Teething Symptoms and Home Remedies
Many pediatricians, scientists, researchers and parents have disagreed about the concept of teething, but any parent of a little one will tell you that whether or not it’s just a coincidence their babies are miserable when their teeth start coming in.
Teething 101
When newborns are born they have “teeth buds” just under the gums, and while there is no set time that those teeth will begin to appear, typically their first tooth will begin to break through between five and seven months. Some infants can begin teething as early as 3 months and some as late as 9 months to even a year.

Typically the incisors (top and bottom middle teeth) appear between the ages of six to seven months. Between the ages of 7 to 9 months the incisors will come in on each side of those first teeth that appeared. Around the age of 8 months, a baby may have 8 teeth. The first molars begin to break through at 10 to 14 months and the canines at 15 to 18 months. Finally, the second molars will come in typically between the ages of 2 to 3 years.
Teething Symptoms
Many experts actually disagree about whether or not teething even has symptoms, but most parents report unique
changes prior to the appearance of their infant’s teeth. For instance, when a baby is teething their saliva production increases. This has caused many symptoms including drooling, which can sometimes cause a rash on their chin, coughing or gagging on the excess saliva and loose bowels due to swallowing that excess saliva.
Additional teething symptoms can be irritability or a desire to gnaw on anything within grasp. The pressure of the tooth trying to break through the gums can cause discomfort leading to irritability. Many babies instinctively reach for something to gnaw on as pressure on the gums will sometimes counteract the pressure caused by the teeth.
Over-the-Counter?

Recognizing that there really isn’t anything that can be done medically is little comfort to a parent who is dealing with a fussy, cranky, miserable little baby. The first thing to understand is that there are natural, holistic choices, and it is never going to be necessary to resort to pain relievers or gum-numbing agents. These items can actually do more harm than good, and aspirin should never be given to a baby even to rub on their gums, as it has been linked with the potentially deadly disease, Reye’s Syndrome.


Acetaminophen should also never be used, as the long-term effects of the chemicals in pain relievers on infants have not been recorded. With regards to gum-numbing agents, while they have been found to be effective, it may be potentially dangerous. Popular pediatrician, Dr. Sears says on his website, “We do not recommend commercial gum-numbing substances because it is difficult to learn their exact contents and find research that validates their safety.” 


Alternative Relief

The only over-the-counter teething treatment approved by homeopathic and holistic professionals are teething tablets. Designed specifically to help babies with their teething symptoms, these tables dissolve immediately in the mouth and naturally relieve swelling and pain. Additionally, there are many home remedies that can help to relieve pressure, pain and discomfort. The first thing to understand is that the baby’s gums are sore and aching. A sharp tooth is trying to push through the gums and this is what is causing the discomfort and resultant fussiness. Anything that will counter-balance that pressure is going to bring relief. Many parents have reported that a clean wet washcloth put in the freezer for a short time, then given to the baby to gnaw on brings welcome relief. The cloth can be dipped in water or strong chamomile tea. The choice of tea adds a calming agent and is soothing to an infant’s tummy. Similarly, a frozen banana given to the baby will give them something natural to gnaw on. Any item that might be used by the parent should be monitored to not be so small that the child could choke on. Ice in a sandwich bag, then wrapped in a cloth works well, and for the older child already eating solid foods, cold soft foods such as applesauce or diced papaya can bring relief.


Other Home Remedies

Although in Europe the use of an Amber necklace has been used, it has recently become more popular in North America. This fossilization of resin of ancient trees is touted to have natural calming, relaxing and analgesic properties. Dr. Feder, a holistic medical doctor, recommends several homeopathic remedies; belladonna for teething accompanied by sudden fever, calcarea carbonica for chubby and sweaty babies especially while nursing or during sleep, calcarea phosphorica for delayed teething and chamomilla for swollen, inflamed and tender gums. 


The Chiropractic Factor
It’s important to not interfere with the natural routine of teething. Every child is different, but teething has been proven to be hereditary. If an infant’s parents’ first tooth appeared when they were three months, then it’s safe to assume this will be generational. It’s not even unusual for a baby to be born with a tooth already in place. Recognizing the body’s innate ability to work as it was designed, DeMoss Chiropractic.

Avocados have a unique nutrient profile – where most fruit predominantly contain carbs, avocados are high in healthy fats. Avocados are a staple in any Californian’s diet and today we are going to dive into the benefits of this delicious fruit! And yes, it’s a fruit.
Nutritious – There are many varieties of avocados. The most popular is the Hass avocado, which is available throughout the year. Twenty vitamins and minerals are packed into a single avocado, including 26% of the RDA for Vitamin K, 20% for Folate, and 17% for Vitamin C. That’s just in one avocado! Although it contains 9 grams of carbs, 7 of those are fiber so there are only 2 “net” carbs, making it a low-carb friendly plant food. They also contain no cholesterol or sodium.
More Potassium than bananas! Potassium is a critical nutrient that many people are not getting enough of. Potassium helps maintain electrical gradients in the body’s cells and serves various important functions. The average avocado contains 14% of the RDA (recommended daily amount) for Potassium while a banana only contains 10% even though they are often considered the holy grail of high potassium foods.
Heart Healthy – Avocados are filled with heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. The majority of the fat in avocado is oleic acid. This is a monounsaturated fatty acid that is also the major component in olive oil – which is believed to be the reason for its beneficial effects. Oleic acid has been linked to reduced inflammation and been shown to have effects on the genes linked to cancer.
What more could you ask for in a food? Keep up with the workshops we host throughout the month to learn more about nutrition and healthy eating!

Thousands of people of all ages across the world were asked whether they would rather suffer from a back problem or a brain problem. Every single individual responded that they would choose to suffer from a back related issue. People tend to assume that even severe back problems present less of a health challenge than brain problems because the brain regulates so many aspects of life and health. People too often misunderstand that the truth of the circumstance unites the organs. The brain and spine combine to form the nervous system and the nervous system regulates the health of the body. Research shows that a back problem is a brain problem. Chiropractic care improves the brain and the health of the entire body through specific adjustments to the spine.
Millions of Chiropractic patients all over the world experience life and health-transforming benefits from Chiropractic care. Over 120 years have witnessed patience experience improved sleep, energy, digestion, breathing, reproduction, immunity, and heart function through the optimization of the nervous system. Frequent and regular chiropractic adjustments improve health for adults, babies and children from the day of their birth. 
The scientific research and medical communities originally stood in general opposition to crediting Chiropractic with non-spine related health improvements. These groups often cited a lack of scientific validation over the course of the decades that followed the development of Chiropractic care. Some medical doctors went so far as to slander Chiropractic in hopes of discrediting a profession determined to help people without the use of drugs and harmful surgeries. A wealth of science and research now exists explaining exactly how a Chiropractic adjustment can authentically achieve
significant benefits for people experiencing non-spine related health conditions. The spine directly impacts brain function. 
Four specific research articles done over the last decade prove that the largest benefit of a Chiropractic adjustment happens in the brain. An intimate relationship exists between the
spine, brain, and autonomic nervous system. The first Chiropractic adjustment took place in Iowa in 1895 and restored a man’s hearing. Mahatma Gandhi began receiving multiple adjustments every week for three months after experiencing problems related to high blood pressure. Gandhi’s blood pressure issues subsided as did the Spanish influenza threat to thousands of people who pursued adjustments during the epidemic of 1918 that claimed the lives of nearly five percent of the world’s population. These brief examples represent a small sampling of people who achieved health benefits through brain and autonomic changes credited to Chiropractic adjustments.
The research continues to build. Chiropractic adjustments improve brain function and benefit almost every aspect of human performance. All humans deserve access to Chiropractic care. Proper education and continually updated research will overcome the notion that Chiropractic only addresses back and neck pain. Chiropractors locate and correct small and subtle misalignments in the spine called subluxations. Subluxations always alter brain and autonomic nervous system function. Subluxations do not always cause pain despite a massive detriment to health similar to arteries that gradually clog without warning. All adults, children, and babies benefit from regular spinal examinations. Chiropractors improve brain and body health by improving spinal health through the Chiropractic adjustment. A healthy spine walks hand in hand with a healthy brain, and in the end, optimal health is all about the brain.
This post was researched and written by Dan Sullivan, DC.

It’s Watermelon season which means watermelons at your local market are juicier and less expensive than ever! Did you know that this summer favorite has many health benefits! You Can Eat the Rind: The rind contains health-promoting and blood-building chlorophyll and even contains more citrulline (amino acid) than the pink flesh! Throw it in the blender with your morning smoothie for some easy health benefits! It Lives Up to Its Name: Watermelon is more than 91 percent water. This means that eating watermelon with you on a hot summer day is a tasty way to help you stay hydrated and avoid dehydration when supplemented with plenty of water.  Try this recipe for a yummy summer Watermelon drink!
Ingredients:

• 8-10 strawberries
• 1 cup watermelon, cut and cubed
• 1/4 peeled cucumber

Instructions:

1. Cut your watermelon into large cubes and remove the rind.
2. Peel and cut your cucumber into large pieces.
3. Put all ingredients in your blender
4. Pour contents into a glass and refrigerate for 1 hour (it definitely tastes best when cold!)
5. Enjoy