Cove Family Dentistry - November 2019

NOVEMBER 2019

A Story of Family Tooth Be Told 256.534.1475

www.elizabethdulingdmd.com

No one person can do it all on their own. History is full of great people who changed the world, but if you look closer, it’s clear that every great person had a team supporting them. I wouldn’t be able to help my patients half as well if I were trying to run the office all alone! I’m incredibly fortunate to have a team of amazing people beside me, like my hygienist, Angie Lee. Angie joined the team earlier this year, and I already can’t imagine not having her around. That’s why this month, I wanted to give her some much-deserved recognition. GET TO KNOW ANGIE LEE When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to help people. I thought about teaching and even looked into being a nurse. My mom is a nurse, so it felt like it could be in my blood. I went through school intent on becoming a nurse myself, but I quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. Fortunately, a friend of mine was going into dental hygiene school at the time. She encouraged me to look into dentistry. I started working as a dental assistant and ultimately went to school to be a dental hygienist. I’ve been in dentistry since 1987, and I love it. Dentistry is about helping people feel good about themselves. I have the opportunity to do that every day. Our teeth have so much of an impact on our lives, from the confidence in our smiles to our overall health. As a hygienist, my goal is to help people feel happy with their smiles and comfortable in the office. In this office, that second part is really easy to do. Over the years, I’ve worked at a number of dental offices, but this one is special. I applied here after my family moved to the area because I had friends who already worked here. When I met and interviewed with Dr. Duling, I knew this place would be the perfect fit. Dr. Duling —Dr. Elizabeth Duling

has such a bright personality, and I really connected with how she made her patients’ overall health a priority. It’s not just teeth. We also screen for sleep apnea, a disease that makes it hard to breathe when you’re asleep. Sleep apnea is an incredibly serious disease. People with undiagnosed sleep apnea are essentially choking in their sleep because they can’t breathe. This leads to all kinds of health problems, because, simply put, you can’t be healthy if you can’t breathe. However, it’s extremely underdiagnosed because people don’t know they have it, and most doctors don’t see their patients often enough to recognize the symptoms. I’m really glad to work in an office where we pay such close attention to our patients’ health beyond checking for cavities and gum disease. In addition to being able to make a difference for my patients, being in the office makes a huge difference in my life. In addition to working full-time, I’m also the caregiver for both my son, who has cerebral palsy, and my husband, who is on disability following a kidney and pancreas transplant. It’s the kind of thing anyone would do for their family, and I believe God works things out. He brings you angels when you need them. That’s certainly what happened to me. Health reasons brought us closer to our family, and it brought me to the office, where my friends here have become like my family. It’s a blessing to work with such a supportive team and such amazing patients. Life can be hard, but when you have your family around, you can face anything. –Angie Lee

1

www.elizabethdulingdmd.com

sddfg

GET READY FOR GOOD NUTRITION IN NOVEMBER! 3 Tips to Get Your Picky Eaters to Eat the Veggies Their Bodies Need

It might seem strange that November — when millions of Americans gather around the dinner table to show gratitude through lavish Thanksgiving feasts — has recently been dubbed Good Nutrition Month. But it’s true; now is the time to pay extra attention to the nutrients your body needs to maintain its healthy state through the new year. While mindful eating is a habit families know they should practice year- round, once the holiday season kicks into full gear, it becomes much easier to overlook. With colder weather keeping you inside, the cravings for heartier meals and delicious baked goods leave parents struggling to encourage their picky eaters to consume anything nutritious. If you’re finding it more difficult than usual to convince your child to eat their greens, here are some tips to keep in mind! 1. Let Them Help. If your child has grown out of the toddler stage and is still resistant to eating their vegetables, child psychologists say you should have them help with the cooking process. The excitement and anticipation that comes with getting to prepare the vegetables can encourage kids to try a couple bites during dinnertime.

dish, consider adding broccoli and peas to the sauce. The cheese will

mask most of the veggie flavor, and your kids won’t

care as much! Another option for really picky eaters is to purée vegetables, like sweet potatoes, into the cheese sauce. The bright orange color will mask the inclusion, ensuring your little one gets a good share of fiber-rich nutrients while being none the wiser. 3. Get ‘Beefy’ With Your Veggies. If your kids are fans of meat-based pasta sauces, meatballs, or sloppy Joes, you can substitute some of the ground beef with finely chopped mushrooms. Since the meaty texture of the tasty fungi is similar to ground beef, it’ll be hard for kids to notice the difference. Riced cauliflower can also be mistaken for tender ground beef when cooked in darker sauces and gravies. While it can be frustrating to negotiate with a picky eater, especially during the holidays, don’t lose hope. Try out these three tasty tips and observe Good Nutrition Month with a little more ease. windows or branches to protect the birds from collisions and predators. You should also make sure the birds have somewhere to retreat in the event of predators — bushes within about 7 feet are perfect. KEEP IT COVERED We don’t see much snow or rain in Alabama, but it’s still important to use a covered feeder or add a wide baffle to the top of the bird feeder to protect it from winter weather. KEEP IT CLEAN More birds may visit your feeder in the winter, so it will need to be cleaned and sterilized regularly. Discard soggy seed to prevent mold or mildew, and wipe down poles and perches so that the feeder is not a source of disease. OFFER A SEASONAL MENU Since insects and fruits will be harder for birds to find in the winter, do the birds a favor by stocking your feeder with seeds that are high in fat and healthy oil. Ideal winter foods include hulled black sunflower seeds, peanuts, thistle seeds, suet, peanut butter, and white millet seeds. You don’t have to put in a heated bird bath to provide birds with some backyard luxury — though they would certainly appreciate it. Instead, keeping your feeder safe, clean, and fully stocked is a wonderful way to help our fine feathered friends through the long winter.

2. Cheese It Up! Cheese can undoubtedly make veggies more appealing for your little ones. When making their favorite mac ‘n’ cheese

BIRD WATCH

SHOULD YOUR BIRD FEEDER HAVE A WINTER MENU?

In Alabama, bird watching doesn’t stop as winter sets in. In fact, Alabama hosts more birds in the winter than we do in the summer, as northern birds come south looking for warmer weather. We see many sparrows, juncos, blackbirds, warblers, and the yellow-bellied sapsuckers this time of year, and all of these birds will need to stay well-fed. If you have a bird feeder in your yard, here are some ways to help keep our visiting birds comfortable during the winter months. RELOCATE Keep bird feeders sheltered from the wind by moving them closer to your house. You’ll be able to see the birds better from inside, and the birds will be more comfortable. Just make sure to keep the feeder 5 feet away from

Happy birding!

2

256.534.1475

TAKE A BREAK!

I will never forget one of the first patients I met who wore full dentures. She taught me more than any professor ever could. This patient had been wearing dentures for about 15 years. She needed a new set because the teeth on hers were worn down to nubs, and she was using more Fixodent to hold them in then I have ever seen before. After removing the denture and layers of Fixodent, I saw some of the most painful looking gum tissue I have ever seen. She not only had an oral yeast infection that took about three months to clear, but her gum tissue had also grown over the edges of the denture and needed to be removed surgically before we could make another denture. You see, her husband didn’t know she had dentures, and she never took them out for more than a few minutes! Not Your Grandparents’ Dentures

APPLES PIE

CROPS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY FALL

SCARECROW CHILLY SWEATER

PUMPKIN HARVEST

Paleo Stuffing

Inspired by 40Aprons.com

Thanksgiving isn’t a hard holiday for those who eat paleo. Almost all of the savory staples were paleo before it was cool. Stuffing is a notable exception, but this recipe’s got you covered. INGREDIENTS

Traditional dentures can be a great option to replace missing teeth, but they come with drawbacks and serious adjustment. Fortunately, there are other choices.

Implant supported dentures (ISD) are held in place by implants placed in the jaw. A surgeon places the implants and then the denture is made and secured by a general dentist. ISD are smaller than traditional dentures. These dentures can be permanently fixed in place or attached in a way that lets you remove them each night, but you don’t need to leave them out all night. The advantages of ISD are as follows:

•

2 tbsp ghee or avocado oil

•

1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped

• • •

3 cups onion, diced 2 cups celery, diced 1 cup mushroom, diced 1 cup apple, cored and diced 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped

•

3 tsp poultry seasoning 1/2 tsp salt

• • • •

1/2 tsp black pepper 2 cups almond flour

• Food tastes like it should.

•

3 eggs, beaten

•

• You can eat anything — corn on the cob, chewy steak, apples.

• Your speech is more natural.

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat an oven to 350 F. 2. In a large cast-iron skillet, heat ghee or avocado oil over medium heat. 3. Add onion, celery, mushrooms, apple, cranberries, parsley, seasoning, salt, and pepper to pan. Sauté for 7 minutes. 4. Remove from heat. Stir in almond flour. Once mixed well, stir in eggs. Transfer to oven and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. 5. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

• Your jaw bone structure will be maintained (which keeps your face looking younger).

• You’ll have a more confident, natural smile.

• There is less risk of embarrassment.

Patients with traditional dentures who are not happy can often have dentures converted into an implant supported dentures! There are many commercials advertising these on TV, but many people do not know they are available right here in Huntsville!

3

www.elizabethdulingdmd.com

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

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Inside

Finding Family

Trick Your Picky Eaters

Bird Watch: Winter Edition

Try These New Dentures

Paleo Stuffing

Stay in a Real Castle

CARCASSONNE

The Real Magic Kingdom

Every year, tourists flock to Disney’s “Magic Kingdom” and marvel at Cinderella’s iconic castle. As fun as it is to see this Florida-based attraction, it would be even more magical to step back in time and visit a real medieval citadel. What if you could walk the same ramparts as Roman legionnaires and climb the same towers as French kings? If this idea gives you goosebumps, pack your bags for Carcassonne, France. A four-hour train ride from Paris, towering above the rolling vineyards of southern France, you’ll find one of the most intact, accessible castles in Europe. With sweeping, concentric walls and 53 elegant towers, the Cité de Carcassonne is a breathtaking sight. Once an impenetrable border fortress between the kingdoms of France and Aragon, the gates now stand open to anyone curious enough to walk its cobblestone streets. In fact, you can stay in the ancient city yourself. The five-star Hotel de la Cité Carcassonne occupies a former bishop’s palace and overlooks the inner ramparts of the fortress. With medieval tapestries and gorgeous woodwork in the hotel’s interior, you’ll feel like you’re living among French royalty. Of course, if you’d prefer lodging with the commoners, plenty of quaint bed-and-breakfasts exist just across the Aude river.

With rustic cafes, fresh crepes, and bustling crowds making their way down the twisting cobblestone streets, the surface-level experience of Carcassonne would be enticing to anyone wanting to explore the French countryside. But for those who want to delve into the history of this storied castle, grand narratives await you. Just walking the walls of Carcassonne paints a picture of the past. While the outer fortifications were built by Louis IX and Phillip III, a section of the inner wall is far older. The red brick used in this part of the construction dates back to before the existence of France itself. Roman troops first fortified the hillside town around 100 BCE, giving every stone of this site a story to tell.

If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing medieval life for yourself, your adventure awaits in Carcassonne.

4

256.534.1475