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518-483-3100 • www.kevinpoupore.com
JANUARY 2018
New Year, New Beginnings SAY HELLO TO NICOLE AND CHRISTOPHER
CHRISTOPHER FRANCIS NARROW You aren’t likely to see
We started 2018 with one big scoop: Two new faces have joined our office family! Without further ado, let me introduce you to Nicole McCaffrey and Christopher Francis Narrow. NICOLE MCCAFFREY A Malone native, born and raised, Nicole attended Franklin Academy before getting her liberal arts degree from North Country Community College. She worked as a teacher’s
Christopher at the office during your next visit. This is because he’s only 2 months old and doesn’t yet have teeth of his own! However, if you want to see a picture of him, you can always ask his mother, Danielle, one of our wonderful dental hygienists.
assistant at Salmon River Central School for some time and spent the last 11 years as a pharmacy technician at Kinney Drugs. That’s right — we’ve stolen yet another technician from Kinney Drugs. Nicole’s husband, Matthew, is a self-employed electrician with McCaffrey Electrical. They have one son, Isaac, who’s 14, and two daughters, 9-year-old Allyson and 7-year-old Hayden. At home, Nicole is definitely outnumbered, and she says by comparison, the office is completely relaxing! “When I first walked in, I realized two things,” Nicole told me. “Number one, I have so much to learn. And number two, this is such a happy environment! The whole staff is always so cheerful. It’s all smiles, and I am so happy to be here.” Right now, Nicole is responsible for sterilizing rooms between patients, cleaning equipment, conducting new-patient tours, and performing initial X-rays for everyone. She’s a great help, and Nicole has her sights on expanding her dentistry career. “When I told everyone at the pharmacy I would be working at a dentist office, they were pretty grossed out. ‘Why would you want to work with teeth?’ they asked. But I think it’s fascinating! There’s a lot to do and a lot to learn. I want to get my New York state certification and be a dental hygienist one day.”
Christopher was born Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7:54 a.m., weighing 6 pounds and 7 ounces. He surprised us all by coming a week early. That Monday after work, Danielle went to the hospital for a standard checkup. When the doctors discovered her blood pressure was really high, they admitted her right away. Danielle spent the night at the hospital, and early the next morning, the doctors decided to induce labor. “It all happened so fast, but I never had any worries,” Danielle told us later. “One of the nurses is a patient of ours, and the other nurse was my cousin, so I felt very comfortable.” Despite the rush delivery, young Christopher arrived perfectly healthy, with dark blue eyes and a whole head of hair. When Danielle came in the following week to introduce us to her first child, everyone fell in love with the little guy. We’ve adopted him as our office baby. As for Danielle, I swear she had a little halo around her — the glow of motherhood. Danielle claims she missed us and looks forward to coming back to work, but I wouldn’t blame her for wanting to stay home with Christopher a little while longer. With Nicole joining our wonderful team and little Christopher filling our hearts, it certainly feels like 2018 is going to be a great year. –Dr. Kevin Poupore
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Every parent wants to see their child do well in school, and there’s one fun activity that benefits students of all ages: reading. In a world with so much stimulation, however, it can be difficult to motivate kids to put down a screen and pick up a book. New Year’s resolutions are the perfect opportunity to make reading a priority. Here are a few tips to make 2018 the year your kids become bookworms. MAKE IT A FAMILY RESOLUTION There’s no better motivator than solidarity! Plus, we’re guessing everyone in your household could stand to read a little more. You don’t have to read the same books or set identical goals, but it’s a lot more fun when everyone participates. Schedule weekly reading discussions so everyone can share the cool stories they’ve read. Stack your completed books in your house somewhere as a monument to all the knowledge your family has gained. SET REWARD MILESTONES Positive reinforcement will propel your kids to keep reading long after the calendars have turned. For a certain number of books completed or hours spent reading, offer them a prize. You can even create a big end goal to really cement those reading habits. Better yet, set a combined goal that the entire family can work toward. Don’t be afraid to pull out all the stops. If your kids know that reading one book per week through June means an extra-special summer vacation, their enthusiasm won’t wane come spring. Want to See Better
REPORT CARDS IN 2018?
USE READING APPS Goodreads is a social network for bibliophiles. You can find recommendations, share ratings, and create lists of both completed and to-be-read books. Users also create reading lists based on topic, genre, decade, and more. With over 2 billion books added, you’ll never run out of inspiration. Biblionasium offers the same services, but it’s designed specifically for children. Talk to other parents and create a network of friends and classmates. After all, nothing is cooler to a kid than what their friends are doing. Avid readers tend to do better academically from kindergarten through college. In fact, a study from the Journal of Education and Practice found that reading comprehension predicted success in other subjects more than any other factor. If you want to see improved report cards, make a reading resolution for your entire household.
Is Lack of Rest Hurting Your Mouth? WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT SLEEP AND ORAL HEALTH
physical and mental stress. When the results came back, only smoking was a bigger risk factor than lack of sleep. Those patients who had seven to eight hours of sleep fared much better than those with six or fewer. "This study points out to patients that there are lifestyle factors other than brushing and flossing that may affect their oral health," says Preston D. Miller Jr., DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology. "It is also important to keep these in mind as the body of evidence linking oral disease with systemic diseases continues to grow, because ultimately, these factors might impact a patient's overall health." This connection is especially strong with periodontal disease. Heart surgeons have found the very same bacteria in clogged arteries as those in gums. Why does sleep matter so much? Well, it’s the time when your body restores itself.
Your body needs to recover after strenuous exercise in order to get the most out of a workout, and the same is true for your mouth. At night, you’re more likely to breathe through your nose, which allows your mouth to produce more regenerative saliva. A good night’s sleep also lowers stress levels and regulates blood sugar. To make sure you're getting the highest quality sleep, it’s important to establish a routine. The more your body clock can acclimate to a pattern of expected sleep, the less likely you will be to wake up in the middle of the night. Avoid eating right before bed, especially after you’ve brushed and flossed. Also, limit your screen time before bed to ensure a good night’s rest. Oral health is only one of the many benefits of getting more (and better) sleep. Rest up for increased focus, better memory, and brighter moods.
We all know brushing before bed is the key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. You may be surprised to learn, though, that what happens after you brush can make a huge difference as well. Sleep quality has a massive impact on oral health, in regards to both periodontal disease and bad breath. A study commissioned by the Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, led by Dr. Muneo Tanaka, sought to examine the influence of lifestyle factors on gum disease. They observed 219 patients over the course of four years, monitoring hours of sleep, hours of work, exercise, alcohol use, smoking, eating breakfast, overall diet, and
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5 TRICKS TO NIX THE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
You know you’re guilty. No, not for eating the last cookie, but for beating yourself up about it. “You’re fat.” “You’re a slob.” “You have no control.” These thoughts probably swarmed through your head as you ate the tasty treat, and they probably lasted long after the cookie was a distant morsel of a memory. Negative self-talk can lead to feelings of worthlessness, higher stress levels, and depression. The more lies you stock yourself with, the more you’ll believe them. Practice positive self-talk and stop trash talking yourself once and for all with these tips — you’ll thank yourself. • Think Possible: When you feel bad already, saying untrue, yet positive, words to yourself will just make you feel worse, as your brain is attuned to the lie. “Think possible” and think true, neutral thoughts instead of full-out negative or positive lies. Instead of saying, “I’m fat,” try saying, “I want to lose 10 pounds. I know what I need to do.” This neutral spin is an opportunity to choose a plan of attack instead of wallowing in your negativity. • BFF Buffer: When thinking negative thoughts, ask yourself if your best friend would agree with the negativity you’re spouting. Most likely, your best friend would disagree with you
when you say, “I’m so stupid.” (If you think the person would agree, then you need a new BFF!) Also, if you wouldn’t say something to your friends, don’t say it to yourself. • Nickname Negativity: Give your inner voice a name. You get bonus points if it’s absolutely outrageous and hilarious. Addressing “Negative Nancy” when she pops into your head will add levity to your negative thoughts and help you focus on positivity. Over time, it will make your negative self-bashing plummet. • Phone a Friend: If you embarrass yourself by saying something you wish you could take back, call a friend as soon as you get in the car or back home. Shame is only shame when we keep it to ourselves. Once you tell someone the nitty-gritty details about your faux pas, it won’t seem so bad, and you will most likely laugh about it in the end. • Work It: When you become your own best friend, life is easier. Embrace yourself in all your imperfect, flawed, and quirky glory. When you practice positive self-talk, you will be less stressed, happier, and free.
LAUGH WITH US
SLOW COOKER RASPBERRY WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE Ingredients
• 1 cup white chocolate chips • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk • 2 cups heavy cream, divided • 3 cups milk (any variety will do)
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 4 tablespoons raspberry liqueur or syrup
Directions
1. In a slow cooker, combine white chocolate chips, condensed milk, 1 cup cream, and milk. Cover and heat on low about 2 hours. 2. In a large bowl, mix remaining 1 cup cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. 3. Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until stiff peaks form. 4. Serve mugs of hot chocolate with about 1 tablespoon of raspberry liqueur or syrup to taste and a dollop of whipped cream.
(Recipe inspired by SlowCookerGourmet.net.)
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
DR. KEVIN POUPORE 560 East Main Street Malone, NY 12953
pouporeoffice@yahoo.com Mon / Tues / Thurs 7:30–4:00 Wed / Fri 7:30–2:00
Inside
What’s New at the Office? PAGE 1
The Resolution That Leads to Better Grades PAGE 2
The Easiest Way to Improve Oral Health PAGE 2
Tell Trash Talk to Take a Hike PAGE 3
Warm Up With Some Hot Cocoa PAGE 3 The Lifelong Benefits of Travel PAGE 4
3 Ways
If you live in a state with a rich history, make it a point to visit one of the nearby museums. If you’re planning a vacation abroad, incorporate visits to historical sites. Take the opportunity to learn as a family! 2. They’ll pick up new skills. In addition to learning about history, your child may discover a new skill. They may learn a bit of conversational Spanish during a trip to Mexico or they might play soccer with a group of children and realize they have a knack for it. By fostering a sense of healthy curiosity about new places, you’ll help your child feel confident enough to branch out of their comfort zone and make new friends at home and on the road. 3. They’ll understand compassion. After a trip to Fiji, Lonely Planet Kids writer Patrick Kinsella found that, long after they returned, his eldest daughter continued to reflect on her experience. “It’s an eye- and mind-opening experience, especially for Ivy, who has never before considered that someone her age might not have a TV, let alone lack electricity,” Kinsella writes. “For many months afterward, Ivy talk[ed] about Po, imagining her Fijian friend’s life.” Because they’re so open-minded, kids are the perfect sponges for new experiences. At the very least, they’ll be less likely to take what they have for granted, and they might even develop an expansive and exploratory worldview.
TRAVEL CAN TRANSFORMYOUR KIDS When you go on a trip, whether it’s a quick jaunt to a neighboring town or a weeklong stay in an exotic locale, you interact with new people and cultures. It’s one thing to hear someone talk about the laid-back vibes of the West Coast, but you can’t really feel them for yourself until you’ve meandered through the redwoods or watched the sun set over Puget Sound. Now, imagine the positive effects this kind of cultural awakening could have on a young mind! While we tend to think about the worst- case scenarios and added stresses of traveling with kids, they stand to benefit as much, if not more, from travel as we do. You never know — your son or daughter may realize a passion for a subject that will one day become their career. As you’re plotting destinations for the new year, keep these life-changing possibilities in mind. 1. History will come to life. Yes, your kids will read about World War II in school and take state capital quizzes. But in the end, nothing compares to firsthand experiences of culturally significant locations. Imagine showing a child the Galapagos Islands, where Darwin’s famous theory of evolution was conceived, or having the chance to talk about the beginnings of the Revolutionary War while strolling through Minute Man National Historical Park in Massachusetts.
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