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Common Mistakes in Dental Care
Mistake #1: Not Seeing a Dentist on a Regular Basis
Many dental problems are silent...meaning they do not produce pain until significant damage has already occurred. Gum disease, for example, may not cause pain until extensive irreversible damage has occurred. A dentist can notice such problems in their early stages when they are easier and cheaper to treat. Patients should see their dentist at least twice a year.
Mistake #2: Not Flossing
Brushing without flossing is like washing only 65% of your body when you shower. The other 35% remains dirty. The 35% of your teeth missed by not flossing allows bacteria to survive and grow that cause decay, gum disease, and bad breath.
Mistake #3: Speed Brushing
You can not clean your teeth by brushing for 30 seconds...and cleaning your teeth is the purpose of brushing. Take your time when brushing. It takes a minimum of three minutes to clean your teeth. To clean more effectively and efficiently, use an electric toothbrush like a Sonicare. The best brushers can perform 300 strokes a minute, yet a Sonicare electric toothbrush can produce 30,000 strokes per minute.
Mistake #4: Not Taking Care of Your Dirty Tongue
Surprisingly, it may be your tongue that's causing your embarrassing bad breath. Your tongue is literally crawling with odor producing bacteria. We have tongue scrapers, which are effective for cleaning the bacteria from your tongue, and can help give you fresher, cleaner breath.
Life's Little Instruction Book
Not to long ago, a friend gave me a book Life's Little Instruction Book, which was written by a father for his son. The book had 511 suggestions on how to live a happy and rewarding life. I picked out my top 10, and thought you may enjoy them.
1. Floss your teeth. (My personal first choice)
2. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday.
3. Think big thoughts, but cherish small pleasures.
4. Smile a lot. It costs nothing and is beyond price.
5. Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.
6. Commit yourself to constant self-improvement.
7. Leave everything a little better than you found it.
8. Don't accept "good enough" as good enough.
9. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know."
10. Don't take good health for granted.
Health and Wellness
Vitamin C: Evidence is mounting that Vitiman C protects against heart disease and other killers. The latest findings suggest, that people who consume plenty of fruits and vegetables plus a daily Vitamin C supplement live longer.
Dental Implants
For those who can't stand the thought of false teeth, dental implants seem to be the magic answer. It is estimated that more than 300,000 Americans now wear them.
The concept of implants is thought to be around since the time of the Phoenicians and Egyptian. Mummies have been found with pieces of sea shell embedded in the jawbone. But implants have only been predictable successful since scientists discovered a process known as osseointegration. This discovery occurred approximately 20 years ago and success rates are impressive. One study shows 15 year success of 91% and another show success rates after 5 years of 97%. Because of their success, dental implant sue has tripled in four years.
Implants are small anchors made of titanium or titanium alloy that are placed in the jawbone during a simple in-office procedure. They are left in the jaw for a period of three to six months while osseointegration takes place. In this process the bone grows and interlocks to the microscopically irregular surface of the implant and the implant literally becomes part of the bone. Once osseointegration has taken place, replacement teeth are attached to the implants and the patient has new teeth that function and feel much the same as natural teeth.
Dental implants can be used to replace teeth which have been lost due to tooth decay, trauma, and gum disease. This includes a single tooth or a full set of dentures. Implants have proven to be especially successful in stabilizing dentures. Because lower complete dentures are often unstable and loose, a few implants have proven to provide a significant amount of stability to dentures while still allowing for the dentures removal for hygiene purposes. Additionally, while denture wearers can absorb only 50 pounds of biting per square inch, implants, can absorb up to 450 pounds per square inch.
If you have questions about implants or feel you could benefit from dental implants, please call the office and we will be glad to answer your questions.
How Easy Is It To Catch a Cold?
Harder than most people think - even after direct exposure to an infected person - You have less than a 50% chance of catching a cold. Children are more likely to catch a cold, simply because they haven't developed resistance to as many viruses. Still, be careful to avoid catching colds. Wash your hands often. Try to keep from touching your nose, eyes, or mouth after handling objects that an infected person might have touched. Avoid sharing cups, glasses, and eating utensils that may spread the virus.
Walking
Each additional mile walked by an inactive person would give him an extra 21 minutes of life according to a theoretical model developed by the RAND Corporation.
Clenching & Grinding?
Often, we see signs of clenching and grinding in a patient's mouth. And, most of the time, patients deny that they have these habits. However, statistics show that 25% of us clench and grind...mostly in our sleep. Only a small percent of these people are treated before their teeth are severely damaged. So why do we clench and grind? The two major factors are STRESS and poor alignment of teeth.
Check list of signs and symptoms
Wear on biting surfaces of teeth
Grooves on teeth at gum line.
Tenderness in jaw, face, neck muscles.
Clicking or popping noises in your jaw joint
Headaches
Sore or aching teeth
What can be done to stop clenching and grinding? Eliminate STRESS in your life... since that's not realistic, preventing damage from these habits is the best alternative. A plastic appliance called a "Night Guard" can be custom made for you to wear while sleeping and during psychologically stressed days. Four of us in the office wear a night guard so we can personally relate to how well they really help.
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Ask The Dentist
