Dr. Maddahi's online newlsetter for October 2018
An t i - Ag i ng DENTISTRY MONTHLY NEWS
OCTOBER 2018
Overcoming Obstacles to Achieve Something More
One of the biggest challenges I ever faced was when I came to the United States at age 13. Coming from Iran, I knew very little English. Nevertheless, I enrolled at Beverly Hills High School and began classes in earnest. One class I remember in particular was my astronomy class. Every day, I sat in class and pored over every assignment with a dictionary at my side. I translated every word in the textbook and on each handout in order to understand and learn.
the material. I never assumed what something meant. If I came across something I didn’t understand, I had to investigate and ask questions until I did. This approach to my schoolwork, and the mindset that went along with it, gave me so many advantages as I got older, even as I went through dental school and opened up my own practice. That was another huge challenge I had to overcome. In 1987, I opened my dental practice from scratch. I rented space from one of my dental school professors and went to work. I didn’t start work at a practice with established patients because I knew I wanted something different.
Many school nights were spent translating the words on my assignments. I stayed up for nights on end, studying and translating. But all of that studying paid off. At the end of the school year, I left my astronomy class with a B. It was like this in all my classes. I had to learn the language and understand the material as it was presented to me. I had to adapt. But I did learn and I did understand, and, as a result, I learned a much more important lesson that wasn’t in my textbooks. I learned about taking initiative and putting in hard work. I already loved to learn, and that process is still very important to me, but becoming so absorbed with learning as a 13-year-old really instilled that value in me. By the time my first year of high school was over, I was ahead of the game, and I was able to take 11th- and 12th-grade classes the following year. I ended up graduating early. I used that passion for learning to my advantage. By spending extra time on my assignments, translating and looking for meaning, I was able to get a deeper understanding of
It took years of hard work and long days, but I knew what I wanted and kept my focus on that objective. I wanted dentistry in a different way than other dentists. It was a more holistic approach — healthier for the body. I wasn’t the only one of my dental school classmates to open a dental practice in Beverly Hills or one of the surrounding neighborhoods. But I’m one of the few who remain open to this day. Many of my classmates practiced more conventional dentistry, but by staying focused on my goal of delivering a different kind of dentistry, I found success. It was what people wanted. A big part of it is delivering an exceptionally high quality of work that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s this, coupled with paying extra close attention to the aesthetics of dentistry, that sets the practice apart. Despite the challenges, I was able to push forward to become the person I am today.
-Dr. Maddahi
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THE SUGARY SUBSTANCE DENTISTS ACTUALLY RECOMMEND
If you’ve ever seen the 1971 classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” then you are familiar with the fictional sugar-filled labyrinth from which some of the most scrumdiddlyumptious sweets are delivered to the world’s candy stores. To children, the chocolate river, Everlasting Gobstoppers, and Fizzy Lifting Drinks are the mouthwatering epitome of fun, but adults might look at all that sugar and run away screaming. According to the American Diabetes Association, added sugar may be the unhealthiest aspect of the modern diet. Fortunately, the natural sweetener xylitol provides a healthier alternative. What Is Xylitol? Xylitol is a white, crystallized sugar alcohol. It looks and tastes like sugar, but it has fewer calories and only has a negligible effect on blood sugar levels. You can find small amounts of it in many fruits and vegetables, BEFORE AFTER & which is why many define it as “natural.” You can also find xylitol in birch trees, but more often than not, scientists make it in a lab using the plant fiber xylan. Xylitol is considered a healthier choice than fructose, especially high fructose corn syrup, which spikes blood
sugar and insulin levels. This spike can lead to insulin resistance, weight gain, risk of heart disease and cancer, and several other serious health- related issues. Why Do Dentists Recommend It? Many dentists recommend using xylitol-sweetened chewing gum— no, not the kind that turned Violet into a giant blueberry. Studies indicate that xylitol can prevent tooth decay. One of the leading risk factors for tooth decay is a type of oral bacteria called Streptococcus mutans. Having traces of this bacteria on your teeth is normal, but when there is an abundance, your immune system starts attacking it. These attacks often lead to inflammatory gum diseases that can cause gingivitis. To stay alive, these bacteria feed on sugar from the food you eat, but oddly, they can’t process xylitol. If you replace your sugar intake with xylitol, the bacteria will still eat it, but their energy pathways will become clogged and they will starve. It is not often that a dentist recommends that their patients chew on sweets, but consuming this sugar can do wonders for your teeth and gums
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THE POWER OF CALCIUM How to Get Enough Calcium for Strong, Healthy Teeth
Calcium plays an essential role in the development of strong, healthy teeth and bones. The problem is that it is hard to know whether or not you are getting enough of the mineral. Unless you are tracking your calcium intake, most of us have no clue whether we are getting the calciumwe need. The average adult needs about 1,000 milligrams of calcium every day. But what does 1,000 milligrams of calcium look like? For some people, a simple calcium supplement will be enough — keep in mind, though, the body does not absorb 100 percent of any supplement. To put it into layman’s terms, there is about 1,000 milligrams of calcium in three cups of 2 percent milk. Most people do not drink that much milk in a day, if they drink milk at all. If you are lactose intolerant or rely on alternative milk beverages, what are your options? There are several nutritious, calcium-rich foods that are not milk or dairy. Here a few examples of nondairy foods that are high in the tooth-strengthening mineral (along with howmuch you need to equal 1,000 milligrams):
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Sesame seeds (1 1/4 cups)
Spinach (5 cups)
Tofu (1 cup)
White beans (5 cups)
When you mix and match to incorporate these foods into meals you already eat, you’ll find it’s easy to get enough calcium to keep your teeth and bones healthy. These six foods only represent a sample of the many foods that are high in calcium. Why else is calcium considered so crucial for the body? We all know calcium helps strengthen your teeth against the effects of decay and fortifies your bones against breakage, but it also benefits blood vessels and nerves, providing a critical nutrient to function. When you don’t get enough calcium, you might feel the effects. Muscle cramping and lethargy are common, and over time, a lack of calcium can lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis then leads to higher risk of broken bones and tooth loss. The good news is that these conditions are preventable. Just remember to eat plenty of calcium-rich foods or take a daily supplement.
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Almonds (2 1/2 cups)
Salmon (2 cans or about 16 ounces)
Have a LAUGH
PALEO PUMPKIN Coconut Smoothie
This meal-in-a-glass smoothie will cure your craving for a pumpkin spice latte. It’s packed with nutrients and fall flavor. If you’re the type of person who uses your blender more than your pots and pans, you’ll definitely want to add this recipe to your rotation.
INGREDIENTS • 1 cup coconut milk • 1/4 cup organic pumpkin purée • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie
• 1 frozen banana, sliced • 1 cup ice
spice (or substitute with cinnamon and ginger)
DIRECTIONS 1. In a blender, combine all ingredients.
2. Blend on high or on smoothie setting until smooth. 3. Transfer to a cold glass, garnish with pumpkin pie spice, and serve.
Inspired by cookeatpaleo.com
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Overcoming Obstacles to Achieve Something More The Sugar You Should Be Eating Transformations From the Office of Dr. Maddahi How to Get Enough Calcium for Strong, Healthy Teeth Paleo Pumpkin Coconut Smoothie The Birthplace of Halloween INSIDE 436 N. Roxbury Dr. #202 Beverly Hills, CA 90210
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The ancient Irish weren’t trick-or-treating or visiting haunted houses on Oct. 31, but they were celebrating the pagan holiday Samhain. Over 3,000 years ago, this Celtic festival was born in Meath and marked the end of the harvest. Samhain was celebrated with bonfires, offerings to fairies, and other rituals meant to keep evil spirits away. Many of these customs carried through the centuries and inspired Halloween traditions that are still practiced today. Today, Meath celebrates Oct. 31 with a blend of spooky thrills and traditional Samhain practices. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival starts with the lighting of the first torch fire of Samhain in Athboy, which kicks off a month of
THE REAL HALLOWEEN TOWN County Meath, Ireland, Where Halloween Began
Fans of Halloween don’t need to look far to find somewhere to celebrate their favorite holiday. There are festive parties all over the world, from New Orleans to London, but if you really want to embrace the spirit of Halloween, there’s no better destination than the birthplace of the holiday: County Meath, Ireland. Every year in Boyne Valley, the residents of County Meath throw a month-long Halloween celebration. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival attracts thousands of guests from all over the world, and while this festival has only been celebrated since 2009, many of the traditions observed here date back to ancient times.
fun activities. If you like your Halloween extra spooky, the scream park, Farmaphobia, is waiting for you. And if you’re not a fan of screaming your head off, you can check out the Halloween-themed Spookling Afternoon Tea for fresh-baked treats and spirited conversation. The motto of this all- ages festival is “Fun by Day; Frights by Night,” meaning all the really scary ghosts wait until after sunset to come out. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween, from carving jack-o’- lanterns and eating chocolate to running for your life through a haunted corn maze. And in County Meath, you can celebrate Halloween in every possible way. For more info, visit Discoverboynevalley.ie/whats-on/ spirits-meath-halloween-festival-2018 .
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