Lake Oconee Dentistry June 2018

The MONTHLY Smile

706-453-1333 www.LakeOconeeDental.com

JUNE 2018

CLEARING THE FENCES OF PERCEPTION

Lessons Learned From Baseball Legends and My Dad

Although I didn’t know it at the time, my childhood experience was far from ordinary. Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, I often found myself face-to-face with famous or up-and-coming baseball players as a result of my dad’s job with Louisville Slugger. It didn’t happen every day, but I’d occasionally come home to find Pee Wee Reese sitting on my couch chatting with my dad. Or I’d spend the weekend at a clubhouse running around with Ken Griffey Jr. Looking back, I now recognize my experiences interacting with famous baseball players influenced how I’ve viewed and treated people my entire life. My dad’s job was to call on professional baseball teams, sign players to contracts, and deliver bats. Throughout his career working in pro baseball, he was given the opportunity to present the Silver Slugger Award. My dad was travel partners and friends with Pee Wee Reese, who is best remembered as the captain of the Brooklyn Dodgers when Jackie Robinson joined the

Although our experience with

Joe DiMaggio was positive, I can’t say the same about every player I met. Each year, my dad brought my mom, my sister, and me along to the Hall of Fame ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, and we were able to observe the way the baseball players interacted with the people around them. Some players were polite; they would say

Rex and David Bradley

league. Their friendship lasted for over 30 years; he was an important part of my dad’s life and an influence on mine. Once, when Patti and I were in dental school, we had the opportunity to meet Joe DiMaggio. Patti and I could not wait to meet Mr. Coffee and the

"It doesn't matter if I’m treating a CEO or somebody who needs free dental work; everyone deserves the same amount of respect and the same quality of care."

thank you to people who opened the door for them or showered them with praise. Others acted like the fans and staff didn’t exist — or at least weren’t worthy of their acknowledgment. As a kid, I internalized what I saw at those ceremonies. Some athletes, even with their fame, status, and wealth, acted like respectful, normal people. Their celebrity didn’t change who they were. However, some guys let fame negatively change them, and it was reflected in the way they treated those who were of “lower” status. Growing up, I was given a gift. Sure, I met a lot of fascinating people because of my dad’s work. But I also learned a fundamental lesson at a young age: Underneath it all, we are all human. As a

man who married Marilyn Monroe. We met up with my dad at a big warehouse where Joe was signing bats. Joe stepped away from signing to talk to Patti and me for a few minutes. He was a massive star, but he spoke to us like he was just a regular guy catching up with a couple of friends.

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3 Awesome Dads

FATHERS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR THEIR KIDS

This Father’s Day, thousands of dads will receive a “No. 1 Dad” mug to sip coffee out of at the office. But the following dads took that “No. 1” to a new level.

didn’t work, he leapt onto its back and started punching it in the face. When the bear finally released Gabriel, Greg threw rocks until it fled. His son was hurt but made a full recovery in the hospital over the coming weeks.

BRIAN MUNN GAVE HIS SON A LIVER TRANSPLANT.

ARTUR MAGOMEDOV SAVED HIS DAUGHTERS FROM ISIS.

When doctors discovered that baby Caleb Munn had a rare disease called biliary atresia, they told his parents that he was unlikely to survive past age 2 without a liver transplant. Luckily, his father was a perfect match, and he eagerly donated part of his liver in March of 2015 to save his son’s life.

Artur Magomedov was devastated to discover that his wife had taken his 3- and 10-year-old daughters from their home in Dagestan under the cover of night, flown to Turkey, and crossed into Syria to join ISIS. But he resolved to get his kids back. After a long, hazardous journey, he arrived in Tabqa to embrace his two daughters. To leave the caliphate — under penalty of death — they hitched a ride to the border one night and crawled along a railway line until they were within 70 meters of the border. Then they ran under fire from Turkish border guards until they could scramble into tall grasses. After some help from the Russian consulate in Istanbul, they made it back home, together again and safe.

GREG ALEXANDER BATTLED A BEAR FOR HIS SON’S LIFE.

While camping in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Greg Alexander was startled awake at dawn by the screams of his 16-year-old son, Gabriel. He rushed out of his hammock to see a black bear dragging his son away by the head. Without hesitation, he kicked the beast in the side, and when that

LAY SOME SHADE ONME The Best Vegetables to Plant in Shady Spots

KALE. Typically, kale does well in partial shade. When kale is grown in full shade, the leaves tend to be slightly smaller, but this can be offset by growing additional plants. (Hours of sun per day: 3–4) PEAS. Like kale, when grown in shade, peas and beans won’t grow quite as full, and plants may take longer to mature, but with proper planning, you’ll still reap a plentiful harvest. Bush and dwarf varieties are recommended over their pole counterparts. (Hours of sun per day: 4–5) POTATOES. Root vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, and beets, will grow in partial shade, but they may take a few more weeks to mature, and they may produce fewer vegetables. However, as most gardeners agree, the results are still worth the effort. (Hours of sun per day: 4–5) SPINACH. Like most leafy greens, spinach does very well in shade, particularly baby spinach. The plant will continue to produce leaves for an extended period of time if you regularly harvest the outer leaves. (Hours of sun per day: 3–4)

There’s nothing quite like growing your own vegetables, but if your home doesn’t get the best sunlight, what can you do? It’s a problem many gardeners face. Even if you live in a sunny area, you may have a shady corner of the garden or side of the house going to waste. Fortunately, there are plenty of plants that do well in partial and full shade. As a general rule, leafy greens do better in shade and milder temperatures than other vegetables. Flowering plants and vines, such as cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes, need more hours of sunlight per day in order to thrive — about six hours or more. HERBS. While many herbs, such as basil, are better suited for sunnier conditions, there are a few that will do great in shade. These include chives, cilantro, golden marjoram, mint, oregano, and parsley. (Hours of sun per day: three)

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Improve Cognitive Function in Minutes

HOW MEDITATION HELPS YOU MAINTAIN BRAIN HEALTH

THE HIPPOCAMPUS

Meditation has often been touted by New Age gurus as a way to find inner peace and stillness. But what if meditating could reduce the effects of aging on your brain? According to research, taking a few minutes out of your day to meditate may improve cognitive function. As meditation’s popularity has spread, so have studies of the practice. The results of 100 studies examining the cognitive effects of meditation all show evidence of improvements in psychological and cognitive functions. Some of the results are intuitive, such as how meditation helps us deal with stress. But other results are incontrovertible, such as scans showing that meditation causes structural changes in the brain. For people facing age-related changes like memory loss, the results of these tests are especially relevant. The studies point to evidence that meditation can strengthen certain areas of the brain — the prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and the amygdala — that weaken as we age.

Your hippocampus helps you process and form new memories, and it’s very sensitive to stress. In fact, research shows that your hippocampus will shrink in response to stressful situations and chronic stress. The remedy? Meditation. Dr. Lazar’s study showed a positive correlation between meditation and a higher concentration of gray matter in the left hippocampus.

THE AMYGDALA

Often called the fear center of the brain, the amygdala is triggered by stressful situations. But unlike the hippocampus, which shrinks in response to stress, the amygdala has been shown to become denser. In one study, people who attended mindfulness meditation classes showed a smaller stress response in brain scans compared to those who did not attend the classes. Meditation may help to decrease the density of the amygdala and therefore increase your ability to handle stress. Of course, in addition to these benefits, there’s a good chance that five minutes of meditation each day will simply make you feel better. People who meditate report an increase in overall well-being. Why not give it a try?

THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX

Your prefrontal cortex thins with age, which is associated with decreased cognitive function in your later years. However, meditation may reduce this age-related thinning. Dr. Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist specializing in the effects of yoga and meditation on cognitive and behavioral function, reports that long-time meditators don’t show a decline in the thickness of the prefrontal cortex.

COVER CONTINUED

Add a nutritional punch and plenty of flavor to this classic American dish by swapping out white bread and processed cheese for something a little more creative. Spicy Chimichurri GRILLED CHEESE

result, I have always tried to treat everyone with respect. It doesn't matter if I’m treating a CEO or somebody who needs free dental work; everyone deserves the same consideration and the same quality of care. As a dad, this is one lesson I want my children to learn before they leave the house in the next few years, and it’s one I’ve been consciously modeling since they were young. Now that they are both in high school and have gained some maturity, it’s evident to me they’ve caught on. The best part of being a father is seeing my kids grow up, listen to what I’ve taught them, and apply it to their own lives. I am so proud of the people they are becoming. I can’t wait to see what they do in the future.

Ingredients For chimichurri: • 2 jalapeños

For sandwiches: • 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 4 green onions • 1/2 cup cilantro • 1 clove garlic • 2 tablespoons olive oil • Juice of 1 lime • 2 teaspoons honey

• 1 ripe avocado, cut into slices • 2–4 ounces fresh mozzarella • 4 slices whole-wheat bread

Instructions 1. Pulse chimichurri ingredients in a food processor or blender until combined but not pureed. Add extra olive oil as needed. 2. Heat grill or skillet to medium-low. Brush outsides of bread with olive oil. Smear 1 tablespoon chimichurri on each slice of bread. Place a layer of avocado and cheese between slices. 3. Cook gently until bread is crisp and cheese is melted. 4. Slice and serve.

I hope you have a great Father’s Day. We look forward to seeing you soon.

–Dr. David

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1011 Parkside Main | Greensboro, GA 30642 If you have any questions, call us at 706-453-1333 www.LakeOconeeDental.com

We’re located at 1011 Parkside Main between the Publix parking lot and the movie theater.

How Meditation Can Help the Aging Brain page 3 Spicy Chimichurri Grilled Cheese page 3 A Natural Sweetener With Real Health Benefits page 4 Inside

An Incredible Role Model page 1 3 Fathers Who Risked It All for Their Kids page 2 Too Much Shade?

Plant These Vegetables! page 2

HONE IN ON HONEY Nature’s Wonder Sweetener

Honey is a wonderful all-natural sweetener. Despite being sweet, it comes with actual health benefits — something you can’t say about other types of sugar.

manuka honey to a wound and let it do the rest. One of the best types of honey you can buy is raw, unfiltered, local honey . While it isn’t known to decrease the healing time of wounds, it can reduce symptoms related to allergies. Raw honey contains trace amounts of pollen, as well as other allergens from grasses and weeds. Local honey contains many of the pollens and allergens you would normally breathe in on an average day. The pollens in local honey are just enough to kick your immune system into gear. As a form of immunotherapy, raw, local honey helps your body become acclimated to those allergens. But these three points — raw, unfiltered, and local — are crucial. When honey is processed and filtered, it loses practically all of its allergy-fighting power and becomes an ordinary sweetener. Most experts advise finding honey that was produced as close to your home as possible, preferably within 20 miles. The closer, the better. Keep in mind that it can take several weeks before you feel results. Of course, you won’t find a more delicious way to combat allergies.

But some honeys are better than others, so it’s important to buy the right kind.

Raw honey may help your body heal itself more effectively. One study in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine pointed to raw manuka honey as an effective way to speed up the time it takes wounds to heal while also reducing risk of infection. Simply apply

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