Comfort Family Dental - May 2020

HOW TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS WHILE FOLLOWING SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES

LET YOUR KIDS CHAT WITH FRIENDS. Kids can benefit from video chatting by staying in touch with their friends while school and other activities are canceled. Letting your kids connect to social media is a pretty big step, so consider signing them up for Yoursphere or Kidzworld, kid-friendly networks that let them keep in touch with their friends while you can monitor their activity. Get in touch with other parents to set up virtual play dates over video chats for your kids. They can even watch a movie or TV show together. HOST A MOVIE NIGHT. Speaking of movies, Netflix developed a unique way for people to watch movies and shows together: Netflix Party. If you have a desktop or laptop with a Chrome browser, visit NetflixParty.com to download the application. Once downloaded, open the movie or TV series you’d like to watch, create or join a “party,” then relax and enjoy the show while chatting with friends. These are only a few examples of how we can stay in touch during these concerning times. Talk with your family and friends and see what other creative ideas you can come up with together. Even though you may be apart from loved ones right now, virtual communication has never been easier or more plentiful.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are encouraging communities across the U.S. to practice social distancing. While this will help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, it also means that social interactions

will be minimal. In addition to impeding many industries and businesses, this has significant impacts on families and friends who can no longer visit each other in person. Luckily, the technology we have today allows us to stay in touch while still practicing social responsibility. SPRUCE UP EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES. Hopping on the phone or your laptop to video chat is a great way to reach out and catch up with loved ones. While folding laundry or doing other mundane chores, give a friend or your parents a call to idly chat; it can make your tedious tasks much more enjoyable. Video calls are also beneficial if, for example, you’re missing out on your daily workouts with a friend. Hop on a video chat to practice yoga, cardio, or other simple exercise routines together.

BRUSHING YOUR TEETH CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE THE TRUTH ABOUT ORAL SYSTEMIC HEALTH

One of Dr. Corie’s biggest passions is his patients’ overall health. At Comfort Family Dental, when we say that your oral health affects everything, we really mean it. That’s why, this month, we want to talk about oral systemic health. Oral systemic health simply refers to the connection between oral health and overall health. The health of one area of the body has an effect on all the others, and vice versa. Likewise, systemic diseases are illnesses that affect multiple systems within your body. Some examples include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

the late 19th century, but it wasn’t until 2000 that the Surgeon General of the United States recognized the connection between periodontal disease and other systemic diseases. His report called for more research to determine the causation behind a single, powerful statement: “Oral health is integral to general health. You cannot be healthy without oral health.” Since then, thousands of studies have been done to research oral systemic health. As it turns out, there is a clear link between periodontal and heart disease. Studies have found that 47% of Americans have at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as diabetes, obesity, poor diet, alcohol abuse, or smoking. Studies have also shown that 42% of adults ages 30 and over experience periodontal disease. Though the

exact reason for the correlation remains unclear, “there is a significant overlap between factors seen to increase risk of periodontal disease and heart disease,” according to the American Dental Association. If you’re concerned about how your oral health may be affecting increasing health risk factors, then you can consult a dentist who is trained in oral systemic health care, like Dr. Corie. He understands the impact of gum disease on your overall health, which is why he is a member of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health and many more dentistry academies and organizations. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, then don’t hesitate to ask him, and keep on brushing! It just might reduce your risk of life-threatening disease.

The notion of oral bacteria affecting systemic disease has been in the dental conversation since

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