Take a look at our December 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 | DECEMBER 2023
THE SWEETNESS OF CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS (AND COOKIES) We Wish You Warmth, Cheer, and Plenty of Cookies!
I’ve never been the biggest fan of sweet treats. No, not because I’m a dentist. It’s always just been a preference. However, one exception exists: baked goods. I would give up all the candy, chocolates, and ice cream in the world for freshly baked goodies. I do pretty well at moderating my sugar intake, but that gets more challenging around the holidays! Dec. 4 is National Cookie Day, and it makes sense it takes place in December. With all the endless festivities and baking, cookies are at arm’s reach nearly every day, and I can’t say I’m too mad about it. Fortunately for me, my sister- in-law is a baker, and she loves baking from- scratch gingerbread to make entirely edible houses. This is something she’s done every year, and we love to get our families together and build/snack on these gingerbread houses with one another.
At my home, my wife Jessica will put a large batch of cookies together to make cookie plates that we take with us when we go Christmas caroling with our kids. It’s a tradition we’ve done for a long time now, and it means a lot to the whole family. We are always intentional about who we carol for. Who do we know that is going through a rough patch and needs Christmas cheer and cookies? It’s incredible to do something so simple yet caring for those in our community, and I couldn’t be happier that my kids love this tradition just as much as I do. As for what kind of cookies we have every holiday season, it certainly varies. If I had it my way, we’d eat pumpkin chocolate chip cookies all year round! These are hands down my favorite type of cookies, and we try to bake them every Christmas. Whether you use fresh
pumpkin or canned, it will taste delicious no matter what. We often make a massive batch of these cookies so there are enough to eat, share, and leave out for Santa! With six kids, all two years apart, ranging from ages 1 to 11, Santa Claus is still part of our holiday traditions. We love having our kids get pictures with him each year, and it’s been a new fun experience to have our oldest child become part of the Santa’s helpers club and show her the magic of giving without receiving and without getting credit. Surprisingly, one of my favorite Christmas traditions has nothing to do with cookies or Santa. I absolutely love the toy train we have in our family that we add a new car to every year. As the train gets longer every Christmas, putting the tracks out can be a bit finicky with those tiny hooks, but it’s worth it. Jessica and I first bought the train engine the year we got married and have been adding a train car to it every year since. Each car represents a different era or time in our family’s lives. We have a log car for when we renovated our home, a medical car for when the pandemic began, and plenty more that illustrate the year we had. Whatever your traditions are, I hope you have a warm and happy holiday season with those you cherish most. For those of you who’d like the recipe for our pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, let me know!
Happy holidays from my family to yours!
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SHARE THE JOY OF ORAL HYGIENE
5 MUST-HAVE TECH GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS 2023 As Christmas shopping gets increasingly hectic, knowing what to get for the tech lovers in your life can feel impossible. New devices and gadgets hit the market daily, and following tech trends might not be part of your daily routine. Fortunately, 2023 has brought some standout innovations anyone would love to unwrap on Christmas Day. NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES Considered a modern staple, noise-canceling headphones are the perfect gift for a special someone who needs a break from the chaos and a way to focus. You can find a variety of headphones in different price ranges, so staying within your budget is easier. However, if you want to splurge, Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 are an excellent choice with crystal clear sound and over 20 hours of battery life. SMART ALARM Give the gift of a good night’s rest and a peaceful morning! Smart alarms have been a popular gadget this year, with features like white noise sound, artificial sunrises, Bluetooth speakers, and gentle morning wake-up calls. For a sleek design, try the Loftie Clock with its all-black look. For a faux sunrise to fill the room, go for Philips HF3670/60 SmartSleep. SELF-CLEANING WATER BOTTLE These days, everyone is carrying around their oversized water bottles. Let your tech-lover be ahead of the curve with a self-cleaning water bottle! These innovative bottles use UV-C LED technology to sanitize the water and the inside of the bottle regularly. The LARQ Bottle PureVis is a popular choice as it also can keep beverages cold for 24 hours. UV PHONE SANITIZER Did you know your smartphone is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat? This year, grab a UV phone sanitizer for yourself and your loved ones that can remove 99.99% of bacteria. The PhoneSoap Pro can clean your phone and other small items with its sleek design.
THOUGHTFUL DENTAL GIFTS FOR A BRIGHTER SMILE
Often, people don’t put space in their budget to buy themselves new dental care items. It can be
easy to put oral care, even the essentials, on the back burner when life is hectic. This season, you can give the gift of good dental hygiene to those around you, especially if they want to improve their dental health.
With plenty of flashy dental products on the market, it’s crucial to choose a dentist-approved gift, and that’s why we’re here!
MAKE FLOSSING FUN (AND TASTY). Our team knows most people don’t love flossing, but there are options to make the chore more fun! We love recommending Cocofloss, a dental floss brand filled with delicious flavors. You’ll undoubtedly be flossing more than usual when your floss tastes like fresh strawberries, confetti cake, chocolate, or passion fruit. Another option for the little ones is GumChucks, flossers built like nun chucks! These are a fun option for kids needing some excitement for their flossing routine. GumChucks are also helpful for adults as they allow you to reach further than before. Finally, who doesn’t want a water flosser? During the holidays, there are plenty of deals on Waterpik machines and cordless water flossers, so you can give a gift that will last. SAVE ON A SMART ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH. Smart toothbrushes are all over the market right now, and for good reason. Many of these products connect to your smartphone, allowing users to know exactly how long they need to brush their teeth and keep track of their dental health. Kids 8+ will love the kid versions, too (Dr. Brooks speaks from experience)! Some of the best smart electric toothbrushes out there are: • Oral-B Genius 7000 Toothbrush • Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700 Electric Toothbrush • Quip Smart Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush • The hum by Colgate GIFT A BRIGHT, WHITE SMILE! Who doesn’t want a pearly white smile? Anyone will love the gift of a whitening kit or treatment. Our office has plenty of whitening kits to gift your loved ones looking for a whiter smile. With plenty of harsh whitening treatments out there, you need to be careful when selecting a whitening gift. You can stop by our office and find products you know are dentist- approved and safe for your loved ones! If you need more dental care gift recommendations, please ask our team next time you stop by! We’re more than happy to help curate a top-notch shopping list.
PET CAMERA WITH TREAT DISPENSER Do you know a tech lover who also dreads leaving their furry friend
home alone? A pet camera strapped with a nifty treat dispenser might be their
favorite gift of 2023! A small surveillance camera allows pet parents to keep an eye on their fur babies, and Petcube’s Bites 2 also lets them dispense a small treat to keep their pets happy.
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Be Sure to Follow These Steps!
Deck the Halls With Handmade Cards 3 EASY IDEAS YOU CAN MAKE WITH KIDS!
WASHI TAPE CARDS All you need for this card is a roll of washi tape with any design you wish. Simply cut strips of the washi tape, starting with a longer piece (about 2—3 inches), and place it horizontally across the card near the bottom. Then, build upward using gradually smaller pieces of tape to make a triangle — and that’s it! You’ve successfully created a washi tape tree! You can also draw a tree stump under the longest strip or a star on top. HANDPRINT CARDS This Christmas card variation is a favorite for kids to make and family members to receive. Have your child place their hand on the blank card stock and trace their hand with a pencil. Then, cut out the shape of their hand using scissors. Finally, with the cut-out hand facing down (fingers to the ground), have your child decorate it as if it were a tree, drawing ornaments, lights, candy canes, or other decorations. PIPE CLEANER CARDS For this card, you need green pipe cleaners and gold stars (like the ones you’d earn in school). Simply twist a pipe cleaner into a tree shape using a zig-zag pattern to form the widest branches at the bottom to the smallest boughs at the top. Glue the pipe cleaner to the card. Finish with a gold star as a tree topper!
Sending Christmas cards is a great way to tell people you’re thinking of them during the holiday season. However, like everything lately,
buying enough Christmas cards for your loved ones is expensive. Store- bought cards can also feel too stiff and formal for our friends and family.
That’s why you should consider making Christmas cards this holiday season! It is more cost- effective and a great way to give your cards a personal touch that lets friends and family know you care. The best part is that making holiday cards doesn’t have to be laborious or stressful — it’s quick, easy, and fun!
Don’t believe us? Check out these three easy Christmas cards you and your family can make at home. Each card idea is built upon plain white cards!
VEGAN PEANUT BUTTER AND CACAO RICE CRISPY TREATS
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOWS
ANDERSON DENTAL CARE HOLIDAY HOURS: Our office will be closed on December 25–26 and January 1.
INGREDIENTS
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1 cup brown rice syrup
LIGHT THE WORLD GIVING MACHINES: A fun and unique way to give this holiday season is by choosing a gift from a Light the World Giving Machine that will be stationed inside Kenwood Towne Center from December 14 to December 30. You can choose to give clean water, toys, meals, even goats to those in need. 100% of the donations go directly to local and global charities to change lives and spread light throughout the world. Volunteers will be available to help people use the machine and choose the charity they’d like to give to. For more info, visit Facebook.com/givingmachinetennesseeohio . LAST CHANCE TO USE YOUR 2023 DENTAL INSURANCE BENEFITS: If you have dental benefits remaining for 2023, remember most plans won’t let you roll them over to the new year. Give us a call to schedule an appointment for a cleaning or treatment to use your remaining benefits before they disappear. Our end-of-year appointments fill up fast!
1 cup natural peanut butter 5 cups rice crispy cereal
1/3 cup cacao nibs
DIRECTIONS
1. Line a 9x9-inch square pan with parchment paper or lightly grease with coconut oil. 2. In a large pot, warm the rice syrup and peanut butter over low heat. Be sure to stir frequently before removing from the heat. Stir in cereal and mix until almost combined. Add in cacao nibs and continue to mix until well combined. 3. Place mixture in the prepared pan and gently press until compacted and evenly distributed. 4. Place pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to harden or serve warm!
Inspired by TheGreenLoot.com
513-231-7755 • 3
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
Dr. Brooks Can’t Hold Back on National Cookie Day
2
Give the Gift of Innovation This Christmas
The Ultimate Dentist-Approved Gift Guide
3
From Your Heart to Theirs: Handcrafted Christmas Cards for Loved Ones
Your Monthly Need-to-Knows
Vegan Peanut Butter and Cacao Rice Crispy Treats
4
Experience Holiday Magic Here in Cincinnati
CINCINNATI’S TOP HOLIDAY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES A Festive Trio You Need to Experience With the Whole Family
Cincinnati has no shortage of holiday events this time of year, so grab the family, put on your coats, and head to these exciting Christmas celebrations and festivities!
PNC FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Nov. 17, 2023–Jan. 7, 2024 Cincinnati Zoo
KINGS ISLAND WINTERFEST Nov. 24–Dec. 31, 2023 Kings Island 6300 Kings Island Drive, Kings Island, OH 45034 VisitKingsIsland.com/events/winterfest Winterfest at Kings Island is truly an unforgettable experience for the whole family. The entire park is lit up like Main Street at Disneyland, and there are endless things to do and explore. The park turns into 11 different magical winter wonderlands and includes live entertainment, amusement rides, and ice skating! In 2021, Winterfest was even voted one of the best Theme Park Holiday Events in the country by USA TODAY. Be sure to visit before the festival ends!
DOWNTOWN UC HEALTH ICE RINK Nov. 4, 2023–Feb. 19, 2024 Fountain Square 520 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 MyFountainSquare.com/ice-rink
3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220 CincinnatiZoo.org/events/festival-of-lights
Witness over 4 million LED lights at the 41st PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo! You can visit the zoo during the day to look at all the different animals and wait for the light show to begin at 4 p.m. Along with the spectacular lights, you can also experience a black light puppet show, head to Fairyland, and watch a Wild Lights show on Swan Lake. Kids will be excited to know there are also s’mores to snack on!
If you want to ice skate with the whole family without a bulky price tag, head to Fountain Square this winter! The UC Health Ice Rink is an outdoor ice skating rink downtown that only costs $10 and includes admission and skate rental. You can also head to the WGU Ohio Warming Tent whenever you get too chilly or visit the full-service concessions tent for snacks, beverages, and more. Open for all ages, the UC Health Ice Rink downtown is one of our favorite holiday spots!
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