Check out our October newsletter!
FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE
ELKINSDENTAL.COM OCTOBER 2022
There Is No Illusion Greater Than Fear Putting Fear in the Rearview Mirror
While Babe Ruth is known for his amazing baseball talent and countless records, he’s also recognized and remembered by one of the best quotes known to man: “Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” While fears are normal (we all have them), it’s important that we learn how to overcome to ensure that we
placing inlays and onto actually building an entire guitar. I even began staining, clear coating, stringing, and also wiring all of the electronics. I did it all! This turned into a huge project while the office had shut down during the height of the pandemic in 2020. Had we not been in quarantine, it might’ve taken me longer. But I had free time, and it ended up saving my sanity and preventing me from going stir-crazy. (I’m too much of a busybody to just sit around and do nothing all day.)
never miss out on a fruitful experience or activity. As we cruise right into the Halloween season and prepare for scary movies, spooky decorations, and haunted houses, I’m reminded of a fear that I learned to work through in the past: the fear of trying new things. I’m not necessarily afraid of new experiences, but I did remember this feeling recently. As many of you know, I’ve built my own guitar for both myself and a friend, and I recently set out to build one for my brother. Through this process, I remembered how nerve- wracking it can be to go outside of our comfort zones. Back when someone had first suggested that I try putting pearl inlays on guitars, it seemed outrageous and quite intimidating. However, I decided to give it a go, and I started small. To eliminate the risk of potentially ruining a nice guitar, I purchased a cheap one at a garage sale. At this time,YouTube wasn’t yet my best friend for these kinds of projects, and I bought a book on how to do pearl inlays. Then, once I felt confident enough, I dug in. The very first time I cut into a guitar felt stressful, but that stress lessened by taking it slow — very slow — and knowing that if I messed up, it wasn’t the end-all, be-all! Once I had placed several inlays into this practice guitar, I decided to graduate and try my hand at it on one of my nice guitars. To say I began sweating bullets is an understatement, but I had built some confidence from all of the practice. Eventually, I moved past just
So, as I prepare to build my third guitar (for my brother, Russ), I’ll
admit that some of the nerves are creeping back up. But by taking it one small step at a time for any new project or adventure, I can calm my nerves and overcome my fears. And the same applies each time one of my patients is a little nervous to be at the dentist; we take it slowly at first. Even if the initial appointment is just taking a look in their mouth, it’s those small steps that build us up to finding a way to overcome or cope with our fears. While some of you may be familiar with my brother’s art (he constructs all of the crowns that I cement into my patients' mouths), I now have the opportunity to repay him with some art of my own — and I’m going to knock his socks off! Lastly, speaking of guitars, our summer gig schedule ended last month, but on Oct. 15, we’re playing at the“Stomp Like Lucy Grape Stomp”event to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho. For more information on this event, please visit their website. I’d love to see you all out there. –Dr. Elkins
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IT’S WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY! 3 Ways to Show Gratitude
Teachers have impacted you and your children's lives in more ways than one. Maybe they inspired you to take a certain career path, always understood you, or were there for you or your child when it was needed.
WRITE THANK-YOU LETTERS. If you had a teacher who impacted your life, or if your child has a favorite teacher, write them a thank-you note. Handwritten notes are more meaningful than ones you buy at the store. It shows you put in time and effort to create something specifically for them. You can write about a favorite memory you had with them or the ways they’ve inspired you. If you’re feeling extra generous, add a gift card to the note! A small message can go a long way in turning someone’s day around. VOLUNTEER WHEN YOU CAN. In addition to teaching in the classroom, teachers need to chaperone students during field trips, recess, lunch, and standardized tests. Contact your child’s school and see when they need volunteers to help with these activities. Teachers will greatly appreciate it because they will have a chance to take a break or organize their materials for the next class. Even if it’s just for the day or a few hours, teachers will appreciate the extra assistance. Teachers play a vital role in preparing our children for the real world. They teach them vital social skills and problem-solving strategies that will assist them as they age. So, let’s take some time to show appreciation for their dedication to our children.
Teachers have a demanding job, so in honor of World Teachers’Day on Oct. 5, let's take some time to appreciate them. Here are three ways to show your gratitude this month. DONATE SCHOOL SUPPLIES. Some teachers spend personal funds to purchase school supplies for their classrooms. This expense can become costly, especially if they provide for multiple students. Donate unused notebooks, pencils, pens, or other school supplies to a teacher. Some teachers even have wish lists available if you want to purchase new items for their classrooms. They will appreciate your kindness, and the children who need these supplies will also be grateful.
Bleeding Gums? Don’t Jump to Conclusions! A Word From Cheyenne & Ashlee
Your gums are bleeding — what gives? Before you freak out, it’s important to note that there are a variety of reasons this could be happening, ranging from simply brushing or flossing a little too aggressively to something a bit more serious that you should have checked out by your dentist. In some situations, gums that bleed very easily could be a sign of gingivitis, which is the early stage of periodontal disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 47.2% of adults ages 30 and over have some form of periodontal disease — that’s almost half of the population! Along with bleeding gums, some other signs of possible periodontal disease include:
If your gums are bleeding regularly or when you brush or floss, it’s time to discuss possible causes with your dentist because gingivitis is both preventable and, in some cases, reversible. But keep in mind that bleeding gums don’t automatically point to periodontal disease. If you’ve just started a new flossing routine, your gums may be more prone to bleeding for about a week or so as they adjust. If you are pregnant, temporary inflammation of your gums can also cause bleeding gums during normal oral care routines. If you take blood thinners, bleeding gums may be a side effect of the medication. If you brushed or flossed a little more aggressively than normal, this could also lead to temporary bleeding of the gums. It should be noted that if your gums start bleeding for any reason and the bleeding doesn’t quickly stop, seek medical attention immediately and let us know at your next visit. We will investigate to find the source of the problem and keep your mouth healthy!
• Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth • Red, swollen, or tender gums • Pain while chewing • Sensitive teeth • Loose teeth
–Cheyenne & Ashlee Registered Dental Hygienists
SPOOKY SPAGHETTI AND EYEBALLS
Inspired by FavFamilyRecipes.com
Ingredients
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!
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?”
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. Directions • • 24 oz frozen meatballs 16 oz spaghetti noodles • 24-oz jar spaghetti sauce
• 2–3 slices of mozzarella cheese • Sliced black olives
1. Cook frozen meatballs according to package instructions, then keep warm in oven on low heat. 2. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add spaghetti noodles. Cook until tender and drain. 3. In a small pot, heat spaghetti sauce over medium heat until warm. 4. After everything is cooked, mix noodles and spaghetti sauce together, then put the mixture into a serving bowl.
5. Slice the meatballs in half and mix half of the slices into spaghetti. Top the spaghetti with the remaining meatball slices with the flat sides up. 6. Cut slices of mozzarella cheese into circles and place one slice on each of the flat-topped meatballs. Then, put one black olive over each cheese circle to form the eyeballs. Serve and enjoy!
JOKES DAD
Why do demons and ghouls hang out together? Because demons are a ghoul's best friend!
What does a ghost mom say when she gets in the car? Fasten your sheet-belts.
Facts Tooth Fun
DID YOU KNOW?
It’s spooky season!Your mouth can be a scary place if you don’t take care of your teeth — but not to worry, that’s where we come in to help you maintain a healthy smile! Here are some spooky teeth facts you probably didn’t know! • Sour candy’s acidity level is similar to battery acid — this is dangerous for your teeth! • Roughly 1 in 5 adults 65 years or older have lost all of their teeth! • The average person only brushes their teeth for 45 to 70 seconds each day! • Plaque contains hundreds of different types of bacteria! • In the middle ages, blacksmiths and barbers performed dental work! Spooky Dental Trivia That Will Keep You Up at Night
Candy Corn Fun Facts
Some people love it and some people hate it, but candy corn is a popular Halloween candy! It’s been around since the 1880s! Today, commercial machines get busy each year as Halloween approaches, but many years ago, the candy was handmade — the sweet mixture was cooked in a large kettle and poured into kernel- shaped trays in three different phases, pouring the white, then the yellow, then the orange. Lastly, a confectioners' glaze was poured over each individual candy to reflect that iconic shine! Years ago, candy corn was called“chicken feed”and the box was marked with a rooster! After all, chickens love corn!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Overcoming Fears 2. It’s World Teachers’ Day!
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
3.
4.
Spooky Spaghetti and Eyeballs
3 Outdoor
Halloween Attractions
A Word From Cheyenne and Ashlee
Guaranteed to Spook
1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617
Tooth Facts
Did You Know?
Happy Halloween From Elkins Dental!
HEADS UP! We'll be closed Dec 20th - Jan 1st, call ASAP for your next reservation!
208-369-4532 · ElkinsDental.com
GET OUT OF THE (HAUNTED) HOUSE With These 3 Outdoor Halloween Attractions
Halloween is just around the corner.You’ll soon have trick-or-treaters approaching your door requesting a healthy share of candy. Before then, you may want to go out and feel the thrills of the season yourself, but maybe you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy the cramped spaces of haunted houses.You don’t have to step indoors to experience a spooky attraction though. There are plenty of outdoor Halloween attractions to check out, and below are three of the most thrilling. ZOMBIE PAINTBALL We’ve all watched a scary movie and thought we could do better than some of the characters in these extreme situations. Now is your chance
to prove it. There are zombie paintball courses throughout the country, and they can be a great time for everyone involved.You’ll step aboard a bus or trailer outfitted with paintball guns and proceed along a course full of zombies and creatures. Before long, your friends and family will get into the competitive spirit to see who can hit the most targets. HAUNTED CORN MAZE Haunted houses are great if you’re trying to experience some jump scares. But if you want to get the haunted house experience in an outdoor setting, you should check out a haunted corn maze.You’ll hear screams coming from all around to help amp up the fear. It’s also a great way to get some exercise! HAUNTED HAYRIDE So, what if you want the best of both worlds?You may want to feel scared without walking through a maze or using a paintball gun. That’s where haunted hayrides come in. On a haunted hayride, you’ll hop aboard a platform that’s being towed by a tractor or truck as they take you through a dark forest and possibly some barns. Performers will be weaved throughout to provide scares at the perfect moments. It’s a great way to get the classic Halloween experience without having to walk through a house or maze.
4 | Elkins Dental
It’s a Scary Sight
When We See Clients Leaving Benefits on the Table …
Every year, we are treated to the downright spooky sight of clients leaving their annual dental benefits on the table — benefits they have already paid for all year! That’s like throwing your hard-earned money straight in the trash. We’d hate to see that happen to you and your boo-tiful smile. That’s why we want to let you know that now’s the time to take advantage of your 2022 dental benefits or lose them forever. Make sure you … • Have used your dental exam and preventive care reservation for the year • Used your maximum yearly allowance (because it will not roll over to next year!) • Aren’t putting off dental treatment that could be more expensive in the long run. Make a reservation now so we can get a treatment plan in place. Reservations are filling up fast, so don’t wait — give us a call today before it’s too late!
208-369-4532 | ElkinsDental.com
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