Dental-Wellness-Newsletter

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Cheers to Your Health!

 Everyone has a New Year's resolution and if yours is to get fit and healthy than you are not only benefiting your body but also your oral health!

Eating raw veggies and foods rich in fiber and essential nutrients can not only strengthen your teeth, but foods like celery and carrots can even clean your teeth while you eat them! Not to mention the whole body benefits from foods like this!

Drinking plenty of water can help your body maintain peak performance while exercising, but did you know that it can help neutralize harmful cavity causing bacteria that builds up in your mouth. When you are dehydrated, your mouth produces less saliva creating an ideal breeding ground for the bacteria that cause bad breath, gingivitis and cavities.

As we have mentioned before, the link between gum disease and your  health is huge!  Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise can greatly reduce your risk of many things, including Diabetes, heart disease and gum disease.  So this year, if your commitment is to be healthy, than you have made a commitment not only to your body, but also your oral health!  So smile and know that you are on the right track to success!

Your Questions: Our Answers!

Lately, we have had a lot of questions asked that are very important.  We want to take this time to give you the answers you want!

What happens to my benefits at the end of the year?
Great question!  Your unused benefits will actually disappear!  That's right, if you don't use them - you lose them.  So we always recommend taking the time to come see us and maximize your insurance before the end of the benefit year.

Do you take my insurance?
Yes!  We are a contracted provider with most insurance plans.  If we are not on your plan - we will look into signing up.  Just call our office and Jamie will help you!

Are you taking New Patients?
Yes!  We are always taking new patients.  We have flexible hours to work around your busy schedule, so call us and we can set up your appointment at a convenient time for you!

These are just answers to a couple of frequently asked questions, however, we are here to help with any dental concerns you may have.  Our goal is to say YES everytime!

For those of you who don't have insurance, we offer a reduced fee plan through our office that can save you a bundle! Hope this helps clear some things up - talk to you soon!

Fluoride Facts

There is a lot of mis-information regarding fluoride and how it can affect our whole body health.  I want to take some time to list the facts.  Fluoride is a natural element released into the enviroment throught both water and air, and taken in correct amounts actually has huge benefits.  Take a quick look at some of the TRUTH about fluoride!

Fluoride is....

-naturally present in all water
-effective and safe in community water and an inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay
-very helpful in staying cavity-free in low risk children and adults
-proven to keep tooth enamel strong and solid by preventing the loss of important minerals in the tooth
-effective in dental products if water in your community is not fluoridated


These are just a few of the very valid points that fluoride is a huge benefit to our oral health (which we all know affects our whole body health).  Of course, moderation is key.  Just like anything else, you want to make sure that you are not ingesting more fluoride than needed.  Usually it is hard to over fluoridate, unless a child is unsupervised with toothpaste or any other dental product.

So before you listen to the media, or any other source regarding the negative things about fluoride- do some research .  After all it is natural and is a proven health benefit.

Drugs Affect Your Dental Health --- and Your Dental Treatment

We often get asked: "Why do you need to know my medical history at the Dentist?"

You many not have considered the impact of prescription medications and even over-the-counter drugs can have on your oral health, and on the dental treatment you receive.  Informing us of your medical history is important because the medications you have taken or are currently taking can have dental health effects or potential sided effects and possible interactions with drugs that we may or may not administer.

Sometimes it is necessary to prescribe antibiotics with certain dental procedures.  But, if you are taking oral contraceptives, be sure to let our dental staff know.  Taking tetracycline or penicillin could reduce the effectiveness of an oral contraceptive.  Another important thing that we need to know is your heart history.

If you have heart disease or a special heart condition, it is critical that we know your medical status.  During dental treatment, bleeding may occur and cause bacteria from the mouth to enter the bloodstream and work its way to the heart.  To help prevent this from happening we can prescribe antibiotics for appropriate procedures, such as teeth cleaning or teeth extractions.  Likewise, let us know if you have an artificial joint.  Antibiotics are recommended for some patients with artificial joints who also have some other medical conditions.

Another aspect we look for is a very common side effect of many drugs, such as antihistamines and antidepressants - dry mouth.  Inadequate saliva flow in the mouth can contribute to cavities and gum disease.  We can help you deal with this condition.

Some other things to inform us:

·        If you have ever had an unusual reaction to any drug;

·        If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including vitamins;

·        If you are planning to have surgery with a general anesthetic in the near future;

·        If you have any serious medical problems;

·        If you are pregnant or breast-feeding a baby.

Thanks for reading, and next time we ask for your medical history, know that we really have your best interest in mind!

November News

Your Benefits:  Use them or lose them!

Did you know that millions of dollars are lost each year due to Dental Insurance?  Yes, it’s true, in the fine print you can see that any un-used benefits will not rollover in to the next calendar year!  This just doesn’t seem fair, considering that fact that insurance premiums continue to grow (as does the price of everything!).  We want you to be aware of this alarming fact!  So, if you have any treatment, or, even a cleaning that you have been putting off, now is the time!  Also, because of these uncertain times, we have lowered our fees to help off-set some of the rising costs out there.  Please call our office to get a new estimate and see if you can maximize your paid benefits before it’s too late.

Here is something completely off subject, but interesting!....

     The Truth about Tryptophan

We all know how Thanksgiving goes; stuff ourselves with as many

helpings of Turkey, stuffing, cranberries and casseroles only to desperately want seconds.  Then, as we lounge and watch football we inevitably find ourselves dosing off!  Everyone has an opinion as to why this happens, and, you can almost bet that someone will tell you that it is from L-Tryptophan (the chemical in turkey that causes drowsiness).  But is it true – or do we just eat so many calories that our bodies virtually go in to a food coma?  Here is what I found out; the more protein-rich a food is, (such as turkey), the more likely it is to include tryptophan. Tryptophan helps your brain produce serotonin, a chemical that makes you feel drowsy, however, the amount of this chemical found in turkey is very minimal so it is not likely to be the culprit of the mid-day snooze!  Interestingly enough, I found out that the typical Thanksgiving meal is – are you ready?!- a whopping 3000 calories and 229 grams of fat! So to think that we have seconds means that we are eating about 3-5 days worth of food in one setting!  Ok, you be the judge! And have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The Truth About Cracked Teeth

Have you ever felt a sharp pain when you bite down?  Does the pain disappear, only to return again?  You might have a creaked tooth.  A crack is a defect in the tooth structure that occurs because of diet, trauma, temperature extremes or just aging.  If you like to chew ice, nuts, hard candy, hard pretzels or unpopped popcorn kernels ---- or if you have a habit of chewing on hard objects like pencils, you are at risk of cracking your teeth.  Heat, which causes the tooth to dry out, can also increase the chance of cracks occurring.

Grinding or clenching your jaw makes you more susceptible to cracks because of the tremendous pressure exerted on the teeth.  The fact that people live longer today increases the likelihood that they will eventually develop cracks in their teeth.

Any pain, even if it is fleeting, or sensitivity to cold, heat or sweetness should be brought to our attention to determine whether you have a cracked tooth.  The sooner the crack is discovered, the better the chance for successful treatments.