Elkins Dental - September 2020

Elkins Dental - September 2020

FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE

ELKINSDENTAL.COM SEPTEMBER 2020

SUMMER VACATIONS AND A GAP YEAR

Evie and Anna’s Year Break

live on their own as responsible adults, but it’s hard to see them go too.

Over the summer, my family and I went on several excursions up to McCall, where we spent a couple days in a cabin and out on Payette Lake. It’s been nice to have the chance to get away from everything for a little bit and enjoy each other. These vacations have been a great way for us to get out of the house while easily social distancing, especially when we’re out on the water. In the beginning of August, we planned our third weekend trip to McCall, and (like our previous trips) it was a ton of fun. This was our first time going to McCall without Anna, though. As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, Anna is down in Utah for school for the next several years; the weekend before this McCall trip, we had just helped her settle into her new home. She moved down there, quite excited, with all of her personal belongings packed a couple of weeks before we were even ready to move her down.

We had a similar

experience when Evie first moved out. About a year and a half ago, Evie went to Utah for college, but

Enjoying some evening campfire time at the cabin

It’s been pretty odd for us, even though she isn’t the first of our kids to move out. When anyone wants to talk to her or do something with her, it’s still taking some getting used to because we can’t call Anna from her room or go up there

this year, she decided to take a little time off from school, and she moved back home to work. Anna, too, is using her first year in Utah to gain her residency before starting at Utah State. And, thinking about it, now is probably the best time to take a gap-year with how crazy everything is. Evie has picked up a position at a local assisted living center where she is in charge of the activities — like setting up bingo (and other things) for the seniors to enjoy. It’s been a rather interesting time for Evie to start working despite the pandemic. The center has strict policies about wearing masks, and if a staff member is even suspected of being sick, they can’t come in until given the“all clear.”In fact, Evie caught a cold in July and had to take two tests — and test negative — in order to come back to work. Luckily, she tested negative on both and returned to work right when they needed her most.

Getting in a nice picture at the lake

to talk with her for a bit. But, we’re lucky to live in this generation where technology is so advanced that the family can call Anna on the phone to talk or even chat through a video call. Watching her take this next big step in her life made me very proud but also a little sad, even though she was eager to set out on her own. It’s always a happy but sad situation:You want them to grow up and

I know that by the time their gap year ends, Evie and Anna will be refreshed and eager for their next college semester.

–Dr. Elkins

Elkinsdental.com | 1

GARDENING, GOLD, AND PHOTO SHOOTS 3 Fun Family Activities for Fall

by planning a road trip out to an old ghost town. Many of them have great tourist attractions that include gold panning.You probably won't get rich, but it will still be a fun story. If you’re not able to make the trip, you can always create a gold panning operation at home! Visit MessForLess.net/panning-for-gold-activity for a great step-by-step guide on how to go panning for gold in your own backyard. PLAN A FALL PHOTO SHOOT. It’s time to freshen up those family pictures hanging around the house. The changing leaves provide a beautiful background for any family portrait. Better yet, the cooler temperatures mean that an outdoor photo shoot won’t be nearly as uncomfortable as it would be in the summer. You can take your pictures by the trees in the front yard or make a daytrip of it. What about pictures at the corn maze or pumpkin patch? It’s never too soon to start planning this year’s holiday card. Spend this fall outdoors and create great new memories with your family!

It’s fall, which means social media will soon be saturated with pictures of your friends enjoying“classic”fall activities. Photos of leaf peeping, apple picking, and the occasional scarecrow run rampant. But rather

than following the herd, you can make your family the trendsetter of unique fall activities! Here are a few outdoor endeavors your family will love. GET GARDENING. Fall is the time for harvest, but if you want to enjoy flowers in the spring, it’s also a time for planting. The cooler autumn air is easier on plants, but the soil is still warm enough for roots to grow before the ground freezes for winter. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are all spring bulbs that need to be planted in the fall. Do a little research with your family to determine the best time to start planting in your area. PAN FOR GOLD. Here’s one that’s really off the beaten path: Take your family on an adventure panning for gold! Start

CleanWith Kalie Why Removing Your Wisdom Teeth Is a Wise Move

gums — which causes the gums to be so inflamed and loose that food debris can remain and cause cavities. Wisdom teeth are also notorious for being difficult to take care of because they’re so far back in the mouth. Many people find it difficult to floss because their hands cannot fit or reach properly. This means they could miss quite a lot of plaque on the tooth and along the gumline, even if they are brushing and flossing regularly. The more plaque on a tooth and gums, the more likely it is that an infection will happen. There are also risks that if an infection occurs around the wisdom tooth, the adjacent tooth can become impacted, as well. At Elkin’s Dental, our goal is to keep the teeth we need for function and chewing, and the third molar can impede that goal. We recommend talking with Dr. Elkin’s to find the best action for you and your family. And, don’t worry, if you get your wisdom teeth removed, it doesn’t mean you’ll lose your wisdom; you’ll improve your oral health and keep your smarts all in one go!

Recently, I’ve had a lot of people tell me that they don’t want their wisdom teeth removed, even after Dr. Elkins recommends it, and I can understand where they’re coming from. Why remove a perfectly healthy tooth? Generally, if teeth fit well in someone’s mouth (and they can be brushed effectively), Dr. Elkins won’t recommend the removal of wisdom teeth. But there are many solid reasons why he does recommend extracting the third molars, even if they aren’t bothering the patient. One of the biggest reasons is that, more often than not, a person’s mouth isn’t big enough to adequately fit the wisdom teeth. Even if someone’s mouth is big enough, wisdom teeth have a tendency to grow sideways — become impacted or partially impacted — and settle into other weird and problematic positions. In these situations, any tooth that is not in its proper place can collect bacteria, increasing the risk of tooth decay significantly. Not only this, but food can also get caught in the back of the mouth, which creates a place for bacteria to thrive. I’ve often seen wisdom teeth that are partially impacted —halfway in and halfway out of the

-Kalie and Caryn –K lie

2 | Elkins Dental

BALSAMIC MARINATED FLANK STEAK

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. Grill steak over moderate heat for 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through, until steak is lightly charred and the internal temperature reaches 125 F. 5. Light grill and oil grates with olive oil. 7. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice, drizzle reserved sauce, and serve. • 1 3-lb flank steak • Kosher salt, to taste • Freshly ground pepper, to taste

• 2 tbsp whole-grain mustard

• 2 garlic cloves, sliced • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves • 1 tbsp dried oregano

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! 4. Remove steak f m marinade and let xcess marinade d ip off. Spr nk e the steak lightly with salt and pepper. dish and cover steak with the remaining marinade. Turn to coat the other side, cover, and let marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

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. Combine garlic, rosemary, oregano, 2. Add oil and continue blending until creamy, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Reserve 1/4 cup. Directions

• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grilling

mustard, and vinegar in a blender. Purée until garlic is minced.

3. Place steak in a ceramic or glass baking

JOKES DAD I bought the newlyweds an elephant for their room. They said, “Thank you.” I said. “Don’t mention it.” PHOTO CONTEST!

You want to go down to the bar to hear that band called Duvet? They're a cover band.

DID YOU KNOW?

CELEBRATE YOUR FAMILY! Sept. 26 shines a light on a particularly important holiday: National Family Day. Families can come in all shapes and sizes, from caring family members to close friendships. While each family unit may be different, one thing is for certain: These relationships are filled with unconditional love.

Now is the perfect time to show your appreciation to the people you care about the most, even if they can drive you crazy from time to time.

There are plenty of ways we can celebrate, too, even if we might not have the opportunity to meet up with our family members.

YOUR PHOTO COULD BE ON PAGE 4 OF THIS NEWSLETTER! We want to see your best photo from the month of August! Please email your best shot to [email protected] with the subject line "Photo Contest". We can't wait to see what you've got!

If you haven’t talked with someone in quite some time, give them a call or plan a video chat to catch up. It might even be fun to plan a safe, social- distance picnic at a local park. It’s important to treasure the family we have in our lives. This holiday serves as a fantastic reminder to set some time aside to let loved ones know how much you care, not just on National Family Day but all year round.

Elkinsdental.com | 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Summer Vacations and a Gap Year 2. 3 Fun Family Activities for Fall Clean With Kalie

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

3.

4.

Balsamic

The Best

Marinated

Educational

Flank Steak

Tools to Help Students Succeed

1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617

Did You Know?

Your Photo could be here!

208-369-4532 Elkinsdental.com

STUDENT TECH SUCCESS Educational Tools to Improve Digital Learning

creator Lin-Manuel Miranda launched this learning platform in 2016 along with the show’s director and in partnership with The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. EduHam is a free digital program for students and their families that provides history lessons on the Founding Era of the United States. It also brings art into the mix — Miranda shows students how to create their own performance pieces based on primary source documents, which they can then share in the app. The program is geared toward students in sixth through 12th grade, though everyone is welcome to participate. FIVEABLE For high school students, the most looming challenges include the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams that are so important for college. Enter Fiveable, the amazing free resource that houses thousands of livestreams, study guides, trivia games, and other resources for 15 AP subjects. Started by a former teacher, Fiveable is passionate about giving students the resources they'll need to be successful now and into the future. With so many resources out there, students can use technology in plenty of ways to help them be successful. Here’s to a fall season full of learning!

Kids these days face so many more distractions from academics than their parents did. It’s not as easy to focus on homework when TikTok, YouTube, and all sorts of video games beckon. Instead of trying

to prevent screen time, why not allow students to engage with technology that will help promote their learning rather than distract from it? Here are three tools to help students at different age levels get the most from online learning. BEANSTALK While Beanstalk is an online learning tool, the beauty of it is that the classes and videos aim to pull kids“out of the screen to do real-world physical activities.”These include science experiments, building projects, and more. Experienced teachers provide engaging lessons and learning tools, and many of them are free. EDUHAM What better way to learn about the history of our nation than through one of the nation’s most popular musicals?“Hamilton”

4 | Elkins Dental