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Examining the Value of Gratitude TO GIVE THANKS
In 2006, I had Thanksgiving dinner at a pub in Manhattan. This wasn’t where I planned on being for Thanksgiving, but just the day before, my twin daughters had been born at Mount Sinai Hospital. I remember sitting there and thinking about how much I had to be thankful for. My girls and my wife were all healthy, and I was about to start a new stage of fatherhood. It was a little overwhelming, but in that moment, I couldn’t have been happier.
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT A GREAT HOLIDAY THANKSGIVING IS? “
I don’t usually spend Thanksgiving Day at a pub. I prefer to spend the day at home with my family, eating too much and relaxing with the people I love. Recently, my sons and I started playing a game of touch football on Thanksgiving with a bunch of friends
writing thank-you letters or maybe by keeping a gratitude journal, have been shown to be more resistant to stress. Grateful people are also able to recover from stressful situations more quickly, and they tend to have a higher sense of self-worth. Why is gratitude so beneficial? It’s hard to say. Maybe it’s because when we take the time to acknowledge what we have, it’s easier to hold on to those good thoughts when life doesn’t seem so great. For me, gratitude is about taking a minute to reflect and appreciate the things I am fortunate enough to have that other people may be missing in their lives. I am fortunate to be following my dream of running my own practice, to know my family is happy and healthy, and to be surrounded by people whom I love. Remembering these blessings and being thankful not just on Thanksgiving, but every day, certainly helps me feel more optimistic when times are tough. I hope you all are able to enjoy a relaxing holiday, sharing great food with the people you love, and that you have many things to be grateful for, too.
and their sons. It’s a lot of fun and a really good way of earning all those side dishes covered in cranberry sauce. It’s during the times when I get to be with my family that I really see all I have to be thankful for in life. Have you ever thought about what a great holiday Thanksgiving is? Here is a day that is about being grateful. Sure, the food is great, and I love football, but it’s pretty uplifting to think about howwe have this one day when the whole nation agrees to pause and remember the good things. This is remarkable because gratitude can be a powerful thing. Research published in the journal Psychological Science found that when people wrote thank-you letters, it didn’t just make the person receiving the letter feel good. Writing these letters actually improved the well-being of the people who were expressing gratitude. There is a whole field of psychology, called positive psychology, that looks at how happiness and gratitude impact us physically and mentally. People who regularly practice gratitude, be it through
Happy Thanksgiving!
–Dr. Harrison Linsky
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The Strange History of Mouthwash UNUSUAL INGREDIENTS
There’s a tendency to assume people didn’t care about their teeth until the advent of modern dentistry, but the truth is that civilizations throughout history sought to clean their teeth and freshen their breath through many different techniques. However, the level of effectiveness — or hygiene — of these strategies was often questionable. Take mouthwash for example. People have been using mouthwash to treat oral conditions since the ancient Egyptians, but the best- recorded formulas for popular mouthwashes come from the Roman Empire. Romans would often buy bottles of Portuguese urine, hoping the ammonia in urine would clean their mouths and whiten their teeth. We do not recommend this approach. Around the same “Was in pain for about a week when I realized it was time to get my wisdom teeth out. My dentist recommended Dr. Graffeo. I called and was told I could come right in for a consultation. The entire staff was very welcoming and so, so friendly! I had an appointment the next day to get them out. Laney and Dr. Graffeo were beyond excellent in making sure I was comfortable and very informative about what should be done for the next few days. He even called later that night to see how I was doing. I couldn’t recommend a better oral surgeon and his staff to anyone! Thank you!” –Megan B.
time, other common mouthwashes called for dough water or tortoise blood.
noted how effective the formula was at killing oral bacteria. Unfortunately, no one was buying. People just weren’t worried about bad breath. Eager to make their product part of every American’s oral hygiene routine, Listerine coined the term “halitosis” as part of a marketing campaign to raise awareness about bad breath. The campaign was a huge success. Listerine’s company profits rose 4,000 percent in seven years. Today, sodium hexametaphosphate and hydrogen peroxide have replaced urine and tortoise blood as the most common ingredients in mouthwash. If you ask us, this is a welcome upgrade.
Across the sea, the Aztecs used mouthwash made from the savoyane plant. Now, if you have to choose between urine and savoyane, you might want to go with the latter. Fortunately, today we have a wealth of mouthwash brands to choose from in the grocery store. However, it’s worth noting that the most popular brand of mouthwash, Listerine, has a history that’s almost as strange as ancient mouthwash remedies. Invented in 1879, Listerine was originally intended as a floor cleaner and antiseptic for surgery. In the late 19th century, Listerine hit the markets as a mouthwash after dentists
OUR PATIENTS SAY IT BEST “Really, 10 STARS! Friendly, professional, painless, and
“I had a great experience here. The staff was kind, professional, and accommodating. I had a minor tooth extraction done, and Dr. Linsky made sure I didn’t feel any discomfort and even called the next day to make sure there weren’t any issues. I would highly recommend him and his staff to anyone who could benefit from their services.” –Andrew M.
seamless on every level. Dr Linsky is the man and so is his staff. And get this ... THEY CARE. Almost makes me want to pull more teeth out ... Well, maybe not, but I give these folks my highest recommendation.” –Alan G.
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Fluoride-Free Toothpaste Can’t Protect Your Teeth
The Problem With Going ‘Natural’
Natural and alternative toothpastes have been growing in popularity, riding on the coattails of the recent organic movement that seeks to remove harmful products from our lives and our bodies. This doesn’t sound like such a terrible thing, but the problem is natural toothpaste is often just code for “fluoride-free.” Dentists are starting to see the impact of this growing craze in their patients’ mouths. Researchers from the University of Washington have found that using fluoride-free toothpaste is about as effective as not using toothpaste at all. They analyzed three different studies involving 800 children between the ages of 10 and 13 from the United States and Great Britain. In their report, the researchers determined there was no significant reduction in cavities in the children who did not use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride-free toothpaste brands often use the word “natural” to imply they are somehow superior to other brands on the market. Interestingly, it seems they have forgotten that fluoride comes from the natural element
fluorine and has been proven to be beneficial to improving the health of our teeth time and time again. But despite the evidence, demand for fluoride-free toothpaste continues to grow. How do you get your patients to understand the importance of using toothpaste that actually works? To start, point out that the acts of scrubbing with a brush and flossing do help get plaque off your teeth — toothpaste isn’t solely responsible for removing the factors that lead to gum disease and decay. However, emphasize that fluoride toothpaste is a recommended part of the brushing process because fluoride helps disrupt dental plaque and reduces the demineralization process. Removing fluoride from your brushing routine can lead to an increase in cavities, especially in children. As Damien Walmsley, scientific advisor to the British Dental Association and dentistry professor at the University of Birmingham, says, “It’s really important to debunk this idea that brushing your teeth stops decay. You need to have the fluoride.”
Spicy, Creamy Sweet Potatoes
Have a Laugh
Sweet potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, but they’re often the blandest thing on the table. Luckily that’s not the case with this recipe, which features Thai spices and coconut milk.
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 375 F. On a large sheet pan, bake potatoes until very soft, approximately 75 minutes. 2. Let potatoes cool until they are safe to handle, then peel and mash. 3. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine coconut milk and curry paste. Once mixed, add the mixture, salt, half the sugar, and half the butter to potatoes. 4. 30 minutes before serving, heat oven to 425 F. Spread potatoes in a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 20 minutes. 5. Uncover potatoes and dot with remaining butter and sugar. Broil until brown, crusty, and delicious. Serve hot.
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
● 5 pounds sweet potatoes ● 1 cup canned coconut milk ● 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste ● 1/2 cup dark brown sugar ● 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
● 1 tablespoon kosher salt
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Inspired by The New York Times
Westchester Office • 914-251-0313
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INSIDE This Issue
PG 1
What Are You Thankful For?
PG 2
The Strange History of Mouthwash
Our Patients Say It Best
PG 3
Does This Toothpaste Cause Cavities?
Spicy, Creamy Sweet Potatoes
PG 4
A Historic Veterans Day
AHISTORICVETERANS DAY Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the End of World War I
This year, Veterans Day takes on particular historic significance: Nov. 11, 2018, marks the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended the First WorldWar. Countries around the world will commemorate the signing of this peace agreement with moments of silence, centennial ceremonies, and historical exhibits. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day is a celebration of life. It’s a day to honor the power of peace and the living veterans across the globe who have served their countries. This November, take a moment to remember the war that helped shape the international community’s dedication to peace and thank the individuals who served to defend it.
The Great War that ravaged Europe resulted in a devastating loss of life, but from those ashes rose a renewed appreciation for the importance of peace and a global effort to ensure its place in the future. The Restoration of Peace In 1918, Germany surrendered unconditionally, and the armistice ended the fighting at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, though the war did not officially end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles the following July. An estimated 16 million soldiers and civilians died in just four years, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in modern history.
Veterans Day Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Daywas first observed on Nov. 11, 1919, to honor the one-year anniversary of the armistice, and it became a U.S. holiday in 1938. Today, Veterans Day celebrates veterans who served their country honorably. The U.K., France, Australia, and Canada also commemorate their veterans in November. If you know a veteran, thank them for their service this month.
The GreatWar By 1914, a world war had been years in the making, but the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire by a Serbian nationalist provided the spark that would eventually burn down much of Europe. A chain reaction of land disputes, pre-emptive attacks, and strategic alliances brought over 30 countries intoWorldWar I.
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