Take a look at our April newsletter!
THE
BRUSH - UP
ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255 | 513-438-8152 | WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM | APRIL 2023
We Can’t Experience Life Without Taking Risks Don’t Let Fear, Doubt, or ‘What Ifs’ Stop You
I’m what you might call a calculated risk-taker. Growing up, I never felt afraid to take chances, and that mentality has followed me into adulthood.
Everything we do in life requires us to take chances — there’s no way around it. Whether you want to move into another home, buy a car, change life paths or career routes, or try a new hobby, you will face risks, roadblocks, detours, and lessons along the way. But that’s what makes it special and fulfilling. Reaching your destination and looking back at everything you’ve overcome makes the chances you took much more rewarding. I understand how intimidating it can be to try new things since the unknown is full of “what ifs.” Some people have a big fear of failure, but once we realize mistakes are a part of life, it’s not as scary or life-altering. This is wisdom I try to impart to my children too, giving them the opportunity to make lots of mistakes and talk about what they learned instead of focusing on the mistake. I’ve taken dozens of big risks throughout my life. While many resulted in accomplishments, others didn’t quite go as planned — but that’s okay! With every risk, I’ve learned lessons that help me improve as a person and in my skills, and all that learning helps me as I keep trying and take more chances. I’ve also been able to help others with the experiences I’ve gained, whether good or “bad.” I don’t believe we need to know perfectly well what we’re doing or all of the potential outcomes. If we fail or make a mistake, we learn and grow and improve. If we allow fear and “what ifs” to prohibit us from taking chances, we will miss out on incredible opportunities.
clinical books to make sure I was prepared to venture out on my own. I knew it would be challenging, but I felt ready and willing to rise to the occasion. I went to my professor after that class and told him my plans. He told me there was no way I had the speed or know-how to be successful, and strongly discouraged me from trying. He flat-out told me I would fail. For me, hearing him say that simply became fuel to help me succeed. And now, this July, I will celebrate my 10-year anniversary of owning Anderson Dental Care. I won’t deny that it was difficult, a steep learning curve, and that at times I questioned my decision, but I persevered with the help of my family, staff and patients. All of the world’s greatest inventions were made because people took risks. If they quit every time someone doubted them or failed, we wouldn’t have the lightbulb, TV, railroads, and all the inventions and advancements we have today. So, never be afraid to take risks — even when others doubt you. We all have to be beginners when starting something new, and when we believe in ourselves and support others, the chances taken will lead to eventual success and lots of learning along the way.
If I were too afraid to take risks, leave my comfort zone, and venture into something new, I wouldn’t have Anderson Dental Care.
During my final year of dental school, we got our first and only dental business class. The dean of students was our professor, and he was very open about the fact that he’d had a couple of failed dental practices. I remember the day he told me that my idea of having an office straight out of dental school would fail. The dean told us that we should work for another dentist at their office for at least 5–10 years before attempting to own our own practice. He felt it was necessary for a variety of reasons, and I understood and respected his advice. However, I had already decided to take a big chance. I was already on the path of buying my own practice straight out of school. I had financing for it (which took asking nine different banks to get a “yes”). I had a broker who’d helped me find a great practice in Cincinnati being sold by a retiring doctor. And I had read tons of dental business, insurance and
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Pregnancy Can Affect Your Oral Health Continue Seeing Your Dentist During pregnancy, your OB will provide information about caring for yourself and your baby, but they might rarely mention your oral health. It’s important to keep this in mind since pregnant women experience dramatic increases in hormonal levels that can affect them in more ways than they might realize.
WHEN POLLEN STRIKES NIPPING SPRING ALLERGIES IN THE BUD Spring has arrived! However, rebirth and renewal aren’t the only things in the air. During spring, trees, weeds, plants, and grasses release small grains of pollen into the air to fertilize other plants. Because the pollen is small and light, it travels through the wind and frequently causes allergic reactions. Symptoms of seasonal allergies include congestion, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, an itchy throat, watering eyes, and irritation in the roof of your mouth. If you’re prone to experiencing allergies all spring long, here are some useful tips to keep them at bay. REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE. During spring months, keep the windows in your home and car closed. On particularly windy or dry days, avoid spending time outdoors, and do not hang your clean laundry outside to dry. After you have been outdoors, remove your clothing and wash your hair and skin to remove any traces of pollen. Do not cut the grass, pull weeds, or do any gardening. REMOVE POLLEN FROM INDOOR AIR. It’s inevitable that pollen will get inside your home and vehicle. To combat this, utilize your air conditioning or invest in a certified allergy air filter! A dehumidifier and/or an air purifier will help to lower the pollen spore count in the air. RINSE OUT YOUR SINUSES. When pollen overwhelms your sinus passages, one of the best things to do is to rinse out your airways. A sinus flush with a saline solution is one of the easiest and most effective ways to eliminate the pollen that irritates your respiratory system. TAKE OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS. After checking with your doctor or health care provider, choose an over- the-counter medication that is right for your symptoms. Medications like oral antihistamines, oral decongestants, and corticosteroid nasal sprays are all beneficial in reducing the effects of seasonal allergies.
Here are a few of the conditions to look out for during pregnancy.
Pregnancy Gingivitis With increased hormone levels, your body can grow bacteria that causes gingivitis. Your immune system will also work differently while pregnant — meaning it can change how your body reacts to the bacteria. Inflamed or Bleeding Gums Pregnancy will cause inflammation throughout the entire body — including your mouth. You’ll notice your gums are more tender and bleed easier when you brush your teeth. While your first thought may be to brush less, you actually should brush and floss more! Hormones While Breastfeeding Pregnancy-related hormones stay in your body for four months after you finish breastfeeding. During this time, it’s vital to pay attention to your oral health and how these hormones affect your teeth. HOW DO YOU CARE FOR MORNING SICKNESS FROM AN ORAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE? Many women experience vomiting and nausea while pregnant. Vomit is highly acidic and can destroy your tooth enamel. So, what can you do to protect your teeth? Brushing After Rinsing If you brush too soon, you can increase the damage to your enamel. Instead, rinse your mouth with water to neutralize the acid before brushing. Chewing Sugarless Gum Gum with xylitol can help increase saliva to balance the acidic environment in your mouth. So, after rinsing with water, it may be beneficial to chew on a piece of gum for at least 20 minutes before brushing. Changing Toothpaste If you’re experiencing nausea, you may have food and smell aversions. Changing your toothpaste flavor with a scent that’s easier to stomach may improve your situation. Children’s fluoride toothpaste is a great option! We understand being pregnant and caring for an infant is tiresome, but please make your oral health a priority during this time. Continue to brush and floss twice a day, use mouth rinse, and visit your dentist for checkups. Please call us today if you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment. We would love to congratulate you in person and ensure your oral health remains in the best condition possible.
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INTERNET SAFETY 101 Technology surrounds us now more than ever. There are always new apps in the app store, new games, and countless social media posts. Today, we also see children spending more time on the internet. But using these platforms comes with risks and responsibility — is your child ready to navigate them? TALK TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT ONLINE DANGERS. Before giving your child permission to use the internet or buying them a smartphone, they must understand the different types of online dangers. There are many harmful things on the internet your children do not need to see. Talk to them about phishing, piracy, obscenity, online predators, cyberbullying, revealing personal information, and how people may not be who they say they are. SET STANDARDS AND BOUNDARIES FOR INTERNET/PHONE USE. What sites are they allowed to get on? Which social media programs are they allowed to visit? Is there any information you would want them to keep private? How long or often can they be on the internet? Don’t wait until something terrible happens to begin implementing online safety rules. Make guidelines proactively for your children to follow so they know what is expected of them. Are Your Kids Ready to Go Online?
ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO TALK TO YOU. Unfortunately, around 60% of kids claim they hardly talk to their parents about what they’re experiencing online. Therefore, your children must know they can come to you instead of hiding their concerns. Remember that your child may fear you’ll be angry with them if something questionable happens, so keep an open mind and understand your child’s situation. This will encourage them to come to you more often if a problem occurs. By implementing an open line of communication, informing them about the dangers of the internet, and setting boundaries, your child will have all the tools they need to safely use the internet and social media. Be aware of what they are doing and check their phones periodically. However, if you would like more resources on how to teach your child about internet safety, you can find tons of information online!
Tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOWS
Inspired by DinnerAtTheZoo.com
INGREDIENTS
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8 oz spinach leaves
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1/2 tsp salt
WHICH ANIMALS EAT POISON IVY? While contact with poison ivy can cause rashes, swollen skin, and severe itching for humans, some animals eat the plant as a food source. White-tailed deer, muskrats, and eastern cottontail rabbits eat the leaves and stems. Crows, bluebirds, and turkeys eat the fruit, and some insects will chew on the leaves. DO SHARKS HAVE TONGUES? A shark’s tongue is called a “basihyal.” It’s small, thick cartilage at the bottom of their mouths. The basihyal is useless for most sharks, though there are some exceptions, such as the cookiecutter shark, which uses its tongue to capture and consume prey. WHAT MAMMAL HAS THE MOST TEETH? The giant armadillo has as many as 100 teeth — the land mammal with the most teeth. However, the spinner dolphin is an ocean mammal with as many as 252 teeth. DO PURPLE CARROTS EXIST? Originally, purple carrots were ordinary. However, yellow and white carrots appeared in the wild. During the 17th century, Dutch carrot growers cultivated yellow and white carrots to create orange ones, though purple carrots still grow in central Asia!
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
3/4 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts
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1 tsp minced garlic
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Sliced bread, crackers, or tortilla chips for serving
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a small baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a medium pan, steam or sauté spinach until wilted. When spinach cools, ring out excess water, then chop coarsely. 3. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. 4. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. 5. Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is
bubbly. Turn the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2–3 minutes so the cheese will begin to brown.
6. Immediately serve with bread, crackers, or tortilla chips.
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ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.
513-438-8152 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
Release Your Inner Risk-Taker
Combating Spring Allergies
Oral Health & Pregnancy: What to Expect
3
It’s Time to Stream!
Your Monthly Need-to-Knows
Tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip
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3 of History’s Greatest Pranks
3 APRIL FOOLS’ PRANKS THROUGHOUT HISTORY THE SIMPLE TOOTH
Today, we know April Fools’ Day as an opportunity to play silly and fun pranks and jokes on those around us. But did you know that throughout history, many leaders and influencers have played pranks on each other and the public? Here are three of our pranks from April Fools’ past. 1749: A MAN TRAPPED IN A BOTTLE A London newspaper advertised that a man would squeeze his entire body inside a wine bottle and perform many tricks during an upcoming event. The ad mentioned anyone could visit and handle the item while the gentleman was in the bottle. However, the ad was a prank between the Duke of Portland and the Earl of Chesterfield. The duke mentioned that he could advertise something
inhumanly impossible, and people would believe it. And the duke was right! Every seat in the house was filled, but the man never came out to perform his impossible trick. The trick caused the crowd to riot and demand refunds, but the theater — and the receipts — went up in flames after a candle was thrown on stage. 1959: CACARECO THE RHINO FOR COUNCIL Students in São Paulo, Brazil, were at their wit’s end with their city’s overflowing sewers and inflated prices. To protest against the city, students launched a campaign to elect a rhinoceros as a city council member. Cacareco was a 4-year-old rhino who was very popular in the city — many people knew her from the São Paulo zoo. As people started counting the votes, Cacareco won a city council seat with 100,000 votes. Sadly, Cacarceo
didn’t serve her city because the election board disqualified her, but her campaign remains one of the most famous protests in Brazilian history.
1989: UFO SPOTTED IN LONDON
Billionaire Richard Branson has a love for April Fools’ Day. In 1989, he decided to prank the city of London by flying in a hot-air balloon that looked like a flying saucer. Many residents spotted the supposed UFO as it landed in a nearby field. Police went to investigate and were shocked when they found the flying saucer and a silver alien walking out the door. Little did they know that it was Richard Branson and his friend, Don Cameron, pranking the entire city!
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