Kids Corner .......February 2016

Try this fun creative Valentine’s Day craft with your kids. CELERY ART!

What you will need:

• Poster paint (red or pink and green)
• Paper or card stock
• A pie plate
• A celery bunch
• Rubber bands
• A paint brush

Step 1

Wrap the rubber bands around the celery stock and cut the bunch in two approximately 4 inches from the base. This gives you 2 rose “stamps” to work with.

Step 2

Use the brush and green paint to make stems and leaves as you wish. Let dry and you have some beautiful roses for your Valentine.

Kim Thompson
Practice Manager

A Message From Dr. Ian Gray: Happy New Year and Staff Changes

With the start to the New Year I wanted to take a moment to update you on some of our team members. Our staff past and present had a lot of positive changes at the end of 2015.

Adriana, our front desk lady, went back to school in the fall to study fitness and nutrition in New York. She is now living in Brooklyn, enjoying the life and opportunities the big city has to offer.

Sara, is very much enjoying her time at home with baby Zoe, who is now three months old. We are looking forward to her return in October 2016.

Annie, as many of you may know, accepted a position back in October with public health here in York region. She is really enjoying her new role and finding it very rewarding, working in the community and being able to reach out to those less fortunate and offer dental care though Ontario’s Healthy Smile Program.

Ruth, who has been my assistant for the past two and a half years, has also recently made a change. After moving to Barrie back in the summer, come the winter weather she began to dread the drive and the “early” mornings. We wish her all the best in her new position up in Barrie, where she can drive less and sleep more!

We have some new faces around the office; I have been able to find some great new staff, well experienced in dentistry. I would like to thank all of you, our patients for their adaptability and understanding at this time of transition. Your feedback as always welcomed and appreciated.

Hope your 2016 is shaping up to be a great one, full of positive changes as well.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ian Gray

Facts and Tips to Help You Quit Tobacco Use!

Adverse Effects of Tobacco Use:

Systemic Effects:

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Hypertension, Stroke
• Respiratory Disease
• Reproductive Problems
• Ulcers
• Osteoporosis
• Facial Wrinkling
• Nicotine Addiction

Oral Effects:

• Cancer (mouth, larynx, pharynx esophagus and lips)
• Tooth Stain
• Tartar Build-up
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Impaired taste and smell
• Delayed wound healing
• Hairy/coated tongue
• Pre-cancerous lesions
• Periodontal disease (gum/tooth disease)
• Tooth loss
• Xerostomia (dry mouth)

FACT: Tobacco reduces blood flow to the gums, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients that allow gums to stay healthy, and leaving them vulnerable to bacterial infection.

FACT: Current smokers were about four times more likely to have periodontitis (gum/tooth disease) than people who had never smoked.

Tips to help you get started at quitting:

• Start with figuring out why and when you smoke.
• Pick a date to quit (a low stress time is best)
• Nicotine patches or gum may be helpful. Contact your physician for more information.
• Don’t be discouraged! It takes on average about five attempts to successfully stop smoking. Each relapse brings you one step closer to quitting for good.

Use “The Four D’s to help with your journey:

1. Drink Water – Water with crushed ice helps flush nicotine out of your system faster and helps satisfy oral cravings.
2. Deep Breathing – Take a “deep breath break” instead of a cigarette break – Take 10 deep breaths and hold the last one while lighting a match. Exhale slowly, and blow out the match.
3. Delay – Each day, delay lighting your first cigarette by one hour. When you have your next craving, delay for another 15 or 30 minutes. Now YOU will be in control!
4. Do Something Different – When you have a craving, change your activity. Get out of the situation that makes you want to smoke. (*Adapted from “Tips To Help You Quit” – The Lung Association)

FACT: Quitting will have a great impact on your overall health and oral health. Ex-smokers have a decreased risk of heart disease, respiratory illnesses, strokes and cancers. Quitting smoking will reduce the rate of gum disease, oral cancers and bone and tooth loss; keeping teeth whiter; and allowing sores to heal and disappear.

Websites to help you Quit Smoking:

www.hc-sc.gc.ca

www.smokershelpline.ca

www.quitnow.ca

www.on.lung.ca/journey

Nothing is impossible, the word it self says, “I’m possible” – Audrey Hepburn

Kristine
Dental Hygienist

Triple Berry Chia Seed Pudding Recipe

Prep time: 5 mins
Total time: 8 hours 5 mins
Yield: 2 SERVINGS
Ingredients

• 1 cup non-dairy milk (almond, rice, or soy)
• 4 tablespoons chia seeds, black or white
• 1 1/2 tablespoons organic pure cane sugar (or sweetener of choice)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• mixed berries of choice

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, combine the milk, sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until combined. Sprinkle on the chia seeds and stir them in thoroughly.
2. Pour mixture into a pint jar and refrigerate overnight, or until it reaches the desired thickness, stirring occasionally.
3. Serve pudding with mixed berries sprinkled on top.

Kaycha
Dental Assistant