Elkins Dental - July 2022

Elkins Dental - July 2022

JULY 2022

FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE

ELKINSDENTAL.COM

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD Embracing the Innocence of Our Childhood

To be carefree again, without having ever been introduced to stress, responsibility, and all of the duties that come along with“adulting,” would be a dream I’m not sure I’d want to ever wake up from. July 8 is Be a Kid Again Day — a day dedicated to embracing your inner child and revisiting childhood memories. Every now and then, it’s okay to take a break from being an adult, to let loose and view the world through the eyes of a child. As adults, we watch our children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren explore the world, chattering away to themselves, and using their imaginations to take them far away from reality. That innocence and passion for life is something that we wish they could hold on to forever because life from a child’s perspective is magical. When I look back on my childhood, I’m filled with warm and fuzzy memories of fun with family and friends, celebrations, and vacations. Some of my favorite memories are the many fun family trips we took over the years, and one in particular always comes to mind. As a family, we went to Disneyland, and my mom was creative and made the whole family matching neon orange shirts with white stripes. They were hard to miss and stood out like a sore thumb in a crowd.

When we stopped to turn around, we saw my little brother being passed up through the large crowd because they could easily see he belonged with us because of the crazy orange shirt! The shirts were an excellent call on my parents’part!

Any time we all get together and reminisce, this memory always comes up in conversation and we laugh. It’s something I’ll never forget, along with the excitement of experiencing Disneyland as a child. While visiting as an adult is still fun, through the eyes of a child, the magic is incredible. In the month of July, while we celebrate our nation’s birthday and our independence on July 4, my dad also celebrates his 80th birthday on the very same day! Every year, our plans always involve celebrating both the holiday and his birthday, and this year, I’m really looking forward to a great time spent with my dad! Lastly, I’d like to announce that if anyone is interested, my brother and I will be playing at Homestead in Meridian, Idaho, on July 8 and Lakeview Golf Club in Meridian, Idaho, on July 22! Every now and then, it’s okay to take a break from being an adult, to let loose and view the world through the eyes of a child.

Me, my parents, and five siblings were all making our way through a busy and crowded area of the park near all of the shops and somehow my youngest brother, who was about 4 or 5 years old at the time, had wandered off. Sure enough, we started hearing people shouting from behind us.“Hey, you missed one!You lost one!”they shouted.

Happy Fourth of July!

–Dr. Elkins

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A LOVE OF LEARNING Starts at Home When you were growing up, you probably dreaded going to school as much as any other kid until your parents taught you the value of education. And now, your child may be going through that same phase. Perhaps they’re struggling to understand specific concepts, or they’re falling behind their peers and are embarrassed. Whatever the case may be for your child, you can use summer to teach them how to love learning and value education as much as you do.

and check out books about what they love. If they’re interested in a certain animal, take them to the zoo or to an aquarium to see it in real life.You can even take them to museums to explore science and history. Keep in mind that your child is going to mimic your behaviors, so be open-minded when it comes to education and learning. Read your own books alongside your child to motivate them to continue reading independently. Talk about the zoo animals and museum exhibits with your child to further encourage fun conversations about each topic to keep them interested. Finding activities that encourage your child to grow as a young learner will benefit them, no matter what time of year it is, but fun summertime educational experiences will keep your child entertained and prepared for the next school year!

First, you can start by explaining the reasons why education is vital in a relatable way. Use examples from your own educational journey to show how your school experiences developed your critical thinking skills, enhanced your creativity, and put you on a career path that was best for you. If your child enjoys more hands-on activities to learn, engage them in projects or field trips that allow them to touch and interact with materials alongside others. They’ll develop a love for learning in a mode that connects with their ideal learning style. Another way to instill the value of education in your child is to cultivate their passions while teaching them. Take them to the library

A Word From Cheyenne & Ashlee

The Truth About Canker Sores

Canker sores, also known

They will usually heal on their own within a week or two, but they can cause some pain and discomfort in your mouth. For temporary pain relief, avoid eating hot, acidic, or spicy foods and use an over-the-counter topical anesthetic or antimicrobial mouthwash. For severe canker sores, dentists and physicians can prescribe a prescription mouthwash or medication after examining the lesion. Over time, canker sores may reappear, and while the cause of canker sores is unknown, they have been linked to stress, immune system breakdowns, food allergies, bacteria, trauma to the mouth, hormonal changes, and certain medications.

as aphthous ulcers or recurrent aphthous stomatitis, appear inside the mouth as tiny white, yellow, or gray sores

and lesions with a bright red border. A very common misconception about them is that they are contagious — many people believe they can be passed from one person to another by kissing, contact, or even sharing straws, glasses, or saliva but this is not true. Canker sores can appear inside the mouth as just one lesion or several. When a canker sore first presents itself, you will feel a burning or tingling sensation. This is a little hint that one may be on the way. Then, a few days later, a bump will appear that ruptures, leaving behind a canker sore as an open wound in your mouth. Because they are open wounds, they can be easily prone to infection, thus it’s important to keep an eye on them.

If a canker sore ever concerns you, give us a call to set up an appointment for Dr. Elkins to examine it!

–Cheyenne & Ashlee Registered Dental Hygienists

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SUMMER CRAB AND LEMON CARBONARA

Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

Ingredients

MOUNTAIN RANGES Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, we don’t have to go far to find mountaintop winter activities. If skiing or tubing is your idea of winter fun, Bogus Basin is just a short drive away, and heading to McCall makes a fun weekend getaway. ... AND RIVERS Not only are we surrounded by the Payette and Boise rivers, Idaho is also home to the deepest gorge in North America: Hells Canyon. Take that, Arizona!

GOOD CHEER Beer lovers, rejoice! Idaho is the world’s largest hop producer, and more and more people are taking advantage of our agricultural bounty by opening breweries in the Treasure Valley. Share a few of these treasures with visiting family members and their only question will be “How did we not come here sooner?”

Out-of-town relatives who are visiting for the holidays might wonder what makes Emmett so special. But we already know the Treasure Valley is full of gems — and we don’t just mean the rocks. Here are some additional reasons Emmett and The Gem State are great. WE’VE GOT SUNSHINE On average, we have 210 sunny days per year. Compare that to 144 rainy days in Portland and we can feel pretty happy about all our free vitamin D. Directions • • 12 oz bucatini pasta 1/2 cup olive oil • • 2 tbsp garlic, finely chopped 1/4 cup drained and rinsed capers, chopped 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper • • 6 large egg yolks, beaten

• 3 oz Pecorino Romano cheese, grated • 1/2 cup fresh chives, thinly sliced • 8 oz fresh crabmeat • 1 tbsp grated lemon zest • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice • Sea salt or kosher salt, to taste

1. In a pot of boiling water, cook pasta until not yet al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup cooking liquid. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook oil and garlic until lightly toasted. Add capers and black pepper, then stir for 2 minutes. 3. Add reserved cooking liquid to skillet and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in pasta and cook until al dente. Remove from heat. 4. Stirring constantly, pour egg yolks quickly into the mixture. Add cheese and chives, stirring well until sauce is creamy. Add crab, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss together and season with salt.

JOKES DAD

Who was the biggest jokester in George Washington’s army? Laughayette.

What does the Statue of Liberty stand for? It can’t sit down.

Sidereal Day vs. Solar Day DID YOU KNOW?

Tooth Fun

Facts Did you know that it doesn’t take Earth a full 24 hours to complete one rotation on its axis? Instead, it takes Earth 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds to rotate

Cheese Protects Your Teeth?

one time on its axis, referred to as a Sidereal Day . However, this doesn’t mean that the day is almost 4 minutes shorter than we always thought it was.

There’s a certain type of protein in cheese known as casein. It’s found that harder cheeses, such as cheddar, have higher levels of casein. When we eat cheese, the casein coats our teeth, creating a layer that protects them against damages from acid or plaque, which would normally attach to our tooth enamel and potentially wreak havoc. Cheese also increases the production of saliva in your mouth, which helps to wash away bacteria, acid, and sugar. In addition, cheese nourishes your body with calcium and phosphate, which keep your teeth healthy and strong.

The Earth orbits around the Sun and the Sun moves roughly 1 degree each day,

which is about the size of the Moon in the sky. When you take into account the Sun’s daily movement as the Earth orbits around it along with Earth’s rotation on its axis, the total amount of time is a full 24 hours! This 24 hour period is known as a Solar Day , or the actual amount of time it takes for the Sun to return to the same place in the sky.

The bottom line: Eat more cheese! It’s great for your teeth!

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Be a Kid Again Day 2. Encourage Your Children to Learn

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

3. Summer Crab and Lemon Carbonara

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A True

Canine Hero

A Word From Cheyenne and Ashlee

1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617

Tooth Facts

Did You Know?

Happy Fourth of July From Elkins Dental!

208-369-4532 · ElkinsDental.com

A ROUND OF A-PAWS This Amazing Pup Saves the Day — Twice!

Heroes don’t always wear capes or stand on two legs — and in a specific case with a German shepherd, this is exceptionally true! A dog noticed that one of his favorite tiny humans was in some serious danger, so he saved the day, two times! A little boy and girl enjoyed the day, tossing a ball back and forth in their backyard. When the girl overthrew the ball, it unfortunately fell into a small pond behind the boy. The girl rushed inside the house to get help, but the boy stayed outside and even ended up leaning over the edge of the pond as he tried to retrieve the ball on his own. This is when a protective German shepherd, lying nearby in the grass, saw everything and immediately sprung into action. The dog first looked into the pond to locate the ball. Then, knowing the boy was in danger as he teetered on the edge, the dog tugged on the little boy’s vest with his teeth, pulling him backward to safety near the back patio of the home. Once the little boy was in a safe location, the dog located a pole net that had been leaning against the house and brought it over to the pond. While his tail wagged with pride, the dog fished the ball out of the pond.

The dog then put the net down on the ground near the pond and brought the ball over to the boy. This German shepherd saved the day for this little boy and girl — and also saved the boy from injury and needing a dry set of clothes! What an amazing canine. He deserves a treat and a round of a-paws!

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