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February 2023
How I Discovered My Love for Dentistry
956-972-1889 SABALDENTAL.COM/MCALLEN
Meet Dr. Sreelakshmi!
“After seeing the impact that a quality dental team could have on the happiness of so many people, I knew I wanted to become a dentist to live a fulfilling life dedicated to helping others.”
an “Award of Excellence” for overall academic performance at the Indian Dental Association [IDA]; three gold medals in oral medicine and radiology, periodontics and public health dentistry; and the Best Outgoing Student award for 2012. Around this time, I married the man who would be my husband, who worked in the United States for his job, and I ended up leaving India — and my job — to live in America. After arriving in Indiana, I had to re-enter college to get a license here in the USA. I graduated, with a DDS from Indiana University in 2018. I soon started working at a dental office in Indiana, and while I loved it there, my husband and I wanted to live in a warmer climate, just like back home in India. So, after working as a lead dentist at a clinic for five years in Indiana, we packed up and moved to Texas. This move changed my life not just because of the weather but because I joined an amazing team at Sabal Dental and became part of this welcoming community in the Valley. What drew me to this practice was how the team treats their patients like family. But it was Dr. Valerie Drake’s treatment and patient care philosophy that pushed me to take this role. She consistently goes out of her way to ensure her staff and patients are taken care of and never hesitates to make every interaction a learning moment. Sabal Dental goes above and beyond for every patient to give them the care they need and ensure they are fully educated about all their options to be as comfortable as
possible. We all want to make our patients happy, to relieve them of pain, and give them a reason to smile again. Dentistry allows me to bring happiness to people around me, while providing an opportunity to form meaningful relationships with my patients. I take this responsibility as an absolute blessing, which makes me strive to stay current with all the developments in dentistry, such as taking continuing education courses to provide enhanced care in different treatments (root canals, extractions, implants, etc.). I can go on forever talking about my passion here, but I will save some till we meet in person at Sabal Dental In my personal life, my husband and I love spending time with our two little kids. I love waking up early in the morning around 4 a.m. and taking a couple of hours to focus on myself and my soul. I like to meditate and do yoga and a few breathing exercises to prepare myself for the day. But above all else, I love being a dentist, and I love being here at Sabal Dental. It’s been such a
I am very glad to have this opportunity to introduce myself through Sabal Dental to everyone in the community I call home. I always felt a sense of purpose for being blessed with adequate resources and passion for learning. This sense of purpose has become an integral part of my life, which motivates me to provide the best care for everyone who visits me for their health needs. My early schooling made me realize my interests and strengths in sciences, and my devotion to academics helped me stand out at the pre-university level. At this stage, I shadowed doctors from different fields; I was fascinated by the way a dedicated dentist can improve the oral health and self-confidence of patients through quality dental care. After seeing the impact that a quality dental team could have on the happiness of so many people, I knew I wanted to become a dentist to live a fulfilling life dedicated to helping others. In 2013, I graduated from dental school in India. I always strived to be excellent in my studies, which enabled me to receive
pleasure to meet the best patients in the world, and I am so lucky to consider you all part of my family.
–Dr. Sreelakshmi SABALDENTAL.COM/MCALLEN
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You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too Developing a Healthy Work-Life Balance
Often, the desire to succeed in our professional lives can take precedence over everything
In reality, perfectionism is out of reach. Constantly striving for perfection can be exhausting, draining, and destructive; at home and in the office. TAKE TIME TO UNPLUG. If the first thing you do in the morning is go online and check emails, or if you’re responding to work texts at the family dinner table, you’ve certainly crossed the line on balancing your work and home life. Quality time at home should be focused solely on your family, and hours at the office are for business activities. Once you mix the two, it can be tough to turn back. TAKE BREAKS. Even 30-second breathers throughout your day can make a drastic difference in improving stress levels, building your concentration, and helping you to feel more engaged — it can even help you to enjoy your job a bit more! By implementing these tips into your routine, you’ll be on your way to a healthier work-life balance, which translates into feeling less stressed, having fewer health issues, being more productive, and having a happier life at work and home.
else in our private lives, including our well-being,
family, friends, and hobbies. Moreover, finding a healthy balance between the two can be challenging as they can begin to blend. Here are the four best ways to keep your work and personal life separate while excelling at both!
LOVE WHAT YOU DO. Loving your job is easier said than done, right? If you can land an enjoyable career that isn’t restraining, you’ll find it’s much easier to leave work at work and home at home. When you’re unhappy with your job, it can affect your overall happiness, and feelings of despair can carry into your personal life. DON’T BE A PERFECTIONIST. Career burnout can drastically impact your personal life, so stop trying to control everything.
TEETH WHITENERS While the safest way to whiten your teeth is a professional tooth whitening from your dentist, there are over-the-counter methods you can add to your dental kit. Always ask your dentist before using bleaching strips or whitening kits to ensure they’re safe for your specific needs. MOUTHWASH Mouthwash does more than make your breath fresh; it also helps control many dental problems like plaque, gingivitis, and cavities. TONGUE SCRAPERS To boost your oral health and reduce foul breath odor, consider a tongue scraper to eliminate harmful bacteria in the deep grooves of your tongue’s surface. Always ask our dental team if you need clarification on which products to buy and to get expert advice on how you take care of your teeth at home. We are here for our patients throughout the entire year — not just the two times you see us.
toothpaste you use has fluoride. This is because fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and can prevent your teeth from decaying. You can also find specialty toothpaste to fit your specific needs, like tooth sensitivity, gingivitis, bad breath, tartar, and more. FLOSS This tool is critical to the success of your healthy smile toolkit because it cleans 35% of your tooth surfaces that your brush can’t reach. DENTAL PICKS AND STICKS These options are great alternatives to flossing if you’re on the go or have spaces in your teeth that may be hard to navigate with string due to bridges, dentures, or braces. These are not toothpicks but plastic or rubber tools certified by dentists. ORAL IRRIGATORS These are what many refer to as water floss and are great tools. They use a stream of water to blast away food particles between teeth just like traditional floss would.
While your dentist can help keep your teeth and oral hygiene in check with routine visits, most of your dental care happens in your own home. So, to ensure your at-home care is as effective as possible, we have compiled a list of the simple tools you can use to create an at- home dental kit. Your Toolkit for a Healthy, Confident, Smile 8 Dentist-Recommended Tools to Keep Your Smile Bright
Here’s what you’ll need:
SOFT-BRISTLED TOOTHBRUSH While a manual brush will work just fine, consider buying an electric toothbrush if you have trouble reaching those nooks and crannies in your mouth, and always change your toothbrush every three months. TOOTHPASTE You can choose any brand of toothpaste you’d like, but it’s important that whatever
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956-972-1889
Feta Chicken Burgers
Dr. Sreelakshmi’s Biotin Smoothie How to Make This Nutrient- Packed Recipe at Home
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Try these delicious chicken burgers with a Mediterranean spin on the classic sandwich we all love. Featuring Greek-style toppings and seasonings, this recipe is refreshing and super healthy, too.
I’ve always been interested in health and wellness, and during COVID, I really became interested in DIY health tips and tricks. One thing I felt certain about is that biotin is missing in a lot of at-home wellness supplements. Biotin is part of the B vitamin family, and it’s a great supplement to improve the health of your hair, skin, and nails. It’s also a key nutrient in metabolizing fats and carbs. So, consuming the proper amount of biotin each day can help people maintain a healthy weight. After being unable to find supplements that helped with biotin (other than taking a pill), I decided to make one! What I came up with is a delicious biotin smoothie that has no added sugar and is a great grab-and-go breakfast to start your day. Here’s how you make it. STEP NO. 1: SOAK 1 CUP OF YOUR FAVORITE NUTS IN WATER OVERNIGHT. Take 1 cup of a mix of peeled almonds, walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds, then soak them in water overnight. The goal is to make them soft enough to blend and increase their moisture. STEP NO. 2: SOAK A FEW FIGS IN WATER OVERNIGHT. Take a handful of figs and also soak them in water overnight. You can either combine these into the same bowl where you are soaking your nuts or choose to keep them separate. STEP NO. 3: ADD THE NUTS, FIGS, AND WATER TO A BLENDER. Dump the bowls with the 1 cup of nuts and soaked figs in a blender after they soak. You can choose to strain the water before adding or keep the water in for added moisture. STEP NO. 4: ADD DATES, CHIA SEEDS, AND OATS, PLUS YOUR FRUIT OF CHOICE. Add a few dates, a handful of chia seeds, and oats to the blender, and whatever fruit you like the best. (I highly recommend adding a peeled banana or apple.) STEP NO. 5: BLEND, SIP, AND ENJOY! Blend all the ingredients together and pour into a glass. This smoothie is packed full of iron, magnesium, biotin, and fiber. It’s also a great breakfast smoothie that will keep you feeling full until lunch — plus, it’s vegan and dairy free.
Ingredients: • 1/4 cup finely chopped cucumber • 1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise BURGERS: • 1/2 cup chopped roasted sweet red pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp Greek seasoning • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1 1/2 lbs lean ground chicken • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese • 6 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted
Directions: 1. Preheat broiler and mix chopped cucumber and mayonnaise. 2. For the burgers, mix the red pepper, garlic powder, Greek seasoning, and black pepper. Add chicken and cheese; mix lightly but thoroughly (the mixture will be sticky). Shape into 6 patties about 1/2-inch thick. 3. Broil burgers, remembering to cook both sides thoroughly. Serve on buns with cucumber sauce. If desired, top with lettuce and tomato. Enjoy! Take a Break
Solution:
If you try my biotin smoothie, let me know what you think next time you stop in for a routine cleaning or appointment!
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SABALDENTAL.COM/MCALLEN
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
820 W. Nolana Ave., Suite A McAllen, TX 78504 956-972-1889 SABALDENTAL.COM/MCALLEN
Inside
This Issue
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Meet Dr. Sreelakshmi!
How to Achieve a Healthy Work- Life Balance Create Your Own Healthy Smile Toolkit A DIY Biotin Smoothie That’s Great for Breakfast Feta Chicken Burgers
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The Dancing Plague of 1518
When French Residents Had the Uncontrollable Urge to Dance Dance Until You Drop — Literally!
In July 1518, a strange mania seized the residents of the French city of Strasbourg. Hundreds were struck with the sudden and uncontrollable urge to dance — seemingly for no reason. The plague began when Frau Troffea entered the streets and began to twist, twirl, and shake. She seemed unable to stop and danced until she dropped from exhaustion. However, once she rested, she resumed the compulsive, frenzied dancing. She continued for a week, and other residents eventually joined her. Many dancers would collapse from exhaustion, and some even died from heart attacks or strokes! The most widely accepted theory is that the plague was a mass psychogenic disorder, which can occur under extreme stress. During this time, a series of famines and diseases tore through Strasbourg, which may have triggered the hysteria.
Whatever the cause of this strange phenomenon, the dancing plague remains one of the world’s most interesting mysteries.
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