Take a look at our August newsletter!
THE
BRUSH - UP
ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255 | 513-231-7755 | WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM | AUGUST 2024
Even if you don’t have kids, you probably feel the buzz of back-to- school season upon us. Stores are bustling with sales on supplies, morning traffic gets a bit busier with school buses, and community spirit seems to recharge. It’s a special time, not just for families but for everyone in the community. Even though my kids are homeschooled, we mark the season with a special family dinner the night before our “official” school year kicks off. It’s our way of celebrating the new academic year and giving our kids the space to chat about what they’re looking forward to for the coming season. We don’t follow a typical full summer break since we spread our vacations throughout the year, focusing more on gardening and outdoor activities during the warmer months. Yet, this dinner is a cherished tradition that helps signal a shift back to more structured learning. We also like to set a theme and scripture for the year to give us focus and inspiration. The next day, my wife and I take the kids outside and snap photos of their first day, sometimes with the books they’re starting that will define their year. It’s a fun, memorable way to document their growth and the start of another learning journey. At the dental office, the back-to-school season is evident, too. This time of year, many aspiring student-athletes come in for dental exams, often required for school sports team check-ups. It’s not just the kids; parents often visit during this time too! It’s no secret that this time of year can be a headache for parents preparing for the new school season. These parents often have signs of stress, like cracked teeth or jaw pain from clenching. Most of the time, they don’t even know stress is the culprit for their pain, but the signs are there! Many don’t realize they grind their teeth during the day or while asleep until our team How to Prepare for the New School Season With Healthy Habits Start the School Year Right
spots the signs during an exam. Back-to-school can be a stressful time for parents, managing schedules and meeting academic expectations, but we can help them be proactive in protecting their smiles. It’s not just adults who can feel the effects of stress; teens come in, too. For them, their stress is rooted in extracurriculars and college entrance exams. It’s the perfect time to talk about preventative measures like custom mouthguards, especially for those active in sports or grinding their teeth while they sleep. Interestingly, while many assume August would be a hectic time for us, it’s actually one of the slower periods in the office compared to June or July. That makes it a perfect time for a check-up, ensuring everything is in order before the school year ramps up. So, if you’re feeling the August rush and think there’s no time for a dental check-up, think again. It’s an ideal time to ensure your children — and yes, even stressed-out parents — are in top oral health for the school year ahead. Don’t let the busy back-to-school season keep you from caring for your family’s teeth. It’s a great time to visit us, catch up on oral health, and start the school year with a smile!
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HOW DIFFERENT CULTURES CELEBRATE LOST BABY TEETH TOOTH FAIRY TALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD Aug. 22 marks a whimsical celebration that sparks the daydreams of children and adults alike — National Tooth Fairy Day! It probably isn’t surprising that we relish diving into the delightful folklore surrounding our favorite dental sprite. Let’s uncover the roots of the Tooth Fairy tale and how various cultures around the globe celebrate the loss of baby teeth. MEDIEVAL TRADITIONS AND BEYOND In medieval Europe, burying baby teeth that fell out was common practice. Folklore suggested that if a witch got hold of your tooth, it could lead to a curse, so burying them was a protective measure! Over time, these traditions morphed into the more benign practice of children offering their lost teeth to small rodents, usually mice or rats, hoping their new, adult teeth would be as strong and sturdy as the animals’. VIKING AND SCANDINAVIAN CUSTOMS In Scandinavia, the tradition takes a more practical approach. The Vikings paid their children a “tooth fee” for lost teeth, which they carried into battle, believing these little tooth charms could bring them good luck.
If you need something to do with your family this summer, a scavenger hunt may be just the thing! They are fun to put together and a versatile way to entertain kids of all ages. Whether you are searching indoors or out in nature, identifying artwork or insects, scavenger hunts are an excellent way to beat back boredom and engage your children in an exciting, exploratory activity! Here are four scavenger hunt ideas you can adapt for your home. BACK TO SCHOOL If you want to get your kids in the mood to return to class, why not introduce the idea via an interactive, school-related scavenger hunt? You can have them find their new backpack and notebooks, pens, pencils, and other classroom supplies you have ready for them. FLASHLIGHT FINDER For this scavenger hunt, turn out the lights and grab your flashlights! While searching for something in the dark may sound like the setup for a horror movie, it’s not! It can be a lot of fun when it’s part of a curated scavenger hunt. Best of all, this scavenger hunt can be done outside or inside. Hide easily recognizable items and get the family searching. IDENTIFYING INSECTS If you have a backyard or a park nearby, likely many bugs are out there waiting to be identified. Take a walk for yourself and see what creatures you can find. Bees, ladybugs, and ants are a great start. Depending on your area, you can even add some rarer bugs to the list! This is also a great way to teach your kids which bugs are friendly and which they should avoid. Just be sure to create a way for seekers to document their finds without hurting the insects, like using a phone camera. ART EXHIBIT Want to get your kids more interested in the works of famous painters and sculptors? Print some pictures of their works on display at a local museum and compile them into a scavenger hunt sheet. At the museum, have your kids match the works with their respective artists and genres, allowing them to better understand the wonderful world of art! Encourage them to take note of other artwork they like or recognize! SCAVENGER HUNT IDEAS FOR KIDS DISCOVER AND EXPLORE
TOOTH FAIRY TALES AROUND THE WORLD Across the pond in France, their first version of the Tooth Fairy is fondly called “La Petite Souris.” French children leave their fallen teeth under the pillow only to find that “The Little Mouse” has swapped them for coins or sweets by morning light. Meanwhile, in some Asian countries, thrown teeth play a part in predicting the future. Some children in countries like India, China, and Japan toss their lost teeth onto the roof while chanting a wish for a healthy replacement tooth to grow quickly.
It’s fascinating to see how the simple act of losing baby teeth inspired such a rich tapestry of myths and rituals, all aimed at marking the passage from childhood to adolescence. So, whether you’re leaving a shiny coin or just sharing these enchanting stories this National Tooth Fairy Day, remember to celebrate the little moments of magic that make childhood — and dentistry — so special.
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TEEN TURNS THE TIDE ON OCEAN TRASH BOYAN SLAT’S INSPIRING JOURNEY TO CLEAN OUR SEAS
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOWS HOW FAR IS ‘AROUND THE WORLD’? If measured at the equator, Earth’s circumference is around 24,901 miles. Meanwhile, the circumference from pole to pole is only 24,860 miles around. This is because the Earth’s rotational speed, which is faster at the equator, causes a slight bulge across the equator and slightly flattens the poles! HOW MANY PAGES CAN YOU MAKE OUT OF A TREE? While all trees are different sizes, one paper manufacturer has stated that a cord of wood measuring 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet makes around 90,000 sheets of bond-quality paper or 2,700 copies of a 35-page newspaper. HOW MANY HAIRS ARE ON A HUMAN HEAD ON AVERAGE? The average person has around 100,000 strands of hair on their head! Surprisingly, this differs depending on hair color: most redheads have around 90,000 hairs, blonds have about 140,000, and brunettes fall between these averages. Have you ever heard about the teenager who decided to clean the ocean? Meet Boyan Slat, the eco-warrior who founded The Ocean Cleanup at 18. His story of innovation and determination shows how one big idea can make waves worldwide. Boyan’s journey began unexpectedly at 16 during a scuba diving trip in Greece. Instead of marveling at exotic marine life, he was shocked to find more plastic floating around than fish. This unsettling experience sparked a burning question in his young mind: “Why don’t we just clean it up?” That question didn’t disappear with the ocean currents; it followed him home to Delft, the Netherlands, and propelled him into action. Turning his curiosity into a high school science project, Boyan faced countless reasons why cleaning the ocean was “impossible.” Not satisfied with just understanding the problem, he started experimenting with solutions. He envisioned a passive system that would use the ocean currents to gather plastic on its own — essentially, setting a trap for the plastic to come to him rather than chasing after it.
After presenting his initial ideas at a conference in 2012 and barely scratching the surface
of his aerospace engineering studies at TU Delft, Boyan decided to go further. With just 300 euros of savings and a sea of passion, he founded The Ocean Cleanup and dropped out of school. The big break came when his video talk went viral overnight, raised $90,000 through crowdfunding, and recruited a motivated team. By April 2013, Boyan launched his first Indiegogo campaign with a spirit that matched the ocean’s vastness: “I don’t know if it’s possible, and that’s exactly the reason I’m doing it.” Fast-forward to 2023, and The Ocean Cleanup has removed an astonishing 5.4 million pounds of trash from the ocean and even turned some of that recovered plastic into 25,000 pairs of sunglasses! So, next time you think you’re too young or your ideas are too ambitious, just remember Boyan Slat and his ocean-cleaning dream. It’s a reminder that sometimes, you just need to set a wide net to catch a big dream. And who knows? You might just clean up a whole ocean along the way.
Sweet Potato and Avocado Salad
Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS
•
1 sweet potato sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add sweet potato slices and toss in oil. 2. Bake for 15 minutes and flip. Bake for another 5–10 minutes and remove from the oven. 3. In a small bowl, mix tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, and salt. Whisk to combine and slowly add water until the dressing is semi-thick and pourable. 4. In a serving bowl, add greens
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1 tbsp avocado oil
Dressing •
1/4 cup tahini
• • • •
2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp maple syrup 1 pinch of sea salt
Water, to desired consistency
Salad •
5 cups of greens (spinach or lettuce)
and top with sweet potato, avocado, and hemp seeds. Serve with dressing.
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1 ripe avocado, cubed
2 tbsp hemp seeds (optional)
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ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
513-231-7755 WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
7525 STATE RD., STE. A CINCINNATI, OH 45255
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
Beat the Back-to-School Rush This August
Indoor and Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Unveil the Magical Origins of the Tooth Fairy
3
How One Teenager’s Idea Sparked a Global Cleanup Movement
Your Monthly Need-to-Knows
Sweet Potato and Avocado Salad
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End Summer With Local Festivities and Charity Events! SAVOR THE SEASON Celebrate With Cincinnati’s Top Community Events
CINCINNATI REDS POST-GAME CONCERT Aug. 29, 2024 Great American Ball Park MLB.com/reds/tickets/concerts/post-game Catch country music superstar Thomas Rhett live at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, for a post-game benefit concert following the Reds vs. Athletics game at 5:10 p.m. Experience a full set from Rhett, including fan favorites and special performances, right from the field! This event not only promises an evening of unforgettable music but also supports a great cause. A portion of the proceeds from every ticket sold will benefit Love One International, a foundation dedicated to transforming the lives of children in Uganda with vital medical care. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of music and charity!
As the sweltering summer ends, Cincinnati is wrapping up the season with a collection of events that display the city’s vibrant spirit. Let’s send off summer in style, cherishing these last long, sunny days!
WESTWOOD SECOND SATURDAYS Aug. 10, 2024, 5–10 p.m. The grounds of Westwood Town Hall WestwoodWorks.org/second-saturdays
ICE CREAM RUN Aug. 11, 2024 Yeatman’s Cove Park IceCreamRun5k.com
Discover the vibrant heart of Westwood every second Saturday of the month! This volunteer- run street party transforms the historic business district into a bustling entertainment hub. Each event features a unique theme, bringing together food, music, and activities suitable for all ages. Enjoy a delightful evening as you shop, savor, and soak in the best of Westwood’s entertainment offerings. Don’t miss out on the chance to connect with the community and experience the lively atmosphere of Westwood Second Saturdays!
Join the sweetest race of the year: the Ice Cream Run! This family-friendly event caters to all ages, from a baby/toddler crawl to a 10K. The race supports local schools, sports teams, and other organizations, making it a day filled with community spirit, exercise, and plenty of ice cream. Participants from 0 to 100+ can enjoy various family activities and help support charities nationwide, especially those dedicated to children’s healthcare. Lace up your shoes and indulge in a day of fun and philanthropy — sign up for the Ice Cream Run today!
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