Check out our Winter newsletter!
WINTER 2022/2023
1109 S. Park Drive, Reidsville, NC 27320
www.caringmoderndentistry.com
(336) 342-0889
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Embracing the Magic of the Holidays THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
Throughout this time of year, we practice gratitude, reflect on our many blessings, and enjoy and embrace quality time spent with those who matter the most to us. It’s a season of love, happiness, and bliss. Here at Caring Modern Dentistry, we are grateful for another year spent serving the best patients. Without you, we couldn’t do what we love most! We are thankful for the happiness, love, and health of our families and friends, and we look forward to a new year that is full of good fortune, wellness, and of course, clean and healthy smiles. This holiday season, spreading cheer and embracing the spirit of the holidays is important. To embrace the magic of the season, here are some ways to be extra festive and giving this year. It’s fulfilling to give to those who are less fortunate. First and foremost, it’s important to recognize that there are some children and families that may be struggling to make ends meet and to enjoy a festive Christmas. By participating in food drives, donating food, giving to toy drives, or participating in other charitable events, you will make a difference in the lives and holidays of others. It’s entertaining to gather and watch your favorite holiday movies. “Elf,” “The Grinch,” “The Santa Clause,” “Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and “A Christmas Story” are all iconic, festive, and fun Christmas movies to get you in the holiday spirit. Gather together on the couch with your loved ones and a cup of hot cocoa and relish in the fuzzy feelings that Christmas brings. It can be fun to reminisce about past holiday seasons. Look back and get nostalgic about treasured memories with those who are no longer with us, or remember fun vacations and other family memories. If you have them, get out photo
albums or watch old family videos! It’s the best time of year to remember all of the great times with our family, friends, and loved ones and to plan and look ahead to new goals and aspirations! Why not try making new memories? Whether you start up a new tradition or embrace all the same activities that keep Christmas and the holidays alive in your home, be sure to take some photos so you can enjoy them in the future. This time of year is perfect for decorating, playing family games, cooking big meals, going caroling, and celebrating with the people we love. This is a great opportunity to bake some treats. The holidays just aren’t complete without some yummy cookies or delicious treats. Baking together with friends and loved ones is a simple and fun way to enjoy the season — not to mention, children love baking cookies for Santa. Try making a gingerbread house, or you can even organize a cookie exchange! Spend time outdoors to have some fun. Even though it’s a bit cold and frosty outdoors, it can still be magical out there. It’s nice to look at all the beautiful decorations and lights or to just take some time to play in the snow. After all, the holidays only roll around once each year. This holiday season, I hope each of you will have a magical time spent making beautiful memories with the people you love the most. From my family to you and yours, we’d like to wish you a merry Christmas, a wonderful holiday season, and a happy New Year.
-Dr. Adams
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As regularly as Rudolph does, the Grinch appears on our television screens every December. Despite his negative attitude and nefarious intentions, the protagonist of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” remains a family favorite more than 50 years after the animated TV special first aired. The Grinch’s transformation into a cultural icon began with a 1957 children’s book. Author Dr. Seuss had recently experienced great success with “The Cat in the Hat” and was a hot commodity. He published “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” later that same year, and the black-and-white book was an instant smash. The story might have ended there if Dr. Seuss had his way. Dr. Seuss was protective of his creations and didn’t trust them in anyone else’s hands, but his filmmaker friend, Chuck Jones, eventually persuaded him to reconsider. Still, the story required some changes. Jones assigned the Grinch his signature green color, and the Grinch’s dog, Max, was given a more prominent role to increase the special’s runtime. But the songs were the most important of all. The TV special contains nine total musical numbers, the most famous featuring lyrics only Dr. Seuss could have written. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” is a hilariously clever song Behind the Timeless Christmas Tale HOW THE GRINCH STOLE OUR HEARTS
and a highlight of the program. The filmmakers also secured a big win in the voice talents of horror movie legend Boris Karloff, who provided an alternatingly sneering and tender tone to the production. Thanks to its full animation technique featuring 25,000 drawings, Variety says “The Grinch” may have been the most expensive television special made until that time. Later, Hollywood upped the ante with a live-action adaptation in 2000 and an animated full-length film in 2018. Both movies were box office successes, but neither has overtaken the 26-minute TV special as our favorite way to enjoy the Grinch. Why does the Grinch endure? Dr. Seuss based the character on himself, so it may be that there’s a little bit of the Grinch in all of us. Unlike that other well-known holiday- hater Ebenezer Scrooge, he gives those who aren’t full of Christmas cheer a favorable mascot. The Grinch’s wild schemes and comical complaints are more fun than menacing, and his story produces a reliably happy ending. As its greatest gift, an annual viewing can leave even the most hardened Grinch feeling as if their own heart has grown a size or two.
OUR PATIENTS SAY IT BEST!
“Caring Modern Dentistry was recommended by a family member. I was indeed curious on how my first visit would go. First of all, everyone was extremely polite. The doctor and his associate were indeed quite professional. They made me feel like family. I will make a second appointment.” –BERNICE M. “Staff is very friendly. Katie took more time than allotted to make sure I was satisfied prior to leaving. The team there is incredible and support each other well. Thank you!” –EDEN C.
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Treat Your Gums Right Screening for Periodontal Disease
follow. To reduce your risk of gum disease, we recommend brushing twice a day for at least two minutes, flossing once a day, and attending all of your dental exams and professional cleanings.
While periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, is treatable, it can never be fully cured. Here at Caring Modern Dentistry, we offer periodontics treatment to our patients affected by gum disease. Periodontics is an effective way to prevent, diagnose, and treat all forms of gum disease. To treat gum disease, we recommend deep cleaning your gums or scaling and root planing in office with our hygiene team to remove tartar buildups and calculus and treat infected tissue. After your periodontics treatment, you’ll be scheduled for regular appointments for deep cleanings, and we’ll monitor your oral health to ensure the gum disease is not progressing. For more information and to set up a consultation and screening, contact us today!
Signs of periodontal disease include:
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Sensitive teeth
Red, swollen gums
Bleeding gums after eating or brushing
Periodontal disease is an inflammation and infection of the gum tissue, and stages range from early onset (gingivitis) all the way through periodontitis, which can destroy the bone in your jaw that supports your teeth. When plaque and tartar build up on your teeth and gums for an extended time, periodontal disease is likely to
Chronic bad breath
Pain or difficulty chewing
Receding gums
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Tooth loss
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 47% of adults 30 years and older suffer from some form of periodontal (gum) disease. As age increases, about 70% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease.
Have a Laugh!
NO-BAKE PEANUT BUTTER SNOWBALLS
This year-round treat is the perfect dessert for any holiday party. Since you don’t need to worry about a hot oven, it’s a great recipe to make with the whole family — including the little ones!
Inspired by TheFoodieAffair.com
Ingredients
• 1 cup powdered sugar • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 tbsp softened butter • 1 lb white chocolate candy coating
1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper. 2. In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, peanut butter, and softened butter. Mix until evenly combined. 3. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on the lined cookie sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until firm. 4. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate candy coating in increments of 30 seconds, stirring occasionally until smooth. 5. In the same bowl, use skewers to dip peanut butter balls into the chocolate before placing them on a lined cookie sheet so they can harden. 6. Chill until ready and then serve! Directions
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Providing quality dental care for you and your family
1109 S. Park Drive Reidsville, NC 27320
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.caringmoderndentistry.com
(336) 342-0889
This Issue
1. 2.
The Magic of the Holiday Season
You’re a Mainstay, Mr. Grinch Our Patients Say It Best
3.
Gum Disease Is More Common Than You Think No-Bake Peanut Butter Snowballs
4.
These Bugs Love Takeout Containers
These ‘Superworms’ Could Save Our Planet
Meet the Bugs With a Taste for Plastic
Hundreds of years after you die and decompose, the Styrofoam
anything from animals to apples. But in captivity, researchers have found another food they love: Styrofoam. “Superworms are like mini recycling plants, shredding the polystyrene with their mouths and then feeding it to the bacteria in their gut,” Dr. Chris Rinke, the leader of the superworm experiment at the University of Queensland, told Science Daily. “The breakdown products from this reaction can then be used by other microbes to create high-value compounds such as bioplastics.” Not only did the worms in the Queensland study eat the Styrofoam, but they actually gained weight from a healthy diet of takeout containers. Their ability to digest plastic is likely
thanks to the gut bacteria Dr. Rinke mentioned. If we can grow and control these bacteria, we may be able to set it loose in landfills and turn our trash into something more useful. Superworms haven’t saved us yet — in fact, we usually use the 2-inch brown bugs as food for pet lizards and birds — but it’s about time we put their true potential to work. Fortunately, scientists like Dr. Rinke are on the case.
takeout containers you used for last night’s Thai food will still linger in the landfill. Scientists estimate it takes thousands of years for Styrofoam (aka polystyrene) to break down when buried under other trash. Even in direct sunlight, the process takes decades! This is a huge pollution problem — but a tiny bug may be able to solve it. On the other side of the globe, at the University of Queensland in Australia, researchers are keeping a tank full of pets that may save us all from our plastic waste: Zophobas morio, aka the “giant mealworm” or “superworm.”
“Our team is very excited to push the science to make it happen,” he said.
To see the superworms in action, head to YouTube.com and search “superworm plastic.”
In the wild, superworms are scavengers that will munch on
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