Highland Springs HERALD
September 2019
701 Highland Springs Avenue, Suite 12 Beaumont, CA 92223 www.tmjandsleepapnea.com babylaser.com 951.769.1616
Helping Your Kids Work Toward Proper Posture Posture Perfection
L abor Day is a celebration of the American worker! It’s a day devoted to kicking your feet up and relaxing. The three-day weekend most of us enjoy is a nice perk, too! While summertime may be one long “three-day weekend” for kids, their work also deserves to be celebrated. In fact, I often remind my kids that they have jobs of their own. Their job is to learn, do well in school, and grow into healthy, happy citizens. And part of becoming a healthy, prospering adult is making proper posture a habit! This past July, I attended a fascinating course presented by a doctor researching posture. She was relaying the important relationship between body posture and jaw growth and development. Our body posture influences the strength and coordinated efforts of our muscles, which, in turn, affect the shape and size of our bones! As an example, think of the posture we hold while using our cellphones. The neck is bent down and forward, so the jaw hangs down and forward and the tongue falls off the palate. If a growing child holds this poor posture, they are going to see changes in the development of the skeleton and surrounding musculature. Proper upright body posture will translate to a more favorable jaw alignment as well. Proper oral posture includes lips together (to encourage breathing through the nose), teeth apart (relax those jaw muscles), and keeping your tongue lifted to the roof of your mouth (improved airway and proper development of the maxilla in growing children). Teaching your kids about proper posture can be a nagging undertaking. I like to teach kids WHY it matters to have good body and oral posture. What kiddo doesn’t want to grow up big and strong?
I like to teach kids WHY it matters to have good body and oral postures. What kiddo doesn’t want to grow up big and strong?
I’ve used technology to help train myself and my kids to have better alignment. Upright Go is a small digital reminder tool. The device,
the size of a matchbox car, is placed between your shoulder blades with adhesive. You hold your correct posture and set it to memory on the user-friendly phone app associated with the device. Once you slouch, the device will gently vibrate to remind you to return to your corrected posture. With continued use, I’ve noticed a big difference! It used muscles I had forgotten to engage, as I was actually a little sore when I began the routine. I have gotten to the point where muscle memory has taken over, and the Upright Go is only needed for quick reminder training.
I’d be more than happy to help evaluate you and/or your child’s oral posture to ensure correct function and development.
I hope you had a relaxing and safe Labor Day. God bless,
–Dr. Jessica Sabo
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The 4-Legged Heroes of Ground Zero
Honoring the Canines of 9/11
Search and rescue dogs and their handlers worked 12–16-hour days, searching for survivors and victims. They worked through dangerous conditions: Many dogs burned their paws as they dug through hot rubble, and both handlers and canines inhaled toxic dust. The task was both physically and mentally exhausting for the dogs during
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets to clear rubble, offer supplies, and search for survivors. It was a powerful act of resilience in a deeply trying time, and while most of the
their shifts. Some dogs that found deceased victims refused to eat or interact with other animals. Search and rescue dogs became increasingly stressed and depressed the longer they searched without any results, mirroring their handlers. It wasn’t uncommon for handlers to stage mock “findings” of survivors to keep the dogs’ spirits up. Fortunately, the sacrifices these dogs and their handlers made did not go unnoticed. Many dog owners were inspired to earn their search and rescue certifications after the events of 9/11, promising to aid in future disasters and hopefully lessen the impact of such catastrophes. After 9/11, various researchers conducted many studies examining the effect this kind of work has on animals, both physically and mentally. Many of these studies wouldn’t be possible without the AKC Canine Health Foundation, so if you’re looking to give back this September, visit them at their website to see how you can help: AKCCHF.org.
individuals helping with the disaster stood on two feet, more than 300 canines also answered the call to service. Dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, including search and rescue dogs, police dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs, were brought in to help find and care for survivors in the wake of the destruction. They worked tirelessly alongside rescue crews as they searched through the debris.
What to Do When Your Jaw Gets Stuck Frozen in Pain
Whether it’s the result of an accident or a persisting problem, a locked jaw can be scary and painful. The next time your jaw locks up, remember these pertinent steps, and above all else, call Dr. Sabo’s office for help!
heal in this position. A custom-made temporary appliance is made to keep you from falling back out of position. (This is the step that is often left out and may lead to locking up again.)
Step 2: But My Jaw Unlocked Itself ...
Step 1: Call Dr. Sabo!
If you are able to manipulate your jaw to unlock at home, that is great! The fact that it fell off the disc suggests an injury that will need some intervention to keep the injury from worsening. This can change your bone contours over time and eventually affect your bite. Think of it this way: If you walk around with a dislocated shoulder, you’re going to damage the surrounding tissues and muscles the shoulder relies on. Our jaws are no different, so the sooner you seek help, the lower your chances are of permanent damage.
You should immediately seek help after your jaw locks. It can be difficult to recapture the jaw’s disc and regain its proper positioning if it stays locked for an extended period of time, so time is of
the essence. Call Dr. Sabo’s office at 951.769.1616, and set up an appointment. Dr. Sabo will determine the best treatment for your condition. If you are still locked, she will walk you through unlocking the joint; or the joint may have
Step 3: Keep Monitoring It
If a traumatic injury caused the locking, once fixed, you may never have to worry about it again. However, it is important to be vigilant after treatment, so be sure to watch for symptoms, such as pain and popping noises. Dr. Sabo can help you find options that could prevent further damage or locking, such as an appliance to use during sleep. Your jaw integrity influences your eating habits, speech, and overall well-being, so don’t let TMJ problems rain on your parade. Call Dr. Sabo’s office at 951.769.1616 to unlock your jaw or for treatment options for persistent pain.
unlocked on its own. (See below!) Once Dr. Sabo has gotten the jaw unstuck, it is vital to allow the joint to
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Encourage Your Kids to Drink More Plain Water This School Year
H2O, Yes!
Any time we convince our children to do something healthy, it’s a parenting win! Encouraging our children to choose plain water over a sugary option may be one of the biggest parenting challenges yet. Still, it’s one of the healthiest things you can get your children to do! Our bodies are over 60% water, and if we don’t take in enough water, our cells get dehydrated. This puts extra strain on cell function, which ultimately results in lower functioning for you! Yet, many of the liquids we drink do more harm than good. Soft drinks, energy drinks, and sugary coffees and teas can do extensive damage to your teeth and body. To start, the normal bacteria in your mouth excrete acids after consuming sugar left on your teeth from sugary drinks. This acid eats away at your teeth, resulting in cavities. The acid levels alone in some beverages erode teeth as you consume them. Help decrease the acid by encouraging your child to drink plain water. You can start by decorating reusable water bottles as a family or letting your child choose a special one from the store. You can even purchase bottles with technology that will remind a user when it’s time to drink! Don’t hesitate to speak with your children’s schools about installing bottle refilling stations and encouraging water consumption. Finally, rid your home of sugary beverages. When beginning your water crusade, remember that the old adage of drinking eight glasses per day no longer holds true. Researchers now recommend consuming anywhere between half an ounce to one ounce of water for each pound a person weighs. Take this information and turn drinking water into a game for your kids! First, calculate how much water each family member needs to drink every day, and then create a sticker chart or download a water-tracking app. Next, set goals for each family member, and at the end of the month, honor those who met their goal with prizes! For being plain, drinking water doesn’t have to be boring! Learn more about water consumption at CDC.gov, and get more “smart smile tips” from Dr. Sabo and her team at your regular dental appointment.
Have a Laugh
Sudoku
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www.tmjandsleepapnea.com babylaser.com 951.769.1616
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701 Highland Springs Avenue Suite 12 Beaumont, CA 92223
Inside This Issue Encourage Strong Development with Your Kids’ Posture
Honoring the Canines of 9/11 What Do I Do When My Jaw Is Locked?
Make Drinking Water Fun! Take a Break
Anger May Be Harming Your Heart
Chronic Anger, Your Heart, and Your Health How This Emotion Is Doing You Harm
Anger is a common emotion. It’s natural, and it’s a part of how you respond to certain circumstances in your environment. It’s how you express extreme displeasure. However, new research suggests chronic anger can be detrimental to your health. Essentially, it comes down to this: If you are stressed, tense, easily irritable, angry, and “snippy” all the time, you may be doing serious harm to your well-being.
hormones enter the bloodstream, your heart rate increases and arteries constrict. This helps to more effectively pump blood to the arms and legs for a fight or a flight.
The problem is that when a person is constantly angry or upset, these hormones course through the body more frequently, stressing the arteries and internal organs. As a person ages, this stress can become more damaging. One study that appeared in the Psychology and Aging Journal looked into this phenomenon. Researchers found that there is a link between frequently experiencing anger and increased inflammation and chronic illness for people ages 80 and older. This equated to more instances of heart disease and dementia. The study also looked at other emotions, including sadness, which has also been linked to heart disease and other inflammatory diseases. Through a number of tests involving 200 participants ages 59–93, the researchers concluded anger was far more detrimental to a person’s health than sadness. Ultimately, if you regularly experience rage and frustration, properly dealing with your anger is one of the best things you can do for your health. Every person’s situation is different, and it comes down to getting to the bottom of what makes you angry so you can work through it, whether you work through it alone or with a mental health professional. Take the steps to prioritize your mental and physical health, and your efforts will pay off tenfold in the long run. 4
Studies have already shown a link between anger and the heart. People who showed signs of feeling anger on a regular basis experienced higher rates of heart disease. The first studies on the impact of anger came out in the 1950s and have since been confirmed: Chronic anger physically harms the heart. Why? When you get angry or upset, your brain triggers the release of specific hormones, including cortisol and norepinephrine. These hormones are responsible for triggering the “fight or flight” response. When these
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