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Do you know when most dental emergencies happen? Here's a hint: “Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus.” That’s right — holiday season. Why is this? Well, the abundance of hard candy and popcorn between October and January wreaks havoc on your teeth. Often, when a broken tooth reaches emergency status, it’s actually already cracked. At that point, all it takes is a piece of hard food for it to reach breaking point. Fortunately, there are simple ways to improve your tooth health and prevent cracks during the holiday season. First, stop overindulging in sugary foods! Sugar breaks down your enamel, so the more you eat, the weaker your teeth become. Plaque builds up in your mouth whenever you consume food. The bacteria that make up plaque love sugar, and when they consume it, they produce a certain type of acid. This acid wears away healthy tooth enamel and eventually breaks down teeth. Even worse, if you already have a crack (even one you can’t see or feel), sticky, sugary foods will further irritate the area. And though it might seem like a healthy alternative, dried fruit is on this list of culprits — its dense sugars easily cling to your teeth. ThatLe d toBrokenTeeth HARMFUL HABITS have seen the look on her face when she got them. Unfortunately, we can’t deliver the toys ourselves — they have to be dropped off with DCFS officials. Last year we showed up with all our gifts packed into giant red sacks, just like Santa’s! Picking out toys is the real challenge. Jep and I are totally out of the loop on what kids like these days! In the past, we’ve stopped random kids at Target to ask them what the coolest toys were. As Eva gets older, I’m sure she’ll keep us abreast on the latest trends. This year will be Eva’s first time helping us. Buying things for people she’s never met might be hard for her to understand at first. As she grows, I hope she comes to realize that, at the end of the day, our family doesn't need much. I hope I’m able to teach her what my mother taught me, all those Christmases ago: giving is the most rewarding experience there is. –Dr. Shel ly COVER CONTINUED
To combat this, make small changes to lower your sugar intake. Replace your daily soda with a cup of tea or sparkling water. Another beneficial change is switching from dried fruits to fresh ones. Sugar aside, you may have another addiction that harms your teeth. Are you a serial fingernail or ice chewer? Both can lead to cracked and broken teeth. If you aren’t looking to drop a vacation’s worth of dough on your dental visits, consider quitting — and quick. The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that habitual nail biters will spend up to $4,000 more in dental bills over their lifetime. Carry a pack of baby carrots to munch when you’re tempted to reach for your fingernails. You can also place a rubber band around your wrist and snap it when you reach for a nail to nibble. Each painful snap can serve as a reminder to stop your destructive habit. Talk with your dentist about other ways to strengthen your teeth and prevent breakage. After all, you want to spend your holidays in the easy chair, not the dentist’s! THAI SPAGHETTI SQUASH With Peanut Sauce Craving pad thai but anxious about the carbs? Try this lighter version of a classic, delicious dish. Finding a replacement routine for detrimental chewing habits is key to kicking the habit for good.
Ingredients • 1 medium spaghetti squash • Olive oil • Salt • 1 garlic clove, minced • cup chopped parsley • 2 tablespoons crushed peanuts
Peanut sauce: • 1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk • ¾ cup unsweetened peanut butter • cup coconut sugar • 2 tablespoons soy sauce • 2 tablespoons white vinegar • 2 teaspoons sesame oil • 2 teaspoons red curry paste
Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Halve squash and scoop out seeds. 2. Drizzle inside of squash with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place squash on baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes. 3. Let cool. Using a fork, scrape out spaghetti squash strands. 4. Place sauce ingredients in saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. 5. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, parsley, and 1/4 of the peanut sauce and combine. 6. Add spaghetti squash and crushed peanuts. Stir to combine until heated through, about 2 minutes. Once served, drizzle with more peanut sauce.
Recipe courtesy of TwoPeasAndTheirPod.com.
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