Sleep is crucial to good health

Rest up! The holidays are coming. By Dr. Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times It’s that time of year again.  The clocks have been turned back, the leaves are falling, and the department stores have started decorating, so that must mean that the holiday season is upon us.  Along with the “most wonderful time of year” come to-do lists, deadlines to keep, and a host of added stressors.  With so...

Forget the Ebola hype, it’s flu that kills in the U.S.

County-wide flu vaccination & prevention programs ramp-up By Kim Chiomento, Staff Writer, The Times Thousands of county residents have begun rolling-up their sleeves to get vaccinated and help stop the spread of the influenza virus, commonly called the flu.  Some lucky eligible residents are even able to “sniff” the nasal mist vaccine version instead. While there has been much press and focus...

Trust your gut

The bacteria in your stomach helps to keep you healthy By Dr. Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times Have you ever had that sinking feeling in your stomach, as if something big were about to happen? How about the last time you saw someone you love, or someone you don’t?  Those butterflies that were trying to get out were examples of the affect that our gut can have on our state of mind, or our intuition,...

The tricks of treats

Yes, even dentists (some of us) eat candy, here’s how to minimize the damage By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times It’s that time again. The onslaught of orange and black packaging and the mountains of Halloween candy awaiting purchase.   One would think those of us in the dental profession have a vendetta against this sort of thing.  Here’s the inside scoop – every...

You’re never too old to play

All work doesn’t just make Jack dull, but maybe unhealthy, too By Dr. Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times When was the last time you completely lost track of time doing something you love?  You may not have thought of it this way, but it’s very likely that you were engaged in what scientists call “free play.”  If you’re like many people, life may be filled with work demands, family responsibilities,...

For a Kennett mom, medical marijuana issue Is personal

She says she believes her epileptic & autistic son will benefit By Kim Chiomento, Correspondent, The Times KENNETT – For Sara Boninfante and her family, supporting the approval of medical marijuana has become a top priority.  Her journey to find answers and relief for her severely autistic and epileptic son, Blake, has led her to advocate for and help to educate the public; on this controversial...

Did you make your hygienist smile today?

Dental hygienists are the first line of defense in dental health By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Too often in the closely scheduled day in dental practice we neglect to thank those people who we really can’t do without. The modern dental practice depends heavily on the services provided by registered dental hygienists. A great dental hygienist is a tremendous advocate for...

Where does health come from?

Our life experiences shape how we answer that question By Dr. Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times If you look back over the course of your life, there are probably a few significant life events that stand out.  Maybe it was an experience you had as a child.  Perhaps a teacher, a coach, or a mentor influenced you in some way.  Whatever the case may be, our experiences have the power to influence our...

Don’t ‘Should’ on yourself

Making overly hard judgments about yourself isn’t productive By Dr. Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times As another year end quickly approaches, this is a great time to take a moment away from the rush of the holidays and reflect on the past year. Many of us started the year with resolutions, goals, and intentions about how 2013 would unfold.  For some people, life may have happened exactly as...

Where do germs go the other 8 months of the year?

By Dr. Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times It’s that time again!  The holidays haven’t yet arrived, but the flu season is already upon us.  Chances are, the last time you stepped outside, you also saw or heard someone discuss the “bug that’s going around.”  But, where’s the “bug” actually going?  If you pay any attention to the news, you might think that a newly discovered disease...