Cove Family Dentistry - September 2019

TAKE A BREAK!

On the Tip of My Tongue

AUTUMN APPLE

FOOTBALL QUARTERBACK TOUCHDOWN HOMECOMING

HARVEST CIDER LEAVES SWEATER

SEPTEMBER LABORDAY

3 WAYS YOUR TONGUE CONNECTS TO YOUR HEALTH

When’s the last time you paid attention to your tongue? For a muscle we use all the time when chewing, swallowing, or talking, our tongue is often overlooked. This is unfortunate because your tongue can be an indicator of your health. Here are three things your tongue might be trying to tell you. White, dry tongue — If you look in the mirror and notice your tongue is dry and white, you could be suffering from dry mouth. This is when your mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva. Dry mouth often comes with other symptoms, like trouble swallowing or bad breath. Fortunately, while there can be many causes of dry mouth, there are also effective treatment options that can help. Scalloped tongue — A scalloped tongue, also called a wavy tongue or a pie crust tongue, is when rippled indentations appear along the side of a person’s tongue. They look a bit like a scallop shell. These notches rarely cause any pain, and, in fact, few people even know they have a scalloped tongue, but if you do notice these waves, you might want to see a doctor. While the scallops themselves are not harmful, they could be a sign of sleep apnea. If you are unable to breathe in your sleep, you may subconsciously be pushing your tongue into your teeth to open your airways, causing the scallop pattern to form. Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition, so if you have a scalloped tongue, look into getting a sleep test right away. Beefy tongue — If you find that your tongue has become larger, redder, and almost “beefy,” pay attention. This is called glossitis and it is often an indicator of a larger unseen problem. Glossitis is a common symptom of anemia, brought on by a lack of iron or vitamin B12. Anemia is a condition in which you don’t have enough healthy blood cells carrying oxygen through your body. Your tongue is a pretty important part of your body, and it can be an indicator of your health if you pay attention. Feel free to stick out your tongue, just this once, and say thank you! Keep in mind that white on the tongue might also be plaque build-up. Be sure to clean your tongue well when brushing your teeth.

Classic Apple Crisp

Inspired by Food Network

What do you do when apples are in season but you don’t have time to make a pie? You opt for a crisp, of course. INGREDIENTS

Filling: •

Topping: •

5 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped 1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped

3/4 cup all- purpose flour

• •

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

3 tbsp all- purpose flour

• •

1/4 tsp salt

6 tbsp chilled butter, cut into pieces 1/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

• •

2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a mixing bowl, mix all filling ingredients together. Transfer to individual serving ramekins. 3. In a different mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the topping. Mix in butter until it forms lumps roughly the size of a pea, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping over filling. 4. Bake for 35–40 minutes, let stand for 10 minutes, and serve.

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