Your Holiday Elf Guide to Santa's Helpers

Dental Do-Gooder to Alabaster Snowball

After decades of dreaming about becoming a dentist, Hermey the Elf was named DDG (Dental Do-Gooder) in November by the president of the American Dental Association ADA)!

“Hermey’s passion for dentistry coupled with his devotion to helping others feel good about themselves inside and out, deserves recognition,”said  ADA President Maxine Feinberg, DDS. ”I know Hermey the Elf, DDG, will continue to inspire young people and those who are young at heart to follow their dreams.”

Hermey, Rudolph and some of their friends have also been honored on a postage stamp.  These stamps celebrate the 50th anniversary of the much-loved holiday classic.  Here are Five Fun Facts:

1. According to Ken Muller, brother of ‘Rudolph’ screenwriter Romeo Muller, the original name for Hermey the Elf was supposed to be “Herbie” in honor of a childhood friend. Clarice (Rudolph’s girlfriend) was named after the future bride of another friend.
2. Yukon Cornelius has a diverse dog sled team. Instead of Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes, his mixed team of pooches includes a Poodle, a Cocker Spaniel, a Saint Bernard, a Dachshund and a Collie.
3. The animators also created the character –narrator of Sam the Snowman to look like Burl Ives, who was the voice for that part.
4. In the original script, while Rudolph, Hermey and Yukon Cornelius promise to visit the Island of Misfit Toys and bring them back, they never do so. After the show first aired, Rankin-Bass, the production company, were inundated with letters from concerned kids demanding that the Misfit Toys be rescued. To console the children, they produced a short scene where Rudolph, Santa, and the rest of the reindeer arrive on the Island and deliver the Misfits to new homes. This scene has shown on TV since 1965. Kids rule!!
5. The original puppets of Santa Claus and the younger Rudolph were eventually purchased by a new owner after going on tour in 2007. Since they were in absolutely horrible condition– Santa had half of his mustache missing while Rudolph was missing his famous nose — the new owner spent $4,000 for them to be restored to mint condition by stop-motion animation studio Screen Novelties International.

Even though we are celebrating Hermey, DDG’s achievements there are other notable elves that we should visit.  Who remembers the Elf on the Shelf?

Elf on a shelf is a special “spy” elf. This elf was sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists.  After the elf arrives and is named, the scout elf receives its Christmas magic and can fly to the North Pole each night to tell Santa Claus about all of the day’s adventures. You definitely want to stay on this elf’s good side!  The next day the scout elf returns to its family and sits in a different place to watch the fun. Children love to wake up and race around the house looking for their scout elf each morning.  Some came offering candy, like a chocolate sampler box.

Finally, the serious elves.  Some believe that Santa employs six elves.  Some think that there are as many as 13 elves living with Santa to help him. Elves are the children of Gryla and Leppaludi and are very clever. They help Santa to design toys and process requests of children that are sent to them through snail mail or emails. The popular Western names of the Christmas elves helping Santa Claus are:

• Alabaster Snowball (Administrator of the Naughty & Nice list)
• Bushy Evergreen (Inventor of the magic toy-making machine).
• Pepper Minstix (Guardian of the secret of where Father Christmas’ village is located).
• Shinny Upatree (The oldest friend of Santa and the cofounder of the secret village in Lapland).
• Sugarplum Mary (Head of the Sweat Treats, she is also known as Mary Christmas. She is an assistant to Mrs. Claus and helps her in the kitchen).
• Wunorse Openslae (Designer of Father Christmas’s sleigh and responsible for its maintenance. He also looks after the reindeers and it is believed that his reindeers reach speeds faster than Christmas tree lights.).

Now, you know more than any of your family members about those mysterious elves! The ambitious Hermey.  The “Traditional”, like Elf on the Shelf and the “Real” (?), like Santa’s Helpers.  Add them to your celebrations and may you remain forever young this holiday season.

Click here to color with Hermey!

Steven Goldy, DDS

Creating Confident Smiles

416 N. Bedford drive, suite 409

Beverly Hills, CA  90210

310-550-1511

Common Dental Myths Debunked

Facts About Dental Myths

With the magnitude of information available to us these days, it’s harder than ever to separate facts from myths; especially when it comes to your health. There are a million dental related myths that might steer you in the wrong direction when it comes to a healthy smile. It’s important to be informed and know the facts. Here are a few common dental myths, followed by the facts.

Oral Hygiene Only Affects Your Teeth

Many people hear the phrase “oral hygiene” and they think of the simple act of brushing or flossing. While oral hygiene is important for keeping your teeth healthy, poor oral hygiene can be linked to several other health problems- including heart disease. Taking care of your mouth actually means taking care of a lot of things within your body. Untreated periodontal disease contributes to more low birth weight babies than both drinking and smoking combined.  Having poor oral hygiene can cause a multitude of problems- not all of them related to your teeth.

You Shouldn’t Get Your Wisdom Teeth Out Until They Start to Hurt

Typically, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and your dentist will generally advise you of the same. If you wait for your wisdom teeth to become painful, they might have already done other damage to your gums or teeth. Many people believe that as long as they have no pain, there’s no reason to have an unnecessary surgery. In rare cases, wisdom teeth can stay intact as long as they are not interfering or causing damage. One of the most common reasons to remove wisdom teeth is because they are so difficult to keep clean and rather than incurring costly repairs to those teeth many dentists will suggest having them removed.  Frequent exams are necessary in this case to monitor and maintain your health. It’s generally better to have your wisdom teeth removed before any pain, rather than take the gamble.

White Teeth Are Healthier Teeth

Teeth are actually not meant to be pure white. Tooth color can vary widely, for example, depending on your race, pigmentation varies greatly.  Also, as you get older, your teeth will naturally take on a more faded color as things do with time, however they can still be perfectly healthy. A color beyond a light yellow could be cause for concern, but generally the pinkness of your gums is a better indication of oral health as opposed to how white your teeth are.

If Teeth Look Healthy, and Are Not Hurting, There is No Reason to Visit a Dentist

The most common mistake people make regarding their dental health is skipping regular preventive visits because they do not see or feel any problems. Even in the absence of a visible problem or discomfort, regular visits for x-ray exams, cleaning and necessary restorative care are necessary to maintain your teeth and gums for life. Discovering diseases in the mouth earlier rather than later will typically reduce cost, recovery time and severity of dental treatment that may need to be performed.

It’s important to educate yourself on the facts surrounding whole body health and well-being. Muddled information and common misperceptions can leave people confused. The best way to combat myths and augment dental health is to see and speak with your dentist regularly. Have open dialogue and productive conversations about what is and is not true. Being informed, savvy and educated will keep you and your dentist smiling.

Dr. Steven Goldy & Associates

416 N. Bedford Drive Ste 409
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Phone: 310-550-1511

5 Candy Alternatives That Will Keep Trick-or-Treaters Smiling

Treat Trick-or-Treaters to a Healthy Treat This Season

The fall season brings an amazing amount of fun activities for you and your family. From the excitement of Halloween, to school fall festivals, kids and parents alike look forward to the cool weather and family memories. Unfortunately, Halloween and fall festivals can also do a number on your child’s teeth. Hard candies, sweet treats and sugary snacks can be cavities waiting to happen. Handing out Halloween candy doesn’t mean you have to hand out oral health disasters. There are a number of healthy alternatives to the candy bars and licorice- some that trick-or-treaters might even enjoy more than the sugar rush. The days of handing out apple slices and pennies to avoid contributing to tooth destruction are gone! Take a look at some of these creative trick-or-treat alternatives that will leave all the little ghosts and ghouls smiling throughout the year.

Applesauce Pouches                                                                                     

Applesauce is still a sweet treat, and not nearly as hard on the teeth. Not only that, they’re portable, affordable and a great way to avoid the mess of some other treats. You can get a pack of 48 pouches for about 35 dollars on Amazon, which is enough to give all the trick-or-treaters something healthy to smile about.

Mini LaraBars

Larabars are gluten free, vegan, kosher and only have about 8-11 grams of sugar per bar. They also come in mini form, making them perfect to hand out on Halloween. The great thing about these treats is that the kids won’t even know they’re healthy! LaraBars have flavors such as cherry pie, apple pie and cashew cookie and are just as delicious as the other mini candy bars that will be weighing down their bag. If you can’t find LaraBars, or they’re a little too pricey for you, granola bars of any kind will be a better choice than chocolate.

Vegan Rice Crispy Treats

Rice crispy treats are a delicious sweet treat for trick-or-treaters, but you don’t have to use all the sugary marshmallow to make them amazing. There are a number of recipes you can follow which swap out a few classic ingredients for something a little healthier in order to create the perfect Halloween snack. By using brown rice syrup instead of marshmallow, brown rice crisps instead of white rice and coconut oil instead of butter- you can make delicious, healthy treats that many claim are better than the original. Check out one the recipes here. 

Sugar Free Gum

While sugar free gum may not be the most exciting item in your child’s bag, it’s still a quality alternative to all the junk they’ll be getting. You can get tasty sugar free gum such as Dubble Bubble and throw a few pieces in along with other healthy treats. Parents will appreciate the lack of sugar, and the kids (especially those kids who love their chewing gum) will be happy with a full bag of “candy.”

Toys

If you want to skip the food items altogether, many parents have opted to hand out toys instead. There are a number of items you can get in bulk for cheap such as pencils, erasers, stickers, mini water guns, temporary tattoos, mini play dough, sidewalk chalk, bouncing balls, bubbles and more. The possibilities are endless and none of these things will land your child in the dentist’s chair. If you’re thinking of skipping the candy and handing out toys, head to your local dollar store to find amazing deals on bulk items.

There’s also the option of handing out pre-made veggie and fruit snacks, however this may only be a good idea if you’re close with the surrounding neighbors. Parents are often a little leery of pre-prepared snacks and the time and money you spent might simply end up in the trash. These days there really are dozens of candy alternatives that don’t skimp on the flavor. Do your own research to find what works best for you and your family, have fun with it, and get everyone involved. Keep in mind that most trick-or-treaters will be over-flowing with the sugary stuff- so its good practice as a parent and oral health advocate to provide something that will keep their smiles healthy throughout the year.

Dr. Steven Goldy & Associates

416 N. Bedford Drive Ste 409
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Phone: 310-550-1511

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

I have always been a Rock and Roll Fan and grew up collecting albums and seeing many of my favorite groups in concert.  Classic and Acoustic Rock and Roll has been ingrained in my psyche since before I saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan in 1964.

Many of my patients will attest to the fact that I play this music day in and day out in my office. (Most like it, some do not but what are you gonna do?)  Back in early 2006, I wondered into a restaurant in Brentwood and was captivated by and exhibit by Rock and Roll photographer: Richard Aaron (www.rockpix.com)  I was instantly drawn to his photographs and they visually represented many of my favorite artists.  A light bulb went off in my head and I contacted Richard.  He helped me pick out some of his best photographs of my favorite Rockers, I framed them and carefully placed them in the long corridor of my dental office.  Hence my Rock and Roll "Hall of Fame" was born (of course, it didn't hurt that Richard needed some dental work)!

Many of my patients comment and guess who the rockers are.  An interesting side note is that 3 of the inductees into the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of fame are members of my personal "Hall of Fame!"  (Can you name them?)

Please enjoy these photos and feel free to stop by and check them out in person any time you like!

...

Steven Goldy, DDS

Creating Confident Smiles

416 N. Bedford drive, suite 409

Beverly Hills, CA  90210

310-550-1511

www.stevengoldydds.com  

'Smart' toothbrush grades your brushing habits

I cannot really endorse this toothbrush because I have not seen, tested it myself.  However, there is a toothbrush made by oral B, their top of the line "Precision 5000" that I do endorse, and use it personally. The cool thing about it, and the similarities to the toothbrush w/ a smartphone app, is that there is a nice timer/clock, that syncs via bluetooth to the brush.  As soon as you switch on the toothbrush, the timer starts, and if you turn off the toothbrush (to spit/whatever) the timer stops momentarily, unless you leave it off for a good 30 seconds.

Besides this nifty timer, the toothbrush and timer also warn you when you are using too much pressure/brushing too hard.  Because I think this is one of the best brushes on the market, we sell it at my office for a good 20% less than retail stores.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/09/tech/innovation/smart-toothbrush-kolibree/index.html

Steven Goldy, DDS

Creating Confident Smiles

416 N. Bedford drive, suite 409

Beverly Hills, CA  90210

310-550-1511

www.stevengoldydds.com  

The Long Term Value of a Great Smile

Virtually all Americans (99.7%) believe a smile is an important social asset.  Consumer studies have proved that a beautiful smile will make you more attractive, but according to recent research conducted for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry a new smile will also make you appear more intelligent, interesting, successful and wealthy.

A smile makeover can increase your self-confidence when meeting new people, giving presentations and conducting meetings.  It allows you to translate emotions and ideas more easily to colleagues, clients and friends.  

Common Responses

74% of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt an individual's chance for success and that people have very specific preferences about the way a smile should appear.  When asked "what is the first thing you notice in a person's smile?" the most common responses were:

• Straightness 
• Whiteness and color of teeth 
• Cleanliness 
• Sincerity of smile 
• Missing teeth 
• Sparkle of smile 

When asked "what types of things do you consider make a smile unattractive?" the most common responses were:

• Discolored, yellow or stained teeth 
• Missing teeth 
• Crooked teeth 
• Cavities and decay 
• Gaps and spaces 

And finally when respondents were asked "what would you most like to improve about your smile," the most common response was "whiter and brighter teeth."

Cosmetic Dentistry

Another study found that nearly two thirds feel that people with warm and open smiles are more approachable.  A third of the people surveyed are concerned about their teeth and they have a strong interest in cosmetic dentistry.  But many are held back by impressions of affordability,  

The value of success in your career and your relationships is hard to quantify.  Ask people who have completed cosmetic dental treatment (from whitening to 20 veneers and/or porcelain crowns) and they will tell you it was money very well spent!  Cosmetic dentistry can easily fix any of these smile deficiencies and give you a smile that makes you appear more attractive, successful and intelligent.  Talk to your cosmetic dentist – you’ll find that almost every practice has affordable ways you can finance your new smile and enjoy the benefits and the value for the rest of your life.

Steven Goldy, DDS

Creating Confident Smiles

416 N. Bedford drive, suite 409

Beverly Hills, CA  90210

310-550-1511

www.stevengoldydds.com