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Summer is right around the corner, school will be out, and it’s the perfect time to get braces on. The kids don’t have to miss school for the long starting appointments and won’t have to have the discomfort of getting used to braces while in school. Great…so how does one find the orthodontist?

In most cases almost any properly licensed orthodontist will accomplish what you want and your child will look fine. What you need to know before committing to a treatment is if a complete diagnosis of why the teeth need treatment has been made and if the treatment plan addresses that diagnosis.

Unfortunately, many schools are just turning out practitioners that just follow the rules they learned. After graduating, there are orthodontic supply companies that have developed “no brainer” methods that just make the teeth look good as fast as possible.

This is just too tempting for many parents so, like giving pills for a symptom, parents allow someone to just put on the braces, pull however many teeth are recommended, and 18 months to two years later your precious angel has an acceptable smile. How long it lasts is up to nature.

NATURE?  Up to now, under the assembly line conventional approach I’ve described above, nature has been left out of the picture. The complete diagnosis was not made, just a surface-level treatment plan. The complete diagnosis requires researching out what caused the patient to have crooked teeth. Then the treatment plan should be made to correct the cause while establishing an environment within the patient that can maintain straight teeth that function properly within the oral complex. It should also attempt to make up for the damage that has already resulted by these factors.

Aside from genetic contributions, such as one parent with big teeth and the other with small jaws or one with the lower jaw in front of the upper, there is a myriad of other factors. The oral environment is probably the biggest factor. The musculature of the oral complex forms a matrix creating a framework upon which the teeth are guided. If all is ideal the teeth come in perfectly. The inside of the arch is directed by the tongue and the outside by the lip and cheek muscles. As long as their relationship is ideal, great!

When the oral complex is not ideal, problems usually occur. For example, if the growing child can’t breathe through his/her nose, the mouth must be open. This causes the inner matrix which controls the width of the arches, aka the tongue, to be low. It is not so low that the lower teeth are not directed, but low enough that the upper arch becomes crowded, many times blocking out the cuspids or canines, forcing the front teeth forward.

Now, if the mouth breathing is due to a food allergy, the tonsils and adenoids enlarge, causing further airway blockage as well as forcing the tongue to go forward due to the tonsils taking up the throat space. Since the formation of the dental arches is controlled by the muscles, the forward tongue creates forward teeth. To make it worse, the consistently open mouth stimulates the face to grow longer thus exacerbating the dental problem into a facially esthetic problem.

The best time to see all patients is around age seven. If the problem has to do with growth, something can be done and the results are far better than waiting until later. If growth is nearing the end, usually at around age 13, not as much can be done to change growth and very little can be done to grow more bone in order to prevent removal of permanent teeth to correct crowding.

Orthodontic treatment need not be limited to just making a teenager have a beautiful or handsome smile. When done taking into consideration all the factors that make up the perfect dentition and facial muscle harmony, it not only gives them that incredible smile, but a more ideal facial balance and more stable result. It can be the difference between an unattractive face and a beautiful face.

The stability of the result depends on the proper balance of the muscles which requires proper breathing and proper oral habits. It requires an orthodontist that looks at more than just teeth. And as my regular readers know, I am committed to a holistic approach for the very best patient outcomes.

Have a great Summer!

Robert Brown, DDS has a TMJ, orthodontia, and sleep apnea practice in Danville and thoroughly enjoys discussing holistic medicine. You can contact him at 925-837-8048, at info@aodtc.com, or visit his web site at www.aodtc.com.

 

Q. I have two strawberries on separate plants that have small leaf-like structures growing out from the surface of the berries. What causes this and are the berries okay to eat?

A. Strawberries are one of the few berries where the seeds form on the outside of the fruit; hence, they are not considered a true berry. True berries form their seeds inside the fruit. The leaf-like structure is an immature leaf that has germinated. Typically, the seeds on strawberries are sterile but on rare occasions they do sprout. I can’t tell you what triggers this event. All of the strawberry plants available today are propagated from vegetative cuttings or division. But, you can purchase seeds for both alpine and traditional strawberries online. The seeds formed from these variety maybe more incline to sprout on maturing berry. Strawberry leaves are non-toxic so I just rub them off when they appear. Strawberry leaf tea is most commonly used to improve digestion throughout the digestive tract

Q. In April, I planted several Heirloom, Brandywine tomatoes. The plants are producing plenty of flowers, but they’re drying up and falling off before they set fruit. Could you tell me what might be causing this?

A. It is early for the fruit set on Brandywine tomatoes so I wouldn’t be pushing the panic button just yet. It’s not unusual for the first group of flowers to fall off and fail to set fruit. You should expect to see tomatoes by the end of the month or early July. Tomatoes primarily fail to set fruit because of cool nights and or the lack of pollination. Another issue can be excessive nitrogen causing the plants to grow rapidly. I don’t think this is an issue since there was no mention of any excessive growth. Tomatoes like constant nighttime temperatures above fifty-five degrees. The marine influence is a major factor in delaying the formation of tomatoes. The closer you’re to the water the more problematical it can be. Warm days generally translate into warm nights inland so the fruit set occurs as expected. You need to be selective as not all tomato varieties produce well in all of our many microclimates.

Unlike other edibles, fertilization and pollination does not occur simultaneously in tomatoes. They’re two separate events. Once pollination occurs a pollen tube must form to transfer the pollen down to the base of the flower where fertilization occurs and tomatoes form. The cool nights slow the tube formation. After four days, the flowers drop off whether or not fertilization has occurred. The chief pollinator of tomatoes is the wind and not bees. We normally have enough of an afternoon breeze to do the trick; however, poor air circulation can still be a problem. You can aid Mother Nature by gently shaking the plants. The best time to do this is midday. Another option is to spray the open blossom with Blossom Set. It is successfully used on melons, squash, and cucumbers where pollination is a problem.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/Buzz.Bertolero

 

Joint pain, known as arthritis, comes in many forms. The most common type is osteoarthritis, known as “wear and tear arthritis.” Joint pain can flare up for a number of reasons — some of which may be overlooked by conventional practitioners. Many of my patients ask me if their pain is caused by arthritis. Sadly, it is estimated that one in five Americans has been diagnosed with some form or arthritis. There are over a hundred different arthritic conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis being the most well known.

Rheumatoid arthritis, is an autoimmune disease causing inflammation in the synovial fluid of the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in the hands and feet and is frequently accompanied by a hot or warm feeling in the joint, stiffness for over 30 minutes in the morning, the same joint affected on both sides of the body, polyarthritis (more than one joint affected at a time), and pain that can last through the night. With this form of arthritis, most of my patients notice the pain eases the more they use the joint.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, feels worse the more we exercise and as the day wears on.  Also linked to inflammation, this type of arthritis can be traced back to a breakdown in the joint cartilage. It generally affects the hips, knees, spine, hands and feet and develops as more of a wear-and-tear situation, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is closely tied with genetic factors that lead to an autoimmunity problem.

What you need to know if you suffer from arthritis.

All forms of arthritis involve some kind of inflammation, either local or systemic. When injured, a chain of events in your immune system known as the inflammatory cascade is triggered. This is what causes the redness, swelling and pain we often see with an acute injury. When this process, known as local or acute inflammation, turns on and then off in response to injury it’s a sign of a healthy immune system. Yet when the symptoms of inflammation don’t disappear, it tells us that your immune system is unable to turn itself off when it should and therefore leads to a state of chronic inflammation.

How do I begin to heal my arthritis pain?

1. Adopt a healthy diet rich in natural anti-inflammatories. Eat small meals often and choose a diet of richly colored fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and pure omega-3 fatty acids.
2. Class IV Laser Therapy. Ending the pain caused by arthritis requires stopping the cycle of inflammation. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is quickly relieved.
3. Rule out infection and allergies. Special testing is available to identify subclinical infections and allergies to foods and toxins.
4. Remove/reduce the toxins in your life. If you cannot understand the ingredients on the label don’t buy the product.
5. Reduce stress. Exercise, meditation, nature walks, yoga, prayer. The beauty of stress reduction is that it’s never a waste of time — it serves you on every possible level.

We have great success helping people solve the causes of their joint pain. If you suffer from arthritis it is worth your while to spend some time figuring out which of any number of factors are contributing to your pain, and which combination of therapies will help heal it. The good news is, you can do it—without drugs, and you don’t have to give up any of the activities you love!

Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She has been active in our natural health & wellness community since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

 

 

The best way to start dressing any window is to figure out what treatment options are going to work for the window style. Do you need panels on either side of the window to dress up the look or do you need functioning draperies for privacy?

Hardware options are limitless; decorative metal rods and rings can work for a more contemporary look, while wood rods and rings have a warmer traditional look. Drapery panel pleat styles also vary depending on the treatment; use a grommet top for a contemporary look or a French pleat to achieve the traditional style.

Traversing draperies are used to cover an entire window when needed and stack back to one side or split in the middle when they are open. Usually these draperies start above the window and end at the floor with either a puddle for a more traditional look or about a half inch above the floor for a cleaner look. These draperies can run on a battery operated motor or they can be opened and closed with a manual operation, either a wand or chain mechanism.

For a traditional arched top window, try a fun arched fixed panel drapery with medallions mirroring the curve of the window. This will give the illusion that the arch and window are larger than they really are. Add a swag to the front of a fixed panel or between panels to dress up the design.
A valance or cornice box can be used to hide a combination of treatments on one window. This valance should be proportionate to the window it is covering. The treatments below drapery panels, roman shades, or blinds should not be squished or floating freely behind the valance.

Making sure the treatments work together with each other and that they look appropriate in the room is going to make or break the look of the window treatment. Window treatment designs are endless. Find a style that fits your needs and talk to a designer about different, fun options!

Genetic testing for breast cancer risk: It’s been out there since the mid-nineties, but very infrequently discussed in the open. There is a myriad of reasons, but probably the most important is the unthinkable consequence of knowing.

One option is preventive mastectomy, the surgery to remove breasts while removing almost all risk of breast cancer. Think of cultural pressures where breasts are seemingly more than what nature intended. They are ogled, enhanced, and “sexified” in a way that creates body image miracles and body image insecurities. Angelina Jolie may be helping to change that. The beautiful actress, whose body has been admired in many different ways, has a new one. One she is pretty much sure is not going to be ravaged by breast cancer.

She writes in the New York Times;

My mother fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was.

Jolie, in this Op Ed piece, shares the fact she has completed a double mastectomy and re-constructive surgery. Does it make sense that she has given us an act of courage in sharing information? Jolie says she had genetic testing which showed she carried a gene that doctors estimate gave her an 87% risk of breast cancer and 50% risk of ovarian cancer, of which her mother died.

Jolie continued;

For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices.

All seems to make good sense, but let’s visit the caveats. Many insurance companies don’t cover the cost of genetic testing and still others balk at the cost of reconstruction saying it is merely “cosmetic” or “aesthetic.” So it makes sense that women and their families should check with their doctor about the desirability of testing.

Information can’t be a bad thing. It makes sense to thank Angelina Jolie for being strong, public, and starting a discussion. We should be able to talk about this, out from the shadows of isolation. And again, we, as a society, should focus on adjusting our health care system from one that “pays for treatment” to one that also “covers prevention.” Does that make sense?