Celebrate National Children's Dental Health Month!

Kudos to the parents and grandparents out there that work very hard to ensure your child has many opportunities to develop through his formative years. Parenting is not easy; if someone says it is, they likely don't have children. 

The American Dental Association has declared February to be National Children's Dental Health month. We associate February with cupid, hearts, love, etc. Who more do we give our hearts and love to than our children and posterity?

Join us this month as we focus on the little ones in our lives. We will share Tuesday Tips and Friday Fun facts each week this month that you can share with your children. Involving them in their oral health care lays a solid foundation for good habits and great health down the road. 

You've heard it said that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. This includes our children. By setting a good example yourself of oral hygiene routines, and making it fun and interesting will pique your child's curiosity. We want to get you off on the right foot by sharing fun ideas and activities all month long. Even if you don't have children living in your home, grandparents can be an excellent resource in developing lifelong oral hygiene habits.

Here is a free printable calendar that children can hang up in a visible place where they brush their teeth. They can color each month differently

MouthHealthyKids.org

Join us this month in the celebration! If you have any concerns about your child's oral health care, please give us a call. If your child hasn't seen Dr. Clark yet, you can be confident they will have a great visit. We even have a Treasure Chest they can draw a surprise out of! 

Call to schedule your

appointment today!

(541) 451-1440

Photo Source: http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/life-stages/childrens-oral-care/article/ADA-02-national-childrens-dental-health-month

Why? Oh, But Why Not?

Does your smile let others know you are happy? Or do you find yourself hiding your smile because your teeth are not straight, or you have swollen red gums?

You like thousands of others struggle to express your joy because of embarrassment with the current state of your smile. This does NOT need to happen.

If you have gum disease or a history of periodontal disease, Dr. Dennis Clark may prepare a treatment plan that includes laser gum surgery. 

We offer the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP®) at our practice. It is the most effective way to eradicate gum infections and save teeth that may have been lost to gum disease. LANAP® is a minimally-invasive alternative to traditional gum surgery and treats only the infected tissues while leaving surrounding tissues intact.

Let Mary tell you about her experience with LANAP:

Don't feel like you have to be satisfied with loose, crooked, or painful teeth and gums. That simply is not true. Dr. Clark can sit down with you and discuss what you need to do in order to attain the smile and oral health you've always desired.

You may ask Why? but we simply say WHY NOT? You are worth it!

Give us a call today!

The Sky is the Limit!

Dentistry is a fascinating field of endless possibilities. Although the teeth we were born with may have emerged crooked, missing, darkened, etc. there is no reason why our smile can't be fixed to reflect who we really are.

Cosmetic dentistry runs the gamut with options available to repair and improve any smile. We have seen the lives of our patients transform with everything from simple changes such as teeth whitening, to full-mouth restoration through crowns, bridges or teeth replacement. 

When asked, most people have at least one thing they would like to improve their smile. What is your secret wish? Our advice to you is to share that desire with us because those changes are within your grasp. 

Dr. Clark is more than willing to visit with you and create a treatment plan that will help you attain the smile you've always wanted. We have numerous financing plans, and he can tailor your treatment plan to match any financial situation.

Take a moment to look through the many possibilities on our website today at www.laserdennist.com. You will find educational material as well as patient testimonials to help you decide which treatment is the best option for you. Together with Dr. Clark, you can be confident that the correct plan will be successful.

So what are you waiting for? Let's work together to unveil the smile of your dreams! Call today to schedule a consult with Dr. Clark. Make 2017 the year you make your wish a reality.

Call today!

541-451-1440

Brushing Habits to Break in 2017

In our Tuesday's Tip yesterday we discussed six benefits of receiving regular dental cleanings from our fantastic hygienists. You can review the list above.

It has been our experience spanning almost three decades in dental care that small, consistent habits yield long-lasting results. It is not uncommon for all of us set a New Year's resolution to lose weight for example. It is conceivable that more gym memberships are purchased in January than during any other month, however, said memberships tend to be discarded or forgotten after a few shorts weeks into the new year when life just gets too busy. 

Good oral hygiene habits can be overlooked simply because we don't take the time to review ourselves and see what we can improve upon. 

The American Dental Association offers seven areas that we need to evaluate about our own oral health care habits. We extend the challenge to you to ask yourself how you are doing in the following areas:

1) Do you keep your toothbrush too long?

"Did you know the average life of a toothbrush is 3-4 months? Make a resolution to change your toothbrush with every season this year. Frayed and broken bristles won’t keep your teeth clean—these are signs it’s time to let go. When you’re shopping, look for one with the ADA Seal of Acceptance."

2) Do you brush for the recommended two minutes?

"Speed demons, listen up! Your teeth should be brushed for a full two minutes, twice per day. Most of us fall short —the average time most people spend brushing is 45 seconds. If you’re racing through cleaning, try setting a timer. Or distract yourself by humming your favorite tune!"

3) Do you brush too hard?

"Be gentle with your teeth. You may think brushing harder will remove more leftover food and the bacteria that loves to eat it, but a gentle brushing is all that’s needed. Too much pressure may wear down the hard outer shell on your teeth and damage your gums."

4) Do you brush right after eating?

"If you feel the need to clean your teeth after eating or drinking, wait at least 30 minutes before brushing—especially if you have had something acidic like lemons, grapefruit or soda. Drink water or chew sugarless gum with the ADA Seal of Acceptance to help clean your mouth while you are waiting to brush."

5) Do you store your toothbrush improperly?

"When you’re done brushing, keep your toothbrush upright and let it air dry in the open. Don’t keep your toothbrush in a closed container, where germs have more opportunity to grow, and if your toothbrush is in a holder next to another, keep them separated like the photo above."

6) Do you use a toothbrush with hard bristles?

"Soft bristles are the way to go. You don’t want to use medium or hard bristles because these may wear down the outer shell of your teeth and may cause sensitivity when eating or drinking cold food and beverages."

7) Do you use an improper brushing technique?

"Get your best brush with these steps: First, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Then, gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes. Next, brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Finally, To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes."

So there you have it. Are there one or two areas in which you recognize you need improvement in your daily routine? Pick one or two bad habits you'd like to change and make it happen! 

We believe in you - slow and steady wins the race! It was true with the tortoise and the hare and it is true in dental care. Small and consistent good habits will pay you dividends for years to come.

Happy Brushing!

New Year, New You!

You've heard it said before, if you make a goal but don't write it down, you are less likely to accomplish said goal.

What are your goals for your dental health this upcoming year? Haven't thought of setting of dental goals? Don't worry, you are not alone.

We get so busy with "life" that we forget to focus on things that make it possible for us to enjoy our lives. Good dental hygiene is one of those often overlooked items.

We would like to challenge you to pick at least one of the following tips to focus upon this year. As you dedicate time to your oral health care, your body will receive the benefits. Everything is connected!

Suggested Dental Goals:

1) Brush at least twice daily, and floss once.
2) Stay up on your semi-annual cleanings.
3) Make cosmetic changes that are needed.
4) Smile consciously every day.
5) Stop drinking soda.
6) Stop smoking.

There you have it - a simple yet powerful list. If you make changes with any of these suggested goals, your body and mouth will thank you. You could possibly even save your life or add years to it if #6 is your goal!

We believe in you! We are here to help you make your goals become reality!