South Florida Dentist Warns about Holiday Foods

When most people think of foods that can harm your teeth, they think of candy. “However, there are a lot of other foods to avoid,” says Dr. Charles Nottingham, a cosmetic dentist at Smile South Florida. “Unfortunately, many of them are popular during the holidays.”

Sugar: Sugar, of course, is the #1 culprit in causing cavities. The worst offenders are sticky foods like lollipops, hard candies, and gum drops. They give you a double whammy. Not only are they high in sugar, but they also stick to your teeth for a long time after you eat. Surprisingly chocolate is less like to be a culprit because it binds with fat molecules and doesn’t stick to teeth as well as other candies. If you do eat a lot of sugary foods, try to do so at mealtimes when increased saliva can wash sugar off teeth.

Starches: “Bread and potatoes are very popular parts of traditional holiday meals,” points out Dr. Nottingham. “But, the refined flour in white bread and the starch in potatoes are essentially sugars and so will affect your teeth the same way refined sugar does. So cut back on those rolls, mashed potatoes, holiday cookies, and potato chips.”

Alcohol: An occasional drink at a holiday party is okay. But excess alcohol wears away tooth enamel, discoloring teeth and making them vulnerable to cavities.

The good news is there are a lot of foods that are healthy for your teeth as well. “In general most fruits and vegetables help strengthen your teeth – as do a lot of foods containing protein,” says Dr. Nottingham.

Fruits and Vegetables: Any fruit or veggie with a lot of fiber will help out. Onions, celery, kiwis, parsley, and apples are all singled out by experts as being particularly good for your teeth. So look for holiday recipes that include these foods.

Dairy Products: In general cheese, yogurt, milk, and other dairy products (without added sugar), are good choices for the teeth. They help generate saliva which washes sugars off the teeth and they contain calcium, which strengthens them.

About Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry
The cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry have offices in Broward County and West Palm Beach and provide Boca Raton Dentistry, Fort Lauderdale Dentistry and Miami Dentistry.

About Nottingham Consulting Group
Nottingham Consulting Group (NCG) is a business consulting firm specializing in business management, business coaching and marketing strategies.

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Narconon Calls For Anti-Drug Messages To Counter On-Air Marijuana Smoking

Last week, Zach Galifianakis, star of the new movie “Due Date,” startled his interviewer and fellow guests on Real Time with Bill Maher by pulling out what he said was a joint and lighting up. In a later interview, Bill Maher denied that Zach had been smoking real marijuana. It hardly matters. The communication behind the action is crystal clear. It says “Marijuana smoking is acceptable.” It tells young people “Go ahead and smoke it.” This was all part of the brouhaha surround the debate over California’s referendum to legalize marijuana, which is neither here nor there. This article is not about legalization.

Narconon Calls For Anti-Drug Messages To Counter On-Air Marijuana Smoking

The fact is that as irresponsible as the act itself would be to let that communication hang in the air, unanswered. For that reason, Narconon International senior drug educator Bobby Wiggins calls for parents to respond to this TV gimmick by actually talking to their children about drug abuse and the real-life problems it can create. Narconon is an international organization dedicated to preventing drug and alcohol abuse and to helping those who have become addicted recover fully.

“It’s not enough for parents just to tell their children they should abstain from drugs,” said Wiggins. “They’ve got to be real with them. The truth is that marijuana use itself creates its own damage and is itself addictive. The dealer trying to sell a teenager an ounce of marijuana is sure not going to be the one to tell the kid, so it’s got to be the parents.”

The National Center on Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) provides annual reports on the state of substance abuse among America’s young people. These reports completely support the idea that the best route to success is drug-free and alcohol-free. Their reports state that about half of students who drop out of school either themselves have been involved with alcohol and/or other drug use or they have parents who are substance abusers. CASA’s research also indicates that young people who abuse drugs or alcohol have lower grades and higher rates of suspension or expulsion. They are less likely to graduate from high school or college.

But don’t expect the noisy advocates of marijuana legalization or decriminalization to admit any of this. For the record, Narconon does not take a political stand on this issue…because it’s a red herring. What is important is demand reduction – effective drug rehabilitation and effective drug education.

“For decades, Narconon has taught volunteers in the U.S.and dozens of other countries how to educate children to think more responsibly about drug use,” stated Wiggins. “We emphasize giving students real information they can use to make drug-free decisions on their own. Our method of drug education has been studied and demonstrated to reduce drug use by those students who receive the curriculum. The only safe amount of illicit drug use is none at all, period.”

Visit http://www.youtube.com/user/narconon#p/u/7/Ze2L6lMG7gI for more information on the Narconon program.

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Narconon Egypt Announces Graduate from Nigeria

Mabruka came into the Narconon drug rehabilitation program in Cairo Egypt as what he describes “a mess of a human being.” He had struggled with addiction for many years lying to himself while thinking deep down he would never be able to get out of the trap caused by drug abuse.

“I was deader than alive and numb” he says in a recent interview.

One day Mabruka was able to enroll in Narconon Egypt where he was able to complete each of the eight steps of the residential treatment provided through Narconon.

“The Narconon program has taught me how to live again and Narconon has restored my faith in myself and given me peace stability that can only be dreamt of” he explains. “The books are amazing as well and the sauna. It was the best thing for me. I have my health back and my body is alive again being in control of my life.”

The Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program has been saving lives worldwide from the destruction of drug and alcohol addiction since the 1960s. The program was started by a man named William Benitez a habitual criminal and heroin addict who was searching for a solution to his own addiction from behind the walls of the Arizona State Penitentiary in 1964. Benitez came upon a book American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard that helped him permanently recover from addiction and he then used what he learned to help others struggling with substance abuse. Today Narconon operates more than 150 drug treatment centers in 40 different countries. One of the newest locations is Narconon Egypt.

Narconon Egypt’s center is located in Mokattam City – a quiet suburb in Cairo situated away from pollution and noise and an ideal environment for anyone addicted to start the rehabilitation process. Their mission is to eradicate the problem of drug and alcohol abuse in their region through effective rehabilitation and education. The center promises many more graduates such as Mabruka.

“[Since completing Narconon] no longer do the chemicals of evil men call my name or haunt my dreams. No longer do I fear or hate or have to hide” says Mabruka. “Words are not enough. I will forever spread the word of Narconon Egypt and the people who absolutely perform miracles every day. The Narconon program is truly a miracle but this miracle can be explained.” To learn more about Narconon please visit http://www.youtube.com/user/narconon#p/u/5/jYnrLTGvsRU.

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Narconon International Urges Rehabilitation Centers To Get The Word Out To The Public

It is officially acknowledged by health authorities in the US that overdoses on prescription drugs have passed up the traditional killers, heroin and cocaine. One of the drugs most responsible for this is an opiate derivative called, fentanyl. It is manufactured under many names, including Actiq, Duragesic, Durogesic, Fentora, Instanyl, and Sublimaze.

Narconon International Urges Rehabilitation Centers To Get The Word Out To The Public

The synthetic opiate is prescribed for patients who are in constant pain, or who are suffering break-through pain (sudden flare ups of pain that occur despite pain medications already administered), for chronic conditions or the effects of chemotherapy. It comes in many forms: patches worn on the skin, lozenges or“lollipops” and injectable forms.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Heath, which monitors health worker-related drug abuse, warns that “Fentanyl depresses central nervous system and respiratory function. Exposure to fentanyl may be fatal. Fentanyl is estimated to be 100 times as potent as morphine and many of times more potent than heroin. It is a drug of abuse.”

One of the reasons the drug is extremely dangerous is because it has a short-term effect on the body, tolerance builds up rapidly causing the addicted person to up the dosage to dangerous levels after a short time using the drug. Once removed from the safeguards of a highly controlled medical environment, the abuser can easily overdose, and bring on respiratory failure and death.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other sources, supply of the drug on the streets is virtually unlimited, as evidenced by a recent arrest of a 19-year-old medical attendant and her boyfriend caught removing the gel from the patches administered to patients in a nursing home. The drug is also stolen from pharmacies, a problem for law enforcement that has been escalating throughout the US. Even used patches are collected for the remaining drug that is still on them.

Once procured by users, it is often “cooked” in foil and inhaled or injected. Patches are also sometimes frozen, cut into pieces and eaten or placed under the tongue or in the cheek for absorption. Websites frequented by young people give tips and information about procuring the drug and ways to get the most out of the drug in whatever form it is in. Discussions about the drug further popularize it, including information on how to make it. “In short, this drug is easily procured and it is deadly,” says Bobby Wiggins, Director of Drug Education at Narconon International.

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Florida Gynecologist Rebuts Misconceptions About Cosmetic Procedures

Cosmetic gynecology is a burgeoning field with a growing number of practitioners and patients all over the U.S. However, some doctors expressed concern about the field in a recent issue of OB.Gyn News. Many worried that such procedures aren’t medically indicated, while others were concerned about negatively affecting a woman’s self-image by suggesting that her private parts might be unattractive.

However, Dr. Mark Scheinberg, a South Florida cosmetic gynecologist from the Center for Cosmetic Laser Gynecology, knows these criticisms are unfounded. “I have seen hundreds of patients in my practice, “says Dr. Scheinberg. “Many of them have functional concerns, such as pain, difficulty with urine retention, or diminished sexual satisfaction. Aging, childbirth, and other causes can result in some distressing changes in the vulva area. After surgery, they are very happy to have these functions return to normal.”

Other critics have voiced concern that gynecologists’ straying into purely cosmetic treatments is a inappropriate. However, as Dr. Scheinberg points out, “These procedures are no different than breast enhancement or tummy tucks which are performed for cosmetic reasons. Enhancing your appearance is a valid choice for women. It can improve their self-image and quality of life.”

Ultimately, Dr. Scheinberg notes, it’s an issue of giving women choices. “I believe that women should have cosmetic gynecology options,” he says. “It’s not up to me to tell a woman whether she should or shouldn’t be happy with the appearance of the vulvar area. It’s the patient’s choice.”

Learn More
To learn more about the Center for Cosmetic Laser Gynecology and Dr. Mark Scheinberg, visit their Web site at http://cosmeticlasergynecology.com/.

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