Posts Tagged ‘oral health’
Friday, July 8th, 2011
Nineteenth century novelist George Eliot once said, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles.”
Yet smiling is more than just a way to convince your mother that you really did enjoy that meatloaf surprise. Even the smallest upward lip curve—whether or not it’s sincerely delivered—has far-reaching emotional and physical benefits.
Here are five advantages of turning that frown upside down:
1. Studies have shown that smiling lowers blood pressure. If you need some instant Zen, then all you have to do is smile. Chanting is optional (especially if you’re standing in line at the grocery store). (more…)
Tags: best dentist, Coping with stress, dental health, oral health, pregnancy and oral health, teeth brushing, teeth whitening
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Family Dentistry, General Dentistry, Preventive Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry | 805 Comments »
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
Why are we discussing cancer on a dental newsletter? Because dental health affects your overall health, and your smile is your dentist’s business. Oral Cancer is a little discussed cancer that is on the rise, despite the overall decline in cancer rates. Why? Awareness. Many people simply don’t talk about oral cancer. Your dentist wants to change that.
Every year, almost 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer. Of these cases, 70% are discovered in the disease’s later stages. As many as one fourth of those diagnosed didn’t even participate in the risky behaviors commonly attributed to the disease, such a tobacco use or excessive alcohol consumption.
(more…)
Tags: dental health, General Dentistry, National Cancer Control Month, Oral cancer, oral cancer screening, oral health, Preventive Dentistry, VELscope, ViziLite
Posted in Preventive Dentistry | Comments Off
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
A Healthy Smile? It’s Easy to Find! Remember to Brush & Floss Every Day!
February marks National Children’s Dental Health Month, a time which the 
American Dental Association has set aside to encourage dentists, parents, and other adults to educate children on how to take care of their little smiles. And even though that’s more than a week away, it never hurts to get a head start! Now’s the time to help kids brush up on good oral health!
Here are some ways your children can maintain strong, healthy smiles that last a lifetime: (more…)
Tags: american dental association, children's dentistry, national children's dental health month, oral health, oral hygiene, Preventive Dentistry
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Thursday, August 5th, 2010
While Shark Week continues to strike fear into the hearts of Americans nation-wide, we’re keeping on our eye on another, more sinister threat: Gum Disease. We think gum disease is infinitely scarier than anything a silly ol’ shark can dish.
Take a look at these statistics and tell us if you agree.
Sharks: Chances of being attacked by a shark are one in 11.5 million
Gum Disease: Chances of being attacked by gum disease are about one in three (conservatively)
Sharks : Account for less than 1% (way less) of annual deaths
Gum Disease: Accounts for 70% of all tooth loss
(more…)
Tags: gum disease, gum disease statistics, oral health, shark statistics, shark week
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Monday, April 19th, 2010
Quick! Make a mental list of habits that have an impact on your dental health.
You thought about brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups, right? Those are all hugely beneficial in keeping your teeth healthy, it’s true. But did you know that your diet has a big influence on your dental health? To really address the overall issue, let’s dig a little.
Many people don’t realize that a balanced diet with good nutrition is a key element in keeping a smile attractive and healthy. The same vitamins and minerals that keep your body in great shape are equally beneficial to your teeth. A few powerhouse players include:
- Calcium and Vitamin D
A proper amount of calcium is very important to maintaining the structure of your teeth, along with phosphorus and magnesium. Vitamin D boosts absorption of the mineral, so a sufficient level of both is essential. (more…)
Tags: best dentist, Dental decay, dentistry tips, General Dentistry, Nutrition and diet, oral health
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Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Do you ever feel like circumstances are spinning out of your control? You’re not the only one. If there’s one thing we all have in common fairly often, it’s that stressful situations can occupy our minds and sap our energy. Not only that, stress can actually compromise your health. If you are stressed, it’s more likely that you’ll grind your teeth during sleep. While this bit of information has been around for a while, a recent study shed light on new piece of the teeth-grinding puzzle.
The article published in journal Head and Face Medicine shows that some ways of coping with stress can be healthier for your teeth and jaw than others. Those people who deal with stress by attempting to ignore their problems or internalize them are at higher risk for teeth grinding, also called bruxism. The study found that heavy grinders often used what were termed “negative” coping methods, like ignoring the causes of stress instead of working through problems directly. (more…)
Tags: best dentist, Bruxism, Coping with stress, dentistry tips, General Dentistry, oral health, Teeth grinding
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Monday, February 15th, 2010
Dental caries (cavities) is the most prevalent childhood disease, and 90% of adults have had a cavity. Gum disease is responsible for 70% of adult tooth loss. A few simple habits could help you reduce your risk for cavities and gum disease – and improve your potential for keeping natural teeth long into your golden years. Kids and adults alike can benefit from these 5 quick and easy oral health tips. Some you’ve known since kindergarten, while others may be news. (more…)
Tags: brushing and flossing, cavities, cavity prevention, dental caries, Dental decay, dental disease, dental health, dental hygiene, gum disease, oral health, oral healthcare, tooth decay, tooth erosion
Posted in Uncategorized | 648 Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Myths often start with a grain of truth, and that’s the case for the dental misconceptions
most people have absorbed over the years. No matter how educated a person perceives they are concerning dental health, it’s possible a few false impressions have taken root. Such as…
- Cavities are a fact of life.
It’s common knowledge that there are very real, clinically-evidenced explanations for dental health issues, so why is it that many times you cross your fingers and hope luck is on your side when it’s time to take the kids to the dentist? Recent advancements in research have focused a lot of attention on early intervention methods. So with proper education, fluoride, increased access to dental care, and ongoing research, children in this day and age may not need to worry about cavity development. No four-leaf clovers necessary. (more…)
Tags: best dentist, Dental decay, dental decay myths, dentistry tips, kids dentistry, oral health
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Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
Hearing that the dentist screens for oral cancer at your checkups may surprise you. True, oral cancer may not be 
talked as much as other types of cancer, but make no mistake: if it’s not caught early, it’s often deadly. With a high treatment success rate in cases where the cancer was spotted and diagnosed early, it’s clear why your dentist makes screening a regular part of your dental visits. (more…)
Tags: Dental checkups, Oral cancer, oral health
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Friday, November 13th, 2009
The link between gum disease and diabetes has been debated for some time. Researchers agree that the link exists, but the relationship is unclear. Are patients with diabetes more 
susceptible to gum disease, or is it the other way around? In recognition of National Diabetes Month, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has released some new guidelines on oral health for people with diabetes.
According to recent studies, a two-way relationship exists between oral health and diabetes. Gum disease, an infection of the soft tissues that support the teeth, increases blood sugar levels, which elevates the risk of diabetic complications. Patients who already have diabetes are more susceptible to infection, and therefore, more likely to contract the disease. The bottom line? Everyone, especially diabetics, needs to pay close attention to his or her oral health. (more…)
Tags: dentistry tips, diabetes, diabetics, gum disease, oral health, periodontal disease
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