FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE
ELKINSDENTAL.COM FEBRUARY 2020
LEAP DAY ESCAPE
Family Time on the Slopes
I started snowboarding a few years ago, so as everyone else clips into their skis, I’m strapping on my snowboard to navigate the slopes. My brother, Russ, inspired me to give snowboarding a try a few years ago, and I haven’t looked back since. I’ll admit that the first couple of seasons involved a lot of face-planting.The first time I went with Russ, he wanted to give my snowboard a try. We swapped, and I caught an edge almost immediately and went into the snow face first. Wrist protectors were, and still are, a must to avoid any injuries. (That wouldn’t be good in my line of work!)
W ith 2020 being a leap year, we’re gifted with an “extra” day in February, and I know just how I’m going to spend it: hitting the slopes at Bogus Basin with Beth and our kids. It’s something we try to do at least once a year as a family, and now that all the kids are old enough to hop on skis or snowboards, it’s a fun way to spend quality time together. Beth and I usually start the day off with the kids on the bunny slopes, then I’ll venture out to some of the bigger runs. Russell and Anna have gotten good enough on their skis to where they want to go on more challenging runs, so it’ll be fun to show them some new sections of the mountain and see them progress. Beth skis as well, and she has been pretty content to stay with the kids on the bunny slopes, though she has mentioned that she wants to start venturing on some of the other runs this year. Now that the kids are good enough, she’s ready for the next challenge herself.
Thankfully, I’ve learned a bit since those first few times and can do a proper fall and mostly stay out of my own way. It’s been a fun learning experience, and I really enjoy the views from the top of the mountain. At this point in my life, I’m not much of a daredevil, so while I don’t think I’ll ever seek out big air on the jumps, it feels great to be more confident on a snowboard. I’m looking forward to getting better this year and going on some of the bigger runs. It sounds like it’s going to be a growing year for all of us as far as our ski and snowboarding skills are concerned, doesn’t it? It’s pretty great that we have a mountain so close by to practice on. I love seeing our whole family have fun outside and share an activity that brings us all joy. So, what will you do with your extra 24 hours this month? Whatever it is, I hope you make the most of it! –Dr. Elkins
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VALENTINE’S DAY TREATS FOR YOUR KIDS
Don’t Forget About Your Little Valentine This Year Valentine’s Day isn’t just observed between romantic couples. It’s a day for celebrating the love you feel for people in all areas of your life. And if you have kids, Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate your love for them and let them know how special they are to you. Here are a few ways to make this Feb. 14 the most memorable one yet for your little ones. GIFTS AND BALLOONS If you want to get extra crafty, you can cook bacon, pancakes, eggs, and toast all in the shape of hearts. For extra love, add strawberries or raspberries to complete the Valentine’s Day vibe. REFLECTIONS OF LOVE While you’re busy cooking up a feast, your kids will most likely visit the bathroom to get ready for the day. What will they see when they walk in? Their mirror covered in sticky notes in the shape of a heart! You can write words of encouragement, love, and support and set the display up for them the night before. It’s a fantastic way for them to start their day. LET YOUR KIDS BE IN CHARGE
Surprise your little ones the morning of Feb. 14 by decorating their room with their favorite treats and balloons. Tie their favorite candy bar or a small toy they’ve had their eye on to the bottom of one or more balloon strings.Then, place the balloons around their bedroom for them to find. A HEARTFELT BREAKFAST Take the time to whip up their favorite breakfast and try to add a little bit of Valentine’s Day cheer.
Valentine’s Day lands on a Friday this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate over the weekend. Let your kids plan a day of fun by creating a list of activities they can choose from. Let them decide whether you all spend a few hours together ice skating, watching a movie, going to the park, or visiting an amusement park. To add a little more fun, create a “menu” they can look at and choose what they’ll have for dinner that night. Enjoy this day of love with all of your special someones this year!
CleanWith Kalie Patients sometimes ask us whether a manual or electric toothbrush is better, and while
Is an Electric Toothbrush Better at Cleaning Teeth?
and I feel like I can brush behind my molars easily with it. For those with braces or other orthodontic appliances, the “nimble,” smaller brush head can make it easier to get in between brackets and better clean teeth. Part of the advantage might also be that electric toothbrushes are fun to use, so people are more likely to use them. My daughter loves brushing her teeth so much more since we’ve gotten her an electric toothbrush; she thinks brushing her teeth is fun now! Most models have built-in timers too, so they turn off after your two minutes of brushing are up. Frankly, electric toothbrushes take a lot of the guesswork out of brushing your teeth. We always recommend gentle brushing because brushing too hard can lead to issues like gum recession. An electric toothbrush makes it easier to follow this guideline. Many models will turn off or make a loud noise if you brush too hard.The model we carry stops rotating and turns red to let you know if you’re brushing too hard. At Elkins Dental, we sell the Oral-B Genius toothbrush, a professional electric model that you can’t find in stores. Ask us about it next time you’re here!
simply brushing and flossing regularly are the most important steps you can take to maintain good oral health, we have to admit there may be
a few extra benefits to using an electric toothbrush. In general, studies show that electric toothbrushes remove more plaque and better prevent gingivitis than manual brushes, and we typically see much better home care results from patients who use an electric toothbrush. One reason may be the extra attention an electric toothbrush can give to each tooth. Rather than relying on your hand movement to clean, an electric toothbrush vibrates and rotates in a circular, oscillating motion on its own. According to Oral-B, their electric toothbrushes deliver up to 48,800 movements per minute, whereas a manual toothbrush only delivers 300–600 movements per minute. For folks who have limited hand mobility, maybe from arthritis or carpal tunnel, an electric toothbrush can be easier to use because it does most of the job for you. Because the brush head on an electric toothbrush is a bit smaller, it’s also easier to get to hard-to-reach places and molars. I use an electric toothbrush,
-Kalie and Caryn –Kalie
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VEGAN BANANA PANCAKES
Inspired by My Darling Vegan
Ingredients
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?” 5. After 3 minutes or when bubbles ppear, flip ea h pancake. 6. After each pancake has risen to double its initial h ight, remov from griddle. Repeat as necessary until batter is gone. 7. Serve with your favorite toppings! • 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted • 1 tsp vanilla extract • Cooking spray
• 2 extra ripe bananas, mashed • 1 cup soy milk • 2 tbsp maple syrup
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. In a small bowl, combi e flour, aking powder, and salt. 2. In a separate bowl, whisk bananas, soy milk, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla together. 3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir. Don’t overmix. Lumps are okay. 4. Spray a heated pancake gri dle with cooking spray, and scoop 1/4 cup of the mixture onto the griddle. Repeat until the griddle is filled. Directions • 1 1/2 cups flour • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt
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.
GEM STATE? WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE Treasure Valley Flea Market
Sara Evans When: Feb. 25 Where: The Egyptian Theatre
When: Feb. 15–16 Where: Expo Idaho
DID YOU KNOW?
BE MY VALENTINE
Why do we recognize Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14? Some accounts claim that St. Valentine was killed on Feb. 14.The Catholic Church considered him a martyr for his acts, and Valentine’s Day commemorates those events. The poet Chaucer may have been the first to call Valentine’s Day a day of love. In one poem, he mentions Feb. 14 and makes the first known connection to a day of love that the English celebrated with the feast of St. Valentine. Today, we celebrate the day by showering loved ones with cards, flowers, and delectable chocolates.There are even spinoff holidays, like Galentine’s Day, which is on Feb. 13 and celebrates female friendship.
We our
If you want an extra taste of the historical context of Valentine’s Day, book a trip to Rome. Within
the Basilica di Santa Maria, you will find the remains of St. Valentine’s flower-adorned skull. Romantic, right?
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Dr. Elkin’s Leap Day Adventures 2. Your Kids Deserve
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
3. Vegan Banana Pancakes
4.
Learn All
About Leap Year
Valentine’s Day Treatment Too!
Did You Know?
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HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY FROM ELKINS DENTAL!
208-369-4532 Elkinsdental.com
LEAP INTO 2020 Facts About the Leap Year Like the Olympics and presidential elections, leap years only occur once every four years, which is why many people look forward to Feb. 29. But there’s a lot that you might not know about this quirk on the calendar. WHY
motivational speaker Tony Robbins, rapper Ja Rule, and singer Mark Foster of Foster the People. However, the most famous leapling is probably Superman. When you invent a super-being, you might as well give him a super-birthday. WHERE Anthony, Texas/New Mexico (a single town that straddles the two states’ borders), claims the title “Leap Year Capital of the World.”The city throws one massive birthday party for all leaplings but invites everyone to join the celebration. Two leapling neighbors from Anthony began the tradition in 1988, and it’s blossomed into a festival with thousands of participants every four years. It includes banquets, hot air balloons, a carnival, concerts, parades, and more. When you have four years to plan in between each shindig, there’s time to go big. Celebrate this leap year by doing something unusual or new. It’s a special day that doesn’t occur often, so make the most of it by doing something you’ll talk about for another four years.
To keep the calendar in sync with Earth’s orbit around the sun, an extra day is added to it every four years. Earth takes exactly 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds to orbit the sun.Those extra hours add up over time, so another calendar day becomes necessary. But a leap year doesn’t occur every four years. Adding that extra day still doesn’t quite keep Earth on track, so the calendar skips leap years that occur during century years not divisible by 400. For example, 2000 was a leap year, but 2100 won’t be. WHO The odds of being born on Feb. 29 are 1 in 1,461.That means that of the roughly seven billion people in the world, only about five million of them are “leaplings.”The number of leaplings currently living in the U.S. is roughly 187,000. Some famous leaplings include
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