Aberdeen Smiles November 2017

Aberdeen Smiles November 2017

November 2017

Aleaha Fettig, DDS Valerie Drake, DDS

1409 6th Ave. SE #8, Aberdeen, SD 57401 |

www.AberdeenSmiles.com

605-225-2236

|

Our Sister Office in Rockport How Hurricane Harvey Hit Close to Home

This fall, numerous natural disasters shook the United States. Fire and earthquakes devastated the West Coast and the Rocky Mountains, while massive hurricanes tore apart the southern U.S. and Puerto Rico. We watched as Hurricane Harvey slammed into the Gulf of Mexico and left Houston underwater. Though the hurricane was a thousand miles away, the aftermath hit close to

themselves displaced and spread out to other areas of Texas, seeking refuge in Dallas or San Antonio. Schools have now reopened, but were closed for nearly two months. In the midst of this tragedy, I was reminded that there is always hope. People from all over the country drove down to Texas and volunteered their expertise.

Plumbers, electricians, construction workers, and others came to help rebuild. Even people without such skill sets were there to help with

home. Many patients may not be aware that Aberdeen Smiles has a sister office down in Texas. The name of the sister office is Sabal Dental, and it’s a practice in the beach town of Rockport, Texas. When Dr. Aleaha Fettig, my business partner, and I

rescue or provide humanitarian aid. Churches, in particular, have been

just amazing. There’s a church group from Louisiana that set up shop in Rockport, serving hot meals to people who couldn’t cook in their own homes. It was amazing to see the outpouring of help from total strangers.

made plans to come to Aberdeen, I spent a lot of time finding a new dentist who could take over the Rockport office. My partner at Sabal Dental, Dr. Valerie Sperry, only recently moved to Rockport with her husband and their two young sons. She was just starting to get into the swing of things when Hurricane Harvey ripped through. As soon as I could, I flew down to Rockport to help with recovery efforts. We were blessed to find that the Sabal Dental office had suffered only slight water damage. While the power and internet were hit-and-miss for a while, we were back on our feet in just over a month. This is far more than I can say for the rest of the beautiful community. As a whole, Rockport was left utterly devastated. CNN described the town as “the victim of an apocalypse,” and having been down there myself, I can say this isn’t an exaggeration. Homes were completely destroyed, power lines crumbled, and the city suffered a total infrastructure collapse. With nowhere else to go, many families found

Since the hurricane, I’ve been flying back and forth between Aberdeen and Rockport to help Dr. Sperry recover. She and her family were fine, having evacuated just before the hurricane hit. Together, we got Sabal Dental up and running again, ready to serve the people of Rockport however we can. Meanwhile, Dr. Fettig held down the fort back home and did an amazing job. I don’t know how I would have managed this crisis without her support. I should be back home for good this month, and you can bet Dr. Fettig is someone I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving. I’m also thankful for the countless volunteers who reached out and helped Rockport after the disaster. When things get tough, it’s important to remember we’re all in this together, and whatever help we’re able to offer can make all the difference in the world.

— Dr. Valerie Drake

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Family Activities FOR THANKSGIVING

Unless you have a child auditioning for “MasterChef Junior,” you’re probably not going to let the little ones cook the turkey this Thanksgiving. Just because the kitchen might be off limits doesn’t mean you

of a damp Otis trotting down the street. In his mouth, he toted an entire bag of dog food, and not a small one. The woman posted the picture to Facebook. “This dog is walking around Sinton, Texas, carrying a [sic] entire bag of dog food with him. LOL #refugee,” the caption read. The image resonated with people and quickly went viral, being shared over 50,000 times. The people of the Lone Star State have long prided themselves on their pluck and resilience. “Must be a Texas dog cause [sic] he can survive without help,” one commenter wrote online. Another site called him “the hero Texas needed.” To create a holiday-themed “Stuff the Turkey” game, all you need is a few paper bags — we’ll bet you have some leftover from shopping. Use two small bags stuffed with scrap paper to create legs and glue them to a larger bag folded to look like the body of a turkey. Now that you have your turkey, you need some balls to stuff it with. Anything soft and baseball-sized will work, even some balled-up paper. Kids will take turns trying to toss the balls into the turkey, scoring points for every shot made. we are grateful for. Teaching kids about gratitude is the most valuable Thanksgiving lesson. Bring that concept to life with a gratitude mobile. Grab some colored paper circles or cut them out, and then have your children write down things that they are thankful for — a silver Sharpie is great for this. Punch holes in the tops of the circles and run string through them. Tie the other end of the string to a coat hanger or embroidery hoop and hang it from the ceiling. Stuff the Turkey Game Want to get the kids outside so you can get to work in the kitchen? Create a Thanksgiving-themed game for them to play outside while you prep the stuffing and put the turkey in the oven.

OTIS: Unlikely Hurricane Hero In late August, the nation was put to the test after Hurricane Harvey struck Texas. Journalists, professional and otherwise, brought back stories and images of the destruction and aftermath. Among those stories was one about a dog named Otis. Otis, a German shepherd mix, belongs to a 5-year-old boy in Sinton, Texas. “He’s a special dog,” said Salvador Segovia, the grandfather of Otis’ owner. “He’s been instrumental in helping my grandson following numerous hospital visits for seizures and asthma.” Apparently, Otis is a local celebrity due to his affable nature. He can saunter down to the Dairy Queen and score a free hamburger. Salvador says he’s also the only dog allowed to lie down in front of the county court house. When Harvey struck, dogs, cats, and people sprang into survival mode. For Otis, that meant gathering resources. The morning after the storm, a woman snapped a picture To do this, use craft or art paper to cover the table. Tape everything down tightly and provide crayons and colored pencils for every place setting. If you want to add some extra holiday spirit, put the drawing supplies in empty cranberry sauce and pumpkin cans. Gratitude Mobiles Of course, Thanksgiving isn’t just about delicious food. It’s also about reflecting on the parts of our lives can’t find a few creative ways to make the holiday extra special for your kids. Spice up Thanksgiving with these fun, family friendly activities. Coloring-Book Tablecloths If you have a big family, you are probably familiar with the Thanksgiving tradition of the kids’ table. It may be smaller than the grown-ups’ seating arrangement, but it doesn’t have to be any less special. Turn your kids’ table into a canvas for a colorful, creative dining experience.

Otis’ canine resilience was both humorous and inspirational. The most powerful images in a crisis aren’t of Air

Force One or of celebrities donating millions. They’re of ordinary people — and pets — striving, surviving, and making their way back home, just like Otis.

2 • www.AberdeenSmiles.com

BAD ADVICE: The best kind of mouthwash has alcohol.

This Bad Advice Will Ruin Your Teeth

If your mouthwash burns, it likely contains alcohol. Some insist the burning means the mouthwash is working, but alcohol isn’t necessary for mouthwash to be effective. Alcohol just stabilizes the formula. It isn’t what kills germs or freshens breath. In fact, alcohol in mouthwash has been known to cause dry mouth, which can make your breath smell worse and lead to more germs. Studies from BioMed Research International found alcohol-free mouthwash may have a better effect on the gloss, color, and hardness of your teeth. Bleeding gums are often a symptom of gum disease or a warning that gum disease is on the horizon. When plaque is allowed to build, it hardens into tartar. This calcified material irritates your gums and can potentially wear them down. The only way to remove the damaging plaque buildup is to brush your gums regularly. Not brushing due to bleeding will only lead to further problems. However, it’s important to determine the cause of bleeding, as it may also have something to do with your toothbrush or diet. If your gums are bleeding regularly, let your dentist know. When we give advice, we certainly mean well, but the best of intentions don’t make up for bad results. Let’s stick to what we know and leave the dental advice to the experts. BAD ADVICE: Don’t brush bleeding gums; give them time to heal.

Most people like to be helpful. If someone is having a hard time, we’ll happily offer some advice. However, even the most well-intended advice can have damaging consequences. When it comes to our teeth, there is a lot of misinformation going around. Here are some common bits of “wisdom” you can ignore.

BAD ADVICE: Use activated charcoal to whiten your teeth.

Activated charcoal, which is not the same as the bricks in your barbecue, is the latest beauty craze, thanks to its ability to absorb chemicals and toxins. Walk down the health and beauty aisle, and you’ll find charcoal in soap, face masks, shampoo, moisturizer, and deodorant. However, before you use charcoal to whiten your teeth, remember most stains are beneath the surface, where the charcoal can’t reach. Furthermore, scrubbing the gritty, abrasive substance across your teeth is likely to erode your enamel and damage your gums, leading to more dental problems.

It only takes 3 ingredients to make these crispy, flavorful potatoes. They’re the perfect side dish for any meal. ROASTED PARMESAN PESTO P O TAT O E S Ingredients • 2 pounds red potatoes, quartered • 2 tablespoons basil pesto • Salt and pepper, to taste • 3 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Have a Laugh

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In a large bowl, combine

3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese

evenly over potatoes and put the pan back in the oven. Roast for an additional 10–15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and crispy. Remove from oven and serve warm.

potatoes and pesto. Toss to coat. Transfer potatoes to a large baking sheet or shallow roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Roast 20 minutes and remove from oven.

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1409 6th Ave. SE #8 Aberdeen, SD 57401 605-225-2236 www.AberdeenSmiles.com

Aleaha Fettig, DDS Valerie Drake, DDS

Inside This Issue

The Story of Rockport Page 1 3 Family Activities for Thanksgiving Page 2 A Very Good Boy Page 2 Can Tall Tales Destroy Your Teeth? Page 3 Roasted Parmesan Pesto Potatoes Page 3 5 Fascinating Facts About Fall Page 4

5

Fascinating Facts About F A L L

2. Fall babies tend to be impressive. Not only does the world’s most common birthday, October 5, land in fall, but those babies have built an impressive resume. The British Department for Education found that they tend to do better in school, and also tend to live longer. 3. Weight gain is most common in the fall. It’s not only the Halloween candy or Thanksgiving turkey. Researchers believe it’s primarily caused by lower levels of vitamin D. As the days shorten and temperatures drop, we tend to get less sun. It’s another reason to be careful about diet and exercise this season. 4. Autumn is good for the economy. “Leaf peeping,” which is a slang term for fall foliage tourism, is more than just a funny name. It’s also a $3 billion industry in New England alone. 5. People fall in love more in the fall. Men’s and women’s testosterone levels tend to spike in the autumn, which makes women even more attractive to men. A >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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