H Charles Jelinek Jr DDS - July 2021

H Charles Jelinek Jr DDS - July 2021

July 2021

JEL INEK JOURNAL

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THE LIFE OF AN ARMY BRAT

By the time I graduated high school, I had lived in 10 different cities or states — and I was extremely proud of it.

Once Dad returned from Vietnam, our family moved to Northern Virginia while my dad served at the Pentagon. Then, we soon moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where I experienced what life was like for non-brat kids!

That’s because I grew up as an Army brat. Now, that’s not a derogatory term. My dad was in the U.S. Army, and as is customary, my siblings and I were called “Army brats.” Anyone who has a parent in the military is called a brat, too. I was born on June 26 on Fort Bragg in North Carolina. My mom told me that it was so hot that day, her doctor gave her his personal fan to make up for the lack of air conditioning at the base hospital! From there, the family moved to Fort Sill in Oklahoma. This would actually be the first of two stays in my life at Fort Sill, but I was still too young to remember this first time around. After Oklahoma, we then moved to Fort Campbell in Kentucky. Afterward, my dad moved us to Tucson while he earned his master’s degree at Arizona State University, and then we moved to Fort Bliss in Texas. This is where we would stay stationed while my dad was deployed on his first stint in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Our family actually stayed in El Paso, which is just next to the base.

To this day, Carlisle is one of my favorite places from my childhood. We spent my freshman through junior year of high school in Carlisle. I got my first jobs, I hung out with my friends, and I did all the normal teen things any kid would do! It was great to experience that.

Finally, we moved to Fort Riley in Kansas just before my senior year of high school. It was a little disappointing to leave, but I was used to it. Kids adapt very well. This is what my family did in service to our country, and I was proud of my dad for serving in the Army. When people often hear about my life and all the times we moved, they question what it was like to move so much — but I never knew any different. I often wonder what it would be like to stay in one spot! After high school, I followed in my dad’s footsteps. I attended the U.S. Military Preparatory School in Virginia. (Fun fact: I was fortunate enough to play on the basketball team, where I was coached by the winningest coach in college basketball history, Coach Mike Krzyzewski, or Coach K, as he’s known.) Afterward, I attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and followed up with five years of military service — where I was stationed at Fort Sill. Eventually, I found my way back to Virginia, and despite all the moving I did as a kid, I couldn’t imagine leaving this place. I’ve been here since 1988, and I have no plans of moving. Still, I had a happy childhood. I’m very proud of my family’s service, and if I had to relive my childhood as an Army brat all over again, I would gladly go back — starting on that hot June day on Fort Bragg.

After Texas, we moved to Newport, Rhode Island, and to this day, I still kick myself for not appreciating how beautiful Newport was while I was there! As for my dad, he was serving as one of the few Army officers teaching at the U.S. Naval War College. Leaving Rhode Island, our family found its way back to Fort Bragg. We stayed there while Dad completed his second tour in Vietnam. It was at this base that I experienced one of the most surreal moments of my life: I can remember standing in my yard as former President Lyndon B. Johnson’s motorcade drove by my family’s house on base.

Happy Independence Day, and thank you to those who have served (and thank you to their Army brats, as well)!

–Chuck

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Why Your Mouth Needs Balance The Good, the Bad, and the Bacteria

ARE THE CARTOONS YOUR KIDS WATCH ACTUALLY MADE FOR KIDS?

During the COVID-19 era, our health and well-being was at the forefront of our minds, and as we grapple with how to live with this disease moving forward, bacteria has become an enemy.

With the many streaming platforms out there, kids have access

But we want to make an argument for the good bacteria. That’s right — there is good bacteria, and your mouth and body rely on it.

to a more diverse array of content than ever before. That being said, parents need to be extra vigilant about which shows and videos are captivating

Bacteria are living organisms that reside on nearly everything we eat or touch. They live in our mouths and in our bodies, and while some bacteria can cause diseases, including gum disease and tooth decay, other forms of bacteria are actively working to improve the well-being of your mouth. Like nature, your mouth needs balance. Too much of either form of bacteria can be harmful, but without good bacteria, your body would struggle with a few basic functions.

their children’s attention, particularly when it comes to cartoons.

Cartoons on their own aren’t bad for kids. In fact, enjoying them in moderation can have myriad benefits for a child’s development. They

Reducing Stinky Breath

can bring laughter and relieve stress, engage a child’s imagination, help them develop their language skills, and teach them about topics ranging from mathematics to social skills. The best cartoons can be bright, colorful, funny stories that help children learn and grow. That said, though, not all cartoons are for kids, nor do they teach good lessons. Many cartoon characters encourage violence and speaking rudely to teachers and other authority figures. Additionally, with adult animation becoming more popular in recent years, many of the cartoons available on TV, streaming services, and YouTube are explicitly not for children.

Bad breath comes from a few different sources, including leftover food, medication, and diseases, and the smellier your breath, the more likely it is that bad bacteria is lingering in your mouth, eating away at your teeth. However, good bacteria can cover up the stink and effectively neutralize the smell until you can freshen up!

Triggering Better Digestion

Some of the best bacteria in your mouth actually pull double duty. They may actually activate reactions that begin the digestion process in your mouth! This can make food easier to process.

So, how can parents make sure the cartoons their kids are watching are safe, wholesome, and educational?

Improving Oral Health

In recent years, as YouTube has continued to amass countless hours of video content — much of it geared toward children — they’ve developed YouTube Kids, their streaming site for children under the age of 13. This site isn’t airtight, however, and disturbing content can sometimes slip through the cracks. Parents might also find value in sticking to certain channels or streaming services, such as PBS Kids, Nick Jr., or Disney+. There are also organizations like the Parents and Television Media Council, whose website, ParentsTV.org, can help parents determine which cartoons are okay for their kids to watch. Ultimately, the best way to ensure cartoons are safe is to watch with your kids. After all, this turns a solitary activity into one where parents can learn, laugh, and bond with their children.

Perhaps the biggest perk of good bacteria is that it is a major player in reducing instances of disease in the mouth. Colgate reports that a study in the European Journal of Dentistry found that good bacteria stimulates the production of saliva, which is considered “nature’s toothbrush.” Saliva washes away the bad bacteria that’s looking to gnaw on your teeth!

Help Your Good Bacteria

The easiest way to ensure your mouth is properly balanced and the good bacteria inside it can do its job is to continue with regular oral hygiene habits. This will clean the mouth of bad bacteria, which can overwhelm the good when habits are ignored. Floss at least once each day, brush your teeth twice each day, and see your dentist for regular cleanings. You can schedule your appointment online at NorthernVirginiaDental.com!

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A Safe Pain Reliever

Dr. Jelinek’s Trick for Overcoming Oral Health Pain

Opioid misuse and addiction is a public health crisis nearly 30 years in the making. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioid manufacturers began pushing doctors and other medical professionals to prescribe these pain relievers more frequently in the 1990s, citing that the drugs were safe to use. As they did so, these highly addictive compounds became more readily available, and overdoses skyrocketed. The institute reports that in 2019, 50,000 people died from an opioid-related overdose and about 1.7 million people were addicted to pain relieving medication in 2017. It’s no wonder why people want to avoid prescription drug and opioid use — no matter how much pain they are experiencing. Dr. Jelinek has found a safe alternative to relieving oral-related pain, and it doesn’t require a prescription. Instead, he often advises patients suffering from mouth pain to take one Aleve pill and two extra strength Tylenol pills at the same time. (The Tylenol must be extra strength.) This is a powerful combination that can treat pain without the addictive side effects.

oral surgery, such as wisdom teeth extraction, or those struggling with an abscess or infected tooth.

Furthermore, this treatment is often a temporary solution to tide a patient over until proper treatment can be done. When you rely on pain relief medication, you risk worsening your condition, as the pain relief doesn’t cure the problem. A dental professional can root out the cause of your pain and prescribe effective treatment to return your mouth to a natural, healthy state. As always, consult with a trusted medical professional before taking any medication, and do not operate machinery, make important decisions, or do household chores after taking this combination of medication. If you’re experiencing regular pain or discomfort in your mouth, please visit NorthernVirginiaDental.com today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jelinek. You don’t have to live with this pain! If you or someone you know is struggling with drug abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s hotline at 1-800-662-4357.

Use caution when taking this medication, and only use this method sparingly. This is an alternative to prescription medication for patients recovering from

The Best Texas-Style Smoked Brisket

Sudoku

INGREDIENTS

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1/4 cup garlic powder 1/4 cup onion powder

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Wood chips

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1/4 cup paprika

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1/4 cup white sugar

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1/4 cup ground cumin

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1/4 cup salt

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1/4 cup cayenne pepper

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1/4 cup pepper

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1/4 cup brown sugar

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10 lbs brisket

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1/4 cup chili powder

DIRECTIONS

4. Preheat smoker to 230 F. Drain wood chips and place them in the smoker. 5. Smoke brisket until it has an internal temperature of 165 F. 6. Remove brisket and wrap it in aluminum foil. 7. Smoke brisket further until it reaches an internal temperature of 185 F.

1. In a bowl, soak wood chips in water overnight. 2. In a large bowl, mix paprika, white sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 3. Rub spice mixture on the brisket and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Solution on Pg. 4

Inspired by AllRecipes.com

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INSIDE

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Dr. Jelinek’s Life as an Army Brat

Are Your Children’s Favorite Cartoons Actually for Kids? Your Mouth Actually Likes Bacteria!

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Dr. Jelinek Shares His Secret for Safe Pain Relief ! The Best Texas-Style Smoked Brisket

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The Paddleboard Craze Is Here to Stay

What’s SUP?

THE STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD CRAZE THAT NEVER WENT AWAY

Outdoor and exercise crazes come and go almost as fast as hairstyles and popular app games do. But every once in a while, a trend comes along that remains popular — think karate, which spiked in the ‘60s and again in the ‘80s, and it can still be found in almost every American city to this day. Back in 2013, one such trend arose: the stand-up paddleboard, or SUP for short. The act of standing on a floating piece of wood in a surfboard shape and paddling (or poling) yourself along likely goes back thousands of years, but the SUP craze can be traced back to one man — and he’s not even in his 60s yet! That man is famous surfer Laird Hamilton, a household name in a sport that doesn’t

life preserver, and of course, a place to go! It’s a new way to see the water, which only boosted its popularity. Even veteran water sports enthusiasts weren’t used to standing on the water instead of sitting in a boat! But according to the industry’s own numbers, that popularity never died down. As it turns out, SUP is a good way to get around, and a lot of folks need that. Many cities, such as San Antonio, feature “paddling trails” that let SUP practitioners see the city in a new way or even commute via their board. How cool is that? If you’re looking for a new hobby this summer, it’s easy to rent a stand-up paddleboard and learn the basics. Take a class, head out into the water, and give it a shot. Who knows, you might be one of the thousands of Americans to discover a lifelong passion!

usually generate them. And Laird, along with the Waikiki Beachboys, showed the world a new way to hit the water in the first decade of the 21st century.

Unlike other crazes, the gear was simple and the activity beginner-friendly. To start, you only need a paddle, a board, a

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