Dog-friendly Drive-ins, Dives and Digs

Dog-friendly Drive-ins, Dives and Digs

Dallas/Ft Worth Pumpkin Patch Festivities

With Labor Day in the rear-view mirror and pumpkin spice EVERYTHING hitting the shelves, it can mean only one thing: fall is here. There is something about fall that makes you want to get outside and embrace the cooler weather (or at least the not-blisteringly-hot weather). While Halloween is still weeks away, it doesn’t mean that you can’t start to embrace the season.  

 

Hitting a pumpkin patch with your family is a tradition that many north Texans embrace year after year. With a multitude of venues featuring pumpkins, corn mazes and petting zoos, there’s always something the whole family can enjoy. Pull out your jeans and boots and let us show you the best places to find your pumpkin patch spirit this year! 

 

Autumn at the Arboretum 

 

If you prefer sunflowers over scary, then the Dallas Arboretum is the place for you. From September 23-November 22, the Arboretum has transformed to the Land of Oz featuring hundreds of thousands of blooming plants and flowers. You’ll think you followed the yellow brick road straight out of downtown. In addition, the Pumpkin Village is a must-see with more than 90,000 pumpkins, squashes and gourds. Pumpkins will be available to purchase, too. Be sure to check out their calendar of special fall events, including opportunities for the little ones to show off their costumes. There will be so many adorable photo ops you’ll hardly be able to keep up! 

 

Pumpkins on the Prairie  

 

Pumpkins on the Prairie in Frisco is designed for those with children who are looking for a way to add some outdoor, energy-expending fun into their family outing. Featuring both a hay maze and bounce houses, Pumpkins on the Prairie is sure to wear out even the most active kids. Open from September 30-October 31, the pumpkins are ready to be picked, so come on by! This event is free and open to the whole community.  

 

Elves Farm 

 

While the name of the farm may have you thinking it’s Christmas come early, don’t let the name deceive you. Yes, you can get a Christmas tree here, but you’ll have to come back later for that. For the month of October, the Elves farm is also where your family can purchase all your fall decorations and take a tour of the farm on a hay ride. There’s also a farm zoo featuring chickens, goats, rabbits and a pot belly pig. If you’re looking for more farm fun, check out the sack races and the Dress the Scarecrow activity. Elves Farm is open every weekend in October.  

 

Hall’s Pumpkin Farm 

 

Looking for a challenge that stimulates your brain and your body? Head to Hall’s Pumpkin Farm in Grapevine to get lost in a corn maze that stretches over two acres. For the brave, bring your flashlight and come after dark when spooky shadows are cast over the stalks. For the pumpkin lovers, bring your wagon because these pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes. Hayrides are also available for the young (and young at heart) to have the opportunity to view the whole farm. The farm is open daily from September 29. Please note, this is a cash only farm, so prepare accordingly. 

 

Looking for more pumpkin patches? Many local churches, schools, and troops create “pop-up patches” across the metroplex. Be on the lookout for one on your next drive around town!!

The post Dallas/Ft Worth Pumpkin Patch Festivities appeared first on Fort Worth Dentist | 7th Street District | H. Peter Ku, D.D.S. PA.

Dallas/Ft Worth Pumpkin Patch Festivities

With Labor Day in the rear-view mirror and pumpkin spice EVERYTHING hitting the shelves, it can mean only one thing: fall is here. There is something about fall that makes you want to get outside and embrace the cooler weather (or at least the not-blisteringly-hot weather). While Halloween is still weeks away, it doesn’t mean that you can’t start to embrace the season.  

 

Hitting a pumpkin patch with your family is a tradition that many north Texans embrace year after year. With a multitude of venues featuring pumpkins, corn mazes and petting zoos, there’s always something the whole family can enjoy. Pull out your jeans and boots and let us show you the best places to find your pumpkin patch spirit this year! 

 

Autumn at the Arboretum 

 

If you prefer sunflowers over scary, then the Dallas Arboretum is the place for you. From September 23-November 22, the Arboretum has transformed to the Land of Oz featuring hundreds of thousands of blooming plants and flowers. You’ll think you followed the yellow brick road straight out of downtown. In addition, the Pumpkin Village is a must-see with more than 90,000 pumpkins, squashes and gourds. Pumpkins will be available to purchase, too. Be sure to check out their calendar of special fall events, including opportunities for the little ones to show off their costumes. There will be so many adorable photo ops you’ll hardly be able to keep up! 

 

Pumpkins on the Prairie  

 

Pumpkins on the Prairie in Frisco is designed for those with children who are looking for a way to add some outdoor, energy-expending fun into their family outing. Featuring both a hay maze and bounce houses, Pumpkins on the Prairie is sure to wear out even the most active kids. Open from September 30-October 31, the pumpkins are ready to be picked, so come on by! This event is free and open to the whole community.  

 

Elves Farm 

 

While the name of the farm may have you thinking it’s Christmas come early, don’t let the name deceive you. Yes, you can get a Christmas tree here, but you’ll have to come back later for that. For the month of October, the Elves farm is also where your family can purchase all your fall decorations and take a tour of the farm on a hay ride. There’s also a farm zoo featuring chickens, goats, rabbits and a pot belly pig. If you’re looking for more farm fun, check out the sack races and the Dress the Scarecrow activity. Elves Farm is open every weekend in October.  

 

Hall’s Pumpkin Farm 

 

Looking for a challenge that stimulates your brain and your body? Head to Hall’s Pumpkin Farm in Grapevine to get lost in a corn maze that stretches over two acres. For the brave, bring your flashlight and come after dark when spooky shadows are cast over the stalks. For the pumpkin lovers, bring your wagon because these pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes. Hayrides are also available for the young (and young at heart) to have the opportunity to view the whole farm. The farm is open daily from September 29. Please note, this is a cash only farm, so prepare accordingly. 

 

Looking for more pumpkin patches? Many local churches, schools, and troops create “pop-up patches” across the metroplex. Be on the lookout for one on your next drive around town!!

The post Dallas/Ft Worth Pumpkin Patch Festivities appeared first on Fort Worth Dentist | 7th Street District | H. Peter Ku, D.D.S. PA.

Fun Facts about Floss

Many people pay little attention to floss. It’s just viewed as another toiletry that’s used infrequently, and otherwise lays at the bottom of your bathroom drawer collecting dust. Aside from the biannual harassment from the dentist to floss daily, this isn’t a product that comes to mind too often. In fact, most people would be hard pressed to identify the basic history and evolution of the product.  

 

The history of floss 

 

In case you’re ever on Jeopardy (or at a trivia night), floss actually dates back to prehistoric times. Archeologists have found grooves in the teeth of prehistoric humans and hypothesized that horse hairs were used to get the tough meat and fibrous plants out of hard-to-reach places of our early ancestors. Through the nineteenth century to present, floss has evolved and changed as a result of several world events. For example, during World War II the traditional silk floss had to be replaced by nylon due to rising costs of materials during the war effort. Today, modern technologies and synthetic materials have once again influenced the development of floss, which is cheaper to make than ever. 

 

If your floss is sitting unused at the bottom of your drawer, start by actually using it. Less than 12% of Americans floss the recommended amount, so by setting this habit you’ll be a ready-made superstar. 

 

It gets better… 

 

Next, if you have copious amounts of unused floss, the good news is that there are numerous ways to use it aside from oral hygiene. Floss has commonly been used as a “household hack.” Need to hang a picture on the wall, but don’t have the wire for the back of the frame? Floss can easily be used to hold the frame on the nail. Out camping and need to cut food, but forgot your silverware? Floss has been used to cut foods like cheese, hard bodied eggs, and even to remove fish from its skin. And another camping perk—floss burns easily thanks to the wax on the outer layer. Simply wrap it around some bark, and light. There are so many uses for floss in the wild that survivalists actually suggest packing it when you venture into the wilderness.  

 

There are plenty of urban legends about other benefits of floss that you can decide if you believe. In 1995, they say a West Virginia inmate crafted and used a floss ladder to escape from prison. His ladder was supposedly eighteen feet long and as thick as a telephone wire. Since that time, inmates in prisons across the world have tried this escape. It is uncertain if others have been successful. And in case you were curious—the prisoner who escaped in 1995 was caught only weeks later.  

 

Finally, if you think flossing is something that only your dentist does, you’d be mistaken. In North America, over three million miles of floss are purchased each year. That amount of floss would wrap around the world over 120 times! While there are many reputable alternatives for unused floss, and some not-so-reputable (cough…prison breaks), using it to get plaque out from between your teeth is the most important. Brushing your teeth without flossing is like bathing only 70% of your body when you shower, so remember—in order to reach the other 30% of your teeth surfaces, floss twice a day, right before brushing. 

The post Fun Facts about Floss appeared first on Fort Worth Dentist | 7th Street District | H. Peter Ku, D.D.S. PA.

Fun Facts about Floss

Many people pay little attention to floss. It’s just viewed as another toiletry that’s used infrequently, and otherwise lays at the bottom of your bathroom drawer collecting dust. Aside from the biannual harassment from the dentist to floss daily, this isn’t a product that comes to mind too often. In fact, most people would be hard pressed to identify the basic history and evolution of the product.  

 

The history of floss 

 

In case you’re ever on Jeopardy (or at a trivia night), floss actually dates back to prehistoric times. Archeologists have found grooves in the teeth of prehistoric humans and hypothesized that horse hairs were used to get the tough meat and fibrous plants out of hard-to-reach places of our early ancestors. Through the nineteenth century to present, floss has evolved and changed as a result of several world events. For example, during World War II the traditional silk floss had to be replaced by nylon due to rising costs of materials during the war effort. Today, modern technologies and synthetic materials have once again influenced the development of floss, which is cheaper to make than ever. 

 

If your floss is sitting unused at the bottom of your drawer, start by actually using it. Less than 12% of Americans floss the recommended amount, so by setting this habit you’ll be a ready-made superstar. 

 

It gets better… 

 

Next, if you have copious amounts of unused floss, the good news is that there are numerous ways to use it aside from oral hygiene. Floss has commonly been used as a “household hack.” Need to hang a picture on the wall, but don’t have the wire for the back of the frame? Floss can easily be used to hold the frame on the nail. Out camping and need to cut food, but forgot your silverware? Floss has been used to cut foods like cheese, hard bodied eggs, and even to remove fish from its skin. And another camping perk—floss burns easily thanks to the wax on the outer layer. Simply wrap it around some bark, and light. There are so many uses for floss in the wild that survivalists actually suggest packing it when you venture into the wilderness.  

 

There are plenty of urban legends about other benefits of floss that you can decide if you believe. In 1995, they say a West Virginia inmate crafted and used a floss ladder to escape from prison. His ladder was supposedly eighteen feet long and as thick as a telephone wire. Since that time, inmates in prisons across the world have tried this escape. It is uncertain if others have been successful. And in case you were curious—the prisoner who escaped in 1995 was caught only weeks later.  

 

Finally, if you think flossing is something that only your dentist does, you’d be mistaken. In North America, over three million miles of floss are purchased each year. That amount of floss would wrap around the world over 120 times! While there are many reputable alternatives for unused floss, and some not-so-reputable (cough…prison breaks), using it to get plaque out from between your teeth is the most important. Brushing your teeth without flossing is like bathing only 70% of your body when you shower, so remember—in order to reach the other 30% of your teeth surfaces, floss twice a day, right before brushing. 

The post Fun Facts about Floss appeared first on Fort Worth Dentist | 7th Street District | H. Peter Ku, D.D.S. PA.

Fall Foods and Saliva Production

When you’re hungry and start to think about food, your saliva production can increase by 20 times. With the average mouth producing between 2 and 4 pints of saliva every day, how much does that make in a year? It’s nothing to scoff at—your annual totals are between 92 and 185 gallons every year. 

 

Someone else’s saliva will gross you out, but the daily production in your mouth never seems to bother you. With the average person producing 2 pools-worth of saliva in a lifetime, this fluid production is clearly something we’re quite good at. And while it might be obvious that saliva helps with digestion, you might have some lingering curiosities about when and how and why we produce it. Read on to find out! 

 

Why does your saliva production increase when you’re hungry? 

 

Increased saliva production when you think about food is a universal norm. Hunger strikes, and you can feel that moisture build in your mouth. Most of us remember that saliva helps with digestion, but did you know that certain cravings stimulate more saliva production than others? And it’s not just about how hungry you are, either. Foods that are rich in carbohydrates, including fall favorites like potato salads, require more of the enzyme called ptyalin (contained in saliva) to break them down. Your body knows this, and you’ll actually produce more saliva before digging into carb-rich foods. 

 

But back to basics: your saliva production increases when you’re hungry to aid digestion in general. The moisture helps you chew food, protecting your teeth as you chow, and then protects your throat as you wash it all down. The more you chew, the more saliva you produce, and the better you’re able to break down foods to release their nutrients.  

 

Is increased saliva production good for oral health? 

 

Saliva production can definitely be “too prolific” or “insufficient.” You need a minimum of saliva in order to chew and swallow comfortably, which is where hyposalivation (not salivating enough) can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. Hypersalivation (producing TOO much) isn’t necessarily bad for your teeth, but can be embarrassing if that first fall pie makes you drool in front of company.  

 

Saliva is not only essential in digestion, but also for keeping your mouth clean. Brushing is still the one and only way to keep decay at bay, but saliva also plays its part in dissolving foodstuff off your teeth and washing bits of food down that weren’t swallowed as you ate. 
Where does saliva come from? 

 

You have six primary salivary glands where saliva is produced, and your body has hundreds of minor salivary glands as well. Where are your major glands? Each of your cheeks holds one main salivary gland. You also have a set at the bottom of your mouth, and another set right behind your front teeth. 

 

Saliva production levels vary throughout the day, particularly as you lay down to sleep. The last of your daily salivary production pulses lightly into your mouth after brushing your teeth, and overnight you produce very little. Your mouth will absolutely react to dreams, however, meaning that dreaming of something tasty might be the culprit behind waking up to discover you’ve been drooling on your pillow overnight.

The post Fall Foods and Saliva Production appeared first on Fort Worth Dentist | 7th Street District | H. Peter Ku, D.D.S. PA.

Fall Foods and Saliva Production

When you’re hungry and start to think about food, your saliva production can increase by 20 times. With the average mouth producing between 2 and 4 pints of saliva every day, how much does that make in a year? It’s nothing to scoff at—your annual totals are between 92 and 185 gallons every year. 

 

Someone else’s saliva will gross you out, but the daily production in your mouth never seems to bother you. With the average person producing 2 pools-worth of saliva in a lifetime, this fluid production is clearly something we’re quite good at. And while it might be obvious that saliva helps with digestion, you might have some lingering curiosities about when and how and why we produce it. Read on to find out! 

 

Why does your saliva production increase when you’re hungry? 

 

Increased saliva production when you think about food is a universal norm. Hunger strikes, and you can feel that moisture build in your mouth. Most of us remember that saliva helps with digestion, but did you know that certain cravings stimulate more saliva production than others? And it’s not just about how hungry you are, either. Foods that are rich in carbohydrates, including fall favorites like potato salads, require more of the enzyme called ptyalin (contained in saliva) to break them down. Your body knows this, and you’ll actually produce more saliva before digging into carb-rich foods. 

 

But back to basics: your saliva production increases when you’re hungry to aid digestion in general. The moisture helps you chew food, protecting your teeth as you chow, and then protects your throat as you wash it all down. The more you chew, the more saliva you produce, and the better you’re able to break down foods to release their nutrients.  

 

Is increased saliva production good for oral health? 

 

Saliva production can definitely be “too prolific” or “insufficient.” You need a minimum of saliva in order to chew and swallow comfortably, which is where hyposalivation (not salivating enough) can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. Hypersalivation (producing TOO much) isn’t necessarily bad for your teeth, but can be embarrassing if that first fall pie makes you drool in front of company.  

 

Saliva is not only essential in digestion, but also for keeping your mouth clean. Brushing is still the one and only way to keep decay at bay, but saliva also plays its part in dissolving foodstuff off your teeth and washing bits of food down that weren’t swallowed as you ate. 
Where does saliva come from? 

 

You have six primary salivary glands where saliva is produced, and your body has hundreds of minor salivary glands as well. Where are your major glands? Each of your cheeks holds one main salivary gland. You also have a set at the bottom of your mouth, and another set right behind your front teeth. 

 

Saliva production levels vary throughout the day, particularly as you lay down to sleep. The last of your daily salivary production pulses lightly into your mouth after brushing your teeth, and overnight you produce very little. Your mouth will absolutely react to dreams, however, meaning that dreaming of something tasty might be the culprit behind waking up to discover you’ve been drooling on your pillow overnight.

The post Fall Foods and Saliva Production appeared first on Fort Worth Dentist | 7th Street District | H. Peter Ku, D.D.S. PA.

It’s All In The Numbers

If you were wondering how many teeth you have, you’ve come to the right place. Not only will you find the answer to that particular question, but you’ll also discover some wacky trivia about human teeth. 

How many teeth do babies have? 
Tooth development starts before babies are born. But, of course, you won’t see their teeth until they’re about 6 or 12 months old. 

 

Babies are typically born with no teeth, although it’s been known to happen that babies are born with 1 or 2 teeth already sprouted in their mouths. These cases are colloquially known as prenatal teeth. Only one in 2,000 babies is born with these, and in most cases they’re the bottom two incisors. These prenatal teeth are actually pre-baby teeth, meaning they fall out when the baby’s actual baby teeth start erupting. Check this: Napoleon and Caesar were both born with prenatal teeth! 

 

By the age of 3, children typically end up with 20 baby teeth in their mouths. Kids usually start to lose these teeth and sprout their permanent teeth around the age of 6. 
The 20 baby teeth include: 

 

• 8 primary incisors 
• 4 canines 
• 4 first molars 
• 4 second molars 

The baby teeth sprouting cycle 

 

We’ve listed out the average sequence of baby teeth being sprouted, but of course there are interesting exceptions here, too. If your child grows some teeth before or after the mentioned intervals, this is nothing to worry about. 

 

1. 6th month – first incisors
2. 8th month – second incisor
3. Between 10th and 14th months – first molars
4. Between 14th and 20th months – canines
5. Between 24th and 30th months – second molars 

Permanent teeth—in numbers 

 

The standard set of adult teeth—sprouted primarily in grade school, but later adding wisdom teeth in adolescence—includes: 

 

• 8 incisors 
• 4 canines 
• 8 premolars 
• 8 molars 
• 4 third molars (wisdom teeth) 

Almost 35% of today’s population never grows wisdom teeth. Theoretically, we’re starting to see this more often because of the shrinking of the human jaw and the growing frequency of wisdom teeth coming into a crowded mouth. 

 

• Once wisdom teeth are extracted (if they ever grow in), 28 is the average number of adult teeth. 

 

• 45 is the average life expectancy of a tooth (yes, they don’t last forever, that’s what your dentist has been trying to tell you all along). 

 

• 20 is considered the base-line number of teeth needed in order to chew a full diversity of foods. 

Dental terms—in numbers 

 

• The most likely tooth to grow in a “little on the small side” is an incisor. Having an undersized tooth is called microdontia.  

 

• Having zero teeth in the jaw (naturally or unnaturally) is called anodontia. 

 

• If you have more than 32 teeth in your mouth, you are dealing with a condition called hyperdontia. 

 

• When 6 or more teeth are missing from your mouth, it’s called oligodontia.  

 

• A set of adjacent teeth can actually fuse together during growth. This is called dental fusion. 

 

• A single tooth splitting into 2 is a phenomenon known as dental gemination. 

 

Keep on watching this month for more #ToothFacts here, and on Facebook! 

The post It’s All In The Numbers appeared first on Fort Worth Dentist | 7th Street District | H. Peter Ku, D.D.S. PA.

It’s All In The Numbers

If you were wondering how many teeth you have, you’ve come to the right place. Not only will you find the answer to that particular question, but you’ll also discover some wacky trivia about human teeth. 

How many teeth do babies have? 
Tooth development starts before babies are born. But, of course, you won’t see their teeth until they’re about 6 or 12 months old. 

 

Babies are typically born with no teeth, although it’s been known to happen that babies are born with 1 or 2 teeth already sprouted in their mouths. These cases are colloquially known as prenatal teeth. Only one in 2,000 babies is born with these, and in most cases they’re the bottom two incisors. These prenatal teeth are actually pre-baby teeth, meaning they fall out when the baby’s actual baby teeth start erupting. Check this: Napoleon and Caesar were both born with prenatal teeth! 

 

By the age of 3, children typically end up with 20 baby teeth in their mouths. Kids usually start to lose these teeth and sprout their permanent teeth around the age of 6. 
The 20 baby teeth include: 

 

• 8 primary incisors 
• 4 canines 
• 4 first molars 
• 4 second molars 

The baby teeth sprouting cycle 

 

We’ve listed out the average sequence of baby teeth being sprouted, but of course there are interesting exceptions here, too. If your child grows some teeth before or after the mentioned intervals, this is nothing to worry about. 

 

1. 6th month – first incisors
2. 8th month – second incisor
3. Between 10th and 14th months – first molars
4. Between 14th and 20th months – canines
5. Between 24th and 30th months – second molars 

Permanent teeth—in numbers 

 

The standard set of adult teeth—sprouted primarily in grade school, but later adding wisdom teeth in adolescence—includes: 

 

• 8 incisors 
• 4 canines 
• 8 premolars 
• 8 molars 
• 4 third molars (wisdom teeth) 

Almost 35% of today’s population never grows wisdom teeth. Theoretically, we’re starting to see this more often because of the shrinking of the human jaw and the growing frequency of wisdom teeth coming into a crowded mouth. 

 

• Once wisdom teeth are extracted (if they ever grow in), 28 is the average number of adult teeth. 

 

• 45 is the average life expectancy of a tooth (yes, they don’t last forever, that’s what your dentist has been trying to tell you all along). 

 

• 20 is considered the base-line number of teeth needed in order to chew a full diversity of foods. 

Dental terms—in numbers 

 

• The most likely tooth to grow in a “little on the small side” is an incisor. Having an undersized tooth is called microdontia.  

 

• Having zero teeth in the jaw (naturally or unnaturally) is called anodontia. 

 

• If you have more than 32 teeth in your mouth, you are dealing with a condition called hyperdontia. 

 

• When 6 or more teeth are missing from your mouth, it’s called oligodontia.  

 

• A set of adjacent teeth can actually fuse together during growth. This is called dental fusion. 

 

• A single tooth splitting into 2 is a phenomenon known as dental gemination. 

 

Keep on watching this month for more #ToothFacts here, and on Facebook! 

The post It’s All In The Numbers appeared first on Fort Worth Dentist | 7th Street District | H. Peter Ku, D.D.S. PA.