Pitner Orthodontics May 2019

Pitner Orthodontics May 2019

THE STRAIGHT UP

May 2019

Back to the Great Outdoors The Healing Properties of Nature

What do wemiss out on when we ignore nature?

Another place that’s great to visit in the fall is Santa Fe, NewMexico. Everyone should go to Santa Fe in the fall at least once.The foothills are covered in trees.They’remostly evergreens, but there are some aspens weaving their way through the hills. In the fall, aspen leaves turn yellow, and when you're in Santa Fe, it looks like someone has splashed bright yellow paint in themiddle of the green foothills. It’s absolutely stunning. Speaking of plants that blow your mind, one of themost amazing experiences I ever had in nature was on a hike inAlaska. Kirk and I were taking a cruise, and we got to an area where we could go hiking in the forest, but the trail was only accessible by helicopter.The area is so remote there’s hardly any people around. After we started our hike, we quickly found ourselves in a damp forest rich with foliage. I swear, it was like a rainforest!The plant life was wild, and I felt like Dorothy leaving her black- and-white farmhouse and stepping into the TechnicolorOz for the first time.The leaves and moss were all these crazy colors, so it looked like some sort of Muppet alien planet.The air was so fresh, and the colors all around us were breathtaking. I never would have imagined there was anything like this in our world. These are all exceptional experiences, but you don’t have to hike to themiddle of a rainforest to enjoy the benefits of nature.You can have these kinds of extraordinary experiences

Mankind has worked really hard tomake the indoors the “best” place to be. In doing so, we made it easy tomiss out on the health benefits of being outside. Research published in the Psychological Science journal found that being surrounded by nature is restorative. Even just looking at nature gives us moremental energy. Researchers in Scandinavia also noted that spending time in the forest lowers cortisol levels and acts as a formof stress relief, and a 2008 study found that “nature therapy” helps sharpen our thinking and boosts creativity. In addition to being great for your health, spending time in nature is also an opportunity tomake some really special memories. For example, I love going to the beach— just not in the summertime, which is the height of tourist season. My favorite time to go is in the fall or winter.There are no crowds or people, and I can just walk along the sand and enjoy the sound of the ocean.These are themoments when I feel most at ease.

in ordinary places if you remember to pay attention.

My favorite outdoor activity is walking Buster. He encourages me to go outsidemore and explore the nature in our urban environment. We visit parks and walk along theCongaree River. Buster loves to see and sniff everything, and he constantly reminds me to appreciate the scenery.When I pay attention, I can smell the seasons changing in the air or spot tiny red buds starting to bloomon the branches overhead. Moments like that can be as amazing as exploring a rainforest inAlaska. We should all spendmore time outside. Kids get a lot of flak for staring at their phone screens all day, but I knowmany adults who are just as guilty. SouthCarolina offers somany places to explore. I mean, we’re only two hours away from theAppalachianTrail, for goodness’s sake! What do you say? Let’s spend the summer playing outside! –Dr. Leslie Pitner

“I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THERE WAS ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN OUR WORLD.”

1

Smile big. Smile often. • 803-781-5225

Prom Safety

4 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE

Seeing gorgeous dresses, fancy suits, corsages, and boutonnières

and communicate with you what time the dance starts, what time it ends, if they’re going anywhere after, and when they’ll be coming home. Phones Make sure your teen’s phone is completely charged in case they need to reach out to you sometime during the night. Encourage your teen to check in once every few hours, and establish an emergency code to use if they find themselves in trouble. Driving You and your teen should also have a plan about themodes of transportation, who’s driving, and howmany people your teen is going with.Trusting the driver is important. If you’re hesitant about letting your child be driven to prom, find another way. If your teen is driving the family car, confirm that they

will be the only person driving the vehicle. Dress Safety Make sure your teen is dressed

pop up in advertisements can only mean one thing: Prom season

comfortably and appropriately to ensure they have a fun night without any accidents. Encourage them to wear comfortable shoes that they can walk and dance in without pain. High heels are fashionable, but they shouldn’t wear heels so high that theymay fall and hurt themselves.Whatever your teen decides to wear should be comfortable and hemmed to the appropriate length based on their height.

is here!This time of year, teens are busy choosing the perfect dress or suit to wear, finding a date, making dinner reservations, and preparing for an evening of fun and dance. During this exciting time, give your teens a little encouragement and guidance to ensure they have a safe andmemorable evening. Create a Plan

By keeping these safetymeasures in mind, your teen will have a wonderful and safe evening!

Create a plan for prom night, and make sure everyone knows what it is.Your teen should know

FROM THE OFFICE OF BUSTER

Is It Harder to Take Care of Your Teeth With Braces?

G’DAY, MATE!

diligently, putting in the extra time to take care of their teeth when they first get their braces. However, after the long weeks turn intomonths and years, it’s common for kids with braces to slack off on taking care of their teeth.This leads to pretty disastrous consequences. If kids don’t brush or floss properly because metal wires and brackets are in the way, they could end up with cavities and permanent scars that have a lasting impact on their oral health. There’s a reason why kids tend to havemore stains on their teeth at the end of orthodontic treatment with braces than with Invisalign. The biggest reason parents choose traditional braces over Invisalign is because they’re worried their kids will forget to wear the plastic trays or lose thementirely. Fromwhat I’ve seen, most young patients with Invisalign are pretty good about wearing them. In the few cases when a

This month, I want to talk about things that make brushing your teeth harder.The biggest challenge I face when brushingmy teeth is the fact that I don’t have opposable thumbs. Yes, even dogs need to brush their teeth. Fortunately, mymomDr. Leslie Pitner is always on top of brushingmy teeth, so they stay bright and healthy! Most humans are able to brush and floss their teeth pretty easily on their own.The trouble is that once kids get used to brushing easily, any new obstacles can derail that good habit.This is something I’ve seen a lot with kids who wear braces instead of Invisalign. The wires and brackets of traditional braces make brushing properly a challenge, and flossing is even harder. Most kids start out

kid forgets to wear the aligners, Dr. Pitner just makes new ones for them.The treatment might last a little longer, but when it’s over, they have straight, healthy teeth! If you want to help your kids have beautiful smiles, make sure the process doesn’t make it harder for them to take care of their teeth! Give the office a call at 803-781-5225 to ask if Invisalign is the right fit for your family. –Buster

2

www.drpitner.com

THE WORLD’S BEST EXERCISE

Not all exercises are created equal. In fact, there is one form of exercise that is better than many others: walking. Harvard Medical School took a look at various exercises and concluded that walking is up there with swimming and tai chi in terms of health benefits. Regular walking can help maintain good cholesterol and blood pressure levels and keep your bones strong and healthy. One study showed that 40 minutes of walking every day helped people reduce blood pressure from hypertension to prehypertension, and then eventually to normal over several months. Walking can even keep many different kinds of diseases at bay, such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition to these physical benefits, walking daily can improve your mood and overall mental health.

As simple and straightforward as walking is, it can be difficult for many people to find the time. Most experts agree that you need 30–60 minutes of physical activity per day, but the good news is that you can split those minutes up throughout your day. For example, you can take a brisk 20-minute walk in the morning before work, followed by another one at lunch and one more after dinner. Those 60 minutes also don’t have to be strenuous; they just need to happen. However, the more time you put into walking, the more you will get out of it. If you slowly increase your distance and speed, you’ll end up burning more calories and strengthening your legs over time.

can move at your own pace. It doesn’t get any better than that! To get the most out of walking, schedule your walks for after mealtimes, especially the ones that come later in the day, like lunch and dinner. It’s a great way to aid digestion and burn calories — which can’t hurt your waistline!

The great thing about walking is that it’s not particularly taxing on the knees, and you

CHIPOTLE BLACK BEAN BURGERS

INGREDIENTS

•

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed 1/2 medium onion, roughly chopped

• • • • • • •

2 teaspoons cumin

1 pinch salt

•

1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 handful fresh cilantro

• •

3 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon Sriracha

2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats

1–2 tablespoons olive oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Place half the black beans, onion, and garlic in your food processor. Blend for 20–30 seconds until combined. Add chipotle, cumin, salt, cornstarch, cilantro, and Sriracha. Blend for another 10–20 seconds. 2. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Stir in oats and remaining black beans. 3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Form

mixture into patties and carefully transfer to skillet. Cook for about 5–7 minutes until bottom is browned and set. Very carefully flip and cook for an additional 4–6 minutes until opposite side is browned and set as well. 4. Serve immediately, or store

refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Inspired by ArisMenu.com

3

Smile big. Smile often. • 803-781-5225

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

5953 Wescott Rd. Columbia, SC 29212 803-781-5225 Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.drpitner.com

INSIDE

1. 2.

The Best Places in the World

Prom Safety Tips

When Are Braces Bad for Your Teeth?

3.

What Is the World’s Best Exercise?

Chipotle Black Bean Burgers

4.

Local Events

Do What You Love

The Many Opportunities to Catch a Moment in Columbia

Stop-In Studios Where: The Columbia Museum of Art When: Saturday, May 11; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m Admission: Free entry with museum membership or admission. Website: ColumbiaMuseum.org/events Ready to get artistic among the finest works in South Carolina? The Columbia Museum of Art (CMA) invites artistic souls of all ages to this creative drop-in hosted on the second Saturday of each month. Let your creativity run wild with a hands-on art project of your very own! Visit the CMA’s website for more details.

Drink Pink Rosé Festival Where: Robert Mills House &Gardens When: Sunday, May 19; 12–3 p.m. Admission: $55 for standard tickets; $100 for VIP tickets Website: DrinkPinkFestival.com The historic Robert Mills House &Gardens is getting all dressed up in pink and white for guests to eat; play; dance; and, of course, drink! There will be over 100 different rosé wines to choose from and pair with cheese and fresh artisan selections made by local chefs. If you find a new favorite rosé, you’ll even be able to buy a bottle of your very own. The event of the spring is back, and it’s bigger than ever. This is exclusively a 21 and older event, so don’t forget to bring your ID!

Drift JamFlotillaMusic Festival Where: Spence Island, Lake Murray When: Saturday, June 1; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: See website for tickets. Website: DriftJam.com Nothing says summer vacation like a music festival or a day on the lake. Drift Jam is proud to offer both experiences at once! At this one-of-a-kind concert, bands perform on a floating stage, playing everything from pop and R&B to classic country. The world’s largest floating music festival is free to attend, family- friendly, and supports the 9/11 Remembrance Foundation of SC. Get the boat ready, and make plans to start your summer on the lake with music and sunshine.

4

www.drpitner.com