Signature Smiles - February 2021

Signature Smiles - February 2021

3,562 Lives Changed Through Sedation 1,340 5-Star Reviews, and Counting 152 Years of Combined Experience

The Home of Anxiety-Free Dentistry

BooBoo Goes to the Dentist!

FEBRUARY 2021

This month, we have a special story from Heather, one of our talented dental assistants! Her pug, BooBoo, recently took a trip to the vet where he had his teeth cleaned — and more! BooBoo is a very handsome pug. When I adopted him from my parents, I discovered he wasn’t neutered, so I made an appointment with the vet to get that taken care of. At 7 years old, he was a little late, but I knew it was important nonetheless. When I took him to the vet, I got nervous because they needed to sedate him for the procedure. Pugs already have plenty of breathing problems, so sedation can be a little risky for them. Then, the vet asked me something that I hadn’t even considered — if I wanted to them to address his dental concerns while he was sedated. They explained that while he was under, I might as well get these taken care of. Canine oral care can help prevent all kinds of health issues and diseases and extend a dog’s lifespan. Plus, BooBoo would only have to go under once for both procedures, to be neutered and to have his teeth cleaned, so I said go for it! Though I hadn’t thought of it much before for BooBoo, it makes a lot of sense that oral care can help prevent health issues. We discussed this in my classes when I was in school for dental assisting, and I’ve learned even more about it since then. After all, the mouth is the gateway to the body, and it’s situated between two major organs — the heart and the brain. In humans, oral care is a critical way to keep the entire body healthy. The same is true for dogs and cats, too!

Doggy dental X-rays!

I have a friend who now works at that vet office; she lost her dog due to an oral infection that simply went untreated because she had never thought to take her dog in for a dental cleaning and checkup. However, had it been spotted at a dental checkup with a vet, it could have been treated. Dog dental visits include a cleaning and an exam. When the dog is under, they do a full set of X-rays to look for any issues. I asked if I could get a printout of the X-rays because I thought they were cool! The biggest difference between human and dog dental visits is that vets don’t do fillings for dogs. Instead, they do extractions, which are more common with small dogs because they often have crowded teeth. Though they have the same number of teeth as large dogs, small dogs have smaller mouths and less space to house them. And here’s another fun fact: Dogs have 10 more teeth than humans! We have 32 teeth (including wisdom teeth), and dogs have 42. While BooBoo was under, the vet ended up extracting six teeth. I was like, “Holy moly, that’s a lot!” He was already missing 12. So, now he has 24 teeth. What a day that was — a dental cleaning, extraction, and neutering, all in one day! After the procedure, BooBoo was a little loopy but doing well. He could even eat his dry food the next day. My goal is to never have him sedated again, so it was worth it! I’m sure he agrees, too! –Heather

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A SIMPLE WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR DAY! The Calendar of ‘Things to Look Forward To’

Many families have faced disappointment in one way or another. Since early last year, countless activities and events have been canceled, and people had to skip many family vacations and get- togethers. Though it is a new year, it’s still going to be a while before normal activities and events will be scheduled, meaning there might not be a whole lot to look forward to, which can be disheartening. So, why not change that and give yourself and your family something to look forward to? A great way to improve your day — or week, month, or even year — is to write down things you’re excited about. In an article on Lifehacker.com, one mom talked about how she improved the overall mood of her family by creating a calendar of things to look forward to every week. In a post on Facebook, she wrote, “I wanted something for me and my kids to look forward to each day, so I posted a list to my fridge of the days of the week and one fun thing each day. (Like Taco Tuesday, Takeout Thursday, Dance Party Friday, Movie & Popcorn Sunday.)” It’s an idea anyone can easily implement.

you’re interested in will be available to stream. You can do the same for a new book or video game that may be coming out and apply the concept to virtually anything. The important thing is that you write it down on a calendar so you can see it. When you or your family glance at the calendar and see what’s coming up, it elevates your mood and boosts your day. And the more things you’re looking forward to, the better!

Give it a try and get everyone in the family involved. When you need a little extra joy in your life, this is an incredibly simple way to achieve it!

Create themed days (like game night or park day) or create a schedule of fun things. Write down when the next show or movie

SHOW YOUR TEETH SOME LOVE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

BRIGHTEN YOUR SMILE There is no better feeling than showing off a confident smile. One way to help brighten your smile is by doing some form of whitening. Our office offers a few different whitening options, such as take- home and in-office whitening. Once all restorative work is complete, any of our hygienists can answer any questions you may have about whitening. QUIT SMOKING Smoking is not only bad for your breath, but it also stains your teeth and is bad for your overall health. People who use tobacco are two times more likely to develop gum disease than someone who doesn’t. Tobacco use can also increase your chances of getting oral cancer. SCHEDULE REGULAR DENTAL VISITS Going to the dentist more regularly not only helps you form a good relationship with your doctor/hygienist, but it also helps keep your mouth at its best all year long. At routine visits, you can discuss any concerns you may be having, and this gives us a chance to offer advice about keeping your smile fresh. If you have not been in to see us in a while, call to schedule a dental checkup and cleaning so we can get you back on track!

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and that means we’ll be spending our money on the best gifts, prettiest flowers, and the most delicious chocolates. How about this year we give our teeth a little TLC instead? Here are five easy

ways you can love your teeth this year.

FIX YOUR CAVITIES Cavities can be contagious! Cavity-causing bacteria can spread to another person by something as simple as sharing a fork or a drink. Brushing two times each day for two minutes and flossing every day will keep the bacteria at bay. Don’t be the nice person who shares their cavities this Valentine’s Day. Call our office to schedule any restorative work you may need done! AVOID BAD BREATH Bacteria is a big component of bad breath, so regular habits like brushing and flossing are especially important. About 90% of bad breath comes from the bacteria on our tongues, so cleaning your tongue is just as important as brushing and flossing. You can also keep your breath minty fresh by using over-the-counter antimicrobial mouthwashes or chewing sugarless gum.

–Katlynne Baker

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You’ve Helped Us Reach a Major Milestone! The Signature Smiles Elyria office has officially reached 600 5-star reviews on Google! We can’t thank you, our patients and raving fans, enough for letting the world know just how much you love us! At Signature Smiles, we’re obsessed with delivering stellar customer service, and we always appreciate your feedback. Our patients are like family, so it only makes sense to treat them well! Thank you again! Every review you leave on Google means so much — and with 600 5-star reviews, it tells us we’re doing something right!

Enjoy this Valentine’s Day-themed muffin with your Valentine or treat yourself! Strawberry Kissed Almond Butter Muffins

Refer and be entered to win! How would you like to win an iPad and Apple Watch? What about a new stainless steel cookware set or a thermostat you can control with your smartphone? Here’s what you have to do: Any current patient who refers a new patient to our office between January and March will be entered into the raffle for the iPad and Apple Watch. There will also be monthly raffles in January and February leading up to the big quarterly raffle. Call us or visit our Facebook page to learn more!

INGREDIENTS • 1 cup ripe bananas, mashed • 3/4 cup natural creamy almond butter (can substitute creamy peanut butter) • 2 large eggs • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup (or honey) • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1 cup oat flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup strawberry fruit spread, divided (we recommend Bonne Maman INTENSE)

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners and spray with nonstick cooking spray. 3. In a large bowl, mix bananas, almond butter, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. 4. Stir in oat flour, baking powder, and salt until smooth. 5. Evenly divide batter into liners. Add 1 tsp strawberry fruit spread to the top of each muffin. 6. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the spread into the batter. 7. Bake for 22–27 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. 8. Transfer muffins to wire rack to cool and enjoy!

Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com

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9519 State Route 14 Streetsboro, OH 44241 330-423-6779

Also Serving Elyria! Elyria, OH 44035 440-281-8031

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BooBoo’s Day Out — A Trip to the Dentist!

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Improve Your Day With This Simple Life Hack

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Show Your Teeth Some Love This Valentine’s Day

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You’ve Helped Us Reach a Major Milestone!

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Strawberry Kissed Almond Butter Muffins

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What’s the Deal With Valentine’s Day Cards?

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This may be the first year in a long time that kids don’t pass out Valentine’s Day cards at school. Going in to the new year, the seasonal section of most stores is lined with cards featuring fun characters from superheroes to unicorns. Handing out cards is now a well-loved tradition, but have you ever wondered how Valentine’s Day became one of the biggest card-giving holidays of the year?

that go back even further. There are legends that the originator of this holiday tradition was Saint Valentine himself. One story says that on the night before he was set to be executed, Valentine wrote a small letter to a jailer’s daughter. He ended the note with “Your Valentine.” It’s unknown whether that story is true, but to 18th century Europeans and Americans, it was inspiring! So inspiring, in fact, that the entire Valentine’s Day industry began to gain traction. A guidebook called “The Young Man’s Valentine” was published in

Like many holiday traditions, the convention of handing out Valentine’s Day cards goes back centuries. During the 1700s, it became fashionable to trade Valentine’s Day cards with a short poem or verse. The popularity of swapping cards only increased throughout the 1800s. Sometimes,

1797 to help suitors garner the attention of their love interests through the written word.

Eventually, books aimed at women were also published, including “The Lady’s Own Valentine Writer,” which served much the same goal. These publications, along with young people writing notes to one another every February, have made Valentine’s Day cards an ingrained tradition, and now people can’t get enough of them!

people would go as far as to paint or draw spring-like images on the cards. They were much more elaborate than what we typically see today, though they were still usually very small. But where did those folks get the idea? People of that era were likely inspired by stories

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