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ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255 | 513-438-8152 | WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM | MAY 2020
HOW GETTING ICED IN BECAME A SPECIAL MEMORY KEEPING PERSPECTIVE DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK
I started writing this on March 18, smack dab in the middle of the moment when America, and the world, really came to realize that COVID-19 is going to change the way we live our daily lives, at least for a little while. By the time this piece runs, this might be old news, but right now, it still feels very new. For me, the best way to understand how to react to this situation is to think back to something that happened to my family when I was a kid. I grew up in Indiana, and when I was 9 years old, we had a giant ice storm. The storm was so bad that it actually iced the door to our house closed. We had to have somebody from our local church come and knock the ice off to open our front door for us. We didn’t have any power for three whole weeks. All we had left were a few cans of food and whatever else was left around the house. We were iced in, and the power was out. I grew up with a single mom. She had a demanding job — she taught orchestra — and she did side jobs with orchestra and music when she wasn’t teaching. When the power outage happened, I remembered thinking, this is great . My mom was stressed out and worried, but all of a sudden, I got to spend tons of time with her that I normally wouldn’t have had.
congregation brought us out a generator so we were able to cook again. My mom was so touched by that. We could only heat one little frying pan at a time, but I remember being so excited that we could cook again and that I was tall enough to reach so I could help. This all happened 30 years ago, and I still remember it so clearly.
Right now, my oldest child is nearing the same age that I was when my family was iced in, and I am doing everything I can to keep the COVID-19 thing in perspective. I want to make this time I have at home with my family — Anderson Dental Care is temporarily closed as of this writing — a special memory for her. We’ve been getting out board games and doing puzzles, because at some point, this is all going to be a memory. It’s going to be in the past. And when that time comes, I want my kids to feel just how I felt during that ice storm. “Events like this put our lives in perspective and give us the opportunity to reevaluate priorities and time spent.”
Events like this put our lives in perspective and give us the opportunity to reeavlauate priorities and time spent. At some point, we’re going to look back at this and say, “Remember how ____?” What will be in that blank for you? Will it be remembering how scared you were, how frustrating it was, how you were out of work, or how many memories were made during that unique time? Maybe it will be all of the above, and that’s okay too, but let’s try to take advantage of this moment in time when our world has slowed down and everything but family time seems to be canceled. We truly are all in this together.
– Dr. Brooks
We got out candles so we could see. About a week into it, another member of our
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We may not currently have a baseball season or soccer season, but the good news is that it’s gardening season! That means it’s time to roll up your sleeves and play in the dirt. If you’ve been searching for a way to get the kids away from technology and engaged with the real world, gardening is the perfect activity for the whole family to enjoy. Not only is it fun, but it’s also beneficial for your kids’ development. For example, gardening can improve your children’s analytical abilities. As Dr. Wendy Matthews says, “Gardening exercises important reasoning, initiation, planning, and organization skills.” Furthermore, several studies, including one at Texas A&M University, suggest that gardening improves a child’s attitude toward fruits and vegetables and may make them more likely to choose them as snacks. Gardening helps kids identify with where their food is coming from, and nothing tastes better than a freshly picked strawberry or pea pod they grew themselves. Jack Gilbert, a scientist at the University of Chicago and a parent himself, and his co-author, Rob Knight, emphasize the health benefits of garden time in their book, “Dirt Is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System.” The two found that exposure to different microbes, like those found in a garden, strengthens a child’s immune system and makes them less likely to develop allergies. If this is your first time gardening, you don’t need much to get started. Grab a few shovels, a pair of gloves for each family member, and fresh potting soil, and you’ll be set. Then, you can decide together which plants you’d like to grow! Carrots are fun because of the surprise factor — just imagine your child discovering that the part they eat grows HEALTH BENEFITS OF FAMILY GARDENING GIVE YOUR KID THE GIFT OF A GREEN THUMB
BUILD BETTER HABITS EXTRA TIME IN THE MORNING? If you’re like most Americans, you’ve probably been spending a little bit more time at home recently. In March, as social distancing recommendations roll out across the country and increasing numbers of Americans find themselves working from home, you’ll likely find yourself with a little more than your usual allotment of time to get ready for the day. If you’re like many people and have struggled your whole life to build a flossing habit that sticks, why not use the extra time in your morning routine to form a new habit? In his book “The Power of Habit,” Charles Duhigg identifies two things that you need to form a new habit: First, you need a simple and obvious cue. Second, you need a clearly defined reward. Since most of us already take care of our oral hygiene in the bathroom, ask yourself what you could put in that room to remind yourself to floss. Something as simple as a blank sticky note on your bathroom mirror would do the trick just fine. Every time you see the sticky, you’ll be reminded of why you put it there: your commitment to building a flossing habit. For some people, just seeing the amount of gunk they clean out from between their teeth is enough of a reward to build a habit around. Others might need to focus on picking out a favorite flavor of floss or, with kids, on filling up a sticker chart that hangs on the bathroom wall. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what you choose as a cue or a reward. What matters is that you have both of those elements. At Anderson Dental Care, our hope is that we can all use any extra time we have as a way to care for ourselves just a little more thoroughly. Remember, habits aren’t formed overnight and real change takes time. But if you can take even just one step today to start working toward a lifelong flossing habit, that will be one good thing that comes out of this. To learn more about oral hygiene, visit our education corner at AtownDental.com.
below the ground! Peas are tasty and fairly easy to grow, as are strawberries. The options really are endless. Depending on the growing season in your area, you can choose to buy seeds or opt for rooted plants. Last but certainly not least, the best part of gardening as a family is the healthy, fresh produce you’ll get to enjoy all summer long!
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BIRD-WATCHING FOR BEGINNERS
WHY MAY IS THE BEST MONTH TO START
GEAR UP One of the best things about birding is that you don’t need a lot of equipment to do it. As long as you’ve got your field guide and comfortable walking shoes, the only other thing you’ll need is a pair of binoculars. And they don’t have to be fancy. As long as they can zoom in on faraway trees and perches, they’ll work for now. You can always upgrade later. GO EXPLORING Your very first birding excursion is important because you don’t want to be overwhelmed or underwhelmed. So use your field guide to home in on a single bird and go find it. It may be local, or you can plan a trip to a specific bird’s natural habitat. Stay focused and don’t get distracted by other species. The thrill that comes with spotting your first bird will keep you coming back to find the rest. Bird-watching is a wonderful hobby because it’s easy to get started and can last a lifetime. As long as you can walk, drive, or look out a window, you can be a birder. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and find some birds!
Bird-watching is like a lifelong scavenger hunt that you can play anywhere on Earth. The activity provides a mixture of science, travel, and beauty, and it’s a chance to get outside for feathered adventures and quiet reflection. The month of May is a great time of year to go birding because rising temperatures prompt spring migration. So if you’re eager to begin bird-watching, there’s no better time than now. Here are some tips to get started. EDUCATE YOURSELF Thousands of species of birds span all corners of the globe. That’s why finding them is an exciting prospect — there’s no end to the hunt! Start by researching birds that are native to your location. Purchase a field guide with pictures of each bird and maps of their range and use it to figure out where different birds live. From there, it’s easy to pick your first spotting goal. You can even get yourself extra excited by watching a few bird documentaries.
SPRINGTIME CACIO E PEPE Nothing is more comforting than a big bowl of cacio e pepe , which is Italian for cheese and pepper. This dish combines a wholesome flavor profile with fresh, seasonal ingredients to satisfy any craving.
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOW!
DID YOU KNOW THAT A DOG CAN DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF A COURT CASE? According to PBS, a bloodhound’s sense of smell can be used in the court of law as evidence. With their ultra-sensitive noses, bloodhounds can pick up tracks 300 hours after they were left, and they’re able to follow tracks for 130-plus miles. In fact, according to PetMD.com, a bloodhound’s sense of smell is so strong that they are able to pick up a scent from just one or two skin cells! DO YOU KNOW HOW ANCIENT MAGNOLIA PLANTS ARE?: Magnolias are so ancient that they pollinate through beetles because they existed prior to bees appearing!
INGREDIENTS
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6 oz multigrain spaghetti 8 oz fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
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1 tsp lemon zest
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 tsp black pepper 1 cup baby arugula
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1 tbsp olive oil
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In a large pot, cook spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of water before draining and put spaghetti in a covered pot to keep warm. 3. Line a 15x10-inch baking pan with foil and toss in asparagus and olive oil. 4. Cook asparagus for 5–7 minutes and sprinkle with lemon zest. 5. Add 3/4 cup of the reserved water, Parmesan cheese, and pepper to the spaghetti. Stir until creamy. 6. Toss in asparagus and arugula before serving.
Inspired by Eating Well
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513-438-8152 WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM
ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255
Getting Iced In: A Special Memory INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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What Is Gardening Good For?
Use Extra Time to Build Better Habits
Bird-Watching for Beginners
Springtime Cacio e Pepe
Unraveling America’s TP Tizzy
UNRAVELING AMERICA’S TP TIZZY
According to the Los Angeles Times, Americans use less than half a roll of toilet paper a week on average. So, why the sudden grab for TP? As of this writing in March, toilet paper is still being manufactured in factories worldwide at rates that will comfortably meet our demand, and there is no need to hoard. Still, as nerves continue to be on edge across the U.S., shelves are emptying. The thing is that unlike products like hand sanitizer and cleaning products, which are seeing an actual increase in use due to the virus, we aren’t going to see an increase in use of toilet paper. Unless people suddenly find themselves desperately compelled to make mummy costumes, use will remain the same. Even if stores still constantly run out of toilet paper like they are right now, manufacturers will continue to
produce new rolls of toilet paper at the same rate, and the toilet paper will keep coming.
Toilet paper manufacturers are unlikely to increase supply, as the global spike in demand for paper products is likely to be temporary. After this thing blows over, depending on how quickly you reacted to news of the spreading virus and how strong your hoarding urge was,
chances are high that families across America aren’t going to need to buy paper products for a long, long time.
The next time you go to the store in search of yet another roll of TP to add to your collection, take a tip from your dentist: Check out the floss aisle instead. If your store is anything like ours, dental floss has seen exactly no increase in demand!
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