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ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255 | 513-438-8152 | WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM | NOVEMBER 2021
How the Military Changed My Family Forever THE ORIGINS OF OUR 9TH ANNUAL FREE DENTAL DAY FOR VETERANS
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Some doors in life are never opened until something unexpected happens. For my grandfather, that “unexpected event” was joining the military during the Korean War, and the “door” it opened was a 30-year career in academia.
opportunities that opened to him because of his education and service in the military. After that, he went to Harvard for his master’s in biology and taught at Purdue University for over 30 years. He was the very first college student of his family, but he never would have known he was so smart until he joined the military. After that, all four of his children went on to receive college educations, and two of them became teachers themselves. The military changed our family history forever, which is why, every single year, I reserve Veterans Day to offer free dental cleanings and discounted dental treatment to our veterans. Just like my grandfather needed the right opportunity and resources to realize his true intelligence, sometimes our veterans need the right opportunity and resources to realize how important their oral health is to their overall health. Many veterans are hesitant toward visiting a dentist, often because while they were in the military, dental care wasn’t a high priority, and years of neglect leads to embarrassment, worry about what treatment will be needed, and anxiety about visiting a dentist for the first time again. The cost of treatment is also a concern for many veterans. Offering our Free Dental Day for Veterans gives us an opportunity to show them at no cost that going to the dentist doesn’t have to be terrible or painful, and allows us to provide them with much needed services in gratitude for their service. If you’re a veteran or currently serve in the military, thank you so much for your service. Thank you also to the families of those who have served and are serving. Your sacrifices are a gift to us all and will have an impact for generations.
My family, in many ways, is indebted to the way the military changed his life and ours.
My grandpa worked for a typewriter repair company after high school. The story goes that one of the companies they repaired typewriters for was the veterans office in Utah. They discovered through their repairs that there was going to be a draft. Rather than be drafted, my grandfather decided to join the military immediately so he’d at least get to choose which branch to join. After choosing the Air Force, he took some aptitude tests in order to tell how high his IQ was and what types of positions he’d best fit. He didn’t receive the results right away and went on with basic training without thinking too much about it.
When he received the results, he learned he had an extraordinarily high IQ. Instead of being put on the front lines, he became a Russian
translator and was sent to Nome, Alaska, the closest town to Russia on U.S. soil. His job was to intercept and translate Russian internal communication lines. After his service, my grandfather always talked about his great love for country and the military — no doubt in large part due to the
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Yes, Oral pH Matters 3 EASY STEPS TO MINIMIZE TOOTH DAMAGE FROM DRINKS
When you consume acidic foods and drinks, your oral pH is tipped, creating an imbalance that immediately starts to wear away the enamel on your teeth. If that protective layer wears away, it leaves your teeth vulnerable to plaque and bacteria, which cause decay, sensitivity, and discoloring.
When does that decay start? Here’s what you need to know.
WHAT IS THE PH SCALE, AND WHEN DOES IT GET OUT OF BALANCE? The pH scale is a measure of the acidity of a given substance. It ranges from 0–14, with 0 being the most acidic and 14 the most basic (or alkaline). A substance with 7 pH is a “neutral” substance that is neither acidic nor basic. For example, water has a pH of 7. Think of the human mouth as a watery ecosystem that, like the rest of the body, requires a balanced pH that is ever so slightly alkaline. Your saliva sits around a pH of 7.6. Decay
The holidays are right around the corner, and while many people can’t wait to eat turkey and swap presents, others only see stress on the horizon. Especially for those hosting parties, between decorations, big dinners, excited kids, and visiting family, it can all feel overwhelming. If celebrations are happening at your house this year, here are three tips to lessen the strain and keep up the holiday cheer. RECHARGE FIRST Ensure you’re rested and recharged before the holidays by taking time to relax, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that make you feel good. When you’re rushing to get everything done, it can be tempting to skip self-care routines, but that will cost you in the long run. Your daily exercise and other health activities keep you balanced and ready to face challenges head-on. GET STARTED EARLY Holidays always arrive faster than we expect, so begin preparing early. If shopping for presents is a pain point, don’t wait until the last minute. Decorate earlier than you need to — or better yet, get the kids to do it for you. There’s only so much cooking you can do ahead of time, but ensuring you have all of the equipment and nonperishable ingredients you need a few weeks in advance will reduce both your workload and anxiety. DON’T EXPECT PERFECTION The sooner you let go of the idea of a “perfect” holiday, the sooner you’ll be able to have a happy one. Face it: Something will go wrong. Whether it’s an overcooked dish, a child throwing a temper tantrum, or your uncle talking politics at the dinner table, nothing will ever go just how you planned. So, embrace the imperfections. Whether you’re celebrating this year with a group of two or 20, holidays can be a stressful time — but they don’t have to be. With these tips, your festivities may not be picture-perfect, but they will be a lot of fun. HAVE A LOW-STRESS HOLIDAY 3 TIPS FOR A MERRIER TIME
begins when the pH level in your mouth drops below 5.5. Common drinks like coffee and orange juice both have acidic pH levels.
Have you ever noticed that when you take a while to sip on a soda (pH 2–3) or wine (pH 4), it feels like there are socks on your teeth, or they feel fuzzy? That’s because the pH in your mouth has become acidic and is causing demineralization of your enamel.
PRACTICE 3 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR ORAL PH BALANCED. First, don’t nurse your drinks or snacks. Keeping a soda or snack at your desk to graze on or taking all morning to finish a coffee creates a long- term acidic environment in your mouth without giving your saliva a chance to rebalance it. If that doesn’t work for you, second, try keeping a glass of water to drink alongside your drink or snack, alternating between your acidic drink/snack and water to rebalance faster.
Third, use a straw! Keeping acid away from your teeth altogether whenever possible is an excellent option.
Bonus: Make sure you do NOT brush your teeth immediately after an acidic drink like soda. Because your enamel is demineralizing, as previously mentioned, it’ll be easier to damage it with your toothbrush. Wait at least 30 minutes before brushing! We hope our tips help you and your teeth stay healthy!
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The Link Between Oral Health and Digestion HEALTHY DIGESTION STARTS WHERE?
Did you know that the health of your mouth is directly linked to other parts of your body? Regular dental visits are paramount to ensure your digestive health as well as your overall health! A healthier mouth promotes a healthier body. Proper digestion plays a major role in your overall health. Your gut is linked to your immune system, metabolism, and even your brain. Your mouth, which shares a close bond with your gut, may be the easiest way to detect a problem elsewhere in your body, especially digestive issues and diseases. Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, all present in the mouth in the form of an oral infestation. You may even develop white lesions within your mouth, similar to the ones within the colon. Bleeding gums or gingivitis is a sign that somewhere within your digestive system, there is a problem. If you have painful lesions or red patches on your gums and inside of your cheeks, they could point to a potential vitamin B12 deficiency. Lack of B12, or an inability to properly absorb the vitamin, can potentially mean bigger problems in another area of your body. Tooth decay also weakens your immune system.
Dental issues and diseases are often the very first signs of a digestive imbalance. If you have an immune imbalance within your gut, it can present with mouth ulcers and inflamed, red gums. Celiac disease, an autoimmune response
to gluten, can interfere with tooth formation, resulting in discolored teeth and possibly mouth ulcers.
To maximize your gut health, you must first take a look within your mouth, as it can be the window to many other potential issues going on elsewhere in your body. A healthy, happy mouth equals a healthy, happy gut!
Baked Cornbread and Chorizo Stuffing
WHO RELEASED THE FIRST ROCK N’ ROLL SONG EVER? Most people believe that it’s 1951’s single “Rocket 88,” written by Ike Turner, sung by Jackie Brenston, and recorded by Sam Phillips, who later went on to found Sun records and discover Elvis Presley. HOW MUCH WATER DOES A FIRE TRUCK HOLD? The typical truck holds 400 to 500 gallons of water, which is only enough to put out a “trash-bin fire” (or a taxi cab fire). A real structure fire requires at least one supply line from the hydrant, which is why keeping fire hydrant parking zones clear is so important! WHAT IS A PANGRAM? A pangram is a sentence that uses every letter of the alphabet, which is very useful for testing your new keyboard or text fonts! Here’s an easy one to remember that you’ve probably seen before: The quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog. YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOW
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
Spicy, savory, and sweet, this unique stuffing will level up your Thanksgiving table.
INGREDIENTS •
1 lb Mexican chorizo 1 white onion, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 1 celery rib, chopped 3 garlic cloves, chopped
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2 cups premade cornbread, crumbled
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1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tbsp unsalted butter, for greasing
Cilantro, for garnish
Cotija cheese, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat your oven to 350 F. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chorizo for 5 minutes. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook for 10 additional minutes. Stir in the cornbread and cilantro.
3. While stirring, slowly add the chicken stock. Stir until absorbed. 4. Butter a small casserole dish, then add the stuffing in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes, garnish as desired, and serve!
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513-438-8152 WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM
ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255
The Link Between Oral Health and Digestion INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 Baked Cornbread and Chorizo Stuffing November’s Need-to-Know Local Events in November Lowering Holiday Stress How to Keep Your Mouth pH Balanced Why I Started a Free Dental Day for Veterans
WHAT’S GOING ON, CINCINNATI? FIND WONDER IN NOVEMBER
Looking for a little something different this holiday season? Life is often best enjoyed with a little unique humor, mystery, and wonder — here’s how you can get each in our city’s upcoming local events. JIM GAFFIGAN — THE FUN TOUR Nov. 20, 7 p.m. Heritage Bank Center, 100 Broadway, Cincinnati HeritageBankCenter.com/event/2021/11/jim-gaffigan-the-fun-tour Comedian Jim Gaffigan’s unusually quiet, laid-back comedic style has become legendary. You may recognize him from his hilarious bits on Hot Pockets and his recent performance in the Disney movie “Luca.” He’s also a six-time Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, writer, and producer. Watch a master of his craft live this November! THE DINNER DETECTIVE Nov. 13, 6–9 p.m. Embassy Suites Rivercenter, 10 E. Rivercenter Blvd., Covington TheDinnerDetective.com
Let’s face it — if you’re going to do a mystery murder dinner, you’ll want to do it with some of the best. Now, you can! This group is America’s largest interactive comedy murder mystery dinner theatre show, and it’s playing near you and your family. Solve a hilarious mystery while you feast on a wonderful meal! You may even become a prime suspect yourself.
‘WICKED’ Nov. 17–Dec. 5 Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati Cincinnati.Broadway.com
Before Dorothy dropped into the Land of Oz, there was a girl with emerald-green skin who was smart, fiery, incredibly talented, and terribly misunderstood. She makes an unlikely friendship with a bubbly blonde — until the world deems one of them “good” and the other “wicked.” This wildly inventive story and music will capture your imagination and send you to soaring heights you’ll never forget!
Take a close friend or family member and enjoy yourself before the stressful holidays come! We hope you enjoy checking these out!
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