THE WELLNESS
REPORT
October 2017
770-965-3048
•
www.JonesSmiles.com
•
DO-IT-YOURSELF ... DENTISTRY?!
Let me begin by saying that I have a confession to make: I love DIY projects. There really is something satisfying about making or fixing something with your own two hands. Over the years, I have learned to install appliances, run cables, tackle plumbing issues, and even replace my own brakes and rotors (though Margaret was justifiably a little concerned about this one). I have not yet tried to make a boat out of a screen door and FlexSeal, like the commercial shows, as I do have my limits. For me, two limits are electricity and dentistry. After one good zap in my teenage days, I do not touch anything related to wiring. And as far as dentistry, I’ll let Dr. Copeland take care of my dental upkeep! That said, with my DIY inclination, you can imagine my intrigue when I first saw a commercial for do-it-yourself orthodontics.
Here is what I think. Clear aligners absolutely do work to move teeth. Some cases of very minor spacing (gaps between the teeth) or very minor crowding could possibly be treated predictably at home by such a system. But, after overseeing hundreds of orthodontic cases, I can also tell you with certainty that teeth can be stubborn to move. Many of our Invisalign patients know some teeth even require special bumps to gain movement, and they often need a second batch of trays after the first ones reveal a stubborn tooth or if a tooth needs some fine-tuning. Moreover, some cases even require a bracket to gain the needed movement.
The final verdict, at least in my humble opinion, is that such at-home orthodontic solutions could work for a small
percentage of patients. For most, I worry about what happens when the teeth don’t move like they should. Or to further complicate things, what happens when unpredictable tooth movement occurs, making things worse than before treatment? If you’ve ever thought about straightening your teeth, I promise to give you my honest opinion about what options you really have. Just call or email the office. And, as for that outlet in your house that is no longer working, my best advice is to call a good electrician!
“My first thought was to dismiss this entirely as a gimmick. Moving teeth can be hard even when we are doing it with brackets and wires!”
The commercial was for a new company called Smile Direct Club. My first thought was to dismiss this entirely as a gimmick. Moving teeth can be hard even when we are doing it with brackets and wires!
Upon further research, I found this company fabricates clear aligners with molds the patient takes themselves. They then ship them directly to the patient.
– Dr. Jones
770-965-3048 • 1
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.thenewsletterpro.com
heatless, preserving the oils. This type of diffuser can also work as a humidifier, making it a valuable multitasker. Heat and evaporative diffusers are cheaper options, but they tend to alter oils or separate particles according to size. Once you decide on the best diffuser for your home, you need to select a few essential oils and put your new toy to use. Lemon oil is antibacterial and antiseptic, and will freshen your environment. Cinnamon oil can clear congestion and has a homey, autumnal scent. Eucalyptus oil is an air purifier, but its scent is strong and not for everybody. If you want to de-stress, try rosemary oil, which decreases your cortisol levels. USE DIFFUSERS TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF ESSENTIAL OILS Take note that you should alert your doctor before partaking in aromatheraapy if you’re pregnant, nursing, or on any medication. While most essential oils are perfectly safe to diffuse, the compounds in certain oils can combine with medication and trigger adverse side effects. Once you begin diffusing, you’ll never go back to commercial, chemical scent sprays. The benefits are evident, and the results smell sweet.
If you’ve stopped by a health store recently, you’ve no doubt seen a huge selection of essential oils. These liquids, which contain concentrated, natural aroma compounds found in plants, are the basis of aromatherapy, one of the most popular trends in holistic health. Aromatherapy involves applying these oils to the skin or spraying them into the air. Skin application requires that you use diluted oils, because aromatic compounds are strong and can cause irritation. As a result of these concerns, many essential oil acolytes have turned to diffusers to get the benefits of aromatherapy in a safe, wonderful-smelling manner. In addition to filling your house with an all-natural, appealing perfume, aromatherapy has been touted as a way to help with everything from stress and insomnia to cognitive function and mood enhancement. To receive these benefits, you’ll need to pick up a diffuser and some oils. With so many options, though, how do you know which one is right for you? There is no shortage of methods to diffuse essential oils. Nebulizing diffusers don’t require any heat source, instead atomizing the essential oils. They are extremely effective, but they are also large and expensive. Ultrasonic diffusers are similarly
WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING
“Dr. Jones has the best dental practice in the Metro Atlanta area by far. It is worth the almost-hour-long drive I make to come to this office. For a simple solution and a very affordable price, Dr. Jones was able to offer me solutions for aligning my front teeth with perfections. I am halfway through my treatment and am extremely impressed with this dental practice.”
“Dr. Jones and his team are fantastic! From the moment you walk in, you feel welcome. They are professional, and they truly care about their patients. I came from out of state, and for the past three years, my entire family and extended family has gone to Jones Smiles. I would not go anywhere else. Thank you, team! The best part is that it never hurts!”
CHARLIE K.
PATTY D.
“I’m a very nervous dental patient. I needed a lot of work done. Dr. Jones and his staff exceeded my hopes for compassion and professional care.”
CONNIE H.
2 • www .JonesSmiles. com
HOW TO DO THE LEAST DAMAGE TO YOUR TEETH THIS HALLOWEEN
Oil and water. Drinking and driving. Dentists and Halloween. There are some things that do not mix. But, what if we told you that most dentists go trick-or-treating with their kids and even sneak a treat or two from their kids’ buckets? Dentists know better than anyone else how unrealistic it is to keep people from eating extra sweets during Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas. But there’s a smart way to indulge in seasonal treats without seriously damaging your teeth. First and foremost, Halloween night might be the most important night of the year to brush your teeth. That should be obvious. Now that we’ve established that, let’s look at two candies that you should partake of sparingly, or just avoid altogether: Lollipops. When it comes to how bad something is for your teeth, frequency and length of exposure is more harmful than quantity. Theoretically, it’s better for your teeth to eat five candy bars than one sucker (it’s just not as good for your waistline). Lollipops will rest millimeters from your teeth for 10–20 minutes. Gummy worms. Besides being high in sugar, these candies, and really anything sour and gummy, are among the most acidic. Foods with a high acid content wear down the enamel of your teeth, regardless of how much sugar is involved.
Anything sticky. We’re looking at you, caramel. Anything you can’t eat with braces is probably too sticky for your teeth. Bit O’ Honeys and Tootsie Rolls are among the worst offenders.
On the other hand, some candies are much easier on your pearly whites:
• Dark chocolate
• Sugarless gum and other sugarless candies made with stevia or other sugar substitutes
• Candy bars with nuts
So, enjoy yourself, be deliberate about your candy, and remember that Halloween is game time for your toothbrush.
SAUSAGE AND BARLEY SOUP SMILE-FRIENDLY RECIPES
SUDOKU
It’s a great time of year to warm up with a cup of soup, and this comforting, guilt-free dish comes together in a flash.
Ingredients:
• Cooking spray • 6 ounces turkey breakfast sausage • 2 1/2 cups frozen bell pepper stir-fry • 2 cups water
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Italian- style stewed tomatoes, undrained and chopped • 1/4 cup uncooked quick- cooking barley • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach
Instructions:
1. Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sausage; cook 3 minutes or until browned. Remove from heat. 2. While sausage cooks, place stir-fry and 2 cups water in a blender; process until smooth. 3. Add stir-fry puree, tomatoes, and barley to sausage in pan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts. Recipe courtesy of CookingLight.com.
770-965-3048 • 3
7330 Spout Springs Road, Suite C15 Flowery Branch, GA 30542 www.JonesSmiles.com 770-965-3048
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Do-It-Yourself ... Dentistry?! PAGE1 The Benefits of Essential Oils What Our Patients Are Saying PAGE2 The Worst Candies for Your Teeth Sausage and Barley Soup PAGE3 Is This the Most Bizarre Tragedy in History? PAGE4
IS THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE HISTORY’S MOST BIZARRE TRAGEDY?
By the time the last flame of the Great Chicago Fire fizzled out on October 10, 1871, 300 people were dead, a third of Chicago’s population were homeless, and 4 square miles of city were destroyed. Reflecting on the disaster begs the question: Was it the most bizarre tragedy ever? By October, 1871, Chicago only had 1 inch of rain all year, which is far less than the annual average of 35 inches. While the exact cause is unclear, historians commonly accept that a cow belonging to a Mrs. O’Leary started the fire in a barn on DeKoven Street by kicking over a lantern. Firemen responded immediately, but a watchman sent them to the wrong place by mistake, giving the unusual Southwest winds time to send the fire roaring toward the heart of the city. Most of Chicago’s buildings were made of wood, and the newly developed tar on the rooftops was incredibly flammable.
As the fire grew, the firefighters hoped the Chicago River would be a natural firebreak, but the city’s riverside had recently gained more lumber and coal yards, causing the fire to jump the river. As the air over the city overheated, it came into contact with cooler air, and a spinning fire tornado developed. After the fire jumped the river, a burning piece of timber lodged on the roof of the city’s waterworks building, destroying it and halting the city’s water supply. By the time the fire died over a day later, 73 miles of roads and $4 billion (in 2017 dollars) of property were destroyed. All this came about because of a cow, a drought, a bad watchman, some short-lived building materials, and a literal fire tornado. Modern safeguards wouldn’t allow this to happen today, which is very fortunate. If the disaster happened the same way today, it wouldn’t displace 1,000 people; it would displace 1 million.
4 • www .JonesSmiles. com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.thenewsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker