Elkins Dental - November 2021

Elkins Dental - November 2021

FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE

ELKINSDENTAL.COM NOVEMBER 2021

GIVE THEM PUMPKIN TO TALK ABOUT

Falling Into the Holidays

We had quite a time maneuvering it. Now, it’s on display on the front porch. As soon as the season is over, or the pumpkin decides to go soft (whichever comes first), we will open it up and harvest a bunch of seeds because I have many family members and friends who are hoping to snag some of these special seeds to continue growing more pumpkins next year. It’s a new hobby now!

This month, I have the story of the Elkins Family Giant Pumpkin to share! At the beginning of last month, we just barely harvested a giant pumpkin off of our very own pumpkin plant. It was our first year ever trying it out, and that was fun for the whole family. A friend of mine had purchased some seeds from an award- winning giant pumpkin, and he planted them. Once he got them growing, he gave me one of the plants at the beginning of the summer. I found an ideal spot for it in the backyard, but it took a lot of thought and planning because these plants can get quite big. We were lucky and got a huge, thriving pumpkin fairly quickly. Around August, one of our dogs was running through the yard and got caught up in the vine, and the vine ended up getting ripped off of the pumpkin. We were pretty upset because it was about 50 or 60 pounds at the time and already the size of a beach ball. On the other side of the vine, there was a smaller pumpkin (the size of a softball), and luckily, it stayed attached to the main vine. We helped the plant focus its energy on that pumpkin — and it grew to be 108 pounds when we weighed it in the beginning of October. Next year, if I manage to keep the pumpkin and the vine safe, I'll hopefully have a pumpkin twice the size. I enlisted my oldest son, Russel, to help me carry it from the backyard to the front yard because even though I’m able to lift 108 pounds with ease, lifting a massive pumpkin is no easy task. It is slippery and an awkward shape to carry — which is much harder than it sounds.

How it's going!

I'm hopeful that this Thanksgiving, we will be able to safely celebrate. Every year, we gather with my parents who live nearby and my brother and his family, and we have our annual Thanksgiving dinner at one of our houses. After dinner is over and cleaned up, we watch the movie“Elf”to begin the Christmas season! This year, I am extremely grateful for how hard Beth has been working in her nursing program at Idaho State University and that the kids are old enough to not rely solely on us so she can focus on her studies. In the midst of the pandemic, I am grateful that everyone has stayed healthy. While my brother and his family did get COVID-19, I am extremely thankful that it was not serious. In my immediate family, we have not gotten sick, and most of my staff and clients have maintained their health as well. As long as everyone is happy and healthy, I feel that we are very fortunate. I wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving!

–Dr. El kins

How it started.

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The Benefits of Positive Relationships

GOOD FOR MIND AND HEALTH

BOOSTED IMMUNE SYSTEMS It makes sense — people who have less stress have stronger immune systems. During times of high stress, our bodies are more susceptible to illnesses because our immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced. The stress hormone corticosteroid can also lower the number of lymphocytes available to fight infection. However, when we are in a happy and loving relationship, our bodies produce oxytocin, and we are less likely to get sick. BETTER PHYSICAL SHAPE Being in a positive relationship, especially a romantic one, can provide the motivation to be the best version of ourselves. This includes our physical condition, too! Having a friend or workout partner to encourage accountability and even push us out of our comfort zone a bit at the gym can keep us motivated. Being in a positive, healthy, and happy relationship means we listen to each other, offer advice, openly communicate without judgment, practice respect and trust, and engage in healthy activities together. So, it’s no surprise that positive relationships work wonders for our health and happiness.

Connecting with other humans in a positive way is one of the most profound experiences we have. That positivity is one of the greatest virtues — it’s contagious, and engaging in happy relationships with others is extremely important not only for our minds but also for our health. LONGER LIVES Studies have actually shown that when people are involved in positive relationships, they live longer. This is likely attributed to decreased stress, as stress can exact a toll on the entire body. Positive

relationships can also encourage us to give up negative habits such as drinking or smoking, which cause many health problems and concerns. Healthy habits can help people live longer lives. QUICKER HEALING Positive people in our lives can distract us from pain, remind us to take medication, be our advocates, and simply reduce stress. And less stress means healing takes place faster. Those who have a support person feel more confident and prepared to undergo surgeries and fight illnesses as well.

A Word From Cheyenne

A Flawless Floss

2. Grasp the floss tightly

Flossing is more than just shoving a piece of floss between your teeth. It’s an important part of your oral hygiene and helps remove loose particles from in between your teeth to reduce the amount of plaque and bacteria that can build up in your mouth.

between your thumb and forefinger on each hand.

3. Using a soft and gentle rubbing motion, guide the floss between each of your teeth. Be sure to avoid“snapping”the floss into your gums. 4. When the floss does reach your gum line, gently slide it into the space between your gum and your tooth by curving the floss into a“C”shape. 5. While holding the floss tightly up against the surface of your tooth, rub the side of the tooth with a gentle touch, away from the gums in an“up and down”motion. Repeat this process on each individual tooth, and don’t forget the back side of the last tooth in the row! Never reuse floss, as it could lead to a buildup of bacteria in your mouth. If you have any questions, always refer to your dentist for the best tips and practices! Happy flossing! –Cheyenne, RDH

While we’ve all been told to floss daily, and we know it’s important for our oral hygiene, many don’t know the proper way to floss. It just isn’t enough to simply floss — it must be done correctly, as improper flossing can lead to damaging your gums and teeth. If you’re unsure about how to floss correctly, here are five steps to a flawless floss. 1. Break off approximately 18 inches of the floss and wind the majority of it around one of your middle fingers. Then, wrap the remaining floss around the middle finger of your other hand. This finger will receive the dirty floss after it cleans in between each tooth.

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Don’t LEAVE Your Benefits Behind! You’ve paid for them all year, so don’t let your dental benefits expire! Now is the time to use them or lose them! Call us today to schedule your reservation so your benefits don’t go to waste. With the holidays just around the corner, you’ll want to get your reservation booked now so you can show up to every feast with a perfect smile. Reservations are filling up fast, so call us today to book your reservation so you can use your benefits before you lose them! www.ElkinsDental.com 208.369.4532

Don’t be a turkey —waiti g until December to schedule your reservation could leave you out in the cold!

3 things to do before your dental benefits expire this year: • Make sure you’ve used your dental exam and preventive care reservations for the year. • Use your maximum yearly allowance. If your benefits aren’t used, you lose them as they do not roll over to the next year. • Don’t put off dental treatments that could

end up costing you more in the long run. Make a reservation today to get a treatment plan in place.

In previous years, over 74% of patients who waited until December to use their dental benefits we unable to get reservation. Call us TODAY and don’t delay! www.ElkinsDental.com 208.369.4532

BAKED CORNBREAD AND CHORIZO STUFFING

Inspired by FoodNetwork.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?” • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped • 1/2 cup chicken stock • 1 tbsp unsalted butter, for greasing • Cilantro, for garnish • Cotija cheese, for garnish

• 1 lb Mexican chorizo • 1 white onion, chopped • 1 carrot, chopped • 1 celery rib, cho ped • 3 garlic cloves, chopped • 2 cups premade cornbread, crumbled

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

3. While stirring, slowly add the chicken stock. Stir until absorbed. 4. Butter a small casserole dish, then add the stuffing in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes, garnish as desired, and serve!

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chorizo for 5 minut s. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook f r 10 additional minutes. Stir in the cornbread and cilantro. JOKES DAD What’s that Nevada city where all the dentists visit? Floss Vegas

If a child refuses to sleep during nap time, are they guilty of resisting a rest?

The Butterball Hotline Has Your Back DID YOU KNOW?

Facts Tooth Fun

Did you know that the Butterball Hotline, a very popular turkey company, answers roughly 100,000 turkey questions per year in the United States and Canada around Thanksgiving? From chatting about choosing the best turkey to suit your holiday needs to how to best cook your turkey, the Butterball Hotline has your back, and it is even open on Thanksgiving. Dating back to 1981, when six home economists answered the phones for 11,000 people, the Turkey Talk-Line has been helping everyone cook the best turkey every timae! Today, the Talk-Line can be reached via social media, phone, live chat, and even Amazon Alexa! So, if you have any questions about your turkey this year, you know who to call!

Wisdom Tooth Facts

Your wisdom teeth are sometimes referred to as “ third molars. ” They are the only teeth that are not formed in the womb and usually pop through the gums around the age of 17–25, which was at one time referred to as the“ age of wisdom .”About 35% of us are born without wisdom teeth! According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, about 85% of people have their wisdom teeth removed. The main reason wisdom teeth are removed is because they become impacted, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease. Impaction occurs when there is not enough room in the mouth for a tooth to come in correctly. Not all impacted wisdom teeth are able to cut through your gums, especially if they are coming in sideways. In this case, they can be very painful and will require extraction.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Falling Into the Holidays 2. The Benefits of Positive Relationships

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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Baked Cornbread

Football and Thanksgiving:

and Chorizo Stuffing

A Match Made in Marketing Heaven

1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617

A Word From Cheyenne

Did You Know?

Happy Thanksgiving From Elkins Dental!

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A MATCH MADE IN MARKETING HEAVEN Football and Thanksgiving:

A. Richards, decided that in order to attract more fans, his team would make a point to always play on Thanksgiving when most people were off work. To sweeten the pot, he committed his radio station (an affiliate of the NBC Blue Network) to broadcasting the Thanksgiving game live on 94 different stations across America.

Last year, 30.3 million people tuned in to watch the NFL’s Thanksgiving showdown between the Washington Football Team and the Dallas Cowboys. For those Americans (and probably for you if you’re reading this article), football is as essential to Thanksgiving as turkey and stuffing — but why?

This idea was a hit from day one! According to Sporting News, the long-unloved Lions“not only sold out the stadium, they also had to turn people away at the gates.”In 1966, the Dallas Cowboys signed on to play every Thanksgiving, too, for similar publicity reasons.

As it turns out, there are two answers to that question. The first is that games have been played on the holiday for almost as long as it has officially existed. Thanksgiving became a holiday in 1863,

and just six years later, the third American football game in history was played on it.

Since those early days, football-themed traditions have flourished in American families. Apart from watching games on TV, one of the most popular is organizing a pre-turkey game of family touch football a la the sitcom "Friends." (Its famed episode“The One With the Football”aired Nov. 21, 1996.) If you’ve never organized a game, this could be your year! To get started, Google“Scott’s Family-Friendly Touch Football”and click the first link.

According to SB Nation, theYoung America Cricket Club and the Germantown Cricket Club faced off in that inaugural Thanksgiving game in Philadelphia, and football has been played on Thanksgiving pretty much ever since! When the NFL was founded in 1920, the Thanksgiving game was official from the get-go.

The second reason we watch football on Thanksgiving is more about money than tradition. In 1934, a Detroit Lions coach, George

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