Check out our August newsletter!
AUGUST 2023
FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE
ELKINSDENTAL.COM
Collecting Teeth and Spreading Magic Carrying On the Tooth Fairy Tradition
One of the greatest parts about being a child is the fun traditions — Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and fun celebrations surrounding every holiday and event. Aug. 22 is National Tooth Fairy Day, and growing up, the tooth fairy played a big role in my life! I’ve mentioned before that as early as my middle school years, I was pretty set on being a dentist. I was fascinated by teeth, and everyone who knew me was well aware. My mom had worked for a dentist and helped me decide to pursue that career. When I was about 19 years old, my younger brother, who was 17 at the time, had just had one of his wisdom teeth removed and was feeling a bit drowsy and in pain, so he decided to take a nap. But before he climbed into bed, he grabbed our tooth fairy pillow with a little pouch in it for his tooth, tucked his wisdom tooth inside, and placed it under his pillow, making sure our mom knew what he had done. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting on the couch watching TV, and my mom flew into the room with an old clown costume in one hand and an alien headband with little balls for ears in another.“Clark, hurry! Put this on!”she exclaimed. When I asked why, she told me that my younger brother had put his tooth under his pillow and gone to sleep and asked me to dress up and sneak into his room and take out the tooth and place some money in its place. Of course, I was excited to do it.
eye and saw me in the ridiculous costume, and we both cracked up laughing. It was a memory I will never forget, especially as I’ve continued the tooth fairy tradition with my own kids. When I was growing up, I didn’t get any money from the tooth fairy for teeth that had a filling in them. This gave us an incentive to brush and floss our teeth and to practice good oral hygiene. For a healthy tooth, we’d receive a nice shiny 50-cent piece or a silver dollar, which was way cooler than paper money or regular coins. With my kids, we’ve continued this tradition. Our older kids got silver dollars and gold coins and the younger kids now get $2 (you know, inflation)! It’s been fun to experience the tooth fairy as a dad and witness the excitement through the eyes of my children.
IT WAS A MEMORY I WILL NEVER FORGET, ESPECIALLY AS I’VE CONTINUED THE TOOTH FAIRY TRADITION WITH MY OWN KIDS.
What tooth fairy traditions do you have in your home?
–Dr. Elkins
After dressing up, I snuck into his room, trying so hard to be light on my feet, and saw my brother pretending to be asleep. As I went to reach for his tooth under the pillow, he opened up one
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COLOR OUTSIDE LIFE’S LINES How Creativity Helps You Live Longer
When considering the key factors in active aging, most people talk about things like diet, exercise, and social connections. And while these things are all important, some studies show that engaging in creative activities can also lead to greater longevity. To many people, "creativity" sounds like something you do with a paintbrush or pencil, but according to University of Connecticut professor James C. Kaufman, this doesn't have to be the case.You can find creativity in everyday tasks like parenting, yardwork, or even talking with friends — you just have to know where to look! So, if you're looking to reignite your creative spark and live longer as a result, here are three ways you can bring more creativity into your everyday life. Think outside the box — and travel there too. Traveling is more than fun; it's great for inspiring creativity. In fact, a historical study by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that individuals who travel have more creative success, perform better on divergent thinking tests, and are generally more open-minded. The trick with thinking and traveling outside the box doesn't always need to be about going to far-off lands with another language. Sometimes, it's just about trying that new deli that opened down the block, going to that flower show on the other side of town, or even trying to bake bread for the very first time. The goal is to expose yourself to any new
experience and view it with a childlike wonder. Worry about nothing other than having fun! Use what you know to make something new! As we age, we collect a lifetime's worth of valuable knowledge, but just having information isn't creative. Combine your wisdom with family recipes, knitting, sewing, or woodworking to develop a brand-new creation! Seek new perspectives. If you do the same thing every day and only surround yourself with like-minded people, you'll never be exposed to new ideas. The trick to inspiring creativity in your life is to see the world in a different way.You can do that by reading literature, talking to people, and listening to media that challenges your ideas.
A Word From Cheyenne & Ashlee
SEAL OUT TOOTH DECAY!
Sealants are your safety net to keep your teeth healthy, clean, and cavity-free. While brushing and flossing are the best defense
leading to tooth decay. That’s where sealants come in — they're like raincoats for your teeth that help keep excess food away from your teeth and bacteria and acid out, just like raincoats will keep you dry and warm. Having sealants applied to your teeth is a quick and easy process, and the best part is it’s pain-free. With the exception of a potential allergy, there are no known side effects! Keep in mind that for sealants to remain effective, they will need to be redone every few years, but not to worry — during your routine dental visits and cleanings, we will check your sealants to make sure they are doing their job. For more information on dental sealants, give us a call today. We are ready to help you protect your teeth for a healthy smile!
against decay, infections, and other dental complications, it can be difficult to reach all surfaces of your teeth every time — especially on your molars. Molars are rough and sometimes uneven, and because they are in the very back of your mouth, they are a great place for leftover food to hide. Sealants, thin coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of your teeth, are designed to prevent tooth decay for many years to come. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sealants are proven to prevent up to 80% of all cavities for two years after application and 50% of cavities for four years following application.
–Cheyenne & Ashlee Registered Dental Hygienists
Bacteria feed on leftover food in your mouth, creating an acid that can wreak havoc on your teeth and create cavities,
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Sweet Potato Jalapeño Poppers Inspired by ForksOverKnives.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 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into large pieces • 1/4 cup unsweetened plant-based milk • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
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! • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric • Salt and pepper, to taste • 7 fresh jalapeños, halved lengthwise and seeded
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. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a large saucepan, place sweet potato chunks in a steamer basket. Add water just below steamer basket and boil. Steam for around 10 minutes. Remove sweet potatoes, and let cool in a bowl before mashing. 3. In a small saucepan, whisk together milk, yeast, vinegar, and turmeric. Boil, then cook for 1 minute or until thickened. 4. In a blender, combine milk mixture and mashed sweet potatoes until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Spoon sweet potato mixture into jalapeño halves. Place on baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
JOKES DAD
Is it really August? Or are Julying to me?.
My childhood crush and I are finally getting married this year! Me in August, and them in November.
Facts Tooth Fun
DID YOU KNOW?
Black Triangles 101
Sharks Give Birth…And Lay Eggs?
Did you know that some sharks lay eggs? There are roughly 500 different species of sharks that swim through the waters of our oceans, and most of them give birth to their babies. However, some of them are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs! Sharks that lay eggs tend to be bottom-dwellers and depending on the species, shark eggs can take anywhere from 6-27 or more weeks to hatch! Species of Egg-Laying Sharks
Roughly 30% of adults have tiny little“black triangles”, also called open gingival embrasures, in between their teeth. What are these? Aging, gum disease, bone loss, harsh dental practices and hygiene, and the shape and size of your teeth can all cause your gums to pull away from your teeth and lead to these little triangular-shaped spaces forming. Black triangles can lead to dental and health complications and should be treated right away! There are many dental procedures and treatments to help prevent and eliminate complications resulting from black triangles!
• Carpet sharks • Bamboo sharks • Many catsharks
• Wobbegong sharks • Horn (bullhead) sharks • Swell sharks
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Granting Wishes, Spreading Magic, and Collecting Teeth 2. Want a Longer Life? Get Creative! A Word From Cheyenne and Ashlee
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
3. Sweet Potato Jalapeño Poppers
4.
Your Child’s
Full Potential
1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617
Tooth Facts
Did You Know?
Happy August From Elkins Dental!
208-369-4532 · ElkinsDental.com
UNLOCK A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES How Extracurricular Activities Benefit Your Kids
As children return to school in August, they’ll likely be interested in one or more extracurricular activities. Opportunities both in school and in
the pandemic is that their children struggle to communicate with others. Most of
students who participate in extracurricular activities because it shows they are involved in their community and possess leadership and teamwork skills. While extracurriculars are not as important as other factors for college admissions, they still play a decisive role in the college’s choice to accept your child. Helps Them Discover Their Passions There are countless examples of kids discovering their true passion through participating in extracurricular activities.Your child might not become a professional athlete, but they might discover an alternate career path, like becoming a physical therapist or personal trainer by playing a sport. If your kid likes animals, they might find a prospective career path by volunteering at the zoo. If one activity doesn’t appeal to them, try another. Before long, you’ll find the perfect interest for your child.
these kids were away from their peers for a year or more, which weakened their social skills. Participating in an extracurricular activity gives your kids a chance to communicate with
the community are numerous, such as participating in a
local play, joining a school club or sports team, and many others.
others outside of a school setting. They’ll learn how other people think and how to best respond to certain situations.
Extracurricular activities are perfect for getting kids out of the house, but these ventures will also help them gain valuable experiences along with these three benefits. Improves Social Skills One of the biggest concerns parents have had since we experienced lockdowns during
Bolsters College Applications If your child wants to attend college after high school, joining a club, team, or organization will give them a leg up on other candidates. College admissions officers love to see
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