Measure Your Health
GARDEN BLOOMING GEMINI MOTHER MEMORIAL NIGHTINGALE
SPRING CINCO MAYO EMERALD MAY REMEMBER
During your first visit as a new patient, there’s a lot to go over. You may remember your hygienist inspecting each tooth and listing a series of numbers. This is an important process called periodontal charting and it’s a crucial part of your oral health. WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN? A periodontal chart, also called a gum chart, helps dentists check the health of your gums. Your hygienist measures the depth between each tooth and the surrounding gums and compares them to the chart. Normal, healthy gums tend to have pockets that are 2–3 millimeters deep, with no bleeding. With regular dental check-ups and strong at-home dental care, there is little risk of periodontal disease. When the gum pockets are deeper than 3 millimeters, a regular toothbrush can’t clean them out properly, which means bacteria are able to build up in the gums. If the gum pockets become deeper or bleed regularly, aggressive treatment may be needed to prevent or reverse periodontal disease. THE DANGERS OF GUM DISEASE Periodontal disease, sometimes called gum disease, causes the gums to become inflamed, and it can lead to bone loss around the teeth. This disease can affect the whole body, not just the mouth, or a single tooth. When bone is lost, the surrounding teeth fall out. Missing teeth lead to more bone loss, which, in turn, can cause even more teeth to fall out. It’s a snowball effect that only gets worse if not treated. HOW TO PREVENT GUM DISEASE Periodontal charts are an important tool in helping your dentist measure your risk of gum disease. Regular dental cleanings remove bacteria from the gum pockets, but at-home care is still necessary. Be sure to brush twice a day and floss at least once a day. Flossing is important because it cleans the areas between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. 40 percent of your teeth aren’t being cleaned by your toothbrush alone. The Centers for Disease Control report half of all adults over the age of 30 suffer from gum disease. Pay attention to your gum health before it gets out of hand. Give our office a call at 256.534.1475. WHAT’S A PERIODONTAL CHART?
Shrimp Sausage Skewers
Inspired by PaleoLeap.com
INGREDIENTS
•
1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 pound cooked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces • 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
CREOLE SEASONING INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
2 tablespoons paprika
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon cayenne or chili powder
1/4 tablespoon dried oregano 1/4 tablespoon dried thyme
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat your grill to medium-high. 2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for creole seasoning. 3. In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, zucchini pieces, and sausage pieces, and cover them with the olive oil. 4. Add creole seasoning and mix well until all ingredients are covered. 5. Load up skewers with alternating pieces of shrimp, sausage, and zucchini until they’re full. 6. Grill skewers until shrimp are well-cooked (6–8 minutes).
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