WrigleyvilleDental.com 773-975-6666

Se

pte

mb

er 2

017

InsideGetting Schooled at Home and Work pg 1 The 30-Day ‘Eating Out’ Challenge pg 2 Dealing With Stress pg 2 Banana Bread Muffins (Gluten-Free, Low-Carb) pg 3 Acupuncture for Acne pg 3 A Celebration of Hard Work pg 4

This newsletter produced & printed by the Newsletter Pro www.NewsletterPro.com

Chances are, you’ve heard me say “brush your kids’ teeth” more times than the Cubs have made it to the World Series. Making brushing fun and creating those oral hygiene habits early sets up your kids for a lifetime of healthy teeth.

Except now, I have an 11-month-old, and I am seeing firsthand the challenges involved with brushing tiny teeth. You’d think it would be rather simple, considering there are only two on the bottom and two on top. However, I see how nearly impossible it is to brush a baby’s teeth when they’re squirming, biting, and doing everything they can to crawl to the other side of the room. I’d like to think I get it a little more, and when patients share their challenges of cleaning their little one’s teeth, I now listen with a bit more empathy. We are in the struggle together!

Sonya is 11 months old this September, and it’s been so interesting to see her developments, especially with eating. I keep joking that her favorite food is, in fact, food, but that’s pretty accurate. We’ve started baby-led weaning at home, which means giving her solid food she can hold or pick up — no purees or spoon feeding. When given something new to eat, she’ll try it, make a face, realize it has an interesting taste, and keep eating. We are lucky that she likes a lot of different food — avocado, beans, peas, pickles (her face is priceless), broccoli, fish oil — actually, she likes anything we give her. It’s fun to watch her testing out new foods, but less fun to clean up.

Sonya has also been very mobile and we know walking is just around the corner. There’s been a lot of pulling herself up, crawling, and standing up. It’s been pretty fun to watch her figure out this little thing we call movement. This is my personal life right now: watching my daughter develop, watching the stages she goes through, and of course, most exciting for me, watching the teething progression.

Like Sonya, I don’t like to sit still, and I’ve been on the move a lot this year. In July, Dr. Julia and I flew to LA to take a course on diagnosing tongue/lip ties and frenectomies, and we learned how important early diagnosis and treatment is. There’s a big need for more knowledge around it because symptoms in babies, like not breastfeeding well, and young kids, like speech issues, can be signs of issues that will develop through adulthood. A frenectomy involves removing extra tissue that prevents the tongue or lip from having full range of motion. We want to be able to talk with patients about it as the restriction of lip and tongue movement is

an issue that most people don’t know they even have. One of the adult issues we see at our practice a lot is sleep apnea, and we are learning that a tongue tie can be a contributing factor. So, now we’re on the lookout during all routine check up appointments. We’ll make sure to look at yours the next time you’re in.

While in LA, we were also able to visit with one of the few holistic endodontists (a root canal specialist) and learn techniques for treating the nerves of teeth in a more holistic manner. It was really eye-opening to see biocompatible and regenerative ways to approach root canal therapy.

Because I want to keep up to date in what’s new in my field, I’ll be making several trips to New Jersey in the next two years for courses to obtain two professional certifications. I’m working toward a board certification in integrative biological dental medicine and a board certification as a naturopathic physician. In short, the time I put into these certifications will mean being able to offer you more treatment options and an even broader network of doctors to collaborate with in all specialties.

As you know, holistic dentistry is my passion, and this spring, we were able to take the whole Wrigleyville Dental team to a seminar with the Holistic Dental Association. It was an important trip for us to make for the ongoing education of our practice. Our office is continually learning and we jump at every chance to expand our dental knowledge and share it with you. We are looking forward to more opportunities to learn and provide you and your family with holistic dental care. It’s our passion, and we hope to make it yours.

P.S. If you want to exchange baby teeth brushing stories, I am all ears. We can talk strategy and find the humor in the challenges. Also, you can share your story or pictures on our Facebook page!

4 | WrigleyvilleDental.com

Americans work hard, and on the first Monday of every September we take a moment to acknowledge their efforts. Labor Day is one of America’s longest standing national holidays, and it celebrates how much workers have contributed to making the United States the most prosperous nation on the planet. The holiday has a fascinating history, and one that you might not expect.

The roots of Labor Day stretch back to the Industrial Revolution, when jobs became plentiful, but workers’ rights weren’t exactly at a premium. As conditions worsened and work days grew longer, unions sprang up as a way to protect the rights of the common laborer. Workers in Canada didn’t fare quite so well because unions were illegal. Eventually, enough was enough, and in 1872, workers marched directly to the door of Canadian Prime Minister John Macdonald, demanding the right to organize. He relented, and the march became a Canadian tradition.

As for who brought the tradition to our country, there are two competing candidates, who just so happen to be named Maguire and McGuire.

Peter J. McGuire, a carpenter and member of the American Federation of Labor, witnessed the celebrations in Canada and proposed a similar parade to New York City’s Central Labor Union in 1882. The very same year, machinist Matthew Maguire proposed a national Labor Day after a public demonstration by the Central Labor Union was a massive success.

Labor Day didn’t become a federal holiday, though, until a few years later. In 1894, the American Railway Union went on strike against the Pullman Company in what is now known as the Pullman Strike. President Grover Cleveland called in the Army and U.S. Marshals in an attempt to break the strike, and several workers in Chicago lost their lives. In an effort to quell tensions and garner union vote support (politics has always been politics), President Cleveland signed Labor Day into law just six days after the strike ended.

The holiday may be most famous now as marking the end of summer, but it’s importance is far greater than simply signaling that it’s time to cover your grill for the winter. Our country would not be what it is today without the immense effort of laborers. As you enjoy the last long weekend before fall, take a moment to acknowledge just what a difference these hardworking people — you and the people around you — make.

A CELEBRATION OF HARD WORKThe History of Labor Day

Getting Schooled at Home and Work

773-975-6666 | 1

3256 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60657

– Dr. Bernice Teplitsky

PRST STD US POSTAGE

PAID BOISE, ID

PERMIT 411

CAN ACUPUNCTURE TREAT ACNE?

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or line 12 muffin cups with liners; set aside.

2. Combine eggs, bananas, almond butter, butter, and vanilla in large bowl. Whisk until fully combined. Add coconut flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and pinch of salt. Stir with wooden spoon until fully combined.

3. Spoon batter into muffin tins, three-quarters full. Bake 15–18 minutes or until golden. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from muffin tin. Store in refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Recipe courtesy of gimmedelicious.com.

• 4 medium eggs (or 3 large)

• 21/2 cups mashed bananas (4–5 medium)

• 1/2 cup almond butter (peanut butter can also be used)

• ¼ cup butter (olive oil can also be used)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/2 cup coconut flour (almond flour can also be used)

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• Pinch of sea salt

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

You have more control over stress than you think. Stress management is about taking charge of your lifestyle, thoughts, emotions, and the way you deal with problems. No matter how stressful your life seems, there are steps you can take to regain control. IDENTIFY SOURCESChronic stress is hard to recognize. Look closely at your habits and excuses. Do you explain your stress away, telling yourself it's just temporary? Do you define stress as an integral part of your life? Do you blame your stress on others? If you don’t recognize your role in creating or maintaining stress, you will never be able to control it. FIND HEALTHY STRATEGIESWithdrawing from loved ones, bingeing on food or alcohol, procrastinating, and sleeping too much are all unhealthy ways to deal with stress. Instead, find unique, healthy coping strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control. AVOID, ALTER, ADAPT, AND ACCEPTSome stressors are predictable. Learn how to predetermine your reactions by choosing to avoid, alter, adapt, or accept. Avoid people or situations that stress you out. Talk about your feelings instead of bottling them up, create a balanced schedule, reframe your problems, look at the big picture, and

practice gratitude. It’s critical to look at the glass as half-full and learn to forgive. MAKE TIME FOR RELAXATIONNurturing yourself is a necessity, not a luxury. If you make ample time for self-care, you will be in a better place to handle life’s stressors. Give yourself options like going for a walk, calling a good friend, journaling, or reading a book. LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLEIn addition to regular exercise, there are other healthy lifestyle choices that can increase your resistance to stress. Eat a healthy diet; reduce caffeine and sugar; avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs; and get enough sleep. Stress is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to dictate your life. With stress management techniques, you can avoid chronic stress, reduce your stress levels, and live a healthier lifestyle.

Let’s be honest: For many of us, eating out is the way to go. If you want to deliver calories to your system as cheaply and easily as possible, you can’t beat the ol’ drive-thru. Sure, you can spend a lot of money on a fancy dinner out, complete with wine service. But if you’re only feeding one or two, the dollar menu at a fast-food joint really might seem cheaper than buying the ingredients to make a similar meal at home.

Enter the 30-day challenge, aka the “No Eating Out” challenge. Designed to save money and encourage healthy living, the challenge is dead simple: For 30 days, only eat food that you prepare at home. That means breakfast in the morning, a lunch that you make and pack yourself, and a tasty dinner when you get home.

It may seem intimidating at first, but there are a lot of ways to succeed at this challenge. The first is to plan (and prep) ahead of time, especially on days off when you have a little extra time on your hands. If you know that your mornings are always a rush, prepare five on-the-go breakfasts, like oat-and-yogurt dishes, on Sunday. You can also have ingredients all ready to go for a shake that you can just add to your blender. Or make Magic Bullet (or similar) cups already prepared with

your ingredients. All you have to do is mix them together, and your breakfast is served! You can grab one each day on your way out the door, and they’ll taste as good or better than anything at the drive-thru. Same thing with dinner: Plan meals a week ahead, paying close attention to meals eaten right after work. If you want some inspiration, look to the menu at your favorite restaurant. Salad and chicken take just minutes to prepare!

The second way to succeed is to stick to it, no matter what. Obviously, you won’t be able to only eat at home the rest of your life, but 30 days isn’t the rest of your life. Set the goal and stay on top of things. It won’t always be fun, but that’s why it’s called a challenge. It also won’t be as tough as it sounds — quite the opposite, in fact.

Third, be honest with yourself about your moments of weakness and plan around those. If you know that you’re going to want to go on a burger run on Friday afternoons after a long week, pack something extra tasty for lunch that day instead. A homemade barbecue chicken sandwich with coleslaw and a pickle might be just the ticket. Is it totally healthy? Well, no, but it’s better than the burger — and cheaper, too!

When you’re ready to trade harsh creams and pills for a more holistic approach to clear skin, acupuncture may be your solution.

Acupuncture is the insertion of hair-thin needles into the skin to signal the brain to make changes within the body. “Acupuncture is a form of medicine that has been getting results for over 2,000 years,” says Mary Sabo, LAc, acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist, and assistant clinical director at The YinOva Center in New York City.

Acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain, stress, anxiety, digestive disorders, and allergies, but it is also great for skin conditions. Acupuncture therapy for acne often includes dietary changes and taking Chinese herbs and supplements in addition to acupuncture sessions. Unlike a lot of acne treatments that cause skin irritation, acupuncture is relatively risk-free.

The benefits of acupuncture extend far beyond clearing up pimples. “Regular acne creams are just suppressing the manifestation of an underlying imbalance in the body,” said Sabo. “Treatments with acupuncture work to make the whole body healthier, and in the process, resolve the acne from the inside out — which is why many of my patients also see improvement in their digestion, sleep, stress levels, and energy.”

For those who experience a few pimples here and there, your skin should clear up within a couple of acupuncture sessions. However, if you suffer from severe acne, it can take up to a few months of regular appointments to clear the skin.

When looking for an acupuncturist, make sure they are a licensed professional. It’s also a good idea to make sure your acupuncturist has had success in treating acne. If you would like some recommendations for good local acupuncturists, ask us. We have some great ones nearby!

Banana

Bread Muffins

(Gluten-Free, Low-Carb)

HERE’S WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

DEALING WITH STRESS Learn Healthy Coping Mechanisms That Put You in Control

DIRECTIONS

INGREDIENTS

TAKE THE 30-DAY CHALLENGEStop Eating Out!

Get a buddy to do it with. You'll stick to itbetter, it'll be more fun, and you'll have someone to vent with. Last but not least, make a careful record of what you spend both before and during the challenge. You probably already know what your budget is for food, but watch how it changes. Seeing the extra money in your account can be motivation all by itself.

Good luck!

773-975-6666 | 32 | WrigleyvilleDental.com