Good News...The power of happy thoughts

I love getting good news, don't you? I really can not imagine anyone not loving good news. I know for me and my family we have had some tough few weeks. It seemed like we had bad news every day last month. Today I am thrilled and celebrating for two very special people in my life. I have two very dear friends who have had an "out of the blue" surprise and it proves that all things can become beautiful in time, and how God always makes things new.
In our world it seems that stress and gloom can bombard our thinking, it can weigh us down, make us sad, and even depressed.Taking time to think about the good things that have come into your life makes you value what is important and re-evaluate some of your goals. Filing our spirits and minds with good and happy thoughts actually improves the quality of our life. When we constantly focus on the negative or live a life of comparison it creates a breeding ground for unhealthy thoughts to take over.

By changing the way you think you can create a more positive environment for yourself and those around you. I am taking today to rejoice, it is so important to love others enough to be able to rejoice with them when good things come their way. Celebrate all of life's big and small surprises!!

The poison of jealousy

Jealousy is a poison that will eat away at a person and destroy them from the inside out. It’s been said that, “Jealousy is a poison that I drink in the hope that the other person will die”. Webster’s dictionary defines jealousy as “Resentment or discontent against a rival or against seeing another’s success or advantage”. Jealousy and envy are very much related. Jealousy is feeling threatened that someone will take what is yours. Envy is feeling resentful that someone has, or is getting, something that you want, or feel is more rightfully yours. Jealousy and envy are founded in wanting what another person has, for example, material possessions, power, recognition, or relationships. It’s when I want what you have or want to be who you are or want to do what you do. When I look at you, I feel like I am missing out on something.

Jealousy is like a cancer that eats at your bones. It destroys relationships, and prospects of a hopeful future if you allow it to take root in your heart. 
So what is someone to do who deals with jealousy, jealousy is a spirit that can take over someones entire life, making them even believe things that just are not true. 
Breaking The Spirit of Jealousy:
1. Admit there is a problem and get your eyes off everyone else!
2.Run from it. When you admit their is an issue and you suspect those feelings rising turn your thoughts somewhere else. Think on good things!! Think on hope and love not hate and envy.

TEST yourself: Ask, "Can I really be happy for someone else and rejoice with them even if they get some thing I want or obtain something I can not have?"  If you are actually resentful and can not rejoice with them, you have a jealousy problem and need to get a hold of it before it takes over your life.

 Photo: sodahead.com

First Aid Tips - Always Be Prepared!

I have been a cub scout, a boy scout, and a regular camper all my life. Now you see where I get my title of this article from. Be Prepared is one of the boy scout's many sayings that holds true to anyone both boy and girl, human or otherwise. No matter what happens with politics, with new diseases every day, we simply don't know what our fates are going to be. The best thing you can do is be prepared in the most practical way possible. One of the most obvious ways is with a first aid kit as shown above, but there are also other tips I would like to share. After all first aid kits are not magic wands. Reading instructions, and having basic knowledge will get you through the hard times.

When I was in boy scouts, and cub scouts we had to do many different activities outside in order to earn our badges. We did canoeing, cycling, jogging, hiking, and when any of us got a cut, scrape, or bruise, we were taught to take care of it as soon as possible. I will tell the same thing to you. Here are some things you should always keep in mind...

• Wash the area real good with CLEAN water. I cannot stress clean water enough here. Using dirty water will cause more problems with infection.
• Apply some sort of antiseptic solution. Try to use a clean cotton ball here. You don't want to use your dirty fingers.
• If the scratch or scrape is not that deep, just apply some antiseptic cream and let it heal. Don't cover it up with a band-aid let it breathe as much as possible.
• If blood is still flowing apply pressure and hold it until you can stop the bleeding. Once the bleeding stops apply a band-aid or wrap it up with something.

I know these sounds like crude tips everyone should know, but in a survival situation, these tips can help a bad situation from turning even worse.

Why Does Everyone Drink So Much Water?

Why does everyone insist on drinking so much water? I am not saying that water is a bad thing, in fact, water is life and we all need it to survive. Many people have heard the advice, we should all be drinking 8 glasses of water a day. This is a lot of water. Where did the 8 glasses number come from? So many people drink so much water every single day, and they say to themselves that they are doing it to get their "8 glasses". They do not do it because they are thirsty.

The 8 glasses a day figure comes from Dr. Valtin who is a kidney specialist (original source). He states that the recommendation of 8 x 8 ounce glasses of water really comes from the Nutrition Board of the National Research council. I know it sounds scary. The actual recommendation however was not for 8, 8 ounce glasses of water, it was for 1 milliliter of water for each calorie of food. So that should be around 60-80 ounces of liquid. The reason why most of us remember 8 glasses of water is because a lot of the media forgot to leave out the part of the quote where it says we get most of this water from our prepared foods. How convenient for the water bottle companies wouldn't you say? Collectively those bottled water companies made something like 7.7 billion last year.

People are constantly trying to push how much water they can drink in a day. This is not always a healthy thing to do. Did you know that you can die from too much water? A lady by the name of Jennifer Strange took part in a radio contest that was called "Hold your wee, for a Wii". The goal was to drink as much water as you can, and at the same time keep from going to the bathroom. She won the contest, but later that day she lost her life. She was complaining of a headache and nausea before she died. These are the symptoms of what is called hyponatremia. This is because she had water intoxication, or too much water and not enough pee.

Remember, water is not a bad thing. The best thing to do is listen to your body. If you're thirsty try to stay away from the sodas. Try grabbing an ice cold water instead. 8 glasses a day might be a bit too much, but hey it won't kill you. Just don't push it.

Is Tooth Whitening Safe?

We all love a bright white smile! However, some of my patients have expressed concern about the long-term safety and short-term sensitivity associated with tooth whitening. 

I'd like to address the 5 most commonly asked questions about teeth whitening:

1. Why do Teeth Stain?

The most common causes of stain include coffee, tea, colas, and smoking. Old fillings can also discolor teeth. Stain is more adherent to teeth covered with plaque (a combination of food debris and bacteria). Therefore, eliminating plaque with regular brushing and flossing can reduce accumulation of stain.

2. What is Tooth Whitening and How Does it Work?

Dentists offer two choices: ‘In-office’ whitening takes about an hour and may utilize a laser light to enhance the action of the whitening agent; and ‘at-home’ whitening involves wearing custom trays that fit snug on your teeth and are filled with whitening gel. ‘At home’ whitening trays can be worn several times daily or overnight. Key ingredients in whitening gels are either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. When placed on your teeth, these gels achieve a whitening effect by ‘oxidizing’ away stain molecules. Tooth hypersensitivity is most often related to higher concentration of key ingredients but is only temporary. 

3. What are the Risks of Tooth Whitening?

One side effect of Tooth Whitening is hypersensitivity. This may be caused by peroxide gel permeating into the sensitive pulp of the tooth, or creating biochemical changes which bother the tooth’s nerve. The actual whitening process of ‘oxidation’ may also contribute to hypersensitivity by dehydrating the tooth. For most patients, sensitivity is mild and lasts only a few days. Studies have not found any long-term negative effects of whitening.

There are several conditions that may predispose a person to hypersensitivity, including gum recession, clenching/grinding of teeth, acidic diet (including colas), bulimia, and acid reflux.

4. What are some helpful tips for people interested in Whitening their Teeth?

Toothpastes containing potassium nitrate containing (such as Synsodyne) can help minimize tooth hypersensitivity. Also using a whitening gel with lower peroxide concentration over a longer period of time may be more comfortable (and effective) than a fast, large dose.

5. How do Whitening Systems Compare?

Many dentists advertise that in-office laser whitening (such as ZOOM) will produce the best results; however, this is not supported by research. Both laser whitening and at-home whitening use carbamide peroxide and both can achieve similar results. In-office whitening can be done in one visit but also comes with larger cost. At-home whitening is less expensive and can be used at your leisure. Popular over-the-counter products such as Crest White Strips are placed across the teeth. While Crest contends they work, they tend to whiten only the front teeth, and it may be tricky to keep the strip from sliding off your teeth since it is not a custom fit to your unique tooth anatomy.

Check out 5 Tips to Make a Great First Impression here!

For any dental related questions feel free to ask!

Best Regards, 

Dr. Josh Berd, DDS

Dentist and Educator

San Francisco, California

What is spoiling your life?

I know it seems like a strong question to be asking, but seriously ask yourself, "What is spoiling my life?" There is a passage of scripture that I can not help but think of, "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. Song of Solomon 2:15. " You see we have a vineyard, in the sense that we have our lives. Our lives are precious, short, and are meant to be lived to make an impact on the people around us. We were all created with purpose and thought. When we allow the sly little foxes to come into our life, over time they begin to ruin seeds that are planted and meant for growth. Many times the "foxes' can actually kill and ruin an entire crop.
So what is a fox? Well, a fox actually represents many things and even other people. What are the little foxes that are attempting to destroy your life and well being?
We are in a new season of life. A time of Spring is now upon each and everyone of us. The cold harsh winds of winter have blown through each and every one of our spirits at some time or another. But with the newness of spring, growth, and renewal bloom forth.
It is funny but a good observation and something I have always noticed in my life and while talking with others is that the little foxes always seem to come prowling around when we are getting our lives in order. Little foxes continue to eat away and gnaw at whatever they can in your life until it becomes a bigger fox. Sly foxes are not easy to catch and take down, they are sly, they are cunning, and they know where you are. But to catch a fox is not impossible, it is about recognizing it is there, it is ruining your "vineyard" of life and you will no longer tolerate it.
There are things we have to hold onto in life, things that are precious and are important. So go and discover what little foxes are attacking your life....it is time for growth, new beginnings, and victory.

My grandfather....a legacy not forgotten

Today is my grandfathers birthday. He would have been 75. He passed into eternity a few days ago, and as I write this I only wish he could be alive to read the words and know how much he has meant, not just to me, but to everyone he came in contact with on a regular basis. It is so strange that someone has to die to make everyone around them realize what a great person they lost. It doesn't seem to make sense. Going through this the last few days has made me think about so much, I have experienced a ton of emotions and am brought to tears at the thought I will never hear his laugh or listen to his sense of humor anymore. I have also thought more about what it means to value the people in your life while you have them, love them a little deeper, hug them a little longer, look at them a few more times...because you really never know when one's time here is completed.
I mentioned he was a legacy not forgotten,and I mean that in so many ways. He was not just a good person, he was an exceptional man. I've known a lot of men, I was raised with one along with my mom, I grew up beside five of them (my two brothers and three dear brother friends next door), I have loved a couple and lost a couple, and now I am married to one; and I have to say that in looking at his life;  he lived NOT like most men. I know he had flaws, no one is perfect: however, he was a man that rarely exists in one human being. He loved life, he adored his wife, he cherished his children, never criticized, sought hard after God, prayed daily for those who loved, and lived out what he believed, was gentle and kind, yet incredibly strong. He took joy in little things like caring for flowers, birds, and gardening, yet owned his own business for years as a hard working and dedicated husband and father.
I stood at his graveside and listened as so many that loved him shared their thoughts, their memories, the treasured moments they shared with this man while he walked this earth and it made me even deeper stunned that this man who I have known all my life was my very own and dear grandfather. His children and wife had not one thing negative to ever say of him, he walked with respect and treated everyone around him with respect as every decent human being should do. I thought to myself, what a life to live....where no one around you ever had anything negative to say about you or could ever remember one bad thought of him. That is the kind of life I want to live. I know he will never know this from me at this point, but I so deeply value and treasure all he has taught me even in his death.
He longed to see people around him be a better person, he prayed long hours for those he loved to come to a better understanding of what it meant to live a pure and righteous life. I know he prayed for me, and I am sure his love for his family and the prayers for those he loved were heard and are being answered even today.

"I love you Pop. Today you are celebrating with the love of your life, your Lord and Savior and for that I am so happy for you. You have made a lasting impression on everyone you knew and I am grateful I had an amazing man in my own life like you to show me the kind of life I want to live.In your honor, love Laura"