How does getting older affect your teeth and how do changes in your teeth and your bite affect your looks and your health? Dr. Guerra and Guerra Dental have the answers, and we are ready to help counteract those effects in a number of ways.How does age affect you?Its simply a matter of time. As the years pass, the stresses put on your teeth take their toll. Over time, your smile ages right along with the rest of your body. Your smile can lose vibrancy due to discoloration, tooth loss and excessive grinding. Lips begin to sag and lose their elasticity. Gravity and aging make our lower face shrink and sink, resulting in less of our upper teeth showing as we speak or smile. Loss of collagen and diminished muscle tone allow wrinkles to form around our mouth and lips.Night grindingTeeth clenchingDiscoloring foodsImproper bitePoor preventative care and so much more can have a major negative effect on your health and of course, it can get worse the longer it goes on.How does aging actually affect your appearance?Here are some of the actual effects on your face:A chance in your bite can result in wrinkles around the corner of your mouth.As you age, your jaw may become narrower. Your smile may seem less full, and spaces may appear on both sides of your teeth.Grinding, clenching and even regular eating over time can cause pain to your bite.Changes in the angles of your teeth can make your face asymmetrical and actually narrow the look of your lips and smile.What can be done? Consult with Dr. GuerraAnti-aging dentistry has become an important field of study and treatment at Guerra Dental, and today we can use various techniques and technologies to improve and even reverse the signs of aging. Anti-aging dentists address the issues of wrinkles, cheek support, lip fullness, dark corners, discoloration and asymmetry. It begins with a careful and thorough examination, including the latest in digital imaging to look at your entire facial structure, the extent of damage thats already occurred and may occur without treatment. Then we focus on the treatment that can actually repair age-related damage, improve your smile and features, and actually help you look younger.You dont have to wait for a problem to occur.The effects of aging are gradual and long-term, but you can address them immediately. Don't wait until you have a toothache, infection or fracture due to aging that has to be addressed. Make your appointment with Dr. Guerra today, so you can look forward to a new, youthful appearance tomorrow.

Older Individuals with Blindness (OIB) services for the blind and visually impaired (for individuals that are 55 and above) are available through the Colorado Springs Independence Center and are partially funded by a Federal grant. The Center provides services in the area of advocacy, peer counseling/ leadership training, information and referral, assistive equipment access and technology rental (through Silver Key), support groups and independent living skills. Their Outreach programs serve El Paso and Teller counties. The Center opened an Accessibility Store in mid-October, 2010 for visually impaired, blind, hearing impaired, deaf and mobility products.For more information please call The Colorado Springs Independence Center 719-471-8181

The vast amount of information shared online during tax season makes it a haven for identity thieves, and they're doing everything they can to take advantage of the opportunity! Here are several ways that identity thieves are targeting you, common signs of ID theft and steps to take if you become a victim.How Identity Thieves Target YouImpersonating the IRS. Thieves calling you and claiming to be the IRS will try and intimidate you into making an immediate payment using a gift card or wire service. Remember, the IRS will physically mail you a letter as a means of first contact. And the IRS will never call you to demand an immediate payment.Filing a fraudulent tax return. Identity thieves often try to file a tax return using your Social Security number before you do. So consider filing your tax return as quickly as you can to beat identity thieves at their own game.Phishing schemes. Be on the lookout for unsolicited emails, texts and social media posts that prompt you to share personal and financial information. These messages could also contain viruses, spyware or other malware that could infect your electronic devices.Common Signs Of ID TheftHere are some of the common signs of identity theft according to the IRS:In early 2023, you receive a refund before filing your 2022 tax return.You receive a tax transcript you didnt request from the IRS.A notice that someone created an IRS online account without your consent.You find out that more than one tax return was filed using your Social Security number.You receive tax documents from an employer you do not know.Other signs of identity theft include:Unexplained withdrawals on bank statements.Mysterious credit card charges.Your credit report shows accounts you didnt open.You are billed for services you didnt use or receive calls about phantom debts.What You Can DoIf you discover that youre a victim of identity theft, consider taking the following action:Notify creditors and banks. Most credit card companies offer protections to cardholders affected by ID theft. You can generally avoid liability for unauthorized charges exceeding $50. But if your ATM or debit card is stolen, report the theft immediately to avoid dire consequences.Place a fraud alert on your credit report. To avoid long-lasting impact, contact any one of the three major credit reporting agenciesEquifax, Experian or TransUnionto request a fraud alert. This alert covers all three of your credit files.Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Visit identitytheft.gov or call 877-438-4338. The FTC will provide a recovery plan and offer updates if you set up an account on the website.Please call if you suspect any tax-related identity theft. If any of the previously mentioned signs of tax-related identity theft have happened to you, please call to schedule an appointment to discuss next steps.Article Submitted by Senior Tax Advisory Group. Call them with any questions at 719-596-4844

Here at the Colorado Springs Senior Center, our want and goal is to combat social isolation for seniors within the community. When COVID hit, our creativity, capacity and caliber were challenged and created an opportunity for growth. We have tapped our resources and have stretched our boundaries to allow for the new channels needed to continue to connect and support our older adult community. Staying physically distanced is important and so is remaining socially engaged and mentally strong. We CAN do this together and we ARE going to be okay. While we all adjust to the new normal, it is imperative to remain flexible; we are all going to have to give each other a little more grace as each of us is coping the best we know how. We are here and we would love to engage with you! We are offering Zoom classes every week. New to Zoom? Would you like some assistance getting started? We can help you with that! Just give us a call and we can walk you through it. Once you are comfortable, give a Zoom class a try; we offer exercise, history, and health classes online every month. Are you in need of some resources or services? Just give us a call and we will do our best to get you connected to the right people. We encourage you to call and when we open our doors to come see all of the possibilities that are available to you. We are located at 1514 N. Hancock Ave., just 2 blocks north of Uintah. Find all our class offerings and more information at csseniorcenter.com or call us at 719-955-3400. We are even on Facebook! Come discover a community where everyone knows your name and they are always glad you came!Editors Note: This article was submitted by the Colorado Springs Senior Center. For more information please call 719-955-3400