Elkins Dental - June 2021

Elkins Dental - June 2021

FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE

ELKINSDENTAL.COM JUNE 2021

WHAT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN LOVE?

Being a Dad Isn’t Simple — Except When It Is

I’ve been thinking about family a lot this spring. With Beth and I celebrating our 22nd anniversary last month as well as Mother’s Day, and now Father’s Day in June, it’s been a time for me to reflect on the blessings I’ve been given and to be grateful. My wife and I have six kids, and that means six chances to be the best dad that I can be. Of course, it’s also six chances to make mistakes. But when I think about my own father, who had six kids of his own, my mind doesn’t go to the small things he didn’t get right. Instead, I remember the one big thing he always got right with every single one of us: I never had to feel or worry that my dad didn’t love me.

waiting for the return, and we got to the point where Dad could throw it at us and we could send it right back to him every time! A quick aside, which my dad still loves to talk about, is that this game had several unusual effects once we started playing T-ball and Little League a few years later. The first was that we were hitting that ball way harder and way more accurately than any kid of our age had a right to, especially back in those days. The second was that since the game at home was“hit the ball to the pitcher,”the first time our coach pitched to us, he had to jump off the mound — because we were sending it right back to him, man!

My dad holding one of his grandkids, my son Adam

I’ve been a dad myself now for years and years, and I still think about how Dad raised us kids almost every day. I know that not everyone was as lucky to have the example and the love that I did, and I remain immensely grateful for that gift. To be honest, I got a lot of things from my parents: a love of music, singing and playing instruments, a natural curiosity for the world — the list goes on. But when things are tough or I’m not sure what to do, I think back to the first, most simple thing Dad ever did for me. And then I go tell my kids I love them.

My siblings, who I talk to often, say the same thing about their own relationships with Dad. After all, he wasn’t subtle about it, and he still isn’t. Even now, when he comes to visit my dental practice, he’ll stop me in the middle of something and say,“Clark, you know that I love you, right?” What a simple thing to get right. But I know from speaking to others that hearing that as a kid or an adult isn’t as common as it should be — especially from dads. Just as important, though, is to see that in action. When my kids started getting heavily into soccer, it was a little outside my wheelhouse, and I couldn’t help but think of my brother Russ and my own love for baseball and football growing up, which my dad always nourished as best he could. The fact was that Dad wasn’t a fantastic baseball player or someone who could put the tightest spin on a football. But he loved us, and he backed that up by trying to help us improve and enjoy things we loved doing, even if it wasn’t his thing. In fact, he helped us discover some of those things in addition to just fanning the flames: Back when we were stationed in South Carolina, Dad dangled a baseball on a long rope from a tree in the backyard. Russ and I would spend hours swinging at that thing and

Happy Father’s Day,

–Dr. El kins

P.S. My dad and mom also wanted us to know that they didn’t just love us kids, but loved life in general. So often, that second love was expressed through music, and that’s a big part of why my brother Russ and I formed our own band years ago. This month, Russ and I are playing the Emmett Cherry Festival on June 19 at 6:30 p.m . Come support the festival and listen to some great tunes from us and other acts!

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DIY OR BUY?

Lawn Games for Family Summer Fun

The warm summer sun may be enough to beckon your family outdoors, but lawn games will guarantee hours of fun outside. If you’re handy, there are plenty of great lawn games you can make yourself. If not, buy an off-the-shelf alternative and enjoy the easy setup. Giant Jenga: Easy DIY All you need to build a giant Jenga tower are two-by-fours that are cut to length. If you’re handy with a saw, you can do this at home. If not, ask to have the wood cut at your local lumberyard. Be sure to sand down the edges before stacking the boards to create a classic Jenga tower! For extra fun, pick a few paint colors and paint each board.Visit ABeautifulMess.com/make-this-giant-jenga to see a complete set of instructions. Buy: Skip the project and buy GoSports Giant Wooden Toppling Tower online, which retails for about $70 and stacks over 5 feet high. Classic Horseshoes: Intermediate DIY Tossing horseshoes is a great way to pass an afternoon. To play, you’ll just need to set up two sand pits in your yard. Get a handful of horseshoes, and you’re ready to go!

Many DIY plans are available online, including one from HousefulOfHandmade.com/ultimate-diy-horseshoe-pit. Buy: Check out the kid-friendly rubber horseshoe set from Wayfair.com, which requires no installation, can be used indoors or alongside your outdoor game, and is safe for younger children. Cornhole: Advanced DIY The humble beanbag may be the most versatile backyard game piece. It’s used in the popular game commonly known as cornhole. To build your own cornhole set, you’ll need a couple of sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood along with two- by-fours, some hardware, and a variety of tools including a drill, jigsaw, and sander.Visit DIYPete.com/cornhole-board- plans to get both written and video instructions. Buy: Ready to play ASAP? Cornhole sets are available from many large retailers around summertime, or you can order a customized set featuring your favorite team, family name, or characters from your favorite movies by looking at Etsy.com. Whether you buy or DIY, remember to have fun and always supervise your children while playing outdoors, especially when it comes to yard games!

A Word From Cheyenne:

Avoid the Summer Slide!

Summer is here at last, and we’ve got plenty of things we’re excited to do! But one thing we’re not excited about is the“summer slide”that can happen with dental health, particularly kids’health.

September visit if you can’t get in this August and call early to get your spot locked down. We can’t wait to see your kids!

Healthy Tips for Summer Snacking

Summer may be enough to make you smile, but here are some ways to make those smiles the best they can be:

• Crunch down on celery, cucumber sticks, carrots, or broccoli instead of carbs. • Cheese sticks and other dairy products are low in sugar and high in calcium and phosphorus, which strengthen and protect tooth enamel. Research says more dairy lowers risk of gum disease. • Try a“plaque remover”instead of harmful toothpicks. Sugar-free gum activates saliva, which removes bad tastes and is better than candied mints. • Fruit is fine, but seeds get stuck. Watch out for those berries! • If you crunch on ice, get crushed, not cubed.Your uncracked teeth will thank you. • Finally, for a refreshing soda alternate, drop fruit slices in ice water and let it stand for a while.You can even make“sun tea”by putting slices in warm water and sunlight, then chilling the cup! –Cheyenne, RDH

1. Stay on routine, whether you’re at a lake house or roughing it in camp. It may be tempting to skip the brushing, but don’t neglect your smile. Two minutes of brushing twice a day is a“smile”price to pay! Do it with family to stay on track. 2. For many, summer includes sugary drinks like lemonade, sweet tea, or an ice-cold soda. In this case, though, only one sugary drink a day keeps the dentist away. While you’re feeling snacky, pick smart things to munch on! 3. It’s not“back to school”until the kids have been to the dentist, which lets us spot trouble and fix it before the school year really gets going. But we’re already filling up fast, so consider a late-July or mid-

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CLASSIC VEGAN DOUGHNUTS

Inspired by Tasty.co

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! • 1/4 cup vegan margarine • 1/2 cup soy milk • 2 tbsp sunflower oil, plus more for frying • 2 cups plain flour

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?” • 1/2 cup baker’s sugar, divided • 1 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt

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

1. In a small pot, melt margarine over medium heat. 2. Once melted, stir in soy milk and sunflower oil. Once combined, take off heat and set aside. 3. In a l rge bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Once mixed, combine with margarine mixtur until thick. 4. Using your hands, roll dough into flat circles and press a hole through the center. JOKES DAD What animal is always at a baseball game? A bat

5. In a pan, heat more sunflower oil to at least 360 F and no more than 375 F. 6. Gently add doughnuts to the oil and fry for 3–5 minutes on each side. 7. Once fried, place doughnuts on paper towels to soak up excess oil. 8. Roll doughnuts in remaining sugar and enjoy!

How do we know that the ocean is friendly? It waves!

DID YOU KNOW?

Tooth

Where Did the Mule Deer Go? Facts Our location is a unique one, right on the edge of the mountains and high desert. Being this close to both, we get to see things in nature that folks a hundred miles north or south just don’t. Other times we

You protect your skin from the sun, but what about your teeth?

see species that slowly migrate. And we don’t just mean birds; did you know that mule deer have seasonal movement patterns as well? Like many species, they head for the lowlands during winter, but in summer, they go back to the cool hills instead of sweating it out down below! As you can guess, our location

The Swimming Pool It is important to brush your teeth after swimming in a chlorinated pool. Some swimming pools have extra high chlorine levels that can weaken your teeth. Stay Hydrated We don’t think too much about saliva and that’s probably okay, but it’s an important defense against decay and bad breath. Staying hydrated protects your gums and helps to prevent tooth decay. Smile There are lots of reasons to smile all summer long. Evidence suggests that smiling reduces stress and helps your heart. So show those teeth! Brush twice a day, floss daily, and smile big.You'll feel better when you do.

means mule deer cross our path going both ways. Summer is heating up, so you can expect to see them coming our way. Just don’t expect them to stay because it may be too hot for them here come August. And of course, as they move around, watch for deer in the roads!

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. What’s More Important Than Love? 2. DIY or Buy: Summer Lawn Games

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

3. Classic Vegan Doughnuts

4.

Have You Explored

a National Forest?

Did You Know?

1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617

Cheyenne: Avoid the Summer Slide

Happy Father's Day from Elkins Dental!

208-369-4532 ElkinsDental.com

EXPLORE A NATIONAL FOREST FOR FREE On National Get Outdoors Day

Many people in the U.S. and across the world have a national park trip on their travel bucket list. While Zion,Yellowstone, and the Great Smoky Mountains are all awesome locales, outdoor enthusiasts often overlook a resource that is less busy, less expensive, and usually right in their backyard: national forests. All but 10 states have a national forest (or more than one!), so if your home state doesn’t have one, it’s very likely a neighboring state does! And there’s no better time to hike, bike, forage for mushrooms or berries, or camp at a nearby national forest than this month. The tree-filled landscape will provide shade and help you beat the summer heat, and to further incentivize visitors, the U.S. Forest Service (the organization that oversees the national forests) is offering a fee-free day on Saturday, June 12, in honor of National Get Outdoors Day! While parking and day-use fees to access national forests tend to be relatively modest, fee-free days open up the opportunity to all visitors. The U.S. Forest Service has a great interactive map tool that prospective park-goers can use to learn more about the forests in their area, amenities and activities, and accessibility.Visit FS.fed.us/ ivm to access the map and see what’s near your hometown!

If you’re dreaming up travel plans beyond your state’s border, consider visiting these notable U.S. national forests. • El Yunque National Forest: Located in Puerto Rico, ElYunque is the only tropical rainforest in the United States.

• Tongass National Forest : Spanning 16.7 acres and several islands across Southeast Alaska, the Tongass is the country’s largest national forest. • Salmon-Challis National Forest : This Idaho forest is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 and contains the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. • Cibola National Forest and Grassland: Spread across north- central New Mexico, west Texas, and Oklahoma, this forest and grassland area is notable for its diverse ecosystems and wildlife. The Sky Islands portion of the park is also home to over 200 rare plant and animal species.

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