Take a look at the latest edition of the Monthly Brush-Up!
BRUSH - UP
ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255 | 513-438-8152 | WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM | DECEMBER 2020
WELCOME, MILLIE! OUR DAUGHTER’S ARRIVAL STORY IN UNUSUAL TIMES Last month, I talked a little bit about how eagerly my family has been awaiting our little “tiebreaker,” who would have two brothers and two sisters. My wife’s pregnancy hasn’t been simple to navigate during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now I can happily announce that our new baby girl, Millie, was born in early October, and she and my wife are both doing well! Overall, things went even better than we’d anticipated, though it was unnerving at first. This birth was different because it’s the first time we haven’t arrived at the hospital with my wife in full labor. Instead, at her 38-week checkup, we were told it was essential for her to be induced at the hospital to avoid some possible complications. The induction was scheduled for the following day. (Thank you to all of the patients who patiently allowed us to reschedule their appointments!) We were instructed to call the hospital in the morning before our appointment time to ensure the hospital was running on schedule. So, we called and were told they were behind and did not currently have room for us, but they’d call us back as soon as they did. We’d already said our goodbyes and had child care set up, so it felt strange to then be home sitting around for a while. We passed time by assembling a little desk, doing some last-minute organizing (nesting continues right up until the birth apparently!), and playing with the kids. “I think almost every family that’s had a baby during the pandemic can agree that their delivery experience was unlike any other!”
energizing music the whole way. When we arrived, there still wasn’t a room for us, so we ended up waiting in the hallway for an hour and a half. My wife had so much energy pent up at this point that she was pacing, doing squats, and dancing in the hopes that her water would just break right there so they’d have to let us in. Ha! (Spoiler: It didn’t work.) We finally got set up in a delivery room, and a few hours later, our baby girl was born. I think every family that’s had a baby during the pandemic would agree the delivery experience was unlike any other! But the hospital staff was phenomenal, and we’d like to extend our deepest thanks to all health care professionals and hospital staff. Being a dental health care provider gives me some understanding of the extra stresses and pressure they’ve endured with all the pandemic protocols, and we’re truly grateful to them. One of the most noticeable differences with this birth was that our other children were not allowed to come meet their new sibling at the hospital. But we had a sweet moment as our kids met their new sister right in our home. There was something special about the kids rushing to the door, clamoring all at once to see her. Our son Emerson immediately exclaimed, “Hi, Millie! Welcome to the family!!” Some people may think we’re crazy for having five kids, but I honestly wouldn’t change a thing. If you ever visit our office and see little blue disposable cups lined up on a counter, you know my kids are around (they can’t resist the water cooler), and they’d love to say hello. This is truly a family business, so we’re excited we get to introduce you to the newest member of our family. Thank you for your support.
From the Anderson Dental Care team and my family, we wish you a merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays!
After two hours, the hospital called — they’d have room for us in 30 minutes. We said our goodbyes again and headed out, listening to
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We all have quirky habits. Most are benign, but some can be harmful. If you chronically bite your nails, chew ice, or use your teeth as a tool — three common bad oral habits — try these solutions to protect your teeth from potential damage and pain. Teeth as Tools: Our pearly whites are perfect for grinding our food and helping us speak, but that’s about as far as their usability as tools goes. Opening ketchup packages with your teeth or placing a few screws in your mouth as you hang a photo can be handy, but doing so could crack or damage your teeth. The Solution: Use actual tools! Open your condiment packets and other tricky containers with scissors. When doing home projects, use a tool belt or ask someone to hold your screws so you don’t choke or damage your teeth. Biting Your Nails: If this nervous habit is one of your vices, you’re not alone. About 20%–30% of the population succumbs to nail-biting, nearly half of whom are teenagers. Biting your nails can chip or crack your teeth, and the nail pieces can get stuck in your gum line and potentially cause infection. The Solution: The good news is that most people quit biting their nails after age 30, but don’t rely on your age to kick this habit. Try applying bitter-tasting polish or chewing sugar-free gum to deter you from nail- biting. Or if your nail-biting is stress-induced, try meditating to reduce your stress. Chewing on Ice: It’s a mindless habit, really. At the end of our glass of water — or tooth-decaying sugary soda — we chomp on the ice at the bottom of the glass. But the combination of the AND HOW TO KICK THEM 3 ORAL HEALTH HABITS THAT HARM YOUR TEETH
Hi everyone, Dr. Brooks here. Some parents aren’t super concerned with their kids’ baby teeth. They figure, “Well, the baby teeth are going to fall out anyway, right? We’ll worry about keeping their teeth clean once the adult teeth are in.” HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR CHILD’S TEETH, PART I
Unfortunately, this logic is HIGHLY flawed for a few reasons.
First, if you don’t help your child develop good brushing and flossing habits early, you decrease their changes of developing healthy habits later.
Second, if your child gets cavities when they are young and has to spend an unpleasant visit in the dental chair, there is a greater chance they won’t like going to the dentist when they are older. Third, while a child’s front teeth come out around the age of 6, their back teeth last until around the age of 10 or 11. These back teeth are highly prone to cavities — so, even though they will fall out, you really need to consider taking good care of them! Believe it or not, you should continue brushing your child’s teeth until they are 8 or 9 years old. Around age 8 or 9, children have fully developed the fine motor skills needed for brushing teeth. Although it might look like they can brush their own teeth sooner, they won’t be able to do it well. Are you thinking, “Does anyone actually do that?” We can answer “yes.” My wife and I brush and floss all of our kids’ teeth every night before bedtime. It’s time-consuming and not always pleasant for the kids or parents, but in the long run, it’s so worth it. What should you use? Manual or electric toothbrushes are both good. I understand flossing for your child can be uncomfortable and difficult, but it can be done by using flavored floss (like Coco Floss from Amazon) or floss picks. Wearing gloves may help too. While fluoride is almost always essential for the best oral health, opt for non-fluoridated toothpaste until your child knows not to swallow it and learns how to spit. When ingested in large amounts, fluoride may be linked with health issues, so you should also supervise the spitting and make sure no one eats straight from the toothpaste tube. You can usually switch to fluoridated toothpaste for kids around age 2 or 3. If you’re a parent and have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call our office. You can also learn more on our blog at ATownDental.com . Brush well out there!
hard ice and cold temperature can create small cracks along your tooth’s enamel, which increases the likelihood that your tooth will crack or chip.
The Solution: If you’re chewing as a way to occupy your mind, swap the ice with sugar-free gum! If you really want that ice-cold kick, drink cold water through a straw or suck on an ice cube instead.
Struggling with one of these habits? Let our team know at your next appointment! We can help you find solutions and develop good oral habits.
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THAT WON’T KILL YOUR SAVINGS 3 GIFT-GIVING TIPS
Ah, the holidays. It’s a time of sweet treats, family, and giving back — and sometimes giving a little too much. When it comes to the perfect holiday gift, many people spend too much money. The average American spends nearly $1,000 on gifts during the December holidays alone!
or a handwritten note instead of purchasing something. This limits how much you actually have to spend! THINK BEYOND STORE-BOUGHT OR EXPENSIVE ITEMS. Sure, everyone wants this holiday season’s “it” item, but sometimes the best gifts don’t even come wrapped under the tree. Instead, look to your own talents as a clue to what you should give. If you’re a great crafter, create something unique for the people on your list. If you can offer the gift of time, provide a free night of babysitting for your friends with kids or an experience at the local theater. These gifts have a bonus factor: Recipients love the gift when they open it, and they love it when they get to use it! SET A BUDGET — AND STICK TO IT. Setting a holiday budget ensures you only spend what you can afford. It also narrows
down your search. If you choose to buy your neighbor something, but they aren’t your top priority, set their budget at a lower level, like $25–$50. If you have a sibling who has had a rough year and you’d like to make their holidays a little brighter, bump their budget up. This narrows the focus of what you’re looking for so you don’t stumble into something you can’t afford. Ultimately, it’s the spirit of giving during the holidays that makes them so rewarding. With a little ingenuity, you can be generous and avoid the stress of excess debt come January.
It’s possible to cut back and make it to January without major debt. Here’s how.
CHECK YOUR LIST — TWICE! The list is going to be your secret weapon to tackling the holidays with your savings still intact. Start by writing down the name of every person you’d like to get a gift for. Now, with the exception of your immediate family members, narrow the names down to your top five — top 10 if you’re really popular. Now, place the names of the people who didn’t make the cut into a second list. If you still feel the need to do something for them, send homemade cookies
RUSSIAN TEA CAKES Make your tea time extra special with these tasty cakes that are easy to make.
LAST CHANCE TO USE THIS YEAR’S DENTAL BENEFITS! The insurance benefits you’ve been paying for all year don’t roll over, so any unused benefits just go right back in the insurance company’s pocket. Maybe you have a crown you’ve been putting off, still have a cleaning to get this year, or want to look into Invisalign for yourself or your teen. Give us a call, and we’ll help you navigate your remaining benefits. DID YOU KNOW THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL ON THE BACK OF A $5 BILL CONTAINS 26 STATE NAMES? When the Lincoln Memorial was constructed, the names of 48 states were engraved on it. The front side of the Memorial contains the name of 26 states. On the $5 bill, you’ll see all 26 of these state names on the image of the Lincoln Memorial, just as you’d see in real life. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DREAMS THE AVERAGE PERSON HAS PER NIGHT? The average person has 3–5 dreams each night, although some people have up to seven. During an eight-hour sleep, two hours are spent dreaming. However, it’s very common to have only one dream per night. YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOW!
INGREDIENTS •
1 cup butter, at room temperature
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2 cups flour
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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1/4 tsp salt
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1 cup powdered sugar, sifted (plus extra for rolling cookies)
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1 cup pecans or walnuts, finely chopped
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325 F. 2. Using a mixer, cream butter in a large mixing bowl. 3. Add the vanilla, then gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. 4. Sift flour, measure, then sift again with the salt. Add gradually to the butter mixture, then add nuts and mix well. 5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. On an ungreased baking sheet, place tea cakes 2 inches apart.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. 7. Let cool slightly, then remove cakes from the baking sheet and roll in powdered sugar. Place on a cooling rack to cool completely. 8. Before serving, roll cookies in powdered sugar again.
Inspired by FoodAndWine.com
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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
3 Fool-Proof Ways to Pay for the Holidays Without Going Broke INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 2 3 3 4 Russian Tea Cakes The Simple Tooth 3 Bad Oral Health Habits to Stop Immediately How to Care for Your Child’s Teeth, Part I Our Daughter’s Arrival Story in Unusual Times
THE SIMPLE TOOTH FUN FACTS ABOUT DECEMBER! December might be one of the most exciting, festive times of year, but it’s also a great opportunity to learn about how humanity has come together to accomplish big things. Let’s look at our favorites! THE VERY FIRST NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Alfred Nobel was a remarkable man. Alfred Nobel was a remarkable man. He was born into poverty but became one of the most prominent industrialists and inventors of his day — he even invented dynamite! He made a fortune equal to $300 million today. After the press wrongly reported his brother Ludwig’s death as his own, Nobel began to think about what would happen to his fortune after his death. After all, he’d had several relationships with women but produced no heirs. So, he designed a prize that’d be rewarded in five categories: chemistry, literature, physiology or medicine, physics, and peace. Despite the “peace” category drawing some controversy over the years, it continues to be rewarded to pacifists and humanitarians who help make the world a better place. And on Dec. 10, 1901, the very first Nobel Peace Prize was given out.
IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE WITH A COOKIE On Dec. 4 every year, bakers and pastry lovers get prepared for one of the sweetest days of the year: National Cookie Day. For as long as baking has existed, so have hard, cookie-like wafers. Not only were they easy to make, but they also traveled well! However, sweet cookies (as we know them today) only began to grow in popularity starting during the seventh century in Persia, as sugar became more common. Today, over 7 billion cookies are consumed each year in the U.S.! MORE GALAXIES There was a time when we knew about planets, but we didn’t quite understand that our galaxy wasn’t the only one. Fortunately, Edwin Hubble (born in 1889) dedicated his life’s work to building one of the world’s biggest telescopes on top of Mount Wilson in Southern California. On Dec. 30, 1924, Edwin Hubble announced his findings of many other galaxies and profoundly changed our understanding of the universe.
From everyone at Anderson Dental Care, we hope you have a wonderful rest of your December!
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