It's Time to Head Back to School!

Summer is winding down and for many of us, it's time to head back to school...

• Have you had your teeth cleaned and checked for a great "back-to-school smile?"
• Are your kids involved in sports?  Do they have their mouthguards ready to go? Just like a helmet or shoulder pads, a mouthguard is an extremely important part of the necessary equipment.
  
  Let's talk about mouth protection and the different types of mouth guards we offer.  Whether it’s full-contact or no-contact sports, we will make suggestions for any sport.
• Have a great academic year!

Four Summertime Super Foods - Bon Appetit!

Four Super Foods to Enjoy this Summer!

Mangoes - About a cup of mangoes supplies 100% of your Vitamin C, 1/3 of your Vitamin A, a decent dose of blood-pressure lowering potassium and 3 grams of fiber.  Bonus: Mangoes are one of the fruits least likely to have pesticide residue.

Unsweetened Greek Yogurt - Non-fat, plain Greek yogurt has a pleasant tartness that's the perfect complement to berries, bananas or your favorite breakfast cereal.  It's strained, so even the fat-free versions are thick and and creamy and has twice the protein of ordinary yogurt... about 18 grams in 6 oz.

Butternut Squash - You can buy diced, peeled butternut squash at your supermarket, making it easy to go into the oven (roasted), a stir-fry or soup.  It's an easy way to load up on Vitamins A, C and fiber.

Watermelon - Summer wouldn't be summer without sweet watermelon! It's a healthy dose of potassium and lycopene in a salt-free, fat-free snack for only 85 calories... and good Vitamin A and C.  Often, watermelon are grown locally so they have a smaller carbon footprint (don't have to travel far).

Let’s Talk about Fluoride!

Nearly all naturally occurring water sources contain fluoride - a compound that has been proven to prevent, and even reverse, tooth decay. 

Cavities are caused by certain bacteria in the mouth. When a person eats sugar and other refined carbohydrates, these bacteria produce acid that removes minerals from the surface of the tooth. Fluoride helps to re-mineralize tooth surfaces and prevents cavities from continuing to form.

There are many benefits of fluoride for almost every patient.  Here are some of our favorites:

· Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities.  It is effective systemically and topically.

· Community water fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to prevent cavities, and is the most efficient to prevent one of the most common childhood diseases -  dental decay. (5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever in 5 - 17 year olds.)

· Simply by drinking tap water, people can benefit from cavity protection whether they are at home, work or school.  And it’s cheaper than buying bottled water.

· Dry mouth syndrome, caused by many medications, decreases the amount of saliva produced and can make an individual more prone to cavities.

· As people age, manual dexterity often times does not allow for optimal brushing habits and their sense of taste craves more sweet, sugary foods, which in turn produces more cavity-causing bacteria.

· If there is patient history of frequent cavities, this is a big help!

We offer several types of fluoride treatments.  Our preferences are fluoride varnish, applied after your regular hygiene appointment, MI Paste Plus, a take-home fluoride product that re-mineralizes teeth or we offer different prescription-strength fluoride toothpastes.  Ask for them at your next visit!  

Water is the Ultimate Sports Drink!

Water is best...

Here are the facts:

• Kids 4 – 8 yrs old should drink 57 oz. of water daily
• Boys 9 – 13 yrs old should drink 81 oz. of water daily.  Girls of the same age need 71 oz. daily.
• Girls 14 – 18 yrs old need 77 oz. of water every day.  Boys of the same age should drink 111 oz. daily.
  
• In order to ensure that young athletes stay hydrated during sports, it is important that they start their activity well hydrated – especially during the school day if training or playing sports after school.
  
• During exercise, athletes should drink during every break in the action – or every 15-20 minutes and they should drink 8 – 15 oz. at EACH break.
  
• Rehydration following sports activities is also crucial.  Complete rehydration following exercise can take up to 36 hours.
  
• Sports drinks should be considered when a child is participating in prolonged sessions of exercise (more than 60 mins.)

• If sports drinks are used with youth athletes – consider lower sugar options and smaller portion sizes.

Sports drinks are high in sugar – a single 20 oz bottle contains over 80% of the recommended daily intake of sugar.  That’s two-thirds as much sugar as soda!

Sports drinks often contain acidic ingredients like citric acid which also contributes to tooth decay.

Frequent exposure to sports drinks may cause loss of tooth enamel (erosion) and / or decay.  Sugars are converted to acid by bacteria in plaque.  The acid dissolves the tooth enamel and can lead to tooth decay.

Water is the best drink for everyone!

Smile... You'll Live Longer

"Choose to be optimistic," said one renowned religious leader. "It feels better."  New research suggests he's right!

Cheerful people have fewer heart attacks, fewer strokes and better cholesterol levels. And the more upbeat you are, the more cancer-fighting carotenoids you have in your bloodstream.

If you think about it, smiling brings you a kind of true health.  True health is more than your functioning body parts.  It's emotional wellness, spiritual health and living better every single day.

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Oral cancer is one of the few types of cancer that has not experienced a significantly reduced mortality rate in the past 30 years. In fact, the number of North Americans developing oral cancer is three times (3x) greater than the number of people who develop cervical cancer. The top risk factors for oral cancer are:

• Tobacco use – in all forms
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Combined use of tobacco and alcohol
• Exposure to HPV infections

We care… And we can help. Our practice has a state-of-the-art device called the VELscope® Oral Cancer Screening System to be used in conjunction with our basic oral exam. In less than five (5) minutes, you can receive an enhanced oral cancer examination.

HPV-related oral cancer is on the rise. As healthcare professionals whose primary diagnostic and treatment discipline is focused on the mouth, we are the front line of oral HPV detection for our patients. We now have a quick, painless way to test your saliva for the presence of HPV. Please ask your hygienist about our oral DNA testing.

 As your dentists and hygienists, we are the gatekeepers of your total body health and well-being. Call and schedule your appointment today - it's worth your peace of mind.

Periodontal Maintenance or a “Regular Cleaning” – What are the Differences?

More than 50% of Americans have some sort of gum disease; if you are one of them, your dental cleaning is not “just a cleaning.”  Patients will often ask their hygienist, “What’s the difference between periodontal maintenance and a “regular cleaning?”  This is a fair question since the cost is different and it may feel like a similar procedure.

A “regular cleaning” is typically recommended every six months for patients who have healthy bone and gums. You could use the analogy of changing the oil in your car periodically to protect and prevent damage on a well-running engine.  At a regular hygiene appointment, your hygienist will remove stains, soft plaque and tartar above the gums and will check for cavities.

Scaling cleans the teeth to remove deposits above and below

the gum line.  Root Planing smoothes the rough root surface

so the gum can heal.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection caused by plaque that destroys the bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place.  As with other ailments, some people are more susceptible than others.  Smoking, a stressful lifestyle, some medications, diabetes and prior gum problems are just a few of the things that can increase your risk.  To treat this, our goal is to stop infection by cleaning and disinfecting the roots of the teeth – above and below the gum line.  This is called scaling and root planning (SRPs). Usually, this is done in two separate visits, and the dentist may use a local anesthetic and will often treat one half of your mouth at a time.

Periodontal disease is not cured… it is a chronic condition much like diabetes, and can be controlled.  Once bony damage has occurred, it is generally permanent and the pockets are impossible to keep clean, by ordinary flossing and brushing.  Modern therapies such as laser therapy and placing antibiotics under the gum line in the periodontal pockets will help many to avoid gum surgery and loss of teeth.  Careful oral hygiene at home and frequent office visits to monitor and maintain your gums and bone, is a team effort in the war on periodontal disease.  How often you need to visit your hygienist will vary based on your individual needs.  Studies show that it only takes three months for bacteria to build up in these pockets to the point where they caused the problem in the first place.  Many are able to stay healthy when they schedule maintenance appointments at 3 – 4 month intervals.  At each visit, we’ll clean and disinfect your teeth above and below the gum line, take periodic x-rays and measure your pockets.  If we find an area that is beginning to relapse, we can treat it before it becomes a bigger problem.  If we find that there has been no change, then your treatment schedule is working to control your periodontal disease and we should stay the course.

Good periodontal health has extended benefits – it is important in blood sugar regulation for diabetics; it keeps your heart, respiratory and reproductive systems healthier.  Don’t skip your maintenance appointment – it’s so much more than “just a cleaning.”

The Top 10 Reasons to have a Dental Cleaning

Top Ten Reasons to Have a Dental Cleaning

Good oral hygiene is important, not only for looks, but for general health as well. Poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of dental and medical problems such as gum disease, infection, bone loss, heart disease, strokes and more. Following, are ten important reasons to maintain our recommended schedule of dental cleanings.

1. To Screen for Oral Cancer
According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the United States alone. When you have your dental cleaning, we also screen you for oral cancer, which is highly curable if diagnosed early.

2. To Help Prevent Gum Disease
Gum disease is an infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place and is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. If diagnosed early, it can be treated and/or reversed. If treatment is not received, a more serious and advanced stage of gum disease may follow. Regular dental cleanings and check-ups, flossing daily and brushing twice a day are key factors in preventing gum disease.

3. To Help Maintain Good Physical Health
Recent studies have linked heart attacks and stroke to gum disease, resulting from poor oral hygiene. Regular dental cleanings every three to six months help to keep your teeth and gums healthy and could possibly reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

4. To Keep Your Teeth
Since gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults, regular dental check-ups, cleanings, and brushing and flossing are vital to keeping as many teeth as you can. Keeping your teeth means better chewing function and ultimately, better health.

5. To Detect Dental Problems Early
Early detection of cavities, broken fillings and gum disease are easily treatable. If these problems go untreated, root canals, gum surgery and removal of teeth could become the only treatment options available.

6. To Maintain Good Oral Health
A visit to our office will help to ensure that you are maintaining your good oral health by allowing us to visually examine your mouth and compare your previous dental check-ups. If you are falling off track with your oral hygiene, we will help put you back on the right path.

7. To Use Your Dental Insurance Plan
Dental insurance plans usually pay for all or most of the cost of dental cleanings and check-ups every six months. Take advantage of this and save a lot of money in the long run by avoiding costly dental procedures that can result from poor oral hygiene.

8. To Create a Treatment Plan
If we diagnose any problems in your mouth, we will recommend a treatment plan. This treatment plan will have the cost of each procedure that you will need, so that we can discuss financial arrangements to accommodate the expense of getting your mouth healthy again.

9. To Have a Bright and White Smile
Our hygienist can remove most tobacco, coffee and tea stains. During your cleaning, we will also polish your teeth to a beautiful shine. The result? A whiter and brighter smile!

10. To Prevent Bad Breath
Dental studies show that about 85% of people with persistent bad breath, also known as halitosis, have a dental problem that is to blame. Good oral hygiene is essential in preventing bad breath, and regular check-ups and cleanings are the best way to make sure that you are maintaining good oral hygiene.

Chew On This... Keep Your Smile Shining!

Keep your mouth healthy and your smile sparkling bright by choosing a well-balanced diet with a variety of foods, including, vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. Consider these nutrition tips:

• Calcium and vitamin D supplements may decrease the risk of tooth loss.
• Drinking lots of water helps keep your mouth moist. Saliva protects oral tissues.
• Avoid soft, sweet, sticky foods, such as cakes, candy and dried fruits, as they may cause tooth decay.
• Help keep teeth clean by snacking on raw fruits and vegetables.
• If you can't brush immediately following a meal, rinse well with water or chew n a piece of gum or mint with xylitol - a sugarfree sweetener - which may help deter bacteria growth.

Remember, the prettiest thing you can wear is a smile... and we want to help keep your smile bright.

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Toothpaste 101: Pick the Right Toothpaste for Your Oral Health

Toothpaste is important to oral health because it helps remove plaque and bacterial build-up on teeth and fight periodontal (gum) disease. Most toothpastes also contain fluoride, which strengthens tooth enamel and fights cavities. How do you know what toothpastes suit you the most? Let's find out. 

Expecting? 5 Tips for Dental Care During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, it’s more important than ever to be a diligent brusher and flosser. Why? Because those crazy pregnancy hormones leave your mouth more vulnerable to bacteria and plaque, both of which can make your already sensitive gums (thanks again, hormones!) even more tender.

Here are more smart dental strategies to think about every day during pregnancy.

1. Brush your tongue as well as your teeth to minimize the amount of bacteria in your mouth.

2. Skip the sweets, especially when you won’t be able to brush your teeth soon after indulging.

3. Make sure you get plenty of vitamin C in your diet, which strengthens gums and reduces the chances of bleeding.

4. Consume plenty of calcium to keep your teeth (and your bones) strong.

5.Can’t brush after a meal? Try chewing a piece of sugarless gum or grabbing a handful of nuts (unless you’re allergic) or a small chunk of cheese. All have antibacterial properties.