WE ALL KNOW THAT EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR US. It promotes wellness, prevents sickness, and is said to benefit body, mind, and soul. But did you know that regular exercise is also good for your oral health? Read on…

Exercise Can Reduce Gum Disease Risk

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums caused by harmful bacteria in our mouths. Regular exercise can reduce inflammation in your body and mouth—which in turn can lower your risk of gum disease. In a Journal of Periodontology study researchers found that individuals who work out regularly and maintain a healthy weight are 40% less likely to develop gum disease.

Because some studies have linked gum disease to cardiovascular disease and diabetes, eating healthy and staying active can also help protect you from more serious conditions.

Exercise Can Strengthen And Protect Your Smile

Working out helps improve digestion and can help your body more effectively use vitamins and minerals that are essential to dental health. If you exercise and eat healthy, your body is better able to use the nutrients in food to strengthen and protect your smile.

Physical fitness can greatly contribute to dental health. It can also improve your mood, help you manage stress and increase brainpower. If you’re not already, we encourage you to make exercising a habit.

Eating Tips For Before And After Exercise

3 Tips On How To Make Exercise A Habit

• Do activities you enjoy. You’ll stick with it if it’s something you want to do.
• Commit to another person. Work out with someone else. If that’s not possible, report your own efforts to someone who cares about you.
• Reward yourself. Changing behavior is hard. Give yourself a (healthy) incentive.

Have any exercising tips to add? We’d love to see them. Share them with us on Facebook or in the comments below.

Thank you for letting us be a part of your healthy goals!

IF YOU’RE PRONE TO SINUS INFECTIONS you may not think to visit with us. Well, perhaps you should! Tooth infections, also known as abscesses, can cause sinus infections. And, conversely, a sinus infection can make you feel like you have a toothache!

What Are Sinuses And How Can They Become Infected?

Your sinuses are a connected system of hollow chambers in your skull. Air passes through them to get warm and moist before moving to your lungs. Usually your body is able to keep your sinuses clean but sometimes bacteria can grow out of control and cause an infection.

Only The Maxillary Sinuses Can Be Infected By A Tooth

While you have several sinuses, only one set is affected by tooth-related issues. The maxillary sinuses are on either side of your nose and come in close contact with the roots of your upper teeth. Because the two are so close, abscesses from the upper back teeth can make their way into your maxillary sinus and cause an infection.

Contact Us At The First Sign Of Pain

Generally, tooth abscesses are painful. However, once in a while there’s no discomfort at all—it depends on the location of the infection. If you’re experiencing pain let us know, even if the pain goes away. We can help catch problems—and infections—before they spread.

Amazing Integration

If you’re at all worried that your sinus infections are causing toothaches, or a tooth-related problem is causing sinus infections, don’t hesitate to call. We’d be happy to visit with you.

Stay Connected To Our Blog And Stay Healthier!

The connection between your overall health and oral health is amazing. Continue reading our blog posts to stay informed about the best ways to maintain your health!

We appreciate the trust you place in our practice!

THIS SUNDAY MUCH OF THE WORLD CELEBRATES motherhood and the many moms who have helped shape our lives. Most of us can thank a mom for our first smiles, subsequent years of grins and endless hours of care—including lots of help and encouragement taking care of our smiles. For ALL our mothers do, we want to say “thanks”!

The next time you eat, brush, floss or go see the dentist, stop and think about who taught you to do all those things? It may have been a dad or someone else who watched over you, but chances are it was your mom. Regardless of who it was, the individual(s) who taught you how to take care of yourself—and your smile—have made a big difference in your life.

This Mother’s Day, when you talk to your own mom or send a message to another mom who’s important to you, think about all the times that person made you smile. If that special somebody helped you with oral care, say “thank you” specifically for that! Let us know what that person says back to you by commenting below! We’d like to hear what their reactions might be!

After all, if it weren’t for the people who cared for us and taught us about good oral hygiene, we’d probably all have less to smile about (and fewer teeth to smile with).

A Fun, Thank You Tribute To Moms

If you have a favorite memory of mom, we’d love to hear about it. Share it with us in the comments below or on our Facebook page.

Have a great Mother’s Day!

YES, WE ALL LIVE ON BUDGETS, right? When life throws us a curve ball, it can be tempting to postpone our dental treatments. Resist that temptation! There’s a better way to save money and stay healthy: A Preventative Dental Care Plan.

Part 1: Do Your Part At Home

All you need is a toothbrush, some dental floss, and five minutes of your day. Thorough daily brushing and flossing removes bacteria and sugar in your mouth and helps to prevent tooth decay. This is the most important part of your new preventative care plan and only you can do it!

Part 2: Don’t Skip Your Dental Visits

Let us help you! Deep cleanings from our team can reach those areas you can’t—such as below the gums—and can help fight plaque and other dental demons. Regular maintenance appointments are less expensive than restorative work.

Part 3: Fix Problems Early

Many people admit that they only visit the dentist when they feel something is wrong. If you don’t wait until it’s too late, your visit can be comfortable and convenient. By keeping your regular checkups we can catch and address possible issues while they’re still small.

You Gotta Love ’60s Commercials!

Pay special attention to the ol’ gender stereotype!

Your Preventative Plan May Be A Life Saver

By following your plan you can better protect yourself from major issues down the road. Some studies even indicate that neglecting your oral health may lead to other health issues including cardiovascular problems and diabetes. Faithfully following your “Preventative Dental Care Plan” helps keep you healthy.

Questions?

Let us know if you have any questions about your at-home oral care techniques. You can ask questions below or stop by our Facebook page to send us a direct message.

Thank you for being our patients and friends!

A Good Reason To Professionally Whiten Your Smile….

PEOPLE OFTEN TURN TO MAKEUP OR SKINCARE PRODUCTS to reverse the effects of age. However, there’s more to a youthful appearance than a great complexion. If you want to look and feel your best, you can’t forget about your smile.

Teeth can start to turn yellow over time, even with proper maintenance. Whitening your smile is a good way to look younger.

A Whiter Smiles Leads To Greater Confidence

Think about the individuals in your family, friend, and coworker groups that seem youthful. What is it about them that’s different? More than likely it has something to do with how often they smile…or laugh. People who smile often appear healthy, positive, and full of confidence. If you have a dazzling smile, you’ll be happy to show it off.

Your Smile Can Be Your Brightest Feature

The color white is inherently youthful. A white smile can brighten up your entire face and makes you seem full of life and vigor.

Additional Tips For A Noticeable, Youthful Grin

• Find the shade of lipstick that suits you. The right color will light up your face. Experiment at makeup counters!
• Practice relaxing your jaw. A tight jaw inhibits facelifting muscles.
• Spend time doing things that make you happy. You’ll look and feel better.

Smiling is natural but insecurity can get in the way. Let us professionally whiten your teeth so we can bring back your grinning bravado. Thanks to the Smiles For Life Campaign you can whiten your teeth, regain your confidence, AND help a child.

A Better Reason To Whiten Your Smile…

When you have your smile professionally whitened during the Smiles For Life campaign, you also change children’s lives. How? We are proud to be part of the Smiles For Life campaign which raises funds for seriously ill, disabled, and underprivileged children—both locally and around the world.

Here’s How It Works:

1. We donate our time.
2. Philips Oral Health Care donates the materials.
3. Your smile gets professionally whitened.
4. 100% of your contribution goes directly to kids in need.

Here’s How YOU Can Help Kids In Need:

1. Make a whitening appointment with us to whiten your smile!
2. Help us spread the word! Whether you choose to have your own smile whitened or not, you can make a HUGE difference for seriously ill and underserved children around the world by simply sharing this opportunity on your trusted social networks such as Facebook!

Thanks for helping us make a difference in children’s lives!

5,000,000 TEETH ARE KNOCKED OUT during sporting events each year, according to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation. Yes, that’s six zeros, meaning five million! If people don’t start protecting themselves, the Tooth Fairy may be able to retire—and we don’t want that!

April is National Facial Protection Month. Regardless of your age (adults get teeth knocked out too), we want to help you keep your smile beautiful.

Protective Gear Greatly Reduces Chances of Injury

By simply wearing properly fitted mouthguards and other forms of protective gear, athletes of all ages can greatly reduce the risk of traumatic facial injury. So, this spring, as team rosters fill up and your urge to hit the field or court grows stronger, remember to use appropriate protective gear.

Three Safety Tips For You And Your Family

1. Wear a mouthguard for all contact sports including baseball, soccer, football, and lacrosse. Other sports may apply too!
2. Wear a helmet and/or protective eyewear when appropriate. Face shields can also help protect your skin.
3. Be alert. Whether in the game or cheering from the sidelines, pay attention.

Check out this fun video highlighting the importance of mouthguards!

We want everyone to be active but smart during the upcoming seasons and beyond! If you’re unsure of the type of protective gear you should wear for a sport or outdoor activity, please ask us. We’re here to help make sure you have a blast this spring and summer, all while being safe.

Add Your Story

Have any of you had an experience where protective gear really made a difference? We want to hear about it. Leave it in the comments below or on our Facebook page.

Thanks for being our valued patients and friends.