Take a look at our May 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 | MAY 2023
Birthdays Are a Big Deal! TRADITIONS WE’VE CREATED WITH OUR CHILDREN
Every year, a certain day comes around that is solely meant to celebrate you — your birthday! My family loves celebrating birthdays. We enjoy making our loved ones feel special and letting them know how fortunate we are to have them in our lives. In fact, this month we’re officially deep in “birthday season” for the Brooks family where we have at least one birthday every month from April to August (with another birthday not far behind in October). In honor of this, I wanted to share the traditions we do every year to make each lap around the sun feel special and meaningful. We make it a priority to do something special on the actual birthday, even if there might be a weekend party or something else happening on a different day. The celebration starts the night before with a pre-birthday interview. We ask what they learned this past year, what they’re looking forward to, and other self-reflection questions. Jessica and I aim to compile all the videos and play the interviews for them when they turn 18. That way, they can see how much they’ve grown by the time they reach adulthood. The kids now love to interview us before our birthdays too. Then, we usually try to decorate part of the house that night, so when the birthday girl or boy wakes up, they feel special right from the start! The birthday kid gets to choose what’s for dinner on their birthday and request any birthday cake they can dream up. It can be anything they want, and sometimes we wonder how they came up with their idea and how we’re going to pull it off! Jessica is usually the cake mastermind, and I provide input on how to execute the ideas. But we’re not professionals, so it’s always interesting to see how our baking skills match up to our children’s ideas — we are pretty good if I do say so myself! While the kids’ requests started out as things like “pink with sprinkles,” they quickly became more elaborate. Over the years, we’ve created a ladybug, horse, butterfly, goldfish, palm tree, Daniel Tiger, Blue Yoshi, a Belle dress, a flower made out of cupcakes, and more!
But I would say the most creative cake thus far was for one son who asked for “a blue triangle cake with wings and fire that will fly to me!” Huh?! We had to get creative. Making the cake seemed simple — we cut a rectangular cake into triangles and stacked them. We also discovered that the “fire” he requested was lit candles. But how were we supposed to make this cake have wings and fly? Putting our heads together with Jessica’s sister who is a professional baker, we created paper wings attached to toothpicks. We stuck the toothpicks into the sides of the cake so the wings stood out. To make the cake “fly,” we attached strings to the tip of each wing and tied the strings together underneath the cake plate. When we carried the “fire-topped” cake to him, we pulled the string so the wings were flapping. I wish you could have seen the look on my son’s face when we “flew” his cake over to him — he thought it was the coolest thing ever.
On each child’s birthday, we also look through baby and childhood pictures, talk about their birth, and share things we love about them.
Birthdays are a big deal in our house especially because we have a large family. It’s one day that we make sure is all about that child! We prioritize them and let them know how special they are. They play such an important role in our lives — and that should always be celebrated! To everyone who has an upcoming birthday, I hope you’ll feel special on your day and get to do things that are important to you. If you have any birthday traditions you and your family do, I would love to hear about them!
Until next month,
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PRESERVE YOUR SMILE WITH PROPER AFTERCARE 3 TIPS ON CARING FOR YOUR NIGHT GUARD Night guards can be a valuable tool to help protect your teeth from the harsh effects of grinding and clenching your teeth. Your night guard can last you for years — if you care for them correctly. Here are three tips you can use when it comes to cleaning and caring for your night guard. 1. CLEAN YOUR NIGHT GUARD DAILY. You want to use warm water, a gentle and unscented dish or hand soap, and a toothbrush. Please be sure you don’t use the toothbrush you use to brush your teeth. Gently brush your night guard to remove any calcium and saliva that built up while you were asleep. If calcium build-up remains in your night guard for hours, it can have a foul smell and affect how it fits in your mouth. After cleaning your night guard, place it on a clean towel or paper towel and allow it to dry completely before putting it back in its case. 2. ALWAYS STORE YOUR NIGHT GUARD IN A CASE. Night guards are small and clear, making them very easy to lose or misplace. But if you have a case, not only is it easier to spot, but it also keeps it clean between uses. Bathrooms are full of splatters — shaving cream, face wash, makeup, and toothpaste — none of those are things you want on the night guard before you put it in your mouth for 8 hours. Storing your night guard in a case also protects it from pets and kids. You wouldn’t believe the number of times we really do hear “my dog ate my night guard!”
The Best Way to Celebrate Mystery Month
HOST A MURDER MYSTERY DINNER!
Did you know May is Mystery Month? There are dozens of ways to celebrate this enigmatic occasion, from playing Clue to rewatching “Glass Onion” — but why not bring those experiences to life and host your own murder mystery dinner at home? Thanks to a plethora of kits on the market, doing so is easier than ever! WHAT IS A MURDER MYSTERY DINNER? A murder mystery dinner is essentially a real-life game of Clue. You invite friends over for dinner and turn your home into the set of “Knives Out” — without the blood, of course. Each of your friends takes on the persona of a character in the story, and when one of them is “murdered,” you compete to uncover who dunnit. STEP 1: PICK YOUR KIT. Planning a murder mystery dinner from scratch would take the ingenuity of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Luckily, you have several ready-made mysteries to choose from! You can find boxes from Masters of Mystery and My Mystery Party at your local board game store, but you can find many options available online, too. Night of Mystery ( NightOfMystery. com ), for example, sells both in-person and virtual kits with themes ranging from ‘80s prom to Christmas homicide. If your friends and family don’t like the idea of acting and dressing up, that’s okay — you can still solve a mystery over dinner! Look into kits available through Unsolved Case Files ( UnsolvedCaseFiles.com ) or Hunt A Killer ( Shop.HuntAKiller.com ), which involve collaborative mystery-solving without the character work. STEP 2: CURATE YOUR GUEST LIST. Most murder mystery dinners require at least four people, while some include characters for six, eight, or more! Check the number of players on your kit and invite your most creative, analytical, theatrical, and mystery-loving friends. STEP 3: DECORATE AND PLAN THE MENU. If you choose a themed murder mystery, level up your event with a matching menu and decor! For games taking place in England, whip up a shepherd’s pie and make a cardboard cutout of Big Ben. For Havana Nights, plan a build-your-own Cubano bar and throw on an Afro-Cuban playlist. You can be as over-the-top as you like. Remember, it’s Mystery Month!
3. BRING YOUR NIGHT GUARD WITH YOU TO THE DENTIST! Many people don’t know that your dentist can clean your night guard during your visit! We can help remove any tough calcium build- up and adjust your night guard if your teeth shift or if you have a procedure that changes the shape and fit of your mouth. If you’re experiencing pain while wearing your night guard, we can help identify the problem and develop solutions to
help improve your experience.
So, the next time you visit your friends at Anderson Dental Care, don’t forget to bring your night guard! If you or someone you know has any questions or concerns about night guards or if you need assistance in properly caring for them, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We will do anything to ensure you keep your bright, healthy, and beautiful smile!
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Tips on How to Introduce a Pet to Children Adding a Furry Friend to the Family
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOWS ARE COCOA BEANS A LEGUME OR A FRUIT? Because the word “bean” is in cocoa bean, many people would assume it’s a legume. However, they are technically seeds from a fruit tree known as the Theobroma cacao tree. WHY IS JAPAN CALLED “THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN?” If you look at Japan from a continental point of view, you will notice that the country sits in the direction of the sunrise. Because of this, citizens of Japan began to call their country Nihon or Nippon , meaning “source of the sun.” When you translate the terms to English, it means “land of the rising sun.” WHEN WAS THE FIRST HIGHWAY BUILT IN THE US? On June 29, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act. In August of that same year, Missouri was the first state to receive a new interstate construction funding contract. DO ANTS HAVE LUNGS? No, these tiny insects do not have lungs. Instead, they have tiny holes all around their body, which is how oxygen enters and carbon dioxide exits the body. Owning a pet can be fun and exciting for the entire family. However, introducing animals to children can be stressful, and when your children meet your new pet, you want to start things on the right foot (and paw!). So, how do you go about doing this? EDUCATING CHILDREN ON PET CARE Before bringing your four-legged family member home, it’s best to sit down with your kids and teach them how to treat and care for a pet. They should pet their new friend politely and make sure the animal is comfortable. Teach them what a cat or dog looks like when they’re happy, scared, or annoyed. Next, establish boundaries on what is and isn’t okay for your pet to eat and how to play with and care for them. You can also take this time to discuss the potential risks of owning a pet and what could happen if your child improperly handles them. Don’t forget to talk about dog or cat bites, scratching, and other behaviors. PREPARING THE INTRODUCTION When it’s finally time to bring your new family member home, inform your children about how nervous your new pet might be. They will be in a new environment with people they don’t know — so you want them to be as comfortable as possible.
First, allow your new pet to venture around the home and check things out. Once they’re acquainted with their surroundings, it’s time for them to meet the kids.
If you have multiple kids, have each child meet your new pet one at a time.
You also want two guardians involved during the introduction — one can keep an eye on the
furry friend, and the other can help the children. It’s also best to keep your new pet on a leash or harness if you need to separate them from anyone.
REMEMBERING THE ACRONYM ‘PAWS’ Teach your children to pause before approaching the animal. Have them ask if they can pet or play with the new four-legged friend. After your child waits for permission, have them gently offer a hand for your pet to sniff to see if they want to interact. If you need further guidance on introducing a new pet to your family or want to know how to train your furry friend, contact your local veterinarian for additional information.
Ginger Pork Stir-Fry
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
1 tbsp cornstarch 1 cup orange juice 2 tbsp soy sauce
• • • • • •
2 tbsp canola oil
1 small onion, sliced 1/4 lb fresh snow peas
2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 sweet red pepper, julienned
Cooked rice
1 lb pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips
Green onion, chopped (optional) Sesame seeds (optional)
•
DIRECTIONS
1. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch, orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until smooth; set aside. 2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir-fry pork in oil until lightly browned, about 4–5 minutes. Remove pork and add onion, peas, and red pepper. Cook until crisp-tender, about 3–5 minutes. 3. Stir in orange juice mixture and pork. Bring to a boil, and then cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve over rice. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds, if desired.
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 2
It’s Birthday Season!
Host an Unforgettable Murder Mystery Dinner
We Can Clean Your Night Guard for You!
3
3 Strategies to Help Introduce Children to New Pets
Your Monthly Need-to-Knows
Ginger Pork Stir-Fry
4
Don’t Wait! These Exhibits Won’t Be Here for Long!
WHAT’S GOING ON, CINCINNATI? LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN MAY
THE ART OF FASHION March 28–Aug. 20 Behringer-Crawford Museum 1600 Montague Road
If you’re looking for fun and interactive events that you and your family can enjoy this month and throughout the summer, look no further! There are dozens of attractions that will leave you and your loved ones in awe. Here are a few of our favorite events!
BRICKTIONARY: THE ULTIMATE LEGO A–Z March 18–June 5 Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal 1301 Western Ave. CincyMuseum.org/Bricktionary Have you ever noticed the LEGO kits you can purchase to create botanical gardens, your favorite movie characters, bird feeders, miniature houses, and other artwork? You may have already completed a few of them! But did you know you can go to an event and build massive LEGO airplanes, planets, famous artwork, and more? Bricktionary’s Ultimate LEGO experience allows you to do just that! You can release your creativity as you team up with amateur and professional LEGO builders and assemble builds beyond your wildest dreams.
BUTTERFLIES OF THE MEADOW March 25–June 18 Krohn Conservatory 1501 Eden Park Drive Krohn.TicketSpice.com/Butterfly-Show-2023- Butterflies-Of-The-Meadow Have you ever wanted to get up close to a butterfly and view them as they race through the sky? At Krohn Conservatory, you can watch dozens of butterflies soar from flower to flower
BCMuseum.org/2-Uncategorised/426- Opening-Reception-March-11-2023
When most people hear about fashion, they think of clothes and how style has evolved throughout the years. But fashion is so much more than that — it helps describe the history and societal changes America has gone through since its formation. It can tell you a lot about the culture and beliefs people had at the time and provide a deeper understanding of how world events can affect others. The Art of Fashion exhibit will feature advertisements
and graze past a waterfall. You’ll have a chance to view butterflies in their natural habitat and learn more about
of rare illustrations of clothing and accessories in local newspapers from
how the Krohn Conservatory protects the butterflies’ habitat and how you can help keep these beautiful creatures safe and healthy.
1945–1965. You’ll learn more about the designers and how their lives and experiences inspired their clothing — and all of us!
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