A Little History on Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season. Brimming with good food, and quality time spent with family and friends, Thanksgiving is a joyous holiday for many of us, here in Sioux Falls, SD, and across the United States.

Thanksgiving is a day meant for giving thanks, and though this may seem like a natural celebration, the United States is one of a relative few countries to officially celebrate with a holiday.

Unlike many holidays, Thanksgiving is a secular holiday; celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States. Our northern neighbor, Canada, celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October, which is actually much closer to the time when harvests were typically gathered. In addition to the different celebration dates, the origins of the two holidays are also different.

Thanksgiving in the United States
Giving thanks for a bountiful harvest is not new, however; the modern day Thanksgiving in this country can be traced back to a celebration at Plymouth in Massachusetts in 1621. This first feast of thanksgiving was inspired by a good harvest, and the tradition was carried on. At first, the colony at Plymouth didn’t have enough food to feed everyone present, but the Native Americans helped by providing seeds and teaching the colonists how to fish, and soon enough, they were able to hold a feast worthy of the name. The tradition spread, and by the 1660s, most of New England was hosting a Thanksgiving feast in honor of the bountiful harvest.

Thanksgiving in Canada
Martin Frobisher, an explorer of early Canada, is given credit for the idea of the first Canadian Thanksgiving. He survived an arduous journey from England through harsh weather conditions and rough terrain, and after his last voyage from Europe to what is now known as Nunavut, he held a formal ceremony, giving thanks for his good fortune and for his survival. As time went on and more settlers arrived, a feast was added to what had already became a yearly tradition. Samuel de Champlain, another explorer, is linked to the first actual Thanksgiving celebration in honor of a successful harvest. Settlers who arrived with him in New France celebrated their harvest with a bountiful feast.

Thanksgiving in the 21st Century
Today, Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated with all things Americana, from elaborate meals, parades, parties and football games, to kicking off the Christmas holiday shopping season. To many of us, Thanksgiving is roast turkey, stuffing (or dressing), mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. No matter how you and your loved ones celebrate this special holiday, take a moment to give thanks for your friends, family, and all the bountiful blessings you’ve received.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Horner Barrow Orthodontics. We are truly thankful for you, our wonderful orthodontic patients!

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every patient. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands.

 

Why Do YOU Want To Have Straight Teeth?

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There are three major reasons people in Sioux Falls, SD, and elsewhere, seek orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth. The first, and probably the most important reason is an improperly functioning bite. Sometimes teeth emerge in the wrong positions, and this can cause an interference to the way the teeth and jaws work. Sometimes teeth become impacted, or stuck, inside the jawbone. These impactions can (in simple cases) make teeth hard to clean, which can lead to decay and gum problems. In more serious cases, the impaction can lead to damage to the adjacent teeth.

Other functional problems include crossbites, where the tooth position is reversed from its correct location. This can lead to abnormal wear or chipped teeth. Sometimes poor bite relationships can make chewing uncomfortable, and in some case predispose a person to jaw joint problems. Any of these issues can be detected and assessed by your general dentist. If there are functional problems with your bite your general dentist will be able to identify them and will most likely advise you to seek treatment with a specialist, such as an orthodontist.

The second reason people often seek orthodontic treatment is for an improvement in their smile. Appearance is a personal thing. If you don’t like the way your teeth look, many times having them straighter will make them look nicer. In this case, the benefit of orthodontic treatment then really depends on whether you like your teeth the way they are or not. If you really don’t like the way your teeth look, then orthodontics may be for you.

The third reason people want to straighten their teeth is for self-esteem. Many people say they feel more confident in social settings, or in the business world if they have a beautiful, straight smile. Some people even claim that this self-confidence helps them to succeed in life or that they have become a happier, more smiling person. To back up that claim, studies have shown that a confident smile can improve people’s career opportunities.

Orthodontics continues to increase in popularity
Over the years, we at Horner Barrow Orthodontics have seen the demand for orthodontics greatly increase, as it has across the country, and this is probably due to several reasons. One reason is the desire to have a more perfect appearance in the face than in other areas of the body. Like it or not, this desire has become part of our culture. Even though we should not become obsessed with perfection, a happy, healthy, confident smile is truly a benefit for one’s entire life. Research has also shown indications that a confident smile can improve people’s career opportunities.

The second reason orthodontics has become more popular is that availability has greatly improved over the last 20 or more years. The cost of orthodontic treatment, while still not inexpensive, is relatively less expensive than it was many years ago.

The third reason orthodontics has become more popular is that the treatment procedures themselves are definitely more comfortable than they were in the past. Many cases can be treated without the dreaded extraction of teeth. The appliances (brackets) are smaller and smoother than they used to be. The days of the old “tin grin” or “railroad tracks” are pretty much a thing of the past.

In addition, other forms of orthodontic treatment, such as sequential plastic aligners, like Invisalign®, are available and are becoming more sophisticated and successful in the final result.
For these three major reasons, orthodontics has become a happy and healthy experience. To discover more about our range of orthodontic treatments, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kevin Horner or Dr. Keri Barrow, please contact us.

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every patient. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands.

Veterans Day, November 11, 2016

Arlington

Today is Veterans Day, also known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. On this special day, here in Sioux Falls, SD, and all across the country, we pause and salute all who have served. From the veterans of World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, to the wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan, we remember and honor the tremendous sacrifices made by those members of the United States armed forces (and their families’ sacrifices) to preserve our country’s freedom.

What is Veterans Day?

Veterans Day is celebrated on the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

United States President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Armistice Day on November 11, 1919 by saying, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

A Veterans Day Poem by Robert G. Ingersoll

These heroes are dead. They died for liberty—they died for us. They are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars—they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead.

Dr. Kevin Horner, Dr. Keri Barrow, and the entire staff at Horner Barrow Orthodontics would like to humbly say “thank you” to our veterans.

(Photo is from Arlington National Cemetery’s website.)

A Tasty, Braces-Friendly Autumn Recipe

The autumn season is in full swing here in Sioux Falls, SD. That time when we all seem to crave a delicious, hot, home-cooked meal. This recipe from the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is a yummy, braces-friendly autumn meal that will surely satisfy your hungry family.

PastaPomodorini

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pasta Pomodorini

Ingredients:
3/4 pound spaghetti, fettucine or penne pasta
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1/4 cup sliced garlic
1/2 teaspoon finely minced Calabrian chilies, or 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pint small cherry tomatoes, stems removed, crushed between your thumb and forefinger
Sea salt, preferably gray salt
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, each torn into 2 or 3 pieces
Wedge of Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta. While the pasta cooks, heat the 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over moderate heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden brown and crisp, then add the chilies and cook for about 30 seconds. Raise the heat to high and add the tomatoes. Simmer briskly to soften the tomatoes and thicken the juices, about 3 minutes. Season with salt. When the pasta is al dente, scoop out about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta. Return the pasta to the warm pot off the heat. Add the sauce and the basil and mix well. Add some of the reserved cooking water if the pasta seems dry. Transfer to a warmed serving bowl and grate Parmesan over the top to taste. Drizzle with a little more olive oil. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Serve with a healthy tossed salad, and some warm garlic bread.

We  hope you enjoy this easy-to-prepare, tasty autumn meal. Be sure to let Dr. Kevin Horner or Dr. Keri Barrow know how you liked this recipe at your next appointment with us!

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every patient. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands.