Freedom Day, USA!

Thursday, October 12 is Freedom Day, USA and we are excited to be participating again this year! From 7:30AM to 4PM that day we will be providing cleanings, x-rays, exams and any restorative dentistry to veterans and active military members in need of free dental care.

 

It is our desire to give back to those who have given so much to our country and to us! This is our way of showing how grateful we are for their service and for the sacrifices they have made for our freedom. Please help us spread the word so we may help as many members of the armed forces as possible!

 

Please call 303-940-0125 or email smile@halsadental.com to make an appointment on this special day!

My Pursuit of a Healthy Life

Health has a variety of meanings to many aspects of my life.  There is my whole body health, my mental health, the health of my family, and the happiness and peace surrounding my life and the people in it. 

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We all know that eating healthy is the most important thing we can do for our bodies.  "You can eat yourself out of any exercise program" is something I have heard time and time again.  While I have the biggest sweet tooth known to man, I am conscious about what I put in my body. I rarely drink anything other then water, I limit any kind of fast food as much as possible (this one is tough having three young kids and an early addiction to McDonald's french fries), and I cook most meals at home six days a week.  I find this so important because it is one way I can ensure that my kids are getting the proper nutrition to keep them healthy.

“You can eat yourself out of any exercise program” is something I have heard time and time again.

Exercise is another large part of a healthy life.  The thing that is great about exercise is that it comes in so many different varieties!  I have played soccer since I was young and I still play.  It is such a fun way to get some needed exercise and have a great time doing it!  I also have a very busy home life;  finding time for the gym is hard, so I have become very good at sneaking in some BeachBody DVDs during nap time!  

My mental health with three young boys is pretty hit or miss.  With my life as busy as it is, finding time to myself is very hard.  But it is so important to me!  I am a social person, but I value my alone time tremendously!  One way I spend time working on my mental health is by reading.  I love reading books that make me cry, sometimes a good cry can change my day! I also get massages regularly which I value so much.

Lastly, I believe that surrounding myself with people who have a positive impact on me and my family is very important in order to live a healthy life.  I try to avoid people who are always negative, angry or dishonest.  I don't have time in my life to deal with that kind of drama and stress!  I am a very loyal friend and I have only a few people that I am very close to.  My life and my health wouldn't be the same with out them!  Being able to have peace and happiness in life can absolutely improve your overall well being! 

Added hours!

For months we were hearing just how difficult it was for you to get an appointment with our exceptionally skilled hygienists.  We heard you - and we brought in Kim for an additional two days a week!  Let your friends and family know that it is now easy and convenient to schedule your first appointment, or your 20th appointment with Kim, Jen and Angela!  We look forward to seeing you and your referrals, in our new, updated facility!  Stay tuned this fall as we add evening and Friday hours!

A Dental Insurance Alternative

If you have dental insurance, you've probably realized that the term 'insurance' is a bit of a misnomer.  Unlike your medical insurance policy, where you pay your deductible and your medical insurance 'kicks in' and pays the bill; your dental insurance only pays a percentage and maxes out.  For some, this works great - if you don't have periodontal disease, and your teeth, in general, are healthy.  But for many, dental insurance limitations prevent them from getting the care they really need, in the timely fashion it needs to be done.  Some teeth can't wait for another calendar year for benefits to roll over!  

Hälsa Dental offers a unique membership plan.  It's not insurance, but an opportunity for you to get the care you need, when you need it, at an affordable cost.  No deductibles, no limits, no waiting periods.  

Does Your Child Snore?

I'd like to share with you a topic that has become of increasing interest to me lately.  I'm sure you've heard of sleep apnea, or at least been awakened to the sound of someone snoring.  But, should you be concerned if that person is your son or daughter?  A growing amount of research on the subject of childhood snoring says we should have serious concern.  Pre-pubescent children who snore and/or grind their teeth at night should be considered for a sleep study.  Snoring in childhood is NOT normal.  More interestingly, there is a growing consensus in medicine that a sizable number of children are being misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD (and medicated!) when what they really need is a tonsillectomy and/or orthodontic treatment.  Failure to do so in a child who has sleep apnea can cause  facial and oral changes that can be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse in adulthood.

The symptoms of childhood apnea are quite different than adult apnea.  Children who fail to receive oxygen during sleep can appear more hyperactive during the day.  If any of these symptoms are ringing a bell with you, please don't hesitate to call our office or that of your pediatrician.  More and more dentists and primary care doctors are working with ENTs to address this issue and can get you answers you have been seeking.  

For more information, please watch this video: 

This video is about children, attention deficit disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.


Freedom Day!

On September 11th, we had the privilege to give a little something back to our veterans.  As an office, we donated over $7,500 in dentistry in the form of exams, x-rays and fillings.  We met some wonderful people and were able to make something good of a day that was plagued by terror.  We look forward to giving back again next year!

For those of you who haven't heard of it, Freedom Day USA is a wonderful national event that any business can choose to be a part of, in any way they can.  Please check out Freedomdayusa.org to learn how you can participate and make a difference for your local veterans and active military next year!