Check out our June newsletter!
JUNE 2023
FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE
ELKINSDENTAL.COM
GREAT DADS May We Become Them, And May We Raise Them
Just the other day, my wife, Beth, and I received an unexpected text from our 18-year-old son that left us both a tad shocked. The text thanked us for being great parents! While it was a genuine and kindhearted gesture, it was out of the blue and a bit out of character for our teenaged son. As it turned out, he had been talking with his friend, whose parents were not us, and our son had finally reached the age when he realized that Beth and I were not out to get him. He now understands that our main motive isn’t just to ground him all the time or be hard on him. He genuinely wanted to show his appreciation and have his gratitude be heard. It’s nice when a child reaches this age and they begin to understand. Because I was so humbled by this text from my son, I had to share it with someone, and in chatting about it with a friend, he said something that really resonated with me,“Good parents create good parents.”
“You’re right,”I said back — and I meant it. Everything I am today when it comes to being a father, I learned from my dad. In all of my years growing up, my dad was preparing me for the day I’d become a father. The best part is that he did it without even trying. When I was younger, my dad always told all of us kids that he loved us. However, beyond just telling us, he showed us. He knew how to joke with us, tease us, and play with us. He gave us his full attention and always made sure we felt important. He was also a teaser and enjoyed keeping us on his toes. One thing that I’ll never forget is that whenever I or my siblings rode in the front passenger seat of the car, we needed to stay aware of our surroundings. While driving, my dad had a habit of catching us off guard by randomly swinging his right arm and slapping us gently in the chest — just enough to give us a little unexpected fright while we were sitting there, minding our own business. This always gave him (and us) a good laugh together. All six of my kids are my pride and joy. The best decision I made in life was becoming a dad, hands down, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My 18-year-old son who just recently thanked Beth and me is in the process of making plans to move out on his own and begin living his own life — exactly like we raised him to do. While we will miss having him around the house, we are excited for the life he’s laid out in front of him and for when he becomes a dad himself. He’s sure to enjoy life just as much as I’m enjoying my “dad life”today!
Happy Father’s Day!
–Dr. Elkins
Hanging out with my parents and brother at the lake
ElkinsDental.com | 1
I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WANT TO EAT! Meal Planning Can Help With Indecisiveness
Have you ever had those days when you don’t want to cook? What about times when you’ve had a long day at work, and the last thing on your mind is dinner? Pulling out your pots, cutting boards, and food can be stressful when you’re mentally and physically weary. Is there anything you can do to make this part of your life easier? Meal planning and prepping takes the stress out of cooking! What are some benefits of meal planning? • Know the answer to“What’s for dinner?”: There’s nothing more frustrating than opening your pantry, looking at the food, and not knowing what to eat. It can be draining to decide what to cook each night. But meal planning helps you determine your dishes in advance, so you never need to wonder what you and your family will eat that night. And best of all, you only need to cook at least once a week. • Keep more money in your pocket: Sometimes, when you are unsure of what you want to eat, your first option may be to order takeout. While this is a quick and easy way to get dinner, it can create a huge hole in your wallet — especially if you eat out more
than once a week or feed a family.You will no longer need to make nightly food runs when you meal plan!You can buy your food in bulk, prepare a few nights’worth of meals, and save tons of money. What hinders people from meal planning? Making meals too complicated is the main reason why meal planning doesn’t work for some people. When starting out, it’s best to create easy and basic foods. Once you begin meal planning, you will discover more simplistic ways to make intricate dishes. Another reason people avoid meal prep is the amount of time spent in the kitchen. However, you will save yourself time each day, so you can continue doing what you want throughout the week and less time ordering takeout or quickly throwing a menu together. Go online to find meal prep guides and a multitude of recipe options. We can’t wait to hear about your meal-prepping experience during your next visit!
A Word From Cheyenne & Ashlee
Seal Out Tooth Decay
Brushing and flossing are the most efficient ways to maintain
optimal oral health and prevent cavities and tooth decay. However, reaching every nook and cranny of your mouth and teeth can be difficult, especially when it comes to your molars. These teeth in the back of your mouth are often uneven, tough to get to, and out of sight. But don’t worry! There’s a way to ensure you keep those teeth healthy and clean. Sealants, a thin protective coating, are adhered to the chewing surfaces of your teeth and work to prevent acid and bacteria from wreaking havoc on them when food particles, plaque, and tartar get left behind. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sealants have been proven to reduce your risk of tooth decay by up to 80% for the first two years after they are applied and by up to 50% for the first four years after application. While patients of all ages can benefit from the protective benefits of sealants, we always advise our patients that earlier is always better than later. Children typically have their first set of molars come in around the age of 6, and the second set arrives when they are 12 years old. It’s best to seal these teeth as soon as they come in. This
way, they are cavity-free from the beginning — it's a great way to save time and money. Sealants can be placed over some areas of early decay to prevent further damage too! Sealants are a quick and painless procedure that can be done right here in the office. For more information, chat with us today! We are here to keep your teeth clean and healthy for years to come.
–Cheyenne & Ashlee Registered Dental Hygienists
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CHERRY CHIA GREEK YOGURT BOWLS Inspired by HungryHobby.net
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 Chia Seed Jam • 2 cups Chelan fresh sweet cherries, pitted • 3 tbsp chia seeds • 2 tbsp honey • 1/4 cup water
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! Greek Yogurt Bowl • 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract • 1 tsp hemp seeds • 1 tbsp granola
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?”
Chia Seed Jam We suggest making the chia seed jam in advance and storing it in the refrigerator so you can quickly assemble these yogurt bowls all week. 1. Using a potato masher, mash down the cherries. Place a small pot on high heat and add the cherries, chia seeds, honey, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Allow jam to cool before using or refrigerate. Greek Yogurt Bowls 2. In a small serving bowl, mix the Greek yogurt with vanilla extract. Top the Greek yogurt with 2 tbsp cherry chia seed jam, hemp seeds, granola, and a few additional Chelan fresh sweet cherries, if desired.
JOKES DAD
While most puns make me feel numb, math puns make me feel numbers.
I once wrote a song about a tortilla, but it's more of a wrap.
Facts Tooth Fun
DID YOU KNOW?
Candy, ice cream, and cake — oh my! Sugar is so good that it’s addicting for many people. However, when we consume something sweet, the sugar in sodas and candy reacts with the bacteria that are present in our mouths. When this reaction happens, an acid is formed that can cause decay and cavities to form. To keep your teeth healthy and happy, rinse your mouth with water after eating a sugary snack or drinking soda or juice to remove any byproducts of this reaction and be sure to brush your teeth the recommended two times a day for two minutes each time! Sugar Can Wreak Havoc On Your Smile
Inside A Shark’s Mouth
Did you know that sharks lose a tooth a week (give or take) — and it’s not because they don’t visit the dentist! Losing teeth is natural for sharks and these ocean predators, unlike humans, are born with teeth, but they aren’t attached to their gums by a tooth root. If you were to poke your head inside of a shark’s mouth, you’d see teeth lined up like a conveyor belt and it runs like one too. The smaller teeth in the back of the shark’s mouth eventually move up to the front and replace the larger ones that fall out.
Sharks have anywhere between 5 and 15 rows of chompers!
ElkinsDental.com | 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. A Day for Dads 2. Tired of Wondering ‘What’s for Dinner?’
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
3. Cherry Chia
4.
Fasting Is the Most Lasting Diet Fad
Greek Yogurt Bowls
1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617
Tooth Facts
A Word From Cheyenne and Ashlee
Did You Know?
Happy Father's Day From Elkins Dental!
208-369-4532 · ElkinsDental.com
THE INTERMITTENT FASTING PHENOMENON Separating Hype From Health Benefits
There always seems to be a new dieting fad every couple of months, but one that has stayed around longer than expected is intermittent fasting. Many of us couldn’t imagine fasting for days on end, but intermittent fasting provides the benefits of fasting without asking us to wait days between meals. Intermittent fasting is a term used to describe eating patterns with differing amounts of fasting. There are three main types. The first and most common type is time- restricted eating, and it’s one of the easiest intermittent fasting diets to stick to daily. Time-restricted fasting has users decide on an eating window lasting between four and 12 hours. If it isn’t during your eating window, you’re actively fasting. The next is the 5:2 diet, which calls for two full days of fasting each week, with a regular eating schedule for the other five days. Finally, there’s alternate-day fasting, in which users alternate between fasting one day and eating normally the next. Regardless of which type of intermittent fasting you attempt, you’ll likely notice many benefits within the first few months. Studies have shown that it can improve your cholesterol levels and help you maintain proper blood sugar levels. Many studies have shown that those who practice intermittent fasting have no problem shedding weight and also keeping it off. Many users report losing 3%–7% of their body weight within eight
weeks of fasting. Studies even found intermittent fasting can lower the risk of breast cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and other serious conditions. Does this all sound too good to be true? That’s because it likely is. The Journal of the American Medical Association looked at 108 studies conducted on the alleged health benefits of intermittent fasting and found that only six were supported by solid evidence. That doesn’t mean the health benefits don’t exist; we just need more research before saying intermittent fasting is as beneficial for our health as its users claim it to be.
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