Fall 2010 Newsletter

FUN FALL STUFF

Save those PUMPKIN SEEDS when carving your jack-o-lantern! Why?
Pumpkin seeds boost mood. Like chocolate, pumpkin seeds are a good source of the amino acid tryptophan, which improves mood... but pumpkin seeds don't have the sugar that chocolate does, and one ounce of pumpkin seeds contains about half the daily requirements of magnesium, which strengthens bones. Sprinkle toasted seeds on soups and salads, or put raw, unsalted seeds on tops of muffins before baking.

PUMPKIN SPICE CUPCAKES

These 3 ingredient muffins are so moist, chewy, and delicious.
Plus, you can make them so easily. Not to mention, it's vegan!

Ingredients:
2 boxes Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Spice Cake Mix
2 (15 oz) cans pumpkin
2 tsp vanilla

 

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl for 2 minutes.
Contents will be very thick. Electric mixer can be used.
3. Line muffin tin with paper cups.
4. Fill 2/3 full with batter.
5. You may add a ¼ cup water to make easier to stir.
6. Bake 22 to 24 minutes.
Optional: sprinkle tops with cinnamon sugar before

placing in oven if you choose not to frost.  ENJOY!

Are You Ready For Fall?

As we ready ourselves for fall and setting our clocks back on November 7th at 2:00am, let us not "fall" into the trap of letting our dental maintenance fall behind so to create unnecessary dental issues. Did you know that NO dental problem ever cured itself?

• Gum problems don't hurt at first, so you may not even know disease is lurking.
• Old fillings can leak where filling and tooth meet, inviting decay.
• Tooth fractures are often invisible and may require a root canal. By putting it off, you may lose your tooth.
• If you're missing a tooth, your neighboring teeth can become disrupted and loose.
• Topical fluorides and sealants are a great idea for children and adults to prevent decay.
• It may sound cliché, but it's true....an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Since ancient times, the mouth has been viewed as an indicator of overall health. Symptoms of conditions including osteoporosis, eating disorders, autoimmune disorders, and some cancers often first appear in the mouth. Therefore, we ALWAYS conduct a visual screening of all the soft tissue in your mouth at your annual examination.  We care about you!

Team Changes...

Our scheduling coordinator, Luz, is moving to Santa Barbara to be closer to her family and new grandson. We wish her well, and will miss her smiling face. We had an enormous number of applicants for her position and as a result spent weeks interviewing excellent candidates. We are pleased to welcome Jody Condon to our team.  Jody and her husband moved to Lake Arrowhead from Los Angeles.  Originally from Minnesota, Jody attended college in Oklahoma and has lived in Dallas, Tulsa and San Francisco.  Jody's hobbies include rock climbing, hiking and cycling. She has a Black Belt in karate, so don't even think about canceling late notice!!!

IS IT TIME FOR YOU TO POWER DOWN?

Are you able to sit down to a meal with friends without checking your phone?
Do you feel the need to check your phone in the middle of a movie?
Do you use your handheld while walking or driving?
Do you sleep with the device next to your bed?
Does your neck hurt from looking down so much?

If you answered yes to any of  the above, consider the "OFF" button.
Smartphones can mask insecurity about being alone. Some people use their iPhone like a binky. It's like, 'Nobody is paying attention to me, I can always interact with this thing.'  The downside of that is becoming less able to relate to people. So the next time you're sitting alone in the dental chair or waiting for a friend at a restaurant, don't dive into the virtual world. Take in the surroundings. Engage the waiter in small talk. Breathe deeply. Connections are the fuel of life, the core component of happiness. We need to be connected to other people, even if it's just looking at the person that's ringing up your groceries, instead of staring at your iphone. That's meaningful.

For Privacy and the comfort of all our patients, please silence and refrain from using cell phones throughout the office. Thank you for your cooperation.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
EVERYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT MONEY THESE DAYS.

But the only way to save wisely is to calculate your net gain (or loss). We agree that it's silly to drive 20 miles to save 3 cents on gas, but it's just as foolish to skip your dental appointments. With the cost of everything increasing, an excellent way to save money is to prevent potential problems before they become big ones.  Regular dental exams and cleanings are the best way to avoid a big hit to your health and your wallet.

Dr Hugh A. Bialecki and Team

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