Elkins Dental - September 2021

Elkins Dental - September 2021

FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE

ELKINSDENTAL.COM SEPTEMBER 2021

CHEERS TO 50 YEARS!

Celebrating My Parents’ Golden Anniversary

For 18,250 days, my parents have loved each other, and this month, we celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. As the son of a couple that has defeated the odds and made their marriage everlasting, growing up and watching the love flow between my parents has been remarkable. Reflecting back on my childhood, teenage, and adult years, I can only be in awe of the respect, adoration, and trust that my mother and father have for each other — they truly are exemplary. The story of how my parents met is actually quite funny. They both sang together in the same choir back when my father was in the Air Force and my mother was going to college. My mom actually happened to be dating my dad’s best friend. (Yes! It’s almost out of a movie!) Well, that relationship ended up not working out and only lasted a few weeks. Shortly after, my dad asked his friend if it would be alright if he took my mom out on a date, and to his liking, his friend gave him the go ahead. The rest is history — a true love story! As a family of eight, we spent a lot of time driving together as we moved across the country from military base to military base. While I sincerely admire my father for his service, I also have a lot of respect for my mother because, without technology, she somehow was able to entertain us in the car on these long trips. This is

that really stands out to me from that day is something my mom had to say. Speaking of her marriage, she stated,“It is important to make sure that love is the No. 1 thing that you focus on. Everyone is so different, and because of that, you need to make sure you love each person individually for their differences and love them for who they are — for being their own individual.” Hearing my mom’s words really resonated with me. It made me think of the many watercolor cards you will likely see if you venture far enough into the dental office. They are from my father. Each year, he makes each person in my family their own special card for their birthday. Together, for all of these years, they have prioritized loving each other and every member of the family for the individual person they are. When I think about it, it really is a motto to live by. My parents have spent 50 years loving and cherishing each other for their individual strengths and weaknesses. Without trying to change each other, they have loved and accepted each other through the good times and the bad. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is!

something that I am not sure I would be able to do with my own kids. Both of my parents are just truly remarkable people. To celebrate the greatest couple, we recently had a large family reunion along with my three brothers and two sisters. It was an early anniversary party, as the whole family won't be able to get together in September. One thing

–Dr. El kins

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Organize your school lunch supplies. Making your kids’ lunches each morning can be exhausting, but if you put different lunch items (e.g., bags of chips, apples, juice pouches, etc.) in different, easy-to-reach containers, you can turn making school lunches into an assembly line process where your kids do most of the work themselves, teaching them responsibility and taking a load off of your shoulders every school morning.You can even consider making the lunches the night before to lighten up the morning routine!

they have a set of hanging cubbies in their closets. Allow them to help choose outfits on a Saturday or Sunday before the new week; it will also help them learn how to dress themselves later in life.

Plan your kids’ outfits for the next day … or the next week. If they had their way, you know your kiddos would wear the same Spider Man or Elsa T-shirt every day of the week. So, if you want to make sure they look respectable and ready to learn every day, plan out their outfits for the entire school week. This is especially easy if

Back-to-school season shouldn’t be hectic — and with a few of these hacks in mind, it won’t be!

Cheyenne Takes a Closer Look at Bruxism

that come along with bruxism are dull headaches, loose teeth, tooth pain, jaw soreness, fractured teeth, and missing teeth. Bruxism is common in both adults and children. However, because children’s teeth and jaws are changing

No, you’re not dreaming about chowing down on some popcorn — something else is going on. Bruxism is the unconscious clenching and grinding of the teeth. Teeth grinding and gnashing typically take place while you are sleeping, and one of the main causes is stress.

Stress management is paramount when it comes to troubleshooting bruxism. In the office, we always tell patients, “Keep a stiff upper lip or get a grip.”However, stress and anxiety aren’t the only contributing factors of bruxism. Teeth grinding may also be caused by abnormal bites, sleep disorders, crooked teeth, or missing teeth. When teeth don’t line up properly, certain teeth may hit really hard on each other, and over time, this can wear down your smile. Bruxism may also be caused by alcohol and tobacco use. Individuals who drink and smoke are twice as likely to grind their teeth than people who do not. Teeth grinding can lead to chipped and cracked teeth, jaw soreness, jaw joint disorders, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), headaches, and jaw pain. Some symptoms

and growing, they are not affected as badly as adults are, and they often outgrow it by adolescence. When kids grind their teeth, it usually is caused by allergies, misaligned teeth, or irritation within the mouth. As your dental professionals, we at Elkins Dental can help! We can get you fitted for a mouthguard to wear while you sleep, and if we find that the bruxism is severe, we can speak with your physician about a muscle relaxant before bedtime. If you do grind your teeth, be sure to keep an eye on it and don’t fret. If you notice symptoms, give us a call for help! –Cheyenne, RDH

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ONE-PAN APPLE CIDER CHICKEN

Inspired by WellPlated.com

Ingredients

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?” • 2 tsp Dijon mustard • 4 tsp olive oil, divided • 3 sweet apples, cut into 1/2- inch slices • 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped, plus more for gar ish

• 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs • 1 tsp salt, divided • 1/2 tsp black pepper, divided • 1/2 cup apple cider

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!

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

4. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet, then add sliced apples, remaining salt and pepper, and rosemary. Cook for 5 minutes. 5. Return the chicken to the skillet and add apple cider-mustard mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, then serve sprinkled with rosemary!

1. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Set aside. 2. In a small bowl, combi e apple cid and mustard. Set aside. 3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 2 tsp olive oil. When shimmering, add chicken thighs top-side down. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip and cook for 4 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil. Wipe the skillet clean. JOKES DAD What is a pirate’s favorite letter? Most people think it’s the "R"rrrr, but really, it’s the "C" they love.

Why did the scarecrow get an award? Because he was out standing in his field!

Coffee Beans Are Actually Seeds DID YOU KNOW?

Facts Tooth Fun

Did you know that coffee beans are actually seeds? The beans that we use to brew our coffee are pits of small“cherry-like”berries that are on the shrubs of the coffee plants. We just call them beans because they resemble legumes! When the seeds are dried, roasted, and ground, they are used to roast coffee. If you don’t process the seed, it can actually be planted to flourish into a coffee tree! In fact, many years ago, people would mix the berries with animal fat to make an energy- rich snack bar. The pulp was also fermented to make a drink that resembled wine — bottoms up?!

Tooth enamel, which makes up the hard, outer layer of your teeth, is the strongest structure in the human body. It is even stronger than your bones! Unlike the bones in your body, the enamel in your teeth does not contain any living tissues. Instead, it is composed mostly of calcium phosphate. In fact, the enamel on your teeth is 96% mineral, which is what makes it so strong and damage-proof. But be careful, because just like bones, the enamel on your teeth can also break if enough force is applied. Be sure to always protect your tooth enamel by using fluoride, avoiding sugary foods, and brushing enough without overbrushing. Tooth Enamel: Stronger Than Bone

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Golden Anniversary 2. Cheyenne Takes a Closer Look at Bruxism

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

3. One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken

4. Hacks to Get Your Kids

Organized for the School Year

Did You Know?

1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617

Happy Labor Day from Elkins Dental!

208-369-4532 ElkinsDental.com

FROM A SCATTERBRAINED SUMMER TO AN ORDERLY SCHOOL YEAR Hacks to Get Your Kids Organized

Make a color-coded clock. Lots of kids are visual learners, which means an analog clock will be their best friend when it comes to keeping track of time. Color code different sections of the clock for different parts of the day to help them remember what they’re supposed to be doing, whether it’s blue for breakfast time, orange for homework hour, or purple for their bedtime routine.

Summer break (especially for young kiddos) is a lawless time with little meaning that’s punctuated by a vacation or trips to the park and pool. Transitioning children back to the calm, orderly world of the school year can be challenging for both teachers and parents. How can you make sure your kids trade in their summer hats for their school brains? Well, luckily, you can use a few hacks to make that transition brighter, seamless, and even fun.

Make school supply cubbies. If your child tends to throw their backpack and jackets all over the house, then school supply cubbies could be a game-changer.You could even just label different hooks in your mudroom or hallway if that’s all you have to work with. Whatever the case, when your kids have an established place to put their school stuff, it’s that much easier for them to find as they head out the door in the morning.

Create a fun checklist for school to-do’s.

Spelling out all the tasks your kids have to do before and after school will help them ease back into the routines of going to bed each night and getting up early for school. Plus, it will introduce them to the satisfaction of checking items off a list after completing them. When your kids know what to do and when to do it, it makes your day a little easier!

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