Sabal Dental Rockport - July 2021

Sabal Dental Rockport - July 2021

1406 Hwy 35 N, Suite C, Rockport, TX 78382 | www.SabalDental.com | 361-729-1333 | July 2021

From Camper to Counselor to Camp Mom

Dr. Sperry Talks About Her Summer Camp Experiences

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Some of my best summer memories are from going to camp. I attended a summer camp every year from about third grade until I graduated from high school. That’s probably why when I was in high school, looking for ways to stave off summer boredom and make some extra spending money, I decided to apply to work as a camp counselor. My first job was at a day camp for kids. Since I’d had so much fun as a camper, I thought it’d be fun to be a counselor as well. Plus, I’ve always liked kids, and this was a great opportunity to get some job experience while hanging out with kids all day doing fun things like playing kickball or making crafts. Since we did so many different activities, it was kind of like having several summer jobs in one. I wasn’t a lifeguard, but I got to hang out poolside while the kids swam for an hour each day. I wasn’t a coach, but I got to play sports with them. “My first job was at a day camp for kids. Since I’d had so much fun as a camper, I thought it’d be fun to be a counselor as well.”

I worked at that day camp for two summers and eventually also worked at an overnight camp. We did all the traditional summer camp activities with the campers like canoeing and archery as well as arts and crafts projects. Each counselor was assigned to a cabin and a group of campers, and we made sure the kids had a fun time while still reminding them to do less-fun things like brushing their teeth! because my two boys are going to attend a summer camp for the first time this year! They’ll be at a day camp and get to do a lot of the fun things I once did as a kid: archery, swimming, canoeing, and ropes courses. Since it’s a new experience for them, they’re a little nervous, but I think the experience will be a great one. These memories aren’t just coming to mind because it’s summertime but For one thing, going to camp is a great way for kids to get out of their comfort zone a little. They get to meet new friends and try new activities. It can be challenging, but it’s also a great way to gain confidence and have fun. Since camp is an immersive environment, it’s also an effective way to make sure their days aren’t spent just watching cartoons or playing video games. Some of that is just fine, of course, but with the open days of summer, I think it’s important to have other social activities in the mix. My husband and I have done some mother-son and father-son camps in the past, so we’re reminding our boys of how much fun those activities were. Looking

back on my experiences as a kid — and then as a counselor at a summer camp — I really can’t imagine my childhood without them! And it feels like things are coming full circle this summer as we prepare for our boys to get their first independent camp experiences too. There’s a reason that summer camp has endured over the years as a summertime tradition for so many kids and families throughout the decades. And who knows? Maybe in a few years, they’ll go from camper to counselor just like I did.

–Dr. Valerie Sperry

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Get Your Train of Thought Back on Track

RECOVERY HACKS

REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT YOURSELF. Paraphrasing your last few thoughts out loud can help you remember where you were going.

Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation, presentation, or debate, stringing together thoughts in a way you hope is coherent and insightful when — poof! — you lose your train of thought? It’s frustrating. You just want to make yourself understood, but your brain has other plans. What if there were a way to keep your train of thought on track? Well, the good news is that recovering your train of thought is easy with the following hacks in mind.

Think of it as retracing your steps: You go back to the last words you remember saying, and more often than not, you’ll find your direction again. TAKE A SHORT PAUSE. Pausing briefly is a great way to make recovering your train of thought seem natural. This hack works really well if you’re answering a question and you need time to think, and you also don’t want to be bogged down by a chorus of “ums” escaping from your mouth. WRITE IT ALL DOWN. This hack works well when you know beforehand that you’ll be speaking with someone or in front of people. Even if you never refer to your notes while speaking, simply writing down a road map for your train of thought can help you recover from a detour and speak more confidently. REMEMBER YOUR OVERALL POINT. The easiest way to drive your train of thought into the weeds is to forget your overall point — or not to have an overriding point at all. Always have a short, overarching point you can use to recenter yourself and get back on track. With these hacks, your brain will have to work a lot harder to make you lose your train of thought! Now you’ll be more prepared to tackle any subject matter, no matter how deep or technical, that comes your way.

What Our Patients Are Saying ...

“I had an extraction today, and it went easier than any I’ve ever had. Dr. Sperry is calm, quick, and highly efficient. And her staff is wonderful. I would definitely recommend this great team. The sunglasses to shield my eyes from the overhead light were a great touch! Thanks so much!” – Sara “I highly recommend Dr. Sperry; she is the best! Dr. Sperry, is an awesome dentist. I love how Dr. Sperry repeats the words over and over. I love how Dr. Sperry explains everything she does. Dr. Sperry and her staff help me with my anxiety. Dr. Sperry and her staff are so very friendly. There is just so many good things to say about Sabal Dental. I love coming here.” – Christine R

“I haven’t done anything to my teeth ever, and I found out I needed a few teeth extracted. Sabal Dental got that done in an hour. A few hours later, I feel pretty good. I thought this was going to be worse. I hope it stays that way. I’m following their orders to rest and eat just soft foods. I’m finally doing what I need to in order to get my teeth straightened. I’m super excited — thanks to Sabal Dental. Can’t wait to put my Invisalign in next week after recovery. ” – Grizelda L.

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The One Habit Dentists Really Hate

as tools, your teeth can become weakened and eventually crack or chip, causing you pain. USING TEETH TO HOLD OTHER OBJECTS Holding objects in your teeth can be just as detrimental to their health as opening packaging. In fact, holding heavy objects can seriously weaken your teeth. Even lighter objects,

Why You Should Never Use Your Teeth as Tools

What’s the first thing you do when you’re unable to open plastic packaging with your hands? If you’re like many people, you skip the scissors and go straight

like pens, can be just as troublesome — if this becomes a habit — eventually wearing down the surface of your teeth. Although many

for your teeth. Our teeth are wonderful tools — for chewing food. However, it’s not uncommon for people to use their teeth as multipurpose tools when they’re not designed as such things. Here are two habits that any dentist will tell you to break when it comes to using your teeth inappropriately.

people do these things without even thinking about it, these habits can lead to sensitivity and pain.

Our teeth were made to tear and chew food and nothing else. Using teeth as multipurpose tools can be tempting — especially if you don’t have the right tool nearby — but this can be costly. Damaged teeth may require fillings, crowns, veneers, or dental implants, depending on the severity of damage. It’s better to take care of your teeth now and use them as they were meant to be used rather than having to pay to fix damages later.

USING TEETH TO OPEN PACKAGING Whether it’s a bottle, a plastic container, or a bag of chips, this action of “opening” or “tearing” with your teeth can do serious damage. When your teeth come into contact with metal or hard plastic and you apply force, you risk cracking or chipping your teeth. On top of that, the metal or plastic may accidentally cut your gums or cheeks, which can then lead to infections. With repeated use

Have a Laugh!

Easy Zucchini Enchiladas

Ingredients • 1 tbsp olive oil •

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3 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded 1 1/3 cups red enchilada sauce, divided 4 large zucchini, sliced very thin lengthwise and dried

1 onion, chopped

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2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tsp cumin •

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2 tsp chili powder

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Salt, to taste

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2 cups shredded cheese

Sour cream and cilantro, for garnish

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring for 5 minutes. 2. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Cook for 1 minute, then add chicken and 1 cup enchilada sauce. Stir to combine. 3. On a cutting board, lay out three slices of zucchini side by side. Top each with a scoop of chicken mixture, then roll into a tube. Repeat with remaining zucchini slices. 4. Add the rolls to a baking dish. 5. Top the rolls with the remaining enchilada sauce and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Top with garnishes!

Inspired by Delish.com

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1406 Hwy 35 N, Suite C Rockport, TX 78382 361-729-1333 www.SabalDental.com

Why Dr. Sperry Loves Summer Camps Page 1 Life Hack: How to Recover Your Train of Thought Page 2 Our Clients Say It Best Page 2 The One Habit Dentists Really Hate Page 3 Easy Zucchini Enchiladas Page 3 The Miraculous Mountain Cat Page 4 Inside This Issue

THE MEOW AT 10,000 FEET

High on the slopes of Bristen, a mountain in the Glarus Alps in central Switzerland, a pair of skiers discovered something unexpected. At 4:30 a.m., the skiers climbed toward the summit of Bristen when they realized they weren’t alone. They were being followed by a cat — not a lynx or a wildcat, but a little mewling house cat.

when she was too exhausted to walk uphill anymore. We were definitely confused. I felt really sorry for the cat. She was really exhausted on the ridge underneath the summit.”

The cat stayed with them for some time before they met up with another group of hikers who were headed down the mountain. The cat joined them for what would hopefully be a journey

How does a house cat end up on the slopes of a snow-covered, 10,000-foot mountain? This was an answer the skiers wouldn’t get. They weren’t even sure what to do with a cat in general. It’s likely that it simply wandered away from one of the nearby towns or villages near the base of the mountain, but even for a human, that’s a major undertaking. Lost, the cat followed the only sign of civilization it could find: the skiers, Cyril and Erik Rohrer. “She started to shiver, and her paws began to bleed from the hard snow,” Cyril noted. “We picked her up and carried her

back home. And it was! Remarkably, the cat’s owners were found. They revealed that their cat had vanished four days earlier and apparently followed yet another group of hikers up Bristen. “Animals do weird things. And they are way tougher than humans. They’ll never give up. Even though they are hurting really, really bad,” Cyril said of his feline hiking companion. Hopefully, that will be the little feline’s last trip up for some time!

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