Check out our May newsletter!
MAY 2023
FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE
ELKINSDENTAL.COM
LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE MOMS On Mother’s Day, We Celebrate You!
If you've met me, you probably know that I love my job. Every day, I’m excited to get up in the morning and I am a sucker for clean and healthy teeth, mouths, and gums. It’s a bonus that I get to interact with great patients every day too. I can honestly say that I owe where I am today to my mom. When I was a kid, my mom worked as a front desk professional at a dental office and always spoke very highly of the dentist she worked for. My entire life, she was adamant about making sure we didn’t miss our checkups and that we practiced great dental hygiene at home. In our house, there was no“forgetting”to brush your teeth — she stayed on top of it for us.
Speaking of Mother’s Day, last year on this day, my wife, Beth, graduated from nursing school. We are now one year out since the day she became a nurse, and it’s safe to say that she still loves her job and is sure she made the right decision to enter the field. She’s much more comfortable now with a full year under her belt. In fact, in the beginning, she says she felt a bit like a chicken with its head cut off. Starting this month, she will be transitioning to part time to spend more time with the kids. If there’s one thing to
Dr. Elkins, measuring Adam a couple years ago on Mother's Day for our traditional height measuring of the kids.
know about Beth, it’s that she absolutely loves being a mom, and she’s GOOD at it. Now, she will have the best of both worlds, being able to enjoy the kids as they grow and fulfilling her calling to help others. Every year on Mother’s Day, we measure all of the kids on a big board on the wall that resembles a ruler. We take a sharpie and year after year, mark down their height and name. It’s a fun way to compare them to their sibling’s height at that same age and to track how much they’ve grown over the span of a year. Our oldest son is now 18 and is 6 feet, 6 inches tall! His younger brother is 8 years old and as tall as his older brother was at that age, so we're guessing he will be very tall when he’s older, too. It'll be interesting to see if the cards unfold that way. To all of the moms in my life and all of you great mothers out there, I wish you a happy and blessed Mother’s Day. Keep being great and enjoy your day.
IF THERE’S ONE THING TO KNOW ABOUT BETH, IT’S THAT SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES BEING A MOM, AND SHE’S GOOD AT IT.
All in all, my mom was a big influence on me in finding a profession that I love. Because of her, at an early age, I decided that dentistry intrigued me, and the older I got (and the more I learned about the industry), the more captivated I became — it enthralled me. Every time I visited the dentist, I got the impression that they loved their jobs and truly cared for their patients. Because of my mom, I’m the dentist I am today. This Mother’s Day, I’d like to give her an extra shoutout and thank you as well.
–Dr. Elkins
ElkinsDental.com | 1
THE WORLD ISN’T ENDING 3 Strategies to Reduce Anxiety
challenging at first, it will become easier with practice.
Face Anxiety Head-On Many people try to avoid anything that could make them feel anxious. While this method may make you feel short-term comfort, it can cause you to be more anxious about specific scenarios. The best strategy to overcome anxiety is to face it head-on. Although it will be uncomfortable and challenging, don’t let it stop you! The more you put yourself out there, the less anxious you’ll feel.You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for!
When most people think of anxiety, they likely have negative connotations tied to it. Many make the assumption that anxiety will always lead to panic attacks and fears of major change, but just about anything can generate feelings of anxiety, and not all of them are harmful. However, if your anxiety stops you from doing something, it can hinder you almost every day. In honor of May being National Anxiety Month, here are three ways to reduce your anxiety. Daily Exercise Physical activity can increase your self- confidence, improve your mood, help you relax, and lower anxiety symptoms.You don’t have to do anything significant — you can go for a walk, take a hike, conduct at-home
workouts, go to the gym for at least 30 minutes, or participate in yoga and Pilates. Meditate Sometimes, taking a step back, focusing on your breathing, and letting your thoughts flow in one ear and out the other can help you put things in perspective. JAMA Internal Medicine published an article
stating that practicing mindfulness can help ease feelings of anxiety, depression, and pain. You can meditate by following a guided meditation or silently sitting in a quiet area and breathing slowly. While meditating will be
Please contact your health care provider if
you’re worried about the anxious feelings you get. They can assist you with identifying your triggers, why anxiety is occurring, and methods you can use to reduce your symptoms.
A Word From Cheyenne & Ashlee
Alleviate Your Fear of the Dentist Today
If just the thought of visiting the dentist sends chills
from the procedure. In fact, keeping your hands and mind occupied can work wonders.
down your spine, you aren’t alone. In fact, dentophobia, or fear of the dentist, affects roughly 36% of the American population. Some fear that the procedures will be painful, while others may be afraid of what the dentist will find. However, our team here at Elkins Dental is prepared to help alleviate any concerns or emotional distress surrounding your visit. However, one thing is certain — the longer you procrastinate, the more likely it is that problems will arise. To ease your dental anxiety, we have some tips to offer to ensure that we can take the best care of you. Let us know. If you have dental anxiety or fear, please let us know. Discussing your concerns helps us come up with a plan and coping strategies to make your visit as comfortable as possible. Be sure to ask tons of questions because knowing exactly what to expect can alleviate anxiety and the fear of the unknown. Bring distractions. Whether it’s listening to music to drown out the sound of the drill or other dental tools, focusing on something else can help distract you
Be mindful. Relying on mindfulness techniques can help to relax your racing mind and tense muscles. Try counting your breaths, meditating, and concentrating on physically relaxing your body from your head to your toes. Remember that we are here to help you keep your dental health a top priority. There is no need to ever feel embarrassed or stressed out. Let us know what we can do to ease any dental anxiety you may have.
–Cheyenne & Ashlee Registered Dental Hygienists
2 | Elkins Dental
GINGER PORK STIR-FRY Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
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 • 1 tbsp cornstarch • 1 cup orange juice • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/4 tsp ground ginger • 1 lb pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips • 2 tbsp canola oil
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! • 1 small onion, sliced • 1/4 lb fresh snow peas • 1/2 sweet red pepper, julienned • Cooked rice • Green onion, chopped (optional) • Sesame seeds (optional)
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?”
1. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch, orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until smooth; set aside. 2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir-fry pork in oil until lightly browned, about 4–5 minutes. Remove pork and add onion, peas, and red pepper. Cook until crisp-tender, about 3–5 minutes. 3. Stir in orange juice mixture and pork. Bring to a boil, and then cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve over rice. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds, if desired.
JOKES DAD
Why did the mommy cat want to go bowling on Mother’s Day? He was an alley cat.
What color flowers do mama cats like to get? Purrrrrrrple flowers.
Facts Tooth Fun
Teeth Aren’t Bones!
Check Out These Cool Birds — Emu Fun Facts DID YOU KNOW? Just behind the ostrich, emus, native to Australia, are the second largest living flightless bird in the world. They are tall with heights averaging around 5.7 feet, three toes, and long, lanky legs. Most are brown (or standard) in color, but some can be white or blond too! While the females lay the eggs, the males actually lay on them to incubate them. Incubation usually takes roughly 56 days and after they hatch, the males are the ones who typically tend to the baby chicks, feeding them, keeping them warm, and making sure they are safe.
Has anyone ever told you that teeth are bones? This is a common misconception, but it’s easy to understand why many people may think this — after all, both contain calcium and skeletons still have their teeth. Just like bones, they are white, hard, and can sometimes even break. However, teeth aren’t bones, since they are not connected to the skeletal system and do not have the ability to repair themselves. They are made up of dentin, enamel, calcium, and pulp.
ElkinsDental.com | 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Moms — A True Blessing 2. Anxiety CAN Be Overcome
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
3. Ginger Pork Stir-Fry
4.
The
Mysteriously Missing Metric System
Tooth Facts
A Word From Cheyenne and Ashlee
1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617
Did You Know?
Happy Memorial Day From Elkins Dental!
208-369-4532 · ElkinsDental.com
PIRATES STOLE OUR METRIC SYSTEM Why America Never Changed to Kilos and Grams
Pirates, that’s right, pirates stopped America from changing to the metric system. While they can’t take all the blame, they steal a good chunk of it. There was a specific time in history when America did consider taking up the metric system. But pirates intercepted the standards, and America has refused to change its measuring system ever since. Way back when America was still a new country, there was no regulated measuring system throughout the states. Each territory was using some bizarre system that stayed only within state lines. For example, people were using Roman measurements, Dutch systems, and British systems dating back to King Henry VII. In 1789, Thomas Jefferson decided that some order needed to be in place. A lover of all things French, Jefferson admired the metric system’s logic and principle. He asked the French to help the U.S. transition to the metric system, and they were kind enough to send scientist Joseph Dombey. Dombey boarded a ship and set sail for America with two items pivotal to our measuring system change. The first gadget was a copper cylinder 3 inches in height and width, weighing precisely 1 kilogram. The second was another copper object, but this time a rod estimated to be a meter in length. These simple trinkets would have eased us into the
metric system. Except, we never received them. In fact, Dombey never set foot in America.
Unfortunately, storm winds blew his ship off course
and into the pirate- filled Caribbean. The pirates hijacked his boat and held him
captive, hoping to use him for ransom. In a tragic turn of events, Dombey died in
that pirate prison before any ransom money could be sent. The pirates then auctioned off everything Dombey had on his boat, metric measuring tools included.
So, you can thank the pirates for all the painstaking work we have to go through when using metric-based recipes. Why Americans never swapped systems after 1789 is still a mystery!
4 | Elkins Dental
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator