Did you know that prior to the mid-1800s tooth decay was primarily a disease of wealthy Westerners?  What happened in the mid-1800s?  Due to improved farming methods and improved transportation, sugar became cheap!  Ancient people ate mainly lean animal proteins, vegtables, beans, roots, occaisional fruits (in season) and grains. They obviously had certain health issues (trauma, infection, infant mortality) but in some ways ate a much healthier diet.  Weston Price was a famous dentist who spent thirty years traveling to isolated parts of the world in the early 1900s. He found that tooth decay and crowded teeth were very rare in pre-agrarian societies. As soon as these societies switched to a Western-type diet, they developed the same health and dental problems as Westerners. These health issues include obesity, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, certain forms of cancer and… rampant tooth decay. In fact, In the 1700s the average American ate less than 2 pounds of sugar per year. Today the average sugar consumption is over  100 pounds per person per year!

So, if we want to avoid these ill-effects we need to eat less sugar and fewer simple carbohydrates.  But this is easier to say than to do! There is sugar (or sugar’s close cousin – high fructose corn syrup) in most processed foods. In a 20 ounce soda (a “medium” size at most fast food restaurants) there are over 17 packets of sugar! Being aware of the issue is the first step. Try drinking coffee with  a teaspoon of cinnamon instead of sugar. Drink water flavored with a lemon slice instead of soda, sports drinks or fruit juice.  Also,  try eating a more “primitive” diet: lean proteins, beans, vegetables. Especially good are the cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, bok choy, etc.  Also, include “fermented” foods in your diet: sauerkraut, plain yogurt, kimchee. These aid in digestion and have cancer-fighting properties.

Here is a dish I like to make a big batch of and then eat it for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner:

Grilled chicken breasts (3 or 4 large)

Garlic (Lots!)

Onions (1 large)

Black beans (1 can)

Red pepper  (1 large)

Garbanzo beans (1 can)

Olive oil

Sauté the garlic and  onion in the olive oil until soft. Add pepper and add beans (drain first). Slice the chicken into small pieces and add to the mixture. Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes. If you want you can eat with a tortilla and salsa. I like adding some lettuce, sauerkraut and plain yogurt for a zippy, tangy salad!

Enjoy!

-Dr. Don

Everett WA Dentist

Mother Teresa said “Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”

Here are a few more anonymous quotes:

“Laughter is the spark of the soul”

“Keep a smile on your face and let your personality be your autograph.”

“If your not using your smile you’re like a man with a million dollars in the bank and no checkbook.”

Why don’t we smile more? Did you know that there was a scientific study done and it was determined that if you smile more, people actually treat you better? A salesman will sell more if he smiles. Sometimes we don’t smile more because of depression, sometimes its a bad attitude towards life, sometimes its because we don’t like how our smile looks.

Have you ever looked in the mirror (especially after drinking a grande latte) and thought: “I wish my teeth were whiter” or “I wish my smile looked better?” White teeth make us look younger, more attractive, and make us want to smile more. If you don’t like the way your smile looks, a good place to start is by using our at home tooth whitening trays. They are easy, safe, and affordable. In fact, we are running a special promotion at North Creek Dental Care. Come in and have a dental cleaning, x-rays, and examination and we’ll give you a custom made home whitening kit. This is a $350 value and is yours for free. If you are missing any teeth, have broken teeth, or old dental work that is discolored, after tooth whitening, we have a variety of techniques to give you the smile you want and deserve. So come in and see us, get your teeth cleaned and whitened and start showing off your dazzling smile!

Our big news is our new building we are currently building. It is at our “old” location 12806 3rd Ave SE Everett 98208. We hope to be moved in by the first part of May. Dan Umbach designed the building. Lori Seleba and Caroline of OfficeWraps designed the inside and Erich Armbruster and Josh Gebhardt of Ashworth Development were the general contractors (I highly recommend all of them).

The new building has a lot of natural light. It has a spacious feel inside and has a “Northwest modern” look to it. Hope you enjoy the pictures while the new building is being built. We will be working at 10627 19th Ave SE Everett. Come by and say “Hi”!