Calapooia Dental - July 2019

Calapooia Dental - July 2019

The Grill Master ENJOYING A CLASSIC SUMMERTIME TRADITION

Brian R. Summers DMD, PhD Patrick V. Hagerty, DMD

Calapooia Courier July 2019

I have always enjoyed baking and cooking, but manning the grill is my chance to let my culinary skills shine. When you’re relying on a recipe in the kitchen, you’re dependent on the pan, sauces, stove, and ingredients. But over on the grill, it’s just you, the food, and the fire. It’s a throwback to the primitive methods of cooking. You have to manage temperatures and cook each item precisely, and it takes practice to perfect your technique. For me, the grill is a symbol of a great time and family memories. One of my favorite things to do is to just throw some corn and chicken on the grill for a family dinner. It’s fun and easy. This time of the year is peak grilling season, and we usually have a few barbecues with friends and family. There’s nothing better than enjoying a beautiful summer day and finishing it off with a home-grilled dinner and a beer or two. After years of tweaking, I have finally perfected my grilled sweet potato wedges. The recipe requires a seasoning that I tweaked from a meat rub recipe about 10 years ago. After trying it on steaks, I decided to see what the flavors would do to sweet potatoes. Now, it’s a mainstay in my home, and most visitors won’t even use ketchup when they eat these wedges. That’s the ultimate compliment for an amateur grill master. I would say I’m still learning, but I do have a few strong years under my belt. I’ve also been smoking meat for about seven years, and while this can be more labor intensive, it certainly creates wonderful meals. I always advise any grilling newbie to keep their grill clean, as this is both a safety precaution and a flavor protector. Once, we grilled this delicious peanut butter curried chicken dish that was delicious and full of flavor. The next time I used the grill, we decided to fire up a pizza over its flames. Unfortunately, I hadn’t properly cleaned the bars of the grill before adding the pizza, and there was only one flavor we could all taste: the charred remnants of our curried chicken. These were not the kind of leftovers we thought we would have. After all, in the world of grilling,

smoked and charred flavors are some of the best profiles you can have in your food. But burnt food is not okay. It has taken me years to perfect my grilling technique, and I know I have so much more to learn. But there’s really only one way to get better, and it’s the tastiest option. I’m going to keep grilling what I can and see how it turns out. Hopefully, I will have more sweet potato successes and fewer pizza failures. REALLY ONLY ONE WAY TO GET BETTER, AND IT’S THE TASTIEST OPTION. “ “IT HAS TAKEN ME YEARS TO PERFECT MY GRILLING TECHNIQUE, AND I KNOW I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN. BUT THERE’S

Cheers to a great grilling season!

-Dr. Brian Summers

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3 TIPS FOR SWIMMING IN OPEN WATER Summer Swimming Safety

THE TOOTH FAIRY VISITS THE SUMMERS’ HOME Rose’s Round-Up

Hi, everyone!

It’s me, Rose, you’re favorite French bulldog puppy! I’m now 6 months old, and now that I’ve lost some of my baby teeth and am growing ferocious chompers, I’m all grown up, thank you very much. Although, I’m not as brave as my older human sister is about losing her teeth.

Norah had been excited for months about her first wiggly

tooth, until one day when she just couldn’t stand the anticipation of waiting anymore. She marched right up to her dad, Dr. Summers, and asked him to tie one end of a string of floss around her tooth, tie the other end to the doorknob, and swing the door shut (just like in the movies!). So, he did just that. (Don’t worry; I hear Dr. Summers is an expert when it comes to teeth.) The next thing we knew, Norah’s first loose tooth popped right out of her mouth! She was thrilled to finally have that baby tooth gone, and Dr. Summers tells me she was the last one in her kindergarten class to lose a tooth. Dr. Summers also says that loose teeth are normal for kids Norah’s age and puppies like me. He says that teeth don’t need to be forced out and eventually, light pressure and wiggling will work the tooth out on its own. Occasionally, Dr. Summers has to help kids with their loose teeth at Calapooia Family Dental, but he doesn’t want to force out any baby teeth that are not ready yet. That could cause root damage, or damage permanent teeth, he says. I was pretty excited for Norah to lose her first tooth. The tooth fairy visited our house and brought Norah a golden dollar coin. Since then, Norah has gotten more wiggly baby teeth, and I expect the tooth fairy will become a regular visitor. After much debate and research, I’ve been told there’s no such thing as a dog tooth fairy, but that’s okay! I have all I could ever want with my family and all my favorite tug toys.

There’s nothing like taking a dip in a nearby pond, lake, or even the ocean. For many, it’s a summertime tradition. However, swimming in open bodies of water brings certain safety risks, as these environments are not nearly as controlled as public, club, or backyard pools. Everyone should follow these tips to have a fun and safe time cooling off under the summer sun. Never swim alone. When you swim in virtually any body of water, having someone there to keep an eye on you can be a lifesaver: the more people, the better. Stick to bodies of water with a professional lifeguard on duty when possible, though that’s not always an option. When swimming in open bodies of water, have a “designated spotter” to keep an eye on the swimmers. This way, you’re prepared if anything bad happens. It’s also a great idea to keep flotation devices nearby, such as life jackets, life rings, foam boards, etc. Know what you’re getting into. Sometimes, it’s next to impossible to see what’s under the surface of the water. If you are unfamiliar with a body of water, don’t jump or dive in without knowing how deep it is. If you cannot confirm what is under the surface (and the spot is not a known diving location), don’t risk it. It may be okay to swim or wade, but jumping is out of the question. Along these same lines, be VERY careful around bodies of slow-moving or standing water. These can house dangerous microbes and other contaminants that can make you ill and potentially be deadly. Watch for rip currents. These can occur at any beach without warning. They pull swimmers away from shore and are strong enough that even excellent swimmers struggle to get through them. In fact, rip currents are behind nearly 80% of beach rescues. Keep an eye on the foam at the surface of the water. If it seems to suddenly pull away from the beach, there’s a good chance a rip current is lurking beneath. If you find yourself in a rip current, it’s crucial to remain calm and avoid expending energy swimming directly back to shore. Instead, try swimming parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current.

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Can You Squeeze Us In?

WHY REGULAR DENTAL APPOINTMENTS MATTER

Between shuttling your kids to and from their practices, preparing them for a new school year, fitting in a summer vacation, and the list of weddings you have to attend, you barely have any summer left to focus on yourself — let alone attend regular dental appointments. But according to dental experts, making time for regular cleaning and check-ins for your whole family can be imperative to your family’s oral health and overall wellness. Studies show that children who attend regular dental appointments are 50% more likely to attend these appointments as adults. Most dental experts recommend at least two dental cleanings per year for adults, depending on their oral health. Children should be seen at least twice per year, as well, since their mouth is growing and constantly changing. At these appointments, patients learn proper cleaning techniques to prevent plaque build-up, cavities, and infections. But dental hygienists and dentists do far more during a dental visit than clean your pearly whites and lecture you about flossing. They are also monitoring your oral health and checking for signs or symptoms of periodontal disease, which is an infection that destroys your jaw bone and inflames your gums. This disease and various other oral conditions have been linked with many chronic conditions in other parts of the body, including cardiac complications, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease.

For patients who are diabetic or prediabetic, dental appointments can be invaluable. The American Dental Association estimates that 22% of those diagnosed with diabetes also have periodontal disease, while 1 in 5 cases of total tooth loss is linked to diabetes. Unfortunately, diabetes and

oral infections can feed off one another. Both conditions can make it difficult for your body to regulate your blood sugar, and when your blood sugar is poor, your chance of periodontal disease and its severity increases. Lastly, your regular dental appointments could save your life. Dentists and hygienists are trained to test and look for the signs of oral cancers, which can affect anyone regardless of their smoking, drinking, or fitness habits. In fact, 1 in 4 people diagnosed with oral cancer were not tobacco users or heavy drinkers. Scheduling an appointment with your dentist can be one of the smartest choices you make for your health and your family’s well-being. Schedule yours today by calling Calapooia Family Dental at 541-926-3689 or visit CalapooiaFamilyDental.com.

WATERMELON CUCUMBER SKEWERS

SUDOKU

Inspired by CookingLight.com

Skewers are a Fourth of July favorite, but these are not your classic kebabs. They’re a fresh, light, and fun way to start a barbecue. Oh, and they don’t require any actual cooking.

INGREDIENTS • 1 medium-sized watermelon, cut into small cubes. • 2 cucumbers, cut into 1/4- inch rounds • 1 block feta cheese, cubed

• 1 bunch fresh mint leaves • Salt, to taste Equipment • 1 packet of bamboo skewers

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Assemble skewers by placing one watermelon cube, one cucumber round, one feta cube, and one mint leaf on skewer in that order. Repeat until skewer is full. 2. Lightly season with salt and chill in fridge until right before serving.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Brian R. Summers DMD, PhD Patrick V. Hagerty, DMD

1070 24th Ave SW Albany, OR 97321 541-926-3689 CalapooiaFamilyDental.com

Manning the Grill With Dr. Summers Inside this Issue 1 2 3 Things Everyone Needs to Know Before Swimming in Open Water Rose’s Loose Tooth Chronicles Come See Us — Your Body Will Thank You! Watermelon Cucumber Skewers Avoid the Summer Heat Somewhere Cool 3 4

CHILL OUT Relax in These Cool Destinations This Summer

As the scorching summer sun beats down, it’s hard to remember that just six months ago you were shivering through the winter, whether that meant a chilly 50 degrees F or bitter subzero temperatures. But if cooler temps sound like paradise, and a dip in the pool is no longer keeping you cool, it might be time to take a vacation somewhere chilly. Check out these three destinations to avoid the summer heat. Alaska No place says chilly quite like Alaska. Trips to Alaska can be expensive during this time of year, but when you step into that crisp air with a cool mountainous view, you’ll understand why it’s a popular summer voyage. Travelers can choose to fly or take a cruise ship, and many cities feature tourism-packed excursions. A few notable locations include Anchorage, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and Denali National Park and Preserve. Iceland Just as its name suggests, Iceland can be the perfect destination for travelers yearning to get away from the unbearable

summer heat. With temperatures rarely exceeding 60 degrees F — the average high for the country — packing is easy for this relaxing vacation. Take a relaxing dip in one of the country’s many hot springs or enjoy tremendous views of the fjords. Even better, you can tour the country at any time because it’s sunny almost 24 hours a day. What could be better than a midnight hike around the fourth happiest country in the world? Norway Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you have to give up your skiing hobby! Venture off to Norway and experience some of their most popular summer ski resorts. After a day or two shredding the slopes, experience the popular Norwegian Opera and Ballet in Oslo or choose between numerous outdoor and indoor exhibitions. Best of all, you won’t even break a sweat, as the average temperature in Norway’s hottest month barely hits 70 degrees F. Bordering Sweden and northern Finland, Norway can even be the beginning to a cool European tour this summer.

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