Anderson Dental Care - January 2022

Anderson Dental Care - January 2022

BRUSH - UP

ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.

7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255 | 513-438-8152 | WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM | JANUARY 2022

Here’s Our DIY Fail (and Success) Story ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS

R

Optimism and DIY go together like peanut butter and marshmallow spread — the results can be amazing, but sometimes they’re messy. Back in our newlywed days, Jessica and I felt especially optimistic about our DIY ability. Our first home together was a fixer-upper in downtown Indianapolis — it needed a lot of work, but we were determined to do all the remodeling ourselves. One of our first major projects was adding a dishwasher to our 1930s kitchen. I had to reconfigure the plumbing from the sink, which meant cutting some water pipes. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the right tools because we’d just bought a home and, with me in dental school, our wallets were empty! I assured my wife, “We can figure this out! I bet I can use the wood saw.” Those were my famous last words, apparently. A wood saw doesn’t work on pipes, so I gave up on that. Then, I realized my drill would cut through the pipe. I figured that if I drilled through the pipe enough times, I could break off the old pipe and attach the new pipe with some sealant. The method worked, and we finally got the pipe cut to the right size. But then, we noticed the seal wasn’t working. A friend took a look and explained that the jagged edges in our old pipe prevented a straight seal. Thankfully, they had the proper tools and fixed it for us. Looking back, it’s hilarious that we thought we could cut a pipe with a drill, but it actually was very frustrating in the moment and nearly killed our DIY enthusiasm. That lesson paid off for us in the long run — we would never try to solve our DIY problems without the right tools.

With a lot of time and effort, we eventually remodeled that home’s entire kitchen and spent all our money fixing the sewer issues caused by tree roots in our front yard. We thought we might not need our remodeling skills after that home — until, well, we did. In 2018, we hired a plumber to fix a leak in our primary bathroom, but they’d soldered pieces together that didn’t hold. The pipe leaked as we slept, and we woke up to water that had flooded our bathroom and leaked through the kitchen ceiling, onto the kitchen floors, and down into the basement. “I assured my wife, ‘We can figure this out! I bet I can use the wood saw.’ Those were my famous last words, apparently.” Overnight, we had to replace a significant amount of our home, but at the time, but at the time, there were no contractors available for 6–8 months. We couldn’t afford to wait that long. So, we decided to take on the work ourselves. Although it was a very long road, Jessica and I were more knowledgeable and skilled than ever. (It didn’t hurt that my job experience makes me a lot smarter about operating drills ... ) We made sure we had the right tools, and we’re happy to laugh about our past failures now because, at the end of the day, we got to remodel our current home exactly how we want it. Almost everyone has a DIY project that went wrong. So, if DIY is part of your new year’s plans in 2022, don’t be discouraged — ultimately, any lessons learned are very valuable for growing your skills and expertise. Plus, it might even make a great story in the future!

513-438-8152 • 1

Yes, Oral pH Matters

Did you know that tooth stains are normal? Yep, it’s true. They come with normal wear and tear, age, eating and drinking certain things, and habits like smoking. There’s nothing wrong with having some stains, and many of them can be removed just by getting your regular dental cleanings. Of course, you can change your dental hygiene and other habits to reduce the amount of staining. But what if you want that pearly white smile? The truth is that even in their purest state, teeth aren’t naturally white. They’re more of a pale yellow — the color of the dentin inside the tooth that you can see through the enamel’s slightly translucent surface. If you really want that bright white smile without the maintenance of tooth whitening, veneers might be an option you consider. BEFORE DECIDING IF THEY’RE RIGHT FOR YOU What You Should Know About Veneers

January is National Hobby Month, and since it falls at the beginning of the year, it’s the perfect time to try something new! Hobbies add variety to your life and ensure you aren’t just living to work, so to speak. The best way to find a hobby you enjoy is to be open to new things. Whether it’s gardening, reading, drawing, running, fishing, crafting, or even beekeeping, finding an activity you enjoy is important. Here’s why! HOBBIES ARE STRESS RELIEVERS. Hobbies offer a healthy escape from your busy lifestyle by keeping you engaged in something you find pleasure in. Instead of just relaxing on the couch and turning off your mind for a bit (which is totally acceptable sometimes), hobbies allow you to remain mentally productive while winding down at the same time. HOBBIES ALSO PROVIDE EUSTRESS . Believe it or not, one type of stress is deemed beneficial: eustress. If you aren’t overly stressed and are feeling a little under-stimulated, a hobby can provide activity for both your mind and body to keep you feeling excited about life and ready to take on new challenges and adventures. HOBBIES OFFER A SOCIAL OUTLET. Some hobbies involve group activities, such as bowling, sports teams, book clubs, and even wine tasting. Connecting with others offers the social support humans depend on to lead a healthy and fruitful life. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find some great friends who share the same passions as you! HOBBIES DEVELOP PATIENCE. When you take on a new hobby, you are tasked with learning something new. Whether you’re practicing a new instrument, learning a different language, or figuring out how to make jewelry, a learning curve is involved. Building new skills takes patience, a very important attribute for success. Finding a hobby that suits you may take some exploration and trial and error, but it is all in good fun! Make it your goal to try something new or learn a new skill each month until you find something that sticks. Once you do, you’re sure to find that hobbies are both enjoyable and enriching! SKILLS THAT ENRICH US The Importance of Having a Hobby

Veneers are an investment in your smile, so here are some things to know when considering them.

1. THEY TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO DESIGN. What is the angle the veneers come to in your mouth? How much of your gums do you want to show in your new smile? Do you want to change the length or roundness of your teeth? There are many questions to take into account when dentists create your veneers. They are custom solutions that can take a lot of time to design. Your appointment may be long or may even require multiple appointments to get the results you want. 2. YOUR DENTIST AND ASSISTANT HAVE SPECIALIZED SKILLS. Don’t just go anywhere for veneers. Veneers are small and fragile, and dentists and their assistants needs to have the specialized skill set to place them in your mouth. This treatment is very aesthetic-based, too, so you need to trust the doctor’s eye for the shade (tooth color) and shapes you want. 3. THE LIFESPAN OF VENEERS IS GOOD, BUT IT DEPENDS A LOT ON HOW YOU CARE FOR THEM. Veneers typically last from 7–15 years, but this will depend a lot upon how well you take care of them. Brushing is still required, and regular dental cleanings are a must! Being careful of what you drink and other oral hygiene habits is also important. 4. INSURANCE IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO COVER THIS ONE. Because veneers are typically used for strictly cosmetic purposes, many dental insurances do not offer coverage for this service. You may have to pay for them out of pocket. It’ll be worth it for that pretty smile, but you should look into your specific dental plan’s coverage before making your final decision. There are other options for teeth straightening and whitening, too, so if you have any questions about the best options for achieving your ideal smile, we’ll be happy to help!

2 • WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM

Teach Your Children to Set Goals

4 STEPS TO SUCCESS

This new year, teach your children how to set healthy, achievable goals.

START BY SHARING YOUR GOALS. Without even realizing it, children often mimic the actions of the adults around them. So, share your goals with your child, and explain how you plan to achieve these goals. Then ask your child to do the same. It can be as big as moving up three grade levels in reading or as small as beating a video game. Foster these ideas within your child so they will set one of their goals and have a positive experience when they achieve it. CREATE NEXT STEPS TOGETHER. If you want to have more energy in the new year, what steps will you take to achieve that goal? Ask your child to consider the same question in regard to their objectives. If their goal is to finish a certain video game, how will they improve their current game play? What can they do to earn more video game time? Are there learning tools that can help them accomplish this? Teach them that achieving a goal is about so much more than desire; you have to put in the work to accomplish it, too! FOCUS ON KEEPING IT SMALL. If you want to encourage your child to achieve their goals, then create smaller tasks that teach them the value of finishing something. For example, start and complete an arts and crafts project or game together to show your little one the value of finishing what they start.

Then, slowly work your way up to the big goal. Maybe that’s cleaning their room without unnecessary detours or finishing their homework on time.

FINALLY, CELEBRATE! This is important. Acknowledge the wins that both you and your child have throughout the year. For example, if they want to be a better reader, celebrate whenever they finish a book. This will encourage them to keep going. And even if they do fail, honor their effort. Remind them that putting in the effort, regardless of the outcome, is powerful, too.

For more tips on how to teach your children to set and keep goals, visit Parents.com.

BLACK BEAN, MANGO, AND AVOCADO SALAD

WHO INVENTED THE HOT DOG? The lineage of the hot dog traces back to the 15th century Viennese sausage. But Johann Georghehner, a butcher from Coburg, Bavaria, is credited with the invention of the “dachshund” or “little dog” sausage in the 17th century. It was still eaten with a knife and fork — no bun, yet! WHY IS THE RING OF FIRE NAMED AS SUCH? The area within the Pacific Ocean is called the Ring of Fire because the edges in the circle have high volcanic activity and earthquakes. The majority of active volcanoes are located on this circumference. WHO WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO OWN A CAR? President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to own a car. Mr. Roosevelt is also credited as the first president to ride in an airplane, have a telephone in his home, and ride in a submarine. Your Monthly Need-to-Know

Liven up your healthy eating this year with this Latin-inspired, flavor-packed recipe!

INGREDIENTS •

1 small mango, skinned and chopped

•

1 avocado, chopped

•

3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

•

1 red chile, seeded and chopped

•

1 medium red onion, chopped

•

2 cans black beans, drained

•

Cilantro, chopped and to taste

•

1 lime, for zest and juicing

In a large bowl, mix the ingredients together. Serve and enjoy! DIRECTIONS

Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com

513-438-8152 • 3

513-438-8152 WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM

ANDERSON DENTAL CARE Nathan Brooks, DDS, Inc.

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

7525 STATE RD., STE. A, CINCINNATI, OH 45255

4 Steps to Setting Better Goals With Your Children INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 Black Bean, Mango, and Avocado Salad January’s Need-to-Know Local Events in January Why Hobbies Are Important Are Veneers Right for You? Don’t Make Our DIY Mistakes!

WHAT’S GOING ON, CINCINNATI? Start Off 2022 With Some Great Events Is your New Year’s resolution to attend more events near you? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! There are tons of events going on in Cincinnati for you to enjoy. Here are some in January.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND PIXAR Jan. 1–April 24, 2022 Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal 1301 Western Ave. CincinnatiUSA.com/events/science-behind-Pixar Since 1995, generations have grown up with Disney and Pixar’s animated characters. You can now discover the science that brings these characters to life! There are eight interactive areas that showcase the filmmaking process — modeling, riggings, surfaces, sets and cameras, animation, simulation, lighting, and rendering.

‘HAIRSPRAY’ Jan. 4–9, 2022 Aronoff Center for the Arts 650 Walnut St. CincinnatiArts.org/events/detail/hairspray “Hairspray,” Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy that inspired the film and television series, is back! Join us as we watch Tracy Turnblad in 1960’s Baltimore dance her way onto the big screen. Can a girl with big dreams (and big hair) make it to the big leagues? During this event, you can hear some of the hit songs like “Welcome to the ‘60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore,” and “It Takes Two.”

HOLOCAUST SPEAKER SERIES Jan. 5–June 29, 2022 Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center 1301 Western Ave. HolocaustAndHumanity.org/speaker-series Have you wanted to hear stories of life before, during, and after the Holocaust? Each Wednesday starting at 11 a.m. on Zoom, the Holocaust Speaker Series features Holocaust survivors and descendants of survivors sharing their stories. This intimate and meaningful experience will provide personal insight into life during this time.

There are also more than 50 interactive elements the entire family can enjoy.

4 • WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM