13.1 Miles and Still Smiling

February 2, 2012 //
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Dr. Natalie, my friend and her sister (who is much faster than us!)

I’m borrowing the title from a t shirt design from the awesome store One More Mile. This last Sunday, January 29, 2012, I was able to say that! I participated (can’t really say competed if I’m just trying to finish!) in the Tinker Bell Half Marathon in Anaheim CA, through Disneyland. One of my dear friends (and patients) ran with me, and I am so proud to say that we finished the race smiling!

About 6 months ago, my friend and I had this hare-brained idea that we should train for a half marathon. We’ve both had family members and friends who’ve accomplished this task and decided we should take it on. By mid November, I decided to run a 10 K in preparation, and I’ll just say that it didn’t go well. Not that I didn’t finish, but I was fairly miserable throughout the race. This started to make me very nervous about the half marathon, since it’s just over TWICE as long as a 10 K!

Training over the last few months was not as consistent as it should have been, and neither my friend or I ran as far as we should have. In spite of our lack of training, the day of the race quickly approached. That whole weekend was a blur of activity for both of us. All of the preparation (and time spent worrying about our lack of preparation) came down to an early morning on Sunday. We were up at 4 am, trying to eat and drink a little before lining up for the race. While we had done most of our training separately, we decided we would stay together for the race. We took our places in the E Corral (the very back one, for those of us who knew we were going to take a long time) and waited our turn.

About 20 minutes after the official start of the race, it was our turn. We started out, and slowly and steadily conquered the first mile. By mile 2, 3 and 4, we were enjoying the scenery of the Magic Kingdom, both backstage and through the park. Mile 4 and 5 took us through Downtown Disney, where we had an especially warm reception from spectators. And then came miles 6 through 11. I have to give the race organizers credit for making sure there were people along the route cheering us on, bands playing music, and cheer squads performing tricks. It all helped those long miles through Anaheim stay interesting. Around mile 8, I hit my wall, and spent a lot of time walking. Thankfully, my friend helped push me through, and kept me going as we approached California Adventures. Those last few miles inside the theme park are a blur. My mind kept playing a countdown, “just 40 more minutes, just 30 more…” As we exited California Adventures and turned back onto the streets of Anaheim, the excitement grew. The streets were filled with people cheering us on, and as we rounded the final corner I saw the mile marker for mile 13! Then I heard my name, and saw my husband, along with my friend’s husband, cheering us on. My friend and I crossed the finish line together at 3 hours and 12 minutes!

It’s difficult to believe the race is over. We spent so much time thinking about it and planning for it. And now that it’s done, I’m actually considering doing it again! Or at least, continuing to run, train, and do races of various lengths (half marathon or less; I’m not crazy enough for the full marathon). It also instilled in me a few good reminders. First, it helps to keep things fun. Many of the miles of the race went by seemingly quickly because we were so distracted by all the fun around us. Secondly, it’s more fun with a buddy! My friend helped get me through the second half of the race. And finally, the big accomplishments in life are worth preparing for. I know I could’ve done more to prepare, but I also know that what I did do helped tremendously! And if there is a next time, I know what to do to improve.

I am not a runner. In fact, I’m pretty sure most people would be shocked to find out I even did this if they saw me. But hey, if I can run 13.1 miles in a few hours, I’m pretty sure most people can find time to floss each day. Aha! I knew I could make this dental. Anyway, keep at it folks. Whatever it is. Who knows what 2012 will through at you. Say yes to an incredible experience if it comes your way. And make sure you’re smiling at the finish line!

-Dr. Natalie

www.cochrandental.com

Community Time

October 27, 2011 //
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One thing we value at Cochran Dental Care is having the opportunity to be active in our community. In the last month and a half (since our last post – sorry for the delay!), we’ve had the privilege of participating in a Bridal Fair as well as a Health Fair. Today I’d like to share a little about the Health Fair we were a part of.

Cochran Dental Care was invited to participate in a Health Fair for teachers and employees of the Redlands Unified School District last Friday.  Dr. Todd Cochran and his dental assistant, Carolyn Russell, manned the booth distributing dental health information and interacting with teachers regarding dental health issues.  Carolyn reviewed dental insurance benefits and how to maximize their benefits before the end of the year.

One teacher in particular spoke to Dr. Cochran at length about her fear of going to the dentist, even for a cleaning and checkup.  Even though she has excellent dental insurance benefits, she is afraid to receive care and is four years past due for an appointment.  Dr. Cochran recommended a free consultation – more like a “let’s get acquainted visit” in the dental office to discuss sedation dentistry and it can help her relax through appointments.

Another teacher was the recipient of our raffle prize, a teeth whitening system valued at $300!  She was so surprised to be the winner, and as it turned out she had just completed orthodontic treatment, so now her beautiful straight teeth can also be their whitest.  Congratulations to this elementary school teacher.

It was a pleasure to meet the teachers and staff who teach our children every day, and participate in their health fair.

Here’s a photo of Dr. Todd and Carolyn at our booth:

We hope you have a wonderful week and have a chance to enjoy being a part of your community!

-Dr. Natalie

www.cochrandentalcare.com

Happy Labor Day!

August 31, 2011 //
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Sorry we missed last week readers! It’s been a busy August and I lost track of time. I can’t believe that it’s almost Labor day! Besides being a much anticipated day off, it’s a day commemorating all of us who work!

This Labor day weekend will be exciting as my husband and I are attending 2 weddings! And the following weekend Cochran Dental Care will be participating in our first bridal show at the Fox Event Center in Redlands CA. It is Sunday Sept. 11, from 10 am to 4 pm if anyone is interested in attending. We’ll be giving away a set of custom tooth whitening trays and gel to one lucky attendee!

We will also have information on Invisalign. If you’ve ever wondered if you are a candidate, come by our booth and ask.

Next month, we’ll be having a very exciting special. So please stay tuned for upcoming posts.

I hope everyone enjoys the last day and a half of August!

-Dr. Natalie

www.cochrandentalcare.com

Savvy Shopper Specials

August 15, 2011 //
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I’m not a crazy coupon-er, but I must admit I’m kind of impressed by them. I guess I don’t have the patience to go through all the fliers and ads that come through the mail and even email. But there are a few I generally check every week. Two of those are Costco and Target. I’m quite a fan of both those stores, and I happened to notice some fabulous dental deals happening over the next few weeks. Here’s the info:

For any Target shoppers, like myself, they are having a great in-store sale on Sonicare toothbrushes. In-store, because they are apparently sold out online. However, when I’m on that page, I can search for it in stores, and it says the local Redlands, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ontario, Rancho Cucumonga and Upland stores all have it in stock. If you’ve ever been in our office, you know we are firm believers in the Sonicare toothbrush.  It may be a generation old, but it’s a great brush! And for $39.99, it might be the best price I’ve ever seen for a high quality electric toothbrush. You can see a few other models on page 11 of the Target Weekly Ad.

At Costco, starting August 18 and running through September 11, they have coupons for Crest Whitening Strips, Sonicare Replacement Heads, and Colgate Total Toothpaste. Here is a link to a scanned copy of the coupons: Costco Coupons. The dental coupons are on page 11 and 12 of the document. I think you can use these replacement toothbrush heads with your new Sonicare toothbrush from Target! What a great combination.

A quick note on the whitening strips: we at Cochran Dental Care still feel patients can get more effective whitening with custom trays made in office and prescription strength whitening gel. However, for mild whitening and less cost, this can be a good option to try. Especially with a coupon!

Let me know if you find any other great dental deals!

-Dr. Natalie

www.cochrandentalcare.com

 

 

TMJ… not your average joint

August 11, 2011 //
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This month, we’ve been talking with patients about their jaw joints. One of the most common, and often frustratingly challenging, problems patients come in with is jaw joint pain. It can be especially difficult because it’s such a complex joint. It is the only joint in our body that both hinges (swings up and down) and translates (moves forward and back in a sliding motion). It’s attached to muscles, has ligaments, a capsule and a disk, plus nerves moving through and around it. All in all, it gets kind of complicated up there. And with so many components, it can be challenging to figure out what is causing the pain. Here’s a (simplified) diagram of the joint.

TMJ

Here at Cochran Dental Care, we’ve learned that a lot of joint pain is related to other areas. Muscle pain can contribute to it. Stress reactions like clenching your teeth together (with those muscles!) or grinding teeth can play a role as well. There are disorders of the joint itself, but those are much less common.

If you or someone you know suffers from joint pain, we are here to help! Dr. Todd has had a lot of continuing education on joint disorders and treatments. And if we don’t know the answer, we probably know someone who does. There can be simple solutions to many issues.

Next week, I’ll try to set up some additional links with information on this topic. Till then, have a safe and wonderful weekend! I’m hoping this gorgeous, cool weather continues!

-Dr. Natalie

www.cochrandentalcare.com

Don’t belive us? Ask Whoopi…

August 4, 2011 //
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So this week, a friend showed me a great video of Whoopi Goldberg on “The View”. In this clip she talks about a dental infection she had the day before, and what she knows now about health care. Regardless of what you think or her or the show, I have to say, she has some great information and a good understanding of what can happen down the road if you haven’t kept up with your oral health care. Enjoy!

The View – Whoopi Goldberg on oral health

Sorry the video isn’t HD!  :)

-Dr. Natalie

www.cochrandentalcare.com

Oral Cancer: Have you been screened?

August 1, 2011 //
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If you’ve had a cleaning in the last year, the answer is probably yes! Many dentists, including us here at Cochran Dental Care, include a free oral cancer screening with your dental exam. The funny thing is the patient may not even know it’s happening. There are certainly times I forget to mention to patients that I’m doing that, but it still gets accomplished. And thankfully, oral cancer is pretty uncommon. Even still, it’s one of those things that the earlier we catch it, the better we can treat it.

Here is a link to the American Dental Association site’s article on it. It includes a great list of symptoms. If you ever feel like you are experiencing one of those, please schedule an appointment and have us take a look! Like I said, early detection is key.

And if you are ever curious about whether or not you’re getting an oral cancer screening, don’t hesitate to ask. It’s such a basic part of our exam, but it’s always good to make sure you know whats going on.

Have a great week, and hopefully we’ll have some more fun for you this week!

-Dr. Natalie

www.cochrandentalcare.com

Snacks!

July 27, 2011 //
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So I’m in this little show called, “Cinderella“. We had our official dress rehearsal last night. The interesting thing about dress rehearsal at the Redlands Bowl is it’s open to the public. So our dress rehearsal was watched by about 6000 people. No pressure!

One thing I’ve noticed during rehearsals for the show is how much we all snack. I’m as guilty as the next person! We dance and sing throughout the show, so we require some energy to get through. And I’ll admit, I have quite the sweet tooth (thanks Mom). It got me thinking about some of the tips and tricks to general nutrition and snacking and how it affects your teeth.

One recommendation is to limit sweets to mealtime. If you need a quick snack, grab some nuts or a piece of cheese. Another recommendation is to follow a snack with a piece of sugar-free, xylitol-containing gum (xylitol is sugar substitute that actually FIGHTS cavities!).

Here is a great website that lays out a bunch of ways you can help maintain healthy teeth just by tweaking your diet. And the one thing I’ll add, is beware of sports drinks! They tend to be very acidic (which is bad for your teeth) and often full of sugar (except the sugar-free variety, of course). They also can be damaging because they are consumed over a long period of time and not all at once. So your teeth are getting a constant bath of sugar and acid for a few hours; prime cavity time!

Enjoy the tips in the article. I found it very helpful! Tomorrow I’m taking some nuts for snacking in an attempt to counteract the cookies they have for us at intermission!

Have a great rest of the week, and if you’re local, come see Cinderella!

-Dr. Natalie

www.cochrandentalcare.com/

Catching up

June 28, 2011 //
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Hello interweb. It’s been awhile. Summer is in full swing now, and it’s keeping us here at Cochran Dental busy! We’re having a special this month on Invisalign through Groupon and we’ve had an amazing response! It’s been so much fun to see these new cases taking shape. And many have yet to come in and get started, so we are going to have lots of Invisalign fun these next few months. If using Invisalign to straighten your teeth is something you’ve ever considered, contact us soon. The special is still going on!

On a slightly more personal note, part of the reason I have been so busy lately, is that I’m performing in a musical this summer. The city of Redlands CA, in addition to being the location of one of our offices, is home to the United States longest consecutive free summer outdoor series. Or something like that! It’s called the Redlands Bowl, and I’ve had the privilege of being in a few musicals there over the years. This year we will be performing Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. It is a really fun show and I’m working with an amazingly talented cast and production team. If you’d like to come see the show, it’s July 26, 28 -30 at 8:15 at the Redlands Bowl.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe 4th of July! Our holiday weekend will be extra special this year as we will be celebrating my dear sister-in-law’s wedding!

Happy Flossing!

-Dr. Natalie

Getting fit? Avoid sports drinks!

May 26, 2011 //
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So I’m trying to exercise more. I think I’ve mentioned this in a previous post. It’s a challenge for me, especially this time of year, when it’s warming up. Getting myself out there when it’s still above 90 degrees isn’t an easy task. Also, making myself go for a walk on my own doesn’t tend to work out too well. Thankfully most nights I’m walking with my husband and dog. But with exercise on my mind, I thought of an article I read about acid erosion caused by sports drinks.

Acid erosion is when tooth structure is lost due to contact with acidic materials. A common example of this is when someone sucks on a lemon and it eats away the outer layer (enamel) of their front teeth. We are seeing more of it now, related to heavy intake of sports drinks. While this may not be the only cause, it can speed up the process of damaging tooth structure.

The article did have some tips to help prevent this from happening. First of all, don’t replace water with sports drinks. Rely on water to stay hydrated. Only use the sports drinks when doing intense exercise or long endurance training. And when you do drink them, don’t sip or swish the drinks around. Drinking them slowly, or swishing them around in your mouth increases the time the acid can contact your teeth. Instead, drink them rapidly, and if possibly rinse with water afterward. Finding sports drinks that include amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) can minimize the erosive effect.

I suppose the take home message, is be careful what you’re putting in your body. It’s easy to take something that’s meant to be beneficial (like sports drinks) and either overdo it or be susceptible to the damage they can cause. Getting back to the basics, like drinking water, is a great place to start!

If you have any questions about this, or other things that can cause erosion; or if you think you’ve been affected by this, please contact us! We’re always happy to answer questions or give a consult. Have a great long weekend (Happy Memorial Day and Happy Graduation Weekend to Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy!), and enjoy a Monday off!

-Dr. Natalie

www.cochrandentalcare.com

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