Ustick Dental Jan/Feb 2018

Ustick Dental Jan/Feb 2018

WWW.USTICKDENTAL.COM • (208) 286-4582

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JAN / FEB 2018

GROWING FAMILY, GROWING SMILES

We are excited for 2018 at the Rigby household! Our holiday season was filled with celebrations and exciting news, and I’m happy to share that news with you. Two days before Christmas, my middle daughter got married. Family gathered from near and far on both sides to celebrate the joyous event. My daughter and her husband returned home to get married here in the Treasure Valley (they’re going to school in Rexburg). So, you can imagine how wonderful it was to have everyone in town for the occasion. It was a crazy, busy, beautiful, fun time. Family joined us right up to the wedding and reception on the 23rd. Visitors included my complete immediate family, many of our extended family, and the grooms’ family. We took a ton of pictures and made many memories. After the wedding, most of our family returned home. Following a hectic few months leading up to Christmas, it was a little quiet at the Rigby household on Christmas Day. We enjoyed the holiday by sharing and reflecting on the joyous experiences we’d just had. I’m so happy for my daughter and her new husband. I wish them all the best in this next step of their lives. Congratulations to both of you!

It’s been an exciting year for our whole family. In addition to the wedding, we just found out that our eldest daughter and her husband are expecting, and their baby is due this summer! It’ll be our first grandchild, and we’re over the moon about it. They live in Utah, so it’ll mean more trips to visit them, that’s for sure. One of our greatest joys is watching our children take these big life steps. It’s wonderful to see them forging their own paths and becoming self-reliant. We are so thrilled for what’s to come. Here at the office, 2018 is off to a great start. It also brought some bittersweet news, as one of our longtime hygienists, Leslie, retired at the end of 2017. We know so many of you loved her, and we did too. We’re really going to miss her and are currently in the process of finding someone to step into her role. We are looking for the best talent we can find to fill such big shoes. We’ve been blessed with so much in our life, including our loving family, our amazing team at work, and all the other people who are dear to us. It’s going to be the best year ever!

-Dr. Rigby

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Want to See Better

Report Cards in 2018?

MAKE READING A FAMILY RESOLUTION Every parent wants to see their child do well in school, and there’s one fun activity that benefits students of all ages: reading. In a world with so much stimulation, however, it can be difficult to motivate kids to put down a screen and pick up a book. New Year’s resolutions are

big end goal to really cement those reading habits. Better yet, set a combined goal that the entire family can work toward. Don’t be afraid to pull out all the stops. If your kids know that reading one book per week through June means an extra-special summer vacation, their enthusiasm won’t wane come spring. Use Reading Apps Goodreads is a social network for bibliophiles. You can find recommendations, share ratings, and create lists of both

the perfect opportunity to make reading a priority. Here are a few tips to make 2018 the year your kids become bookworms. Make It a Family Resolution There’s no better motivator than solidarity! Plus, we’re guessing everyone in your household could stand to read a little more. You don’t have to read the same books or set identical goals, but it’s a lot more fun when everyone participates. Schedule weekly reading discussions so everyone can share the cool stories they’ve read. Stack your completed books in your house somewhere as a monument to all the knowledge your family has gained.

completed and to-be-read books. Users also create reading lists based on topic, genre, decade, and more. With over 2 billion books added, you’ll never run out of inspiration. Biblionasium offers the same services, but it’s designed specifically for children. Talk to other parents and create a network of friends and classmates. After all, nothing is cooler to a kid than what their friends are doing.

Avid readers tend to do better academically from kindergarten through college. In fact, a study from

the Journal of Education and Practice found that reading comprehension predicted success in other subjects more than any other factor. If you want to see improved report cards, make a reading resolution for your entire household.

Set Reward Milestones Positive reinforcement will propel your kids to keep reading long after the calendars have turned. For a certain number of books completed or hours spent reading, offer them a prize. You can even create a

Drawing will take place on March 22, 2018

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Laughing Gas Corner “This study points out to patients that there are lifestyle factors other than brushing and flossing that may affect their oral health,” says Preston D. Miller Jr., DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology. “It is also important to keep these in mind as the body of evidence linking oral disease with systemic diseases continues to grow, because ultimately, these factors might impact a patient’s overall health.” This connection is especially strong with periodontal disease. Heart surgeons have found the very same bacteria in clogged arteries as those in gums. IS LACK OF REST HURTING YOUR MOUTH? We all know brushing before bed is the key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. You may be surprised to learn, though, that what happens after you brush can make a huge difference as well. Sleep quality has a massive impact on oral health, in regards to both periodontal disease and bad breath. A study commissioned by the Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, led by Dr. Muneo Tanaka, sought to examine the influence of lifestyle factors on gum disease. They observed 219 patients over the course of four years, monitoring hours of sleep, hours of work, exercise, alcohol use, smoking, eating breakfast, overall diet, and physical and mental stress. When the results came back, only smoking was a bigger risk factor than lack of sleep. Those patients who had seven to eight hours of sleep fared much better than those with six or fewer. About Sleep and Oral Health WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW

Why does sleep matter so much? Well, it’s the time when your body restores itself. Your body needs to recover after strenuous exercise in order to get the most out of a workout, and the same is true for your mouth. At night, you’re more likely to breathe through your nose, which allows your mouth to produce more regenerative saliva. A good night’s sleep also lowers stress levels and regulates blood sugar. To make sure you’re getting the highest quality sleep, it’s important to establish a routine. The more your body clock can acclimate to a pattern of expected sleep, the less likely you will be to wake up in the middle of the night. Avoid eating right before bed, especially after you’ve brushed and flossed. Also, limit your screen time before bed to ensure a good night’s rest. Oral health is only one of the many benefits of getting more (and better) sleep. Rest up for increased focus, better memory, and brighter moods.

Raspberry White Hot Chocolate Ingredients • 1 cup white chocolate chips • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk • 2 cups heavy cream, divided • 3 cups milk (any variety will do) • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 4 tablespoons raspberry liqueur or syrup SLOW COOKER

Directions 1. In a slow cooker, combine white chocolate chips, condensed milk, 1 cup cream, and milk. Cover and heat on low about 2 hours. 2. In a large bowl, mix remaining 1 cup cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours.

3. Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until stiff peaks form. Add the coconut milk, give everything a good stir, and cook for another 30 minutes. 4. Serve mugs of hot chocolate with about 1 tablespoon of raspberry liqueur or syrup to taste and a dollop of whipped cream.

Recipe inspired by SlowCookerGourmet.net.

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inside this ISSUE Happy Times for the Rigby Family PAGE 1 The Resolution That Leads to Better Grades PAGE 2 The Easiest Way to Improve Oral Health PAGE 3 Warm Up With Some Hot Cocoa PAGE 3 Get Out and Enjoy Boise! PAGE 4

Find Your Winter Bliss

Comedy In January, Boise hosts the fourth annual Idaho Laugh Fest, a citywide celebration of comedy showcasing local and regional acts. Featuring numerous stand-up comedians, improv troupes, workshops, and classes in several Boise locations, the festival allows you to work out your funny bone as a spectator and as a participant. Visit idaholaughfest.com for a full list of comedians and classes. Winter Fun at Bogus Basin Whether you’re a skier, snowboarder, or just a snow bunny looking to enjoy mountaintop views, don’t miss out on one some of Boise’s most spectacular scenery. Bogus maintains downhill slopes, and for those of us who want the workout without the speed, Nordic trails too. There are classes and clinics for first-timers. Even when the rest of Boise is blanketed by the inversion, it’s often sunny on the mountain.

It’s a new year and a great time to check out some of the fantastic local offerings you didn’t get around to trying last year. Have you been meaning to try out that new workout class? Didn’t make use of your skis last year? Feel a case of cabin fever coming on? Now is the time to start fresh, say yes, and get to it! Upcycle Studio One of our newer workout studios located in the BoDo section of downtown, Upcycle offers more than just cycling classes. Yes, the sweat-inducing cycling is enough to get your heart pumping, but the studio has much more — yoga, barre, and boot camp classes, to name a few. Yes, you’ll be working hard, but you couldn’t ask for a cleaner, brighter space to do it in. Cycling is a great way to maintain your running shape so you can be ready for spring races. And it may look easy, but you’ll be grateful for the chilled towel you’re offered at the end of your ride. For a list of classes and prices, visit upcycleboise.com.

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