Gaithersburg Dental Care
Hello!
We hope that you are staying warm during our cold winter days. We’ve enjoyed the snow and we hope that you have too!
The month of February brings many celebrations locally, dental-related, and around the world. In this newsletter, we will observe:
Chinese New Year- February 1-16th
Black History Month- February 1-28th
Valentine’s Day- February 14th
National Children’s Dental Health Month- February 1-28th
GDC February Smile Special- February 1-28th
Chinese New Year
Xīnnián hǎo! Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, is the most important celebration observed in China, with cultural and historic significance. There are several reasons to celebrate Chinese New Year:
First, legend states that the Chinese New Year stemmed from an ancient battle against the Nian, a terrifying beast that attacked people and ate children. The people used fireworks and firecrackers to chase the beast away. This tradition has been continued until the present time and the festival serves as a time to gain good fortune.
Second, it is celebrated to mark the start of the Lunar New Year. The festival signals the beginning of spring, and the start of a new year according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
Third, this celebration, in its earliest form, was meant for farmers and workers to have a rest from their year-long hard labor, and therefore be ready to resume work afterwards, refreshed and well-rested.
Chinese New Year 2022 will fall on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022, starting a year of the Tiger. People born in a year of the Tiger are predicted to be brave, competitive, unpredictable, and confident. Celebrations of Chinese New Year traditionally last for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival.
Black History Month
The United States, Canada, and Germany observe February as Black History Month. Other countries, including the Netherlands, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, celebrate Black History Month in October.
Black History Month started in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson who proposed marking a time to honor African Americans and raise awareness of black history. President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Today, Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society—from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more.
Every year there is also a theme that marks the celebration. 2022’s theme is focused on African American’s health and wellness. According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), “the 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well. This theme acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing throughout the African Diaspora.”
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is named after Saint Valentine, a Catholic priest who lived in Rome in the 3rd Century. Many Romans were converting to Christianity, but there were strict laws about what Christians were allowed to do. It was believed that Roman soldiers should be completely devoted to Rome and therefore a law was passed preventing them from marrying. St. Valentine began to marry these soldiers in secret Christian ceremonies and this was the beginning of his reputation for believing in the importance of love.
Eventually, St. Valentine was found out and jailed for his crimes against Claudius. While imprisoned, St. Valentine cared for his fellow prisoners and also his jailor’s blind daughter. it is written that St. Valentine cured the girl’s blindness and that his final act before being executed was to write her a love message signed ‘from your Valentine’. St. Valentine was executed on February 14, in the year 270. It wasn’t until more than 200 years later that February 14 was proclaimed St. Valentine’s Day.
The poet Chaucer in the Middle Ages was the first to link St. Valentine with romantic love. This was the beginning of the tradition of expressing love and admiration, usually in secret. While Valentine’s Day is celebrated in most countries, different cultures have developed their own traditions. In some parts of the world, Valentine’s Day is observed as a day for expressing love between family members and friends, rather than that of romantic couples. Some traditions include leaving cards, treats, and gifts for children and others include acts of appreciation between friends.
National Children’s Dental Health Month
The month of February is very important in our dental community. It is a national health observance that brings together dedicated professionals, health care providers and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their parents and caregivers, teachers and many others. Each year is dedicated to an important issue of children’s dental health to advocate for and educate. 2022’s theme is “Sealants Make Sense”.
Sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (the premolars and molars) to prevent tooth decay. The sealant quickly bonds into the grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth. Sealants are clinically proven to reduce the risk of tooth decay up to 80%! It is recommended that all children receive sealants as their permanent molars come in, typically between the ages of 6 and 12.
Sealants are a quick and pain-free treatment that can be performed during your child’s routine dental cleaning or during a separate appointment. Our hygienist, Jennifer, will be happy to answer questions you may have regarding sealants and the necessity for your child to have them placed.
February Smile Special
Dreaming of a perfect smile?
Cosmetic veneers can provide a
permanent solution to stained,
chipped, and esthetically unpleasing
anterior teeth. During the month of
February, you will receive 15% off
when you start your treatment case.
Most insurance plans do not cover
cosmetic procedures, however you can
use your HSA/FSA spending accounts for
payment. Discount does not apply when
you use Care Credit and the treatment
case must be paid in full prior to
completion in order to receive the 15%
off. Contact our office via phone or
email us at info@gaithersburgdentalcare.
As always, we hope that you and your loved ones stay healthy and safe! Please wear a mask, social distance, practice hand hygiene, and get vaccinated and boosted!
Dr. Gerald Chan and Team