Siletz news /, April 01, 2004, Page 18, Image 18

“Cha-may weeya ”
Medicine Talk
Siletz
Community
Health
Clinic
Breast-feeding Might Prevent
Weight Problems
Obesity rates among children and
adults in the U.S. have been climbing.
Formula-fed infants are more likely to
develop weight problems by age 4 than
breast-fed infants. Among the reasons
for this are breast-fed children seem to
be better able to self-regulate their eating
at mealtimes compared to formula-fed
children. Breast-fed babies likely have
more control over when to stop sucking,
while babies fed formula might be urged
to finish a bottle even after they’re full.
Breast-fed children also have been
found to make an easier dietary transition
to vegetables than formula-fed children.
Compared to breast milk, formula
provokes a greater insulin response that
may lead to early deposits of body fat.
Breast-feeding is known to provide
valuable nutrients and strengthen the
bond between mother and child. The
American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends mother breast-feed for at
least one year and the World Health
Organization recommends two years.
In 2001, only 70 percent of new
American mothers said they had breast­
fed, but by the time their children were
six months old only 32 percent were still
breast-feeding. Low-income mothers
were the least likely to breast-feed. In yet
another study, less than one-third of the
babies were breast-fed and only 6 percent
were breast-fed more than six months.
The Siletz Tribe has a very active and
powerful breast-feeding program. We’ve
helped more than 30 women continue
breast-feeding their infants over the past
year. We’re very proud of all of our moms.
Breast-feeding is the best source of
nutrition for the human infant. It’s the
most natural way to feed an infant, but
it’s not always easy at first. With a little
support and encouragement, all mothers
who want to breast-feed can.
t---------------------------------------------------------------
|Moms & Babies Breast-feeding Circle)
12nd Tuesday each month, 6-7:30 p.m.|
I Housing Dept. Conference Room I
Francis Klamath talks with another participant during the diabetes retreat.
Diabetes Program Holds Spring
Retreat in Newport
More than 45 people attended the
Siletz Tribal Diabetes Program 2004
Spring Retreat at the Embarcadero
Resort in Newport, Ore., on March 4-5.
Dr. William Polonsky, a clinical
psychologist from the University of
California - San Diego and author of
Tooth Talk
by Linda Kreutzer, RDH
Free Dental Sealants for Students at Siletz Valley School
In April, the Siletz Community
Health Clinic is offering a very special
service to first-, second-, fourth-, fifth-,
and sixth-graders at Siletz Valley
School. To receive sealants, all students
need to do is have a parent or guardian
sign a permission form, which students
will bring home from school around the
second week in April.
This special project will last two
days and will take place at the Siletz
Clinic near the end of April. Students
who return signed forms will be shut­
tled to the dental clinic to have sealants
placed on their teeth for free! The Siletz
Clinic supports the idea of preventing
tooth decay before it happens.
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are thin, white­
colored plastic coatings that are applied
to the chewing surfaces of the back
teeth. Most tooth decay in children occurs
in these back teeth (molars). Before
18
□
Siletz News
□
decay can begin, sealants are placed to
fill in the small grooves in the molars.
Which teeth are suitable for
sealants?
The teeth most likely to benefit
from sealants are the permanent molars.
First molars (six year) come into the
mouth when a child is in first grade.
Second molars (12 year) erupt in fifth
or sixth grade. It’s best to get them
sealed before they have a chance to
decay. If teeth already are decayed or
have a filling, sealants will not be done.
No fillings will be done during this
sealant project. Only dental screenings
and sealants will be provided.
Does it hurt?
Absolutely not! Receiving a sealant
is quick and easy. Application requires
no shots or drills. The tooth is first
cleaned with a special liquid. Then the
sealant is “painted” on the tooth. The
material goes on as a liquid (it flows
April 2004
into the cracks of the tooth) then
hardens with help from a special fiber­
optic light. A finished sealant is almost
invisible and cannot be felt by the tongue.
How long will it last?
One sealant application can last for
as long as five to 10 years. Your dentist
should check your sealants once a year
to make sure they’re in place.
Sealants have been used for more
than 20 years. They’ve proved to be
very effective in preventing decay. Ask
your dentist if your children can get
sealants. With regular brushing and
flossing and sealants, a child may never
have a cavity or need a filling.
If your child attends Siletz Valley
School, look for permission forms in
mid-April. Just fill it out and ask your
child to drop it off at the school office.
Don’t let your child miss out on the
lifetime benefits of sealants.
the book Diabetes Burnout, was the
featured speaker. He addressed some of
the mental health issues that are part of
living with a chronic disease like diabetes.
Darcy Trego, Siletz Diabetes
Program coordinator, introduced the
“Plate Method for Meal Planning’’ and
guided the group through a “virtual
supermarket tour” that highlighted
products that are healthy choices for
those who have diabetes and those who
are at risk for developing it.
Pat Lewis, a member of the Lincoln
County Diabetes Coalition, helped
those in attendance better understand
the information on nutritional labels.
Barbara Dougherty, Health Promotion
manager at Lincoln County Health &
Human Services, suggested ways that
family-favorite recipes can be made
healthier by omitting or reducing some
ingredients and substituting others.
Shannon Rackowski from Fitness
Prescription in Newport provided ideas
on how to incorporate exercise into
everyone’s lifestyle. Dr. Darrell Prins,
podiatrist at the Siletz Clinic, addressed
diabetic foot care.