Cove Family Dentistry - May 2019

MAY 2019

MEDICAL MISSION TRIPS TO HONDURAS Make a Change Tooth Be Told 256.534.1475

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M y dream to serve on a dental mission came true when I moved to Huntsville five years ago. I’ve always felt like I was being summoned to go on a mission trip, but my husband was on active duty and we were raising young kids, so I never had the opportunity. Shortly after we moved to Huntsville, I was thrilled to discover that the church we attend was coordinating a medical mission trip. I didn’t hesitate to volunteer and travel to Honduras with other dentists, doctors, and nurses. I knew Honduras would be very different than my home in the United States, but I wasn’t entirely prepared for the culture shock. On my first trip, we went down to a small village in Honduras that the group visited every mission trip for 15 years. The area was extremely poor and medical care was hard to come by. Most people lived in a level of poverty that seems impossible for those in the United States. The only time some people in the village were able to see a doctor was when the mission group came to visit. Being there was a life-changing experience in more ways than one.

horrible fever. We started him on antibiotics, but there was a moment when I was afraid the extractions might have been too much for him.

Our trip ended shortly after that, but I heard from someone else that he was recovering and doing okay. A few months later, I had the opportunity to go back to Honduras so I could check on this patient. Unfortunately, I wasn’t running the practice at the time and my boss told me I couldn’t go. So, I did the only logical thing: I lied to the office and played hooky so I could go to Honduras. I was able to see my patient again and confirm he really was doing well. On that second trip, I also helped a little boy who almost had his arm amputated, but that’s a story for another time. Until those mission trips, I thought I would be content working for someone else. Running a practice is a huge undertaking, and I was happy just taking care of my own patients. Being forced to play hooky in order to help someone made me realize I wanted to work for someone who would let me take care of my patients wherever they are in the world. If that meant I would have to buy the practice and run the show myself, so be it. Since my first mission trip to Honduras, I’ve gone six times and bought my practice here in Huntsville. I have enjoyed so many blessings in my life, and I feel like it’s my responsibility to give back, both at home and to my patients abroad. I hope that others will find a way to volunteer their time and talents no matter where they are.

I worked with a lot of patients on that first trip. One happened to be a young man with cerebral palsy. He was only in his late 20s, but he wasn’t

eating because his teeth hurt him so badly. One of the surgeons caring for this patient asked if I could do some extractions to help with the pain. I don’t even remember how many teeth I took out, more than 10 for sure. When I came back to check on him the next day, he was lying on the couch with a

“I did the only logical thing: I lied to the office and played hooky so I could go to Honduras.”

— Dr. Elizabeth Duling

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IS YOUR TEEN WATCHING TWITCH?

What Parents Need to Know About This Media Platform

TWITCH BROADCASTERS SOLICIT DONATIONS

For many parents, the idea of watching someone else play a video game sounds incredibly dull. But as the rise of the streaming site Twitch.tv has shown, young people love cheering on

While Twitch is free to watch (with ads), the site allows viewers to donate to their favorite broadcasters directly or become paid subscribers. Many broadcasters offer subscriber-only streams, shoutouts, and other bonus content that can make it tempting for impressionable viewers to open their wallets (or those of their parents). It’s best to make sure your teen’s account isn’t tied to any bank information.

their favorite gaming broadcasters — to the tune of 140 million monthly viewers. Many of those tuning in are teenagers, and a survey by the

Washington Post found that over half of the participants ages 14–20 watch at least some streamed video game content. If your teen is one of these viewers, here’s what you need to know.

WHY YOUR TEEN WATCHES TWITCH

There are many reasons teens watch Twitch streams. If they are into competitive video games like “Fortnite” or “Apex Legends,” they may want to watch skilled streamers to pick up tips and tricks. They could be a fan of an esports team and want to root them on during streamed tournaments, just like you would a football or basketball team. They may even just want to get a feel for what a game is like before they decide to spend their allowance on it. Talking to your teen about the kinds of streams they watch can help you better understand what they get from this new form of media.

TWITCH IS LIVE

Twitch differs from video sites like YouTube because the content is being broadcast live. This means it can’t be filtered as reliably, and even the most family-friendly broadcasters might slip in the occasional swear word or make an inappropriate comment. There is also a live chat feature, meaning your teen can communicate with anyone watching the same stream. This feature can be switched off, but it’s still a good idea to talk to your teen about online safety and the importance of not revealing personal information to strangers.

BIRD

Cove Family Dentistry wanted to be in a great location for our patients. It just so happens that we’re also in a great location for birds! All day, we’re able to look out our office windows and spot many different species of birds. This month, we’re watching the Northern cardinal. If you’re very lucky when walking into our office for your next appointment, you might spot a pair of Northern cardinals who have built their nest in our rose bushes! We’re delighted to have these beautiful birds spending the season with us. Cardinals are easily recognizable for their bright red feathers, and that bold color scheme is likely why cardinals are the state bird of seven different states — Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. As with most birds, only the males sport such outrageous colors. Female cardinals are a subdued tan, with just a little red on their wings, tail, and crest. Northern cardinals prefer sitting in shrubs or on low-hanging branches, which is why our rose bushes are the perfect spot for their nest. Since cardinals don’t migrate, they are usually more common in warmer areas, like the southeastern United States. During mating season, cardinals will stick to monogamous pairs, but during other times of the year, these social birds will join flocks that often include birds of other species. Unlike other kinds of songbirds, both male and female Northern cardinals sing. If you want to hear cardinals singing in your own yard, keep in mind that these larger songbirds aren’t usually attracted by swaying bird feeders. But other than that, cardinals aren’t hard to please. Just make sure your bird feeder is stable, big enough for cardinals to eat comfortably, and full of their favorite foods: sunflower and safflower. SONG OF THE NORTHERN CARDINAL

WATCH

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256.534.1475

Measure Your Health

GARDEN BLOOMING GEMINI MOTHER MEMORIAL NIGHTINGALE

SPRING CINCO MAYO EMERALD MAY REMEMBER

During your first visit as a new patient, there’s a lot to go over. You may remember your hygienist inspecting each tooth and listing a series of numbers. This is an important process called periodontal charting and it’s a crucial part of your oral health. WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN? A periodontal chart, also called a gum chart, helps dentists check the health of your gums. Your hygienist measures the depth between each tooth and the surrounding gums and compares them to the chart. Normal, healthy gums tend to have pockets that are 2–3 millimeters deep, with no bleeding. With regular dental check-ups and strong at-home dental care, there is little risk of periodontal disease. When the gum pockets are deeper than 3 millimeters, a regular toothbrush can’t clean them out properly, which means bacteria are able to build up in the gums. If the gum pockets become deeper or bleed regularly, aggressive treatment may be needed to prevent or reverse periodontal disease. THE DANGERS OF GUM DISEASE Periodontal disease, sometimes called gum disease, causes the gums to become inflamed, and it can lead to bone loss around the teeth. This disease can affect the whole body, not just the mouth, or a single tooth. When bone is lost, the surrounding teeth fall out. Missing teeth lead to more bone loss, which, in turn, can cause even more teeth to fall out. It’s a snowball effect that only gets worse if not treated. HOW TO PREVENT GUM DISEASE Periodontal charts are an important tool in helping your dentist measure your risk of gum disease. Regular dental cleanings remove bacteria from the gum pockets, but at-home care is still necessary. Be sure to brush twice a day and floss at least once a day. Flossing is important because it cleans the areas between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. 40 percent of your teeth aren’t being cleaned by your toothbrush alone. The Centers for Disease Control report half of all adults over the age of 30 suffer from gum disease. Pay attention to your gum health before it gets out of hand. Give our office a call at 256.534.1475. WHAT’S A PERIODONTAL CHART?

Shrimp Sausage Skewers

Inspired by PaleoLeap.com

INGREDIENTS

•

1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 1/2 pound cooked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces • 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes

CREOLE SEASONING INGREDIENTS

• • • • • •

2 tablespoons paprika

1/2 tablespoon garlic powder 1/2 tablespoon onion powder

1/2 tablespoon cayenne or chili powder

1/4 tablespoon dried oregano 1/4 tablespoon dried thyme

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat your grill to medium-high. 2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for creole seasoning. 3. In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, zucchini pieces, and sausage pieces, and cover them with the olive oil. 4. Add creole seasoning and mix well until all ingredients are covered. 5. Load up skewers with alternating pieces of shrimp, sausage, and zucchini until they’re full. 6. Grill skewers until shrimp are well-cooked (6–8 minutes).

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210 Sutton RD SE Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 256.534.1475 www.elizabethdulingdmd.com

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Inside

Giving Back

Is Your Teen Watching Twitch?

Cardinals in the Rose Bushes

Measuring Your Risk of Gum Disease

Shrimp Sausage Skewers

How to Travel Sustainably

GO GREEN Vacations can come with great expense, and not just for your bank account. According to a 2018 study published in Nature Climate Change, travel accounts for 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cut through the greenwashing and do your part to lessen these emissions by traveling sustainably. Travel Green When possible, trains, hybrid buses, and carpooling are great alternatives to larger, more environmentally intrusive travel methods. Large cruise liners are detrimental to oceans, and airplanes emit large amounts of toxins into the air. However, you can cruise and fly with the earth in mind. Some cruise lines are working to reduce their impact by installing more eco-friendly lighting and materials, and flight experts recommend using “green” airports, choosing fuel-efficient airlines, staying longer, and traveling less. If anything, it’s an excuse to extend your European vacation! Stay Green Where you stay impacts the environment as much as how you get there. Hotels use copious amounts of water for bathing and laundry, and they struggle to reduce energy because guests leave their lights and televisions on. However, many luxury resorts, woodsy cabins, and even entire countries have opted to make eco-tourism easier. If you’re looking for a region of the world committed to preserving nature, look no further than Iceland, Finland, and Sweden, which are ranked the three most environmentally friendly places in the world.

Get Out There With These Eco-Tourism Tips

Do Green Man-made attractions like the Egyptian pyramids and Machu Picchu are some of the world’s greatest wonders, but Earth itself is pretty breathtaking. Check out natural attractions while hiking or camping in preserved forests, or soak up all the Caribbean has to offer by snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. When you’re mindful of your surroundings and remain unobtrusive, there are endless outdoor activities you can explore. Some locations even partner with environmentally conscious organizations you can donate to or volunteer with.

Opt for a green vacation and know that while you relax, the earth is getting a little relief too.

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256.534.1475