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JULY 2023
FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE
ELKINSDENTAL.COM
PARENTING HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT … I’ve Learned That Each Kid Is Totally Different
Hands down, the most common reaction I receive from others when they learn that I have six children is astonishment, followed up with questions on parenting. How do you do it? What is the main thing you’ve learned about being a dad? This month, we celebrate Purposeful Parenting Month and I’ll tell you that I’ve learned a lot about raising kids. I now know how to change diapers, read bedtime stories, assist with homework, communicate with younger minds, and love unconditionally. But above all, I know that every kid is different. Each has their own agenda, likes and dislikes, learning style, communication style, and personality. What works with one child will likely not work for the next. Over the course of raising six kids, I felt like I learned to be a parent six times over again. Each time was its own individual learning experience, and with each of my children, interactions are all a bit different. Beyond liking different foods, colors, and sports, they have their own view of the world, strengths and weaknesses, and ways of interacting with others and the world around them. They have different wants and desires and ways of finding motivation to accomplish their customized goals. Sure, they may look alike, but that’s about all they have in common! Some of my children are incredibly motivated by money. For keeping their room clean, I am able to offer them a few dollars every now and then and it works. However, for others, they could care less about the cash. But the threat of losing access to their phone for a few days, that one may work well! In learning how to embrace my children’s differences and leverage their differences to help them be successful, I found that listening is essential, just as it is when working with my patients. In the office, each and every patient is so different. To be the best dentist that I can be, I must listen to the needs and desires of my patients. Over the course of my career, I’ve had some patients who don’t have any teeth — just gums — and they are perfectly happy.
That’s what they want. On the flip side, some of my patients would rather die than have a broken or missing tooth. That’s where listening, a trait my children taught me, truly comes into play. When patients have a toothache or a problem in their mouth, it’s my responsibility to listen, get to the root of the problem, and help find a solution. Listening, truly listening, helps me tailor my practice specifically to each patient’s desires and needs. I think that it truly goes hand in hand — being a dentist helps me better understand parenting and parenting helps me better serve my clients. It’s amazing how life works and how everything, while very different, is still very connected. Our world truly does come full circle, sometimes in more ways than we may realize. –Dr. Elkins
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QUIET YOUR MIND, IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH Why Meditation Is a Must for Older Adults
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years and offers many benefits. The best part is that it's accessible to anyone; you don’t need special equipment or a membership to practice, just your mind and body! While meditation is great for everyone, meditation can be particularly powerful for older adults due to its emotional and cognitive perks. Here are some key benefits you can expect. Less Anxiety For some, anxiety can be a response to a specific life event, such as a health scare or losing a loved one. For others, anxiety can appear later in life for no apparent reason. Regardless of why it starts, anxiety is both uncomfortable and harmful to your health. Anxiety often involves worrying about the future, and meditation helps alleviate it by pushing you to focus only on how your body feels at that precise moment. Focusing only on the now is an excellent way to help combat those intrusive "what if" and "when" thoughts. Reduced Chronic Pain It's not uncommon for people to experience pain as they age. And while meditation can't treat the cause of the pain, it can help reduce
the amount of pain you feel. According to a study from The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 89% of participants reported that meditation helped them cope with their chronic pain, drastically reducing their overall pain levels.
Better Memory It's normal for older adults to experience some lapse in memory as they age, but it doesn't make the experience any less stressful or frightening. Meditation helps to boost memory as it increases blood flow to areas of the brain in charge of attention and executive function. By giving these areas of the brain more "power" through increased blood supply, they can work more efficiently to help you retain and recall information. If you don't know how to start, close your eyes and focus on counting your inhalations 10 times before restarting.You can set a timer or continue as long as you feel comfortable.You can also find several guided meditation apps if you need a bit more help. It only takes a few minutes to complete a meditation exercise and begin reaping its incredible health benefits!
Let’s Get to the Root of Teeth Grinding A Word From Cheyenne & Ashlee
Life can be stressful at times as we do our very best to juggle careers, families, and social lives, and sometimes, our bodies can respond in a variety of different ways. When we are stressed out or drowning in anxiety, our shoulders tense up, we may get clammy or sweaty palms, our hearts may race, we can get tension headaches, or sometimes, we may even clench our jaws and grind our teeth. Grinding of the teeth (a chewing motion in which teeth rub against each other over and over), also known as bruxism, is common but can be detrimental to your smile. Studies have shown that about 30% of people grind their teeth in some way. However, sometimes individuals don’t even realize they are doing it!
It’s important to note that stress isn’t the only culprit of bruxism. Some people grind their teeth as a result of sleep disorders, missing teeth, or teeth that do not line up properly. Sleep apnea, acid reflux, hyperactivity,
and neurological conditions are also linked to bruxism. A study even confirmed that those who smoke or drink coffee and/or alcohol are twice as likely to grind their teeth. If you grind your teeth, not to worry! We can help you to safeguard your smile by getting to the root of your teeth grinding and finding a solution that works for you. Give us a call today — we are ready to help!
Some signs of teeth grinding include:
• Pain in your jaw or mouth • Frequent or “dull” headaches • Painful, plugged, or itchy ears • Neck pain and tension
• Chipped teeth • Cracked teeth
• Worn/ damaged teeth • Uneven or misaligned teeth
–Cheyenne & Ashlee Registered Dental Hygienists
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THE BEST BROCCOLI PESTO PASTA Inspired by TheModernProper.com
Ingredients
Out-of-town relatives who are visiting for the holidays might wonder what makes Emmett so special. But we already know the Treasure Valley is full of gems — and we don’t just mean the rocks. Here are some additional reasons Emmett and The Gem State are great. WE’VE GOT SUNSHINE On average, we have 210 sunny days per year. Compare that to 144 rainy days in Portland and we can feel pretty happy about all our free vitamin D. Directions • 1/2 tsp salt • 4 cups broccoli • 1 lb penne pasta • 2 cups basil leaves • 2 garlic cloves, smashed
MOUNTAIN RANGES Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, we don’t have to go far to find mountaintop winter activities. If skiing or tubing is your idea of winter fun, Bogus Basin is just a short drive away, and heading to McCall makes a fun weekend getaway. ... AND RIVERS Not only are we surrounded by the Payette and Boise rivers, Idaho is also home to the deepest gorge in North America: Hells Canyon. Take that, Arizona! • 1/4 cup pine nuts, plus more for serving • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving • Red pepper flakes (optional)
GOOD CHEER Beer lovers, rejoice! Idaho is the world’s largest hop producer, and more and more people are taking advantage of our agricultural bounty by opening breweries in the Treasure Valley. Share a few of these treasures with visiting family members and their only question will be “How did we not come here sooner?”
1. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil over high heat. 2. Add broccoli and cook until tender (around 4 minutes). Using a slotted spoon, transfer broccoli to a blender. 3. Bring water back to a boil and add pasta. Cook until al dente and reserve 1 1/4 cups of pasta water. 4. In the blender, add basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, salt, and Parmesan cheese to the broccoli and blend until smooth. Slowly add pasta water until a sauce forms. 5. Drain pasta and transfer back to the pot. Mix sauce and pasta together until fully coated. 6. Top with more Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and chili flakes if desired.
JOKES DAD
What did the colonists wear to the Boston Tea Party? Tea-shirts.
What does the Statue of Liberty stand for? It can’t sit down.
Facts Tooth Fun
DID YOU KNOW?
Got Sensitive Teeth?
Trout Is Huge In The Gem State
Have you ever taken a bite of cold ice cream or a sip of hot tea and had your teeth hurt or zing? Sometimes, it can even happen just from breathing in some cold air! What gives? Tooth sensitivity occurs from dental erosion, tooth decay, worn tooth enamel, exposed roots, brushing too hard, exposing your teeth to acid, grinding your teeth, whitening, excessive use of mouthwash, and more! Don’t let tooth sensitivity fly under the radar — let us know so we can try to determine and diagnose the cause!
Did you know that according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 70% of the country’s trout comes from Idaho? Aquaculture, which accounts for about 50% of the world’s seafood supply, is huge in the Gem State. On average, Idaho produces 41 million pounds of trout each year. Snake River’s Thousand Springs Reach has clear, clean and oxygenated spring water that is the perfect temperature for rainbow trout to thrive and reproduce.
No wonder trout is always so tasty and fresh here!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1.
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
2. Meditate Your Way to a
3.
4.
6 Kids, New Experience Each Time
The Best Broccoli
The Swine
That Dared to Defy
Healthier You
Pesto Pasta
1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617
A Word From Cheyenne and Ashlee
Tooth Facts
Did You Know?
Happy Fourth of July From Elkins Dental!
208-369-4532 · ElkinsDental.com
AN UNCONVENTIONAL 'BACON' OF HOPE The Story of the Danish Protest Pig
In the 19th century, Denmark and Prussia couldn't agree on where to draw their border. Both countries refused to concede or couldn’t reach an agreement on which country would ultimately control Southern Jutland, which today is Germany's northernmost state called Schleswig-Holstein. This refusal to compromise ultimately led to war, and in 1848, Denmark won control. However, their victory was short-lived, as roughly a decade later, the Second Schleswig War was underway. This time, though, Prussia was victorious. After their victory, the Prussian authorities slowly began to move into the peninsula, implementing new laws over the Danes living there. These new laws prohibited anything Danish, including all uses of the Danish flag. Needless to say, the Danes were not happy — especially the farmers.
breed, one that had the same markings as the Danish flag. These pigs were red in color, with one white vertical stripe and one white horizontal stripe. The farmers named their new pigs Protestschwein, or the Danish Protest Pig. This protest pig quickly became the mascot of Danish cultural independence, and their efforts didn't go unnoticed by Prussian authorities. In 1881, a local Prussian police station sent communications back to the government in Berlin that farmers were breeding strange- looking pigs. However, while they could not prove that farmers were knowingly breeding the pigs to look like the Danish flag, "it was believed that the farmers were well aware of this and that this pig represented an affront to the Prussians," according to records from the Red Holstein Breeders Association.
Today, the Danish Protest Pig is recognized as its own breed but has a different name: the Husum Red Pied. And, the now-German state of Schleswig-Holstein supports the protection of this pig due to the cultural significance it offered its Danish ancestors so many years ago.
These Danish farmers knew they had to protest this oppressive Prussian government, but they couldn't just publicly wave the Danish flag. So, they got crafty. Danish farmers began to crossbreed their pigs to create a new
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