Russell and Bode Family Dentistry

My name is Jennifer and I am the Patient Care Coordinator at Russell and Bode Family Dentistry. I am sure at one point or another we have either texted back and forth or talked on the phone about an appointment. I wanted to take a moment and acknowledge my daughter. My oldest daughter Brandi lives in San Francisco, CA, where she presently works as a multi-store investigator for Macy’s in the Bay Area traveling to stores in Palo Alto, San Jose and other parts of the South Bay. In December 2019, she graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in general biology. Due to COVID-19, her graduation ceremony  was cancelled. Even though I had to cancel my trip to see her and celebrate her achievement, it’s important at this time to focus on the positive. I am so proud of her and can’t wait to watch her grow. She is currently considering graduate school. Congratulations Brandi!!!!!🎓💐 Oh, and I am happy to announce that I am now the proud Grandparent to two little kitties, Marie and Coco.

Over the past six months, we have been spending a lot more time at home. The extra time has allowed for my daughter and I to spend more time doing activities we normally don’t have a lot of extra time for.

We have tried Youtube dance tutorials, fitness programs, created and edited animated videos, played new games, created numerous art projects and took an online painting class. It has been a lot of fun.

Like everyone, we are looking forward to the world getting back to normal. Until then, we are enjoying our extra time together. Stay safe, stay healthy!

Have you taken a deep breath today?

I practice and teach yoga. One of the main components is breathing. I have had people say, “I can’t do yoga” and my reply is “If you can breathe then you can do yoga.”  I have also taught classes at Rady Children’s Hospital for a program called “Yoga for Kids with Cancer”. I participated in a study that began in 2012. The research was gathered from notes about each yoga session that took place in the hospital, with patients and their family members. Yoga Journal published an article outlining the study and the amazing results that breathing techniques and yoga movements had on the participants, in June 2019. (1)

Breathing deeply is not just for those who meditate or practice yoga. Breathing is an imperative function of the human body. Breathing is a free tool, accessible to most of us at any time.

Benefits of Breathing Deeply

1) Decreases stress

2) Relieves pain

3) Stimulates the lymphatic system

4) Improves immunity

5) Increases energy

6) Lowers blood pressure

7) Improves digestion

8) Helps support correct posture  (2)

So then I ask you, if we have this tool available, why do we forget to use it? I don’t have a good answer, but I can tell you, that even as a trained yoga teacher who has taught classes on breathing and breath work, that I also forget to take deep breaths sometimes. I can also attest that when I do remember to breathe deeply, I feel better, calmer and more prepared to carry on with my tasks.  During these stressful times, who wouldn’t want to feel calmer?

Start now. Take 3 full, slow and deep breaths, in and out, and enjoy the calming effects that follow.

References

• https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/yoga-is-helping-kids-with-cancer?fbclid=IwAR1b8h3YPbtaIQlI3yerVGBBYTKrJrEQtqZDcPRg91N3DxfphCZxlK5_LSk

(2) https://urbanbalance.com/benefits-deep-breathing/#:~:text=Here%20are%20a%20few%20benefits,with%20the%20brain%20to%20relax. 

I enjoyed my time off from work with my dog and husband exploring trails and being outdoors. My dog, Nala, is going to be 4 years old in September and her name is Nala. She was my main focus during our time off. Coming back to work has been filled with many changes for us and for our patients, sometimes it can feel overwhelming. I know that coming to the dentist can be stressful and feel like a chore. I like to help ease our patients time in the office with laughter and smiles! Here are some of my favorite dental humor jokes:

*What does the dentist of the year get? – A little plaque!

*Why did the king go to the dentist? -To get his teeth crowned!

*What does an orthodontist do on a roller coaster? -He braces himself!

*What did the judge say to the dentist? – “Do you swear to pull the tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth?”

*What’s a dentist’s favorite dinosaur? – A Flossiraptor!

*My dentist asked me if I have sensitive toothpaste at home, I told them that toothpaste and I don’t really talk about our feelings

*My dentist has a TV on the ceiling so patients can watch shows while he works, he calls it Netflix and Drill!

*What did the dentist say to the golfer? – You have a hole in one!

*Why did the deer need braces? He had buck teeth!

*Why did Frosty the Snowman have to go to the dentist? -He had a severe case of frost bite!

*Why should you be nice to the dentist? -Because they have filings too!

Thanks for reading through my favorite dental humor jokes, all of these jokes are from www.scarymommy.com/dentist-jokes/%3amp

The dentists and clinical staff members are required to have a current and valid healthcare provider basic life support (BLS) certification. We have training every two years, so needless to say I have attended many of these training sessions. As an administrator I am not required to have a valid certification; but I am so glad that I was given an opportunity to partake and learn these skills.

Never ever did I think I would have to provide CPR on a real person; last fall my husband had a “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” in our home, thankfully I was home at the time and was able to start CPR & call 911; I didn’t have time to think or panic – the skills I had learned intuitively kicked in, the paramedics arrived after about 10 minutes and took over. My husband survived!!!!!

During his hospital stay many of the providers made comments to me stating that I had saved my husband’s life; at first, I was embarrassed, and thought wouldn’t any wife do that? They explained that brain death occurs in as little as 4 minutes after the heart stops and how important it is for CPR to be started right away and that often there are incidences where people do not survive or have some sort of brain damage as their spouse, family member, friend, or bystander panic, become confused, and lack the confidence to perform CPR.

It is my understanding that cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and most heart attacks happen in the home. Being equipped to help those you love and be able to actually save their life is something everyone should be trained in because you never know or expect that this will happen to you or your loved one.

I am so very grateful for the opportunities I have been given over the years to be able to participate in these training classes and I cannot say enough as to how important CPR/BLS training is for everyone; I encourage you to learn CPR. You can find training through Thurston County Medic One, the Red Cross, as well as several other local training companies.

Name: Clyde Axle Rose

Answers to: Clyde, Clydee Boy and Baby Dog

Likes: Chasing butterflies, eating peanut butter and digging holes

Dislikes: Baths, trips to the vet and strangers

Hidden talent: Saliva bubbles

Adoptiversary: April 4, 2016

Once I had settled into my new house, I knew it wouldn’t feel like a home until I could hear the click-clack of nails on the hardwood floor. I’ve had Boxers for years so the question wasn’t whether or not I would get another Boxer, it was if I would purchase from a breeder or adopt from a rescue.  I was so tempted to go for the breeder option….a chance to train an adorable puppy to be just the way I wanted im to be. But I knew in my heart that saving a life was important.  And so I did.

I brought Clyde home from the Boxer rescue on April 4, 2016.  It didn’t take long for him to settle in and we bonded immediately.  I didn’t realize how special that quick attachment was until he showed signs of aggression toward any new faces or even strange objects.  It became apparent that Clyde had not been introduced to the world in his past life and I had my work cut out for me.  Going for walks was a nightmare, and I learned the hard way that the Starbucks drive-thru was a bad idea!

We needed some serious help!  Enter The Happy Dog Institute.  Clyde and I signed up for special classes specifically designed for dogs with fear and aggression toward strangers.  We learned how to minimize Clyde’s exposure to his triggers and how to trust more of his world over time.  He has accepted a growing group of people into his “club” and is so much more open to new experiences.  He will never be the kind of easy-going dog I can take just anywhere, but I don’t mind.  He is living a wonderful doggo life now with all of the belly rubs and peanut butter he deserves.

I love this goofy hunk of a dog.  And he love me right back.  I wouldn’t change my decision to adopt for anything.

Mouth Breathing or Nasal Breathing-Why does it matter?

As we all know, breathing provides our bodies with oxygen which is critical for survival. Most people don’t give much thought to how that oxygen enters their body. Are you breathing through your nose or your mouth or a combination of both?

Well, studies suggest that close to 80% of the population breathe wrong and that can have a detrimental effect to your overall health.

What is the proper way to breathe you ask? While at times it may be okay to breathe through your mouth, our bodies function at a much higher level when we are breathing through the nose. Breathing with our nose is how the body was designed. And when we use the body the way it is designed it functions better.

Nasal breathing filters the air as it passes into the body and creates the optimal oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange resulting in a balanced PH. Another benefit to nasal breathing is the production of nitric oxide.

Our sinuses produce nitric oxide which is known to fight harmful bacteria and viruses (like COVID-19), it regulates blood pressure and improves the body’s immune system.

How does mouth breathing affect the body?

In children mouth breathing can cause poor growth and development, facial deformities, crooked teeth, cavities and lead to obstructive sleep apnea as adults. In adults, chronic mouth breathing can cause cavities, gum disease, bad breath, low energy levels, along with many other systemic diseases.

Mouth breathing is often worse. Signs and symptoms of nighttime mouth breathing are snoring, dry mouth and even sleep apnea.

What causes mouth breathing?

The most common causes of mouth breathing are:

• Allergies
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
• Deviated septum and/or nasal airway obstruction
• Chronic nasal infections
• Respiratory infections
• Asthma

What can be done to treat mouth breathing?

Mouth breathing may sound like an easy problem to fix but it is not as simple as just closing your mouth. In fact, it can be quite complicated and time consuming. The first step is to understand why you are mouth breathing in the first place, essentially you want to get to the root of the problem.

There are many medical professionals that may play a role in helping to treat this problem such as your dentist, a myofunctional therapist, ENT among others. Talk to your dental professional at your next appointment if you think you may be a mouth breather.

My son Kaden has really inspired me through this pandemic and I wanted to share the inspiration! Kaden and I were both not working due to the stay-at-home order. I became overwhelmed with different feelings of uncertainty, fear and the unknown. I was having a hard time keeping busy and adjusting to my new routine, as work normally takes most of my time and energy. Having to redirect and refocus was difficult.

My son was also out of work and was unable to fill his time with what he is passionate about, climbing.

All of the climbing gyms and the outdoor climbs he frequents were closed. Since he couldn’t go to the climbing walls, Kaden decided to make the best out of the situation and bring the climbing walls to him!

He did research, went to the hardware store, and built his very own climbing wall to use at our house during quarantine! I was so inspired and proud to watch my son make his time the big time. He doesn’t let anything get him down!

Watching him build a climbing wall at home was my highlight of the Corona Virus quarantine. His drive and determination to make the best of the situation changed my mindset and inspired me. I hope everyone has taken something positive from this situation as we have.

The healthy balance of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitric oxide present- not JUST OXYGEN – in our blood cells that determines how much oxygen our muscles, organs, and tissues can actually utilize.

Allowing for carbon dioxide to increase improves oxygen utilization of the cells in the human body. Nitric oxide – which is created through NASAL BREATHING – is a potent bronchodilator and vasodilator. It helps lower blood pressure and significantly increases the lungs’ oxygen-absorbing capacity (think asthma)!

If you are feeling lethargic, not sleeping well, experiencing anxiety, getting sick often, lacking mental clarity, or experiencing chronic pain, consider your breathing patterns (both day and night).

In a society filled with mouth breathing, sleep deprivation, chronically stressed nervous systems, and overly stimulated lifestyles – actual utilization of oxygen can dramatically improve your health and lead to a more relaxed state of being and can be one of the best habits you can develop for your entire body.

If oxygen utilization could be sold as a pill it would be a HUGE HIT – cue nasal breathing!

Nasal breathing is one of the simplest habits that can DRASTICALLY impact our overall health. Maintaining nasal breathing throughout our daily activities (including exercise) acclimates us to live with lower oxygen, forces our bodies to produce nitric oxide, and allows for the dissociation of oxygen from the blood into the cell. There are benefits of high altitude training for athletes. We can begin to simulate those effects with CONSTANT nasal breathing. ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

I have been implementing this myself for a while now. I do not get sick as often, I have lost weight, I get more bang for my buck during exercise, I drink less coffee, have more energy AND I get better quality of sleep – coming from someone who could never get a good nights sleep. I sleep like a ROCK! I practice keeping my mouth shut during the day, during exercise, and tape my mouth shut at night (which you should not attempt without the guidance of a professional).

Enjoy better organ function, injury prevention, better sleep, and better health – Keep your mouth SHUT!

Although I missed my work family and patients while our office was closed, I enjoyed spending the extra time with my husband and sweet dogs Cooper and Speckles. We got a lot of projects done around the house and my dogs played a ton of fetch. It is so fun watching my dogs get so excited the second they see the ball. Speckles is very competitive and always needs to get to the ball first while Cooper is just happy to be running next to Speckles begging for his attention! Although my dogs love playing fetch I think they are enjoying their time to relax now that our life is going back to our new normal!