Lifetime Dental November 2017

NOV 2017

www.eauclairedental.com | (715) 257-4335 LIFETIME PAGES

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THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING THANKS What I’m Thankful For

As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches, it has never been more important to be grateful for your loved ones. In light of the tragedy in Las Vegas and the many recent natural disasters, including hurricanes and fires, we have much to be thankful for close to home.

If you haven’t told your loved ones

If you haven’t told your loved ones you care about and appreciate them, be sure to take a moment and do just that. It’s easy to get caught up in recent events and forget what truly matters. Share a hug, flash a smile, and give thanks.

you care about and appreciate them, be sure to take a moment and do just that.

My daughter was married on September 16. I’m thankful for her and all the friends and family who attended the big event. I saw a lot of people that day, and it was nice to connect with each of them. What a wonderful wedding on a wonderful day. I’m also thankful for the people in my life who served as my mentors. Whether you’re still in school, starting a career, or even if you’re well- established, it can be invaluable to have a mentor with whom you can talk and share ideas. Mentors help us make better choices, power through mistakes, and give us the insight needed to push through a challenge. One of my best mentors was my dad. I’m thankful for our relationship and all the years we had together. Before he passed away 10 years ago, we had a strong relationship. I learned so much from the wisdom he imparted. It’s the kind of wisdom that stays with you and helps you avoid the mistakes of the previous generation. In fact, my dad had a saying along those lines: “Too soon old and too late smart.” I’m thankful, as well, for everyone I’ve met through my practice. It has put me in contact with so many wonderful people through the years. They’ve enriched my life, and I hope I’ve been able to enrich theirs. I trust you’ve

gotten a laugh or two from our daily jokes and emails. After all, it’s nice to keep life on the lighter side, and people say laughter is good for the immune system. I’m thankful for the amazing summer we had this year. We may be well into fall, but if I can say anything about this summer, it’s that it went by way too fast. It’s already practically time to bring out the snow shovel. Of course, just about every summer goes by too quickly. Then we complain that it’s gone, just as I’m doing now. I guess we must have had too much fun. There are so many more things I’m thankful for, but I’ll leave it at that. As you gather with your family and friends, I encourage you to share what it is you are thankful for. From all of us at Lifetime Dental Care, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving! –Dr. Anthony Butchert

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3 CLEANING ‘RIP-OFFS’ THAT ACTUALLY WORK

DETERGENT PODS You use too much soap in your washing machine and dishwasher. At least, that’s what the New York Times reported as the No. 1 complaint from repair people and appliance experts. Modern appliances are designed to use less water, and as soap becomes more concentrated, using too much can damage your machine. That’s what makes detergent pods so handy. They don’t look like they can clean all your dishes or an entire load of clothes, but they actually provide the perfect amount for modern machines. You save money on detergent and machine repair! FOAM CLEANING BLOCKS Anything with “magic” in the title sounds like a scam. For this reason, you may have avoided the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and similar melamine foam products. But this is one case where the product lives up to its wild claims. Melamine foam is abrasive and can break down and remove material from fine cracks and textures, making it an effective cleaner. It can be used to whiten sneakers, clean tub scum, and remove permanent marker from your fridge. Since the snake oil salesmen in the days of old first tricked trusting folks out of their hard-earned cash, consumers have wised up and are quick to write off perceived scams. Still, every now then you get lucky, and the cheap white sponge really does make the stove look like new. But you should still think twice before you say yes to gas station sushi.

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But sometimes we stumble across a few hidden gems that make our lives easier. And, when it comes to cleaning house, we can all use a little “easier.” Check out these products

let them surprise you.

DOLLAR STORE CLEANING PRODUCTS

If you’ve ever ducked into the local dollar store to buy some Mylar balloons for your niece’s birthday party,

you might have noticed the jugs and spray bottles plastered with the word “Awesome.” Surely, this knock-off soap can’t work as well as your brand-name products, right? You’d be surprised. Online reviewers sing Awesome’s praises, suggesting it should really be a higher price for how well it works. Just make sure you wear gloves when you use it.

Most people like to be helpful. If someone is having a hard time, we’ll happily offer 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, 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. 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 Will Ruin Your Teeth THIS BAD ADVICE

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.

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WHY CITIES FLUORIDATE YOUR DRINKING WATER These Stats Prove the Value

The first major city in America to fluoridate their drinking water was Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1949. Since then, cities all across America have added fluoride to their water. Of the top 50 largest U.S. cities, only six are currently without it. Why so many? Cities across the U.S. have caught on to what dentists have been saying since well before 1949: Fluoride is safe, effective, and cheap. Not only that, but it’s natural as well. Oceans and groundwater naturally contain fluoride, and the public waterworks only have to adjust it to a better level. Fluoride is a solution packed with minerals that strengthens your enamel. As you eat, the acid in your food causes demineralization, which weakens your teeth. Rinsing with a fluoride solution reinforces the enamel and reverses early decay, giving your teeth a chance to rebuild without succumbing to the acid and sugar in your diet. It’s extremely effective for your dental health.

Fluoride is also remarkably cost effective. According to the American Dental Association, it costs less to fluoridate one person’s water over the course of their life than it does to give them one dental filling. Every $1 invested in water fluoridation saves $38 in dental treatment costs — not to mention the millions of school and work hours that it saves nationwide with fewer people at the dentist. Talk about bang for buck. You can find out whether your town has fluoridated water by going to nccd.cdc.gov/ DOG_MWF. You can also get a powerful and effective dose the next time you visit us for your regular cleaning! As U.S. cities know, fluoride is equally friendly to your teeth and your wallet.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH SAUSAGE

HAVE A LAUGH!

Looking for an easy, delicious Thanksgiving side dish? This gem requires only a few ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

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2 tablespoons olive oil

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1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts

3 1/3 ounces fresh, hot Italian sausage

1/2 cup water

Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS 1. Trim sprouts and cut in half. 2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, 3–5 minutes. 3. Add sprouts to skillet. Add 1/2 cup water. Add salt and pepper. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until just tender. Check them periodically and add a bit more water, if necessary. 4. When sprouts are just about done, remove cover and raise heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring just once or twice, for a couple more minutes. The liquid should evaporate, and the sprouts should start to brown. 5. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot or warm.

Recipe courtesy of InTheKitchenWithKath.com.

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What I’m Thankful For 1 2 2 3 3 4 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Can Tall Tales Destroy Your Teeth? Does Your City Fluoridate? Brussels Sprouts With Sausage

These Products Make Housework Easier!

Iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons

ICONIC

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons

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 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. FELIX THE CAT 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 design. Without Felix’s debut, the parade might look a lot different today. SNOOPY 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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