Sabal Dental - Rockport - October 2021

Sabal Dental - Rockport - October 2021

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

Text Fall Is Here! FOOTBALL, SOCCER, AND HALLOWEEN Autumn is definitely here, and I couldn’t be more excited. The end of summer seemed to drag on, so I’m very grateful for a rest from the heat. The kids are back in school, the air is getting cooler, and best of all, football is here! Every small-town Texan knows that high school football is more than a major event; it’s a way of life. We recently took our two boys to their first local football game for the Rockport-Fulton Pirates, and they had a wonderful time. It was also quite a nostalgic experience for my husband and me. He played football throughout middle school, high school, and college, while I did drill team and cheerleading. Since I went to every single game during my high school years, it was fun to relive the experience as an adult through the eyes of my kids. The sights, smells, and pageantry of the game brought back so many memories. I love that football is a community event and we can get excited about it together. Someday, my oldest son may be out on that field himself. (We’ll see!) Speaking of my boys, soccer season is back in full swing. Both Duncan (10) and Logan (8) play, and they were extra excited to get back to the game this year. The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, and while we’re not quite out of the woods yet with the pandemic, it’s great to return to some sort of normalcy. The kids are happy to be playing, seeing their teammates and friends they’ve met through the sport, and developing their skills on the field. Fall allows us to do all kinds of things as a family that we can’t do during the hotter months. I’m particularly excited to set up our firepit and start watching movies together with our outdoor movie screen. I think it’s such a fun transition, and being unable to wait, I brought all the pumpkins out at our house back when temperatures were still hitting the 90s.

Of course, no kid’s fall is complete without Halloween. I’m looking forward to trick-or-treating almost as much as the boys are because of how nice it will be to see the whole community outside and together again. Duncan thinks he’s too old to dress up now, but Logan still gets really excited. He’s very creative and likes to put together a custom costume from several different outfits. For example, he might be a superhero with traits of several different characters or a ninja with an alien mask. I think it’s great that he lets his imagination run wild. I hope that fall brings as much joy to your family as it does to mine. Whatever you and your loved ones enjoy, take the opportunity to get outside, spend time together, and have some fun. We’ll see you at the game!

–Dr. Valerie Sperry

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IS FALL

FUN FOR ALL TH 5 Corn Maze Sa

fety Tips

Wear proper footwear. Ensure that you and your family all have proper footwear, preferably closed-toed shoes, while exploring the maze. You never know what kind of critters or potentially harmful hazards may appear in your path. Eat beforehand and stay hydrated. Be sure to eat before setting out into the maze and don’t bring any glass bottles with you, as it can be dangerous if broken. Furthermore, do not consume alcohol before or while enjoying your time at the corn maze. Be prepared. Accidents can happen, usually at the most unexpected times! It is important to always have a first-aid kit handy. Be sure to call 911 in an emergency and let staff know what is going on.

Fall brings apple cider, pumpkin patches, fun seasonal outfits, and corn mazes. Unless you are visiting a “haunted” corn maze, you and your family probably won’t be chased by a chainsaw-wielding serial killer while you try to navigate through. However, safety risks are still present. Here are five safety tips to keep the fun coming during your next corn maze experience. Follow the rules. At the entrance to each corn maze, there should be a sign stating the rules for visitors. For the safety of yourself, your children, and others, be sure to read each rule and follow along. Always accompany your kids in the corn maze — it is a maze, after all! Watch for tripping and fire hazards. Keep your eyes peeled for any obstacles on the path, including holes, bumps, ruts, and corn stalks. While navigating a maze, it can be easy to forget to look down while searching for the exit. To prevent fires, you should also avoid smoking and never use matches or lighters.

As long as safety is the top priority this fall, fun will be had by all!

What Our Patients Are Saying ...

“I had a great experience at Sabal Clinic today! An old filling had fallen out, and they were able to get me in the office in a timely manner, and also they fixed my problem right away! “Both Jo Lynn and Dr. Sperry were kind and professional and made sure I knew what they were doing each step of the way as well as making me feel comfortable and pain-free during the procedure. Thank you, Sabal Dental!” – Linda N.

“Went back for my second crown to be done, and it was wonderful to not be nervous about it because of my previous root canal done there! I highly recommend you go here, and I’m sure I will be a customer for life!” – Chase F. “The doctor was amazing! She did such a great job! I felt absolutely nothing and left with a smile! I was very, very nervous coming in because I hate dental work! But they definitely made this experience worth going! Great team work! Thanks, y’all.” – Sarah C.

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Your Diabetes and Your Dental Health

With October being National Diabetes Month, now is the perfect time to explore the connection between diabetes and your dental health. Yes, there is a connection. As is the case with your dental health and so many other health conditions, they overlap, meaning that there are ways you can maintain and improve your dental health by taking care of your diabetes, and vice versa. How does diabetes relate to dental health? Before getting into how you can improve your diabetes by taking care of your teeth, let’s talk a little bit about how diabetes and dental health are connected in general. If you have diabetes, that means that you’re more at risk for: Tooth Decay Diabetics have a harder time managing their blood sugar, and the higher your blood sugar levels, the higher the amount of sugars and starches in your mouth that could create plaque, which leads to cavities. Early and Advanced Gum Disease Diabetics’ bodies have a harder time fighting bacteria, which means that plaque and tartar can build up easier. This might

lead to gingivitis (early gum disease) and later to periodontitis (advanced gum disease), which could lead to your teeth loosening and falling out if left untreated. Dry Mouth Some diabetics have a hard time producing saliva, which leads to dry mouth. Without saliva to keep your mouth moist, you could be further at risk for the above conditions. How do I manage my diabetes and my dental health together? There aren’t very many out-of-the-box tricks when it comes to caring for your dental health while also accounting for your diabetes. The best defenses are just more important: Brush twice a day, floss regularly, and see a dentist for regular checkups. Dentists treating gum disease can actually help improve your blood sugar! But of course, managing your blood sugar levels with the help of your doctor will go a long way in protecting your dental health as well. Although taking your insulin will always be the best defense against diabetes, it’s nice to know that brushing, flossing, and otherwise caring for your mouth can help as well!

Have a Laugh!

Slow Cooker Squash, Kale, and Sausage Soup

Ingredients •

1 tbsp vegetable oil

• • • • • •

Salt and pepper, to taste 4 cups chicken broth 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp Italian seasoning 3 cups kale, chopped 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

•

4 Italian chicken sausages, sliced to bite-size pieces

• • •

6 cloves garlic

1 onion, chopped

6–7 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed

Directions 1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook 4–5 minutes, stirring often, then remove from the pot and set aside. 2. Add garlic and onion to the pot. Sauté 4–5 minutes. Add squash, salt, and pepper. Sauté 8 minutes. 3. In a slow cooker, combine sautéed vegetables, sausage, chicken broth, and seasonings. Cook on low heat for 3 hours and 30 minutes. 4. Open the pot and add the kale. Cook another 20 minutes, then add the red wine vinegar and stir to combine. Cook 10 more minutes, then serve and enjoy! Inspired by SugarAndSoul.co

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Hours: M–F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Dr. Sperry Celebrates Fall Page 1 Corn Maze Safety Page 2 Our Clients Say It Best Page 2 Your Diabetes and Your Dental Health Page 3 Slow Cooker Squash, Kale, and Sausage Soup Page 3 Dog Dials 911 to Save His Owner Page 4 Inside This Issue

Dogs can be trained to obey a lot of commands: sit, stay, roll over, play dead. But how about “dial 911”? Well, that would probably be a foreign command for most dogs. Luckily, it wasn’t for Buddy, an 18-month-old German shepherd who remembered his training and saved his owner’s life. Joe Stalnaker of Scottsdale, Arizona, sustained a head injury during a military training exercise 10 years prior to the incident. Because of that injury, he suffered from seizures. Normally, a condition like that would make it unwise for him to live alone, but Stalnaker valued his independence and wanted to find a way to lead as normal a life as possible. Joe adopted Buddy from a Michigan-based organization called Paws With a Cause when the pup was just 8 weeks old. Paws with a Cause trains assistance dogs, and after adopting him, Joe trained Buddy to dial 911 until an operator was on the line in the event that he had a seizure. A year and a half later, that training saved Joe’s life. One day, Joe began seizing when he was home alone with Buddy. Buddy rushed HOW ONE DOG SAVED HIS OWNER BY DIALING 911

to the phone and dialed 911, whimpering to the dispatcher. Even if they don’t hear anyone on the line, dispatchers are required to send police. When police arrived at Joe’s home, they found him and Buddy, who was barking loudly. They took Joe to the nearby hospital, where in a few days, he made a full recovery. Some might say that Buddy was just following his training, but this heroic act goes far beyond just sitting and rolling over for treats. Even the veteran dispatchers hadn’t heard of a dog dialing 911 before. Buddy knew it was his mission to keep his owner safe, and thankfully, he knew exactly what to do under pressure — because that’s what heroes do.

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DON’T BE SCARED THERE IS STILL TIME TO USEYOUR DENTAL BENEFITS BEFORE THEYEAR IS UP!

SEE OTHER SIDE FOR MORE DETAILS ...

You’ve paid into your insurance all year long, so allowing your dental benefits to expire would be like throwing all that money out the window! THAT’S FRIGHTFUL! With the holidays quickly approaching, don’t let the busyness of the season get in the way of your dental health. By calling today, you can lock in your appointment to ensure your smile stays BOO-TIFUL! Don’t be left looking like a jack-o’-lantern this Halloween — call today to schedule your dental appointment, and take advantage of your benefits before they expire!

NO TRICKS... JUST TREATYOURSELF TO A HEALTHY MOUTH AND A HAPPY SMILE THIS HALLOWEEN.

Sabal Dental Rockport 361-729-1333 SabalDental.com/rockport