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December 2021 Newsletter
What´s New at Savon
Quote Of The Month: “No matter how old you are, bonking people over the head with a wrapping paper tube is still fun.”
Congratulations To:
W. Kapral of Anthem, Arizona and A. Sturniolo of Peoria, Arizona Winners of our November early payment drawings for 1 free additional year of membership.
Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone that entered the drawing.
To Your Health With Jourdin Hendershot:
Holiday Blues
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Ahhh, here we are again… The holiday season! When you think of the holidays you probably think of family, relaxation, and excitement. However, that is not the case for everyone. For many people, it could mean stress, anxiety, and the dreaded gloom also known as “the holiday blues”.
Don‘t get me wrong, it is normal to feel stressed and frustrated during the hustle and bustle that is leading up to the holidays. After all, it is the busiest time of year!
“The holiday blues” is a seasonal depression that usually lasts from November – December, but can often linger, and may require treatment.
There are three categories that can contribute to “the holiday blues”:
- Psychological –
- Spending the holidays alone can cause loneliness and sadness.
- Family mishaps or strained relations can cause uneasiness during gatherings.
- Expectations!– This will usually always leave you disappointed.
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- Financial –
- The holidays are a financial burden. You will most likely spend more than you can afford which will cause major guilt and depression.
- Physical –
- The body goes through a lot during the holiday season. From excessive shopping to social gatherings and even spending time in the kitchen making those yummy treats, the body can become tense and fatigued.
- Eating and drinking can lead to weight gain, which affects the body.
If you want to try and nip those “the holiday blues” in the bud this year, try out these important strategies:
- Acknowledge your feelings – It‘s 100% okay to cry! Let your emotions flow, this will help you feel better about the situation. Repressing your feelings will only make them last longer.
- Seek support – Reach out to someone that you trust. Let them know that you are feeling down. If you do not have any support, try getting involved in your community. This is a great way to lift your spirits!
- Budget – Make a budget and stick to it! If that is still an issue, consider giving gifts that can not be bought. Those are the best types of gifts!!
- Plan ahead – This will help with the stress. Plan days you want to go shopping, do the baking, and any other events. Doing this should make you feel more relaxed and accomplished.
- Peer pressure – Don‘t feel the need to eat or drink if you don‘t want to.
By understanding what leads to your “holiday blues”, you can start taking the steps to control those triggers before they take over your happiness. If symptoms continue, please contact your primary care physician for medical advice and treatment. You don‘t have to suffer alone!
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!
If you have questions you would like to discuss with Jourdin, feel free to drop her an email by clicking here.
The above health material is provided as an information service. It should not be used for diagnostic purposes nor is it intended to take the place of the important relationship between you and your doctor.
Grandma´s Kitchen With Grandma C.:
Cheesy Potato And Kielbasa Soup
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Ingredients
- 1 lb kielbasa sausage, cut into ½ inch slices
- 3 large baking potatoes, cut into cubes
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup thinly sliced celery
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 4 cups chicken broth or chicken stock
- 1½ cups milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese
- Bacon Bits
- Salt and Pepper
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In a dutch oven or soup pot, heat olive oil and add sliced kielbasa.
Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
Add garlic, celery and onion and saute for approximately 2 minutes.
Add chicken broth, potatoes and carrots and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add in the cooked kielbasa, milk, sour cream and cheddar cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.
Cook over low heat until cheese has fully melted, approximately 7–10 minutes. Garnish with parsley and bacon bits.
Enjoy! And remember, if it looks and smells good, eat it!!
If you have a recipe that you would like to share with Grandma C., drop her an email by clicking here.
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All Savon Providers |
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Our spotlight for December shines on our network of providers.
This year has seen a somewhat return to the “New Normal” with the temporary rules, regulations, restrictions of last year for the most part becoming permanent.
As we close the book on this year, we would like to shine our Spotlight on ALL of our superb providers.
A special heartfelt thank you to those who were able to withstand the hardships and continued to provide excellent care for our members throughout this year.
It is because of these wonderful, hard working and dedicated people that we are able to keep moving forward and continue to provide our members with quality dental coverage and care.
We offer our sincerest best wishes going forward and hope and pray that both our members and providers achive health and prosperity in the New Year.
Thank you from the Staff at Savon Dental Plan
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Fun Facts:
Crazy, Zany Facts We Bet You Didn´t Know
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- Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.
- Due to a genetic defect, cats can‘t taste sweet things.
- The average American spends about 2.5 days a year looking for lost items.
- Most babies are conceived in December.
- Every time you lick a stamp, you consume one–tenth of a calorie.
- More Monopoly money is printed in a year than actual money throughout the world.
- Know the name Ada Lovelace? You should! She was the very first computer programmer.
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Come back for more in next months issue!
Dental Talk - A Member Blog Forum:
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Come blog with us! Dental Talk with Savon is a fun forum to post your interesting topics! Your comments are welcome, it´s free to use and no membership is required.
Some of the topics include;
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These are just a few of the topics. Our blog site contains many other interesting topics. Please join us!!
Here´s Your Answer
Questions From Our Members
D. Martin of San Diego, California asks:
“A friend of mine suggested that I use hydrogen peroxide to brighten my smile. Is it safe to use this and does it work?”
Savon’s Answer
Since we are not doctors and giving you our opinion may be construed as giving medical advice, we have decided to go to our trusted source, DrBicuspid.com and see what they have to say. Below is a direct reprint from them.
Hydrogen peroxide can whiten teeth safely and effectively, with its only major setback being short–term sensitivity in some patients, according to a May 13 session at the California Dental Association's CDA Presents The Art and Science of Dentistry virtual convention.
Hydrogen peroxide does not affect tooth structure, it is tolerated on soft tissues when the dose/area is within the soft–tissue peroxide capacity, and it works, said Paul Sagel, a research fellow in oral care at Procter & Gamble and the inventor of Crest Whitestrips and Crest Whitening Emulsions.
Products that contain “chlorite or PAA [phthalimidoperoxcaproic acid] make me nervous,” he said, also noting that hydrogen peroxide exists in the body. “Peroxide for tooth bleaching is safe for use and ingestion.”
Teeth whitening techniques and products have evolved over the years. As more new whitening products and devices flood the market, consumers are left with too many choices and lots of questions about product effectiveness and the side effects they may experience. Therefore, clinicians need to have a better understanding of the ingredients, efficacy, and potential risks of available whitening products.
In fact, some patients remain hesitant to brightening their smiles due to bad experiences with over–the–counter products from decades ago. For example, some people damaged their teeth during the 1980s using whitening products that contained hydrogen peroxide and citric acid and required long wearing times.
“It took the enamel off people‘s teeth,” Sagel said. “It was the citric acid.”
Though ingredients and use instructions have changed, about one–third of people who get their teeth whitened experience tooth sensitivity. Using a very high level of hydrogen peroxide or using a product for too long can cause gingival irritation, but most times the chemical compound is not the major cause of sensitivity, he said.
“Thickening agents used in products drive the sensitivity,” Sagel explained. “Hydrogen peroxide is safe.”
Using a blue light after applying a hydrogen peroxide product improves outcomes. When the light is applied with the right intensity for an appropriate period of time, it is effective and does not cause sensitivity, according to Sagel.
“Blue light really works, adding 30% to 50% efficacy to each treatment,” he noted.
The only patients who are not good candidates for teeth whitening are those younger than 12.
“Teeth need to be fully erupted,” Sagel said.
The above material is provided as an information service and is not intended to replace medical advice. Always consult with your dentist.
Tooth Talk With Tommy The Wisdom Tooth
Dentists Warn of Risky TikTok Teeth Whitening Trend
A direct reprint from an article in DrBiscuspid.com
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Dentists are condemning a viral TikTok video that suggests people rub a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on their teeth to whiten them, according to a July 13, 2021 news story on KIRO7.com.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is a melamine foam sponge used for household cleaning purposes.
Although Magic Eraser packaging states that the sponge should not be used on skin or other body parts, one woman claims on TikTok she has used it for the last two years to whiten her teeth.
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Her teeth may appear whiter, but Texas dentist Dr. Benjamin Winters explained in a rebuttal video that what the woman has done is scrub the enamel off her teeth.
The sponge should not be used on teeth because it becomes abrasive when melamine foam is mixed with water and other chemicals, according to the news article.
Mr. Clean Magic Erasers already carry a warning advising against their use on the skin or body parts. A safety advisory has also been added to the TikTok video, according to the news story.
Until next time; brush, floss and keep smiling!
The above material is provided as an information service and is not intended as medical advice.
Holiday Hours
Savon‘s Office Hours For December 2021 and January 2022
We wish all of our members and providers a Happy Holiday and a healthy and prosperous 2022!
December 24th open - 9am - Noon
December 25th - 27th - closed all day
December 31st - open - 9am - Noon
January 1st - January 3rd - closed all day
January 4, 2022 - office resumes normal hours
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