a shade (though keep in mind that results that good from whitening toothpastes alone are quite rare). That said, if you have sensitive teeth you should AVOID whitening toothpastes. These varieties often contain chemicals that can worsen your sensitivity, so keep that in mind when choosing your brand.

3) Who Will Be Using It?

By now you should realize that not all toothpastes are created alike thanks to common Manahawkin dentistry wisdom. The truth is, there are toothpastes designed for adults, some designed for children, and even some that should NOT be used by children. Be sure to read labels carefully so you have a strong understanding of who in your family should and should not be using the brand you purchase. Remember that toothpaste you chose may not be suitable for the whole family!

4) Check for The ADA Approval Logo

The American Dental Association puts its seal of acceptance onto toothpaste brands that are proven to be safe, effective, and part of a good routine of oral care. No matter the brand of toothpaste you choose, whether it be whitening, all natural, baking soda, etc., be sure it has the seal of approval by the ADA. That will give you peace of mind and let you know the toothpaste brand you chose is right for your teeth.

5) Inform Your Dentist About Any Chronic Dental Problems

It’s always a good idea to tell your Manahawkin dentist if you are experiencing chronic tooth problems. These can include pain, temperature sensitivity, and more. Even if the problem is a minor one, your dentist may be able to recommend a type of toothpaste designed to assist with your issue. There are desensitizing toothpastes made for those with sensitive teeth, for example, and others.

Window Tinting Ocean County NJ - 5 Reasons to Tint Your Home or Office

When you think of window tinting Ocean County, you probably think of automobiles: limos for the rich and famous, young guys in sports cars, that sort of thing.

But did you know that you can have the windows in your home or office tinted, and that there are many benefits to doing it? You’d be surprised! Here are just 5 of the many reasons why people in New Jersey choose to have their home or office windows tinted.

Cool Down Your Home or Business

Make no mistake about it, the sun is HOT. Even on cold days, a clear sky with the sun shining right into your windows can have an impact on your home’s energy efficiency. Window tinting in Ocean County can reduce unwanted solar heating by up to 78% when compared to untreated windows. That’s a big difference! If you live in a sunny area, such as in the Jersey Shore region, that could add up to big savings.

Better For Skin Care & Health

We all love fun in the sun, but by now everyone knows that long-term exposure to UV rays can be detrimental to your health. Skin cancer is a real risk, especially for those with fair skin. With window tinting in your home or office, you can block most of that UV light while still retaining your views, thus minimizing your risk of harmful UV radiation. That’s good for your peace of mind!

Protect Your Furniture and Belongings

The most harmful thing to your furniture and other belonging is not your cat or dog or rambunctious children or grandchildren, it’s the SUN. The sun’s rays are beautiful, but they also cause wood and fabric and plastic and just about everything else to fade, crack, and age. Window tinting can help alleviate the problem by blocking the most harmful types of light, which will extend the life of your belongings and keep the interior of your home looking beautiful for many years to come. That means replacing worn out goods less frequently, and that means saving you money!

Reduce Sun Glare

This is the obvious one, isn’t it? Window tinting in Ocean County reduces annoying sun glare, which allows you to more easily see that expensive TV you just bought or for your employees to stay focused on their computer monitors rather than the sun glare shining in their faces. An annoyance like that can ruin your day – but not with tinted windows in your office or home!

Save Money On Your Energy Bill

If you guessed that tinting the windows in your home or office wouldn’t save you money, guess again. By reducing the temperature and heat imbalances caused by extreme sunlight, you can help your HVAC not work as hard. This added efficiency not only adds to the life expectancy of your HVAC, it can also save you money on your monthly bills.

As you can see, window tinting in Ocean County has many more benefits than you probably realized. That’s welcome news to anyone who wants less sun glare, a cooler house, and more privacy.

Virus Removal in Ocean County NJ

Searching for Virus Removal in Ocean County?

Let’s cut to the chase: you don’t want a computer virus or malware on your computer. It can destroy your work, make you lose valuable data or cherished photos, and just plain make your computer impossible to work with.  Contact Jaydien Network Solutions if you need virus removal.

Antivirus software isn’t enough, either. You need to be proactive in protecting yourself, too. Courtesy of Jaydien Network Solutions, here are 6 ways to protect yourself from malicious software.

Do Not Open Unsolicited Email Links or Attachments

Opening links and attachments you didn’t expect or from unknown persons is one of the tops ways that malware and viruses are spread. One of the basics of computer and Internet safety is to never, ever follow an unsolicited link and never open an attachment you were not expecting. This is especially true in business. Consult anyone who offers Small Business Computer Services in Brick NJ for more details.

Use Adblock Software

One of the most common ways that computers get infected with unwanted software like viruses and malware is by visiting unsavory websites and getting hit with ads designed to exploit things like Java, Flash and Active X in order to infect your computer with a virus. The simple way to prevent that is to use ad blocking software and/or browser plugins to block those ads before they can do damage to your computer.

Use a Pop-Up Blocker

As an extension of the above, a pop-up blocker can be an essential part of protecting your computer from malicious software. A good pop-up blocker will not only stop those annoying pop ups, it will help you keep your computer safe and running the way it should.

Disable Autorun

Autorun is a setting that (obviously) prompts your DVDs and other discs to automatically run when you insert the disc. This setting is often exploited to install unwanted software on your computer. If you often have to work with discs that come from unknown or various sources, such as data discs, disable autorun.

Update Your Applications and Operating System

When it comes to your operating system (such as Windows) and the software you use (such as Adobe Reader, Flash and others), it’s vital to ensure they are kept up to date with the latest updates. In most cases these updates will be installed automatically. In others, you will be prompted to do it manually. No matter how your system is set, be sure to keep these applications up to date, because these updates are often intended to close loopholes and exploits that virus creators use to infect your system. If you are having trouble doing this, seek out a Brick NJ Small Business Computer Services contractor to help.

Disable Image Previews in your Email Client

Most emails clients will allow you to disable images in your email until you approve them for display. This is a good idea to do, because smart malware creators have learned how to exploit image previews to infect your computer even if you do nothing more than open an email. To avoid this, disable image previews, especially if you get a lot of unsolicited emails.

House a House Mover NJ Can Save You Money

A House Mover NJ Driving Down the Highway
 

After Superstorm Sandy, thousands of NJ residents began to consider something they probably had never considered before: raising their homes onto a taller foundation.

Flood insurance is issued through the federal government, and rates are based on flood elevation maps created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. These maps play a huge role in what you pay for insurance and act as the document that around which the entire flood insurance process is built. (Consult your nearest house mover NJ for details.)

Also known as house lifting or house raising in NJ, the idea is simple: It is the process of literally lifting a house up and constructing a higher foundation beneath it. The home is then put back onto the new foundation. The idea is to put the house above flood waters, protecting you from future storms and cutting down your flood insurance premiums.

Previously a little known home improvement, it’s now widespread throughout the Jersey coastal region. The initial expense may seem daunting to some, but these projects can save homeowners money in the long term not just in preventing the home repairs and renovations that comes from surviving a storm, but through lowered flood insurance premiums.

Basically, if you are below the suggested elevation, you will pay a high premium. If you are at the elevation suggested by FEMA, you will pay standard flood insurance rates. If you are well above that elevation, your rates will see deep cuts.

That’s part of why house raising in NJ can be so advantageous. It can actually cut down on your living expenses.

To get a sense for where your home falls on the flood elevation map, you have to understand the codes FEMA uses. They use a letter and number coding system, the letter code signifying the type of area you are in and the nature of the flooding you might experience in a bad storm – heavy wave action, tidal area, etc. – and the number code indicates the suggested height your home should be at in order to weather the so-called 100-year storm.

Other benefits of house raising in NJ including adding more space to your home. That space could come in the form of storage, where outdoor furniture, garden items, and so on can be stored. Some even go tall enough to create a car port.

A house lift, often provided by a house mover NJ, may even provide enough extra space that it can be turned into actual living space. Homeowners create dens, play rooms, laundry rooms and more from the added space a lift provides (just be sure to check with your township to ensure you are legally allowed to expand in this way, as the rules differ from town to town).

And lastly, a lift can increase the value of your home, meaning your investment goes right back into your house. In the long term, that means it’s a good investment.

7 Things You Should Know About Modular Homes in Keansburg NJ

Modular homes tend to be a misunderstood part of the world of construction. Some people think they aren’t “real” homes, and misconceptions about.

If you are looking for custom modular homes in Keansburg NJ, here are 7 things you should know about modular homes:

1. They Are Not A Manufactured Home – Despite misconceptions to the contrary, a modular home and manufactured home are not the same thing. Manufactured homes are not placed on permanent foundations. Modular homes are.
2. They Are Built Indoors – Modular homes are unique and stand out from “traditional” homes in part because they are actually built indoors, protected from the elements. That also means they do not see the delays often caused by weather when building a home the traditional way. Everything is constructed in a protected environment.
3. Appraisals Are No Different – A modular home does not appraise at a different value as a similar “stick built” home. They are valued the same and are treated the same. Modular homes do not depreciate at an accelerated rate, either. They are, in every way, just like any other home.
4. They Are Customizable – Despite what you may have heard, Keansburg NJ modular homes are in fact customizable. You can work with your planners to create your own floor plans, switch around rooms, create custom designs, and much more. Deluxe kitchens, walk-in closets, expanded windows, an indoor hot tub – if you can imagine the customization, it can be done with a modular home, just like a stick built house.
5. Most Finishing Is Already Done – Unlike building a home on-site, with most modular homes craftsmen handle floor treatments, drywall, roofing, plumbing, cabinets, and a host of other finishes before the home ever leaves the factory floor. When a modular home arrives at its lot, it is already 90 percent finished.
6. Not All Manufacturers Are Created Alike – The process of creating a modular home in Keansburg may be similar from manufacturer to manufacturer, but that doesn’t mean the results are. Though there are regulations in place dictating how such homes must be built and regulating quality standards, the quality of the work you receive can different from one company to the next. That’s why it’s important to do your research and seek references.
7. They Are Not Trailers – Trailers are not modular homes, they are something completely different. Trailers are so-called “manufactured” homes, which are usually set on blocks or a portable frame. They can be moved from place to place, and may even be intended to be temporary. Modular homes are not. They are put on permanent foundations and are intended to remain where they are, just like any other home.

Do you still have an interest in modular homes in Keansburg? Then we urge you to continue reading more so you can learn what so many other happy homeowners already know: that modular building is a fantastic alternative to the traditional method. Good luck!

Finding the Perfect Toms River Realtor

Hiring a Toms River Realtor

If you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, you’re going to want to put yourself in the best possible position not only to sell, but to sell quickly and to sell for maximum dollars. That means doing your research, hiring a good Toms River Realtor, and following these 4 essential secrets for selling your home:

1) The Little Touches Matter

You may not think the small stuff matters, but it does. Things like worn out welcome mats, cluttered rooms, dirty windows and more DO have an impact on how potential buyers see your property. Take the time to address all that small, affordable stuff and buyers will walk away with a much more positive impression of your home. Clean up dog droppings in your yard, pull weeds up from the driveway, and all that little stuff you used to skip. You’ll be glad you did!

2) Selling Is A Year-Round Process

You’ll often read about the ups and downs of the real estate market and the best times of year to sell, but the fact is, selling is a year-round thing. If you want buyers to feel a greater connection to your house, use seasonal accents to make it more attractive and inviting. Bright linens in the spring, flowers in the summer, pine and wreath displays during the winter – all of these things make your house seem more like a HOME, which is exactly what you and your Toms River Realtor want to do in order to entice buyers.

3) It’s Better To Be Up Front About Problems

Naturally you’re going to do a pre-sale inspection. That inspection might turn up a few issues, too. While you can remain quiet about them, assuming that a potential buyer will likely discover them on their own when they have their own independent inspection done, you can create a lot of good will and trust by being up front about your inspection’s findings. Tell the buyer what was found, let them know what has been done to address some of the items, and tell them you’ve made adjustments to the price based on them. Your candor will be appreciated.

4) Choose Your Words Wisely

The wording you use in your listings really does make a difference – sometimes a huge one! Using words like “potential” and “TLC” can actually lower sales prices by five percent or more. You may be trying to find a fancy way of saying your home is not brand new, but buyers see words like that as code for “I’m going to have to sink a lot of money into this place.” Also avoid the word “unique,” and any word that is code for “small,” such as “cute,” “charming,” or “quaint.” On the other hand, words like “captivating” and “luxurious” entice people, as do words that show you’ve put work into the house, like “remodeled,” resulting in higher sales prices. Also, more information in your listing is better than less, so ask your Toms River Realtor to be thorough. Write wisely!

Following these tips, and stick with your expert REALTOR, and you’re likely to have a successful sale. Good luck!

Child Support in New Jersey: Understanding the Basics

The complex legal web that makes up the rules governing child support can be difficult to untangle, but by understanding these basic facts you can have a better understanding of how the system works and what your role in it is, whether you are paying child support or receiving it.

First, it is important to understand that New Jersey law recognizes the following basic facts:

• It is the duty of both parents to support their children, even if they were never married
• A child has a right to benefit from the income of both parents
• Children should be protected from the economic ramifications of divorce or out-of-wedlock birth

Child support orders generally come from the courts. In such cases, the non-custodial parent will be ordered to make child support payments to the custodial parent. These payments are based on the income of the non-custodial parent.

Child support facts many judges won’t tell you include:

• The income of the custodial parent does not matter. Child support is based on the non-custodial parent’s income regardless of how much the custodial parent makes.
• A parent cannot decline child support on behalf of their child. Technically, those child support payments belong to the child and are intended to assist in providing for them.
• Child support is not taxable, nor is it tax deductible.
• Missing child support payments is technically a criminal act, if a child support court order is in place.

For more details, it is best to consult with a child support lawyer in New Jersey.

Child support payments are enforced under the law. When it comes to enforcement, enforcement agencies and/or personnel are obligated to:

• Ensure that child support is paid
• Collect past due child support
• Collecting spousal support (if applicable)

Whether you are paying support payments or are the custodial parent, you might consider consulting with a NJ child support lawyer to better understand your rights. Remember, a custodial parent has a legal right to court ordered child support payments, and a non-custodial parent has a legal obligation to make those payments.

Important facts regarding the non-payment of child support include:

• Lottery winnings over $600 can be withheld in order to clear up child support payments that are in arrears.
• Child support payments can be taken from your unemployment or disability payments.
• Failure to pay child support can be reported to credit bureaus, and therefore can impact your credit.
• Homestead rebates and tax returns can also be used to pay late child support payments.
• If a non-custodial parent who owes child support has money in the bank or owns stocks and bonds, those assets can be seized to pay the child support.
• A person’s drivers license can be suspended for non-payment of child support.
• A person’s passport application or renewal can be denied for non-payment of child support.

For complete information on Child Support laws in New Jersey, visit http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/csguide/

The 3 Things You May Not Consider When You Get Bedbugs

Bedbug Removal in Ocean County, NJ

Bedbugs! At this point you’ve probably seen so many news stories about them you’re wondering if they’re a plague that will take over the world.

While things aren’t THAT bad, the fact is they are a genuine problem right now. Getting bedbugs in your home is a huge nuisance. If you’re unlucky enough to have it happen to you, you should keep these three things in mind:

1) There Is No Foolproof Way To Keep Some Bugs Away

Not all pest control specialists and exterminators will be willing to tell you this, but it’s important to know the truth: when it comes to some bugs, there just isn’t any surefire way to keep them away. You can bet RID of them if they show up in your home, but keeping them away is another matter. The best example is probably bedbugs. It doesn’t matter how clean you keep yourself or your home, if you come into contact with bedbugs chances are good you can bring the infestation home. They aren’t looking for food or waste or moisture, they want YOU. Bedbugs bite in order to get little bits of your blood. That means unless you take precautions when traveling, getting bedbugs is a real possibility no matter how well maintained your home is. That means there is no shame if you have to call an Ocean County bedbugs removal contractor!

6) Most Modern Treatments Are Now Safe

In the past, pest control treatments may have gotten the job done, but they came with a host of side issues that could be of concern. They were toxic and often unsafe, leading to major health concerns if used improperly – and in some cases even if used properly! The good news is, those days are long gone. Any reputable Ocean County bedbugs expert is going to be using modern treatments that are safer while still achieving the same results. In addition, modern techniques require fewer chemicals before modern pest control experts are just plain better at their jobs. They’ve learned new techniques that make the whole process more effective AND safer – and that’s good news for everyone!

8) If You Have A Major Problem, Consider Altering Your Neighbors

You might be embarrassed to have a load of field mice or a cockroach infestation in your home, but the first thing you need to understand is that it’s not your fault. Infestations can happen in the cleanest of households! Once you understand that, the next step is to consider altering your neighbors that critters are in the neighborhood. These problems tend to not be contained to just one home. They spread to entire neighborhoods. That means you’re not only doing your neighbors a favor by alerting them to the problems, you’re doing YOURSELF a favor by ensure the problem doesn’t return a few months later, because you may chase the pests out of your home, but they’ll be back if all they did was run next door. And you don’t want to have to call the Ocean County bedbugs removal expert again, do you?

Safe traveling, and don’t let the bedbugs bite!

Looking for Computer Repair in Ocean County?

A frustrated employee seeks computer repair in Ocean County.

If you’re like most Americans, your computer is probably a big part of your life. That’s why it can be such a big problem when your computer doesn’t work correctly.

A computer that is acting up, giving you blue screens, slowing down, or just plain not cooperating can have an impact on both your fun and your productivity. It can prevent you from playing your favorite computer games, get in the way when you’re trying to Facebook with friends, or make it harder for you to get your day’s work done so you can relax with a glass of wine.

Before you seek out computer repair, it’s important to understand what the issue might be. For instance, one problem could be:

You Don’t Meet The System Requirements

Did you recently upgrade your favorite software to a new version and now it doesn’t run as well? Did you move on to the next version of Windows and install it on your older computer? Did you get the latest video game and find that it can barely run on your system? Chances are, your computer doesn’t meet the system requirements for this software.

System requirements are the bare minimum specs that a computer should have to run any given piece of software, including hard drive space, RAM, the type of video card you have, and other factors.

Even if you meet the requirements, if you’re close to maxing them out you could see slowdowns anyway. That means it’s either time for a new computer or that it’s best to go back to the older software. It’s hard to keep up with the latest!

Another problem you might have is:

Your Hard Drive Needs To Be Defragmented

Though less of an issue these days than it used to be, computer hard drives still need to be defragmented every now and then. What does this mean? Well, data is saved on your hard drive wherever there is an empty space. When things are deleted, it opens up some space. All that space is not necessarily all together in one spot, though. Imagine a checkerboard with a checker on every square. Take away six checkers from random squares. Now put three checkers on the board, all three representing a single program. Because the six that were removed were in random squares and were not next to one another, the three you’re placing down now can’t go next to one another. That means that new program (the three checkers) has to reach around to various parts of the board, i.e. your hard drive, in order to operate. That slows things down!

Defragmenting consolidates all those empty spaces into one big empty space, and also moves all related checkers, i.e. files, together on the drive so they’re easier and faster for the computer to access. This all sounds a bit complicated, but it’s actually very easy to do and can help alleviate some of your computer’s slowdowns. If necessary, seek out someone who does Ocean County computer repair to assist you with this process.

Good luck!

House Raising in NJ...What's next?

House Raising in NJ by Structural Solutions of NJ.

NEW JERSEY – When it comes to preparing for the next Hurricane Sandy, the lessons learned by those impacted in Hurricane Katrina six years prior are proving to be invaluable, especially when it comes to home elevating.

Home elevating – also known as house raising or house lifting – is when a home is jacked up onto a taller foundation with the intention of better protecting it against flood waters. It’s an industry that has experienced sharp growth since the 2012 storm.

In New Jersey, experts have said that house raising in NJ is a key part of a long-term strategy for dealing with flooding and minimizing damage when future mega-storms hit. Four years ago, the National Audubon Society’s G. Paul Kemp said much the same with regard to lifting homes along the Gulf Coast.

"It can be done in such a short time and at a fairly reasonable cost, and it immediately raises the level of protection, in some cases by hundreds of years," Kemp told CBS News. "We've found out that levees are not always reliable.”

In the Garden State, one of the major milestones that pushed the New Jersey house raising industry into overdrive was the release of FEMA’s new flood plain recommendations. These recommendations offer suggestions regarding how high homes should be elevated, and also impact flood insurance rates. Similar recommendations sparked the Gulf Coast house elevating industry after Katrina, too.

"This will spur activity unbelievably," predicted Jeb Bruneau, a neighborhood association president in New Orleans, in 2006. "A lot of people have been waiting for the advisory to come out so they'd have direction. A lot of people are looking at this as progress."

Donald Powell, chief federal coordinator for Gulf Coast hurricane recovery, told Fox News at the time that he agreed with Bruneau – those flood elevation recommendations were vital to the long, slow recovery effort.

"This will enable people to get on with their lives," Powell told Fox in 2006.

Here in New Jersey, the damage left behind by Hurricane Sandy made clear to property owners like Tuckerton’s Don Horneff that house raising in NJ was essential for the shore region’s future.

“All around me, the homes that were lower, most of them will have to be demolished,” Horneff told the New York Times. “It’s very sad. They have lost everything.”

The same realization was reached on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. As Louisiana Recovery Authority spokesperson Christina Stephens told the Daily Comet in 2009, "Elevating homes is really a good investment, and saves the money on future flooding losses. Every foot you go up makes you a little safer."

Indeed, "If you want to be safe … you need to elevate," Jim Stark, head of FEMA’s Gulf Coast Recovery Office, told USA Today in 2008.

It’s a message now being heard loud and clear in New Jersey, too.

And as people are learning, the options available to a homeowner during a lift are more varied than they expect, allowing those undergoing the process to make improvements to their house while they lift.

Unsurprisingly, Gulf Coast residents experienced the same thing.

Shirley Laska, with the Center for Hazards Assessment, Response and Technology (CHART) in New Orleans, told the Times-Picayune that house lifting is not a generic, once-size-fits-all process. Different property owners take differing approaches depending on their preferred aesthetics and needs, and the nature of their neighborhood.

"The elevated house has grown on us, and people are doing a better job at it," Laska told the New Orleans-based newspaper. "Some houses celebrate the new height, for those who want that, while others obscure the height, for those who prefer to blend in … There is no (single) 'right' way to do it. These are merely options, to get the conversation started."

In the Garden State, the conversation is already in high gear.