wishing you and yours a joyful holiday season and healthy new year · p assion -- find yours this...
TRANSCRIPT
Too! TimesTimely News for Our Patients From the Desk of Dr. Steven Kusnick
Winter 2011Holiday Issue
Our Pat ient-Oriented Pract ice - - Where We Care About Excel lence!
H appiness depends upon your outlook on life. A ttitude is just as important as ability. P assion -- find yours this year! P ositive thoughts make everything easier. Y ou are unique, with special gifts, use them.
N ew beginnings with a new year. E nthusiasm, a true secret of success. W ishes, may they turn into goals.
Y ears go by to quickly, enjoy them. E nergy, may you have lots of it. A ppreciation of life, don't take it for granted. R elax, take the time to relax in this coming year.
May you find happiness, hope and good fortune in the coming year.
"Wishing you and yours a joyful holiday season and healthy New Year"
Make some needy kids happy this holiday by donating a toy or two to this Marine Corps-sponsored gifting campaign. Just drop off your new, unwrapped toys to our office and as an official collection site, we'll see to it that your generous contribution brings the joy of the season to those less fortunate.
If you prefer to help financially, monetary donations can be made on their website www.toysfortots.org. Thanks for your kind help to our young people.
Thoughts on the Holiday Season
From Thanksgiving to Hanukkah to Christmas and New Year’s, the holidays mean many things to each of us. We’d like to share some thoughts from others on celebrating the joy and meaning of the season:
1. Focus on what you like about the holidays (family and friends, religious celebration, volunteering, etc.)
2. Make a plan to eat right, spend wisely, breathe deeply and maintain realistic expectations.
3. Create beautiful memories found in the investment of quality time and shared experiences.
4. The holidays are prime for having a profound effect upon the life of another at a time when they are most receptive.
5. Be easy on yourself and others. Don’t expect to be filled with holiday cheer if you’re not.
6. Intentionally redirect your mind to the things that are important to you.
7. Commit to laughing at least once a day, and help others do the same!
8. Donate food to your local food pantry; they get hit hard this time of year.
9. Find something inspirational and then pass it along to friends and family – we all need a shot in the arm from time to time.
10. Encourage someone. It’s free.
11. Answer this question: What am I most grateful for? Count your many blessings.
12. Overtip someone who deserves it.
13. Do some of your holiday shopping at a “Mom and Pop.” It’s a great way to stimulate your local economy.
14. Forgive someone.
15. Be a kid again – we won’t tell anyone!
16. Give someone a few extra minutes of your time.
17. Tell a loved one how much they mean to you.
18. Sing along to a holiday song – and then sing again!
19. Evict negativity – seek out the good in your life.
20. Take comfort in the traditions you value.
21. Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and then acknowledge that it truly is!
Happy New Year!
Thank you for your kind words about our newsletter.
Is there a topic that you would like to know about? Let us know and we'll include it in an upcoming issue of Tooth Times.
The best compliment a patient can give is the referral of a friend or relative. Thank you!
Fun Facts
Did you know that your teeth are as unique as your fingerprints? Even identical twins have different "dental fingerprints!"
Cheese! Chomp on these delectable dairy delights to keep your smile sparkling white -- specifically, aged Cheddar, Swiss or Monterey Jack.
H E A L T H T I P S
Staff News
Office Information
Add Asparagus to Your Holiday Meal
Asparagus has been a welcome addition to meals for over 2000 years, highly prized for its delicate flavor and texture. A native of the eastern Mediterranean area, asparagus at one time had a r e p u t a t i o n a s b o t h a n aphrodisiac and a cure for toothaches!
Today it is recognized for other healthy benefits. Just half a cup of asparagus adds an abundance of nutritional benefits to your diet, including memory-supporting folate, cancer fighters, fiber, and an array of vitamins and minerals.
Try this Mediterranean-Style Asparagus recipe at one of your holiday meals:
Ingredients:1 bunch (about 1 pound) fresh asparagus3 Tbls. extra-virgin olive oilsalt and freshly ground pepper to taste2 to 3 Tbls. balsamic vinegar2 to 3 Tbls. fresh Parmesan or Romano cheese, grated12 grape tomatoes2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
Snap the ends off the fresh asparagus spears, and discard the woody parts. Toss the asparagus spears with olive oil, salt and pepper. Broil the asparagus in a broiler pan, under your oven's broiler (or on your BBQ grill) for about 3 minutes. Turn the spears and broil for another 3 minutes, or until the asparagus is fork-tender.
Place the asparagus spears on a serving plate, and drizzle balsamic vinegar over them. Sprinkle the grated cheese, grape tomatoes, and chopped boiled eggs over the top, and serve immediately.
Take Care of Your "Sweet Tooth" During the Holidays
Holiday "goodies" -- the feast of pies, cakes, cookies, candies -- are treats we all look forward to during the holidays. And with the flurry of activities during the holiday season, it's easy to forget proper dental care. Here are some tips to enjoy those sugary treats without worrying about your dental health:
1. Everything in moderation. Enjoy the holiday sweets but do so in moderation. We eat more sugar than we realize, so brush it away after eating rather than letting it eat away at your teeth.
2. Brush and floss. Always brush before bed -- don't let leftover sugar and the bacteria that feed on it have their own feast while you sleep. Food particles tend to lodge between and behind teeth where brushing doesn't always reach, so floss well to remove those decay causers.
3. Prepare ahead of time. The last thing you want is to suffer a toothache during the holidays. If your teeth aren't in the best shape, come see me for a checkup so you can enjoy those holiday goodies without worry of hitting a nerve.
4. Drink water. Especially when brushing your teeth isn't an option. Drink a glass of water during or after each meal to help wash away those pesky food particles.
-- Dr. Kusnick
JUST FOR MEN: HEALTH ALERTMore information from the 2008 study in Lancet Oncology:Men with periodontal disease were overall . . .
• 14% more likely to develop cancer• 49% more likely to develop kidney cancer• 54% more likely to develop pancreatic
cancer• 30% more likely to develop leukemia
Let us help you lessen the risk of these diseases. Call us today for your regular checkup -- let's eliminate periodontal problems.
Our news is all about education these days:
Dr. Kusnick is pursuing the goal of earning the designation of Master of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). He is currently taking 30 hours of continuing dental education courses, credits that go toward both the AGD Master designation and his State of Florida professional license. Editor's Note: Dr. Kusnick now is a Fellow of the AGD, which means he has been recognized by other general dentists as a leader and exemplifies to other dentists the importance of quality continuing dental education in order to offer their patients the highest quality of care. The Fellowship award is an honor accorded to only 7% of general dentists in the U.S.
Tiffany is pursuing her Associate of Science degree in Dental Hygiene, attending Broward College full-time.
How time flies -- son Mike Kusnick is now a sophomore at the University of Florida, majoring in Biology. Son Brian is also a sophomore, at Plantation H.S., and has been named woodwind captain for the school's Marching Colonels band.
Fun Fact!By popular vote, we were elected the winners of the 2011 Great Pumpkin carving contest sponsored by our orthodontist colleague, Dr. Freeman. Thank you!
Here's our winning pirate pumpkin!
Steven J. Kusnick, DDS, PAFellow, Academy of General Dentistry
3531 N. Pine island RoadSunrise, FL 33351
Phone: 954.741.0707Fax: 954.741.4611
Our Extended Office HoursMonday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pmThursday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pmFriday: 8:00 am - 12:00 noon
Emergency Treatment Available the Same Day