Briarfield Dental Nov 2017

November 2017

Competitive Traditions in the Stuckey Household SKUNKS AT THANKSGIVING?

We all have something that makes Thanksgiving unique to our family. For some people, it’s just not Thanksgiving without grandma’s original bread stuffing recipe. Others look forward to using the china plates that have been handed down for generations. At the Stuckey family Thanksgiving, our traditions are simple. We gather around for a big family dinner, and when everyone has eaten their fill of turkey and mashed potatoes, we settle in to defeat one another in an old- fashioned game night. My family has always been pretty into games. It doesn’t matter if it’s a board game, card game, or dominoes — if there can be a winner, everyone wants to play. You could say we’re a bit competitive. No matter what game we play, the prize is usually the same. The winner gets to write

racking up points. The first person to 100 points wins, but there’s a catch. You can roll as many times as you want during your turn, but if you roll a one (called the “skunk”) on either die, you don’t get any points from that round, and the dice are passed to the next player. The rules might sound simple, but they lend a lot of suspense to the game. For example, maybe someone rolls a six and a four, earning them 10 points, and they end their turn. When the dice get to them again, they roll a five and a three. Rather than ending their turn with 18 points, they push their luck and roll again. This time, they roll a six and a skunk. Their turn ends, and they’re back to 10 points. Maybe they roll double skunks. That’s worse, because if you roll a double skunk, you lose all the points you’ve accumulated throughout the whole game! We’ve had

ultimately lost, we sent him into the kitchen to wash the dishes. He couldn’t believe we made him wash the dishes by himself! Well, rules are rules, and I don’t think he held a grudge about it. He and my sister-in-law got married a few years later. Thanksgiving game night is a wonderful holiday tradition I share with my family. At the office, we have holiday traditions, too. Once again, we’ll be hosting a toy drive from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15 to benefit the Lucas County Children’s Services. Help us lend a hand to children in our community who need it most by bringing in new, unwrapped toys to donate. Last year’s toy drive was a great success, and I’m excited to take part in this charitable endeavor and give back to our wonderful community.

their name in the esteemed Stuckey Game Book. This notebook has pages and pages of funny comments from past winners. It’s

games where someone started their turn with 95 points, then rolled a double skunk and lost it all. We play Skunk all throughout the year, but on Thanksgiving, there’s an

“My family has always been pretty into games. It doesn’t matter if it’s a board game, card game, or dominoes. If there can be a winner, everyone wants to play.”

become such a part of our gaming tradition that the moment someone claims victory, they jump up to grab the book. We’ve played a lot of games over the years, but the family favorite is a dice game, Skunk. Players take turns rolling a pair of dice and

added twist. The winners still get to write their name in the Stuckey Game Book, but the losers face the ultimate punishment. They have to wash all the dishes! Years ago, my sister-in-law brought her new boyfriend over for the first time during Thanksgiving dinner. We made him play Skunk with the rest of us, and when he

Happy Thanksgiving!

– Dr. Stuckey

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Coloring-Book Tablecloths 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. 3 Family Activities for Thanksgiving Gratitude Mobiles Of course, Thanksgiving isn’t just about delicious food. It’s also about reflecting on the parts of our lives we are grateful for. Teaching kids about gratitude is the most valuable Thanksgiving lesson. Bring that concept to life with a gratitude mobile. To create a holiday-themed “Stuff the Turkey” game, all you need is a few paper bags. We’ll bet you have some left over from shopping. Use two small bags stuffed with scrap paper to create legs and glue them to a larger

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, though, doesn’t mean you 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. 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. 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.

Grab some colored paper circles — or cut them out — and 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.

Tina: Our Dental Hygienist With a Creative Streak Finding Your Spark

All my life, I’ve loved to care for people, and this passion has led me to the health care field. Initially, I wanted to become a physical therapist, but, after two years of college, I realized it just didn’t ignite my spark. My then- fiance, Jamie, suggested I look into the dental hygiene program at Owens Community College because he thought I would be good at it. After 28 years with Briarfield Dental and Sleep Care, I guess it’s safe to say Jamie was right. It’s a good thing I married him! Of course, Jamie doesn’t get all the credit for my wonderful career. Briarfield is truly a special place. I haven’t worked a day since I started here, because it isn’t a job at all. I absolutely love what I do and am so blessed to be a part of such an amazing team. The support I have at

Briarfield enables me to broaden my passions and find other areas that spark my interest.

Outside of Briarfield, I love to cook, bake, and care for my family. I also help my dear friend, Cindy, with her “paint and sip” business, ArtSelf Expressions. Honestly, I never considered myself to be an artist, but this venture proved me wrong. If I can do it, anyone can! It’s a pleasure to work alongside Cindy to help people find their own creative spark. The ArtSelf Expressions Facebook page is full of amazing works of art. It’s fun to scroll down and see what people can create with a little inspiration and guidance.

years have been filled with challenges, and I am truly thankful for the people who got me through it. Without my faith, family, and friends, I never would have made it. Thank you all for helping me keep my own spark and remember the many blessings in my life. Here’s to a Thanksgiving with plenty of love, laughter, euchre, dominoes, and, of course, food!

This Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for. As many patients know, these last two

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This Bad Advice Most people like to be helpful. If someone is having a hard time, we’ll happily offer

Will Ruin Your Teeth

Bad Advice: The best kind of mouthwash has alcohol. 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. Bad Advice: Don’t brush bleeding gums; give them time to heal. 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.

LAUGH CORNER 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. 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,

Dr. Stuckey’s Playlist The Vast Musical Stylings of Eric Clapton

This month, my playlist features one of the greatest guitar players of all time. Extremely versatile in skill and background, this artist can play anything from the blues and reggae to pop and classic rock. After listening to his music, it should come as no surprise that he’s the only artist to ever be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three times! Of course, I’m talking about Eric Clapton. For over 50 years, Eric Clapton has rocked the music world. It’s impossible to describe just how influential he’s been to the music industry. His musical biography is mindblowing! He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of two separate rock bands, The Yardbirds and Cream, in 1992 and 1993 respectively. Then, in 2000, Clapton was inducted as a solo artist, having released numerous albums, including one of my favorites, “Journeyman. ”

Beyond his musical talents, I believe one of Clapton’s greatest accomplishments was opening Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a medical facility for recovering substance abusers. A recovering drug addict and alcoholic himself, Clapton’s facility has helped countless people who have struggled on the road to recovery. The Crossroads Guitar Festivals were amazing concerts organized to raise money for the center. My wife, Melody, and I were actually able to attend one of these festivals in Chicago. We saw an incredible lineup of performers, including Clapton himself! Considering his vast range of style and talent, there’s never a bad time to listen to some Eric Clapton. Just look at his songs “Layla” and “Running on Faith.” Two different sounds, rock and blues, but both will make you turn up the radio and jam out during the morning commute.

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Who Writes Their Name in the Stuckey Game Book? Family Activities for Thanksgiving Tina’s Creative Spark Can Tall Tales Destroy Your Teeth? Dr. Stuckey’s Playlist Iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons Iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving is a holiday full of traditions, from turkey and stuffing to football and naps. Since 1924, the Macy’s Parade has grown to become not only a Thanksgiving staple but also the world’s largest parade. Over 3.5

Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons

design. Without Felix’s debut, that parade might look a lot different today.

Snoopy

million people attended the parade last year, with another 20 million tuning in from home. The main attraction is always the massive character balloons, which first graced the skies in 1927. Over the decades, some of these balloons have become nearly as famous as the character they depict. When the Felix the Cat balloon appeared in 1931, it set the standard for all characters to follow. Sadly, the original balloon got tangled in wires and caught on fire, so it has been lost to history. Felix’s influence on the parade is so immense, however, that when Macy’s brought him back in 2016 for the parade’s 90th anniversary, they recreated his original Felix the Cat

When it comes to balloon characters, none is more famous than the classic “Peanuts” beagle. His first balloon floated through the sky in 1968, and he’s been a regular fixture ever since. Charles Schultz’s famous pooch holds the record for most variations in a parade (eight) and most total appearances (40). Though Snoopy doesn’t come out every year, he usually closes the show when he does.

Pikachu

The Pokémon mascot didn’t appear until 2001, but he’s become a star attraction, showing up every year since. Bright, expressive, and impossible to miss, Pikachu checks off all the boxes for a successful

balloon character. For 16 years, those who predicted that Pokémon was just a fad have gotten a big, yellow reminder of just how wrong they were.

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