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Everlasting Smiles
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Everlasting Smiles
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Online NewsletterContents1. Sugar: Not The Number-One Enemy
Sugar: Not The Number-One EnemyYou are probably aware that some foods, especially sweet and sticky ones, are bad for your teeth. But research has revealed new culprits! Foods like potato chips, crackers, breads, cakes, and even a healthy rice dish can be as damaging to teeth as candy. The habit of all-day snacking is causing dental disease. Starches found in these foods are broken down by saliva into maltose, a sugar as harmful to your teeth as table sugar. When this sugar comes in contact with plaque, it turns into an acid powerful enough to dissolve the hard enamel protecting your teeth, and that’s how cavities start. Fortunately, there are foods that don’t promote tooth decay and can actually boost your dental health. Snacking on cheese, crunchy fruits and vegetables, lean meat and fish, and low-fat dairy products can help keep your mouth healthy. You can also reduce the acidity of the saliva on your teeth by rinsing your mouth with water after eating. Avoid sticky or chewy foods that cling to tooth surfaces, and definitely keep away from hard candies or cough drops that stay in your mouth for a long time. If you must have sweets, have them with a meal rather than on their own. And finally, ask your pharmacist if the medicine your family is taking has sugar in it! If it does, rinse well with water afterwards. We can provide you with further nutritional information on which foods will ensure better oral health and less dental disease.
Your Smile Has A HistoryDoes your smile say it all? Most people think so. In a recent survey, 92.4% of North Americans agreed that an attractive smile is an important social asset, and 74% thought that an unattractive smile hurts a person’s chances of career success. But only half of us were satisfied with our smile! Your smile is without doubt one of your most powerful possessions. Smiles are such an important part of communication that we recognize them far more than any other expression: we can pick up a smile at a distance of 100 yards – the length of a football field! At one time this kind of “pattern recognition” talent, as research scientists call it, was a survival skill our ancient ancestors had even before they could speak. Before humans learned to talk, our smiles could literally mean the difference between life and death. Researchers believe that our smiles developed as a means of avoiding aggression. For instance, if your lips were pulled back to reveal all your front teeth (our ancestors were uniformly in need of braces), this would mean you were ready for a fight. But we learned to stretch our lips sideways, and thereby partially cover our teeth to indicate a peaceful, non-aggressive greeting ... and guess what? The smile was born! Those were innocent, if dangerous, times. Today, for police officers (and poker players) there are few things worse than a cool liar with a fake smile. Smiles are so complex that a new computer system has been developed at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, specifically to read the rapidly changing expressions in the human face, most notably the smile. One day we may have the technology to enable us to decipher the emotions that lurk behind our smiles. At our office, we’re smile experts as well, and we can certainly help to make your smile the best it can possibly be – for you and your self-esteem. Or even for your next poker game!
Dental Age ErasersSecrets to the Fountain Of Youth The Fountain Of Youth! All through the centuries people have longed for some elusive elixir that will turn back the clock for them and reverse the inevitable process of ageing. One sip and those wrinkles will slip away forever. Wouldn’t it be nice if it were so easy? From best sellers like “Age Erasers,” to fast one-liners (at twenty, you’re hot, at forty you’re not, at sixty you’re shot), our society sends out a strong message to both men and women that we should fight as hard as we can to reverse, or at least slow down, the inevitable signs of ageing. As well, increased awareness of fitness and nutrition has made us much more knowledgeable about the link between lifestyle and appearance. There are lots of ways to spend your money on trying to look younger: anti-wrinkle gels; cosmetics; skin treatments; plastic surgery; facials; spa treatments; and on and on. But we often overlook one of the simplest and most effective ways to shed a few years – just improve your smile. It’s hard to overestimate how important our smiles are to the general impression we make. A smile that reveals discolored or cracked teeth, a receding gum line, or just a generally dull look has a subtle but profound effect on how old we look. Most adults don’t realize that as time passes, our smiles are not as bright as they used to be. Coffee, tea, smoking, red wines, and certain antibiotics are all contributors to dull, stained teeth. Time and periodontal disease can shrink the underlying bone and gum tissue that hold our teeth in place, and this can add years to your appearance. We’re your smile experts, and we can help to improve all of these conditions. Whitening treatments, replacing existing silver restorations with white composite fillings, and porcelain veneers can all be part of your smile makeover. We can’t promise the Fountain Of Youth, but a new and improved smile can be the next best thing. Come and see us soon for a smile analysis as a first step towards a bright and youthful appearance.
Those Teenage YearsTeenagers rebel. That’s what they’re supposed to do. But if yours gives brushing the brush-off as part of his or her rebellion, a lifetime pattern of dental neglect can be established. If you have a child who is susceptible to cavities or gum disease, serious trouble can gain a foothold. Many teenagers go through a period of months, maybe years, when their brushing habits aren’t good, and may even be nonexistent. Some teens don’t realize they have brand-new molars in the back of their mouth that need brushing and flossing attention. In the early teenage years your child may well benefit from a refresher course on brushing and flossing techniques. You can also speak in terms that a teen cannot mistake: “Plaque looks totally gross and makes your breath reek!” Because of all this, routine visits to our office are more important than ever. Also, teenagers will often take advice to heart much more readily from a health professional than from a parent. But as a parent you must practice what you preach, and by example maintain good oral care habits. Braces, oral piercing, and mouth guards can also cause conflict. Many teens reject braces. Here again, we can be of help. More than 90% of the time, reluctant teens will agree to braces once their dentist has explained the pros and cons. Oral piercing, to be blunt, is a really terrible idea. Piercing of the tongue, lips, cheek, or other oral sites carries serious risk of infection. Other effects can be bone exposure from rubbing contact, nerve damage, prolonged or permanent drooling, altered speech, even toxic shock or stroke. If your teen can’t live without it, the one thing you must ensure is that the piercing is done under scrupulously clean circumstances, and maintained that way as well. Mouth guards are an effective way to prevent teeth from getting chipped or broken during athletic activities. We can make a custom-fitted mouth guard that will be comfortable and will work. And since accidents can happen anytime, make sure your teen wears the mouth guard during both practice sessions and games ... just like the pros. Parents should also be aware that academic stress can take its toll on your teen’s oral health, particularly the gums. Stress reduction exercises, a balanced diet, and plenty of rest are helpful.
Your Teeth Have A PastWhere Did They Come From? About 460 million years ago, when sea creatures began to develop lungs and crawl onto land, their skin contained calcified tentacles, the forerunners of our teeth. To get around in this new world, tough bone and muscle were needed. To accommodate a new diet, the tentacles began to fuse together and eventually changed into teeth very similar to those of the Catarrine apes who inhabited the earth about 40 million years ago. And the descendants of those apes had the same dental formula as our teeth today. What Do They Do? Humans have high body temperatures and need to be able to digest food as efficiently as possible. Teeth stab, crush, grind, slice, and chop food in hundreds of different ways. Besides helping us to eat, teeth help us to talk, and with our smiles, they help us to communicate on many levels with our fellow human beings. Where Do Dentists Come From? Concern about oral health has been around for at least 5000 years. The Chinese used acupuncture around 2700 BC to treat pain caused by tooth decay. We know from the Greek historian Herodotus that by the 5th century BC, Egyptian medicine had evolved to the point where some doctors treated only diseases of the teeth. Your Magic Teeth Many cultures had odd beliefs about teeth. The earliest toothpicks, called siwaks, had a religious ritual significance in Arabia and India. Prayers were made while brushing. In India the cuspid of Buddha was enshrined in a famous temple, and prayed to during fertility rites. Westerners offered prayers to saints for the relief of oral pain. Not wishing any disrespect, we suggest you come and see us on a regular basis for reliable, modern oral health care, just as Persian physician Rhazes recommended in 900 AD.
The Cosmetic BoomIntroducing your best and brightest smile! The importance of a bright healthy smile to a person’s self-image and self-esteem has perhaps never been as great as it is today. Therefore it’s no surprise that cosmetic dentistry is one of the fastest growing areas of oral health care. Many patients who have had cosmetic dental treatment gain the confidence to pursue careers, and even relationships, that never seemed possible before. And just as important, it now appears that a patient’s general oral health benefits when their smile is improved – many people are more concerned about maintaining their teeth after cosmetic dentistry because they’re proud of the way they look. Cosmetic dentistry is also much more affordable than even a decade ago. Improvements in technology provide a wide variety of cosmetic dental options. Here are some procedures that are available to improve your smile.
There’s no need to be satisfied with anything less than your best and brightest smile! Please come and see us for a smile consultation.
Don’t Let Your Plan Dictate Your TreatmentIn our practice, we are committed to providing you and your family with the best possible dental care, including long-term preventive care. Many of you have an employer-assisted dental health plan to help offset the cost of your family’s ongoing oral health care. Whether you have a specific condition that requires treatment, or are seeing us for your regular checkup, we’ll develop a treatment plan specifically designed for your needs. It’s important to remember that you are a partner with us in your oral health, and that treatment and care decisions should be made together with us, based on your actual needs. A dental plan is a way of helping you cover the cost of dental care. However, your dental plan may not cover the full cost of the specific treatment you require. A dental plan is not a treatment plan. You should not allow your dental plan to dictate the care you receive. Some dental plans exclude necessary dental treatments such as sealants, adult orthodontics, specialist referrals, crowns and bridges, and other dental needs. Some plans will only provide the level of benefit allowed for the least expensive way to treat a dental need, regardless of the decision made by you and us as to the most effective and necessary treatment required. By taking care of your dental health you are making a long-term investment in your own well-being, and that of your family. If we can be of any help to you in understanding your dental plan, and how it can function as a part of your treatment plan, please let us know.
This Sporting LifeBack-to-school means back to the sporting life for most children and teenagers, not to mention the annual get-into-shape routine for Dad and Mom. That means it’s time to take a serious look at mouth protection. Each year literally millions of teeth are lost due to sporting activities. In fact, athletes are 60% more likely to sustain damage to their teeth when not wearing a protective mouth guard. And the American Dental Association estimates that properly fitted facemasks and mouth guards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and collegiate football alone. As you can see, help is available! There are many different types of mouth guards. You can, for example, buy stock or boil-and-bite types from sporting goods stores. But test after test conducted by sports dentists and health professionals prove that these types do not provide the injury prevention or comfort that a properly diagnosed and fabricated custom-made mouth guard does. Only your dentist can answer many essential questions that will determine the precise type and fit of mouth guard you require because of the many factors to consider. Does the athlete have cavities or missing teeth? Is there any history of previous dental injury or concussion that would indicate additional protection in a specific area? Is your eight-year-old going to need more space for erupting teeth which will affect the mouth guard design? Another thing to consider is whether the mouth guard is designed for the specific sport being played. This is important because there are over forty different levels of impact protection available depending on your sport! Please don’t take chances with your oral protection! A professionally fitted mouth guard is an essential part of your sporting equipment, and we’d be happy to ensure you get the best.
Get The Most Out Of Your Dental InsuranceThe signs of fall signal back-to-work and back-to-school for many of us. They should also be a cue to make a dental appointment. Although you may not realize it, your dental insurance has seasons too. More than 90% of dental plans are based on a calendar year. If you do not use the benefits you are entitled to, they are gone as of December 31st. Your benefits are not carried forward into the next year. If you are thinking about getting some dental care sometime this year, now’s the time. Many treatments can take weeks to complete once treatment options are sorted out and insurance considerations are resolved. That’s why it’s especially important to come in for a visit to get things on the go as soon as possible, before your 2001 dental insurance expires.
Too Much Of A Good ThingFor many people a full smile with bright white teeth seems impossible. Their smiles show small teeth with a lot of pink gums. They often think that they have short teeth, or that their gums have grown over their teeth, and often don’t realize that something can be done to give them a fuller, more cosmetically pleasing smile. When you have a gummy smile, you usually just have too much gum tissue which needs to be simply removed to let your teeth show their normal length and beauty. The opposite problem, a receding gum line due to ageing or periodontal disease, is also common, and can also be treated successfully. The ideal is to have what’s called a medium lip line which when you smile, reveals just up to the upper gum line of the front teeth. A high lip line exposes a lot of gum tissue when you smile, and a low lip line hides the gum tissue and sometimes the teeth completely. If you have questions about your lip line, please ask us. We can help you achieve your ideal smile!
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