Lake Oconee Dentistry Blog

OUR TOOTHBRUSHES fend off plaque and bacteria, help keep our teeth sparkling, and leave our mouths feeling squeaky clean! But how squeaky clean is your TOOTHBRUSH?

Toothbrush DON’Ts

Don’t Store Your Toothbrush In A Closed, Dark Space

A moist, enclosed environment (like a container or cupboard) is not a good place to keep your toothbrush. Bacteria thrive in dark, wet conditions without circulation.

Don’t Share Your Toothbrush (Gross)

When you share your toothbrush you share bacteria, including bacteria that can cause dental decay and periodontal disease.

Don’t Keep Your Toothbrush Near The Toilet

Put your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as possible—at least six feet is a good rule of thumb. Because of “airborne particles”, always flush with the lid down. Enough said.

Toothbrush DOs

Replace Your Toothbrush

Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or when the bristles get frayed. This not only ensures that it cleans your teeth better, but it eliminates the bacteria buildup issue. If you’ve been sick or are recovering from a cold, consider changing your toothbrush.

Rinse Your Toothbrush After Using It

Thoroughly rinse your toothbrush with water after each use. Rinsing it washes out debris and bacteria left behind. You can also deep clean it by swishing it around in mouthwash.

Keep Your Toothbrush Dry

Store your toothbrush upright in the open air. This allows it to dry out and not develop mold.

Care For Your Toothbrush And It Will Care For You

Keeping your toothbrush clean will help both your overall health and your oral health. Where do you keep YOUR toothbrush? Let us know in a comment below. We love to hear from you!

Thanks for your trust in our practice!

YES, YOU’RE PRETTY TOUGH… You kill it at work, you’re a remarkable significant other, you’re training for your next triathlon, and you volunteer at the soup kitchen on weekends. But guess what? You’re no match for gum disease, tooth decay, or oral cancer without a little assistance.

Men’s Oral Health Risks Are Higher

Medications

Do you take medication for a heart condition, or to regulate blood pressure? Because this is more common in men than women, men are more likely to suffer dry-mouth side effects—and dry mouth increases gum disease and cavity risk.

Tobacco and/or Alcohol Consumption

Men tend to consume more alcohol than women, which greatly increases oral cancer risk.

Routine Oral Hygiene

Men are less likely than women to brush twice a day. Score: Men 66%, Women 86%. C’mon guys…

Regular Checkups

According to a 2011 study, women are almost twice as likely as men to have received a regular dental check-up in the past year.

Your Oral Health Is Connected To Your Body Health

Consider these facts:

• Some studies have linked periodontal disease to heart problems, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.
• Men with periodontal disease are 49% more likely to get kidney cancer, and 54% more likely to get pancreatic cancer.
• Gum inflammation is connected to prostate inflammationwhich affects many men as they age.
• Oral cancer kills one person every hour, and the majority of those are men. Screenings during regular check-ups is the best preventive strategy.

This Isn’t JUST About Your Health!

In your professional life, a confident smile helps establish authority and supports memorable business connections. In your personal life, it can open doors in amazing ways. Most importantly, you should feel confident about your healthy, functional, engaging smile.

No More Neglecting Your Oral Health, Guys

Now that you’re convinced how important this topic is, pass the information along to your buddies. And thanks for being our valued patient. We’re interested, and we care about you.

DO YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT MEETING OR INTERVIEW TODAY? Or perhaps a big date? Worrying about bad breath can mess with your confidence. Don’t mess with your confidence. You know the “usual” foods to avoid like garlic and onions. But there are a few others we don’t often think about… Read on!

Bad-Breath Culprits That May Surprise You

Acidic Foods

Foods containing lots of citric acid, like lemons, pickles, and grapefruit can turn your breath from bad to worse. Citric acid fuels the bacteria in your mouth, increasing sulfuric compound production.

Alcohol & Foods That Dry Your Mouth

Dry mouth is one of the MOST COMMON CAUSES of bad breath. That’s because saliva helps clean our mouths and manage the bacteria. Alcohol is a drying agent. Foods, drinks and mouthwashes that contain alcohol may add to your problem.

High Protein Foods

When protein is metabolized it produces ammonia and ketones—both of which can fuel bad breath. This doesn’t mean cutting out all the protein—just use moderation.

Sugar (Yep!)

Sugar is one of bad-breath-bacteria’s favorite foods! When you eat lots of sugary mints, candies or drinks you can increase the amount of bacteria in your mouth. If you do need a mint or gum, choose sugar-free options. Gum sweetened with xylitol has been found to actually fight plaque and bad breath.

Taking Care Of Your Oral Health Helps Take Care Of Your Breath

Remember that one of the best ways to combat bad breath is to keep up with your daily oral hygiene. Make sure you brush, floss, and schedule regular visits for cleanings and check-ups.

If you are concerned your bad breath may be a result of something more serious, give us a call! We can help.

Thanks for the trust you place in us.

REGARDLESS OF YOUR AGE, are you smack dab in the middle of the whole dating scene? Some of us are young, never been married, etc. Others of us find ourselves “back” in the dating scene as a result of life’s twists and turns (such as divorce, etc.).

Either way… Does it feel a little overwhelming? Even scary? The primping, the get-to-know-you-small-talk, worrying about the infamous goodnight kiss, etc.?

Your Confident Smile Is Your Greatest Dating Asset

Forget about having a fancy car! It’s not that important! A Match.com survey of over 5,000 singles found that the #1 feature people notice in the opposite sex is their teeth!

Are You Confident When You Smile?

Here are 3 tried-and-true dating tips. You’ll notice that each one is partially dependent on your smile!

Be Positive

Many people find themselves dating again after a divorce or long-term committed relationship. It can be disheartening. Don’t let it get you down. Smile! Smiling can improve your mood and make it easier to shake off the blues. Smiling releases serotonin and endorphins that provide a feeling of happiness and well-being. Even a forced smile can release some stress.

Be Friendly & Inviting

Don’t worry about flirting “techniques”. All you need is your confident smile! It’s the universally recognized signal that you’re having fun and appreciate the person you’re visiting with.

Be Confident

It’s a fact… You appear more confident and successful when you’re smiling. You deserve the confidence that comes from knowing that your smile is looking its best.

Let Us Help

Don’t neglect your most important dating accessory! Let us help you take care of your smile. Often, it doesn’t need to be something major—just some subtle improvements. If you have questions about how you can turn a tired smile into a show-stopper, let’s visit.

Thanks for the trust you place in us. Now go out there and enjoy the dating scene!

WHO DOESN’T LOVE A LITTLE SUNSHINE? Not only does it feel fantastic, but it also has numerous health benefits. Sunshine improves our mood, our immune functions, and catalyzes vitamin D production in our bodies.

Vitamin D Is Important To Our Healthy Smiles

Vitamin D supports oral health in two ways:

It Helps Our Bodies Absorb And Utilize Calcium

One of vitamin D’s major functions is moderating other vitamins and minerals—including calcium. Calcium fortifies our teeth and supports jaw and bone strength. That’s why we fortify milk (a great source of calcium) with vitamin D.

This is referenced in numerous studies that have shown greater cavity risk for people living in regions with little sunlight… Sometimes as much as double the risk.

It May Help Fight Periodontal Disease

Vitamin D also functions as an anti-inflammatory. Periodontal disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss in adults, and it’s a result of inflammation of the gums due to harmful bacteria.

Several studies have found that people who have high levels of vitamin D are less likely to experience bleeding gums and gum detachment.

Getting Our Daily Dose Of Vitamin D

It doesn’t take long to get the vitamin D your body needs from the sun. But for those times when you can’t get daily sunlight, you can also obtain vitamin D from these foods:

• egg yolks or fatty fish
• fortified milk, soy milk, orange juice and cereals
• vitamin D supplements

Grab A Little Sunshine Today!

Of course, we need to be careful about how much sun exposure we’re getting. You don’t need to sunbathe all day to get the vitamin D your body needs! Take this blog post as an excuse to go outside today and drink up a few rays.

Thanks for being a part of our practice family. We appreciate you!

THE INTERNET has brought mountains of information to our fingertips. But without some “context” for the “content” it’s simply overwhelming.

Our Social Media Objective Is To Better Empower You

Your oral health, comfort, and appearance are SO important to us. That’s why we’re passionate about providing you with tools and information that helps.

One of the ways we’re trying do this is by connecting with you through social media. Doing so helps us share, remind and coax with two goals in mind… Sound oral health that contributes to your whole body health, and a beautiful, confident smile.

Typical Topics We Enjoy Tackling

• “Is a particular new health fad going to hurt or help my teeth?”
• “Which snacks are dangerous for my teeth?”
• “How does gum chewing affect my smile?”
• “Am I actually brushing correctly each night?”
• “How can I have a more beautiful smile?”

Yes, Sometimes It’s OK To Have A Little Fun Too

The daily routines of life can be heavy. That’s one reason why we try to mix in a few fun things too. Relationships are meaningful and we like to think of you as part of our dental family.

Do You Have Requests? How Can We Better Serve You?

Are there topics that you would like addressed? How can we better provide context for all the oral health content out there? Please let us know. We’re listening. Honest.

Thank you…

Thanks. We’re so grateful to all of you who participate with us through social media. We’re also thankful for your kind referrals of friends and family. We appreciate your recommendations and your participation. If there’s ever anything we can do to make your experience as our patient more enjoyable, we’re all ears.

Our social media door is always open.

DID YOU KNOW THAT A DENTIST discovered anesthetic? It’s true. Life-saving surgeries were made possible in part by a dentist’s attempts to make his patients more comfortable!

Before the days of “preventative” dental care, painful tooth extractions were a way of life. Here are a few people who helped change that…

Horace Wells Discovered Nitrous Oxide At A Street Performance

Horace Wells was a Connecticut dentist. In 1844 he watched a traveling street show using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to entertain passersby. Noticing that it dulled pain, he began experimenting with it in his dental practice!

The Power To Cure, From A Surgical Perspective

W.T.G. Morton and Dr. Wells were colleagues who experimented together to discover better pain-relief methods for their patients. Looking for something more consistent and powerful than nitrous oxide, W.T.G. Morton started using ether in his practice. The end result of that idea revolutionized medicine, as explained in this short video:

The Early 1900’s Brought Localized Anesthetic

Novocaine, administered to numb specific areas of the mouth, was discovered by German chemist Alfred Einhorn, and was brought into medical use by surgeon Heinrich Braun. Although novocaine is perhaps the most well-known local anesthetic, most dentists today use lidocaine, which is commonly considered less likely to prompt allergic reactions and is more consistent and efficient.

We’re On Dentistry’s Leading Edge For YOU!

Since Wells’ and Morton’s time, methods in patient comfort have been refined and perfected. We keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and techniques to provide the best oral health solutions for YOU, our valued patients and friends. If you ever have any questions about your dental comfort, please ask! We love to hear from you.

Thanks for your trust in our practice!

WE’VE ALL BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE we’ve wished we had a toothbrush—but didn’t. Perhaps it was on a recent camping trip. Perhaps it was right after lunch, on a day when you were headed into an important business meeting. Regardless of when it was, you knew that a fresh, sparkling smile would bring the comfort and/or confidence you needed.

Certain types of foods can help you in a pinch.

Introducing Nature’s Tooth Scrubbers

Scrubber foods naturally clean your teeth–not perfectly, but enough to help you smile with confidence. As you chew scrubber foods they remove plaque and leftover particles from other foods you’ve eaten. They also increase saliva flow, which helps clean your mouth as well.

Most Scrubbers Are Crisp, Firm, And High In Fiber

Here are a few common scrubber foods:

• Apples
• Celery
• Radishes
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Cucumbers

All of these foods are excellent at freshening your mouth. Use them at the end of a meal or after a snack. Remember that these foods cannot be used as a replacement for brushing and flossing. But, they can be little helpers until you get to your toothbrush.

Try It Yourself!

Try finishing up meals with scrubber foods instead of sweets and let us know if you notice the difference. You may never go back! Do you know of another great scrubber food that we haven’t mentioned? Share your tip below.

Thanks for your continued trust in our practice!

IF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU CARE FOR SPENDS SIX HOURS A WEEK or more in a swimming pool, listen up! This is super important information to know…

Prolonged Pool Water Exposure Can Affect Teeth

Most swimmers are surprised to learn about the potentially corrosive effects pool water chemicals can have on teeth. When maintaining a pool it’s a constant battle keeping the temperature, chlorine level, and pH level balanced. When the pH level isn’t properly balanced (and sometimes even if it is) your smile can be exposed to excessive acidity levels.

So if you’re on a swim team, play water polo, swim daily for exercise, or have children who spend their entire summer in the pool, watch for these potential problems:

Swimmer’s Calculus

Swimmer’s calculus reveals itself as hard brown tartar deposits that show up primarily on front teeth. It’s difficult to remove by yourself, but it can be removed during a deep dental cleaning.

Eroded Enamel

Regardless of where acids come from—whether it’s from sports drinks, certain foods, soda pop, or pool water—acids can eat away at tooth enamel. Thin enamel can lead to accelerated decay and uncomfortable sensitivity.

A Simple Idea That Helps

Drink water! NOT pool water… Drinking water! For example if you’re swimming laps, set a bottle of drinking water poolside that’s easily reachable from inside the pool. Take a drink often and swish your mouth with fresh water. Also, be sure to drink and swish a lot right after your workout.

Typically, This Doesn’t Apply To “Casual Swimmers”

If you’re only in pool a couple hours a week, or at the hotel on vacation, chances are you don’t need to worry about this. However, pass this information along to others! Most people have a friend, extended family member, coworker, or mail carrier who spends a lot of time in a pool.

Enough Of The Serious Stuff… Try This For Fun:

Thanks for the trust you place in our practice.

Call us if you any questions about this topic, or leave a comment below. We look forward to seeing you during your next visit!

THEY’RE SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS “e-cigs” or “vapes”. Regardless of what they’re called, they’re not good for your health—or your smile.

A New Twist In The Same Ol’ Story

The oral health risks associated with traditional cigarette smoking are widely understood and accepted:

• Smoking increases periodontal disease risk by 7 times
• People who smoke are twice as likely to lose teeth
• Smokers increase their oral cancer risk by 5 to 10 times

Technology DOESN’T Change Everything

E-cigarettes are being marketed as a cleaner, healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. And while it’s true that a couple of unsavory side effects aren’t present (like smoke and stained fingers) e-cigs still pose health risks to your teeth and body.

E-Cigs Still Contain Nicotine

Nicotine is a “vasoconstrictor” that restricts blood flow, inhibiting our mouth’s natural cleaning and disease-fighting functions. Nicotine also reduces our body’s ability to heal and create new healthy tissues and cells. E-cigs contain vaporized nicotine, derived from tobacco. And when a person uses nicotine, gum disease is more likely to thrive.

E-cigs can also contain MANY other chemical substances. France’s National Consumer’s Institute recently conducted a study that found 3 out of 10 e-cigs contain hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde and diethylene glycol.

Learn More About E-Cigarettes:

The Takeaway Message…

1. If you’re a smoker trying to quit, e-cigarettes may be a transitional help.
2. If you don’t smoke, don’t get lured in by this trend. Signing up for a nicotine addiction is dangerous—in any form.
3. If you’re a parent, share this post with your children. Since e-cigs are not technically tobacco, in many states children can purchase them and the companies that sell them are marketing to teenagers.

Let Us Know What You Think

Do you have experience with, or questions about this trend? If so, let’s visit. If you’re a smoker (in any form), or if someone you care about smokes, remember that it’s even more important to schedule regular cleaning and checkup appointments.