Tillman Smiles - September 2020

Tillman Smiles - September 2020

September 2020

TILLMAN SMI L E S

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The Ups and Downs of an Empty Nest

Dr. Tillman Sends His Youngest Off to College

For years, I’ve been hearing from other parents about a thing called “empty-nest syndrome.” You know the concept — basically, they say that when your youngest child goes off to college, you’ll feel a bit like a sad bird sitting alone in an empty house. Well, last month, Julie and I officially became empty nesters. As you read in our July newsletter, our youngest daughter, Tristan, headed off to Hardin- Simmons University to study biology this fall. I’m not quite sure if I’m suffering from empty-nest syndrome or not. Julie and I definitely miss our kiddos, and it’s strange that we’re the only ones at home now. But we’re also really proud of Tristan and her older siblings, Brendan and Harrison, for everything they’ve accomplished since leaving the nest. Honestly, my biggest complaint has been that without kids to hand off the chore to, I’ve had to start mowing the lawn again. It’s been years since I got behind a push mower, and I’ve got to say, I didn’t miss it one bit!

Our home might be a bit emptier, but the reverse is true here in the office. This summer, just as Tristan was leaving for school, we welcomed a new dental hygienist to our team. Her name is Emma Whitfield, and she’s proved to be a great addition to the Tillman Smiles family!

Meet Emma, our new dental hygienist!

our regular contests and prizes. Speaking of which, if you haven’t yet, don’t forget to enter our Big Green Egg giveaway. You can earn entries through referrals (up to 10); reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp (up to three); or visits to our office before Sept. 30 (up to one). On Thursday, Oct. 1, we’ll draw a winner and announce the results on our Facebook page, Facebook.com/ DavidTillmanDDS. In the meantime, if I’m not in the office, you can probably find me struggling along behind the push lawn mower, thinking about my little birds who have flown the coop. With all of these miles of lawn in front of me, I’m looking forward to winter already! —David Tillman

The Tillmans at a B&B in Salado - One Last Summer Family Vacation

Emma was born in Virginia to a military family, so she moved around a lot as a kid before attending Coastal Bend College. She’s been in the dental field for a year now, and it’s easy to see how much she loves the work. When I asked, she told me that health and education are her passions, and she really enjoys helping patients understand their teeth. I think that’s an awesome goal to have! When she isn’t working, Emma likes visiting museums and botanical gardens, cooking, reading, and hanging out with her two cats, Bingley and Bagheera.

Tristan in her dorm room.

It’s been fun introducing Emma to all of the quirks and traditions we have here at Tillman Smiles, like

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Snack Your Way to Better Health 3 Tasty Ways to Boost Your Collagen Levels Without Supplements

Would you rather swallow a supplement pill every morning or chow down on a handful of sea salt and herb popcorn that had similar effects? If you picked the second option, you’re not alone. Thanks to an influx of innovative products, more and more people are turning to snacks to increase their levels of the body’s fountain of youth: collagen. Collagen is what keeps your muscles strong and your joints moving. It’s also the secret to healthy, youthful skin without deep lines or wrinkles. Luckily, your body produces collagen naturally, but the process starts to slow down when you reach your early 20s. You can give it a boost by eating high-protein foods like fish and legumes, taking supplements, or adding collagen powder to your diet. Right now, collagen-enriched snack foods are all the rage. Here are just a few of them. G rab - and -G o C ollagen P opcorn Last fall, healthy popcorn giant SkinnyPop released a brand-new flavor of its signature snack at Whole Foods: SkinnyPop +Collagen. The popcorn is dusted with sea salt, herbs, and pasture-raised collagen peptides to keep your skin youthful. This is the just the latest in SkinnyPop’s foray into supplements, which started with a +Protein flavor that debuted in 2018. C ollagen -E nriched D rinks One of the fastest ways to get more collagen in your diet is by drinking it. You can buy collagen powder yourself to make protein shakes, but brands like Skinade and Beauty & Go make it even easier with their signature drinks.

Skinade is flavored with peach and mangosteen, while Beauty & Go offers a bold red grape, rosehip, and persimmon blend.

H omemade C ollagen M arshmallows Yep, that’s right — you can make your own collagen-rich desserts with collagen powder, maple syrup, and a few other simple ingredients. Check out CleanEatingMag.com for a classic recipe. If you want to go wild, SageAndCelery.com even has instructions for chocolate-dipped collagen marshmallow lollipops that will knock your socks off. These snacks aren’t a replacement for a healthy lifestyle, but they can work together with diet and exercise to improve your muscles, joints, and skin. If you have a hard time remembering to take pills but still want a youthful collagen boost, consider adding these treats to your shopping list.

4 Ways to Reuse Instead of Recycle Delivery Boxes Piling Up?

C ompost Clean corrugated cardboard — what most Amazon boxes are made of — is another great source of useful carbon. Cut your boxes into pieces and place them in your compost pile so the carbon combines with the nitrogen from food scraps. The process helps break the pile down into nutrient-rich humus for healthy soil. T oys or A rt S upplies Kids tend to play with the box their new toy came in rather than the toy itself for a reason. Cardboard boxes spark creativity, and the possibilities are endless! Boxes can be used as forts, spaceships, building blocks, art canvases, and more. Empty boxes can provide hours of fun with a little help from a vivid imagination. S torage Boxes are meant for holding items, so use empty ones to organize a cluttered garage or attic or safely store less frequently used items like winter jackets or holiday decorations. If the brown cardboard aesthetic on a shelf just won’t cut it, paint the boxes or wrap them in eye-catching gift wrap, then label them. If you’re not sure how you want to use your boxes, just hold on to them until you’re ready. The beauty of cardboard is that you can break it down, store it easily, and reconstruct the boxes later when you find a use for them.

As more people opt for online shopping, the number of home deliveries is skyrocketing. Almost every item ordered comes in its own cardboard box, and nearly 20% of these boxes end up in landfills, while the other 80% require significant amounts of energy to recycle. Here are four ways to reuse those boxes instead of just tossing them out. G arden B ed S tarters Because cardboard boxes are loaded with carbon and not contaminated by many other chemicals, they’re great for starting new plants or flower beds. They help reduce weeds and protect weak or young plants from the elements, and when the carbon in cardboard combines with the nitrogen in the dirt, a nutrient-rich soil emerges for plants to flourish in.

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Inspired by TasteOfHome.com Cheesy Vegetable Bake

5 Types of Foods That Naturally Whiten Your Teeth!

Tea and coffee might be your best friends in the morning, though we’re well aware that these beverages can easily stain our teeth. But not all food has negative consequences for our pearly white smiles. In fact, certain foods can actually whiten your teeth, bringing a whole new meaning to clean eating. Our team is here to tell you how! N o . 1: A pples , celery , and carrots Chewing crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, celery, and carrots helps scrub your teeth and increases your production of the natural self-cleaning agent, saliva. Some toothpastes also contain a high concentration of malic acid, which also increases salivation and helps clean teeth and remove stains, according to a study from the University of Grenada in Spain. It may also help kill bacteria that cause bad breath. N o . 2: P ineapple As the only food that naturally contains bromelain — a group of enzymes with stain-removing properties — it’s no surprise that pineapple made it on this list! Recent research published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene showed that bromelain is an effective ingredient in stain-removing toothpastes. Bromelain also has anti-inflammatory and cleansing properties.

To keep your teeth pearly white while still enjoying a good meal, try making this cheesy vegetable bake brimming with carrots, broccoli, and two types of cheese.

Ingredients

• • • • •

2 cups carrots, thinly sliced

• • • • •

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg Salt and pepper, to taste

2 cups broccoli florets

3 eggs

1 cup Gruyere cheese, grated 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, grated

2 cups milk (2% preferred) 1/4 cup butter, melted

6 cups egg bread, cubed

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 325 F and grease an 11x7-inch casserole dish. 2. Fill a saucepan with 1 inch of water. Add a steamer basket to the pan, then put the carrots and broccoli in the basket. Bring the water to a boil, then cover the vegetables and steam them for 3–4 minutes. 3. Whisk the eggs, milk, butter, spices, and salt together in a large bowl. When they’re combined, add the vegetables and Gruyere. Then add the bread. 4. Pour the contents of the bowl into the baking dish, then sprinkle the Swiss cheese on top. 5. Bake the casserole uncovered for 30–35 minutes. Let it cool for 10 minutes, then serve and enjoy! Take a Break

N o . 3: B roccoli You probably know this superfood is great for your body, but did you know it can also improve your dental health? The European Journal of Dentistry has found that eating raw, crisp broccoli can help clean and polish teeth. The iron it contains can also provide protection against enamel-degrading acid that’s produced by bacteria. Broccoli not only helps clean your teeth, but it’ll help prevent stains and cavities, too! N o . 4: C heese This is a no-brainer when you think about it: With essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus, it’s no surprise that cheese is good for your teeth. But did you know the protein in cheese can help protect tooth enamel, too? Plus, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the lactic acid found in cheese helps fight tooth decay. N o . 5: W ater Don’t forget water! Your saliva needs it. In addition to drinking water, eating water-rich foods like watermelon and cucumber will help you stay hydrated and keep your smile beautiful. We hope these tips help and maybe even surprise you. Check out our recipe on this page for one delicious way to keep your teeth healthy and clean. Keep smiling!

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Inside

This Issue

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Dr. Tillman Sends His Youngest Off to College Snack Your Way to Better Health What to Do With All Those Boxes 5 Foods That Naturally Whiten Your Teeth! Cheesy Vegetable Bake

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Unpacking the DNA Travel Trend

Would You Follow Your Genes Around the World? Why DNA Travel Is Trending

There are a few carry-on items every traveler should have for a flight: their driver’s license, their passport, their cellphone, a snack, and … their DNA test results? According to Lonely Planet, these chunks of personal >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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