WANT TO SEE BETTER REPORT CARDS IN 2018?
Every parent wants to see their child do well in school, and there’s one fun activity that benefits students of all ages: reading. In a world with so much stimulation, however, it can be difficult to motivate kids to put down a screen and pick up a book. New Year’s resolutions are the perfect opportunity to make reading a priority. Here are a few tips to make 2018 the year your kids become bookworms. Make It a Family Resolution There’s no better motivator than solidarity! Plus, we’re guessing everyone in your household could stand to read a little more. You don’t have to read the same books or set identical goals, but it’s a lot more fun when everyone participates. Schedule weekly reading discussions so everyone can share the cool stories they’ve read. Stack your completed books in your house somewhere as a monument to all the knowledge your family has gained. Set Reward Milestones Positive reinforcement will propel your kids to keep reading long after the calendars have turned. For a certain number of books completed or hours spent reading, offer them a
prize. You can even create a big end goal to really cement those reading habits. Better yet, set a combined goal that the entire family can work toward. Don’t be afraid to pull out all the stops. If your kids know that reading one book per week through June means an extra-special summer vacation, their enthusiasm won’t wane come spring. Use Reading Apps Goodreads is a social network for bibliophiles. You can find recommendations, share ratings, and create lists of both completed and to-be-read books. Users also create reading lists based on topic, genre, decade, and more. With over 2 billion books added, you’ll never run out of inspiration. Biblionasium offers the same services, but it’s designed specifically for children. Talk to other parents and create a network of friends and classmates. After all, nothing is cooler to a kid than what their friends are doing. Avid readers tend to do better academically from kindergarten through college. In fact, a study from the Journal of Education and Practice found that reading comprehension predicted success in other subjects more than any other factor. If you want to see improved report cards, make a reading resolution for your entire household.
A Word From
Kalie and Caryn
Is Dry Mouth a Problem? Yes!
What’s so bad about dry mouth? It’s true that this condition, which is a common side effect of certain medications
but fighting dry mouth while dehydrated is an uphill battle. CPAP users experiencing dry mouth should make sure they’re using the machine correctly. It helps to have a humidifier in the room while you use the machine and to ensure that your mask is fitting properly. In addition, all people experiencing dry mouth may benefit from certain rinses to help combat the condition. We’d be happy to help you find the right one at your next dental checkup. Realistically, the most important step in fighting dry mouth is being aware of the problem and getting checkups more regularly to ensure everything in your mouth is clean and plaque-free.While we usually recommend twice-a-year dental checkups, patients with chronic dry mouth should plan on visiting more frequently.That way, we can keep a close eye on your dental health. Dry mouth questions or concerns? Don’t hesitate to ask during your next visit or call our offices. We’re here to help! –Kalie and Caryn
or the use of a CPAP machine, may not sound scary. But it can have real effects on your health — especially your dental health — if left unaddressed. Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands don’t produce the proper amount of saliva.The result is, as the name suggests, a dry mouth. As we mentioned, this is usually the result of medication or CPAP use. It’s not comfortable, but the effects of dry mouth go well beyond discomfort. Saliva is essential to keeping the environment in the mouth unfriendly to tooth decay by neutralizing the acids produced by those bad bacteria. Without enough saliva, you could be looking at increased plaque buildup, as well as being at higher risk for cavities and gum disease. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent dry mouth.The first step is making sure you’re drinking enough water. Dry mouth is, literally, dehydration in the mouth. Water is not going to fix everything,
2 | Elkins Dental
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