Elkins Dental - November 2020

Elkins Dental - November 2020

FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE

ELKINSDENTAL.COM NOVEMBER 2020

WHAT I’M GRATEFUL FOR IN 2020

always around a lot of people who can’t catch the virus because they’re at high-risk ages.

While I believe we should be thankful year-round, Thanksgiving is a great reminder to reflect on the things we’re thankful for.

In addition to the important things I’m thankful for, including my family, their health, my job, and our home, I’m also incredibly thankful for my close friends. They’ve helped keep me sane even in the most chaotic times. Spending time with them gives me a fun outlet to where we can forget about the crazy things going on in the world right now and live enjoyable lives outside of the pandemic. At the end of September, my wife, Beth, and I had the opportunity to do just that by spending a weekend in San Diego with our close friends. Our group of four spent a day on the beach and a day walking through the USS Midway, a retired aircraft carrier. I hadn’t been on a Navy ship since I separated from the Navy back in 2008, and walking through the museum brought back a lot of memories and feelings. As we listened to the stories from our tour guide, I also had the chance to share some stories of my own that I had remembered as I walked through the ship with Beth and our friends. Looking for the positives, even in the hardest of times, is a tough thing to do and something that needs to be practiced. I found myself practicing early on and noticed that it did make my own life happier when I looked for positive aspects. When Beth and I were very poor at the beginning of our marriage, we still managed to find those things that we enjoyed in our lives. Now, with having a business that is able to support and provide for my family, I find myself not really happier than I was back then because of how I looked at life. Finding the things that make you happy, like the health of your family, your guitars, or spending time with your friends, can help you through even the most chaotic of times. I hope that your Thanksgiving holiday is filled with positives and things to be grateful for, not just for this month but for the rest of 2020 and the years beyond.

When I think about being grateful and thankful for things, there are always some material things that come to mind. It’s great to be thankful for a nice car, my guitars, or even the baseball games that took place throughout the fall. But, those things honestly aren’t too important. If someone in my family became seriously ill, if something were to happen to our livelihood or home, or if any essential thing in our lives was taken away, the items that are“nice to have”would quickly disappear from my mind. I couldn’t care less what guitars I have if I have a seriously sick child. That’s something I try to keep in mind, not just for Thanksgiving but all year long. If a kid calls me up, which has happened in the past, to tell me they wrecked their car, my first question is always, “Are you okay?”Luckily, even if some of my family has been involved in accidents, we haven’t had anything serious — another thing I’m very grateful for.

I’m also extremely thankful for my family’s health. I hope I don’t jinx us by writing this, but none of us have caught COVID-19, or if we did, we were all asymptomatic. A few of us have gotten sick over the last several months, but it was from regular colds. Those of us who have been tested for COVID-19 have all tested negative, which is especially great for my eldest daughter, Evie. She is working at an assisted living home and is

–Dr. Elkins

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3 BEST BOOKS

For Your Children to Sink Their Teeth Into Watching your child grow and

‘GOING TO THE DENTIST’ Part of the“Usborne First Experiences”series of children’s books, this book follows Jake and Jessie, two children who are going to their very first dentist’s appointment. Alongside colorful illustrations, this story details what a dentist’s appointment is like in an easy-to-understand way. It even shows kids what a cavity is when the dentist discovers a“hole”in one of Jake’s teeth. There are also educational takeaways as the story tells why it’s important to take care of your teeth, along with some ways to keep them healthy. Find“Going to the Dentist”in paperback on Amazon for $4.95. ‘THE BERENSTAIN BEARS VISIT THE DENTIST’ Join Sister and Brother Bear as they visit a dentist — Sister’s got a loose tooth and Brother’s found a cavity! This book captures the anxiety a child might feel before a dental visit, as Brother teases Sister about going to the dentist. However, not only does Sister have a wonderful visit with Dr. Bearson, but she also gets a visit from the Tooth Fairy.You can find this book on Amazon in paperback for $4.49 or on Kindle for $4.99.

experience new things is one of the most wonderful parts about being a parent.Yet, many firsts, like a child’s first visit to the dentist, can be scary for them. That’s why it’s so important to talk to them about their first appointment and what it might be like. Reading to your kids is one of the best ways to help them understand the world around them, including dental health and going to the dentist. Here are three books that your child will learn from and love!

‘BRUSH, BRUSH, BRUSH!’ This rhythmic book can help your child

get into a groove while brushing their teeth. What’s great about this book is that the words can be sung to the tune of“DoYour Ears Hang Low?”This helps your child remember proper techniques as they’re dancing along to their new song. The combination of the song and bright illustrations will assure that your child loves this book.“Brush, Brush, Brush!”can be found at Barnes & Noble for $6.95.

Kalie and Cheyenne: A Word on Dental Health Fun Dental Tales!

-Kalie and Caryn members is unsure. Regardless, we must go by a letter to his friend that, by the time he reached 80, he had only lost one tooth with“the rest continuing sound.” also had fascinating dental tales. In one of the many letters he wrote, Jefferson stated that by age 76, he had“yet lost a tooth.”In that era, this was a very rare accomplishment, but it is often debated among historians. According to Monticello’s website (Monticello.org), Jefferson had many records showing that he visited the dentist quite often, though whether or not these visits were for himself or for other family he was the first recorded president to be photographed and later illustrated with a large smile. Roosevelt even had his full set of teeth, or very close to it, for most of his life. That was very rare in that day and age! When Roosevelt ran for reelection in 1904, his smile even became a highlight in his campaign. THOMAS JEFFERSON Recognized as one of the Founding Fathers, crafter of the Declaration of Independence, and third president of the U.S., Thomas Jefferson

This November marks election month and is the perfect opportunity to write about previous presidents’dental habits! Check out these three presidents who are most known for their smiles. GEORGE WASHINGTON Everyone has probably heard of the tale of George Washington and his wooden false teeth. While the first president of the U.S. did have false teeth, they weren’t wooden. Washington suffered from dental issues his entire life — at the age of 24, a diary entry states he’d paid five shillings to someone named“Doctor Watson”to remove one of his teeth. Because of his poor teeth, he had dentures. While they were made from many materials, wood was not one of them. The wooden teeth theory may have come from the fact that, after use, his dentures may have been stained to take on a wooden appearance. THEODORE ROOSEVELT During a time when oral health was not as it is today, many presidents refrained from showing their teeth.Yet, Theodore Roosevelt was quite the opposite. He was known as“the first president who smiled,”as

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Don’t leaf your benefits behind

Y our dental benefits expire at the end of the year! Now is the time to schedule a reservation because once your benefits are gone, they’re gone for good. Remember all the money you paid to your insurance premiums this year? Failing to use your dental benefits means all that money goes to waste. You paid for it, now use it! Call us at 208-369-4532 to schedule your reservation today! This time of year, reservations fill up fast. Reserve your spot before it’s too late. The longer you wait, the more you’ll risk having to spend time away from the things you love most this holiday season. You can even call us after hours. Leave a message, and we’ll take care of you. Take advantage of your dental benefits today. If you don’t use ‘em, you lose ‘em!

By scheduling today, you will be ready for every holiday feast and virtual company party that comes your way. If that’s not enough incentive, here are a few of our top reasons to smile: • It’s finally sweater weather! • At least there are no zombies ... yet • All your favorite holiday flavors at your local coffee shop • Fluffy, wiggly, silly little puppies — need I say more? • Your dental benefits haven’t expired yet — but they will soon, and our reservations are filling up fast. Call 208-369-4532 today! Don’t forget your benefits expire on Dec. 31. It will be here before you know it!

1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617

CINNAMON-SPICED CANDIED SWEET POTATOES

Ingredients

Inspired by FoodandWine.com

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?” 6. R move fr m the oven and let stand for 10 inutes. 7. Discard cinnamon sticks and serve. • 1 tbsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp ground cloves • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed • 4 (2-inc ) cinnamon sticks

• 4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

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! 5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes ar ten er and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 h ur and 15 minutes. 4. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes.

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. 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Directions

2. Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish. 3. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes.

JOKES DAD Why do pilgrims’ pants always fall down? Because they wear their belt buckles on their hats!

What did the turkey say to the computer? “Google, Google, Google.”

DID YOU KNOW?

IT’S TIME TO WRITE YOURSELF A NOVEL! In your walk of life, you’ve probably come across at least one person who’s mentioned they’re writing or have written a book. If you’ve ever envied them and would like the opportunity to write a book but don’t know where to start, November is the perfect month to try! November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), where writers, from professionals to novices, challenge themselves to write an entire book in just 30 days. This is a great opportunity to give you the kick you needed to finally put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and start writing away. Signing up for the challenge is simple and easy! Head to the NaNoWriMo website at NaNoWriMo.org and sign up for free! From there, you can upload your progress, engage with other participants, and receive and offer encouragement to your fellow writers.

9TH ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE

Save $25 with a donation of 10 nonperishable items. Come in between Oct. 19th and Dec. 18th!

Get writing and have some fun this month with NaNoWriMo!

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. What I’m Grateful For in 2020 2. Your Child’s First Dental Appointmentl

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

3. Cinnamon-

4. 3 Memorable

Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving Day Football Plays

1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617

A Word on Dental Health

Did You Know?

This month's photo comes from Katie Leoni!

208-369-4532 Elkinsdental.com

3 MEMORABLE THANKSGIVING DAY FOOTBALL PLAYS

weather: Snow covered the field in Dallas, and temperatures reached only 26 degrees F. But that wasn’t what made the game memorable. In the last 15 seconds of the game, the Cowboys blocked the Dolphins’ last 40-yard field goal attempt. As the ball was rolling on the ground, Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett dove for it but slipped and missed. The Dolphins recovered the ball and were given the chance to kick another field goal at the 1-yard line. The attempt was successful, and they won the game.

Thanksgiving is all about good food, family, and football. Each year, football fans look forward to sitting down and watching the game with their family, regardless of whether or not their team is playing. While many games have been played over the years, some stand out more than others because of some major players and their

quick actions. Here are three individuals who made their Thanksgiving Day games ones to remember. LAWRENCE TAYLOR NewYork Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor was said to have“single-handedly”beat the Detroit Lions in this memorable 1982 Thanksgiving Day matchup. The game was only the fourth of the season for Taylor, who had just recovered from a sprained knee injury suffered in a previous game. With the score tied at 6-6 in the fourth quarter, Taylor intercepted the ball from the Lions quarterback, Gary Danielson, and ran it 97 yards for a touchdown.

PHIL LUCKETT One of the most memorable moments during a Thanksgiving game took place in 1998, when the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions entered overtime in a 16-16 tie. Referee Phil Luckett oversaw the coin toss, and that’s when things became tense. Steelers running back Jerome Bettis

appeared to call tails, but Luckett said,“Heads is the call.” Upon review later, officials discovered that Bettis changed his mind mid-toss and had indeed called heads first. The Lions got first possession and scored a field goal to win the game.

LEON LETT The Miami Dolphins were up against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. This game was marked by its strange

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