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November 2017
706-453-1333 www.LakeOconeeDental.com
A SEASON OF THANKS Remembering to ExpressGratitudeTh sHolid ySeason
turkey and the traditional mashed potatoes, cooked vegetables, and pumpkin pie, but my favorite was always the turkey and stuffing. The only time my family ate cranberries was at Thanksgiving, and for the longest time I didn’t realize cranberries were an actual berry — I just thought they came in the form of jelly in a can! Today, Thanksgiving is still about family. Usually, David, the kids, and I celebrate with David’s parents. We eat plenty of turkey and stuffing, and we have leftovers for a few days after. One of our favorite family traditions is setting up the Christmas decorations, which we typically begin after Thanksgiving lunch (before the tryptophan
When I was growing up, we always celebrated Thanksgiving with my dad’s side of the family. I have many fond memories of sharing that day with my aunt, cousins, and grandparents, all gathered around our large dining room table. My family always prepared a huge
kicks in!). It’s a fun family time, although it’s typically David and I who finish the decorating after our kids inevitably lose interest! This is the time of year when we all take a little extra time to count our blessings and tell the people in our lives how much they mean to us. As Americans, we have so much to be thankful for — and we owe a huge debt to those who have fought and
“… the best way to show others how much they mean to you is through their own love language.”
sacrificed for the freedom we enjoy every day. That’s why we are proud to be hosting Stars, Stripes & Smiles, a free day of dentistry for veterans and active military on November 10. On that day, our team will be providing servicemen and servicewomen with their choice of a free cleaning, filling, or extraction. Dr. David Miller, an oral surgeon and owner of Lake Oconee Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center, will also be donating his time, along with his team, in order to help as many people as possible that day. The event is our way of expressing our thanks to the men and women who have given so much. If you are interested in receiving treatment, be sure to call the office at 706-453-1333 for an appointment time.
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Lake Oconee Dentistry | Personalized & Comfortable | 1
valuable Thanksgiving lesson. Bring that concept to life with a gratitude mobile. Grab some colored paper circles — or cut them out — and have your children write down things that they are thankful for. A silver Sharpie is great for this. Punch holes in the tops of the circles and run string through them. Tie the other end of the string to a coat hanger or embroidery hoop and hang it from the ceiling. STUFF THE TURKEY GAME Want to get the kids outside so you can get to work in the kitchen? Create a Thanksgiving-themed game for them to play outside while you prep the stuffing and put the turkey in the oven. To create a holiday-themed “Stuff the Turkey” game, all you need is a few paper bags. We’ll bet you have some left over from shopping. Use two small bags stuffed with scrap paper to create legs and glue them to a larger bag folded to look like the body of a turkey. Now that you have your turkey, you need some balls to stuff it with. Anything soft and baseball-sized will work, even some balled-up paper. Kids will take turns trying to toss the balls into the turkey, scoring points for every shot made. UNLIKELY HURRICANE HERO When Harvey struck, dogs, cats, and people went into survival mode. For Otis, that meant gathering resources. The morning after the storm, a woman snapped a picture of a damp Otis trotting down the street. In his mouth, he toted an entire bag of dog food, and not a small one. The woman posted the picture to Facebook. “This dog is walking around Sinton, Texas, carrying a [sic] entire bag of dog food with him. LOL #refugee,” the caption read. The image resonated with people and quickly went viral, being shared over 50,000 times. The people of the Lone Star State have long prided themselves on their pluck and resilience. “Must be a Texas dog cause [sic] he can survive without help,” one commenter wrote online. Another site called him “the hero Texas needed.” Otis’ canine resilience was both humorous and inspirational. The most powerful images in a crisis aren’t of Air Force One or of celebrities donating millions. They’re of ordinary people — and pets — striving, surviving, and making their way back home, just like Otis.
Unless you have a child auditioning for “MasterChef Junior,” you’re probably not going to let the little ones cook the turkey this Thanksgiving. Just because the kitchen might be off limits, though, doesn’t mean you can’t find a few creative ways to make the holiday extra special for your kids. Spice up Thanksgiving with these fun, family-friendly activities. COLORING-BOOK TABLECLOTHS If you have a big family, you are probably familiar with the Thanksgiving tradition of the kids’ table. It may be smaller than the grown-ups' seating arrangement, but it doesn’t have to be any less special. Turn your kids’ table into a canvas for a colorful, creative dining experience. To do this, use craft or art paper to cover the table. Tape everything down tightly and provide crayons and colored pencils for every place setting. If you want to add some extra holiday spirit, put the drawing supplies in empty cranberry sauce and pumpkin cans. GRATITUDE MOBILES Of course, Thanksgiving isn’t just about delicious food. It’s also about reflecting on the parts of our lives we are grateful for. Teaching kids about gratitude is the most In late August, the nation was put to the test after Hurricane Harvey struck Texas, displacing millions from their homes and taking dozens of lives. Activists, charitable organizations, and ordinary people sprang into action to provide needed relief. Journalists, professional and otherwise, brought back stories and images of the destruction and aftermath. Among those stories was one dog who went viral for exemplifying that resilient Texas spirit. Otis, a German shepherd mix, belongs to a 5-year-old boy in Sinton, Texas, just north of Corpus Christi. He’s cherished by his owner, but if you talk to other residents, you could say he belongs to the whole town. “He’s a special dog,” said Salvador Segovia, the grandfather of Otis’ owner. “He’s been instrumental in helping my grandson following numerous hospital visits for seizures and asthma.” Apparently Otis has a free pass other dogs in Sinton don’t have. He can saunter down to the Dairy Queen and score a free hamburger. Salvador says he’s also the only dog allowed to lie down in front of the county court house and refers to him as “a local celebrity.” He has an affable personality and a quiet demeanor. But, as the hurricane proved, Otis also has a fighting spirit.
3 FAMILY ACTIVITIES FORTHANKSGIVING
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THIS BAD ADVICE WILL RUIN YOUR TEETH
or freshens breath. In fact, alcohol in mouthwash has been known to cause dry mouth, which can make your breath smell worse and lead to more germs. Studies from BioMed Research International found alcohol-free mouthwash may have a better effect on the gloss, color, and hardness of your teeth. Bad Advice: Don’t brush bleeding gums; give them time to heal. Bleeding gums are often a symptom of gum disease or a warning that gum disease is on the horizon. When plaque is allowed to build, it hardens into tartar. This calcified material irritates your gums and can potentially wear them down. The only way to remove the damaging plaque buildup is to brush your gums regularly. Not brushing due to bleeding will only lead to further problems. However, it’s important to determine the cause of bleeding, as it may also have something to do with your toothbrush or diet. If your gums are bleeding regularly, let your dentist know. When we give advice, we certainly mean well, but the best of intentions don’t make up for bad results. Let’s stick to what we know and leave the dental advice to the experts. ROASTED PARMESAN Pesto Potatoes It only takes 3 ingredients to make these crispy, flavorful potatoes. They’re the perfect side dish for any meal.
Most people like to be helpful. If someone is having a hard time, we’ll happily offer some advice. However, even the most well-intended advice can have damaging consequences. When it comes to our teeth, there is a lot of misinformation going around. Here are some common bits of “wisdom” you can ignore. Bad Advice: Use activated charcoal to whiten your teeth. Activated charcoal, which is not the same as the bricks in your barbecue, is the latest beauty craze, thanks to its ability to absorb chemicals and toxins. Walk down the health and beauty aisle, and you’ll find charcoal in soap, face masks, shampoo, moisturizer, and deodorant. However, before you use charcoal to whiten your teeth, remember most stains are beneath the surface, where the charcoal can’t reach. Furthermore, scrubbing the gritty, abrasive substance across your teeth is likely to erode your enamel and damage your gums, leading to more dental problems. Bad Advice: The best kind of mouthwash has alcohol. If your mouthwash burns, it likely contains alcohol. Some insist the burning means the mouthwash is working, but alcohol isn’t necessary for mouthwash to be effective. Alcohol just stabilizes the formula. It isn’t what kills germs
COVER CONTINUED
Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Ingredients • 2 pounds red potatoes, quartered • 2 tablespoons basil pesto
• Salt and pepper, to taste • 3 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
We all have so much for which to be grateful. I am thankful for the country I live in and the freedom I enjoy, as well as my family, friends, and the fantastic team we have at Lake Oconee Dentistry. And I’m thankful for you, our patient! The confidence and loyalty you continue to place in our team is the highest compliment we receive. Best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving! –Dr. Patti
2. In large bowl, combine potatoes and pesto. Toss to coat. Transfer potatoes to large baking sheet or shallow roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Roast 20 minutes and remove from oven. 3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese evenly over potatoes and put pan back in the oven. Roast for additional 10–15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and crispy. Remove from oven and serve warm.
Recipe courtesy of TwoPeasAndTheirPod.com.
Lake Oconee Dentistry | Personalized & Comfortable | 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1011 Parkside Main | Greensboro, GA 30642 If you have any questions, call us at 706-453-1333 www.LakeOconeeDental.com
Hours
Monday Tuesday
8am-5pm 7am-5pm 8am-5pm 8am-5pm 8am-5pm
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Sat & Sun Closed We’re located at 1011 Parkside Main between the Publix parking lot and movie theater.
Can Tall Tales Destroy Your Teeth? page 3 Roasted Parmesan Pesto Potatoes page 3 Iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons page 4
A Season of Thanks page 1 A Very Good Boy page 2 3 Family Activities for Thanksgiving page 2
ICONIC Macy’sThanksgivingDayParadeBallo ns
however, that when Macy’s brought him back in 2016 for the parade’s 90th anniversary, they recreated his original design. Without Felix's debut, the parade might look a lot different today. SNOOPY When it comes to balloon characters, none is more famous than the classic “Peanuts” beagle. His first balloon floated through the sky in 1968, and he’s been a regular fixture ever since. Charles Schultz’s famous pooch holds the record for most variations in a parade (eight) and most total appearances (40). Though Snoopy doesn’t come out every year, he usually closes the show when he does. PIKACHU The Pokémon mascot didn’t appear until 2001, but he’s become a star attraction, showing up every year since. Bright, expressive, and impossible to miss, Pikachu checks off all the boxes for a successful balloon character. For 16 years, those who predicted that Pokémon was just a fad have gotten a big, yellow reminder of just how wrong they were.
Thanksgiving is a holiday full of traditions, from turkey and stuffing to football and naps. Since 1924, the Macy’s Parade has grown to become not only a Thanksgiving staple but also the world’s largest parade. Over 3.5 million people attended the parade last year, with another 20 million tuning in from home. The main attraction is always the massive character balloons, which first graced the skies in 1927. Over the decades, some of these balloons have become nearly as famous as the character they depict.
FELIX THE CAT When the Felix the Cat balloon appeared in 1931, it set the standard for all characters to follow. Sadly, the original balloon got tangled in wires and caught on fire, so it has been lost to history. Felix’s influence on the parade is so immense,
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