SWEETEN THE SEASON WITH A COOKIE SWAP!
Leave Your Guests Smiling and Satisfied
For many Americans, the holiday season is all about family and tradition. We decorate our homes with garlands and lights that bring us holiday cheer, prepare for family visits, go ice skating, and maybe even send a letter to Santa. However, another special tradition spans generations and excites every family member — baking holiday cookies! Many will bake cookies just for their immediate family to enjoy along with their favorite holiday movie, while others will bake up a huge batch to bring to the big family get-together of the season. If you want to try something fun and unique this year, consider hosting a holiday cookie swap with your loved ones. This tradition will allow you to try all sorts of new and delicious cookies — there are so many different kinds of holiday cookies, and
every baker has their own specialty. Start by determining whom you want to invite, setting a budget, and determining how many cookies everyone should bring to the event. This ensures that nobody outshines anyone else through sheer volume or expensive ingredients alone. It’s a time for bonding, not competition. Once you have the ground rules and guestlist set, you need to get the decorations for the event. Treat it like a party. At your local party store, pick out decorations that fit the season's theme. You can get unique napkins, mugs, stirring spoons for hot drinks, and anything else you think captures the holiday spirit. This is also a good time to procure all your baking essentials, such as chocolate chips or unique cookie cutters.
All that’s left is hosting the party and ensuring everyone has a good time. If you want, you can even hold little contests to increase the excitement — each guest can vote on the prettiest or tastiest cookies and offer small prizes to the winner. As long as those attending enjoy themselves, your event will be a success. Plus, everyone who attends will have plenty of delicious cookies to get them through the rest of the holiday season!
A Word From Cheyenne & Ashlee Canker Sores 101
Have you ever had a canker sore?
Over-the-Counter Treatments Many drugstores carry topical creams or gels designed to numb canker sores, such as benzocaine-based ointments. These provide temporary relief and can be reapplied as needed. Mouthwashes with chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide may also help reduce pain and inflammation while keeping the area clean to prevent infection. Salt Water Rinse Gargling with a saltwater solution (1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of warm water) can help reduce inflammation and promote healing. Salt acts as a natural antiseptic, helping to keep the sore clean and relieve some discomfort. Baking Soda Paste Applying a small amount of baking soda mixed with water to the sore can help neutralize acid in the mouth and reduce inflammation to promote faster healing. Leave the paste on for a few minutes before rinsing.
Avoiding Irritants Steering clear of acidic, spicy, or rough-textured foods while the sore heals can prevent further irritation. Foods like citrus, tomatoes, and nuts may trigger or worsen the sore. Vitamin Supplements If you frequently get canker sores, taking vitamin B12, folic acid, zinc, or iron supplements may help address potential deficiencies. In most cases, canker sores are not serious and will heal without treatment. However, if sores persist for more than three weeks, recur frequently, or are unusually large, it’s a good idea to consult a health care professional to rule out underlying conditions and explore more robust treatment options.
Canker sores, also known as aphthous ulcers, are small, shallow sores in the mouth or on the lips, tongue, or cheeks. Unlike cold sores, they’re not contagious; since a virus doesn’t cause them, they don’t appear on the outer lips. Though the exact cause of canker sores isn’t known, a variety of factors can trigger them, including stress, minor mouth injuries (like accidentally biting the cheek), acidic or spicy foods, and nutritional deficiencies, especially a lack of vitamin B12, zinc, folic acid, or iron. Food allergies, hormonal changes, and a weakened immune system may also increase the risk of developing these painful sores. Canker sores typically heal on their own within 1–2 weeks, but their discomfort can make eating and speaking a challenge. Luckily, several things can speed up the healing process and reduce pain.
–Cheyenne & Ashlee Registered Dental Hygienists
2 | Elkins Dental
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