BRUSH - UP
ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255 | 513-438-8152 | WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM | DECEMBER 2019
LOVE, SERVE, AND PRAY MORE REFLECTING ON THE PAST DECADE AND LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020
As we prepare to close another decade, I can’t help but think of how much my life has changed in the past 10 years. It seems like many of the most important moments have my life have happened in the last decade. At the start of 2010, I was still inundated with pharmacology flash cards and dental school exams. This decade has seen my dental school graduation, my transition to business owner and dentist, the births of all my children, many learning opportunities, and a lot of service experiences. In a way, this entire decade has been about growth. When I purchased Anderson Dental Care in 2013, I knew how to be a great dentist, but I spent those early years figuring out dental insurance, understanding and forming great teams for patient care, and coordinating overhead expenses. Believe it or not, there are no classes about any of that in dental school (despite the high number of self-employed dentists), so I figured everything out as I went. So many people positively impacted me early in my career, from patients who put their complete trust in me to team members who were willing to help in any way possible and countless individuals who provided the assistance and advice I needed to balance business ownership with patient care. I look back on those beginning years, and I’m so thankful for where we are today. Anderson Dental Care currently has one of the best teams we have ever had, and I truly care for every member of our team. It took time, patience, and learning, but I’m so
proud of the team we’ve assembled with the best interests of our patients at heart.
This decade was huge for me on a personal level, too. With the birth of our first child in 2012, we entered the joy that is parenthood. Three more children joined our family after that, and our lives feel so full (both literally and figuratively). Parenthood has certainly come with its own challenges and opportunities for growth and learning on my part, but it truly has been so rewarding. I was recently talking to a patient, a mother of two, and I jokingly asked her which kid was her favorite. Candidly, she responded, “Depends on the day.” I couldn’t help but laugh at her response, and I’m sure many parents understand. It’s been a joy to watch my children transform from these seemingly helpless babies to talking, running, fun little people. All four children have helped me grow tremendously in different ways, and this past decade will always be special to me because of them. As I became a business owner, I had to make sure my children and my wife remained at the center of my world. I’ll admit that in the beginning, it was hard to determine how my business and my family fit together and how to compartmentalize my time with each. As the decade moved along, we found that making the business a family affair was the key. On any given day, you might get to meet my kids in the waiting room playing with toys and lining
DR. BROOKS STARTING DENTAL SCHOOL
up blue water cups from the water cooler along every countertop. They love our team and patients as much as I do because they’ve helped build what Anderson Dental Care is today. We function with our family as the most important thing, but our business is obviously a huge part of our life, and this past decade has brought us closer together through our shared experiences in business and in life. I don’t know much about what the new decade will bring, but it will, no doubt, come with many changes. In 10 years, I’ll have teenagers! Self- driving cars might be the new standard. Robots might be fixing your teeth (just kidding, I’m not going anywhere!). I don’t know all the next 10 years will bring, nor do I have control over much of it, but reflecting on the close of this decade has reminded me of three things I want to focus on doing more in the next 10 years. I believe I can’t do them enough. So, here’s my vow: I’m going to love more, serve more, and pray more. Have a wonderful holiday season!
– Dr. Brooks
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FINDING SOLUTIONS TO SLEEP BRUXISM AND JAW PAIN DAILY GRIND
Of the many seasonal traditions that sweep our nation, few are as creative, delicious, and satisfying as building your very own gingerbread house. Whether you’re looking to create a simple table decoration or bake a tasty treat to nibble on, everyone can enjoy this holiday activity! EVERYTHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY TRADITION Ginger was first cultivated in ancient China, then traded into medieval Europe. There, Europeans incorporated it into culinary traditions and used it to bake cookies into elaborate shapes and works of art, including figures of animals and people. The gingerbread house first appeared in the early 19th century in Germany. Although historians don’t know an exact date, it’s speculated that it gained popularity around the same time that “Hansel and Gretel,” the popular fairy tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm, was published. In 2013, the world record for the largest gingerbread house in the world was broken. The house, topping out at 21 feet and covering 2,520 square feet, was built by Traditions Golf Club in Bryan, Texas, to raise money for a local Level II trauma center. To construct the house, builders created a recipe that required 1,800 pounds of butter, 2,925 pounds of brown sugar, 7,200 eggs, 7,200 pounds of flour, 1,080 ounces of ground ginger, and a few additional ingredients. THE LARGEST GINGERBREAD HOUSE THE JOY OF A GINGERBREAD HOUSE THE ORIGINS OF GINGERBREAD
Few things in life are more satisfying than crawling into a warm bed after a long day. But, for those who grind or clench their teeth while they sleep, one of life’s simplest and greatest pleasures may be dangerous to their oral health!
WHY AM I GRINDING MY TEETH?
There’s no medical reason for it, but sleep bruxism — the medical term for grinding or clenching your teeth as you sleep — puts hundreds of pounds of force on your teeth. Sleep bruxism has been linked to depression, heightened stress, and anxiety, and some believe this grinding or tension can be linked to the pressure you may be feeling every day! In addition, sleep bruxism is hereditary. If you’re a parent with sleep bruxism, bring your condition to the attention of your child’s dentist. Catching sleep bruxism early can limit its damage. Do you wake up with achy jaw muscles and suffer from chronic headaches? Do you struggle with fatigue, tooth sensitivity, or snoring? Then you might have sleep bruxism. While your teeth are comprised of the same strong minerals as your bones, they are still fragile. You may experience a fracture, crack, or irreparable damage to your tooth’s enamel. ( Note: ALL enamel loss is permanent!) Lastly, sleep bruxism can inflame temporomandibular joint disorders or jaw pain. Unfortunately, there is no “cure” for bruxism, but nightguards offer patients a painless solution by limiting the effects and pain of nightly grinding. At Anderson Dental Care, we can create a custom nightguard for you to wear each night. Nightguards are also sold in pharmacies, but the chances of these being comfortable and suitable for you are slim. And, if you are not comfortable with your nightguard, you will not wear it, causing further damage and pain to your jaw. Instead, we factor in the shape of your mouth, your bite, and your personal needs to create a nightguard you actually want to wear! Get fitted for a custom nightguard and stop the grinding by scheduling an appointment with Anderson Dental Care. Learn more about teeth grinding and other dental topics on our blog at Atowndental.com/blog. SO, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT MY SLEEP BRUXISM?
BUILD YOUR OWN!
While you don’t have to challenge yourself to beat the Guinness World Record, you can still have fun creating your very own gingerbread village. Starting your gingerbread house from scratch can be a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy. Give the kids a chance to mix
the ingredients, roll out the dough, and set out plenty of candies and frostings to use, and remember to have fun! If you’re looking for unique gingerbread house ideas, take a look at 20 gingerbread house ideas at TasteofHome.com/ collection/gingerbread-houses.
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WHY DO WE HANG CHRISTMAS LIGHTS? LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
The first string of twinkling lights illuminating your neighbor’s house is always a telltale sign of the upcoming seasonal festivities. Christmas lights are a holiday staple, but have you ever wondered where this beloved tradition started? The tradition of hanging lights on the tree originally started with candles. Because this posed an immense fire hazard, Edward Hibberd Johnson, a close friend of Thomas Edison and vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company, vowed to find a better way to decorate Christmas trees with light. In December 1882, three years after Edison’s invention of the lightbulb in November 1879, Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue lightbulbs together and wound them around a Christmas tree in his parlor window. A passing reporter saw the spectacle and declared in the Detroit Post and Tribune, “One can hardly imagine anything prettier.”
Johnson continued this tradition, increasing the number of lights each year and eventually putting them up outside. But because electricity was still a new concept, many years passed before the fad took off for regular Americans. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge began the tradition of lighting the National Christmas Tree, which spurred the idea of selling stringed lights commercially. By the 1930s, families everywhere were buying boxes of bulbs by the dozen. Today, an estimated 150 million Christmas lights are sold in America each year, decorating 80 million homes and consuming 6% of the nation’s electricity every December. Whether you’ll be putting up your own lights or appreciating the most impressive light displays in your neighborhood or town, let the glow fill you with joy this season.
CRANBERRY GINGERBREAD
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOW!
INGREDIENTS
HOW BIG IS YOUR BRAIN?: We’re giving away $25 every week! Just check our Facebook page every Tuesday to play our Tuesday Trivia contest. We’ll post a question, you post the answer, and you’re entered to win! Every Wednesday, we’ll post the answer, some additional info, and announce the winner of a $25 Amazon e-gift card. Visit our page at Facebook.com/atowndental.
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1/2 cup canola oil, plus more for greasing
3/4 cup unsulphured molasses 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped
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1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp baking soda
HOLIDAY HOURS: In order for our team to spend time with their families during the holidays, our office will be closed the following times:
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Grease a loaf pan with canola oil.
DEC. 24 – 27 DEC. 31 – JAN. 1
3. In a large mixing bowl, mix together 1/2 cup canola oil, molasses, brown sugar, eggs, ginger, and cranberries. In a separate bowl, sift and combine flour with baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until blended.
Of course, if you need to speak to a member of our team during that time, just call our office and you’ll be directed to our after-hours number. Just be careful of the peanut brittle, nuts and sticky foods, and you’ll be fine!
4. Scrape batter into loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes. 5. Transfer to a rack, let cool for 20 minutes, slice, and serve.
Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine
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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
Dr. Brooks Reflects on the Past Decade INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Building Your Own Gingerbread House
Is Your Jaw Pain ‘Grinding’ Your Gears?
The History Behind Christmas Lights
Cranberry Gingerbread
Light Up the Holidays With These Events
BRIGHTEN UP YOUR HOLIDAY WITH THESE LOCAL LIGHT DISPLAYS AND SHOWS
CHRISTMAS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS When: Evenings from Nov. 8, 2019, through Jan. 5, 2020 Where: Coney Island Admission: $6 per person, free for children under age 3
Tired of walking in a winter wonderland? Try exploring in a “Wild Wonderland” instead! Join the Cincinnati Zoo as more than 2.5 million lights transform it into a magical holiday show. Enjoy the Madcap blacklight puppet show, a snack at the S’mores-n-More stands, or a ride on the BB&T Toyland Express. Rumor has it that Santa Claus is slated to make an appearance! And, new this year, guests will be invited to search for Fiona the Fairy statues in Fiona’s Fairyland. Don’t forget to add this magical, wild adventure to your holiday calendar! Learn more by visiting CincinnatiZoo.org. CHRISTMASTIME AT ARK ENCOUNTER When: Nov. 29 through Dec. 30 ( Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ) Where: Ark Encounter, Williamstown, Kentucky Admission: Free; $5 to enter the Ark Celebrate the birth of Christ with a light show at a life-size replica of one of the Bible’s most famous stories. Don’t miss the 512-foot-long and 51-feet- tall light show on the side of Ark Encounter this holiday season. Once you have taken in the spectacular light show, visit the zoo, enjoy a traditional Christmas buffet, and take home a memento from the gift store. This year, Ark Encounter has even added an ice skating rink to the holiday amenities! You can now glide along the outside of the ark for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Learn more at ArkEncounter.com.
There’s nothing more dazzling this time of the year than terrific light displays, but what puts the Christmas Nights of Lights above the rest is how you can watch this beautiful display. Take in the luminescent snowflakes, gigantic trees, festive candy canes, and mesmerizing tunnels of lights all from the comfort — and heat — of your
car. Don’t miss this annual holiday tradition spanning two months at dusk each day and shining brightly until 10 p.m. Visit ConeyIslandPark.com to learn more. PNC FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS When: Evenings from Nov. 16, 2019, through Jan. 4, 2020 Where: The Cincinnati Zoo Admission: $12–$19, free for children under age 2
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