Take a look at our November newsletter!
2036 W. 95th St. Chicago, IL 60643 773-366-8718 www.comfort-familydental.com
NOVEMBER 2021
Smile Into Motherhood THE IMPORTANCE OF ORAL HEALTH BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER PREGNANCY
Hello, everyone! Our monthly newsletter is back. Out of everything that has happened in the past year, however, I’m most grateful for you. Without your support this year, I wouldn’t be able to share these free educational resources with my patients. With that said, I’d like to share a trending topic in the dental industry that more health care professionals — like primary doctors and prenatal counselors — are becoming more aware of: oral health and pregnancy. November is a time of year we often spend close to our families. With September being the most popular month for birthdays in
the U.S., it’s also close to the most popular time for parents to consider expanding their families. However, what most parents may not know is that oral health plays a huge role before, during, and after pregnancy. Why “before and during” pregnancy? As a dentist, I can’t stress the importance of preventive care enough. Considering the high prevalence of tooth decay in children and tooth disease in adults, parents should remember that preventive measures are relatively low cost and high yield. When parents allow their oral care habits to fall to the wayside, their overall health suffers, too, increasing the risk of periodontitis,
heart disease, diabetes, and dementia due to increased harmful bacteria in the bloodstream. This can have important impacts on a mother’s health long before she conceives. During pregnancy, research by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) found that periodontitis or gum disease can increase a mother’s risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm or low-birth weight babies. Oral health doesn’t become less important after pregnancy, either. Parents should be aware that early childhood caries (ECC) or cavities are considered a “family disease.” ECC is characterized by one or more teeth with cavities, tooth loss due to cavities, or filled teeth surfaces in children younger than 6, and ECC is actually contagious and can be caused by cariogenic bacteria passed on from family members with cavities, including mothers. It can also be caused by a poor, sugar-laden diet, but not as many people suspect their own cavities being infectious when kissing their infant relatives or children. If this information seems shocking, I understand — it’s not commonly known. But there are actions you can take to ensure your teeth are healthy for you and your children.
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OVERCOMING THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK Improving Your Mental Health One Step at a Time
Almost everyone at some point has encountered a task that is seemingly simple, but no matter what they do, they can’t complete it. These tasks can be as straightforward as making the bed or something bigger, like cleaning an entire room. For many, this is an obstacle that they may want to do but can’t, which weighs heavily on them and becomes detrimental to their mental health. It’s important to understand that the impossible task is not a sign of laziness; depression and anxiety can make any task feel much bigger and more difficult than it actually is. If you find yourself unable to do the things you need or want to do, try these techniques to help overcome your obstacles. Break up the task. When the overarching task feels daunting, breaking it up into smaller segments can help you manage it. If you’re cleaning the kitchen, clean for only a few minutes at a time before taking a break. It might take longer, but the space will be clean at the end of the day. Make the task more enjoyable. Play music or involve your pet in some way to make the task fun or create a reward system for yourself. For example, tidying a specific
area of the house or folding a basket of laundry may earn you time to play video games or watch TV. Alternating tasks and rewards is a great way to overcome any task, big or small. It can help to consider why the task feels so impossible, especially if you used to enjoy it. Try to remember what made it enjoyable and see if you can return to that state of mind. If the objective is not so urgent, determine its importance and if the task can be saved for another day. When all else fails, you can always ask someone for support or even pay someone else to do the task for you. No matter what you decide, there are ways to defeat the impossible task.
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First of all, make sure to brush and floss twice every day and eat a balanced diet. Research has shown that a regular oral hygiene regimen and a healthy diet, as well as an increased water and fiber intake, can decrease a mother’s risk of dental decay in the perinatal period. If flossing were optional, I wouldn’t recommend it to my patients. For most of human history, we’ve lost all our teeth as we get older. Now, thanks to flossing and science, we don’t have to. Flossing keeps your gums healthy by scrubbing bacteria that’d otherwise eat and destroy your teeth. Second, attend your biannual dental check-ups and cleanings. Keeping your dentist in the loop is a healthy practice for any expectant mother. These appointments ensure your teeth are professionally cleaned and in tip-top shape. We can help correct any signs of tooth decay so your cavities don’t infect your baby or children. If there’s any gum bleeding or other bacterial issues that can sometimes occur during pregnancy, we can help address them immediately with antibiotics. Lastly, any changes to your routine can be discussed with your dentist (me!), and we can figure out new tools and strategies to ensure your smile is protected. Third, bring your baby for a preventive dental visit by the time they’re 1 year old. According to national Medicaid data, only 9% of 1-
to 2-year-olds have a preventive dental visit. ECC is a serious public health issue, but cavities in a child’s early life (which can become lifelong health issues) can be prevented with early care. I have no doubt that all the families reading this have a busy month ahead of them. The holidays are a crazy time, but I hope you also consider stopping by our office for any missed cleanings and check-ups, especially if expanding your family is part of your big plans for 2022. Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. – Dr. Corie Rowe
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3 WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY And Still Enjoy Your Holiday Feast Should we feel guilty about how much food we eat on Thanksgiving? Many nutrition experts say no, but there are exceptions. If you feel exceptionally self-conscious about your health during Thanksgiving this year, here are a few tips to keep in mind. No. 1: Grab a smaller plate. back to haunt you. Create a game plan to ensure you don’t get off-track, even creating your own “menu” with ideal portion sizes, based on the offerings. No. 3: Brush and floss your teeth like you regularly do.
Even though this tip is relatively new in the world of dietitians and nutrition experts, this has to be the oldest Thanksgiving trick in the book. When we’re full and can’t stand our family’s pressure to grab another plate, we just work around it by grabbing a smaller plate. If you find yourself piling on food, try making your first plate smaller than usual! You might surprise yourself with how effectively your first plate of delicious, dense Thanksgiving food will keep you full. No. 2: Consider what type of eater you are. Dietary experts agree that eating far beyond your regular diet for one day shouldn’t lead to significant weight gain. “One unhealthy meal is not going to cause you to gain weight, just like one healthy meal doesn’t cause you to lose weight,” says Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The only exception? If you’re a binge-eater or you compulsively overeat, you might feel anxious about the following weeks (even months or years) after Thanksgiving in which your instinct to keep eating comes
Don’t brush your teeth immediately after consuming a large amount of soda or sugary sweets — the sugar will actually soften the enamel in your teeth, and brushing immediately after sugar consumption will break down your enamel. Stick to your usual brushing routine. Keep in mind that one unhealthy meal won’t have a big impact on your overall health. However, fighting heart disease and diabetes goes far beyond simply avoiding too many sugars and carbs. You also need to care for your teeth. Research shows that inflammation in your gums circulates bacteria in your bloodstream, which contributes to heart disease and impairs your body’s ability to utilize insulin. The best way to ensure your body stays healthy throughout the holidays isn’t just eating smart in the long run — it’s also making sure your oral health is a long-term priority. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give our expert team a call!
“Just don’t give up what you’re trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” –ELLA FITZGERALD
Take a Break
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2036 W. 95th St. Chicago, IL 60643 773-366-8718 www.comfort-familydental.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
During Pregnancy, Your Oral Health Is VERY Important!
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Overcoming the Impossible Task
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3 Tactics to Stay Healthy at Thanksgiving
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Take a Break
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The First Thanksgiving Menu
Every Thanksgiving, we gather with our families and friends and pig out. Turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing, oh my! But did the Pilgrims actually eat all the same foods we do today? When we sit down at the Thanksgiving table, we are blessed with mashed potatoes, candied yams, green bean casserole, turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. However, if we wanted to be historically accurate, we would need to change up that dinner spread a bit. Historians know of a few foods on the table that Pilgrims and Wampanoags shared at Plymouth Colony in 1621. Wildfowl, corn (in grain form for porridge), and venison were sure to be served at the first Thanksgiving. Wild turkey was also a common and abundant food source but wasn’t likely the main course as it is today. A few days before the first Thanksgiving, the colony’s governor put four men in charge of hunting for birds for the feast, and they very likely returned with some turkey. THE FIRST THANKSGIVING What Was on the Menu?
They weren’t cultivated in North America until the 1700s. Likewise, cranberries were still very new to the Pilgrims, and they didn’t yet use them for food — instead, they used them to make dyes for fabrics! For dessert, pumpkin pie was not yet a thing either. Although the Pilgrims liked pumpkins, they didn’t have the butter and wheat flour needed to make pie crust. Instead, they hollowed out the pumpkins (just like Halloween!) and filled them with milk and honey to make a custard and then roasted them. Although our Thanksgiving meals have changed over the years, it still is a fantastic time to get together and celebrate. In the spirit of evolving traditions, don’t be afraid to innovate to add your own personal traditional twist to the holiday as wel l!
However, as far as mashed potatoes are concerned, in the early 1600s, most Europeans and the Wampanoag had no idea what a potato was.
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