Take a look at our February newsletter!
THE
BRUSH - UP
ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255 | 513-438-8152 | WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM | FEBRUARY 2023
3 WAYS I MAKE OUR PATIENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE Having Dental Anxiety Is Normal!
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I understand going to the dentist can be a stressful and anxious experience for some people. Growing up, I had both positive and negative dental experiences that made me want to become a dentist. The positive moments showed me it was possible to like going to the dentist; the negative ones inspired me to change how people think about going to the dentist. That’s why I’m passionate about making your experience at Anderson Dental Care the best it can possibly be. According to the National Library of Medicine, 80% of Americans have some form of anxiety about going to the dentist. By looking back at my experience at the dentist as a child and listening to the stories of others, I’ve noticed a few reasons people don’t like going to the dentist. 1) Patients feel like they don’t know their dentist and are afraid to confide in them, even feeling shame about their oral health; 2) they are physically uncomfortable while waiting in the exam room or during treatment; 3) they feel like their dentist and dental office staff don’t care about them. While we just underwent a major renovation to expand our physical location, we are still a very small practice both in building space and in staff. That’s on purpose! It’s important to me that you know who is working at our office and get to see the same people each time. When you see the same dentist or hygienist during each visit, you will feel more comfortable discussing your oral health habits and what is causing you problems. Having a small practice helps create and strengthen the bonds I have with all my patients. You can find me and each team member chatting with patients and asking about their lives because we care about your oral health and just about you! For my team and I, you’re more than just a name and an appointment — we truly care about you and your family. Building a trusting relationship with me and other team members will help you feel at ease in our office, but I also want you to feel physically comfortable during your visit. Longtime patients may remember the comfort menu we provided patients before appointments. You could request a knee or neck pillow, a blanket, chapstick, aromatherapy, and more. While we had to stop offering the comfort menu during the pandemic, I plan on bringing it back in some form this year! That’s another reason we upgraded our office
too — your physical surroundings have a big impact on your comfort level. Our new calming office design and upgraded dental chairs will help you be comfortable during your appointment. My team and I care about you and your needs. So, if you need anything during your visit, please let us know — we will always try to accommodate your wishes and requests. As mentioned earlier, I care about you and your personal lives. Over the years, I hope we’ve made that apparent to you as we’ve tried to show how much we care for you and your family. We’ve sent hand-written Christmas and birthday cards to our patients. We’ve done random giveaways on a whim just because I want to give you all some extra love and let you know I’m thinking of you. We’ve given away iPad Minis, summer kits, a campfire kit, gift cards, and pizzas. I enjoy giving away prizes and putting a smile on your face. The main reason I do these random acts is to drive home the sentiment that you are more than a patient to me — you’re friends! Thank you for trusting my team and me with your dental needs and allowing us to be a part of your personal lives — you are why I continue to do what I do. It’s been a pleasure serving you, and I look forward to catching up with you during your next visit!
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Yes, Oral pH Matters
Having healthy dental habits is imperative not only for your oral health but also your overall health. That’s why it’s vital that children learn the importance of oral hygiene — but your children will need your help! In honor of February being Children’s Dental Health Month, here are three ways to encourage and teach your child the importance of oral hygiene. 3 WAYS TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY ORAL HABITS BRUSH YOUR CHILDREN’S TEETH. Until a child is 8 or 9 years old, they don’t have the motor skills or muscle strength to brush their own teeth. Unfortunately, to the detriment of children’s lifelong oral health, this fact isn’t common knowledge. Children’s little hands sometimes have difficulty maneuvering a toothbrush in their mouth, making it difficult to reach some of the spaces between their teeth. Therefore, it’s best to brush their teeth for them until they can do so. By doing this, you can help them get into the routine of brushing their teeth twice a day and learn why it’s important. DOWNLOAD FUN AND EDUCATIONAL DENTAL APPS. Dr. Brooks uses the app Toothsavers Brushing Game with his children, and it’s a great way for your children to learn how to brush their teeth. While this app may be educational, it’s also a fun and interactive game your child will love. Your child will have a character on their screen, and they have to brush the character’s teeth. As they play, they will see germ particles on the character’s teeth, which will help them understand the importance of brushing. The app also has a timer that your child can use while brushing their own teeth and track how many days in a row they’ve brushed their teeth. Then, after a certain number of days, they can unlock a new character and brush their teeth. GIVE YOUR CHILD OPTIONS AND REWARDS. Allow your child to pick out their toothbrush and toothpaste when you’re at the supermarket. They may feel more excited about brushing their teeth because they can pick out what they want to use. You can also provide rewards after they brush their teeth each day to encourage them to continue the habit. We suggest rewards like stickers, story time, choosing what’s for lunch, etc. over treats or juice, of course. IT’S CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH!
Try Out These Activities Spending Valentine’s Day With the Family? Valentine’s Day demands most of the attention in February. This holiday is designated for couples to share their love and do things they greatly enjoy together. While this usually consists of dinner dates, a movie, and possibly even some dancing, some parents have a difficult time getting away. Maybe they can’t find a babysitter, or one of the kids is ill, causing them to cancel plans. You might think there’s no point in celebrating the holiday if you can’t do so with just your significant other, but you can turn Valentine’s Day into a family-friendly event. Here are a few activities to try if you’re spending Valentine’s with the kids this February. WRITE LOVE NOTES TO EACH OTHER. Valentine’s Day is all about love, so what better way to celebrate it than by sharing your love with those closest to you? Take a moment and have every member of your family write love notes to each other. Encourage your kids to share their happy memories and explain why they love each person. This can be a fun and educational activity for your kids as you can help them with their spelling and grammar. HAVE A FANCY DINNER. You don’t need to go out to have an extravagant Valentine’s dinner. You can make one at home by incorporating the same ingredients as the dishes you would get at a restaurant. Or you can order from your favorite restaurant and pick it up. Use a fancy tablecloth, light some candles, and have fun with it. Don’t forget to include a special dessert; you can even make mocktails to amp up the fun. FINISH THE NIGHT WITH A MOVIE. Valentine’s Day is often one of the busiest nights of the year for movie theaters, but you don’t have to go out to enjoy a movie during the holiday. Head to your favorite streaming service and find some family- friendly romantic comedies to watch together. “The Princess Diaries,” “Lady and the Tramp,” and “Gnomeo and Juliet” are all great options.
When encouraging and teaching your kids about oral health, it’s best to make it a fun learning experience for them — especially when visiting the dentist. So, bring your children to our office for dental exams! We provide fun and comfortable services and accommodations to ensure your child has a great experience visiting the dentist.
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GET OUTSIDE WITHOUT THE COLD Warm Up With an Outdoor Fire
Is it too cold to spend time outside? Nonsense! While we wait for spring, there’s no better way to get some fresh air than around a warm fire with friends and family. Whether you build a bonfire or purchase an outdoor firepit, a cozy fire is great fun day or night, and you can do plenty of activities to keep you busy. Get started with some campfire classics — roasting marshmallows and cooking hot dogs! Placing food on a skewer and holding it over a fire is a fun activity for everyone, and kids will love the opportunity to prepare their own “meal” — with proper adult supervision, of course. Campfire grill racks will help you make slightly fancier food options. One of the best fire pastimes is taking the time to chat. Invite over folks you haven’t seen in a while and catch up! A fire is also an opportunity to put the phone away and connect on a deeper level. Consider bringing some interesting prompts along, like “What is your favorite childhood memory?” or “What was your worst vacation experience?” They’ll get everyone talking and forgetting all about the cold.
kids around, make sure the stories are age-appropriate.) Everyone can make up their own stories, retell tales they heard long ago, or do some research online
beforehand. Find out who is the best storyteller — and the biggest scaredy-cat.
Many typical “indoor” activities can also be brought outside. For example, get out
some cards or a board game. Music will also liven up the atmosphere. You can even start a dance party if you keep a safe distance from the flames. Those looking for solo time can also read a book, sketch, or journal. No matter what activity you choose, an outdoor fire will allow you to enjoy the fresh air and get some vitamin D (if during the daytime) without excessive shivering. It might even turn into a favorite cold-weather activity.
Your fire is also the perfect opportunity to tell scary stories. Get a flashlight, head out at night, and do your best to frighten each other! (If you’ve got
CHAI-SPICE BUTTERNUT SQUASH SMOOTHIE
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOW
WHEN WAS THE FIRST WEBSITE CREATED? British scientist Tim Berners-Lee helped create the first website, Info.Cern.ch. The website was for CERN, a European organization for nuclear research. WHEN DID THE WORD “DUDE” ORIGINATE? In the 1800s, the term was used to make fun of men who kept up with the latest fashion trends. Then, it was known to describe people in the city who were clueless. We now know the term to be a casual and laid-back word to describe a man or woman. IS THE TONGUE A MUSCLE OR AN ORGAN? Tongues are covered with moist, pink tissue called mucosa, and tiny bumps called papillae. While tongues are considered organs, they are muscular organs. WHY DO CATS RUB THEIR HEADS AGAINST YOU OR OTHER OBJECTS? Felines have scent glands on each side of their head and other parts of their body. They use these glands to mark their territories. So, when a cat rubs on you or other objects, they are claiming it as theirs.
Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
INGREDIENTS
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1 ripe banana, frozen 1 cup cubed butternut squash, cooked and frozen 1/4 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk
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1 tbsp almond, cashew, or pecan butter (do not use peanut butter, the flavor is overpowering)
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1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp cardamom 1/8 tsp ground ginger
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1/8 tsp allspice
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large, high-powered blender, add all ingredients and blend on high for 1–2 minutes or until all ingredients are well combined. Add more milk if necessary to thin and blend again. 2. Serve and enjoy!
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ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
513-438-8152 WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
7525 STATE RD., STE. A CINCINNATI, OH 45255
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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You’re More Than a Patient — You’re Family
3 Family-Friendly Valentine’s Day Activities
You Should Be Brushing Your Child’s Teeth!
3
Wanna Stay Warm Outside?
Your Monthly Need-to-Know
Chai-Spice Butternut Squash Smoothie
4
The Simple Tooth: Valentine’s Day Special
THE SIMPLE TOOTH 4 FUN FACTS ABOUT VALENTINE’S DAY
It’s the month of love, and what better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with some facts you may not have known? VALENTINE’S DAY HAS ROOTS IN AN ANCIENT PAGAN FESTIVAL. Some people believe that Valentine’s Day is dedicated to the death of St. Valentine. Although that may be true, the holiday’s origins date back to an ancient Roman festival called “Lupercalia.” This was a Pagan fertility festival that was dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. The founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, celebrated this festival by sacrificing animals to women. It was believed that this would promote fertility. CUPID HAS ROOTS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY. Today, we symbolize Cupid with a heart-shaped bow and arrow on Valentine’s Day cards. Cupid can be traced back to 700 B.C. to the Greek
god Eros, the god of love. Eros was known as a handsome man who could make people fall in love. During the 14th century B.C., the Romans transformed the image of Eros as a little boy and nicknamed him Cupid. By the 19th century, Cupid became linked to Valentine’s Day because of his match-making superpowers. VALENTINE’S DAY IS CELEBRATED DIFFERENTLY IN OTHER COUNTRIES. In Latin America, the holiday is known as the day of love and friendship. Although couples exchange gifts on this holiday, it’s mainly focused on showing appreciation to your friends. In Japan, women give gifts to the men they care about during this holiday. For example, they can give chocolate as a gift to symbolize their true feelings for them. One month later, on a holiday known as “White Day,” men give gifts to the women in their lives.
In Argentina, Argentinians don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day in February. Instead, they have a “week of sweetness” in July in which lovers exchange gifts, notes, memories, and affection. THE FIRST VALENTINE’S DAY CARD WAS SENT FROM PRISON. During a civil war, Charles, the French Duke of Orléans, was captured and imprisoned by the Burgundians in 1415. He spent 25 years in prison and is believed to have written the first Valentine’s Day card. He sent love letters and poems to his wife and referenced her as his Valentine. Did you know any of these fun facts about Valentine’s Day? There are so many out there, but these were the ones that stood out the most.
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!
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