Take A Pizza My Heart

National Pepperoni Pizza Day 

Thursday, September 20th

 

National Pepperoni Pizza Day

According to legend, Raffaele Esposito created the first pizza in 1889 in honor of the Queen of Italy, Margherita of Savoy. A pizza topped with tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella represented the colors of the Italian flag was aptly named Pizza Margherita.

While pizza might be most heavily associated with the Italians, pepperoni pizza is purely American. Served on more than a third of American pizza orders, it’s safe to say that pepperoni is America’s Sweetheart.   

September 20^th is a day set aside to pay homage to the most popular pizza ever created…Pepperoni Pizza! So get the invitations in the mail…cause you’re throwing a Pizza Party! 

Photo provided by birthdayexpress.com

Rather than call up your favorite Pizza Parlor, considering Throwing a “Make Your Own Mini Pizza” Party and create a DIY Mini Pizza Bar where all of your friends and family can come together to celebrate. 

What You Will Need: 

Pizza Dough 

Pizza Sauce 

Toppings (cheese, tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, onions, and of course, Pepperoni) 

You can always make your own Light and Fluffy Pizza Dough, but if you don’t have time for that, don't worry, you can purchase ready made Pizza Dough or even use Pre-Made Pizza Crusts.

Photo provided by www.pillsbury.com

And no celebration would be complete without a cake!...a Pizza Cake that is! This simple recipe for a layered pepperoni pizza cake is sure to be a hit. It’s just a layer of pizza, topped with another layer of pizza, topped with another layer of pizza, and all wrapped up in Pillsbury dough. Yes…we know…it sounds delicious.

Braces are Magnetic

Image provided by colourmovie.com

We all know someone who has a friend who has a brother who knows a guy that had braces...so the story must be true. 

There are a lot of myths about orthodontics and getting braces, some of which have been told so many times, by so many different people, they are now believed to be the truth. Well...guess what? Even if you know the guy who has the brother who has the friend...the story is most likely an Urban Legend. 

Legend: Only children and teens need to visit an orthodontist. 

TRUTH: It is very typical for adults to experience rotation or misalignment of teeth. If you’ve still got teeth, Dr. Spannhake can straighten them! Certainly there are age-related changes that affect the way treatment proceeds. Restorative needs and periodontal concerns necessitate a full diagnosis and discussion of your needs...but the truth is...everyone, no matter what their age, can enjoy the benefits of a healthy, pleasing smile. Health, happiness and self-esteem are important at any age. 

Legend: Braces interfere with radio signals and electronic devices. 

TRUTH: In theory any metal can act as an antenna. Radio signals are modulated electro-magnetic waves transmitted through the air. In order for these transmitted signals to travel well in air, they must be sent at high-frequencies. This is achieved through modulation. Even if someone's braces could receive these frequencies, it would have to be decoded to actually hear any messages. 

Legend: Braces are just for cosmetic purposes and aren’t necessary for your overall dental health. 

TRUTH: While braces can definitely help you get that beautiful smile, they aren’t just for cosmetic improvement. Well aligned teeth can facilitate good oral hygiene making it easier to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, resolving certain orthodontic problems with the use of braces can improve your ability to speak, chew, and even breathe. 

Legend: Wearing braces will increase your chances of being struck by lightning? 
TRUTH: The chances of a person getting struck by lightning are the same, with or without braces. In the U.S. in any given year, the chance that you will be struck by lightning is 1 in 700,000 no matter what you are wearing. 

Legend: You don't need to visit your General Dentist when you are in braces treatment. 

TRUTH: Even if you are having regular orthodontic checkups, you should never skip your regular dental checkups. Having braces makes you more prone to plaque and tartar accumulation, so your dental cleanings are actually more important now. Regular dental checkups are the best way to ensure harmful buildup is removed from your mouth. 

Legend: If there was a giant magnet overhead, anyone who is wearing braces would get stuck to it. 

TRUTH: Braces are made of materials which are non-magnetic in nature. Therefore, getting stuck to a giant magnet is highly unlikely. And really...where is this giant magnet everyone is talking about anyway? We haven't seen it. Have you?

Image provided by HSOrtho

Point is...Orthodontic Urban Legends are just that...Legends. No matter what your friend's brother's cousin says.

Secrets Revealed – The Tooth Fairy Tells All

Spannhake Orthodontics

We are all familiar with what happens when a child loses a tooth. The child places the tooth under their pillow when they go to bed that night, and while they sleep, the Tooth Fairy comes to collect the tooth leaving money or a small gift in exchange. 

Have you ever wondered why the Tooth Fairy does this? What is her motivation? Why has she dedicated her life to the pursuit of good oral hygiene? 

Wonder no more…Spannhake Orthodontics asked the hard-hitting questions to uncover the truth. 

It was so long ago…the Tooth Fairy can’t remember exactly when, but she always knew that teeth where very important. “Teeth help you chew food, speak clearly, and they make you feel good about yourself”, says the Tooth Fairy. “When you take care of your teeth you are rewarded with a beautiful smile.” 

Beautiful smiles are contagious and smiling can improve your mood and the mood of people around you. If you have a smile you can be proud of, you’re more likely to show it off. “That’s why I do what I do. Getting from house to house isn’t easy, but this is a labor of love. If I can help just one more person show off their smile, than it’s all worth it.” 

That said, the Tooth Fairy wants to be very clear…she is only interested in teeth in pristine condition. Her message: Children should brush for two minutes twice a day and they should floss regularly. She also wants to stress the importance of eating healthy foods. The Tooth Fairy did admit to us that she does think candy, sodas and juices taste great, but she knows that these sugary foods can be harmful to your teeth and your orthodontic appliances, so she tries to steer clear of these tempting treats herself. 

Starting good oral hygiene habits when we’re young will only help us when we age. “If you don’t keep your teeth clean, plaque can build up along your gumline, creating an environment for additional bacteria to accumulate.” Left unchecked, these bacteria can lead to a more serious gum infection and may eventually cause irreparable damage to your jawbone and support structures, leading to tooth loss. 

Tooth Fairy Tips: 

• Brush thoroughly twice a day and floss regularly. 
• Eat a balanced diet and limit snacks between meals. 
• Use dental products that contain fluoride. 
• Rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse (if instructed by your dentist).

Gimme S'more!

Friday, August 10th is National S'mores Day!

Image provided by birchbox.com

This popular campfire treat is loved by millions...of course it has it's own day of celebration. 

The recipe is one we all know by heart. Sandwich a toasted marshmallow and a piece of chocolate between two graham crackers and enjoy. 

Everybody has their own perfect combination when it comes to making S’mores. Some people insist on using only Hersey Chocolate Bars, while others are more particular when it comes to the brand of graham crackers used.  But…whether or not you should to catch the marshmallow on fire is a debate that will continue for generations to come. 

No matter how you make your S’mores, we are sure you’ll agree…you have never made your S’mores like this…

Below are a few twists on the classic S’mores recipe we all know and love. 

S’mores Cookies 

Image provided by thecookierookie.com

S’mores Cookies are pretty easy to make. All it takes is some pre-made refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough, milk chocolate and, graham cracker crumbs. Bam! You’ll have a dozen S’mores ready to eat in under 30 minutes. 

S’mores Trifle 

Image provided by cookingmamas.com

Seriously…how cute are these? The best part is, they taste even better than they look. And think about it…the bigger the jar the bigger the S’more. Who needs portion control? Not us and certainly not when it comes to a S’mores Trifle. 

OMG Bars 

Image provided by playswellwithbutter

These S’mores Bars have a thick layer of homemade marshmallow sandwiched between a graham cracker crust & salted dark chocolate. OMG…we love these bars so much! 

TIP: If you think you need to be camping to celebrate National S’mores Day you are mistaken. You don’t need a camp fire to create the perfect S’more…you can get your marshmallows nice a toasty by roasting them over the gas flame of your stove top. We know…it’s a genius idea!