Creating Good Hygiene Habits at Home

As humans, we like having a clean mouth. Long ago people would chew tree twigs to spread the fibers, which acted like bristles to clean their teeth. 

In fact, the ancient Greeks used pumice, talc, alabaster, coral powder, or iron rust as toothpaste. Thankfully today, we have many more effective choices that yield fantastic results and fresh mouths.

Here are some simple guidelines you can implement in your home:

1. Start oral hygiene habits early. It's never too early to make brushing and flossing a part of their morning and nightly routines. 
2. Set a good example. Brushing with your children can allow them to see proper techniques, and allow you to know if they are "cutting corners". 
3. Turn toothbrushing into a game. Having charts and fun incentives to encourage proper brushing and flossing can increase children's desires. 
4. Tell a story. There are really fun dental apps that you can download that have stories or songs set to the optimal brushing time. This helps them learn the proper length of a brushing session.
5. Choose the right tools. Letting your children be part of the oral hygiene process makes a huge difference in their willingness to brush and floss. Make a big deal out of their ability to choose their new toothbrush and toothpaste.
6. Flossers are a great way to help children learn how to floss themselves. Flossing is a critical step in preventing cavities.

Dr. Clark Serenades His Patients

If you've been with Dr. Clark for any amount of time, you know he loves to hum, whistle, or sing a great melody. 

Enjoy this little serenade, "In My Deep Purple Shirt, I can fix Them When They Hurt". 

If you haven't scheduled your semi-annual cleaning, please do so. Prevention is always better than the cure. 

 

Oral Healthcare is Not Puzzling!

 

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

Take a few minutes to sit down with your children to fill in the blanks of this crossword puzzle. Joining together to create a fun memory will also provide a great teaching moment for your kids. 

Oral healthcare habits are critical to their present and future health. Teaching good habits now will help them take ownership over their own health. 

Printable Sources: https://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/national-childrens-dental-health-month

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

This month the American Dental Association focuses on the importance of keeping America's children hydrated with Nature's Drink - water!

All of us can do better with our hydration habits. Helping children learn this important habit will allow them to reap health benefits for decades to come. Hydration is key to health. Set some fun goals and help your family stay hydrated, even and sometimes especially during the winter months. 

Printable Sources: https://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/national-childrens-dental-health-month

 

Hello 2021 - January's eNewsletter from Dr. Clark & Team

Just in case you missed our newsletter in the email, we've posted it here for your review. Believe it or not, 2021 is underway and admittedly, it has been a rough start. But that doesn't have to foreshadow the end. 

We hope that as you begin your new year you will find the confidence to make the changes you need to make, and also give yourself the grace during the change and growth seasons in your life.

We look forward to seeing you this year during your semi-annual dental cleanings. Remember these appointments are critical for your self-care. Your mouth is a window into your overall health and when you ignore the warning signs your mouth gives you it always ends poorly. 

One Day at a Time - One Good Choice at a Time

We thought this was a great blog post with overall tips to improve your dental health.

How to Improve Your Overall Dental Health

Based on that new research, here are a few dental health tips you might not have heard before:

1. Get a new angle on things. When brushing your teeth, the position of the bristles matters. The head should be at a 45-degree angle near the gum line, and again when you go to clean the inside surfaces of your teeth.
2. Give your tongue some attention. Plaque and bacteria can gather on, around, and under your tongue too. Clean the surface of your tongue daily, either with your toothbrush or with a tongue cleaner. This will also help prevent bad breath!
3. Seal off trouble. Sealants are thin protective coatings applied to the back teeth that can help prevent decay and cavities (caries). Sealants are an especially good idea for kids, who often have trouble reaching their back teeth while brushing.
4. Suit up those teeth. Sports are good for our bodies, but they also provide opportunities for bangs, bumps, and crashes. In fact, most school teams now require children to wear mouth guards to safeguard teeth, especially for rougher sports. So it’s not a bad idea to have one yourself, for any sort of recreational activities. This is true even if it’s not a team sport – skateboarding, rock climbing, or even just hitting a ball against a wall can all present a threat to your teeth.
5. Make fluoride earn its keep. You should already be using a toothpaste with fluoride. But you might not be receiving its benefits if you rinse with mouthwash right after you brush. Mouthwash can rinse away fluoride before it has a chance to work, so wait 15 minutes or let the fluoride get to work on your enamel.
6. Chew your way to better dental health. Chewing sugar-free gum after eating or drinking can help protect your teeth and gums, especially after eating sugary foods. Better yet, finish your meal with a cube of cheese. This can help reduce the effect of acids from food on your teeth.
7. Get more sun. Specifically, get more Vitamin D – which you can get from supplements or exposure to the sun. Both Vitamin D and calcium help keep teeth and gums strong.
8. Practice the basics. Even if you follow these healthy tips, they will do little if you are not already practicing the basics, brushing, and flossing twice daily. You also want to avoid bad habits that can cause damage to your teeth over time.
9. See a dentist when everything is fine. Most people don’t bother with a dentist appointment until something goes wrong: A tooth falls out, a sudden pain makes it hard to chew, or an injury causes a chip or crack. But most problems can be prevented if their underlying cause is found early. A regular check-up more than pays for itself by preventing costly dental procedures down the road.

Source: https://happytoothnc.com/dental-health/

Timing is Everything!

 

If You Indulge, Do It During Mealtime

Don’t worry, we don’t expect you or your child to never eat sweets or starches. There is a better time to eat them than at snack time, however, and that is during meals! That’s because it’s not just important what you eat, but when you eat. At mealtime, there is an increased amount of saliva in the mouth that can help wash away those starches or sugary treats, counteract acid-producing bacteria and remineralize teeth.

Watch Out For Added Sugars

Almost all foods have some type of sugar in them. Naturally occurring sugars–like those found in milk and vegetables–are less worrisome, since these choices are healthy overall. What you want to keep an eye out for when choosing snacks are added sugars.

According to the American Dental Association, added sugar consumption should be limited to less than 10 percent of total energy intake, ideally less than five percent. To put things in perspective, one can of soda is equivalent to three times the daily recommended sugar intake of a child!

Choose Beverages Wisely

On that note, we’d like to advise parents to choose their children’s beverages wisely. Soda and juice may be your child’s preferred drinks, but milk and water are much healthier choices. Good sources of calcium, like milk, aid in building strong teeth and bones and water helps to wash away food particles that may be clinging to teeth, thus protecting against decay.

Source: https://hanoverdentistry.com/2016/08/23/snacking-tips-to-keep-your-childs-smile-health/#:~:text=Stay%20away%20from%20starchy%2C%20sticky,%2C%20nuts%2C%20yogurt%20and%20cheese.

Photo Source: https://www.drjennifercohen.com/calm-happy-mealtime-solution/

Great Snacking Options

 

GOOD NUTRITION IS ESSENTIAL for a child’s healthy growth and development. It’s also important for their dental health! A good diet can help your child build strong, healthy teeth, while poor eating habits puts your child at a higher risk of tooth decay.

You may understand how important nutritious meals are, but one thing some parents struggle with is snack time. Here are our best tips on how to make sure your child’s snack time is tooth-friendly!

Not All Snacks Are Created Equal

Stay away from starchy, sticky or sugary foods during snack time, like dried fruit, crackers, chips and cookies. These types of snacks can stick to the teeth for long periods of time, potentially causing cavities. For snack time it’s best to opt for fruits, vegetables, nuts, yogurt and cheese.

Source: https://hanoverdentistry.com/2016/08/23/snacking-tips-to-keep-your-childs-smile-health/#:~:text=Stay%20away%20from%20starchy%2C%20sticky,%2C%20nuts%2C%20yogurt%20and%20cheese.

Good Nutrition & Dental Health

 

This is a great informational video reminder of why smart snacking will benefit your child not only now but in the future. Included in the video are a couple of great ideas to help your child attain the best oral health care that they can. 

Tooth Snack Guide

 

School is almost back in session. Whether that means online or in person, new schedules will need to be put in place. Preparing snacks ahead of time will save you a lot of questions and time. Put all snacks in one place in the refrigerator or have a designated basket in the cupboard so your kids know where to look when it is snack time. 

Healthy snacks will keep your child's blood sugar levels even and give them the best advantage to staying up on their assignments. 

We look forward to seeing you at your semi-annual cleaning appointment!

Source: https://fidkids.com/tooth-friendly-snack-guide/

Risk Factors for Gum Disease

LANAP gum treatment also has many benefits, including:

• LANAP is a no cut, no sew, no fear procedure.
• Overall health upswing – Patients often tell us their overall wellness improves as the massive inflammation around their teeth is snuffed out, and their mouth returns to health.
• Less discomfort – LANAP treatment is more comfortable than traditional gum procedures, both during and after your treatment.
• Faster treatment time – your LANAP treatment requires fewer visits and less chair time.
• Quicker recovery – LANAP is minimally invasive, leading to much quicker recovery than traditional cut and sew gum surgery.
• Better long-term results – LANAP does not involve loss of gum tissue or removal of bone tissue as is experienced in the cut and sew technique.
• Safe for those who are medically compromised – LANAP therapy is safe for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
• Bad breath resolution: Dr Clark jokes that, “Bad breath is better than no breath at all!” Bad breath is resolved because the gums no longer are infected, bleeding or harboring accumulations of food debris and bacteria under the gums. Bad breath is toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. Imagine breathing toxic gas into your lungs constantly. It is killing you slowly as time goes by!

Patient Testimonial of LANAP

Dr. Clark interviews one of his patients about their experience with LANAP treatment. Pink gums after one week! "Had I gone to any other dentist I wouldn't have any teeth right now, they would have just pulled them."

Am I a LANAP Candidate?

Who is a candidate for LANAP laser surgery?

Patients with moderate-to-severe gum disease can especially benefit from the LANAP protocol. The LANAP protocol is also an excellent treatment option for patients who are fearful of conventional scalpel surgery.

Do I have to stop taking my medication for LANAP laser surgery?

Because of the unique properties of the PerioLase laser wavelength, patients on blood thinners or with aspirin regimens do not have to stop taking any medications.

What should I expect during LANAP treatment?

The LANAP protocol is typically performed in a dentist’s office under local anesthesia. Prior to the procedure, the dentist does a periodontal charting and takes X-rays to make a proper diagnosis and determine the extent of the disease. A tiny laser fiber (about the thickness of three human hairs) is inserted between the tooth and the gum, and the infection and disease are cleared away without cutting the gums. The tooth roots are then thoroughly cleaned of tartar and plaque, and the laser is used again with a different setting to create a stable, firm fibrin blood clot to seal the pocket. The dentist treats one half of the patient’s mouth at each session, and most patients are able to drive themselves back to work or home following the procedure.

What is the LANAP Protocol?

What is the LANAP protocol?

The LANAP protocol is a minimally invasive gum disease treatment that uses a specific dental laser, the PerioLase® MVP-7™. The LANAP protocol is the first and only protocol to receive FDA clearance for True Regeneration, which is re-growing new cementum, new periodontal ligament, and new alveolar bone. These three components are needed for full oral function. The LANAP protocol has been in widespread use by the dental community for many years.

What are the benefits of the LANAP protocol for the treatment of gum disease?

• Less post-operative pain — Using the PerioLase MVP-7 dental laser, the LANAP protocol helps avoid cutting and stitching of the gums. As a result, patients usually have minimal post-operative discomfort.
• Quicker recovery time — Most patients are able to return to their regular daily activities immediately following the procedure, which generally requires less than a 24-hour recovery period. Following traditional scalpel and suture surgery, recovery can take two to four weeks, during which patients can experience considerable pain and swelling.
• Healthy gums with minimal recession — When your gums are cut, the tissue shrinks and can show more of your tooth root. Because the LANAP protocol does not cut your gums, the tissue stays intact.
• Regeneration without foreign materials — Because the PerioLase laser stimulates your body’s own healing response, your LANAP dentist doesn’t have to add foreign ‘growth factors.’

Source: https://www.lanap.com/2016/09/15/lanap-protocol-frequently-asked-questions/

Why Give Thanks?