Great dental article

Foods and drinks that will ruin your smile 

By Fabiana Santana 

Published March 05, 2015         

  Brushing your teeth is just one step towards a healthy smile. The second step is watching what you eat, and that goes far beyond just limiting candy. Yes, even the healthy foods can wreak havoc on teeth. According to the American Dental Association, your mouth is the body's initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume. What you put in your mouth not only impacts your health, but also your teeth, gums and, ultimately, your smile. Sometimes, your teeth are the first place to show signs of malnutrition.  

Dr. Ben Lamielle of Hilliard Modern Dental in Columbus, Ohio, explains that sugar is widely known to be a cause of your tooth decay, but acidic foods can be just as detrimental. "Most people know that sugar is not good for their oral health. What many people may not be as aware of are the effects that acidic foods play on their teeth," warns Lamielle. "Citrus fruits, tomatoes, soda (regular and diet), sports/energy drinks, alcohol, and many, many other foods and beverages that we regularly consume are acidic. Acid is directly corrosive to teeth. Additionally, when the pH of our mouths is low, certain bacteria that cause damage flourish. 

Another pathway for acid damage comes into play with people who suffer from acid reflux-type disorders. Digestive acids are incredibly corrosive, so eating foods that trigger reflux can lead to remarkable damage. Some other things to consider when snacking are the forms of food: whether they are liquid, solid, sticky, or slow to dissolve makes a difference in the way they affect your teeth. 

The bacteria in your mouth feeds off of sugars and carbohydrates, so the more sugar and acid you consume, the higher your risk of tooth decay. While vitamin C is important for healthy gums, overdoing it with lemon and oranges can actually cause the enamel on your teeth to wear away. Aside from the corrosive damage food does to teeth, there are also foods that cause cosmetic damage. 

"Beverages or foods that stain (red wine, coffee, cola, tomato-based pasta sauce, etc.) will negatively impact the appearance of your smile," says Lamielle. That's because, believe it or not, teeth aren't solid. "[Teeth] are actually porous. These pores, not to mention any cracks your teeth may have, collect stains and lead to changes in color and shade. 

To combat the negative effects that food can have on teeth, Dr. Lamielle suggests brushing at least twice a day, getting professional dental cleanings, and flossing. "Flossing is the key to good gum health. You can have beautiful teeth, but, without a healthy foundation, those teeth won't be in your mouth for long. 

In addition to proper dental care, try limiting the following foods to help you maintain a beautiful and healthy smile.

 1.  Balsamic Vinegar 

Balsamic vinegar is a double whammy offender to your smile. Not only is it acidic, so that it can erode enamel, it also stains. If you do enjoy this healthy dressing, make sure it's on a salad with a lot of lettuce. Lettuce has a natural ability to help teeth defend against corrosion with a protective film. 

2. Berries 

 Berries may be good for your health, but blueberries, raspberries, cherries, and other berries can leave some serious stains on your teeth. Be sure to rinse your mouth out with water after eating, and brush if you can.

 3.  Citrus 

Despite the health benefits of lemon water and oranges, too much citrus can damage your teeth. Acidic foods can erode enamel, leaving teeth susceptible to decay over time.

 4.  Coffee  

Sure, coffee is a great way to jump-start your day, but did you know that coffee and tea dry out your mouth and stain your teeth? Also, any added sugar can lead to decay. 

5.  Dried Fruit 

 Sticky foods like dried fruit stay on teeth longer, leading to decay and the weakening of the enamel. If you must indulge, brush and floss, or at least rinse, right after eating.

Saturday event

Folks,
We are hanging on in hopes Saturday will be nice. I will call the Village tomorrow afternoon and determine if we can meet on Saturday.  It will depend a great deal on the church parking lot!

Stay warm and upright! I trekked to the mailbox and decided it is not worth a broken hip!

Until tomorrow,
Dr. Janet

Sunshine!

How much snow, sleet, ice or nasty stuff do you have? In my opinion, any is too much! Let me hear from you. Stay in, stay warm and above all stay upright!
Dr. Janet

Thursday update

The Center will be closed and it appears at this time that most of Central Arkansas will be stuck. I will keep the Saturday event in Hot Springs Village on the books but it will depend on the weather!

Stay in, stay warm and upright!
Dr. Janet

Weather fear

Everyone,
I have reviewed several of the local weather forecasts and decided we may be in for a miserable 72 hours! Everything I see indicates we may have freezing rain, sleet and snow. Unfortunately the freezing rain poses a real danger. That stuff hangs on trees and power lines.

The older I get, the more I enjoy creature comforts! Electricity is my favorite.....

Get your prescriptions, groceries and be prepared for a power outage

Stay warm and upright,
Dr. Janet

Memory boosters

Memory Boosters. Joy Manning.. 

Improve your ability to remember life's little details with these simple techniques.   If things seem to be slipping your mind more often as you age, it's probably nothing to worry about. "Some neural pathways are more prone to changing over time," says Faraz Farzin, Ph.D., a research scientist with Lumosity. On the plus side, an older brain does a better job at making accurate decisions with limited information. "Some people call that wisdom," says Cynthia Green, Ph.D., founder and president of Memory Arts and author of Total Memory Workout.    

    Luckily, the brain is trainable. Activities such as learning a new language, reading, and taking up new hobbies through the years strengthen your memory muscles. Whatever you do, though, there will be times when you'll just go blank. Here are tips to help you avoid the most common memory mishaps: The Name Game When you're at a party, meeting many people, it can be difficult to remember names, even shortly after you get an introduction. One reason is anxiety. it's common to be nervous in social situations. "A good way to remember someone's name is to really pay attention to it," says Mark McDaniel, Ph.D., professor of psychology and codirector of The Center for Integrative Research on Cognition, Learning, and Education. Say the person's name out loud to them a few times during your conversation, starting as soon as you're introduced. This way, McDaniel says, you are more likely to store the name in long-term memory as opposed to your more fragile short-term memory.

 If you are more of a visual learner, try imagining a video that matches the new name. "Visualize a group of frankfurters marching over a hill if you meet someone named Frank Hill," Green says. 

Grocery Amnesia 

You pop into the grocery store on your way home from work, but you forget what you planned to buy there. For times when you can't make a list, using your imagination can help you remember what you need. "Visualize the smooth, waxy surface of a pepper and the cold carton of sweet, tangy orange juice," Farzin says. The more sensory details you can imagine, the better your chances of remembering. You might also want to try to trigger your memory by thinking about the meal you want to make, Green says. If you know you are making tacos, you can make a mental list of the ingredients, such as tortillas, ground meat, salsa, and cheese. 

The Keys Conundrum 

It's estimated people spend some 36 hours per year searching for missing keys, so you can save a lot of time by remembering where you put them. "Automate it put them in exactly the same place every time," McDaniel says. When something is ingrained as a habit, you don't need to rely on your memory. As obvious as this seems, it works. 

Dueling Dates 

It's happened again: You said you'd meet a friend for coffee at the exact time you have a dentist appointment. "Most people have a calendar," Green says. "They just don't know how to use it. Whether you keep a small book or use an online calendar, you must carry it at all times and never commit to something without recording it. An app such as Google Calendar allows you to set reminders by scheduling an alarm, e-mail, or both at a set time before an event. But recording is just one part of the battle. "The most important part is reviewing your calendar," Green says, a step even many of the best calendar-keepers fail to take. "I suggest looking over the coming week each Sunday night and reviewing the day ahead each morning," she says. 

Birthday Embarrassment 

Your friends and family are terrific about remembering your birthday, but you always seem to forget theirs. "A person's birthday is a random piece of information," McDaniel says. Because it isn't logically connected to what you know about the person, it's especially tough to remember. He suggests telling yourself a story involving the person and the birth date. "If someone was born in December, tell yourself that his parents had spring fever, or if the birthday is in October, like on Columbus Day, imagine her ancestors coming over on the boat with Christopher Columbus," he says. 

Parking Zone-Out 

A few hours in a large shopping mall can leave anyone at a loss as to where they left their car. "One of the best things you can do is to make sure you aren't talking on the phone or chatting with your passenger as you turn off the car and get out," Green says. There's no hope of remembering where you parked if you didn't even notice the car's location in the first place. Need a foolproof tip? "You can always snap a camera-phone photo of the location," Farzin says. Just make sure to include a telltale bit of the backgrounda floor or section numberin the photo. 

Tip: Keep a cheat sheet handy. Carry a small notebook and a pen or keep a notes page on your phone to record daily to-do lists, key dates, and names of people, songs, restaurants, and movies you want to remember . 

Diet and Memory Experts agree that the best defense for your memory is an overall healthful lifestyle, including a good diet. While there isn't reliable research yet on sure fixes for memory and brain health, here are four simple dietary suggestions thought to be beneficial in fighting memory loss: 

Vegetables 

A large study from Harvard Medical School followed 13,000 women for 25 years and found those who ate the most cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sproutsand leafy greens experienced the least memory decline. Experts believe the reason is that these foods are full of antioxidants that prevent brain cell damage.

 Omega-3s 

These healthy fats found in cold-water fish such as wild salmon, arctic char, and mackerel help us maintain healthy brains. Rush University Medical Center in Chicago conducted a study that showed that older adults who ate fish a couple of times each week had sharper memories than those who didn't. 

Water 

Your brain is 75 percent water. H20 helps flush out toxins and keeps the brain hydrated. If you wait until you're thirsty to drink, you may already be dehydrated. Drinking eight to 10 glasses (8 ounces each) per day is a good guideline. 

Blueberries 

In animal studies, this colorful fruit has been shown to slow cognitive decline and reverse memory loss. Brain researchers hope these same results will be shown in human research, now underway. 
  

Let's count our blessings with this old poem/recitation

"MY CUP HAS OVERFLOWED"

I've never made a fortune, and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow
And as I go along life's way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
Cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough
But I've got loving ones all around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for his blessings,
and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
Cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.
So Lord, help me not to gripe,
about the tough rows I have hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already blessed enough.


And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
Cause my cup has overflowed.

Author: unknown
Read more at http://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/17105.html#hgSmLHLWYpJVPAVp.99