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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2502 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Holiday Classic: Poinsettia Healthy Mouth Leads To Healthy Body (NAPSA)—The old adage says that a way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, but researchers now believe that the way to a healthy heart might be through your teeth. Poor oral health and tooth loss have been linked to many serious medical conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even certain types of cancer. Given this connection, taking the right steps to have a healthy mouth and prevent tooth loss can be important for maintaining better overall health. “There is a connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy body, so it’s important for people to prioritize their oral health and save their natural teeth,” said Dr. Louis Rossman, an endodontist and president of the American Association of Endodontists. The most common cause of tooth loss is not taking good care of the mouth—brushing, flossing and regular professional cleanings. It can also be caused by an accidental injury or infection. An infected tooth can cause severe facial pain and can sometimes lead to a more serious infection. Whatever the cause, it is important to know that tooth loss has been associated with heart disease, greater mortality and a decline in physical or mental abilities, especially in the elderly. To prevent tooth loss and associated health problems, proper oral health care is crucial. According to Dr. Rossman, the best way for people to preserve their nat- The following steps are recommended to maintain good oral health: • Tell your dental team about any overall health concerns, especially regarding any illnesses or chronic conditions. • If you experience tooth sensitivity, tooth pain or facial pain, visit an endodontist immediately. • If you need a root canal, see an endodontist who specializes in virtually painless root canal procedures. • Brush your teeth twice a day and replace your toothbrush every 3 or 4 months. • Floss daily to prevent tooth decay caused by bacteria that linger after brushing. • Visit your general dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams. For more information about saving your natural teeth or to find a local endodontist, visit www.rootcanalspecialists.org. ural teeth if the root is infected is to visit an endodontist, a dentist who specializes in root canals. Root canal treatment is a routine procedure for saving infected natural teeth and can even save a knocked-out tooth. “People should put aside their fears of root canals and strive to preserve their natural teeth. Modern advances by endodontists, the root canal specialists, make root canals virtually painless today,” said Dr. Rossman. For more information about saving your natural teeth or to find a local endodontist, visit www.rootcanalspecialists.org. (NAPSA)—In addition to their role as traditional Christmas decorations, poinsettias serve as tokens of goodwill, friendship and joy. Over 50 million Americans get poinsettia plants for the holidays. While 75 percent prefer the familiar red version, more than 100 varieties are available. White, pink, yellow and even variegated poinsettias are gaining popularity. Here are care and handling tips from Julie Mulligan, lifestyle expert for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM: An easy and elegant way to decorate your holiday table can be with a potted poinsettia surrounded by votive candles. • Select a poinsettia with dark green foliage, strong, stiff stems, and completely colored flowers. Make sure it has no yellow leaves. • Place in indirect sunlight for at least six hours a day. Keep room temperature between 68 and 70 degrees. Do not place near drafts or heating vents. • Water the plant when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch. Don’t let your plant sit in standing water. • Do not place your poinsettia outside, as the plant is sensitive to chilling temperatures. More holiday inspirations are at Mulligan’s floral and lifestyle blog at 1800flowers.com/Julie. For beautiful gifts including the exclusive Poinsettia Iron Centerpiece by Julie Mulligan, a sensational keepsake holiday centerpiece, you can visit 1800flowers.com. Shrimp Platters: A Popular Holiday Appetizer (NAPSA)—The holidays are always a good time for shrimp lovers to come out of their shells. For large gatherings or small family entertaining, wonderful appetizers using shrimp are sure to be the first off the plate. Shrimp is delicious and popular. It’s the No. 1-selling seafood in America, and for good reason: Everyone loves it, it’s a great addition to hundreds of great recipes and it always wows a crowd. “I’ve never hosted a party when my shrimp appetizer platter wasn’t the first one I had to restock,” said Jenna Guthrie, recipe director and marketing manager for SeaPak Shrimp Company. “Shrimp is a perfect appetizer and I feel good about serving my guests something special. Here’s a recipe you may want to try”: Butterfly Shrimp Bruschetta Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Makes: 6 appetizer servings 1 package (9 ounces) SeaPak Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp (frozen) 2 medium-sized Roma tomatoes, seeded and finely diced small onion, finely diced 1 clove fresh garlic, finely diced 1 ⁄8 cup lime juice Salt and pepper Delicious and Popular—Shrimp is always in high demand during the holidays. P R E H E AT oven to 425. Arrange shrimp on baking sheet in a single layer so that the shrimp are not touching each other. BAKE shrimp for 10 minutes. P L A C E tomato, onion and garlic into small bowl. Pour lime juice over vegetable mixture and gently toss until well mixed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside until shrimp finish baking. R EMOVE shrimp from oven but leave them on the baking sheet. Spoon tomato mixture onto each shrimp. R ETURN baking sheet with shrimp to the oven and continue baking for 5 minutes. PLATE and serve hot. Secret Tip: Want to spice it up for your holiday party? Try adding a dash or two of red pepper flakes to the tomato mixture before you spoon it onto the shrimp. For news about a shrimp recipe contest, visit www.SeaPak.com.