Livingston Dental - November 2020

Livingston Dental - November 2020

800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com

November 2020

Life With Livingston Dental

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Meet Our New Owner and Dentist, Dr. Corey Christensen! Dr. Livingston’s Farewell, and Dr. Christensen’s Introduction

help me on my path to dentistry. I just had never met a better person in my life. I graduated again. This time from Ricks College. Then I graduated from Brigham Young University. Then I graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry. I half expected to enter another school with an even longer name, but since one did not manifest itself, I took my new knowledge and my shiny diploma back to Idaho and became a dentist. I was never satisfied that my schooling had ended and missed learning quite a bit. I found out that continuing education was not the next best thing, it was the best thing. I was addicted. I took all the courses I could on cosmetic dentistry and full mouth rehabilitation. I took implant courses, bone grafting courses, sinus lifts, wisdom teeth, and TMJ. And when I got done, I took them again. I loved the way I felt like a woodworker or an artist, carefully bringing my patient’s vision for their health into existence. I loved knowing that I knew how to help someone who had felt helpless. I had become a dentist, and all I had to do was read the dot matrix printout from a TRS-80 computer program in a high school economics class. Which brings me to Star Valley. Actually, it brings me, my wife, and my six children to Star Valley. We are overwhelmed with joy to be back in the mountains after a brief eight- year stint in Texas. We have finally come home and are ready for a Wyoming winter. Does it snow here?

law with his potato farm and prove I can drive the heavy equipment trucks! Thank you so much for all your support over the years, and I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving this year.

Hello again, friends. It’s with great bittersweet feelings that I announce to you all that I’m retiring from dentistry after 31 years of practicing. When patients started asking me whether I was going to retire about five years ago, I started to think: Wait, should I start thinking about that? But I’ve always believed that retirement isn’t about retiring FROM something. It’s about retiring TO something else. After much deliberation, I’ve decided to retire from the practice (although I may occasionally work at a limited capacity), and move on to my greatest ambition yet: spending more time with my wife and family. Although I’m completely confident in my decision now, there were many mixed emotions leading up to this moment. Before I could even think about retirement, I needed to consider many things for my patients, my team, and the new dentist taking over. I wanted the transition to be as smooth and seamless as possible and not affect our patients or our team to any degree. I believe I’ve found just that. At the end of September, I sold my practice to a fantastic dentist, Dr. Corey Christensen, who has my utmost trust and respect as a fellow dental professional and as a person in the time we’ve gotten to know each other. I’d like to extend a special thank you to the community in the Star Valley for accepting my family 31 years ago, and helping us raise our children in such a great environment. We couldn’t have picked a better place for our kids to grow up. We’ve developed great friendships and associations over the past few decades, and, while I made this decision with mixed emotions, I can’t wait to help my son-in-

I was a junior at Rigby High School in Idaho. I was just told to write a report on a career path I was interested in, and in case I was a typical high school junior with no real clue, they had a computer program that would tell me what I would be good at. All I had to do was answer a few questions, and out would come my life options. From a list of dream jobs like forest service, fireman, zookeeper, and coach, one career stood out from all the rest — and not because I recognized my life calling. Not even because I knew someone who had this job. It stood out because I thought, “Dentist?! I thought that was what you got if you didn’t make it to medical school.” I laughed about it with my friends and asked them if they dared me to choose that one. It would be pretty funny, after all. So I did. In the scant research I did for that paper, I discovered that dentists loved their jobs. They loved working with their hands, solving problems, and helping people. That actually sounded like me. So, I graduated from Rigby High School, put away my ballroom dance shoes and wrestling singlet, and got serious about this dentist thing. I went to Ventura County, California, for a couple years to learn to be a grown-up and think about other people. I came home and married Kristie, a dentist’s daughter. I never once thought that it would

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Why Is Spinach So Good for You? If the reason you know spinach is good for you is because either your mother told you, or you saw Popeye the Sailor down a can before a fight and gain superhuman strength, you might not understand exactly why it’s so good for you. Rest assured, your mom wasn’t lying (although Popeye might have been stretching the truth). Spinach is actually one of the most nutritious and versatile foods you can add to your diet. Here’s why.

VERSATILE IN MEAL PREPARATION Aside from the more scientific reasons that make spinach a superfood, you can prepare and consume spinach in so many creative ways. You can eat it raw as a part of a salad, throw a few leaves in a smoothie, cook it in stir fry, or bake it into some brownies. If you have a bag of spinach in your fridge, there’s no shortage of ways you can get some of those amazing health benefits. Just don’t expect to suddenly vanquish all your foes like Popeye did.

Every 3–4 months, we throw out our old toothbrush and replace it with a new one. This practice keeps our teeth healthy and strong. However, even when you stop brushing with your old toothbrush, it doesn’t mean that it is no longer useful. After sanitizing an old toothbrush, try using it in these ways! HOUSEHOLD HACKS One of the best things your toothbrush can be used for is cleaning. The long handle and bristles make it perfect for cleaning hard-to- reach places where a cleaning cloth just won’t cut it. • Keyboard: A computer keyboard can catch dust particles, pet hair, crumbs, and other debris between the keys. While using a can of compressed air might clean some of it, going over the keys with an old toothbrush can help remove those particles for good. • Jewelry: Overtime, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings can become dirty, and what better tool to clean them with than a toothbrush? The bristles allow you to get into those tiny, delicate nooks. • Keurig: Don’t dread cleaning your Keurig anymore! A toothbrush lets you reach the places a rag can’t go and scrubs away the hard stains. INCREDIBLE NUTRIENT-PER-CALORIE COUNT Three cups of spinach contain about 20 calories. However, those 3 cups also contain almost no fat, 2 grams of protein, 3 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fiber. On top of that, you get more than 300% of your daily dose of vitamin K, which supports bone growth; 160% of your daily dose of vitamin A; and around 25%–40% of your daily dose of vitamin C, both of which help the immune system function properly. POTENT PROTECTION AGAINST DISEASE The abundant antioxidants in spinach mitigate a staggering number of health problems. For starters, spinach has kaempferol, an antioxidant that can protect the body against cancer. Additionally, the antioxidant quercetin, also found in spinach, has been shown to have positive effects on brain health, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes. Other components of spinach can also improve blood pressure and protect eye health.

A Toothbrush Is a Useful Tool Who Knew?

BEAUTY HACKS An old toothbrush can be used to help you achieve your perfect look. Just remember to disinfect it thoroughly first before using it on your face! • Mascara : One of the biggest issues when putting on mascara is clumping your lashes together. By using a toothbrush to carefully brush out your lashes after you’ve applied mascara, you can remove any unwelcome chunks. • Eyebrows : When you’ve just woken up or finished washing your face, you might realize that half of your eyebrow is pointing in the wrong direction. Instead of using your fingers, simply pick up an old toothbrush and brush them out! No more need for an extra eyebrow comb. • Hair : When you want to give your hair a little extra texture, a toothbrush is the tool for you. Instead of having flat braids, give them some volume with a few quick brushes. You can also use a toothbrush and some hairspray to tame those pesky flyaway hairs!

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Don’t leaf your benefits behind

Y our dental benefits expire at the end of the year! Now is the time to schedule an appointment, because once your benefits are gone, they’re gone for good. Remember all the money you paid to your insurance premiums this year? Failing to use your dental benefits means all that money goes to waste. You paid for it, now use it! Call us at 307-885-4337 to schedule your appointment today! This time of year, appointments fill up fast. Reserve your spot before it’s too late. The longer you wait, the more you’ll risk having to spend time away from the things you love most this holiday season. You can even call us after hours. Leave a message, and we’ll take care of you. Take advantage of your dental benefits today. If you don’t use ‘em, you lose ‘em!

800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com Livingston Dental

Livingston Dental

By scheduling today, you will be ready for every holiday feast and virtual company party that comes your way. If that’s not enough incentive, here are a few of our top reasons to smile: • It’s finally sweater weather! • At least there’s no zombies ... yet • All your favorite holiday flavors at your local coffee shop • Fluffy, wiggly, silly little puppies — need I say more? • Your dental benefits haven’t expired yet — but they will soon, and our appointments are filling up fast. Call 307-885-4337 today! Don’t forget your benefits expire on December 31st. It will be here before you know it!

Can Flossing and Brushing Your Teeth Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease? Raising Awareness With the Mouth-Body Connection

of Bergen shows that maintaining oral hygiene with flossing and brushing can slow or reduce your risk of the disease. Researcher Piotr Mydel says there’s “DNA-based proof” that the bacteria causing gingivitis can move from the mouth to the brain. While this bacteria isn’t the sole risk or cause of Alzheimer’s, its presence substantially raises the risk of the disease and how quickly it progresses. Thankfully, the same researchers believe that with their new information, there might be potential medications to help slow Alzheimer’s for patients. “We have managed to develop a drug that blocks the harmful enzymes from the bacteria, postponing the development of Alzheimer´s. We are planning to test this drug later this year,” says Mydel. The results of that testing haven’t been published yet but sounds promising to us. Best of luck to your research, University of Bergen! You can find many more studies on the mouth-body connection online, and you might be shocked at what you find. Let’s keep our mouths happy and healthy — not just for today, but for every day afterward, too.

November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, and at Livingston Dental, we thought we’d do our part by explaining the mouth-body connection and why your gum health is so important to your brain health.

THE MOUTH-BODY CONNECTION In recent decades, the field of dentistry has uncovered a lot more about the unique connection between our mouths and our overall health than you might think. It’s common to say, “You are what you eat,” but you could almost say the same applies to your oral hygiene (maybe “You’re as healthy as your teeth”).

It works a little like this. When there’s bacteria in your mouth and you develop gum disease (gingivitis), the infectious bacteria doesn’t stay isolated in your mouth. It circulates through your whole body, including your brain. This can have major consequences on your long-term health. HOW GINGIVITIS AFFECTS ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE When certain groups of bacteria that cause gingivitis hit your brain, other complications can arise. One 2019 study by the University

Puzzle Time!

Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes Ingredients These candied sweet potatoes will make your family beg for more!

Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

• 1 tbsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp ground cloves • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed • 4 (2-inch) cinnamon sticks

• 4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish. 3. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes.

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4. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes. 5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. 7. Discard cinnamon sticks and serve.

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on being named Top Dentist of Wyoming 2017-2020!

800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com

Inside Meet Our New Owner and Dentist, Dr. Corey Christensen!

What Makes Spinach a Superfood? Don’t Throw That Old Toothbrush Out!

Can Flossing/Brushing Help Prevent Alzheimer’s? Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes

What’s in a Presidential Smile?

Remember when we’d learn presidential facts in school during Election Day? We do! Luckily, it’s fascinating to look at the mouths of famous figures throughout history — including the U.S. presidents. This month, we thought we’d take a deeper look at a few. GEORGE WASHINGTON is famous for his wooden teeth, but, according to historians at Mount Vernon, they were actually produced from bone, hippopotamus ivory, human teeth, brass screws, lead, and gold metal wire. Nevertheless, President Washington only had one tooth in his mouth remaining when he took office in 1789. There are more dental fun facts about presidents than you might think. JOHN ADAMS refused to wear dentures when he lost his teeth in old age, so he developed a lisp. ULYSSES S. GRANT is rumored to have carried a toothbrush to battle! However, even routine dental visits can affect a president’s image. You might have gone to the dentist for unexpected emergencies, but, if you were a U.S. president in the mid-20th century — not unlike DWIGHT EISENHOWER , eating chicken one night in 1954 — your Which U.S. President Didn’t Floss, and Who Took Amazing Care of Their Smile? What’s in a Presidential Smile?

unexpected dentist trip might stir in a tabloid bonanza. He lost his crown after a bite and, after a brief disappearance for a quiet dentist trip, there were false news reports that he had died from a heart attack, or had been meeting secretly with aliens from outer space. A few professional dentists from Tufts University investigated pictures of former presidents to reveal some other insights into their dental hygiene. THEODORE ROOSEVELT was a huge bruxer, and, from pictures alone, grinded his teeth quite severely. But his teeth were certainly intact and not dentures! Lastly, bone loss in certain gaps of his teeth reveal that it’s likely that he didn’t floss. Meanwhile, J OHN KENNEDY had an unusually beautiful smile, even compared to people in his family and popular dental treatments at the time.

At Livingston Dental, we thought this was super fun to learn about. We hope you enjoyed a little non-political presidential content!

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