A+ Family Dentistry January 2019

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

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

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

The Happy Tooth

A HEALTHIER 2019 The Secret to Keeping Resolutions

It’s the start of a new year, and I’m excited to hear about everyone’s New Year’s resolutions. January is a great time to evaluate your goals and make a plan to really improve yourself and your life.

“Above all else, I think the most important thing to realize about keeping a resolution is that you are going to fail, and that’s okay.”

At the office, we’re starting 2019 off with a 30-day challenge. Many of us start the year with goals to eat

healthier or exercise more, so I thought it would be fun to get the office to band together and start 2019 off right. We’ll have a log board set up at the office, and each day everyone can record their accomplishments. If everyone stays healthy until the end of January, we’ll all go out to dinner. There’s an incredible restaurant nearby, Cafe 21, that serves organic, farm-to-table foods. What better way to celebrate the start of a healthier year than with a delicious, healthy dinner shared among friends? I’m proud to say I was pretty successful with my 2018 New Year’s resolutions. Last January I wanted to work out more and eat healthily, and I’m happy to report I managed to do that pretty well. It was tough, don’t get me wrong. I started out doing yoga in the office, and after I picked up Pilates, I was terrible for the first 30 days! I thought I was getting too old to be flexible. But I stuck with it, and now I’ve noticed a big difference. I’ve also been going to the gym

3–4 times a week in the mornings, and I’ve been eating healthier. Not to say I was perfect by any means, but at the start of 2019, I feel a lot healthier than I did at the beginning of 2018. This past year, there are a few tricks I picked up about how to successfully keep New Year’s resolutions. To start, it’s great to have a partner to share the struggle and keep you accountable. My husband, my sister, and I all go to the gym together, and it’s nice to have someone to share in the struggle of waking up early. Plus, my sister and I can be a bit competitive, and when she works out on her own, that inspires me to keep working out, too. I can’t let her win! Also, if your resolution is to eat healthier, meal planning and meal prep is a lifesaver. It’s easier to resist the temptation of a drive-through when you already have a healthy meal packed and ready to go. Above all else, I think the most important thing to realize about keeping a resolution is that you are going to fail, and that’s okay. There is so much optimism and excitement on New Year’s Day, but by March, a lot of people lose steam. It’s not just New Year’s resolutions. Being a business owner, I’ve fallen so many times on the path to get where I am today. But falling isn’t a bad thing. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall. All that matters is that you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again. If March comes around

and you realize you haven’t worked out in weeks, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, pick a day to start again.

It’s never too late to try again because you never fully fail until you quit.

–Dr. Justene Doan

January 2019 Edition

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

• In cold weather, always clear your windshield of ice and snow before activating your wiper blades. Ice can shorten the life span of most wiper blades significantly. • Every time you gas up your vehicle, take a moment to clean your windshield and the wiper blades. You can run the squeegee sponge over the wiper blade or use a paper towel.

Get More Life Out of Your Windshield Wiper Blades

• Watch your washer fluid levels and top it off regularly. When you run a cleaning cycle without washer fluid, the wiper blades deteriorate.

How do you know when it’s time to replace your blades? The first sign is when they start streaking. However, in some cases, streaking may be caused by dirt or other grime stuck to the blades. If they continue to streak or skip after cleaning, they need to be replaced. Thankfully, wiper blades are typically the least expensive and easiest car part to replace. With this in mind, remember that you get what you pay for, and it pays to do research. There are many different blades on the market. Some are suited for icy conditions and some are designed for sunny weather. Take your time to read product descriptions to ensure you install blades that are right for your vehicle.

When was the last time you replaced your windshield wiper blades? If you’re like most people, you may not remember. As a general rule of thumb, you should replace your wiper blades about once a year, assuming they’ve been through a normal level of wear and tear. However, with a few easy steps, you can make your blades last longer without compromising visibility. • Keep your windshield and wipers clean of debris, dirt, dust, and other particles. Anything on the window or the blades can cause damage. Simply wiping them off with a microfiber cloth can go a long way.

TESTIMONIAL See What Others Are Saying

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

“Moving around a lot makes it really hard to find a good dentist. I felt right at home the minute I walked into my appointment. The very friendly receptionist introduced herself, and then I was shocked when the lady who helped me schedule my appointment over the phone came out to say hello. The office is extremely clean and well put together. There was not an unfriendly staff member in the office. “Dr. Janice was the one that came to get me for my appointment. I was given a tour of the office then brought to the exam room. Usually by this time, I’m freaked out by the dental chair, but since I was treated so nice and felt welcome, the chair did not faze me. Unlike most dentists, Dr. Janice was so caring and focused on what was best for me. I was shown my X-rays in great detail and given my options. One thing that I loved was that I did not leave or do anything before I was told how much the services were. The staff member that went over my treatment plan with me was very insurance-oriented and knew exactly what my insurance covered and did not cover. I was able to get my exam, cleaning, a couple fillings, and impressions to look into Invisalign, all in my first visit! “I have never been to an office where everyone I encountered knew what they were doing. The dental assistant, Kim, made taking impressions a breeze! And for any of you that have done impressions before, you know it’s not a fun thing to do. “I highly recommend this office to anyone and will be bringing my whole family here.” –Tiffany S.

Nkili B. Rita C.

Adriana F. Jazmin G. Brady H. Esther H. Zoe K. Michelle M. Matthew M. Inez O.

Rigo P. Misty P. Jim R. Annahi R. Christopher S. Ashley T. Esperanza T.

Denise C. Cynthia D. Martin D. Shiela D. Myrna E. Oscar E.

And the winner of December’s referral prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card is: Cynthia D. 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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DOUBLE TROUBLE Clean Your Smile and Enjoy Your Favorite Foods

A Feast Fit for Rabbits Few people get excited about bland treats like celery or carrots, but your teeth just might. The physical action of eating carrots and celery stimulates your mouth to produce more saliva. Plus, the textures of these vegetables can help brush gunk off your gums and pearly whites, aiding your saliva in its mission. As a bonus, the vitamins these veggies contain are great for your gums and bone health. (Though teeth are not bones, they are very similar in composition.) So, follow Peter Rabbit’s lead and get in a daily serving of teeth-brushing vegetables. Think About Your Gums Since the purpose of gum is to be mashed between our teeth for long periods of time, it’s natural to produce buckets of saliva while

Who says multitasking is impossible? Well, brain science does. But dental science says you can enjoy a snack and get some dental cleaning done at the same time. Check out some of these treats that pull double duty as both yummy snacks and superfoods for your smile. Cheese, Please (And Other Dairy Too) In addition to providing your bones and teeth with calcium, cheese, yogurts, and other dairy products can be low in sugar. Dairy lowers the acidity level in your mouth and creates an unfavorable environment for bacteria looking to ruin your perfect smile. Plus, chewing cheese promotes saliva production, which is effectively nature’s toothbrush. As long as you don’t go overboard, dental experts say there’s nothing wrong with cutting the cheese.

enjoying a piece. But dentists warn that in order to get the full benefits for your gums and teeth, you should be chewing sugar-free gum to avoid caking your mouth in enamel-gnawing sugars. Although the sugar content in most gum flavors isn’t high enough to completely outweigh the pros of the chewing motion and saliva production, it’s still wise to be mindful of the sugars your favorite gum contains. The best way to get the perfect smile is with regular dental cleanings, brushing, and flossing, but if you’re craving a treat, you can’t beat one that multitasks for you.

Inspired by Bon Appétit

Citrus and Avocado Salad

Word Search

Winter is the height of citrus season, so it’s a perfect time to experiment with oranges and lemons. Roasting the fruits concentrates their flavor and makes the skins edible, creating a blast of flavor for this winter salad. Ingredients

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1 blood, cara cara, or navel orange, sliced 1/8-inch thick and deseeded 1 Meyer or regular lemon, sliced 1/8-inch thick and deseeded 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced

• • • • •

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 bunch arugula

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1/2 cup fresh mint leaves 1 avocado, cut into wedges Salt and pepper, to taste

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Directions

1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In a rimmed baking sheet, toss citrus slices with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast citrus until lightly charred and caramelized, about 10–15 minutes. Let cool. 3. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine onion and lemon juice.

Season with salt and let sit for 5 minutes. 4. Add citrus, arugula, and mint to onion mixture. Drizzle with remaining oil, season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss thoroughly. 5. Add avocado, combing very gently to not crush avocado.

AQUARIUS CAPRICORN CELEBRATE CHAMPAGNE FIREWORKS

FREEZING JANUARY MIDNIGHT NEW YEAR PARTY

PIG RESOLUTION

SNOW TOAST WINTER

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

Office Hours: Mondays: Closed

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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

What’s Your New Year’s Resolution? Page 1 Get the Most Out of Your Windshield Wiper Blades Page 2 What Some of Our Patients Are Saying Page 2 Foods That Clean Your Teeth Page 3 Citrus and Avocado Salad Page 3 Local Events Page 4 Inside This Issue Aplusfamilydentistry.com 619-265-2467 3780 El Cajon Blvd., Unit 1 San Diego, CA 92105

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New Memories for the New Year MAKE A RESOLUTION TO HAVE MORE FUN!

father. The solution? Invite all three to the wedding! High jinks and heartfelt revelations are sure to please in this Broadway hit featuring all your favorite ABBA classics. With a pre-show meal available, let “Mamma Mia!” be your ultimate night on the town. GamerCon X Where: Tenth Avenue Arts Center, San Diego When: Thursday, Jan. 31–Sunday, Feb. 3 Admission: $20 Website: GamerCon.com Need a weekend of fun? Why not play a game, or 50? GamerCon returns, and San Diego’s Original Fan Gaming Convention has something for everyone. Every floor of the venue is packed with games, from Munchkin to Fortnite. Whether you love PC games, tabletop RPGs, card games, or arcade consoles, you’re sure to have fun among fellow fans at GamerCon.

San Diego Restaurant Week Where: Various locations throughout San Diego When: Sunday, Jan. 20–Sunday, Jan. 27 Admission: $10–$50 per person Website: SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com

It’s a feast for the senses at San Diego Restaurant Week! Over 180 local favorites are ready to offer a culinary tour of the vast sights, smells, and tastes of San Diego. Dine on pan-seared halibut with 20|Twenty, or enjoy a glass of wine at Wine Vault & Bistro. You can’t go wrong at the country’s premier culinary experience. ‘Mamma Mia!’

Where: Welk Resort, San Diego When: Now - February 24, 2019 Admission: See website for admission Website: WelkResorts.com/san-diego/theatre/

Sophie is getting married, and she’d love to have her dad walk her down the aisle. She’s just not sure which of the three men from her mother’s past is her

P4 | A+ Family Dentistry | Aplusfamilydentistry.com