Check out our October newsletter!
OCTOBER 2021
SOMETHING to SMILE ABOUT
208-459-3388 MYFAIRVIEWDENTAL.COM
The Best National Parks I’ve Visited And Why You Should Visit Them, Too
When you think of the most beautiful, mesmerizing natural landscapes in the country, your thoughts probably go to one of our national parks -— and for good reason! National parks are wild areas that our country has decided are worth preserving for future generations. October is one of the best times of year to visit a national park, mostly because cooler temperatures mean fewer people wanting to get outside and explore. I experienced that firsthand when I visited Yellowstone last year in late September. Being my first time to visit in the fall, I felt a little surprised after noticing fewer people had come to the park. Since much of the park is accessible by two-lane roads, resulting in a lot of bumper-to-bumper traffic during the busy months, visiting in the off-season meant smooth driving through some of the most beautiful land in the country. I’ve been to Yellowstone probably once a year since I was very young. My grandpa even had a cabin close by in Island Park, Idaho (a short daytrip from there to the park). It’s probably the national park I’m most familiar with, and the one I would say is my favorite, if only because of that familiarity. However, I have visited other national parks that I think are more than worth the trip! If you’ve never made the trip down to Utah to see Zion, Bryce Canyon, or Canyonlands National Park, I would highly recommend visiting any one of those (or any of the other parks in Utah, for that matter). The rock formations are absolutely stunning and unlike anything else in the world. Though I’ve visited Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, that part of the country’s rolling hills and trees, while beautiful in their own way, just can’t compete with the grandeur of something like the red rocks of Zion. I will say, though, I’ve also had the chance to briefly visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and while I didn’t get to see any lava, the short hike we went on and the waterfalls we saw were enough to make it stick in my memories for a long time! Given my love of rocky mountains and landscape photography, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the top national park on my bucket list to visit is Glacier National Park in Montana. It’s not too far away, so I’m not sure why I haven’t visited. It might just be that I need the right trip or the right opportunity to stop by.
Sometimes, that’s the only way you can manage to visit some of America’s national parks and other wilderness areas — by stopping by on your way to somewhere else. When I was leaving dental school, we stopped over in South Dakota to see the Badlands and Mount Rushmore. I didn’t know if I would ever have another opportunity to see those places! I guess that’s kind of the point I want to get at. Even if you’re not explicitly planning on traveling to a national park, check and see if there’s one on the way to wherever you’re going so you can make a stop. You never know if you’ll get another chance! At the same time, it’s not just national parks that are worth visiting. If you don’t want to fight the crowds, many state parks, wilderness areas, and national forests can be just as spectacular as some national parks. Whether you’re traveling this month or at some other point this year or next, don’t forget to be adventurous. –Dr. Russell Powell
1
MYFAIRVIEWDENTAL.COM
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Artificial Intelligence and the Dental Industry HOW AI CAN BENEFIT DENTAL PATIENTS
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a computer program’s ability to mimic human learning and problem-solving abilities to analyze all sorts of different kinds of data. The applications of AI are seemingly endless, and in the past few years, AI has found its way to the dental office. While it might make you nervous that certain aspects of patient care are drawn (in part) from AI, don’t worry. Various developments of AI-augmented dental care will have great benefits for patients. Detecting Dental Decay, Periodontal Disease, and Even Oral Cancer One of the ways that AI most benefits dental patients is in how neural networks can be used to detect a variety of diseases and conditions better than a mere human eye ever could. While radiographs provide some objective information that can help dentists detect tooth decay, information discovered via tactile sensation (when your dentist looks in your mouth themselves) is much more subjective. AI can further refine this process by using CNNs (convolutional neural networks) to analyze thousands of different radiographs while also learning how to detect it more effectively. At the same time, AI can similarly be used to detect oral cancer early enough to prevent malignant growth from getting too far — or from starting at all. Neural networks can alert dentists to growths that are benign, malignant, or potentially malignant, with that last classification being particularly important for helping dentists act early to help their patients.
Streamlining Appointment Procedures AI can also help improve patients’ experiences by offering regular
appointments and checkups at their dental office. Natural language processing (NLP), which is the ability of a computer program to detect and act on voice- activated commands, can allow dentists to do certain parts of their routine hands free, which makes for a much more efficient process and gets patients in and out of the chair sooner.
As AI continues to develop, its applications to the dental world will assuredly grow, and your patient experience will improve.
5 Foods That Will Improve Your Dental Health AND HELP MAINTAIN A HEALTHY SMILE
a natural whitening agent for your enamel. Eating strawberries regularly can actually help you keep your teeth free of stains! Salmon This fish is packed with both vitamin D and calcium, which help keep your teeth strong and healthy. Vitamin D enables your body to more effectively absorb calcium, while calcium itself helps you maintain healthy teeth and gums.
The best “secret” to continued dental health is to do what your dentist recommends every time you have a checkup: Brush twice a day, floss regularly, and don’t eat too many sugary foods. However, if you want to give your dental health an extra edge without adding steps to your routine, you can actually improve your dental health while you eat. All you need to do is incorporate some of the following foods into your diet! Cheese Like many dairy products, cheese is full of calcium and phosphate, which strengthen teeth and bones. At the same time, it can balance the pH level in your mouth, neutralizing harmful acids and preventing cavities and tooth decay. Celery Though it doesn’t contain any nutrients that will specifically benefit your teeth, chewing celery can actually clean your teeth and massage your gums, all while helping your mouth produce more saliva that neutralizes bacteria. Strawberries While these tasty red berries are highly acidic, they’re still good for your teeth and gums because they contain malic acid,
Carrots You can get many of the same benefits of brushing your teeth from eating carrots — but that doesn’t mean you should eat carrots in place of brushing your teeth! Like celery, chewing carrots massages your gums. Plus, they’re rich in keratin, which fights plaque, and vitamin A, which strengthens tooth enamel.
By eating some of these foods (or all of them!), along with brushing and flossing regularly, you can ensure that your smile stays fresh and healthy for years to come!
2
208-459-3388
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Inspired by Tasty.co Oktoberfest Soft Pretzels
With October being National Diabetes Month, now is the perfect time to explore the connection between diabetes and your dental health. Yes, there is a connection. As is the case with your dental health and so many other health conditions, they overlap, meaning that you can maintain and improve your dental health in many ways by taking care of your diabetes and vice versa. How does diabetes relate to dental health? Before getting into how you can improve your diabetes by taking care of your teeth, let’s talk a little bit about how diabetes and dental health are connected in general. If you have diabetes, that means you’re more at risk for: Tooth Decay Diabetics have a harder time managing their blood sugar, and the higher your blood sugar levels, the higher the amount of sugars and starches in your mouth that could create plaque, which leads to cavities. Early and Advanced Gum Disease Diabetics’ bodies have a harder time fighting bacteria, which means that plaque and tartar can build up easier. This might lead to gingivitis (early gum disease) and later to periodontitis (advanced gum disease), which could lead to your teeth loosening and falling out if left untreated. Dry Mouth Some diabetics have a hard time producing saliva, which leads to dry mouth. Without saliva to keep your mouth moist, you could be further at risk for the above conditions. How do I manage my diabetes and my dental health together? There aren’t very many out-of-the-box tricks when it comes to caring for your dental health while also accounting for your diabetes. The best defenses are just more important: Brush twice a day, floss regularly, and see a dentist for regular checkups. Dentists treating gum disease can actually help improve your blood sugar! But, of course, managing your blood sugar levels with the help of your doctor will go a long way in protecting your dental health as well. Although taking your insulin will always be the best defense against diabetes, it’s nice to know that brushing, flossing, and otherwise caring for your mouth can help as well! Your Diabetes and Your Dental Health
Ingredients • 1 1/2 cups warm water • 1 tbsp salt • 1 tbsp sugar • 1 packet active dry yeast • 4 1/2 cups flour
• 3 tbsp oil, divided • 2/3 cup baking soda • 2 eggs, beaten • Coarse salt, for sprinkling
Directions
1. In a bowl, combine water, salt, and sugar. Add yeast and let rest for 5 minutes. Add flour and 2 tbsp oil, then mix thoroughly into a dough. 2. Remove the dough from the bowl. Coat bowl with remaining oil, then return the dough, cover with plastic wrap, and set it aside in a warm place for 1 hour. 3. Preheat oven to 450 F. 4. Cut dough into 8 pieces. Roll them into thin ropes, then twist ropes into pretzel shapes. 5. In a large pot, boil water. Add baking soda, then boil each pretzel for 1 minute, flipping halfway through. 6. Transfer pretzels to a baking sheet. Brush them with egg and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 10–15 minutes. Enjoy! Take a Break
3
MYFAIRVIEWDENTAL.COM
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
329 EAST LOGAN ST. CALDWELL, ID 83605 208-459-3388 MYFAIRVIEWDENTAL.COM
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Inside
This Issue
1 2
The Best National Parks I’ve Visited
How Artificial Intelligence Can Benefit Dental Patients 5 Foods That Will Improve Your Dental Health
3
Your Diabetes and Your Dental Health Oktoberfest Soft Pretzels
4
How to Protect Your Child’s Dental Health This Halloween
WITHOUT TAKING AWAY THEIR CANDY How to Protect Your Child’s Dental Health on Halloween
Ration out the candy.
Almost anyone older than the age of 5 could probably tell you that eating too much candy isn’t good for your teeth — and what is Halloween if not a day solely devoted to giving kids way too much candy? Now, simply telling your child that they can’t eat any candy at all wouldn’t be any fun, and it’s also an unrealistic expectation to have for Halloween. But if you want to keep your child from getting cavities and still let them enjoy their trick-or-treating spoils, here are a few tips.
Even if your kids don’t eat all of their candy on Halloween night, that means they could just eat it all on another day. So, it might be a good idea to limit their daily candy count; let them take a few pieces of it with them to school as a part of their lunch or let them have some as dessert with their dinner.
Have them eat their candy with meals.
Eat dinner before trick-or- treating.
When you just eat candy by itself, the sugar has more opportunities to stick around, causing tooth decay and plaque to grow. However, if you make your kids wait to eat their candy until mealtime, the production of saliva will help wash away the sugars that would otherwise harm your child’s teeth.
If you want to prevent your kids from eating their way through most of
their candy all on Halloween night,
Avoid certain candies if you can.
eating dinner before heading out into the neighborhood is a great way to curb their appetite. If they’re not super hungry, they probably won’t eat as much candy.
All candy has a lot of sugar, but certain candies tend to stick on the teeth and cause more problems than others. Taffies, caramels, and hard candy can linger on the teeth for much longer than chocolate, so if you want to limit your child’s candy, taking those out of their stash would be a good move.
We hope you’ll have a fun, safe Halloween that’s good for your smile!
4
208-459-3388
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker