Livingston Dental - December 2019

800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com

December 2019

Life With Livingston Dental

e G e n

A Giving Tradition

meals, and the night before Thanksgiving, delivered them to people’s homes. Our kids especially enjoyed that part. Jeff, our eldest and the fastest, would usually be the one to run up to the house, ring the doorbell, then quickly dash away and hide in the bushes. We watched as the door opened and a look of surprise turned to joy as the recipient saw what was in the box. That was the best part — getting to see the happiness and hope our small act brought to people. One woman, I remember, saw the food inside the box and turned to her family. “It looks like I get to cook something for Thanksgiving tomorrow,” she said. Jenealle and I always felt that by doing, rather than simply telling, we could teach our kids many of the important principles of life. Even after we delivered turkeys, we had conversations with our kids about what else we could do to make others’ lives better. We’ve kept this tradition alive at Livingston Dental. Each year, we give a family a turkey for Thanksgiving. Our team members deliver it, and it’s incredibly gratifying for all of us to be part of this giving tradition. That’s what this season is all about, right?

other! Eventually, she opened it up, and in the box was a motion sensor lights for our toilet. It’s programmable and bends onto the side of the toilet bowl. When the sensor picks up motion, it turns on so you can see. “Now you can make sure you don’t miss the toilet,” David said with a laugh. He sure got everyone laughing, and to be honest, he was right about us really liking it. We recently had to replace the batteries. It’s a joy to give, isn’t it? We always sought to instill this value in our kids. When they were younger, we put together Thanksgiving meals and anonymously delivered them to people in our community. Each box contained a frozen turkey, five pounds of potatoes, several cans of vegetables, pumpkin pie mix, and all the fixings. We put together three or four

Around our house on Christmas morning, opening presents is something we put a lot of care into. It’s not a free-for-all. We take turns opening up each gift, with each person going one at a time. It used to bug our kids terribly that they had to wait so long to open the wrapped goodies sitting on their laps. But there’s something special about getting to see each person’s reaction as they open up what you’ve carefully selected for them, what you know will be just right. This was an extra delight for our son David last year, who’s 24 now and a chef at the University of Wyoming. “I’ve got a gift for you, Mom and Dad,” he told us. “You’re going to laugh, but you’ll really like this.” He handed Jeanelle a big, wrapped box, and she began to unwrap it and unwrap it and unwrap it. There was one wrapper after the

1 Livingston Dental

How to Build the Perfect Snowman

(According to Science)

faster, so stick Frosty on a grassy lawn. If you can find a place that will be in the shade when the sun comes out, all the better.

If you’re lucky enough to get a good snow day this year, building a snowman is a great way to spend it. That said, building a snowman isn’t all fun and games. It’s hard work, and you want to make sure the end result is worth the sore legs and soggy pants. Here are some science-backed strategies for building the perfect snowman.

PAY ATTENTION TO PROPORTION As you roll the snowballs to form the head and body pieces, keep proportions in mind. This is important for the visual aesthetic of your snowman and overall stability. Mathematician Dr. James Hind from Nottingham Trent

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SNOW Snow is your artistic medium, so make sure you have the right material for your project. Yes, there is a wrong kind of snow to use when building a snowman. You want the snow to be moist enough that it packs well but not so slushy that it collapses under pressure. The ideal snow for building your masterpiece is freshly fallen snow when the temperature is around 32 degrees F. If the snow isn’t quite right, you can moisten it a little by spraying water on it. LOCATION IS EVERYTHING Before you start stacking your snowman, pick the right location for it to hang out. Asphalt will heat up

University developed a formula for building the perfect snowman. He recommended that a snowman be 64 inches tall, while the

sections of the snowman should be 31 inches in diameter for the base, 20 inches in diameter for the middle, and 12 inches in diameter for the head. Once your snowman is built, science has just one rule for decorating: Have fun. Grab a scarf and a top hat, a carrot nose and radish eyes, or a fancy bow tie. Building the perfect snowman means building a snowman that will make you smile when you see it.

Go Into the Holidays With a Smile Regain Your Confidence With Dental Care

you’re embarrassed about your teeth, a simple treatment could be life changing. Whether it be whitening, veneers, root canals, or implants, there are a variety of ways to restore your smile and confidence. When you’re looking for the right dentist, turn to Livingston Dental. Dr. Livingston is a kind, caring, and knowledgeable dentist who will take the time to get to know you and your dental needs. He’ll help you figure out which treatment is right for you and walk you through the process. Give Livingston Dental a call today and let us help you go into the holiday season with a smile you’re proud of.

As part of our basic needs, love and belonging are essential to human fulfillment. People seek to meet these needs by forming connections with others through verbal and nonverbal cues, things like shaking hands, hugging, laughing, and smiling. The simple act of smiling can tell another person that you are happy to see them and encourage positive feelings between both of you. Smiling also reinforces those positive feelings: The behavior activates signals in the brain that trigger the “feel good” chemicals of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. So, not only are you telling others that you feel good about who you are, but you’re also promoting good feelings within yourself. Your smile is meant to bring you joy and to communicate that joy to others. When you’re not comfortable smiling, though, it can take a toll on your confidence and make it more difficult to connect with others. But this doesn’t need to be the case. With advances in dentistry, so many treatments are available to help you feel great about your smile. REGAIN YOUR CONFIDENCE This is where cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry can be especially helpful. If you’ve found yourself not smiling because

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What About Dunder and Blixem?

The Strange History of Santa’s Reindeer

named them Dunder and Blixem — the Dutch words for thunder and lightning — but publishing companies wanted names that would rhyme better with the rest of the poem. Still, it was a few decades before Donner and Blitzen made their appearances in the version of the poem we know today. REINDEER BURGERS, ANYONE? Moore’s poem paved the way for Santa’s most famous form of transportation, but it was actually Carl Lomen, an Alaskan businessman, who mass-marketed reindeer as Santa’s companions. In the late 1890s, the Sami natives of Northern Europe, who were longtime reindeer herders, made their passage from Norway to the U.S. with a herd of reindeer to invigorate the Alaskan landscape and help their native neighbors. Lomen saw the reindeer as an opportunity and partnered with the Macy’s department store company to create a promotional Christmas parade in which Santa, led by his reindeer, a sleigh, and Sami herders, were prominently featured. Lomen’s goal was to promote his massive reindeer conglomerate for the production and sale of reindeer meat. Instead, a holiday story was born.

We all know reindeer visit our rooftops every Christmas Eve, but what brings them there? Follow the unique and complicated history of Santa’s reindeer to find out. A VISIT FROM WHO ON WHAT NIGHT? In the 1820s, Clement Clarke Moore penned a holiday poem that became the foundation for a phenomenon still alive today. Commonly known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “A Visit From St. Nicholas” is a beloved story shared by every generation. It is in this poem that reindeer were first credited with powering Santa’s sleigh around the globe. Many popular songs, movies, and plays have preserved Moore’s vision of St. Nick, and his reindeer and their names are no exception. (Well, kind of.) Rudolph wouldn’t join the squad until a department store added him as part of their promotions in the 1930s. WHAT’S IN A NAME? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, and Cupid were all brought to life by Moore, but have you ever heard of Dunder and Blixem? Though we now know the duo as Donner and Blitzen, Moore originally

Puzzle Time! Cranberry Gingerbread Ingredients

Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine

• 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsp baking powder • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp ground cloves • 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• 1/2 cup canola oil, plus more for greasing • 3/4 cup unsulphured molasses • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar • 2 large eggs • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Grease a loaf pan with canola oil.

WINTER SLEIGH COOKIES ORNAMENTS REINDEER STOCKINGS

HOLIDAYS FLURRY FROZEN

3. In a large mixing bowl, mix together 1/2 cup canola oil, molasses, brown sugar, eggs, ginger, and cranberries. In a separate bowl, sift and combine flour with baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until blended. 4. Scrape batter into loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes. 5. Transfer to a rack, let cool for 20 minutes, slice, and serve.

PENGUIN WREATH SNOWFLAKE

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

on being named Top Dentist of Wyoming 2018!

800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com

Inside Livingston Christmas Traditions

Build a Snowman With Science! The Role of a Smile

How Santa Claus Became Powered by Reindeer Cranberry Gingerbread

Winter Activities in Wyoming

3 Ways to Enjoy Winter in Wyoming

“Walking in a winter wonderland.”

HEAD TO A HOT SPRING. It may be cold outside, but our state’s wealth of natural hot springs means we can find plenty of ways to warm up. From Boiling River Hot Springs stemming from Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone to the iconic (and free) indoor and outdoor pools at Thermopolis, there are many gorgeous options to choose from. In the winter months, Granite Hot Springs in Jackson is a special treat that can only be reached by skis, sled, or snowmobile. TAKE A SNOWMOBILE EXCURSION. While the going can get tough in the winter, snowmobiles provide a surefire way to get around in the backcountry. Both groomed and ungroomed trails offer up natural beauty for riders to explore, including Togwotee Pass and the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail. Several areas can only be reached by snowmobile, creating a more exclusive excursion for those adventurous enough to take it. Speaking of snowmobiles …

This classic line could easily describe our state’s abundance. Getting outside is a great way to enjoy the bounty of snow and natural beauty that we are lucky enough to have. Whether it’s powered by engine, your own two legs, or your desire for a relaxing soak in a hot spring, here are a few ways to get out there. HIT THE POWDER ON CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS. While everyone else is going downhill, enjoy the less crowded, more relaxing views from your cross-country skis. Cross-country skiing can be more accessible for those who have knee issues, and as anyone who’s done it knows, it’s just as good a workout — if not better — as other forms of skiing. With 11 resorts dedicated to cross-country skiing in Wyoming alone, in addition to the nearby state and national parks with great trails, you and your family will find plenty of space to hit the trails.

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