Jones Smiles - October 2018

THE WELLNESS

REPORT

October 2018

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TIPS FOR A TOOTH-HEALTHY HALLOWEEN

Avoid Sweet Snacks Snacking can increase your risk of cavities due to the more frequent exposure to

I’ve always loved fall: the cooling temperatures, the falling leaves, football, and now with four young children — Halloween. From the ghosts and goblins to the goodies, I’ve learned to love Halloween after seeing the excitement it brings my little ones each year. This year, I thought I’d pass along a few tips to make sure your Halloween is full of treats (and is tooth-friendly!). To help you sort through the trick- or-treat bag, below is a rundown of some common candies and their impact on your teeth, as well as a few tips for this Halloween season. Chocolate As far teeth are concerned, chocolate is probably the most smile-friendly treat in your bag. Chocolate is more easily washed away and dissolved from the teeth, and dark chocolate also contains much less sugar than other candies. Hard Candy Hard candies have a high potential for causing cavities due to the tendency to suck on these treats for longer periods of time. This essentially causes a “sugar bath” for your teeth that cavity-causing bacteria can feast on. If you do eat hard candies, try not to suck on them for long periods of time. Sticky and Gummy Candies Aside from the high sugar content, sticky and gummy candies tend to accumulate in the pits and grooves of teeth. These are some of the biggest culprits for decay, especially in kids! Try to limit these treats, and it’s especially important ensure proper brushing is occurring should your little ones have a “sweet tooth” for these kinds of candy. Sour Candy You might want to pass on things that make you pucker — especially the sticky ones that are coated in sugar! Sour candy usually achieves that sour taste by altering the pH of the candy. Some of the super sour varieties like Warheads have a pH in the 1.6–1.8 range. That’s just slightly less acidic than battery acid! Acidic candies begin to soften the enamel, and when paired with high sugar content, the risk of cavities or damage to the teeth is much higher! Timing is Everything It is best to eat candy (and other sugary foods) with meals or shortly after mealtime. This is due to the increase in protective saliva production during meals. Saliva helps to neutralize acids produced by cavity-causing bacteria as well as wash away food particles.

carbohydrates and sugar … especially if you keep snacking from the candy bowl! Instead, look for tooth- and body-healthy snacks like fresh fruit, nuts, and cheese.

Dr. Jones and family out trick-or-treating

Drink More Water Drinking fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay and dry-mouth and assist in washing away food particles. If you choose bottled water, look for kinds that are fluoridated. Stay Away from Sugary Beverages This includes soda, sports drinks, and flavored waters. When teeth come in frequent contact with beverages that contain sugar, the risk of tooth decay is increased. Many of these beverages are also very acidic, which further softens teeth. Chew Gum with the ADA Seal Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals helps reduce tooth decay, because increased saliva flow helps wash out food and neutralize the acid produced by bacteria. Sugar-free gum is also an excellent “treat” alternative that actually helps your teeth! Don’t Forgot to Floss! Most of us do a great job remembering to brush (Who doesn’t love that minty-fresh feeling?), but daily flossing sometimes gets left out of our routines. Floss reaches plaque and food particles a tooth brush cannot reach — especially in the areas most likely to develop a cavity! Don’t Forget Your Dental Appointments! Regular dental visits can help prevent problems from occurring and catch those that do occur early, when they are easy to treat. I hope the above tips are helpful in ensuring your Halloween season is full of treats and hopefully no tricks! If you aren’t already scheduled for your next dental visit with us, you can now book your appointment online at Jonessmiles.com or call 770-965-3048. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Halloween!

–Dr. Jones

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SPOOKY TALES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

APPROPRIATE GHOST STORIES FOR ANY AGE

Ghost stories are a rite of passage this time of the year, but sometimes it can be hard to determine what stories will be appropriate for kids. If you have a youngster who is a budding scare-o-phile, here are some stories you can feel safe telling them. Feel free to shape these stories into your own. Knowing the age of your audience and what kind of spooks they enjoy will help you craft your tale.

hearing a low voice moaning, “Where’s my h-a-i-r-r-r-y t-o-e-e-e?” With every repetition, the voice increased in intensity. Mysterious thumps, groans, and demands for the toe echoed throughout the house all night. Just as she was falling asleep, her front door flew open, and there stood a giant demanding his hairy toe be given back. The old woman, fed up with the begging nonsense, screamed, “I ate your hairy toe!” Calmly, the giant responded, “I know.” The woman was never seen again. Her neighbors, having heard the commotion the night before, found only a single large footprint outside her house in the morning.

The Flying Dutchman This story is perfect for little historians and those who love maritime tales.

Legend has it that ship captain Hendrick van der Decken and his crew have haunted the Cape of Good Hope ever since a storm ravaged their ship more than 450 years ago. Van der Decken was an avid seaman and captain of The Flying Dutchman. In the midst of a horrifying storm, he insisted that the ship keep pressing ahead. His crew begged him to change course, but, according to folklore, his famous response was “We’ll sail for eternity!” Van der Decken and his crew vanished in the storm, but sailors over the past five centuries have often claimed to see a mist- shrouded boat sailing toward them, only for it to disappear from their sight as they drew near. Sailors warn that if a ship crosses paths with The Flying Dutchman, it spells doom for the ship’s occupants.

It was a peculiar print — it only had four toes!

TIP: Draw out this story by describing what the woman sees and hears all night, and play around with different voices for the giant.

The Pink Jelly Bean If you’re looking for some suspense with a happy ending, your own version of The Pink Jelly Bean is your safest bet. Here’s an example: There was a dark forest into which no one ventured alone. In the forest was a shack, the spooky setting of numerous gory tales. On stormy nights, it was said that the shack came alive. One night, brave travelers came across the shack and decided to stay for the night just as a storm was brewing. Suddenly, a gust of wind blasted the door open and flashes of lightning lit up the shack to reveal something in the middle of the shuttered living room:

TIP: Characters and locations in this story can vary depending on your location and audience.

Where’s My Hairy Toe? This story is perfect for youngsters under the age of 10, especially if you’re still gauging their fright level.

… a pink jelly bean!

Long, long ago, an old woman was tending to her garden when she discovered a hairy toe. She had not had a fruitful harvest that year, so when she returned to her cottage, she reluctantly ate the toe and settled into a quiet evening at home. But she kept

TIP: The goal is to stretch this story out for as long as you can before the final reveal. Add more doors, characters, and creepy objects — whatever it takes to build the suspense.

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Creating Healthy Habits

How to Teach Your Kids to Brush and Floss

No one is more excited for Halloween than your children — most likely because they get to dress up as their favorite characters and get free candy. While scrumptious, it’s a well-known fact that candy can be dangerous to your teeth. Teaching your children proper dental hygiene can help mitigate some of the damage caused by candy, so try some of these dental hygiene teaching tips to help your kids develop a healthy relationship with brushing. Set an example. As a parent, your kid looks up to you as a role model. If you have bad dental health and hygiene, they’re going to take that as a hint that proper teeth maintenance isn’t important. Brush and floss together every night or go shopping and pick out your toothbrushes together. Children are little repeat-robots, so if your child sees that you’re invested in your own oral health, they’re likely to pick up those habits too. Make it fun. Try some stellar dance moves to go with a proper brushing technique. Download a brushing buddy app that will turn brushing their teeth into a game or a music jam session. Whatever

you have to do, the goal is to get your kids to see that brushing your teeth isn’t too much of a hassle, and in some cases, it can be fun! They will look forward to their nightly game, and you’ll just be happy they’re healthy.

Practice makes perfect. If you have a youngster who’s not quite ready to take on their oral care just yet, you have a perfect opportunity to get them into the habit by practicing on their toys. You can buy a toy and cheap toothbrush and have your child practice a regular routine while getting familiar with the tool. Before bed, make sure Teddy has a clean set of pearly whites, and when it comes time for your kiddo to start brushing their own teeth, they will know how to do it.

Stay up to date on your family’s dental health at Jones Smiles. Call us today at 770-965-3048 to schedule an appointment.

SMILE-FRIENDLY RECIPES

WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING

“Always a very pleasant experience. The most comfortable cleaning I’ve ever experienced. I would recommend this office to everyone.” –CONNIE D. “A great place to have any dental work done. Dr. Jones and all the staff make you so comfortable. Plus, you come out with a big SMILE ...” –BOB K.

PALEO PUMPKIN COCONUT SMOOTHIE

This meal-in-a-glass smoothie will cure your craving for a pumpkin spice latte. It’s packed with nutrients and fall flavor. If you’re the type of person who uses your blender more than your pots and pans, you’ll definitely want to add this recipe to your rotation.

Ingredients

• 1 cup coconut milk • 1/4 cup organic pumpkin purée • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (or substitute with cinnamon and ginger) • 1 frozen banana, sliced • 1 cup ice 1. In a blender, combine all ingredients. 2. Blend on high or on smoothie setting until smooth. 3. Transfer to a cold glass, garnish with pumpkin pie spice, and serve. Directions

Inspired by Saveur magazine

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Tips for a Tooth-Healthy Halloween PAGE1 Scary Stories to Tell Youngsters PAGE2 Teaching Kids to Brush Our Patients Say It Best Paleo Pumpkin Coconut Smoothie PAGE3 3 of the Weirdest Cryptids in Pseudoscientific History PAGE4

3 of the Weirdest Cryptids in Pseudoscientific History THE MONSTERS SOME BELIEVE ARE REAL

There are people who would have you believe that monsters live among us all year long. These individuals, referred to as cryptozoologists (or just “wishful thinkers” by their skeptics), believe a hidden animal kingdom exists just beyond the edge of mainstream biological science. Here are three of the weirdest, almost-certainly imaginary “cryptids” to ever capture the human imagination. THE JERSEY DEVIL According to legend, the 1.1 million-acre Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey are home to more than just birds and deer. The story goes that when one Jane Leeds gave birth to her 13th child, she was dismayed to add yet another kid to her responsibilities. She cried out, “Oh, let this one be the devil!” Shortly after the child was born, the boy was transmogrified into a twisted creature with the malformed head of a goat, leathery wings, and a thrashing, forked tail. After slicing the midwife with its ragged claws, the beast flew up the chimney and fled into the trees. Hundreds of years later, the beast is still said to creep the

backwoods on its cloven hooves, glowering from the blackness with shining, red eyes.

THE BUNYIP When European settlers began edging into the territory of Aboriginal Australians, they heard whispered, frightened tales of a man-eating “water spirit” that lived in the lakes and rivers of the area. Descriptions of the creature varied wildly. The monster was alternately described as an enormous starfish, an alligator-like creature with the head of an emu, or a massive bulldog-faced beast. But accounts held one thing in common: The monster claimed the lives of any who dared camp near its watery domain. THE LOVELAND FROG One night, near Loveland, Ohio, a man reportedly beheld a trio of bipedal frog-people slapping their webbed feet along the side of the road. If that wasn’t enough, one even had a magic wand, which shot sparks as the man ran off. Apparently, not all mythical beasts are bloodthirsty monsters; some are a little more Kermit than Cthulhu.

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