Category

just for fun

Tasty Tribute: Candy Collection For The Troops!

By community outreach, just for funNo Comments
treats for troops

Dr. Casazza poses with the 668 pounds of candy just before it went out for shipment and drop-off to troops and veterans.

 

As the holiday season begins, Future of Dentistry and the local community are thankful for our troops, and excited to show it with 668 pounds of candy!

treats for troops scouts

Reading’s Cub Scout Pack 735 and their families were a big help again this year! Pack 735 thanked their helpers, Cuatico (Lockhart), Mrs. Demasse-Furrier and Grandpa Crosby.

Our Wakefield office teamed up with local schools, youth groups and families for our annual Treats For Troops program. Children are invited to donate some of their Halloween candy as a way to thank those who serve. This year, Future of Dentistry collected 668 pounds of candy from families all around Greater Boston and the North Shore!

“The most important part of the program is showing support for our troops and veterans,” says Dr. Gerry Casazza, our founder. “It’s a great chance for kids to learn about giving back. Of course, it’s also good for kids’ teeth to have a little less candy around the house!”

Schools and Scout groups play a major role in Treats For Troops every year, along with their parents and teachers. Donating between 100 and 200 pounds each were the Greenwood School of Wakefield, the Barrows School of Reading, and the Killam School of Reading in collaboration with Cub Scout Pack 735 of Reading. As always, Pack 735 demonstrated their community dedication by promoting the candy drive and organizing and transporting their school’s collection.

We love seeing kids learning about giving back, and all the hands-on effort they put in! It makes the Treats For Troops program extra special.

Some of the Greenwood students pose with candy they collected for the Treats For Troops program.

Many children provided personalized messages for the troops on special “Dear Hero” stationary that we provided. Some also included some adorable handmade cards! Along with all the treats and messages, Future of Dentistry also sent toothbrushes to the military.

Future of Dentistry ships the majority of the candy so it is received by U.S. military personnel all over the world, helped in part by Operation Gratitude. In addition, we work with several groups and supporters to ensure the treats reach local veterans and active-duty servicemen and -women from our local communities.

Future of Dentistry would like to thank these local partners, including: the Wakefield Veteran Services Office, Paula Berg of Wakefield, Helping Our Troops of Stoneham and Operation Troop Support of Danvers.

Thank you again to all the families and partners who made this possible! We are thrilled to see the Treats For Troops program succeed every year, and we hope the troops and veterans enjoy their candy!

To learn more about Treats For Troops, please visit our website to text, call or message us.

treats for troops candy collection

A few of the many volunteers from Future of Dentistry’s Wakefield team!

Messages from the kids put the “care” in care package!

November 27, 2019
Love0

Can Halloween Be Sweet Without The Treats?!

By dental education, just for funNo Comments

Halloween is right around the corner. You’ve planned the costumes, decorated the house, and of course, stocked up on Halloween candy … right?? Many people put off the candy purchase as long as possible. It’s too easy to snack a bit, here and there, till that bulk candy bag doesn’t look so massive anymore! Or maybe it’s your kids who are tempted, and you’re just trying to keep them from getting hopped up on sugar prior to Oct. 31.

Don’t worry, we’re not judging you! The dental professionals at our practice aren’t anti-candy. We aren’t suggesting you be “that house” that hands out raisins or apples! Most of our team gives out candy to trick-or-treaters, and we allow our own children to enjoy extra sweets for Halloween.

A sugary special occasion once in a while is okay, you just need to be a little extra diligent about your home care. Halloween is also a perfect time to revisit the topic of proper brushing and flossing with kids. If there was ever a time to reinforce good dental habits, this is it!

If you’d like to pass out something healthier than candy, that’s great! Here are some fun alternatives to consider. Some of these will be a big hit no matter what. For other items, look for them with popular characters from kids’ movies, TV shows and books.

Scary teeth are only a good look for Halloween, so be sure to brush and floss after all the candy!

  • Mini fidget spinners
  • Glow sticks and other glow-in-the-dark items
  • Kid-themed temporary tattoos
  • Mini squirt guns
  • Mini flashlights
  • Activity and coloring books
  • Mini stuffed animals (Beanie Babies etc.)
  • Packs of sugar-free gum in kid-friendly flavors (bonus points if it contains Xylitol, which is better for teeth!)
  • Stickers
  • Bubbles
  • Bouncy balls, Slinkies, etc.
  • Playing cards
  • Crayons, stamps, pencils, erasers
  • Mini Play-Doh packs
  • Halloween accessories: plastic vampire fangs, spider rings, slap bracelets, key chains, etc.

Whether you choose to hand out traditional candy or something different, candy and sweets will be everywhere during Halloween week. Stay vigilant about brushing and flossing, drink water in between brushing, and follow your dentist’s recommendations – and the only scares you’ll have will be the fun kind!

Happy Halloween!

October 22, 2019
Love0

10 Ways Dr. Casazza Is Like Santa Claus

By just for funOne Comment

This holiday season, it occurred to us that dentists are a lot like Santa Claus in some ways… especially Dr. Casazza! Here’s our list of the top 10 ways Dr. C is like Mr. C.

1) Knows if you’ve been bad or good. (So no pretending you’ve been flossing when you haven’t!)

2) Looks great with a beard.

3) His skills are famous.

4) He has a loyal team of helpers… and he’s taller than all of them.

5) His profession has been around for centuries, but he keeps things modern.

6) Will accept gifts of cookies and milk.

7) Kids love him.

8) All you want for Christmas is your two front teeth? Sure, he can do that!

9) Has his own workshop… and that’s where the magic happens.

10) His wife makes the best cookies around, and she’s great at holiday décor!

Contact Future of Dentistry:

Locations (Tap Below To Open Your Office In Google Maps):

New Patient Online Offer

FREE Initial Consultation

(Up to $115 value)

– or –

$97 Cleaning, X-Rays and Exam

(Save $293)

 

Call (781) 925-7386 today to schedule

Contact Us
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

December 16, 2016
Love0

2-Minute Tunes: Songs for Brushing

By dental education, just for fun

Studies show that many kids (and some adults!) don’t brush their teeth for long enough. Two minutes is the rule if you want your brushing to get the job done effectively. Adults can adjust pretty easily to the two-minute guideline. It can be tricky getting children to follow this rule effectively, but there are ways to make it fun for kids.

We provide a two-minute sand timer to new young patients. Kids get a kick out of the timer, and it’s a tangible way for them to monitor their brushing time.

We also recommend music to keep brushing time on track. If you have a low tolerance for cutesy kiddie tunes, here are some songs that may better suit your palate, all approximately two minutes. (TIP: Youtube videos can change, so please check the video hasn’t been updated with anything that isn’t kid-friendly!)

At Future of Dentistry, our personal favorite is the Elvis classic, “All Shook Up.” Kids like it as much as adults and the “shook up” chorus goes well with the brushing theme!

  1. The Beatles, And Your Bird Can Sing
  2. The Clash, White Riot
  3. Eddie Cochran, Summertime Blues
  4. Gorillaz, Don’t Get Lost in Heaven
  5. The Police, Miss Gradenko
  6. Elvis Presley, All Shook Up
  7. Ray Charles, Hit The Road Jack
  8. Simon & Garfunkel, Song for the Asking
  9. The White Stripes, Fell In Love With a Girl
  10. They Might be Giants, Particle Man

Remember, there are often multiple versions of songs on iTunes, Youtube, etc. Be sure you’re using two-minute versions of these songs, like ones we the linked to. Youtube has some kid- and tooth-themed videos, but many of them tend to grate on adults’ nerves. We pared the list down to a few of the more palatable options. See if you like option one, two, three or four.

Contact Future of Dentistry:

Locations (Tap Below To Open Your Office In Google Maps):

New Patient Online Offer

FREE Initial Consultation

(Up to $115 value)

– or –

$97 Cleaning, X-Rays and Exam

(Save $293)

 

Call (781) 925-7386 today to schedule

Contact Us
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

February 9, 2016
Love0