Each February the American Dental Association sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Give Kids A Smile Day is coming to a location near you! On Friday, February 4, 2011, the Georgia Dental Association in conjunction with each district society will coordinate free dental care for less fortunate children. For the ninth year, member dentists will participate in the American Dental Association’s oral health outreach program that encourages parents, professionals, and policymakers to address important access to oral health care issues as well as to provide care to local, qualifying children from low-income families. Locations are:
Athens Technical College
The Community Health Center in Austell
Dental Hygiene School in Savannah Georgia
** Below is a link to a Rock Your Smile coloring sheet with tips to a healthy smile.
http://www.ada.org/sections/publicResources/pdfs/2012NCDHM_Story_English.pdf
Once again, the end of the year is upon us, and the most hectic season is just beginning. However, there is a very important reason to consider your oral health before the year runs out. Here are 4 reasons to use Your Dental Insurance before the end of the year:
1: Yearly Maximum
Your insurance provider allows you to spend a certain amount of money in your policy every year, the average is around $1000. The yearly maximum usually renews on January 1st and your unused benefits do not rollover, so whatever money you do not use is lost.
2: Deductible
Most insurance plans have an annual deductible. This is the amount of money you must pay before your insurance will cover any services other than cleanings. Much like your yearly maximum your deductible renews on January 1st and you will have to repay each year prior to treatment.
3: Premiums
If you are paying you dental insurance premiums every month, you should be using your benefits. Even if you don’t need any dental treatment, you should have your regular dental cleanings to help prevent and detect any early signs of decay, gum disease, oral cancer and any other dental problems.
4: Dental problems can worsen
By delaying dental treatment, you are risking more extensive and expensive treatment. What may be a simple cavity may turn into a root canal later.
By Tiffany Johnson
It's the time of year for lots of candy!! As a parent, I worried about the effects of all that sugar on my childrens' teeth. Here is the current advise on how to dole out the goodies.
Because the plaque germs that cause cavities produce acids with exposure to sugar, it is best to limit the number of exposures to sugar and not necessarly the amount of sugar. One large sugar/acid exposure is still just one exposure, where 4 very small servings are still 4 exposures. The gummy/chewy candies are some the worst offenders as they stick in the grooves and hang around for possible hours! Therefore it is advisable (though counterintuitive), not to give out the candy piece by piece, but to allow several times where your child can have several pieces at once and to brush and floss immedialtely afterward.
Wishing you and your family a safe and Happy Halloween!
Dee
Dental and orofacial development start early and proper nutrition with good prenatal care and are important to your baby's future dental health.
There are many old wive's tales regarding pregnancy and tooth loss. It was said that a woman would lose a tooth for every baby she had or that the baby pulls calcium from your teeth while it is developing. This is untrue and with regular home care during pregnancy, a woman can protect herself from pregnancy gingivitis, decay, low birth weight and preterm delivery. Gum disease has also been shown to be connected to diabetes. Good oral health may reduce the risk of pregnancy diabetes.
Mild cases of pregnancy gingivitis are not uncommon even in healthy expectant mothers. Gum disease left untreated during pregnancy can cause preterm delivery. In fact, some insurers are even covering more than two cleanings per year during pregnancy.
The easiest way to reduce or prevent pregnancy gingivitis is daily brushing and flossing along with regular dental visits. If there are problems with the gums, more frequent cleanings may be advised.
Another issue can be morning sickness. It is advised that (even though it seems like the right thing to do) to NOT brush right after vomiting as the stomach acids will be scrubbed into the teeth. Instead swish with water mixed with baking soda (1/2 teaspoon to 1/2 cup water) immediately to dilute these acids. The same is true for reflux and acid indigestion during late pregnancy.
A few simple steps daily will lead to a happy and healthy pregnancy!
-Dee
Our office is now offering a new and exciting procedure to reduce or even eliminate the appearance of white spots on your teeth! No shots. No drilling. One appointment. Easy!
White spots on your teeth are caused by may things. The tooth could have come in that way or, more commonly, the areas appear after the removal of braces. The white areas left on the teeth after braces are removed are "decalcification." This is caused by the leaching out of minerals from the enamels by the plaque acids. This is technically the beginning of a cavity and appears whiter because the light reflects differently through the softened enamel tubules.
The product we are using is called "Icon" by DMG America. (www.drilling-no-thanks.com) Dr. Goode just cleans the spot with a gel and applies an ultra-thin resin to the area. It effectively seals the the enamel tubules and reflects the light uniformly through the tooth. No more white spot! (It also helps prevent the softened enamel from turning into a cavity.)
Clinical before and after. Actual results of Goode Dental Care patient.
Can Gum Disease Affect your Heart Health?
Yes, absolutely! Over the past several decades, researchers have found that tooth and gum health may influence the health of the entire body. Studies have shown that gum disease may increase a person's risk for arthrosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), heart attack and stroke. Diabetes has also been shown in studies to have a direct link to gum disease.
The culprit appears to be chronic inflammation. Long-term uncontrolled gum disease means your body is constantly trying to fight infection. This can weaken the immune system and make you more susceptible to many health issues. Studies have also shown that the "plaque" that builds up in the arteries can contain the same bacteria present in gum disease.
The best defense is regular visits to your dental office for preventive care. A healthy mouth can lead to a healthy heart!
Dee Olekas, RDH, AQP