Eagle Dental October 2018

BIRDSEYE VIEW

OCT 2018

eagleidahodental.com 151 N. StiermanWay, Eagle, ID (208) 939-4111

THE INCREDIBLES RETURN FROM DISNEYLAND

I’m happy to report that I got plenty of use out of my new pop-up camper this summer. As I mentioned last month, we had two trips planned to wrap up the camping season. The first was a trip to Grand Jean, Idaho, with the family for our annual end-of-summer get-together. We normally hold the event around Stanley, so it was nice to experience a change of scenery this year. Spending time with my extended family, especially so far away from the routine of daily life, is a wonderful chance to connect and share quality time together. The second trip was full of one-on-one time with my brother. We went bowhunting for elk on the Continental Divide. There’s not much to do on these trips but trudge around and talk quietly, so they end up featuring a lot of excellent conversation. We did manage to catch the trail of some elk, but we weren’t lucky enough to bring anything home. At least we didn’t have to spend the time getting a 700-pound animal into a truck and bringing it back down to Southern Idaho. Meredith, the kids, and I took a trip of a different sort when we went to Disneyland withMeredith’s parents. It was our second visit to the “Happiest Place on Earth,” and I would say it went much better than last year. As the kids grow older and taller, they can get on more rides, so it keeps things fresh. I have to be honest —waiting in line stinks, but it’s worth it to see the smiles on everyone’s faces and know that they’re having the time of their lives. Just in Time for Halloween

Another awesome byproduct of the trip to Disneyland is that it gave us plenty of inspiration for our family-themed Halloween costume this year. We had already decided to dress up as the Incredibles before our trip — right around the time we started hanging up some decorations in late September — but seeing the official versions of these characters definitely encouraged us to step up our game. Well, when I say “us,” I actually mean Meredith. She’s the real superhero for taking charge of our costumes and always coming up with something, ahem, incredible. Over at the office, you can expect us to have some Halloween decorations going up as well. The team and I are really excited to get into the holiday season at Eagle Dental Care. While we haven’t finalized all of our holiday plans just yet, you can expect a few fun events and activities to show up on the calendar soon. I hope you have had a wonderful start to fall and are enjoying the cooler temperatures. Winter is right around the corner, but let’s savor the cool autumn breeze while we can. May your Halloween be full of frights, delights, and not too much candy.

Eagle Dental Care will be closed during the week of Oct. 15 to complete our office remodel.

If you had an appointment during this week, you should’ve already received a call to reschedule. We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by the closure, but we promise the results will be worth it. We look forward to seeing you after the office makeover is finished.

–Dr. Chris Thomason

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HAVE A FUN AND SAFE HALLOWEEN!

EVEN THE MOST FRIGHTENING GHOULS NEED TO BE CAREFUL

Before heading out for some good old-fashioned trick-or-treating, take the time to go over basic safety tips. Teach kids to look both ways before crossing, use crosswalks and traffic signals, cross streets on the corners, and never run across the street. Making eye contact with drivers before walking in front of their cars is also a good way to make sure the driver knows the child is there. CHOOSE SMART COSTUMES Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without costumes! They should be fun, but you can also make them safer by following a few simple guidelines. Add reflective tape to candy bags and costumes and wear light colors to stand out in the dark. Buying or making the right-sized costumes is also important. If they’re too large, they create a tripping hazard, and if they’re too tight, they can restrict movement. If your child wears a mask, make sure they can see out of it properly. MAKE A PLAN Before heading out to trick or treat, create a plan and discuss it with every member of your family. This ensures that if someone in your group wanders off, they’ll know where to look for you or where to go. In case you’re separated, label your child’s costume with your name, address, and phone number. If your children are old enough to trick or treat without adults, make sure that their cellphones are charged and on them at all times, and schedule regular check-ins.

Happy Halloween, you goblins, ghouls, witches, and spooks! It’s that time of year again when kids and adults alike can dress up and roam the streets as their favorite heroes, frights, or princesses. While kids are eager to show off their outfits and fill their pillowcases with sugary treasures, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential dangers on Halloween night. PRACTICE STREET SAFETY Make sure your kids understand basic road safety. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, “Children are more likely to be struck by a vehicle and killed during Halloween than any other day of the year.”

KARA’S CORNER You might not expect a dental hygienist to say this, but I’m here to tell you that letting your kids enjoy some Halloween candy is totally fine. Of course, it’s important to not let them gorge themselves on more sugar than any human needs. With proper moderation and a few techniques, candy be eaten without too much risk for your children’s teeth.

Candy Rules for Halloween

The first important consideration is deciding which types of candy to avoid. Anything excessively sticky — taffy, caramel, etc. — can lodge between teeth and even cause damage, especially to less structurally sound baby teeth. If a piece of candy is stickier than, say, a Starburst, think twice about giving it to your little ones. The other big category to steer clear of is slow-dissolving candy like Jolly Ranchers and suckers. These products stay in the mouth for a long time, increasing the time that teeth are exposed to sugar. When children eat candy is important as well. Snacking on it throughout the day is a bad idea because it results in many hours a day spent with sugar in their mouths. Instead, dole out a few pieces after dinner. Post- meal time, when mouths are producing lots of saliva, allows sugar to be broken down more quickly and with minimal amounts of the acid that can lead to decay. When you pack candy in a child’s lunch, be sure to include an apple or a piece of cheese as well. These items, which we call “buffer

foods,” create an environment in the mouth that decreases the impact of sugar on teeth and gums. Drinking plenty of water alongside candy is another smart tactic. As an alternative, you could always pick up some sugar-free candies. In fact, I would actually encourage children to enjoy products sweetened with xylitol, because it creates a healthy pH level in your mouth, which goes a long way in preventing cavities.

So can your kids enjoy candy without worry? Yes, but not if they have free reign.

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now that ’ s scary!! Letting your dental benefits expire?

Throwing hard earned money down the drain What ’ s scarier than Ghosts and goblins ?

151 N. StiermanWay Eagle, ID 83616 eagleidahodental.com (208) 939-4111

THE SUGARY SUBSTANCE DENTISTS ACTUALLY RECOMMEND XYLITOL STARVES THE BAD BACTERIA IN YOUR MOUTH

If you’ve ever seen the 1971 classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” then you are familiar with the fictional sugar-filled labyrinth fromwhich some of the most scrumdiddlyumptious sweets are

to insulin resistance, weight gain, risk of heart disease and cancer, and several other serious health-related issues.

WHY DO DENTISTS RECOMMEND IT? Many dentists recommend using xylitol-sweetened chewing gum— no, not the kind that turned Violet into a giant blueberry. Studies indicate that xylitol can prevent tooth decay. One of the leading risk factors for tooth decay is a type of oral bacteria called Streptococcus mutans. Having traces of this bacteria on your teeth is normal, but when there is an abundance, your immune system starts attacking it. These attacks often lead to inflammatory gum diseases that can cause gingivitis. To stay alive, these bacteria feed on sugar from the food you eat, but oddly, they can’t process xylitol. If you replace your sugar intake with xylitol, the bacteria will still eat it, but their energy pathways will become clogged and they will starve.

delivered to the world’s candy stores. To children, the chocolate river, Everlasting Gobstoppers, and Fizzy Lifting Drinks are the mouthwatering epitome of fun, but adults might look at all that sugar and run away screaming. According to the American

Diabetes Association, added sugar may be the unhealthiest aspect of the modern diet. Fortunately, the natural sweetener xylitol provides a healthier alternative.

WHAT IS XYLITOL? Xylitol is a white, crystallized sugar alcohol. It looks and tastes like sugar, but it has fewer calories and only has a negligible effect on blood sugar levels. You can find small amounts of it in many fruits and vegetables, which is why many define it as “natural.” You can also find xylitol in birch trees, but more often than not, scientists make it in a lab using the plant fiber xylan. Xylitol is considered a healthier choice than fructose, especially high fructose corn syrup, which spikes blood sugar and insulin levels. This spike can lead

It is not often that a dentist recommends that their patients chew on sweets, but consuming this sugar can do wonders for your teeth and gums.

SPICED PUMPKIN SEED CRUNCH

LAUGHING GAS

This recipe combines pumpkin seeds, a seasonal favorite, with cashews, sunflower seeds, and spices. It’s a perfect homemade snack for the fall.

INGREDIENTS

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1/4 cup shelled sunflower seeds

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1 large egg white

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1/4 cup raw cashews, coarsely chopped

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1 teaspoon light agave syrup

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1/2 teaspoon garammasala or curry powder

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1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

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Nonstick vegetable oil spray

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1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

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1/4 cup shelled pumpkin seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

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Heat oven to 300 F.

2.

Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg white, agave, salt, and spices. Add nuts and seeds and toss until evenly coated. 4. Using a slotted spoon, strain spoonfuls of mixture over bowl and transfer to baking sheet. Discard excess egg white mixture. 5. Bake 20–25 minutes, tossing once. 6. Let cool and serve. Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine

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The Holidays Are Here page 1 page 2 page 2 page 3 page 3 page 4 INSIDE Trick-or-Treating Safety! Kara on Halloween Candy The Sugar You Should Be Eating Spiced Pumpkin Seed Crunch 3 of theWeirdest Cryptids in Pseudoscientific History

THE MONSTERS SOME BELIEVE ARE REAL 3 of the Weirdest Cryptids in Pseudoscientific History

THE BUNYIP When European settlers began edging into the territory of Aboriginal Australians, they heard whispered, frightened tales of a man-eating “water spirit” that lived in the lakes and rivers of the area. Descriptions of the creature varied wildly. The monster was alternately described as an enormous starfish, an alligator-like creature with the head of an emu, or a massive bulldog-faced beast. But accounts held one thing in common: The monster claimed the lives of any who dared camp near its watery domain. THE LOVELAND FROG One night, near Loveland, Ohio, a man reportedly beheld a trio of bipedal frog-people slapping their webbed feet along the side of the road. If that wasn’t enough, one even had a magic wand, which shot sparks as the man ran off. Apparently, not all mythical beasts are bloodthirsty monsters; some are a little more Kermit than Cthulhu.

There are peoplewhowould have you believe that monsters live among us all year long. These individuals, referred to as cryptozoologists (or just “wishful thinkers” by their skeptics), believe a hidden animal kingdomexists just beyond the edge of mainstream biological science. Here are three of theweirdest, almost-certainly imaginary “cryptids” to ever capture the human imagination. THE JERSEY DEVIL According to legend, the 1.1 million-acre Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey are home to more than just birds and deer. The story goes that when one Jane Leeds gave birth to her 13th child, she was dismayed to add yet another kid to her responsibilities. She cried out, “Oh, let this one be the devil!” Shortly after the child was born, the boy was transmogrified into a twisted creature with the malformed head of a goat, leathery wings, and a thrashing, forked tail. After slicing the midwife with its ragged claws, the beast flew up the chimney and fled into the trees. Hundreds of years later, the beast is still said to creep the backwoods on its cloven hooves, glowering from the blackness with shining, red eyes.

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