Lake Oconee Dentistry - September 2019

Lake Oconee Dentistry - September 2019

706-453-1333 www.LakeOconeeDental.com WHO WAS THE FIRST COACH TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE? SEPTEMBER 2019 The MONTHLY Smile

Why Both Kids and Adults Need a Coach to Grow

The fall season is always an exciting time of year for sports fans. While I’m most looking forward to watching Atlanta United compete in the MLS Cup Playoffs over the next couple of months, most people across the country are celebrating the official kickoff of the 2019 college football season. I’ve always been a fan of playing and watching sports of all kinds, but to me, building a relationship with one’s coach is one of the most special aspects of being on a sports team. Every athlete, whether a young child making the softball team for the first time or the highest-scoring NBA player in history, needs a coach in order to truly succeed. Coaches help you see situations from different perspectives. So often, we are too close and too invested in what we’re doing to clearly analyze our abilities and potential. Coaches help with that process. They open our eyes, instill profound knowledge, build confidence, and offer endless support and encouragement. Think about the best sports films you’ve seen; there’s always a passionate, determined, and caring coach at the center. In “Remember the Titans,” Denzel Washington and Will Patton unite a group of players to challenge societal expectations and forge lasting bonds as the first high school football team comprised of both white and African American players. In my other favorite sports film “Hoosiers,” Gene Hackman plays a high school basketball coach to the Hickory Huskers, an underdog team that painstakingly makes it all the way to the championship game despite numerous emotional bumps along the way. The passion, sacrifice, and understanding displayed by the coaches in these films is representative of the coaches we know in real life. Even as adults, we still need coaches like that. In my opinion, the only relationship that comes close to the one shared between coach and athlete is between employer and employee. In fact, at the beginning of the summer, I told my kids they either needed to have a coach or a boss during their break from school. They both chose a coach — no surprise there

— and they’ve played soccer and participated in competitive cheerleading these past few months.

Appreciation for coaches, whether in athletics or the professional world, is a habit Patti and I have tried to model for our son and daughter because we truly believe that mentorship is valuable in life, no matter the circumstance. As adults, it's common to think we have everything figured out and don’t need help, but this might be the time we need a coach the most. Whether it’s someone to help you work through your stress, grow a business, or even teach and motivate you at the gym, everyone can benefit from having a coach. If you don’t have a coach or mentor in your life currently, there’s no time like the present to find one. What have you got to lose?

–Dr. David

Lake Oconee Dentistry | Personalized & Comfortable | 1

A LOOK AT THE POWER OF PLANTS Can a Vegan Diet Prevent Cancer?

Everyone enjoys having a bright, white smile, but it can be difficult to maintain. Foods and drinks can affect the color of your teeth, even with regular brushing and whitening. Knowing what stains your teeth will help you take steps to avoid or prevent future discoloration. WHY FOODS STAIN TEETH Three main substances alter the color of teeth: chromogens, tannins, and acids. Chromogens are strong pigments that cling to tooth enamel and often create more stubborn stains if they mix with other stain-enhancing factors like tannins, which are chemicals commonly found in black teas. Acidic foods or drinks, such as berries and soft drinks, soften and erode enamel, making it easier for the tooth to stain. HOW TO AVOID STAINING YOUR TEETH One of the easiest ways to prevent liquids from staining teeth is to drink from a straw. This ensures coffee, tea, soda, or alcohol will have less contact with teeth. Another good habit is to drink water or brush your teeth directly after a meal so staining substances aren’t left on your teeth unchecked for the rest of the day. Biannual dental visits are also a great way to remove or prevent stains. When dentists polish the surface of teeth, they can fill in rough parts or fine cracks that make staining more likely. One of the pillars of holistic health is the idea that food is nature’s medicine. But while no one is arguing the fact that fruits and vegetables are good for you, there is plenty of debate about just how good they are. Can the right diet cure a cold? Counteract the flu? Prevent cancer? Many vegans, vegetarians, and other plant- based eaters say yes. The cancer question has been on the minds of an increasing number of researchers in the last 30 years. Because cancer afflicts roughly 38% of the U.S. population, it’s an urgent problem and an ever- fluctuating area of study. However, in the last decade, scientists have reached a tentative consensus on the impact of diet on cancer prevention, and it’s a feather in the cap of holistic health. First, let’s get this straight: Going vegan isn’t a surefire way to prevent cancer, and it certainly can’t cure it. But studies do show that sticking to a plant-based diet — and specifically cutting out meat — lowers your risk of cancer. According to Lindsey Wohlford, a dietitian with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, this is in part because plant-based foods contain phytochemicals, which boost the immune system. Plant-based foods are also a great source of fiber, which lowers cholesterol, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and helps regulate the bowels. As she put it, “Meat just doesn’t do that.”

A comprehensive study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that dietary factors are estimated to be responsible for 35% of all

cancer cases, and that most studies have found vegetarian diets are “modestly cancer protective,”

reducing risk by 10–12%. Studies also link red and processed meats to eight different cancer types and claim the risks meat poses are amplified when it’s fried, grilled, or barbecued. According to the studies, these cooking processes form potentially carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines. The American Institute of Cancer Research recommends a plant- based diet for cancer prevention but doesn’t ask Americans to ditch meat and dairy entirely. Instead, the website claims that as long as you stick to “moderate to small” amounts of animal-based foods, you can have your meat and decrease your cancer risk too.

WHAT IS CAUSING YOUR TEETH TO STAIN? Avoiding Discoloration and Keeping Your Teeth White

SIMPLE METHODS TO KEEP TEETH BRIGHT Using whitening products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash, are a great way to whiten your teeth at home. Both of these options not only remove surface stains on the enamel but also prevent cavities, fight off gum disease, and freshen breath. You can also whiten easily at home with custom whitening trays that we can make for you here at the office.

To keep your teeth pearly white, you don’t have to

give up foods that are more likely to stain your teeth. By practicing and maintaining healthy oral hygiene habits, your teeth can remain as white as ever!

2 | 706-453-1333

THE ANTI-AGING BENEFITS OF FREE WEIGHTS Stay Toned by Lifting Weights at Home

In her best-selling lifestyle guide “French Women Don’t Get Fat,” Mireille Guiliano advises women in their 50s to invest in a set of free weights — nothing too heavy, perhaps 3–5 pounds — in order to maintain their toned, youthful appearance and range of motion. She notes that lifting weights isn’t entirely necessary during your 20s and 30s, but it’s essential to maintain muscle tone and bone density in your later years. Though Guiliano’s evidence is anecdotal, the science confirms that lifting weights can be an indispensable aid to healthy aging for both men and women. A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information recommends strength training 2–3 times per week to lower your risk of health problems and preserve bone density, independence, and vitality. According to WebMD, “Muscle loss is one of the main reasons people feel less energetic as they get older. When you lift weights, work out on machines, use resistance bands, or do exercises with your own body weight (like pushups and situps), you build strength, muscle mass, and flexibility.” You don’t have to join a gym to reap the benefits though; just pick up a set of free weights and a resistance band and research how to safely use them in your own home. Bodybuilding.com recommends designing a workout routine that includes one or two exercises for each of the major muscle groups: legs, back, shoulders, arms, chest, and abs. Try 8–10 repetitions per set, but don’t push yourself

to use heavy weights. Even options that are 10 pounds or less should be enough to keep you chasing after your grandchildren for years to come. One public figure who has taken the weightlifting creed to heart is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The documentary “RBG” shows the 86-year-old judge at the gym, pumping lightweight iron with her personal trainer, and she even walked spring chicken Stephen Colbert through her routine on “The Late Show.” Ginsburg has called her trainer “the most important person” in her life apart from her family, which is a ringing endorsement for lifting weights if ever there was one.

THANK YOU

BASIL BERRY SORBET

The Lake Oconee Dentistry family continues to grow every month due, in no small part, to your referrals. If you have a friend, family member, or colleague you feel would benefit from the care we provide, feel free to pass this newsletter on to them. If they mention the newsletter when scheduling, they will receive free X-rays as part of their new patient appointment. The greatest compliment we receive is your referral of a friend or family member. Thank you for your continued confidence!

Unlike standard ice cream recipes, this delicious sorbet doesn’t require fancy equipment or difficult prep. It’s also entirely dairy- free, making it the perfect vegan treat for the end of summer.

Ingredients • 1 cup sugar • 1 cup fresh basil leaves

• 6 cups frozen mixed berries • 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Instructions 1. In a saucepan over high heat, combine sugar with 1 cup of water, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves, creating a syrup-like consistency. 2. Remove syrup from heat, add basil, cover, and let stand for 15 minutes. Strain syrup into bowl and refrigerate until cold. 3. In a blender, combine syrup with frozen berries and lemon juice. Purée until smooth. 4. Transfer to a square baking pan, cover in plastic wrap, and freeze until set, about 2 hours. 5. Scoop and serve.

Lake Oconee Dentistry | Personalized & Comfortable | 3

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.

Stay Toned by Lifting Weights at Home page 3 Basil Berry Sorbet page 3 An Excursion in the Pennine Alps page 4 Inside

Who Was the First Coach to Change Your Life? page 1

Can a Vegan Diet Prevent Cancer? page 2 Maintaining a Beautiful Smile page 2

AN ALPINE EXCURSION

Tour Monte Rosa

Nestled between Italy and Switzerland, Monte Rosa is the second highest peak in the Alps, making it one of the best views in either country and one of the more physically demanding ascents in the mountain range. In the late summer and early fall, tourists and locals alike tour Monte Rosa to pay their respects

For accommodations, opt for charming mountain huts to immerse yourself in the true Alpine experience. You can book them in advance to guarantee your bunk and a dinner of spaetzle or lasagna, depending on which country you’re in that night. Unless you’re traveling with an experienced mountaineer, a guide is recommended for touring Monte Rosa, even if you only plan to traverse a small section of the mountain. Weather can vary greatly and change quickly in this region, so you never know when

to the peak and to be challenged by the cross-country trek over the mountain.

The full tour of the mountain is a nine- day journey that starts in Switzerland and crosses quickly over into Italy, winding its way through both countries before eventually returning trekkers to their starting point. The out-and-back path is the most popular route, though there are other ways to approach it. However you go, you’ll encounter massive glaciers, rigorous 1,000-meter ascents and descents, and breathtaking views that are sure to make this journey memorable.

you’ll encounter ice or snow, which can lower your visibility. Toward the top of the peak, you’ll even have an opportunity to cross a sprawling glacier, and having a guide will ensure you have the necessary equipment for a safe trip.

On top of the spectacular views, you can expect a beautiful blend of cultures and an experience unlike any other on your tour of Monte Rosa. Plus, you may even get to see a few Swiss cows or mountain goats along the way!

4 | 706-453-1333