FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE
ELKINSDENTAL.COM SEPTEMBER 2018
LAST SUMMER SHEBANGS
And the Start of Fall
would be awesome to have our own. I was on the lookout and found a really good deal. It’s a treat to be able to use it as long as we want and not have to worry about returning it at the end of the day. I’m excited to use it in our local areas well into fall, around Black Canyon Dam and Lucky Peak. It’s so great to live in a place that has such nice fall weather, where we can enjoy another season in the great outdoors without being quite as sweaty! After some great summer trips, we don’t have anything planned for a little while. I’m excited to soak up fall in the Treasure Valley. It’s a great time of year to be here — though, aren’t they all?
drenched in sweat all the time! There’s a crispness in the air that feels so great. When Russell and I were in Toronto with my buddy from New York last month, we got a feel of that cooler weather. He’d been dealing with really hot weather and as you know, it was hitting over 100 degrees here.Then Toronto was in the 80s and low 90s, so that felt great. My buddy also lives two hours away from Cooperstown in New York, and while we were in the area, we were lucky enough to go to the Baseball Hall of Fame. What an amazing place! We had a great time, and it was so good to reconnect with my friend and see some legendary baseball memorabilia. More recently, the whole family had our last summer shebang before school started — a trip to McCall. It was so fun! We rented a cabin and tested out our new Jet Ski. I really enjoyed that, and everyone was excited to take it out on the water and have some fun. After renting one last time we were in McCall, we had such a blast that I knew it
It’s that time of the year — back to school! All our kids were pretty bummed about the summer ending, except Evie. She was nervous but excited to start her freshman year of college. A couple weekends ago, Beth and I drove her to school and helped her get everything set up before classes started. It was a bittersweet moment: We’re so excited for her, but it was hard to see our little girl leave home. It helps to know she has great things ahead of her, and we’re so proud that she’s following her dreams. I remember that time in my life very well. I really enjoyed my freshman year of college — probably a little more than I should have! But you learn so much about yourself and the world during that time. It can really inform the person you become. Now that I’m no longer in school, what I most look forward to in this season is the fall weather. It’s cooling off after a hot summer — finally sitting-on-the-back- porch weather. You don’t feel like you’re
–Dr. Elkins
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PREPARE YOUR GARDEN
Autumn Steps for a Better Spring Garden
CHICKENWIRE After you’ve planted your bulbs, there’s a risk that uninvited guests will dig them up.There are a few ways you can ensure that your bulbs remain undisturbed throughout the fall. One way is to place chicken wire over your bulbs after they’ve been planted.This keeps rodents from digging them up and allows the plants to grow through the gaps in the wire. KEEP YOUR GARDENTIDY Once you’ve harvested your best fruits and vegetables, go back through and harvest the rest, even if you don’t plan to eat them. Make sure your garden is clear of old vegetables, fallen leaves, and weeds. Leaving decaying plants in or on top of the ground can spread diseases into the soil and attract unwanted pests to your garden. HEALTHY SOIL Pulling up weeds and all of your vegetables can help keep the earth free from rotting plants, but there are other steps you can take to ensure that your soil stays full of nutrients. Pick up a kit to test the pH levels of your soil. Most gardens thrive in soil with a pH of 6.5. Add compost to your soil supply now to give it time to break down during the winter months.
With fall just ahead, it’s a good time to think about your spring garden. For a beautiful garden next year, begin preparing
this fall. Here are a few ways to get a head start! PLANTING BULBS If you want beautiful flowers in April, you should start planting bulbs now. Many flower bulbs need to be in the ground before winter settles in; this helps activate the bulbs’ biochemical process that allows them to bloom. Getting the bulbs into the ground before it freezes allows their roots to grow deep enough to protect them from the biting winter weather. Among the flower bulbs you should plant soon are tulips, daffodils, irises, and hyacinths.
Melissa Goes Above and Beyond for Patients
different experience than any other office.” According to her, it’s not that way everywhere. “Having been an assistant for a long time, you get used to patients leaving upset.That’s not the case here.They set the bar high to make this a really great experience.” Awesome coworkers are also part of what makes this a great place to visit and work. Melissa has great things to say about the people she works with: “Robin is a great manager, and working with Dr. Elkins is amazing.They put a lot of time into training, put a lot of trust in us, and then allow us to do our jobs. Everyone works well together. We are always thinking about how what we do affects the other person.” After work, Melissa is most likely spending time with her family, often outdoors. She and her husband have three kids, and they all love getting outside to fish, hike, or hunt. With two boys and a girl, Melissa appreciates what each one brings to the family. “Boys are so fun and a lot of energy — they love hard,” she admits. When their youngest, Avonlea, was born, Melissa was excited to have someone to enjoy other activities with, like manicures. As for Cody and Stetson, they think she’s the greatest thing ever. It sounds like a happy family. We’re so glad to have Melissa on our team and we know you will be too!
As our financial coordinator at Elkins Dental, Melissa is a wiz at taking care of all things money-related. She goes above and beyond to make sure our patients’ questions are answered and helps with tricky insurance information. In Melissa’s words, “I always like to make sure patients understand what they’re looking at. It’s their dental care, their health care. It’s the most important thing to know about. It’s my biggest goal when I talk to anyone — to get them the most accurate, helpful information possible.”
Melissa’s expertise comes from years of working in the dentistry field, from starting as a dental assistant to working for an orthodontist. After taking a few years off to be at home with her children, she wanted to return to dental work, and when she met the Elkins Dental team, she knew right away it was the perfect fit. For Melissa, what makes Elkins Dental exceptional is the quality of care and attention to detail. “The staff really make sure this is a
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Ingredients
LATE-SUMMER PANZANELLA
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced • 1 cucumber, sliced into rounds • 20 basil leaves, chopped
• 1 small loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups) • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt, to taste • Vinaigrette
MOUNTAIN RANGES Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, we don’t have to go far to find mountaintop winter activities. If skiing or tubing is your idea of winter fun, Bogus Basin is just a short drive away, and heading to McCall makes a fun weekend getaway. ... AND RIVERS Not only are we surrounded by the Payette and Boise rivers, Idaho is also home to the deepest gorge in North America: Hells Canyon. Take that, Arizona! Instructions • 2 large tomatoes, cubed • 2 red bell peppers, seeded and cubed
GOOD CHEER Beer lovers, rejoice! Idaho is the world’s largest hop producer, and more and more people are taking advantage of our agricultural bounty by opening breweries in the Treasure Valley. Share a few of these treasures with visiting family members and their only question will be “How did we not come here sooner?” 1. In a large sauté pan, set to medium-low heat and add olive oil. Add bread and 1 teaspoon salt, and toss oft n for 10 minute or until toa ted. 2. In a large bowl, mix vegetables and herbs. Toss in bread and your favorite vinaigrette and mix again. 3. Serve immediately or let sit 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Out-of-town relatives who are visiting for the holidays might wonder what makes Emmett so special. But we already know the Treasure Valley is full of gems — and we don’t just mean the rocks. Here are some additional reasons Emmett and The Gem State are great. WE’VE GOT SUNSHINE On average, we have 210 sunny days per year. Compare that to 144 rainy days in Portland and we can feel pretty happy about all our free vitamin D.
Inspired by Delicious magazine.
GEM STATE? WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE
Art in the Park 2018 Where: Julia Davis Park When: Sept. 7–9
Luke Bryan Where: Ford Idaho Center When: Sept. 20
6500-YEAR-OLD FILLING
If you’ve ever had a cavity, then you’ve probably gotten a filling. It might surprise you that the oldest filling ever discovered was found in the tooth of a 6,500-year-old human fossil. The bones found belonged to a man, roughly between the ages of 25 and 30, who lived in what is now Slovenia. His fossilized jawbone was some of the oldest bones found in the area and, after discovery, were moved into a museum near Trieste, Italy. No one suspected that they had found anything astonishing until the bones were x-rayed. A large crack and cavity were discovered, both of which were filled with beeswax.The wax filling and the bone were dated to be the same age, proving that the wax was used while the individual was still alive.
We are giving away an all-inclusive, 7-night MEXICAN RIVIERA CRUISE!
Today, filling materials include gold, porcelain, silver amalgam, or tooth-colored plastics. It’s incredible to think that this dental practice was used over 6,500 years ago.
Leave us a Google or Facebook review for two bonus tickets to win!
Call our office to learn about more chances to win.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Moving On From Summer 2. Get a Head Start on Next Spring’s Garden Meet Melissa!
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
3.
4.
The Best
Late-Summer Panzanella The Oldest Fillings in
and Worst Foods for
Inflammation
1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617
the World
HAPPY LABOR DAY From Elkins Dental
208-369-4532 Elkinsdental.com
FIND THE RIGHT FOOD BALANCE
Foods That Cause and Reduce Inflammation
antioxidants, vitamin C, polyphenols, and so much more. Eat a handful every day! Salmon: As a source of healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is one of the best protein choices for people with inflammatory conditions, or for those who want to keep inflammation at bay. Broccoli: One of the most nutritious and easily accessible vegetables around, the little green buds that cover the tops of broccoli are loaded with anti-inflammatory compounds.
bread, pasta, baked goods, and cereals. Research suggests that refined carbs may be a bigger contributing factor than fat in obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Alcohol: Too much alcohol puts a burden on your liver, an organ that helps flush toxins out of the body. You know all of those detox diets? They don’t work. In fact, the only way to detox is to let your liver do its job. When you consume alcohol, it’s harder for the liver to pump out the toxins in your body. When it can’t do its job properly, the result is inflammation. Now, for the good stuff. Eat these
The food you eat plays a major role in how your body functions on the cellular level. Some foods can wreak havoc on your body, while others can make you feel great.This is especially true when it comes to that all-too-common ailment, inflammation. Here are a few examples of foods that lead to inflammation: Sugar: One of the biggest culprits behind inflammation, sugar is far worse than eating fatty foods. It’s best to skip foods that have added sugar (and this includes sugar of any kind, including corn syrup, fructose, and sucrose). Many manufacturers now label food with more specific kinds of sugar to hide the fact that they added sugar to their product. Be sure to read labels carefully! Refined carbs: Basically anything made from white flour falls into this category, including
foods to reduce inflammation: Blueberries: Many studies call blueberries one of the best fruits you can eat to ease symptoms of inflammation.These blue orbs of goodness are packed with
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