Bad Breath and Health Problems

As we discussed yesterday on our Facebook Tuesday's Tip, 32% of American's cite bad breath as the least attractive trait of their co-workers.  While bad breath can make communication very uncomfortable, especially if it is in a professional setting, it can also be an indicator of an underlying health problem that needs your attention.

WebMD, in their article Dental Health and Bad Breath, examine several underlying causes of bad breath ranging from periodontal disease to liver or kidney disease.  Our bodies are amazing, and when working properly they are nothing short of a miracle.  Built in to these miracle machines are early warning signs and symptoms that can alert us to potential problems with our health.

So what can you do to prevent bad breath and keep our co-workers smiling?


WebMD has these suggestions:


Bad breath can be reduced or prevented if you:

1. Practice good oral hygiene. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your teeth after you eat (keep a toothbrush at work or school to brush after lunch). Don't forget to brush your tongue, too. Replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months. Use floss or an interdental cleaner to remove food particles and plaque between your teeth once a day. Dentures should be removed at night and cleaned thoroughly before being placed in your mouth the next morning.
2. See your dentist regularly - at least twice a year. He or she will conduct an oral examination and professional teeth cleaning and will be able detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth, or other problems that may be the cause of bad mouth odor.
3. Stop smoking/chewing tobacco-based products. Ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.
4. Drink lots of water. This will keep your mouth moist. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) or sucking on candy (preferably sugarless) also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria.
5. Keep a log of the foods you eat. If you think the foods that you eat may be causing your bad breath, record what you eat. Bring the log to your dentist to review. Similarly, make a list of the medications you take. Some medications may play a role in creating mouth odors.

If you are concerned about chronic bad breath please give us a call!

(541) 451-4011  or TEXT us at 541.6DC.DDS2

Your Donations Bless our Community!

Together We Can Make a Difference!

Thank you to our patients 

for donating

your old Crowns and Bridges

 to Community Organizations!!

Over several years, many of our patients have generously opted to donate their old crowns to the Lebanon Soup Kitchen and Local Boy Scout Units.  

Recently, Dr Clark cashed in the Crowns and Bridges you have donated and was shocked and pleased to receive $3132 dollars as payment for precious metals contained therein!

The entire amount has been donated to the following:

Lebanon Soup Kitchen  $ 756

 Cub Scout Pack 340   $ 396

 Cub Scout Pack 375   $ 396

 Cub Scout Pack 385   $ 396

Boy Scout Troop 340   $ 396

Boy Scout Troop 375   $ 396

Boy Scout Troop 385   $ 396

We are sure your donations will be a blessing to the individuals served by these wonderful community organizations.

Thank you again! 

Dr Clark and his Staff

Follow us on our Facebook Page for great tips!

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Early Detection Saves Lives

In our Dental Practice we offer free oral cancer screenings every hygiene visit every month of the year.  We feel early detection is that important!  Oral cancer is not a rare disease. Approximately 40,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer every year in the US. It kills one person every hour of every day, and over 100 new individuals will be diagnosed with it each day. The good news is that it can often be found early in its development, through a simple, painless, and quick screening.

Who should get screened?

Every adult. Oral cancer can often be caught early, even as a pre-cancer. With early detection, survival rates are high and the side effects are from treatment are at their lowest. Like other screenings you engage in such as cervical, skin, prostate, colon and breast examinations, oral cancer screenings are an effective means of finding cancer at its early, highly curable stages. Make them part of your annual health check-ups.

What are the risk factors?

There are two distinct pathways by which most people come to oral cancer. One is through the use of tobacco and alcohol, a long term historic problem and cause, and the other is through exposure to the HPV16 virus (human papilloma virus version 16), which is now the leading cause of oral cancers in the US, and the same one, which is responsible for the vast majority of cervical cancers in women. The quickest growing segment of the oral cancer population are young, healthy, non-smokers due to the connection to this virus.

Early Indicators:

Red and/or white discolorations of the soft tissues of the mouth.

Any sore which does not heal within 14 days.

Hoarseness which lasts for a prolonged period of time.

Advanced Indicators:

A sensation that something is stuck in you throat.

Numbness in the oral region.

Difficulty in moving the jaw or tongue.

Difficulty in swallowing.

Ear pain which occurs on one side only.

A sore under a denture, which even after adjustment of the denture, still does not heal.

A lump or thickening which develops in the mouth or on the neck.

An oral cancer screening should be conducted every year, so take advantage of this free service get screened today.  

To receive this life saving screening call us to schedule your Dental Hygiene Appointment today!

(541) 451-1440 or 

text us at  541.6DC.DDS2

 Scan the QR Code to call our office now.

For more information about oral cancer, please log onto The Oral Cancer Foundation’s official website at www.oralcancer.org. 

The Effects of Poor Dental Hygiene on Your Body

There is a great post made by World Dental entitled Flossing Your Way to Better Dental Health.  As you know on our Facebook page we've been sharing some fun dental facts and tips this past week about flossing and general tooth care.

This graphic is a perfect example of our message.

Be sure to check out our website for more information about gum disease.

To receive a free consultation, please give us a call!

(541)451-4011  or TEXT us at 541.6DC.DDS2

Happy Smiling!

No Cut, No Sew, No Fear!

Gentle Laser Light Removes Diseased Tissue and unleashes  Your Body's Natural Healing Response!!

One of the most effective solutions to healing and many times reversing gum disease and bone loss is through a procedure called LANAP - Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure.


Dr. Clark has seen phenomenal results with the FDA approved LANAP.  He has been rescuing patient's teeth since 2002 with this amazing procedure. Please take a few moments to view an animation of this gentle alternative to gum surgery.

To learn more about how Dr. Clark uses this gentle, painless alternative to Gum Surgery click here.  There is no need to worry or fear about losing your teeth.  This is a great advancement in the dental industry, one that could change your life!

To receive a free consultation, please give us a call!

(541)451-4011  or TEXT us at 541.6DC.DDS2

80% of Adults have Gum Disease! Are you one of them?

Recently on our Facebook page we posted a video of Whoopi Goldberg relating her nightmare experience with a serious gum infection that not only resulted in losing teeth, but also in losing bone.

Gum disease is killing us.  This deadly culprit has been linked to heart disease and stroke and also diseases like pneumonia and diabetes.  Research shows that if you have diabetes and gum disease your chance of dying increases upwards of 400 to 700%.  That's astonishing!


Where's the happy lining in all of this gloom and doom?  What many people don't know is that gum disease can be avoided altogether by making simple changes to your regular dental hygiene.  Many Americans have dental insurance, but don't take advantage of their benefits.  If you find yourself in that category, may we strongly urge you to make that leap and schedule an appointment with our office?  Sometimes fear of the unknown keeps us away from really taking care of ourselves.


Times have changed.  It used to be dentists would just clean and fix our teeth, but technology has advanced so greatly that it allows dental professionals the ability to make early detection of any possible disease that you may be susceptible to, and help you prevent it from progressing to dangerous levels.


We have had such great success with treating gum disease in our dental practice.  We have saved many teeth, and even lives due to the important technology that our dental practice has invested in and have been trained how to use it. 


Over the next several blog postings we will discuss different facets of gum disease and what you can do, no matter what stage you are in, to get the great smile you've always wanted!


Click here to here watch Whoppi Goldberg's story along with some other videos that will help you understand gum disease and what can be done to treat it.


We hope you join us on this educational journey and look forward to sharing some great insights with you over the next blog posts!

As always, if you have question or would like a free consultation, please give us a call!

(541)451-4011 or TEXT us at 541.6DC.DDS2

Deck the Halls with Holiday Highlights!

Are you ready for all of the holiday parties?  We put a lot of emphasis and work into our social gatherings this time of year because we want to create lasting memories with loved ones and friends.  Wouldn't you love to give yourself that bright white smile that you've always wanted?


This month we will be focusing on teeth whitening and answering some common questions.  In an article by the American Dental Association called Tooth Whitening.  They share great information about the different techniques on whitening your smile.


" Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours.

  Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, cleaning between their teeth once a day and the regular cleanings at your dentist’s office. If you decide you would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your options."

There are basically three options you have for whitening your teeth:

1. In Office Bleaching
2. At Home Bleaching
3. Whitening Toothpastes

Click here to read more about these options, and how to make the best decision for your own dazzling smile!

We are offering a great discount on In Office Bleaching for the month of December.  You have probably received this offer via email if you are subscribed to our Newsletter, or through the mail if you are not.  

We would love to discuss your teeth whitening options with you.  Please contact us to set up an appointment today!  If at any time you have concerns about teeth whitening, please don't hesitate to let us know and we will be happy to answer your questions.


We love referrals!  What better gift can you give than a gift certificate for our caring, dental services.  Contact our office for details and options.

Enjoy the festivities!