A+ Family Dentistry - February 2020

San Diego Location: 3780 El Cajon Blvd., Unit 1

Poway Location: 12915 Pomerado Road Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-748-5100

Sorrento Valley Location: 6755 Mira Mesa Blvd., Suite #218

San Diego, CA 92105 Phone: 619-265-2467

San Diego, CA 92121 Phone: 858-421-4933

The Happy Tooth

A Bigger Definition of Love

WHO’S YOUR VALENTINE?

“To me, Valentine’s Day is about love in general! “

When I think about Valentine’s Day, I think about my romantic relationships. My past valentines have always been my boyfriends. Now, my valentine is my husband. Valentine’s Day naturally focuses on romantic love because its origins stretch back to St. Valentine, a priest who performed marriages in secret after it was outlawed in ancient Rome. This is a wonderful tradition, but romantic love isn’t the only love we can celebrate on Valentine’s Day. If you ask my sister, Dr. Janice, who her valentine is, she’ll happily tell you all about her son, Jake. Her son is her whole world, so of course Jake is her valentine! There are many members of my staff whose kids are their valentines, too. Family love deserves a place on Valentine’s Day just as much as romantic love! Let’s not forget the love we have for our friends. I know more people are celebrating Galentine’s Day on Feb. 13, a holiday from the TV show “Parks and Rec.” Galentine’s Day is all about celebrating your female friendships, which is awesome. I’m fortunate to have wonderful women in my life to call my friends. While Galentine’s Day is on the day before Valentine’s Day, I think celebrating the love between friends can be part of Feb. 14, too. Our friends can make our lives so fulfilling; don’t they deserve some love on Valentine’s Day, too? I don’t think there’s any reason why Valentine’s Day should be restricted to one kind of love. To me, Valentine’s Day is about love in general! Furthermore, it’s a reminder to show love and affection more often. It’s easy to get busy and lose track of our relationships. Life can wear you down. Sometimes we get so swept up in day-to-day life that we forget the last time we went out to dinner with our spouse or called our best friend. I see Valentine’s Day as a little nudge to get us back on track. While it’s fun to go all-out on a big, showy Valentine’s Day date, we should hold onto that feeling come Feb. 15 and beyond. We make a big deal on Valentine’s Day, not because we have to, but because we want to let the one we love know how special they are to us. It’s like giving gifts on Christmas. It’s not about the present; it’s about spreading goodwill.

You don’t have to make a grand gesture to show your loved ones how much they mean to you. Little things, when done with thought, can have an impact, like sending your mom a text to let you know you’re thinking about her, catching a movie on Tuesday with a friend, or making dinner at home with your partner. A little bit of quality time can be so meaningful. Valentine’s Day serves to remind us to make time for those meaningful moments not just once a year, but on a daily basis. Our relationships are precious and they need to be cared for.

Dr. Janice and her valentine, Jake.

Whoever your valentine is this year, I hope your Valentine’s Day is wonderful and that you’re able to make time to celebrate the love in your life all year long.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

–Dr. Justene Doan

February 2020 Edition

A+ Family Dentistry | 619-265-2467 | P1

Can You Feel the Love?

cortisol, the body’s stress-inducing hormone. Less stress means lower blood pressure, a healthier heart, and a lower risk of stroke, especially in men. Healthier Immune Systems Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that calm, happy people can fight common colds and the flu more easily than those who are anxious or depressed. The physical benefits of love even go as far as healing wounds quicker. Small injuries inflicted on a wide test group at Ohio State University Medical Center healed nearly twice as fast on people who experienced consistent warmth and care than those who experienced hostility. In fact, the latter group needed almost a full additional day to achieve the same amount of healing as the first group. Longer, Happier Lives Being surrounded by love may even save your life. A statistic from the National Health Interview Survey states that single people face a 58% higher risk of mortality. Further bolstering that claim is the Harvard Health Blog, which claims happily married participants experience better health as they age when compared to peers in unhappy partnerships. In fact, the blog asserts, “People in stressful, unhappy marriages may be worse off than a single person who is surrounded by supportive and caring friends, family, and loved ones.” So, it seems the results are in: Loving someone is a healthy lifestyle choice. Even having a strong network of friends and family boosts your odds of living a long life by 50%. So, get out there and make the healthy choice for yourself and those around you by leading a life full of love. We want to thank all of our patients who put so much faith in us by recommending our services to their friends and family members. Last month, our referrals came from these amazing patients: A+ Referrals

The Secret to Living a Longer, Healthier Life

The human brain is an incredibly powerful organ. It solves complex problems, recalls forgotten memories, and triggers a dizzying array of emotions. But its most incredible power is the effect it can have on the rest of the body. When it comes to love, well, our brains certainly love it, and our bodies reflect that. Less Stress Human beings thrive on a sense of connection and belonging, and studies have shown that love actually has positive effects on a person’s physical health as well as mental. The security and commitment felt in a loving relationship are shown to reduce stress by stunting the production of

TESTIMONIAL See What Others Are Saying

“I have been going to A+ Family Dentistry for several years now. Every time I go, I am always impressed by their incredible service and clean offices. Every hygienist and dentist I’ve seen here is very accommodating and knowledgeable. They are always happy to answer my questions and make me feel comfortable. I never get stressed going here, but I really appreciate that they have options for patients who are more sensitive. This office isn’t the cheapest, but they take many forms of dental insurance, and their services are well worth it! I highly recommend A+ Family Dentistry!” -David Kahn

Goli G. Arleona G. Loise J. Vanessa K.

Le N. Angelina M. Angelica P. Lisa Marie R.

And the winner of the November referral prize of a $50 Visa gift card: Lisa Marie R. Thank you to all of our patients who continue to support us. Check back next month when we will announce the winner of our next referral prize.

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Love at First Smile

3 Tricks to Transform Your Smile Before Valentine’s Day

What’s the most important thing people look for in a romantic partner?

Do you find yourself hiding your teeth when you smile or laugh? Here are three ways you can transform your smile by Valentine’s Day. Shine bright with teeth whitening. Need a fast way to noticeably transform your smile? Schedule an in-office teeth whitening treatment. Remove years of stains in a single visit! Whitening empowers you to smile freely without worrying about hiding yellow, stained teeth. Start fresh in love and in life. Enjoy a strong smile with dental implants. A missing tooth is charming in first grade — not so much when you’re an adult. Depending on which tooth you’re missing, it might even impact your ability to eat. It’s hard to say yes to a dinner date if you’re self-conscious about the way you eat. Dental implants can replace a missing tooth,

creating a natural-looking smile while keeping your jaw strong.

A. A good sense of humor B . A happy smile C. Financial stability

Feel confident with Invisalign. Ready to correct your crooked teeth without embarrassing braces? There’s never been a better time to try Invisalign! This month only, we’re offering a free consultation to all our patients to learn if Invisalign is right for them. Once the treatment is done, you’ll be ready to show off your new smile after a free teeth whitening and protect your new smile with free retainers at the end of the treatment. Whether you’re wooing your spouse or sparking a new romance, a smile is your most important accessory. Make sure you’re ready to show it off!

The answer is B!

In 2013, a survey conducted by Match.com found that both men and women ranked “good teeth” as the most important trait in a potential partner. This makes sense. The first thing we noticed when we meet someone new is their smile. A bright, confident smile signals a happy person we want to get to know better. Meanwhile, when someone hides their smile or doesn’t laugh, it shows disinterest. If they don’t want to meet us, why should we meet them?

Word Search

Easy Shrimp Scampi

Make date night simple with this easy shrimp scampi recipe.

Ingredients

• • • • •

4 tbsp butter 4 tbsp olive oil

• • • •

1/2 cup dry white wine 1/4 cup lemon juice 8 oz cooked linguine

1 tbsp minced garlic

1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 cup parsley

1/2 tsp oregano

Directions

AQUARIUS ASH CHOCOLATE CUPID DONOR

GROUNDHOG LOVE PISCES PRESIDENTS ROMANCE

ROSES SKIING SNOWBANK SUGAR VALENTINE

1. In a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp of butter with 2 tbsp of olive oil. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. 2. Add shrimp and oregano, stirring frequently until shrimp is pink. Remove shrimp from skillet. 3. Add wine and lemon juice to skillet and bring the mixture to a boil.

4. Stir in remaining butter and olive oil and cook until butter is melted. 5. Add cooked shrimp to skillet and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. 6. In a serving bowl, top cooked

linguine with shrimp mixture. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Inspired by NourishedKitchen.com

A+ Family Dentistry | 619-265-2467 | P3

Office Hours: Mondays: Closed

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Tuesdays: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Inside This Issue Aplusfamilydentistry.com 619-265-2467 3780 El Cajon Blvd., Unit 1 San Diego, CA 92105

Let’s Only Think About Love Page 1

The Effects of Love on Your Physical Health Page 2

See What Others Are Saying Page 2

Will a Bad Smile Ruin Your Love Life? Page 3

Easy Shrimp Scampi

Page 3

Local Events

Page 4

Exploring an Aquatic Wonderland Broaden Your Family’s Experience of Oceanic and Local Culture!

If you’re passionate about local beer, this is a great opportunity to meet and try brews from all over the San Diego area! Beer, spirits, and food are all included in your admission ticket. Yes — food too! Register soon for a cheaper ticket and the perfect afternoon date. Get a midday babysitter for the kids and spend a couple of hours enjoying the hard work of more than 30 talented local breweries. Birch Aquarium’s Perspective Lecture: Squid Pro Quo Where: Birch Aquarium, San Diego When: Feb. 10; 7–8 p.m. Admission: Members, free; Public, $8; Students/Teachers, $5 Website: bit.ly/jaffelecture While watching whales can be a memorable experience for all ages, you might want a more serious, educational experience for your kids from a professional scholar. Oceanographer Jules Jaffe will be hosting a lecture where he’ll describe his career as an ocean explorer and technology innovator for marine studies. From underwater robots to underwater microscopes, Jaffe has much to share about oceanic technological advances students can engage with. If your child is still considering what field they want to pursue after high school, this may be a great way of introducing and expanding their options.

GrayWhale MigrationWinter/Spring 2020 Where: Newport Beach When: Dec. 13 to March 29; M–F 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Sat–Sun 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Admission: $13–$17 Website: NewportWhales.com You might be wondering if there are ways to introduce your family to the curiosities that the beautiful Californian ocean has to offer. The gray whale migration is a perfect time of year to do that! While it’s a bit of a drive (about 75 minutes north to be precise), there are fewer things more memorable than witnessing the ocean’s giants rise to the ocean surface beneath you. Jump on this affordable cruise with the whole family! 10th Annual Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festival Where: San Diego County Credit Union Stadium When: Feb. 29; 12–4 p.m. Admission: $50–$90 Website: bit.ly/10thMVFestival

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