Lake Oconee Dentistry Blog

IS LOVE RISKY? You’ll have to answer that question on your own! But there’s one component—kissing—that our practice would like to briefly address below (along with some advice from the Academy of General Dentistry).

Bacteria Can Lead To Increased Plaque Which Can Lead To Tooth Decay

We know it’s not pleasant to think about, but it’s true—your mouth is full of bacteria. Some of it’s good and some of it isn’t. For the most part, your body (and your mouth, specifically) does a pretty good job of keeping bacteria, germs, and viruses that make their way into your mouth in check. But increased bacteria can also lead to increased plaque. Maintaining great oral hygiene habits is the very best way you can help your mouth do its job.

Kissing Introduces Your Mouth To Someone Else’s Bacteria And Viruses

Now there’s no need to make this a huge cause for worry. Our team just wants to be sure that you know about the most common viruses and diseases that you could be sharing with a smooch:

• Cold Sores – Cold sores are a manifestation of a herpes virus. Even when there are no signs, it can be contagious.
• Colds And Flus – Lots of viruses are included under the blanket “common cold” term. Colds happen, but you can decrease the spread by avoiding kissing while you’re sick.
• Mononucleosis – Also known as mono, glandular fever, or the kissing disease. It’s caused by a virus infection that’s easily spread by saliva, and can knock you out for weeks.

Yes, There Are Lots Of Kissing Positives Too

We’re not condemning kissing! Think about the benefits! Kissing increases saliva flow, which is great for your teeth and oral health. And of course, an affectionate peck can make you happier and strengthen relationships, which leads to better overall health and wellbeing. So don’t put the brakes on a great relationship just because you’re worried about germs! Just be smart, make sure that you maintain great oral hygiene, and that you always know who’s on the other end of that kiss.

It’s NOT Valentine’s Day, But We Couldn’t Help Having A Little Fun With This

Any Questions About All This?

We love answering your questions about ANY dental or oral-health related matter. It gives us a chance to know you better. You can also read the full article from the Academy of General Dentistry if you’d like. Give us a call, leave a comment below, or send us a direct message on our Facebook page. We’re always happy to discuss things with you!

Thanks again for the trust you place in us! We value your friendship!

ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, TOOTH DECAY is one of our most common, modern-day chronic diseases. In fact, by the time children begin kindergarten, 40 percent have some kind of tooth decay! Remember, just because your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews aren’t complaining about tooth pain (and their teeth “look” OK), it doesn’t necessarily mean their teeth are OK.

Fall is a great time to assess your health goals and get back on track after a leisurely summer. Let our practice help. Be sure dental checkups are part of your back-to-school checklist.

Typically Included In A Regular Checkup Or Back-To-School Exam:

Here are some of the services we typically take care of during regular checkups and back-to-school exams:

1. Thorough Cleaning: Professional cleanings help prevent gum disease—keeping your teeth healthier, longer.
2. Checking For Cavities: Take care of cavities before they become bigger problems, leading to pain and tooth loss.
3. Checking Existing Dental Work: We check fillings, crowns, sealants, etc.
4. Examining Oral Tissue & Jaw Function: Early detection helps prevent oral cancer and related problems.
5. Fluoride Application: For cavity prevention.

Important Things You Can Do

1. Have your children brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Remind them to brush gently and pay special attention to their gum line.
2. Teach the good habit of flossing each day.
3. Give kids healthier snack foods such as fresh fruits and veggies.
4. Limit sugary snacks & high-carb foods. The bacteria that cause tooth decay love simple sugars—especially those in treats.
5. If the children in your life like to chew gum, offer sugar-free options.
6. Always talk with our team if you notice any unusual oral health changes.

A big part of our role is helping parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts better monitor children’s oral (and overall) health. Preventative dental care is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and for your family! So be sure to contact us if it’s time for your regular appointments.

Thanks for being our valued patient! Send us a note below, or a direct message on Facebook if you have any questions or concerns.

We look forward to seeing you at your next visit!

WE KNOW YOU HEAR A LOT FROM OUR TEAM about the importance of brushing and flossing for great oral health. But there are other things (we tend to talk less about) that can really assist you, your family members and friends in maintaining a beautiful smile. Healthy eating is one of them.

Eating Right Helps Fend Off Plaque, Gingivitis, And Periodontal Disease

Your tooth enamel is your smile’s first defense against decay. When your enamel becomes damaged (or erodes) you become more prone to tooth sensitivity and cavities. Your diet can have a lot to do with replenishing those things in your body that help strengthen tooth enamel. Calcium is one of those things. Also, foods rich in vitamin D (like salmon) allow you to better absorb the calcium that healthy teeth need.

“Super-Smile” Foods That May Surprise You

1. Broccoli – Broccoli has been shown to create an acid-resistant teeth “shield”.
2. Onions – Onions have properties that fight bacteria in your mouth.
3. Kiwi (Vitamin C) – The little fuzzy guys are packed with more Vitamin C than any other fruit. A lack of Vitamin C can break down the collagen network in your gums, making them tender and more susceptible to bacteria and gum disease.
4. Celery – Celery is like an edible tooth-scrubber. Because of its fibrous material, it massages gums, cleans teeth, and encourages saliva production (a major plus).
5. Other Crunchy Veggies – Other crunchy vegetables and fruits like apples or carrots are also great for your smile.
6. Quinoa (pronounced “KEEN-wah”) – This little grain is loaded with minerals and vitamins that support and reinforce your teeth.
7. Shiitaki Mushrooms – These yummy mushrooms contain a sugar called Lentinan that helps prevent mouth bacteria from growing.
8. Sesame Seeds – Sesame seeds help your teeth in two ways. First, they act as little scrubbers, clearing up plaque on your teeth. Second, they supply lots of calcium.

Awesome, Downloadable Recipe eBook

Wondering how you’re going to work teeth-friendly foods into your daily routine and family meals? Here’s a fantastic resource. The downloadable eBook below combines know-how from a gourmet cook, a nutritionist, and a cosmetic dentist to feature gourmet recipes using the super-smile foods listed above (and many others). Enjoy!

Stay tuned to our blog for more great ideas to help keep your mouth healthy. We always love hearing from you too. Contact us any time you have questions—regardless of the subject. We’ll get back to you right away. You can also always comment below, or send us a direct message from our Facebook page. By the way, you can click on the image below to watch a video from Colgate that contains additional information about the relationship between eating a balanced diet, and your oral health:

Happy food prep (and eating)!

And as always, thanks for being our friends and a valued part of our practice.

NO, YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE who enjoys sneaking a late-night snack. We know how it is. Some things just taste better after midnight, right? But did you know that late-night snacking can actually have a negative impact on your teeth?

A 2010 Denmark study found correlations between late-night snacking and tooth loss. From a research group of over 2,000 adults, 8% were classified as “nocturnal eaters”. Over a six-year period, members of this group were found to have a greatly increased risk of tooth loss.

Ever Wonder Why We Brush Before Bedtime?

Traditionally, before bed is a good time to take care of your oral health and beauty regimes. There’s good reason for that. During the night, saliva production slows down. Saliva is pivotal in keeping your mouth clean—washing away leftover food and reinforcing tooth enamel. It’s like your mouth’s police force. Your mouth minus saliva’s full effects—combined with teeth that aren’t clean—leaves bacteria and plaque to better wreak havoc throughout the night.There’s another reason too. When you have midnight snacks, what do they typically consist of? Carrot and celery sticks? Probably not. They usually end up being something like leftover birthday cake or cold pizza! Sugars and starches are some of the worst culprits when it comes to tooth decay causes.

What To Do About It

Here’s advice from our practice for facing late-night eating temptation:

• If you have a snack, rinse or brush your teeth afterward.
• Try not to eat or drink anything but water during the hour prior to going to bed.
• When snacking fever strikes, opt for healthier foods.

And if you think you have habits that are putting your oral health at risk, contact us and we’ll visit. You can also send us a direct message on Facebook, or comment below if you have thoughts or questions.

As always, thanks. Thank you for being our valued patients and friends.

PREGNANT? KNOW SOMEONE WHO’S PREGNANT? There’s plenty to think about during this time! But while you’re picking out baby clothes and reading up on childcare philosophies, our team reminds you to remember the importance of your oral health.

Gum Disease Risk

Pregnancy brings a heightened level of hormonal activity, which can lead to gum sensitivity and increased gum disease risk. And some studies have shown that gum disease could be linked to pre-term labor and other associated risks. The good news is that pregnancy doesn’t cause gum disease—plaque does. So keeping up your great oral habits helps keep you safe. Brush regularly, floss every day, and don’t miss your regular dental checkups. If you’re pregnant, an ideal time to request your check-up appointment is during your second trimester—your pregnancy is stable, but not far enough along to risk any stress-induced problems.

Regular Checkups During Pregnancy

During regular checkups, we clean your teeth and gums more thoroughly than you can through brushing and flossing yourself. This is a major step in preventing periodontal disease. In the past, women were sometimes anxious about dental procedures during pregnancy. Typically, there’s never an issue, but be sure to let our practice know you’re expecting so any appropriate adjustments can be made in your care.

An Informative Video From Crest Pro-Health:

Other Special Concerns

• Morning Sickness: DON’T brush your teeth right after being sick. Stomach acid makes your teeth softer and brushing can wear them down. Rinse out your mouth, and then wait a while before brushing.
• Dental Procedures That Can’t Wait: If you need to have a more involved procedure performed while you’re pregnant, be sure to (1) let us know you’re pregnant; and (2) talk it over beforehand with your OB. We want to make sure there aren’t any special details we should know about.

Did You Know?

Congratulations on your pregnancy! We’re excited for you!

For more information about taking care of your oral health during pregnancy, check out these links from the ADA and Columbia University. And if you have questions, just ask us! You can also comment below, or send us a direct message on our Facebook page.

DOES YOUR BREATH STINK? Do you know if your breath stinks? What causes it? What can be done about it? Here at our practice we get lots of questions about bad breath. Sometimes the questions come from a long-suffering friend or family member of somebody else with bad breath.

Causes Of Bad Breath (often called “halitosis”)

Halitosis can be caused by a number of things—some more serious than others. Here are the most common causes:

1. Things You Eat, Like Garlic And Onions

Foods like garlic and onions contain oils that transfer through your bloodstream into your lungs, causing odor to be emitted each time you exhale.

2. Things You Don’t Eat, And A Dry Mouth

Dieting can trigger different chemical processes that can make you more susceptible to bad breath. Also, not eating slows down saliva production, decreasing your mouth’s ability to clean away bacterial build-up. That’s why “morning breath” is unpleasant. Also, certain prescription medications can cause dry mouth.

3. The Way You Feel

Sometimes a cold or sore throat can be the culprit with odors coming directly from the bacteria or mucus trapped in your mouth or sinus area. Typically, these problems won’t go away until the symptoms causing them are gone.

4. Things That May Be More Serious

More serious causes include things like gum disease, kidney problems, diabetes, oral cancer, anorexia/bulimia and others. That’s why it’s so important to contact us about chronic bad breath problems that you just can’t seem to solve.

Things You Can Do That Help

Remember, chronic or extreme bad breath is not normal. If you have any questions about causes, symptoms, or remedies talk with our team.

1. Practice good oral hygiene! You know—brush and floss!
2. Gently brush your tongue.
3. Use an antibacterial mouthwash regularly.
4. Eat healthy, drink enough water, and don’t smoke.
5. Occasionally chew sugarless gum or suck on a sugarless mint.
6. If you wear any oral appliance, or have dentures, clean them thoroughly.
7. Don’t miss or postpone regular dental checkups.

A Little Fun With “a new sense of daintiness…”

Contrary to the popular legend that Listerine coined the term “halitosis”, it actually dates back to the 1870’s. However, Listerine made the term commonplace by using it in many of their ad campaigns. Halitosis combines the Latin “halitus”, meaning “breath”, with the Greek suffix “osis” used to describe a medical condition.

Thanks, As Always, For Being Our Valued Patient

We sincerely appreciate the trust you place in us. And thanks for your kind referrals of friends, family members, and coworkers. Leave us a comment below or send us a direct message on our Facebook page!

YOU PROBABLY DON’T OFTEN THINK ABOUT YOUR SPIT (and frankly, we’d be a little worried about you if you did). And yes, drooling babies are a nuisance. But did you know that saliva is a critical component for healthy teeth and great oral health—regardless of your age? Here at our practice, we’re concerned about BOTH your teeth and your complete oral health. We thought you may find it interesting to learn how saliva helps keep your mouth protected and healthy, even when we’re not around.

Four Reasons Your Saliva Is Awesome

1. Your saliva slowly and continually builds your teeth into tiny fortresses. It carries minerals like calcium and phosphate ions which reinforce your enamel.
2. Saliva is an important part of your immune system. It contains immunoproteins that police your mouth, fighting bacteria and coating teeth in a protective layer.
3. It’s a lubricant. Thanks to saliva, your mouth and tongue are flexible. Talking and eating would be seriously difficult without it.
4. Saliva keeps your mouth clean. It washes away food particles and rebalances the pH level in your mouth every time you eat.

Xerostomia (a.k.a. Dry Mouth) Can Be A Problem

Now that you understand how much your saliva does for you, you probably see what a problem it could be if it weren’t there. When your body isn’t producing enough saliva, it’s called dry mouth, or xerostomia (pronounced “zeer-uh-stoh-mee-uh”). It’s often caused by common medications like antihistamines or antidepressants. It can also be a side effect of dehydration or diseases like Parkinson’s and cystic fibrosis. Sometimes it’s simply a result of aging.

Here Are A Few Suggestions That May Help You

If you’re having trouble with xerostomia, ask us about it! We’ll be sure it’s not part of a bigger problem. In addition to the simple suggestions below, there may be other things our team can suggest that will help:

• Rinse your mouth regularly with water.
• Chew sugarless gum or suck on a sugarless candy to help stimulate saliva flow.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco, which can both be dry mouth contributing factors.

Remember that if you ever have questions, you can call us, or send us a direct message on our Facebook page.

Thanks for the continued trust you place in our practice! We appreciate you.

Did You Know…

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE STERN-FACED FARMER that American artist Grant Wood used as the model for his famous painting American Gothicwas actually his dentist? Yes, it’s true.

A Few Other Random, Dental-Related Tidbits

The first chewing gum was “chicle”—sap from Sapodilla trees. Chicle dates back to Aztec times when people boiled and cut it into blocks.

• You may have once heard that George Washington’s false teeth were made of wood. They weren’t. They were made of ivory, lead, and hippopotamus teeth.
• The average person produces 100,000 gallons of saliva during their lifetime—enough to fill 200 bathtubs!
• Before toothbrushes, people used shredded twigs to clean their teeth.
• An average person exerts 30-40 pounds of pressure per square inch with their jaw muscles.
• One in 2,000 babies is born with some teeth already grown in. Usually, these extra teeth can be pulled and the child will still grow a full set of baby teeth.
• During the Middle Ages, some people believed that kissing a donkey would relieve a toothache, and that stealing someone’s tooth could help them grow a new one of their own. Silly folks.
• Rabbit’s and squirrel’s teeth never stop growing. They continuously wear them down by gnawing on whatever is handy.

Now, Become A Teeth Expert In 30 Seconds

We Just Wanted To Share A Few Fun Things!

As a rule, we tend to be pretty serious most of the time when it comes to your oral health and our services. But we all need to lighten up once in a while. Life’s too short. Our team hopes you’ve enjoyed some of these fun things and trivia.

Do you have any random facts of your own to share? Let us know by commenting below or sending us a message on our Facebook page. We love hearing from you!

And thank you so much for being our valued patients and friends!

PICTURE THIS: YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE BACKPACKED to a gorgeous mountain lake. You’re about to do some early morning fishing when a family member starts complaining about a bad toothache! Argh! Few things can kill your vacation spirit faster than a dental problem or dental emergency. So here are a few tips for taking your teeth on vacation!

Before You Go

If you’ve been keeping your regularly scheduled appointments, this is probably not an issue. But if not, call usto make an appointment. As you know, most problems with your teeth or mouth happen gradually. If we can catch a developing issue before you leave on your vacation, you probably won’t need any of the other tips below.

Second, consider making yourself a “dental emergency kit” to pack along on your vacation that includes the following:

• Mouthguard(s) – A mouthguard prevents chipped or knocked out teeth. If your plans include any type of high adventure activities (or things as simple as skateboarding or other sports), consider taking a mouthguard.
• Floss – You were planning to bring floss along anyway for your nightly dental routine, right? We knew it.
• Pain Relievers – Both topical and ingested (but don’t use aspirin as topical pain relief as it can damage your gums).
• Orthodontic Wax – If anyone in your group has braces, you probably already know how important this is.
• Clove Oil & Sugarless Gum – See explanation below.
• Contact Information – Even if we aren’t close by, you may need to contact us via phone or email.

Some On-The-Spot Tips

• Toothache – Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply an icepack to your cheek if it’s swelling. It may be helpful to apply some topical pain reliever or dab clove oil on and around the tooth. If the pain persists, get a hold of us.
• Chipped, Broken, Or Knocked Out Teeth – Save the pieces/tooth in milk or salt water and get to emergency care quickly. After an hour, odds decrease that the tooth will go back in where it belongs. If there’s bleeding, put some gauze over the wound.
• Lost Filling – Here’s a cool tip—put sugarless (sugarless only!) gum in the spot the filling used to cover. This will keep the pain down and stop other things from getting stuck in the gap.
• Something Caught In Your Teeth – Rinse with warm water and gently floss. If it’s not coming out, DON’T try poking around with something sharp. Give us a call or seek out local care before it causes grief.

Many Of The Same Tips (and more) In A Short Video

When In Doubt, Contact Us

That’s why you’ll want to include our contact information in your emergency kit. We’ll give you advice, or refer you to someone in the area if you need immediate care. We’re here to help you and your family in any way we can. Keep in mind that if you are somewhere with internet access, you can always direct message us on our Facebook page!

Have a fantastic vacation, and thank you for being our valued patient!

Any other tips YOU know about? Share them below!

FOR MIGRAINE SUFFERERS, IT MAY SEEM AS THOUGH there are only two options—either suffer in silence with a bottle of ibuprofen, or go to the doctor for something stronger. However, experts say that as many as 95% of migraines may be linked to dental issues. So if you, your child, or other family member suffer from migraines maybe it’s time for a chat with our practice instead.

Your Migraines May Be Caused By TMJ or TMB

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint responsible for jaw movement—talking, crunching, grinding, clenching, etc. It’s a complex system of bones, muscles, and tendons. When something interrupts the function of this system, it’s referred to as TMD, or temporomandibular disorder.

If your jaw is misaligned, your muscles are strained trying to put (or keep) your jaw in its proper place. Soon it starts impacting all the surrounding muscles, including your neck, your head, and even your spine.

Some TMD Symptoms Include:

• Popping or clicking jaw
• Sore teeth
• Facial pain
• Aching neck muscles
• And of course, Migraines

Treating TMD

TMD research is still a developing science and treatments can range from fitting a mouthpiece to actually adjusting one’s bite. If you’re suffering from pain in your jaw, your teeth, your face or head, or migraines (with or without other symptoms) come in and ask us about it. We can check your bite and see if dental issues may be to blame.Our team is not only concerned with your oral health, but we’re also concerned about your overall health and comfort. If you have questions about TMJ or TMD, leave us a comment below, send us a direct message on Facebook, or contact us for an appointment.

As always, thanks for the trust you place in our practice!