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The MONTHLY Smile
706-453-1333 www.LakeOconeeDental.com
MARCH 2018
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
Winston Churchill once said, “You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.” I’ve repeated this quote numerous times over the years. It’s at the heart of how Patti and I try to live our lives, both personally and professionally.
we also want to instill a love of serving others into the hearts of our team members. When Patti and I choose to support a local cause, that certainly has an impact. But when we can inspire 32 team members to go out and support community causes near and dear to their hearts, that can have an even larger effect. Over the last 21 years, Patti and I have been honored to support countless community organizations and events. We’ve made donations to area hospitals, civic organizations, academic scholarships, leadership programs, women’s groups, veterans’ groups, cultural events, school programs, chamber of commerce events, and more charity golf tournaments than we could shake a club at.
In January’s newsletter, I mentioned how our vision for the practice has expanded. While we will always continue to practice dentistry,
While we are always happy to support these worthy causes with monetary donations, our team recently envisioned a bigger way to become more involved in our community. They proposed we create a “Smile Team,” a group of team members from our office who could help any local organization in need of human power and time. The size of the team would vary according to which team members were available on a particular day, but the hope would be that everyone would get an opportunity to give of their time and talents throughout the year.
"When we can inspire 32 team members to go out and support community causes near and dear to their hearts, that can have an even larger effect."
The first event our Smile Team will be helping with is on March 24. We will be helping Putnam Community Resources distribute food to needy families in Putnam County. PCR raises funds to purchase food for distribution and also receives donations of food from organizations, foundations, schools, and businesses. A tremendous number of volunteers are required each month to help unload,
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Lake Oconee Dentistry | Personalized & Comfortable | 1
How a Balanced Media Diet Bolsters Child Development Wait — Screen Time Is Good for Kids?
There’s only one day of the year you’ll be scorned for not wearing green: St. Patrick's Day. If you’ve ever gone the whole holiday wearing any other color, you’ve probably been pinched by your peers, family, spouse, and anyone else decked out head to toe in green. Green has become so deeply associated with the St. Patrick holiday that many people are unaware that green wasn’t always its official color. Blue was the first color to symbolize St. Patrick’s Day, and the saint himself is almost always depicted dressed in what’s known as “St. Patrick’s blue.” What caused the shift from blue to green is more speculation than hard fact. Some have theorized that the change happened sometime in the 17th century, when the symbol for the United Irishmen Rebellion became the clover. St. Patrick used the clover to teach the Irish people about the Holy Trinity, and it eventually became a symbol that represented both the saint and the holiday. Another theory comes from Ireland’s nickname, “The Emerald Isle,” which was coined because of the plentiful green foliage that adorns the country’s landscape. It also relates to the green in the flag. Each of the three colors in the flag have their own symbolic meaning: green for the Catholics who live in the country, orange for the Protestants, and white for the peace between the two. If you Google the effects of screen time on children, you’re sure to be bombarded with horror stories. Numerous articles claim that, beginning in infancy, the more time a child spends in front of a TV, phone, or computer, the worse their developmental outcomes will be. At first glance, the research is utterly conclusive. It seems we should throw out every TV in our house, smash our kids’ smartphones, and usher our children into the great outdoors as soon as possible. But what most of these studies fail to take into account is the content of the electronic media. If a child spends two hours a day bingeing episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” or screaming obscenities into a headset while playing “Call of Duty,” it’s going to negatively impact their experience of the world along with their mental and physical health. But not all content is created equal. In the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended strict limits on electronic engagement for kids, following the old line of thinking that any kind of screen time would be better spent climbing a tree or running in the backyard. But in October of 2016, they offered new recommendations for parents.
For infants and young toddlers, the research still sides pretty heavily against the use of iPads and television. Before 18 months of age, a child lacks the cognitive capabilities allowing them to apply the lessons of technology to real life, and even after that, the AAP recommends that media consumption should be limited to “high-quality programming, such as the content offered by Sesame Workshop and PBS.” For kids ages 5 and up, parents should avoid banning screen time outright, and function as their child’s media mentor. Instead of decrying time spent building complex structures in “Minecraft” as hours that could be spent on the soccer field, we should set expectations and boundaries to ensure that children can deepen their experience of the world through media, not hamper it. The problem starts not with the screen itself, but when the consumption of media becomes problematic, replacing regular face-to-face interactions and physical activity. But with a balanced media diet, kids can have the best of both worlds.
GREEN DOMINATES ST. PATRICK'S DAY FOR A REASON
Of course, you can’t forget leprechauns, the little creatures that have always been affiliated with the holiday. But just like St. Patrick’s original blue garb, these impish tricksters used to wear red instead of green. While green overtook blue as the shade of choice for St. Patrick, leprechauns began putting on their signature green suits as well. You might wonder where the tradition of pinching comes from. We can thank the leprechauns for this one. It’s said that if the gold-loving redheads caught you not wearing their favorite color, they would pinch you. To avoid pinches from leprechauns and people alike, be sure to put on some green this St. Patrick’s Day to blend in with the festive crowd.
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GRAY MATTERS
LEARN NEW HOBBIES Do you want to reduce memory loss by 40–50 percent? Dan Buettner, a researcher and best-selling author on studies about happiness and longevity, suggests learning a new hobby. Whether you learn to knit, paint, or discover a new board game, you’ll enjoy improved mental health. Get your hands moving, and your mind will surely follow. (Note: Watching TV as a hobby doesn’t count! People who regularly watch TV may suffer up to 50 percent memory loss.) SOCIALIZE If you want to maintain mental health, make socializing a priority. Having an active social life increases your resistance to mental diseases and improves your mood. Furthermore, a healthy social network of friends and family (and we’re not talking Facebook here) helps give you a support system to fall back on when times get tough. TAKE A BREAK Take a step back from your everyday life and enjoy the small things. Set aside time to sit down with a good book or another activity you enjoy. While on that 5-mile walk, why not take a few moments to slow down your pace and look at the world around you? As the famous saying goes, “Stop and smell the roses.”
Everyone faces the prospect of growing older. When it comes to aging, people’s primary concerns include aches, pains, and changes to their physical appearance. But perhaps even more important is mental health. Fortunately, there are ways to keep your mind sharp as you age so you can enjoy your retirement.
EXERCISE Working out is inextricably tied to wellness in all its forms. A simple, light workout now and then not only maintains physical health, but it also boosts your mental well-being. A 5-mile walk once per week can increase brain volume and prevent mental diseases, including Alzheimer’s. It’s no wonder exercise is the go-to solution for maintaining wellness.
COVER CONTINUED
Zesty Zucchini ENCHILADAS
uncrate/unbox, bag loose items, line items up on tables, hand items to recipients, and help shoppers who are disabled to their cars. The program has been around for nine years and is a great example of “neighbors helping neighbors.” Our team members are excited to be a part of it! In the coming months, the Smile Team hopes to continue to donate time and effort to community organizations and events. If you know of an organization in need of volunteers, please reach out to us! Simply send an email to TheSmileTeam@ LakeOconeeDental.com. Let us know the date of your event, the amount of time required, and what you specifically need assistance with that day. We will share that information with our team and, if we have team members available, we will send the Smile Team to help out. Hopefully, as the word spreads, more organizations will reach out to us when they need assistance. We are really excited about this new effort and are looking forward to serving our community in deeper, more impactful ways. I hope you have a fun and safe St. Patrick’s Day. We look forward to seeing you soon. –Dr. David
Ingredients • 4 large zucchini • 1 tablespoon olive oil or ghee • 1 large onion, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 teaspoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder • 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken • 2 cups shredded cheese • 1 1/3 cup red enchilada sauce
Instructions 1. Heat oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, heat oil. Add onion,
garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt to taste. Stir to combine. Add chicken and 1 cup enchilada sauce.
2. Use vegetable peeler to thinly slice zucchini. Lay out three slices, slightly overlapping, and spoon chicken mixture on top. Roll the zucchini “tortilla” and place on baking sheet. Repeat until all zucchini and chicken is used. 3. Cover the enchiladas with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 20 minutes, and enjoy!
Adapted from delish.com.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1011 Parkside Main | Greensboro, GA 30642 If you have any questions, call us at 706-453-1333 www.LakeOconeeDental.com
We’re located at 1011 Parkside Main between the Publix parking lot and the movie theater.
4 Tips for Mental Acuity page 3 Go Carb-Free for Dinner page 3 3 Herbal Teas to Boost Your Health page 4 Inside
Money Is Great, but Time Is Invaluable page 1 When Screen Time Is Good for Kids page 2 St. Patrick’s Day vs. the Color Green page 2
THE POWER OF HERBAL TEAS
3 Teas for Better H lth
For centuries, people around the globe have relied on the power of herbal tea. Today, there are more herbal teas on the market than ever before. Finding a flavorful tea that also offers the right health benefits can be a challenge. Here are three varieties of herbal tea that are among the best of the best, both in flavor and healing power.
do the rest. It helps you feel relaxed and eases you into the Land of Nod. The flowery flavor isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for a natural sleep aid, it’s worth trying. If the flavor proves too strong, a great alternative is chamomile, which shares many of the same
properties as lavender tea. PEPPERMINT TEA
It’s no surprise this is one of the most popular herbal teas around. Thanks to its not-so-subtle aroma and natural sweetness, it delivers on flavor and packs a healthy punch. Peppermint tea is known for its ability to aid in digestion. Plus, it works wonders on stomach inflammation, alleviating everything from minor aches to nausea. ROOIBOS TEA A South African tea, rooibos is noted for its high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants. If you’re looking for an immune system boost, rooibos is here to help. Thanks to its antioxidant powers, it’s also great for the skin. Stressed out? Anxious? Have a cup of rooibos tea. It helps ease stress and lowers blood pressure. Furthermore, rooibos tea lacks oxalic acid, an organic compound that plays a role in the formation of kidney stones. If you’re prone to kidney stones but love tea, rooibos may be the answer.
LAVENDER TEA For some people, lavender tea is great for reducing headaches, arthritis pain, and general joint
aches and pains. For others, however, it improves sleep. Lavender tea is often recommended to people who suffer from insomnia or who have trouble falling asleep. Drink some before bed and let it
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