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It’s the hottest time of the year! When it starts heating up outside the last thing we want to do is cook over a hot stovetop or warm up the oven. That’s why we tend to stick to foods that are light and refreshing like watermelon. We love shopping at the farmer’s market, it’s always ready with lots of fresh vegetables which are full of fiber and moisture!

Another way we like to take advantage of the warm weather while we have it is by enjoying a lovely picnic. It's lake season in the area, and picnicking on the pontoon is always fun! We like to pack fresh fruit, fingerstyle appetizers, chips, lots of water, and lemonade. During the weekends, we like to be out and about as much as we can! Some foods we like to have on a long road trip are sunflower seeds and crackers.

It's August and blueberries are plentiful. I made this no-bake blueberry cheesecake for guests. Enjoy!

LEMON BLUEBERRY NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE

This creamy, light, and fluffy Lemon Blueberry No-Bake Cheesecake recipe is the perfect springtime dessert and hooray for not turning on the oven!

INGREDIENTS
LEMON CHEESECAKE:

1 (9") graham cracker crust; store-bought or homemade

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese,
softened

1/2 cup lemon curd; store-bought or homemade] (I highly recommend [homemade)

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

BLUEBERRY TOPPING

1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
3/4 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
1 tablespoon lemon juice (fresh is best)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS
LEMON CHEESECAKE:

In the bowl of your stand mixer, beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the lemon curd, powdered sugar, and vanilla and beat until well blended. Fold in the whipped cream.

Spoon into the prepared crust and smooth the top. Place in the refrigerator for 4 hours to chill.

BLUEBERRY TOPPING:

While the cheesecake is chilling, combine the water, sugar, and cornstarch in a small
saucepan. Stir to combine.
Add in the blueberries and lemon juice.
Simmer over medium to medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Pour into a heat-safe container and place in the refrigerator to cool. When cool, spread over cheesecake layer and top with sweetened whipped cream or Cool Whip.

NOTES: Prep time reflects chilling time in the refrigerator.

NUTRITION INFORMATION:
YIELD: 8 SERVING SIZE: 1
Amount Per Serving:
CALORIES: 350 TOTAL FAT: 22g SATURATED FAT: 11g TRANS FAT: 0g UNSATURATED FAT: 9g CHOLESTEROL: 65mg SODIUM: 178mg CARBOHYDRATES: 35g FIBER: 1g SUGAR: 22g PROTEIN: 3g

We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and we look forward to the next time we see you in our office!

Regular visits to the dentist are important for people of all ages. Seeing Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson as recommended provides preventive care for oral diseases. If a disease is already present, early detection can prevent hefty dental bills and further damage to the teeth and gums. Once you have made the decision to visit Amundson Dental Associates, you may ask yourself, “What happens during my hygiene appointment?”

Preparation

Arrive at your appointment a few minutes early and bring along any insurance cards or medical information. While it may seem irrelevant, a full medical history can be important, since certain conditions include symptoms that occur inside the mouth.

Initial appointment

In some offices, the first appointment is a screening appointment, during which a dental hygienist will go over your medical and dental history with you, assess the condition of your teeth and gums, then schedule a future appointment to complete the cleaning and any other treatments you may need. In other offices, the screening and cleaning will be done over the same appointment. The dental hygienist may:

• Count your teeth
• Clean your teeth by using a small tool to scrape them in order to remove plaque
• Brush and floss your teeth
• Apply a fluoride treatment using foam that sits on your teeth within a tooth mold, or a gel that can be “painted” on with a small brush
• Inspect your teeth for cavities or signs of decay
• Administer oral X-rays. You will be covered with a special blanket to protect your body and then given a small piece of plastic on which to bite.

Seeing the dentist

After the dental hygienist completes his or her portion of the appointment, the dentist will usually come in and inspect your teeth. After an initial inspection, the dentist may:

• Perform a quick tooth count as well as a more thorough inspection, looking for signs of decay in and around the teeth
• Use a small tool called a “probe” in order to check for signs of gum disease around the base of your teeth
• Visually inspect the skin around your mouth, called the “mucosa”

If you need any further dental work completed, you will usually be required to make an additional appointment. To learn more about hygiene visits, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson, please give us a call at our convenient Grand Forks office!

Convertible or sedan? Downtown or suburbs? Electric or manual toothbrush? As life decisions go, it’s certainly not choosing your next car, or deciding where you want to live. But, even when you are selecting a toothbrush, it helps to make a list of the pros and cons of the contenders before you make that final selection.

• Efficiency

The most important factor in choosing a toothbrush is finding out which model works best to eliminate bacteria and plaque. And studies have shown that, used properly, both electric and manual toothbrushes do a great job of removing plaque. Some electric models can reach the backs of teeth and the gumline more easily, some manual head designs work better for your individual mouth and teeth, so your particular needs should dictate which style of toothbrush you use. Talk to us about the best methods to brush with your preferred toothbrush, and we’ll let you know if one type of toothbrush or the other might work better for you.

• Health Considerations

Brushing too energetically can actually harm teeth and gums, causing sensitivity and damage to the enamel and gum tissue. An electric toothbrush should provide a continuous brushing motion without needing any pressure from the brusher. This might be the model for you if you have a too-vigorous approach to brushing, or sensitive teeth and gums.

An electric toothbrush can also be more efficient for older and younger brushers, those with limited mobility, and those with health conditions or injuries that make brushing with a regular toothbrush more difficult.

• Cost

An electric toothbrush is not a one-time investment. You should change the removable head as often as you change your manual toothbrush (every three to four months, please). But this cost is offset if an electric toothbrush is more efficient in removing your plaque, easier to use, or even if you just prefer it to manual brushing. If you find that you brush better and more often with an electric toothbrush, the added expense is well worth it.

Whichever brush you decide on, the most important part of the brush is the person holding it! A regular appointment with your toothbrush for two minutes of thorough brushing in the morning and two in the evening, daily flossing, and regular visits to our office for checkups and cleanings will keep your teeth healthy and strong no matter which toothbrush you choose.

Questions about your toothbrush choices? Don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson at our Grand Forks office.

Now that you are working hard to improve your dental health and appearance with your braces, it might seem like a logical time to whiten your teeth as well. But should you go ahead with home kits or a professional whitening? The answer might be yes, but not quite yet!

Toothpaste

The easiest way to whiten teeth is regular use of a whitening toothpaste. But these do not make a major difference in tooth color and may also contain abrasives which can damage ceramic brackets and make them more likely to stain. And, whether you have metal or ceramic braces, the brackets used are bonded to your teeth. Any part of your tooth covered by a bracket will not be affected by the whitening paste. Ask our office if you are thinking of using one of these products. We will be happy to recommend the best toothpastes to use while your braces are in place.

Whitening Strips and Trays

Whiteners can be applied at home with strips or tray kits. Strips are coated with a whitening gel and then pressed around your teeth. Tray kits provide a mouthguard-like appliance, which is filled with whitening gel. But neither strips nor tray solutions will whiten any area covered by brackets. When your braces come off, there might be noticeable differences in color on each tooth. Strips are difficult to apply with braces, and trays need to be custom-designed to fit your braces and make sure they don’t disturb your orthodontic work. One size most definitely does not fit all! Finally, these whitening agents can cause tooth and gum sensitivity, especially around the time of adjustments. Many manufacturers do not recommend using their products while you have braces. Please talk to us if you are thinking of using them.

Professional Whitening

A dental professional can whiten your teeth in office for the best possible results. The most effective treatments for your unique teeth are combined with protective care of your gums and mouth. Whether this treatment is appropriate while you have braces is something we are happy to discuss.

The best way to keep your teeth bright is to keep up your regular dental routine! Brushing and flossing are more important than ever now, because plaque builds up around brackets. Avoid foods that stain teeth and rinse or brush after every meal and snack. Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson will show you the best way to take care of your teeth while your braces are on—and that includes the best way to keep them white and bright. Talk to us about the perfect time to whiten your beautiful smile during your next visit to our Grand Forks office. And if you have to wait a few extra days for the smile you’ve been working toward, truly, the wait will be worth it!