Jason Schermer's online newsletter for October 2018
THE HEIGHTS SMILE Herald
October 2018
Jason A . Schermer , D . D . S . COMPREHENS I VE RESTORAT I VE & ESTHET I C DENT I STRY
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Dr. Schermer! 5825 Lande r b rook Dr i ve , Su i t e 124 , May f i e l d He i gh t s , OH 44124 ( 440 ) 483 - 1003
Many Memories of Halloween
Halloween is coming up in a few weeks, and every year, patients come in and ask, “Hey Doc, do you give out floss and toothbrushes for Halloween?” Only if I want to get my house egged! Let me set the record straight: Yes, we give out candy. It’s Halloween! And really, candy isn’t a bad thing when eaten in moderation. Brushing and flossing are important, but on this one night a year, it’s okay to go a little crazy. That’s part of the fun of Halloween. When I was a kid, we got all dressed up in our costumes and made the rounds of our block. The streets were packed with kids, and it took a good two hours to hit every house. Then we looped back home, changed into different costumes, and went back to hit the good houses again. And we had good candy back then, not these tiny “fun-size” treats that kids end up with today. There’s nothing fun about a little Snickers — you burn more calories by opening the wrapper than you gain by eating it! Back in the day, even my parents got into the spirit of things. My dad decorated our garage with black lights and big sheets covered in fluorescent paint. We also had this old vacuum cleaner that he rigged with special switches. Dad would dress up like some monster and sit on a lawn chair
Halloween remains one of my favorite holidays because it reminds me of being a kid.
about 5 feet from a bowl of candy. When trick-or-treaters walked up, they would eye my dad suspiciously, certain he was going to jump up and try to scare them. What they didn’t expect was for Dad to flip a switch when they got close. The vacuum roared to life and shot out a paper bag with a monster painted on it. This stuff was high-tech for the ’80s, and the kids got spooked every year. Of course, it was all in good fun.
theorists claim. I love Halloween because it’s fun! Halloween is like opening day for the holiday season. After Halloween we have Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day all within a few weeks of each other. It’s a crazy time of year, but there’s always something fun to look forward to. Halloween remains one of my favorite holidays because it reminds me of being a kid. Every year, I make the family watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” when it airs on TV. We have this special on DVD, but for me, watching it during this time slot is what makes it Halloween. My kids are getting older, and I imagine our Halloween traditions will look a little different in a few years. I think this will be the last year that I go trick-or-treating with my youngest, and you can bet I’m not going to miss out! We’ll be hitting the street on Halloween night, ready to bring home at least one more big haul of candy. –-Jason A. Schermer
I do enjoy Halloween — and not because it gives people cavities, like conspiracy
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Choose Smart Costumes Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without costumes! They should be fun, but you can also make them safer by following a few simple guidelines. Add reflective tape to candy bags and costumes and wear light colors to stand out in the dark. Buying or making the right-sized costumes is also important. If they’re too large, they create a tripping hazard, and if they’re too tight, they can restrict movement. If your child wears a mask, make sure they can see out of it properly. Make a Plan Before heading out to trick or treat, create a plan and discuss it with every member of your family. This ensures that if someone in your group wanders off, they’ll know where to look for you or where to go. In case you’re separated, label your child’s costume with your name, address, and phone number. If your children are old enough to trick or treat without adults, make sure that their cellphones are charged and on them at all times, and schedule regular check-ins.
Have a Fun and SAFE Halloween!
Even the Most Frightening Ghouls Need to Be Careful
Happy Halloween, you goblins, ghouls, witches, and spooks! It’s that time of year again when kids and adults alike can dress up and roam the streets as their favorite heroes, frights, or princesses. While kids are eager to show off their outfits and fill their pillowcases with sugary treasures, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential dangers on Halloween night. Practice Street Safety Make sure your kids understand basic road safety. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, “Children are more likely to be struck by a
vehicle and killed during Halloween than any other day of the year.”
Before heading out for some good old-fashioned trick-or-treating, take the time to go over basic safety tips. Teach kids to look both ways before crossing, use crosswalks and traffic signals, cross streets on the corners, and never run across the street. Making eye contact with drivers before walking in front of their cars is also a good way to make sure the driver knows the child is there.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“The staff and doctors are the best I have ever dealt with in a dental office. Since I move frequently, finding a good dentist and staff can be quite frustrating. Since I was referred by a friend to try it, I will be sure to tell others. Don’t go anywhere else!” –Brent C. “For the first time in my life, I actually LIKE going to the dentist. Everyone in this practice is extraordinarily kind and gentle. I had not had a dental exam in over a decade because of so many bad experiences previously. Now I look forward to going.” –Ann K.
“I’m ‘dentist-phobic,’ but Dr. Schermer and his team took their time with me and did everything in their power to make me comfortable and alleviate my fears! I’ve already scheduled my next appointment, and, surprisingly, I’m actually looking forward to it. If you’re looking for a dentist in the Cleveland or Cleveland-suburbs area, check them out!” –Kymberli M.
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(440) 483-1003
A Sweet Reason to Smile Cou l d Choco l a t e Be Good f o r You r Tee t h?
Hold onto your seat, because you’re about to learn something shocking: Chocolate is actually good for your teeth … kind of. Though you’ve been warned that sugary snacks will rot your teeth, sugar itself isn’t what harms your teeth. The damage is done by bacteria in your mouth called oral streptococci. When these bacteria feed on sugar, they create an acid that damages the enamel of your teeth, leading to cavities and infection. There are certain antioxidants that can prevent bacteria from producing this harmful acid, and chocolate is full of them — or, to be more precise, the cocoa beans
Cocoa beans contain tannins, polyphenols, and flavonoids, each a powerful kind of antioxidant in its own right.
bet because the cocoa beans that go into dark chocolate are far less processed than the beans in milk or white chocolate. And dark chocolate has four times the amount of antioxidants as green tea! Eating an ounce of dark chocolate after dinner can act as a way to fight bacteria, helping to protect your teeth from damage. Now, this doesn’t mean you should let your kids chow down on all the chocolate they get this Halloween. While dark chocolate may have some dental benefits, it doesn’t stand among fresh fruits and vegetables in terms of healthy foods. Even dark chocolate contains a fair amount of sugar and calories that can harm your health in other ways. So, enjoy some dark chocolate — just be sure to brush your teeth afterward.
• Tannins prevent bacteria from being able to stick to your teeth.
• Polyphenols destroy the microorganisms that cause bad breath and work to prevent gum infections.
• Flavonoids help slow tooth decay.
Keep in mind that not all kinds of chocolate contain the same quantity of cavity-fighting antioxidants. If you’re shopping for an antioxidant-rich treat, dark chocolate is your best
within chocolate are full of them.
Leah’s Bad Dad Joke of the Month
Dr. Andrea! WELCOME,
We would like to cordially welcome Dr. Andrea Londono-Shishehbor as an associate to our practice. Dr. Andrea comes to us with 20 years of general dentistry experience, 10 of which have been in the Northeast Ohio region.
What do you call a bear with no teeth?
She graduated from Universidad de Antioquia in 1997, underwent a two-year general dentistry residency at Western Reserve Care System in Youngstown, Ohio, and completed a one-year fellowship in implants from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) at Rutgers University. During her free time, Dr. Andrea serves as the director of dental services at the Free Clinic of Painesville. She also enjoys camping and outdoor activities with her husband and two children.
A GUMMY BEAR
This month’s joke is in honor of Dr. Castro. We hope you like it!
jasonschermerdds.com
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Jason A . Schermer , D . D . S . COMPREHENS I VE RESTORAT I VE & ESTHET I C DENT I STRY
jasonschermerdds.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
(440) 483-1003
I N S I D E 5825 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 124 Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
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What Do Dentists Give Out on Halloween?
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Trick-or-Treating Safety!
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Our Patients Say It Best
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The Secret to a Better Smile?
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Leah’s Bad Dad Joke of the Month
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Welcome, Dr. Andrea
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The Birthplace of Halloween
THE REAL HALLOWEEN TOWN COUNTY MEATH, IRELAND, WHERE HALLOWEEN BEGAN , ,
Fans of Halloween don’t need to look far to find somewhere to celebrate their favorite holiday. There are festive parties all over the world, from New Orleans to London, but if you really want to embrace the spirit of Halloween, there’s no better destination than the birthplace of the holiday: County Meath, Ireland. Every year in Boyne Valley, the residents of County Meath throw a month-long Halloween celebration. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival attracts thousands of guests from all over the world, and while this festival has only been celebrated since 2009, many of the traditions observed here actually date back to ancient times.
The ancient Irish weren’t trick-or-treating or visiting haunted houses on Oct. 31, but they were celebrating the pagan holiday Samhain. Over 3,000 years ago, this Celtic festival was born in Meath and marked the end of the harvest. Samhain was celebrated with bonfires, offerings to fairies, and other rituals meant to keep evil spirits away. Many of these customs carried through the centuries and inspired Halloween traditions that are still practiced today. Today, Meath celebrates Oct. 31 with a blend of spooky thrills and traditional Samhain practices. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival starts with the lighting of the first torch fire of Samhain in Athboy, which kicks off a month of fun activities. If you like your Halloween extra spooky,
the scream park, Farmaphobia, is waiting for you. And if you’re not a fan of screaming your head off, you can check out the Halloween-themed Spookling Afternoon Tea for fresh-baked treats and spirited conversation. The motto of this all-ages festival is “Fun by Day; Frights by Night,” meaning all the really scary ghosts wait until after sunset to come out. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween, from carving jack-o’-lanterns and eating chocolate to running for your life through a haunted corn maze. And in County Meath, you can celebrate Halloween in every possible way. For more info, visit www.Discoverboynevalley.ie/ whats-on/spirits-meath-halloween-festival-2018.
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