Count Your Blessings

I don’t know about you, but I like being happy. I like when the sun is shining and it’s 80 degrees outside. I like when I am spending time with my family and friends. I like when I can hang in my ENO and read. Then I realized: that happiness will always be circumstantial. My true happiness should come from my identity in Christ.


I’ve started keeping a journal of my blessings. The first day I wrote in it, I immediately thought of more than 50 things I’m thankful for. Some days I find it harder than others to sit and be appreciative for this life, but every time I do, it changes my perspective on that day. When I take the time to praise my gracious and giving Father for all the blessings He has entrusted me with I can’t help but bask in joy and gratitude. 

Sure it’s easy to be happy when things are going the way we want, but what about when they stray from our plans? Last time I checked, God knows what is best for me. He knows what I need. He has been showing me I have too much to be thankful for to be complaining about what I don’t like. I realize how selfish I am for asking for something different or something more than what He gives me. 

Praise God from whom all blessing flow! Praise Him for knowing the true needs of my heart! Praise Him for being a loving God who provides for His children!
I encourage you to begin keeping a notebook of your blessings. I can guarantee you will think of more things you have to be thankful for than to complain about.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:19
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
-1st Chronicles 29:13

Allie Todd CDA RDA

www.smileteam4u.com

Fan or Follower?

The year 2013 is here and January is already half over. How many of us made resolutions for this year? Maybe it was to lose weight, have more patience, be a better cook, or even just to laugh more. I know I did. Well, my resolution actually turned into a 2013 Bucket List of things I wanted this life to give me over the next 12 months.

While sitting in church on Sunday, conviction poured over my soul like water. They asked the simple question, "Are you a fan (of Jesus Christ) or a follower?" After I looked over the past year(s) of my life I felt ashamed. Had I truly wasted another year just proclaiming my love for Christ without living his love with open arms? Had I really followed Jesus or had I just expressed how much I loved him? Now, don't misunderstand me, resolutions can be a great thing. They push us to be better than we were the year before but are our resolutions just to better our looks, our houses, our bank accounts, etc.? Or is our resolution to become what Christ intended for us - A City on a Hill?

I challenge you in 2013 to ask yourself this question: Are you a fan or a follower? Maybe the answer we find will encourage us to be more; to be the light of the world. You never know what He may entrust in you. And you may even be able to conquer that addiction to sugar along the way.

• Matthew 5:17 (NLT) - You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 
• Matthew 16:24 (NIV) - Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
• John 8:12 (NIV) -  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 

Chalice, RDA
www.smileteam4u.com

Should I Whiten My Teeth?

You look in the mirror and smile nice and big - "Oh no! My teeth look so yellow! How did this happen? I really want to bleach them but it's so expensive. I wonder if those over-the-counter bleaching strips actually work or not." It's safe to say, the majority of us have thought this at one time or another. If you're like me and drink lots of coffee, you tend to be a bit more concerned about the color of your teeth. Well, what can be done? Are there any natural remedies? Hopefully, I can help to answer some of your questions and concerns.


When is whitening my teeth recommended?

Whitening your teeth can make a world of difference in the appearance of not only your smile but your entire face; lifting off years of discoloration. However, bleaching your teeth is not recommended for everyone. Such as:
                 - Women who are pregnant or lactating
                 - Those who have braces or other orthodontic appliances
                 - Children under the age of 16 (unless consulting with a dentist first)
                 - Those with sensitive teeth, allergies, cavities, exposed roots, worn enamel, or dental      
                    restorations
                 - Those with unrealistic expectations

           So, who is bleaching recommended for? Here are a few ways to tell if you and your
           smile are good candidates for teeth whitening:
                 - Those with healthy, unrestored teeth and gums
                 - People who have more of a yellow tone/staining to their teeth
                 - Those with realistic expectations


Different Types of Whitening Available:

There are several ways to whiten and brighten your smile; here are a few:
     - Whitening Toothpastes, if you are looking for a fast, cost-effective way to      
       whiten your smile, toothpaste is your best bet. Though, the toothpaste will
       only whiten the surface of your tooth and usually only up to 1 shade, it is a
       very simple and inexpensive way to lighten some of those coffee stains.
   
     - Over-the-Counter (OTC), these products include gels, strips, rinses, and
       trays. Unlike whitening toothpastes, OTC whitening products contain  
       bleaching agents like carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide
       helps to bleach below the surface of the teeth allowing for a much whiter
       appearance and a longer lasting result (usually about 4 months).

     - In-Office Bleaching at Your Dentist's Office, hands-down this is the fastest,  
       most effective, and lasting way to bleach your teeth. Each session takes  
       about 30-60 minutes and in many cases you only will need to be treated
       one time and will see your tooth shade lighten, sometimes even up to
       4 shades. Unlike toothpastes and OTC whitening, in-office whitening can
       be extremely costly.


How Long Will The Results Last?
 
              These results are not permanent but the longevity of them greatly depends on
              what types of foods you eat and the things you drink. If you avoid staining
              foods and beverages, your results could last up to a year but if you continue to
              eat and drink things that cause staining, your results could last as little as one
              month.

What Are Some At-Home/Natural Options?

              There are a couple of ways to help whiten your teeth at home with natural
              remedies. However, just like the toothpastes, these will only whiten the surface
              of your teeth and the results do not last as long as those at your dentist's office.
                      - Mix a cap full of hydrogen peroxide with a "Dixie-sized-cup" of water and
                        swish in your mouth for 30 seconds. *You want to be very careful to
                        dilute the hydrogen peroxide so that it will not irritate your gums*
                      - Brush with baking soda once a month *You also need to be very 
                        careful when brushing with baking soda, as it can be extremely 
                        abrasive to the enamel and surrounding tissue*

Some Possible Side Effects:
 
              The most common side effects from whitening is sensitivity to your teeth and
              the surrounding tissue. Usually, this sensitivity goes away 2-3 days after
              treatment is stopped. One way to help alleviate this sensitivity is to start using a
              toothpaste made especially for sensitive teeth and to rinse with a fluoride rinse.


Many of us strive to achieve that beautiful Hollywood Smile and whitening your teeth is just one way in which you can get a little closer. Whichever remedy you choose, be sure to always follow the directions and if sensitivity lasts more than a week you may need to consult with your dentist.

Chalice, RDA
www.smileteam4u.com

Don’t Forget

            Shopping, decorating, cooking, cleaning; Christmas season at its finest. With Christmas just days away, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. You’re busy making sure this Christmas is going to be the best one yet, but at what cost? Are you neglecting to remember the true meaning of Christmas? We’re celebrating the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Our focus shouldn’t be on buying expensive presents for people and making sure our house is decorated better than our neighbors.  We should be praising God for the gift of His Son!

            Why not use this time as a season of spiritual growth? We are instructed to be constantly growing in our faith and knowledge daily, but I hope this time of year brings extra excitement of growing closer to our loving God. We have all read the passages of Christ’s birth, but why not use this time to sit down with your family and read them together? Discuss them and pray about them. Christmas was truly a miracle and we should be praising God for that!

Throughout the year we often neglect to spend enough time with our own families because we’re “too busy”. I also challenge you this Christmas to make this a holiday of family growth. Start a tradition of reading the Christmas story as a family (Luke 2:1-20 for example), decorate the tree together, make Christmas cookies and don’t worry about the mess you might be making. Pinterest has great ideas for family activities and fun crafts to make. For me, the Christmas memories I cherish the most are when we piled up in the car with hot chocolate and drove around looking at Christmas lights, or all the times my family sat around and just talked. I can’t remember the gifts I got that year, but I’ll always remember the good conversations and memories made with my family.

So this Christmas don’t forget the real reason we celebrate. Let’s praise God for the gift of Christ and our chance at new life through Him!

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is     

pleased.

Allie Todd, RDA, CDA
www.smileteam4u.com

Truth and Absolute Truth

I remember hearing a speech concerning the constitution.  The speaker was making the point that the founding fathers could not possibly foresee all of the future changes coming to our country and our society.  I totally agreed with this basic assumption, but he continued and in essence said that the constitution had to be interrupted different at different times depending on how society changed.  Being a good ole country boy I started thinking – what?  You see I thought changes to laws or the constitution was supposed to be made by the legislative branch or the system set up to make amendments to the constitution. 

In my opinion the constitution deals with basic truths. That is the reason it doesn’t need to be changed often and our wise founding fathers made it so difficult to change.  The assumption the speaker made was that there are no absolute truths.  There are absolute truths!  If you fall out of bed, 100 out of 100 times, you are going to go down.  Gravity is an absolute truth.  The sun rises in the east 100 out of 100 times. 

I submit that there are many more absolute truths, but one that my mom always told me was, “somebody has got to pay.”  A variation of this is, “there ain’t no free lunch.” 

According to a study done by George Mason University, approximately 49% of households in the U.S. receive some type of government benefits.

When there are more people receiving than paying, we are eventually doomed.  A few more absolute truths come to mind:

Just because you might choose not to believe these truths, does not make them any less true.  You don’t have to believe in gravity.  But to not believe in gravity you do so at your own peril.

We have become a society that worships at the altar of relativism and/or tolerance.  Tolerance of different thoughts or ideas is a good thing and has always been part of our great society.  Our current problem is we are confusing tolerance of ideas, with the concept of all ideas are equal.  Obviously, all ideas are not equal.  (When I first wrote this last paragraph, I didn’t have the last sentence in it.  It seems ludicrous to have to write it.  But then, I thought I better write it down because I think some people might actually question it.) 

Over the history of mankind, not observing moral and economic truths has always been followed by dire consequences.  Pray for our country.

David

www.smileteam4u.com

                       

Revolution or Revival

Free Stuff or Freedom

Frequently Asked Dental/Orthodontic Questions:

When it comes to the health and longevity of your teeth, you probably have several questions. Here are several common questions we at Smile Team Orthodontics get asked regularly and some answers that may be helpful to you:

Q: When should my child be seen my an orthodontist?
A: According to the AAO, your child should be seen my an orthodontist by age 8.

Q: Do I really need to floss every tooth?
A: Yes! Flossing helps to remove food and build up that brushing leaves behind and helps to keep your gums healthy.

Q: Why do my gums bleed?
A: There can be multiple reasons your gums bleed but the most common is inadequate removal of plaque from the teeth and gums. Click here for more information.

Q: Should I have my wisdom teeth removed even if they are not causing me any problems?
A: It is recommended to have your wisdom teeth removed in adolescent age when the roots are much smaller. If you have any questions or concerns be sure to contact your dentist for an evaluation.

Q: How important are baby teeth?
A: Even though the baby teeth will eventually fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth the baby teeth are extremely important in maintaining space for the permanent teeth.

Q: How long should I wear my retainers?
A: You should wear your retainers as instructed by your orthodontist. We recommend wearing them at night for as long as you would like to maintain the shape and position of your teeth and smile.

Q: How often should I see my dentist?
A: It is recommended to be seen by a dentist every 6 months. This way your dentist can monitor any possible problems and prevent others from occurring.

Q: My braces are causing sores in my mouth; what can I do?
A: Sores caused by braces are very common. Dental wax and oral antiseptics are helpful in making you more comfortable.

Q: What should I do if I have a problem with my braces?
A: We recommend you call our office in the event you are having a problem with your braces and if you are having a problem when we are out of the office you can call our emergency phone for assistance.

Q: What foods should I stay away from when I have braces?
A: It is best to stay away from anything hard, sticky, and chewy when you have braces.

I hope these answers have been helpful in clarifying any questions or concerns you may have. If you would like anymore helpful tips just visit our website at www.smiletean4u.com.

Chalice Fraser, RDA
www.smileteam4u.com

The Hardest Work We Will Ever Do (But – the most important) (continued)

Well, "Now that I know it is important", you might ask, “fine, how do I do it?”  Or you may not ask, but I am going to give you what I have learned, anyway.  

First, forgiveness is a decision.  A decision which says the person I need to forgive owes me nothing.  I totally release him!  For many of us, this decision is not enough.  I know my work of forgiveness is not done when I think about the person or the situation and those old feelings rise in my heart. 

Second, I have to follow James of the Bible’s suggestion – I have to pray for my enemies.  I cannot tell you how it works, but I can tell you it works.  If I pray for the individual, asking God to bless him and give him the desires of his heart, before long the anger, bitterness and resentment goes away.

Again, I can’t explain why or how it works.  I can tell you, though, through my experience and by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ  – it works!

Here are some other helpful Bible verses on forgiveness:

• Ephesians 4:32
• Matthew 5:23-24
• Matthew 6:14-15
• Matthew 18:21-22
• Numbers 14:19-20

Dr. David R. Sain, D.D.S.

www.smileteam4u.com