Ustick Dental August/Sept. 2018

Ustick Dental August/Sept. 2018

WWW.USTICKDENTAL.COM • (208) 286-4582

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

THE FOCUS OF OUR SUMMER Welcoming the Newest Member of the Family

Summer is underway, and I’m really enjoying the warmer weather and chance to be outside more. We just had our patient appreciation party, and it was a huge success. Thanks to everyone who came out for it! It was a fun night watching The Incredibles 2 at the iMax theater. All this is being eclipsed right now, though, by the arrival of a very special someone — my first grandchild. My eldest daughter, Josie, and her husband had their first baby this summer, and we joyously welcomed her into our family. It’s been a really exciting event. My wife and I have been spending as much time with them as we can and soaking up every minute of it. When I went to see my granddaughter for the first time, it was a different feeling than I’ve ever felt before, different even than when I met my own children for the first time. I don’t know why it’s different — I’m still trying to make sense of it. It was amazing to watch this little baby girl and imagine all the potential she has and all that she can be — it’s like nothing else, being a grandparent. Josie and her husband are doing really well; both are healthy and taking to their responsibilities as new parents. It’s fun to watch them take on this role, giving up some of their freedom to care for their baby and see that she grows up healthy and strong.

to get there. The total trip is around 30 miles, so it’s going to be a decent length, but I’m excited for it. My boys and I like to fish, camp, explore, and just enjoy our time away from the rest of the world to be in nature. I’m grateful to live in such a beautiful place as Idaho. I hope you’re enjoying your summer as much as we are. If you haven’t had time for a camping trip yet, it’s not too late to do it. Enjoy your summer!

They live in Utah, so we aren’t as near to each other as we’d all like. This means we’ll just have to make plenty of visits.

Even with all the excitement, we are making time to get outdoors. This month, my boys and I are heading to the Frank Church Wilderness for a three-day backpacking trip. Last year, we made this trek from a different direction; this time, we’re coming in from the west and crossing the middle fork of the Salmon, then heading up into the wilderness. There’s a bridge that we’ll cross

-Dr. Rigby

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morning). If you do need an alarm, consider a wake-up light. Wake-up lights mimic the sunrise, slowly brightening the room, waking your body in a natural, gentle way. Kick the screen habit. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: Looking at an electronic screen — a TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone — before bed is detrimental to sleep quality. Light from these devices is disruptive to your brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which helps regulate your circadian rhythm, and screen time before bed can throw off normal SCN function. Put your excuses for staying up too late to bed. Say no to “one more episode.” And all those emails? They can wait until tomorrow. Not getting enough quality sleep is harmful to your mental and physical health. When you get into the habit of following these three tips, you’ll find yourself feeling rested and refreshed in no time. Restful Night’s Sleep HOW TO ACHIEVE A MORE

A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your mind and body. One study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that the quality of your sleep is much more important than the quantity — that is, if you want to feel rested. And we all want to feel rested. So, what can you do to improve the quality of your sleep and get the rest you need? Listen to your body. This, above all else, is crucial to a good night’s sleep. Your body knows when it’s time for bed. Generally, you want to go to bed when you feel tired, whether that’s at 8 p.m. or 1 a.m. Whenever your body tells you it needs rest, you should make a habit of going to bed then. The more consistent you are, the better your sleep will be. Wake up naturally. Jolting yourself awake with an alarm or radio isn’t doing your brain and body any favors (it can be stressful on the body and even elevate blood pressure, which is not good first thing in the

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A DRINK TO DENTAL HEALTH

THE TRUTH ABOUT SPARKLING WATER

Soda sales are down, and sparkling water sales are up. Health-minded individuals are turning away from sugar-filled sodas and juices, replacing them with fizzy alternatives such as La Croix and Perrier. These beverages offer all the bubbles without the guilt, but are they any safer for our teeth ? Sodas and juices are highly acidic. Combine that with sugar, and you have the ultimate recipe for tooth decay. Remove the sugars and acidic ingredients, such as citric acid, and you are left with a very different sort of drink. A 2016 study featured in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) took a close look at the erosive properties of beverages we consume every day and their impact on tooth enamel. The study found that sports drinks were the worst offenders, or “extremely erosive,” with sodas trailing close behind. Researchers also found that sparkling water was “minimally erosive” when it came to the impact on tooth enamel. Dr. Edmond Hewlett, a professor with the UCLA School of Dentistry and consumer advisor with the American Dental Association, says that, sugars aside, the acidity in sparkling water is significantly less than sodas, juices, and other similar drinks.

The carbon dioxide bubbles in sparkling water (which become carbonic acid when consumed) are weaker than the acids found in other drinks. The bubbles are not a danger to tooth enamel. If regularly consumed over a long period of time, however, sparkling water may have an erosive effect. But for a vast majority of the population, this is a nonissue. The important takeaway from the JADA study is that sugar-free sparkling water is a healthier alternative to soda, juice, sports drinks, and other beverages high in sugars and acid content. That includes beverages marketed as diet (they may lack sugar, but they are still highly acidic). The next time you reach for a bubbly and refreshing sparkling water, you can know you are making a good choice for your body and teeth.

Roasted Cauliflower PARMESAN

Ingredients 1 head cauliflower

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1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, ideally Parmigiano-Reggiano

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1 medium yellow onion, sliced

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4 sprigs thyme

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Salt and pepper, to taste

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4 garlic cloves, unpeeled

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3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions 1. Heat oven to 425 F.

2. Cut cauliflower into florets. On a large baking sheet, toss cauliflower with onions, thyme, garlic, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. 3. Roast for 35–40 minutes, tossing occasionally. 4. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and finish roasting, about 10 minutes longer. 5. Serve while hot.

Inspired by epicurious.com.

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inside this ISSUE The Arrival of a Very Special Someone PAGE 1 Sleep Better and Feel Great PAGE 2 The Truth About Sparkling Water PAGE 3 Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower PAGE 3 Talk Like a Pirate Day PAGE 4

Yo Ho Ho, Landlubbers!

Ahoy, matey! Wednesday, Sept. 19, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Brush up on your pirate vocabulary, grab your eye patch, get your puffy shirt dry cleaned, and bring a little seafaring fun to your office or classroom. The History of These Swashbuckling Shenanigans The holiday began as an inside joke between pals John Baur and Mark Summers in 1995. For reasons not even understood by themselves, they began speaking like pirates while playing racquetball, saying things to each other like, “That be a fine cannonade” (“Nice shot, dude”) and “Now watch as I fire a broadside straight into your yardarm” (“But watch this”). They decided Talk Like a Pirate Day needed to become official, so

they chose Sept. 19, which was Summers’ wife’s birthday (and the only date he could remember besides Christmas and the Super Bowl). In 2002, they pitched the idea to humor columnist Dave Barry, who promoted it in his syndicated column, and the concept quickly spread internationally. Did Pirates Really Talk Like That? The “pirate-speak” popularized in movies and Disney attractions probably sounds nothing like real pirates did in centuries past. Today’s swashbuckling phrases delivered in a strong Southwest England accent can be traced back to Robert Newton’s 1950 portrayal of Long John Silver in the movie “Treasure Island.” Historically, English-speaking pirates probably sounded more like

Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow. Unfortunately, the pirates of the Golden Age didn’t leave behind any YouTube videos to confirm this. Learn the Lingo , Landlubber Participating in Talk Like a Pirate Day is easy — you just need to know a few key phrases. “Ahoy, matey” means “Hello, friend!” “Blimey, that son of a biscuit-eater hornswaggled me out of me doubloons” means “Darn it, that jerk cheated me out of my money!” “Shiver me timbers, that old salt is three sheets to the wind” means “Wow, that old sailor has had too much beer.” And if a pirate (or your boss) says, “Swab the deck, ye bilge rat, or it’s Davy Jones’ locker for ye!” start mopping the floor immediately.

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