Livingston Dental - April 2020

800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com

April 2020

Life With Livingston Dental

e G e n

My Recipe for Laughter

You can’t really put a price on the benefits of a good laugh. Did you know that one minute of anger weakens the immune system for up to five hours, whereas one minute of laughter strengthens the immune system for up to 24 hours? A little laughter goes a long way. You gain significant health benefits from having a positive attitude and being willing to laugh — mostly at yourself. A woman and her husband rushed into the dentist. They were on vacation and had interrupted their trip to make the visit. The woman told the dentist, “I want the tooth pulled right away. No need for Novocaine — I’m in a hurry.” Impressed, the dentist asked, “Which tooth is it?” I’ll leave you with this last thought:

With a birthday on April 1, I’ve been on the receiving end of innumerable pranks. Have you heard about the origins of April Fools’ Day? The holiday came to exist because we switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar around 400 years ago. The new system meant that New Year’s Day, which had previously been April 1, was now Jan. 1, as we all know it today. Well, news still took a long time to make its rounds in those days, and not everyone got the memo about the new dates, so a number of people still celebrated the new year on April 1. They were called fools, and the tradition of April Fools’ Day was born. Since then, mischievous folks have a heyday every April. I can say that I’ve been the fool of many a prank. While I don’t think it’s worth pulling a prank or making a joke if it comes at anyone’s expense, I can appreciate a good laugh, and I’ve found that a few components of humor can help make someone laugh. I tend to use humor almost daily in my line of work. I know that patients may already feel a little nervous just to be in our office, so I try to bring humor into the dental setting to help people feel more at ease.

Sometimes I talk about having disabilities. You may not be aware of it, I tell patients, but I have over 70% hearing loss. I was born two months premature, and as a result, some of the nerve endings in my ears were lost. I want you to know, though, that I don’t necessarily consider it a disability. There have been times I’ve slept as soundly as a hibernating bear because I couldn’t hear the kids fighting. Another component of humor is dealing with extremes. For example, a couple weeks ago I saw a patient who has silver fillings that need to be replaced. I told the patient, “Gosh, you have a lot of metal in your mouth! If we remove all these fillings, you’re going to walk out of here 20 pounds lighter!” Of course, you also have to know your audience and be sensitive. I wouldn’t have made the joke if I thought the patient might take it too much to heart.

The woman then turned to her husband and said, “Show her your tooth, dear.”

Nothing like the healing power of laughter, right?

When I make a joke, I try to make it about myself rather than the other person.

1 Livingston Dental

A Golden Opportunity in Your Golden Years

3 Tips for Changing Careers Later in Life

ways and focusing on the things you cannot do will only hinder your ability to find a job you actually love. Instead, take a deep breath and be open to what comes. You may discover a hidden talent or passion! FORGET THE MONEY Money matters, but it shouldn’t be your first priority on the job hunt. Instead, consider what’s going to make you the happiest. What’s your dream job? What have you always enjoyed doing? If money wasn’t an option, what would you be doing right now instead of counting down the hours to 5 p.m.? Be realistic in your goals and find something you love. SEEK GUIDANCE Remember, you’re not alone in this fight! Plenty of people switch careers midway through their lives to focus on something they really enjoy. Seek guidance from those who have had a similar experience and look to professional job hunters or consultants for help. Furthermore, after years in the same job or industry, you’re bound to have made a few connections. Reach out for professional support. Regardless of what path you choose, remember that a career you enjoy is always possible. We can’t promise that you’ll love getting up at 6 a.m., but at least you won’t dread what comes next.

It’s 6 a.m. on Monday morning, and your alarm clock blares in your face. You groan and, with the thought of another week looming over you, pull yourself out of bed. But the early wake-up call is the least of your worries. Another week has begun, and you’re still stuck in a job that you no longer love or maybe never did. Does this sound familiar? If so, you may believe changing careers isn’t worth the hassle, especially if you’re close to retirement, but here’s the secret: It’s not too late! There’s nothing stopping you from finding a career you love later in life. Here are three tips to get you started.

BE FLEXIBLE If it’s been a while since you’ve hunted for a job, then you may have forgotten what it’s like. Job searching can be exhausting, and some job requirements can look overwhelming. But getting stuck in your

Laugh With Me! We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine, and it turns out that human physiology supports this claim. When we laugh, our body releases a flood of feel-good chemicals and neurotransmitters. Our blood flow increases, and our production of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, decreases. Oh, and laughing also burns calories! The feel-good, endorphin-inducing benefits of laughter are exactly what prompted Dr. Madan Kataria to develop laughter yoga in 1995. Laughter yoga incorporates breathing, stretching, clapping, and of course, laughing. Kataria developed the initial idea after coming across research into the benefits of laughter on overall health and well-being. He began to put the research into practice by telling jokes to his patients, and after seeing the positive effects, he took his material to a local park. Parkgoers, who were initially skeptical, joined in on the practice, and the first laughter yoga club was born. The laughter meetup had everyone in high spirits — until the group ran out of jokes. Unsure of what to do next, Kataria found another

A Lighthearted Approach to Decreasing Stress

medical book suggesting the group didn’t need jokes to laugh. Fake laughter is just as beneficial as the real thing because the body can’t tell the difference between the two. Collaborating with this wife, Madhuri, Kataria combined common yoga warmups and breathing techniques with facilitated laughter to create the form of laughter yoga that is practiced worldwide today. If you’re interested in trying laughter yoga for yourself, then you’re in luck. Laughter yoga clubs exist across the United States and the world. Videos on YouTube can teach the basics, but laughter yoga tends to be most beneficial in a group setting. Just think about the last time you found yourself in a fit of giggles with a group of friends or during a comedy show. Didn’t it feel great? Rather than wait for a silly situation to trigger laughter, use laughter yoga to promote laughter and alleviate stress on any day at any time.

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What Did the Dentist Say to the Queen?

And a Few More Gummy Jokes

In addition to these knee slapping, if slightly corny, jokes, you know what else you can share with people to get them smiling? How much you love coming to Livingston Dental! Our referral program means you get rewarded when you tell someone about us and they schedule their appointment!

As Dr. Livingston shared on the cover, there’s nothing quite like a good laugh to put someone at ease. In that spirit, we want to share some smile-inducing (if only slightly eye-rolling) jokes with you. Maybe you can test them out on Dr. Livingston next time you’re in the office! Did you hear they recruited the dentist for the next “Mission Impossible” movie? Ya, they wanted him because he’s really good at extraction. Where did the dentist go on vacation? She took her whole family to Timbuktooth. Dentists are really good at surfing — they always know just how to Crest the wave.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

For each person you refer to Livingston Dental who makes an appointment with us, you’re entered into our quarterly and yearly drawings.

1st Referral = 3 Tickets 2nd Referral = 5 Tickets 3rd Referral = 10 tickets

Did you hear the one about the gal who forgot to floss her teeth for a whole year? What was her name again? Oh, right, Hally Tosis.

In addition, if you leave us a review after your appointment through the link we send to your phone, you’ll earn three more tickets. We do drawings each quarter for items like grills, snow blowers, and Yeti coolers. Go ahead, tell your friends and family — and Google — why you love Livingston Dental!

What’s a dentist’s favorite tree? The sweetgum

So, what did the dentist say to the queen of England? “Well, ma’am, that’s one crown I won’t be putting in anyone’s mouth.”

Puzzle Time! Easter Lamb Cake Ingredients

Inspired by AllRecipes.com

• 1 cup milk • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 4 egg whites Equipment • 1 lamb-shaped, 3D cake mold

• 2 1/4 cups cake flour • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar • 1/2 cup butter

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 F. Coat lamb cake mold with vegetable oil and wipe clean after a few minutes. Then grease again and flour cake mold. 2. In a bowl, sift cake flour, then sift flour again with baking powder and salt. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter together to form a batter.

4. Add flour mixture and milk to the batter alternately. 5. Stir batter until smooth and add vanilla extract. 6. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.

POLLEN PRANK RAMADAN TAXES

EGGS FOOL GARDEN PASSOVER

BUNNY DAISY EARTH EASTER

7. Fold 1/3 of egg whites into batter mixture, then fold in the remaining whites. 8. Fill cake mold with batter and avoid air pockets. Place the lid on the cake mold, secure it tightly, and place it on a cookie sheet. Bake for 1 hour. 9. Let cake cool completely before decorating with frosting, candy, and edible Easter grass.

3 Livingston Dental

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

on being named Top Dentist of Wyoming 2018!

800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com

Inside Dr. Livingston’s Recipe for Laughter Finding a Job You Love at Any Age Laughter Yoga’s Rise as a Global Health Movement

Some Dental Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone Easter Lamb Cake

Enjoy Wyoming’s Bounty

You can also begin to think about planting some of your own produce. Herbs like basil and rosemary are easy to start inside and plant in the garden when the risk of freeze passes, and arugula is a hardy plant that’s great to have on hand to add to any meal. In early summer, the Star Valley Farmers Market opens up, and our local growers share their beautiful fruits and vegetables with us. Enjoy making a visit and feel good knowing you’re supporting our local community. If a restaurant is more your style than foraging in the backcountry, enjoy Wyoming’s local bounty at places like Wild Sage in Jackson, which uses locally sourced ingredients, including local meat and produce. Thanks to our beautiful state, we’re lucky to have a bounty of fresh food close to home. Get out and enjoy it this spring! You Don’t Have to Look Far for Good Food How to Enjoy Our Local Bounty

With longer days on the horizon over the next couple months as we usher in the spring season, there’s the promise of the ground beginning to thaw out and, as a result, fresh produce that grows in our beautiful state. For much of our produce, you don’t have to go far. In fact, you might just find some around your backyard or during a short forage session outside. May brings a special, inexpensive treat: Asparagus grows wild along the flood plains of streams, most often around irrigation ditches and canals. You can find them throughout the Intermountain West. Dandelion greens and lamb’s quarters make a great addition to a salad or stir fry. Even nettles, while a bit intimidating for their thorns, make a nutritious tea when steeped with water (just use thick gloves when you harvest them).

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