Elkins Dental - February 2020

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

2 | Elkins Dental

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