All Smiles Dental Care

Green tea has been very popular in the past couple of years for its healthful qualities, especially when compared to coffee and black tea. Green tea contains antioxidants, has been linked to lower cancer risk, and boosts fat oxidation, which helps you lose weight. In addition, the tea provides several benefits for your oral health!

Green tea:

1. Inhibits the growth of bacteria in your mouth, which causes bad breath.

2. Kills oral cancer cells.

3. Acts as an anti-inflammatory, which can reduce swelling in the gums

4. Reduces the formation of dental plaque

The American Academy of Periodontology conducted studies on regular green tea drinkers, and found that they had superior periodontal health to those who did not regularly consume green tea. It seems that the health benefits of green tea are adding up, and adding a cup to your daily routine would be advantageous to more than just your mouth.

We are relatively new to the twitter-verse, but we love getting to connect with more readers, guests, and friends in a more interactive way. This past Friday we launched a new feature to our office by offering “Dr. Imm live” from 1:00 to 1:30 pm EST to answer any dental questions you may have. Dr. Imm will continue to live tweet each Friday afternoon in an effort to foster positive guest interaction and answer any questions you have that you just haven’t had time to call the office about.

Our twitter handle is @allsmilescare and we look forward to connecting with you!

Optimism is more than just a positive outlook on life. The ability to think happy thoughts has proven to lengthen lives and prevent strokes. People who are optimistic often make healthier lifestyle and dietary choices, but their outlook alone causes decreased stress, better immune system, and decreased risk of heart disease.

Some of us are just wired to be more positive, but there are a few suggested ways to boost your mood and your ability to see the glass as half-full instead of half-empty.

1.) Stay away from negative thoughts.

Don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to someone else. Sometimes we are our own harshest critic. It is important to give yourself a break and allow yourself to make mistakes every once in awhile.

2.) Be intentional about your company.

Surround yourself with people who lift you up, encourage you, and make you laugh (and do the same for them!). If you have a friend or coworker who makes you feel down in the dumps or turns every conversation into a chance to complain, try to limit your time with them.

3.) Laugh it off!

Make sure you laugh at least once a day–if not more! Children spend much of their day smiling and laughing, so why don’t adults? Laughing boosts your mood, relieves stress, and improves your perspective.

4.) It’s all about perspective.

Speaking of perspective, take a look at the way you see a stressful situation or part of your life. Is there an area of your life you are constantly complaining about? Try to see it in a new way, even if you have to think outside the box.

As we ring in 2012 in just a few short days, will you be resolving (again) to lose weight in the coming year?

Weight loss is the most common New Year’s Resolution in the United States. Retailers cash in by offering deals and incentives on exercise equipment and programs right after Christmas. Gyms and weight loss centers also offer deals and sign-on bonuses to entice people to join in the new year. All of those leftover holiday goodies don’t help either!

Unfortunately, many people begin the year with good intentions, but fall off the wagon quickly as life catches up. It is not a rule, but generally those weight loss resolutions do not result in success–but why?

1. Knowing you’ll be on a diet come January 1st results in binge eating over the holidays.

Many people indulge in a last “hurrah” over the holiday season once they have decided to go on a diet of the new year. They eat more sweets and junk food than normal, which makes it more difficult to stop, as well as packs on more pounds.

2. Diets generally don’t work.

If you make drastic changes to your eating habits in order to lose weight, that weight comes back as soon as you resume eating normally (which most people do). If you cut out carbs, you may lose quite a few pounds very quickly, but chances are, you will begin eating them again. Instead, make a conscious effort to make healthful choices at each meal, including fruits, vegetables and lean meats–with the occasional sweet or indulgence.

For more information on some great nutrition advice, see here for some previous blog posts.

3. It hasn’t worked in the past.

Many people resolve to lose weight in the new year more than once in their lifetime–and have failed more than once in their lifetime. This results in a sense of defeat, as well as the underlying question of what went wrong. People begin to think they lack willpower or the ability to lose weight if they fail to maintain weight loss year after year.

Rather than making a new year’s resolution to diet, make healthier choices starting today, and vow to continue that into the new year. Instead of depriving yourself, eat mostly healthy foods, but allow yourself to have your favorite food every once in awhile–in moderation!

Have a happy and healthy holiday weekend!

It’s easy to get tied up in picking out the perfect gifts for others, or attending holiday parties, or putting the finishing touches on decorations. However you spend your holiday season, we hope you’ll consider giving back to the community or anyone who needs a little extra joy in their lives…because really, the season is about giving and not just to those who probably have enough already!

Here are a couple of creative ways to give back to get your started! Please feel free to share your own ideas below in the comments section:

1. Adopt a family in need for the holiday: Through Salvation Army or just your local church, you can locate a family in your area that may need food, clothing , or gifts for their children this Christmas. Team up with your family or coworkers to help provide a special holiday.

2. Give a meaningful gift in honor of a the person on your list that has it all! Check out www.heifer.org to find out how to give the gift of food to those who need it the most. Heifer International works to end hunger and poverty all over the world.

3. Pay it forward. Find a simple way to brighten the day of someone around you, whether it be paying for their coffee, leaving a large tip at a restaurant, or leaving some homemade goodies for someone at the office who may need some extra cheer.

4. Keep extra dollar bills and change and actually put something in the Salvation Army buckets.

5. Get your children involved in clearing out their (gently used) toys to make room for new ones. Donate their toys to a local family in need, church nursery, or Goodwill store in your area.

6. Shop local or fair trade for gifts to keep money in the community or supporting craftsmen around the world.

7. Donate blankets, coats, hats, and gloves to a homeless shelter to keep people warm throughout the winter.

8. For a free way to give back, click here and upload a photo of you or someone you know giving their very best smile. For every smile uploaded, we’ll donate a dollar to Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org for info). This is a great organization, and costs you only minutes of your time.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday and are spending it with those you love!

Last week we gave a rundown of what Celiac’s disease looks like and what type of symptoms you might have. This week we’re here to give some practical advice on eating gluten-free, from shopping to eating out.

Tip #1: Shop the perimeter of the grocery store.

This is good advice for anyone trying to be health conscious. The fresh, least-processed foods are around the outside perimeter of the store (produce, meats, cheeses, milk). Foods that are not processed and are in their natural state such as chicken, fish, most cheese, and dairy do not contain gluten. Check the packaging of hot dogs, sausage, and cheeses with added preservatives to make sure they don’t contain any gluten.

Tip #2: Check your natural and organics section.

There are many excellent gluten-free brands that taste as good (or almost!) just as good as their gluten-filled counterparts. Stock up on the basics such as good gluten-free flour or ready-made bread (check out Bob’s Red Mill and Rudi’s). Gluten-free waffles and pastas are also available. Chex cereal is also naturally gluten-free.

Tip #3: Try out some new grains.

Once you decide to go gluten-free, you don’t just have to stick to rice as your only carbohydrate. Check out quinoa, buckwheat, cornmeal (which can be used as a breading, especially for fish), and grits. These are all filling options for side or main dishes.

Tip #4: Watch for unlikely sources of gluten.

There are some foods that are a given when it comes to containing gluten, like bread or pastries. However there are many foods (and other products) that you might not expect to cut out of your daily routine. Many soy sauces, teriyaki sauces, cold cuts, gravies, chips, and chapsticks contain gluten. Check the labels on these items especially before buying.

Tip #5: You don’t have to stop eating out.

It may be more challenging to eat out after cutting out gluten, but it is not impossible. Call ahead to the restaurant or check their website to inform them of your allergy and check out their menu to be sure there are some promising options. Ask for your salad without croutons, and if a sandwich looks good, ask for it without bread then load up on other side dishes that fit into your diet. Avoid dishes that contain the words “breading” and ask about the ingredients in any sauces, salad dressings, soups or gravies. Many thickening agents contain gluten. Check out this web page for a list of restaurants with gluten free menus as well as some other tips for dining out gluten free. And of course, don’t be afraid to ask your server questions before selecting a food.

Gluten allergies are on the rise, or at least their diagnoses are. Others are eating gluten-free for health benefits. We wanted to give a brief breakdown of the symptoms to look out for when determining whether you have a gluten allergy, as well as some tips on eating gluten free.

This week we’ll be discussing what a gluten allergy looks like. Gluten allergies, also known as Celiac’s disease, can show up in a variety of ways. The allergy can be evident in childhood, but it is also common to receive a diagnosis up into adulthood. The signs and symptoms of Celiac’s disease are typically divided into two categories: symptoms due to improper absorption of nutrients and those due to malnutrition (deficiencies in necessary vitamins and minerals).

Symptoms of malabsorption:

• diarrhea
• gas and bloating

Symptoms of malnutrition:

• infertility
• weight loss
• fluid retention
• muscle weakness
• anemia
• osteoporosis

If you are experiencing these symptoms and have not received another explanation, it is worth asking your physician for a blood test for Celiac’s disease. Remember that in order for the test to be accurate, you need to be eating your normal diet, even if you suspect you have a gluten allergy. Many people experiment with cutting out gluten before receiving an official diagnosis, and this ends up skewing the blood test results.

Stay tuned next week for some tips on eating gluten free, whether for a gluten allergy or other health reasons.