Sabal Dentistry - April 2020

April 2020

1406 Hwy 35 N, Suite C, Rockport, TX 78382 |

www.SabalDental.com

361-729-1333

|

The Ultimate Adventure

How to Love Reading

Text From a young age, I have loved to read. It wasn’t anything my parents had to push me toward; reading just came naturally for me. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of when my parents would take me out to get a new book. I loved “The Baby- Sitters Club” and “Little House on the Prairie” series and everything by Beverly Cleary. I loved opening a book and going on an adventure. That’s something I want to instill in my sons. It can be a struggle for younger kids, especially little boys, to sit still and read. I’ve been working with my oldest, Duncan, on his reading. Duncan is a very active kid, and books are competing against TV and video games. Recently I told Duncan that when I was a kid, we only had one channel on TV, and it didn’t always play cartoons. This news was very shocking to him. I went on to explain that when I was a little girl, reading a book was like getting to go on an adventure and explore someplace I never would have gotten to go otherwise. When it comes to getting kids to read, it’s important to find books that they’re going to love. I’ve tried to read a few of the books I enjoyed as a kid to Duncan, but it’s clear that he has very different interests. Luckily, there are so many kids’ books to choose from these days. Duncan loves zombies, so we found an age-appropriate series for him to read called “The Last Kids on Earth,” which is about a group of kids fighting through a zombie apocalypse. He really enjoyed those books. Right now Duncan is reading the “Ben Braver” books, a series about a boy who goes to a school for kids with superpowers. Logan, my youngest, is in first grade. He’s just learning how to read, and I want to get him into reading, too. My husband and I get Duncan and Logan to read to us a few nights a week, and we try to make time to read to them before bed as well. Right now we’re reading a condensed version of Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild.” Sharing stories as a family is a really great way

to build those reading habits and show that books can be fun. As I’ve been helping my sons learn to love books, I’ve rediscovered my love of reading. My reading habit really dropped off when I got into college. I had to study so much that whenever I tried to read a book for fun, I felt guilty, and my conscience would say, “Well, if you have time to read a book, then you have time to study.” But reading is such a good outlet to relax and relieve stress. My husband and I have both gotten back into reading recently. We like to read spiritual books, self-help books, and fiction books that are just for fun. One of the best books I read recently was “Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad” by John Eldredge. It’s a great book about getting less caught up in technological distractions and being more involved with things that are real and tangible. Meanwhile, one of my favorite books is Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.” This is a book I love to revisit every few years because it’s just so good. There’s so much science behind why reading is so good for you. I’ve heard that it helps improve vocabulary, concentration, and problem-solving. Plus, when children love reading, it unleashes their ability to go so much further in life. If you can read well, you can study, figure out how to put things together, and seek out opportunities to really grow in life. Reading opens so many doors. Most importantly, it’s just fun. Reading is an adventure that can never be replaced by video games or YouTube. –Dr. Valerie Sperry Sabal General Dentistry • 361-729-1333 • 1

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Encouraging Your Little Girl TIPS FOR RAISING STRONG, CONFIDENT WOMEN

Trust your daughter while teaching grit. Psychologist Angela Lee

In a time when it’s so easy to let technology and school run your child’s life, what’s

your role as a parent or guardian? We often hear motivational quotes talking about the importance of risk-taking and resilience, but that can be tough for little girls to learn from just YouTube videos and school alone. Here’s how you can encourage your daughter to spark her own confidence during her toughest moments. Encourage bravery and a growth mindset. Even children can be encouraged to

Duckworth studies successful people in a wide variety of fields, from business to the military, and has found that the quality most successful people share is grit. The ability to stay engaged with

tough tasks for a long period of time is a skill that takes a long time to build, but it’s not impossible for your girl to begin developing grit right now. Duckworth believes the growth mindset can start young girls on a path to embracing failure and moving forward from it.

perform to high standards while remaining within their comfort zone. They might think,

However, a lack of trust in your daughter can suffocate her growth. Despite all the adult-directed activities we give our kids, we need to step back and let them make some of their own decisions. We can give them encouragement and help along the way, but for the most part, we need to trust they can solve problems on their own. When you put faith and trust in your little girl to handle her most difficult problems, she’ll learn to do the same for herself.

“I’m not strong enough to climb this tree.” But whether it’s climbing trees or building things with others, small feelings of bravery can grow larger as they grow older. Self-empowerment will be a crucial skill in their lives, so encourage a mindset focused on growth through the process of learning. Teach them how the brain grows and adapts rapidly whenever we encounter failure and that failure and mistakes are a part of life. Once they understand that failure isn’t permanent, they’ll be inspired to take risks and solve their problems.

What Our Patients Are Saying ...

“Dr. Sperry and her staff are amazing. Everyone is friendly and explained my treatment in detail. I had the best dental cleaning I have had in years performed today. Thank you, and my family will use Sabal Rockport from now on.” – Cassie K. “Great for the whole family! We love the staff! Everyone goes above and beyond! My kids are always excited to get their teeth cleaned and leave with smiles!” – Joshua B.

“Great techs and staff. Always friendly. Dr. Sperry is fantastic. Been several times and NEVER a bad

experience.” – Royce H.

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The Truth About ‘Natural’ Dental Products Does the FDA Regulate What’s in Your Toothpaste?

As the FDA puts it, “Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA premarket approval authority, with the exception of color additives. Cosmetic firms are responsible for substantiating the safety of their products and ingredients before marketing.” One thing to note is that toothpaste with fluoride is considered a “cosmetic/drug,” not purely a cosmetic, so it’s subject to more oversight than fluoride-free options when it comes to safety. With all of this in mind, do not take the terms “natural” and “organic” on your dental products at face value. When you’re picking out a new toothpaste, always read the ingredient list. If a toothpaste really is made with natural ingredients, then it won’t list chemicals like parabens, propylene glycol, triclosan, artificial colors, or artificial sweeteners. Instead, look for recognizable ingredients like charcoal, aloe vera, green tea, chamomile, and coconut oil. You can also do a quick Google search for the company to read more about their ethics and scope out product reviews. Even more importantly, if you really have your heart set on a natural, fluoride-free toothpaste and want to make sure it will be safe and effective, then take it with you the next time you go to the dentist. They’ll be able to tell you whether you’ve made a good choice, and they’ll recommend what to look for the next time you shop!

If you’ve recently bought a new tube of toothpaste, roll of floss, or box of teeth-whitening strips, then you’ve probably noticed that the terms “natural” and “organic” are all the rage right now in the dental aisle. These products claim to be better for you and better for the environment by using whole, often plant-based, ingredients instead of synthetics and fluoride. But do the words “natural” and “organic” emblazoned on those boxes really mean anything?

Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the answer is no. While the organic food industry operates under strict guidelines, the cosmetics industry — a category that includes makeup, shampoo, and toothpaste without fluoride, according to the FDA — has no such regulations or

standardized definitions for the terms they can use. Even more alarming, cosmetic products aren’t even subject to federal oversight to ensure their safety.

Have a Laugh

Easy Deviled Eggs

While the kids hunt for Easter eggs in the yard, whip up this easy deviled egg recipe for a hearty snack that’s sure to satisfy any craving.

Ingredients • 1/2 cup mayonnaise • 2 tbsp milk • 1 tsp dried parsley flakes • 1/2 tsp dill weed • 1/2 tsp fresh chives, minced • 1/2 tsp ground mustard

• Salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper, to taste • 12 large eggs, hard-boiled • Fresh parsley, minced, and paprika for garnish

Directions 1. In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, milk, parsley flakes, dill, chives, mustard, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well and set aside. 2. Cut eggs lengthwise and remove yolks carefully to preserve egg whites. 3. In a small bowl, mash yolks. 4. Mix mashed yolks with mayonnaise mixture. 5. Spoon or pipe the mixture back into the egg whites. 6. Garnish with fresh parsley and paprika. Refrigerate before serving

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

Inside This Issue

What Are You Reading? Page 1 Tips for Raising Strong, Confident Women Page 2 Our Clients Say It Best Page 2 The Truth About ‘Natural’ Dental Products Page 3 Easy Deviled Eggs Page 3 The Best Locations for Spring Blooms Page 4

SEE SPRING BLOOM In These Beautiful Locations

more. For a truly unique experience, you can even ascend the town’s titular Crested Butte to spot some rare alpine sunflowers next to the picturesque West Elk Mountains. Antelope Valley

Spring is here, which means beautiful flowers are finally showing themselves after a long winter. Here are some of the best places in the U.S. to see flower blossoms and welcome the season. Great Smoky Mountains The Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches across North Carolina and Tennessee, and while its scenery is beautiful year-round, the park is especially alluring to nature enthusiasts during the spring. Through this season, miles of lady’s-slipper orchids, irises, cardinal flowers, and lilies dot its lush green landscape. It’s dubbed “Wildflower National Park” throughout this time of year, and you can experience it by car or on foot. The park also offers expert-led tours that weave through the flowers during their peak bloom. Crested Butte Crested Butte, Colorado, is best known for its winter sports and summer hikes. But recently it has drawn the attention of flower enthusiasts for its unique pink, orange, and gold alpine wildflowers that appear in the spring. This natural phenomenon even inspired the creation of the annual Wildflower Festival in midsummer, which features nature walks, art, photography, culinary experiences, and

The California Poppy Reserve in Lancaster, California, is a 1,780-acre park that features sloping hills covered with fields of vibrant orange, yellow, and red poppies in the spring. Warm temperatures and heavy rainfall across Southern California during this time of year create a brief period of thick blooms as far as the eye can see. And while the poppies can be enjoyed from the comfort of your car, the best way to experience them is to walk the leisurely Antelope Loop Trail for a breathtaking, up-close adventure. Spring flora is gorgeous and naturally attracts large crowds of people every year. If you plan to visit any of these destinations, just remember that their ecosystems are delicate. Respect park signs, stay on designated trails, and do your part to make sure these flowers return year after year for future generations to enjoy.

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