Lake Oconee Dentistry Blog

EVER WONDERED HOW THE PRESSURE of the human bite stacks up against the bone-crushing pressure of a hyena bite? We may not have the power some creatures have—but the complexity and precision of the human bite is simply remarkable.

Our Jaws And Teeth Balance Force And Precision

To demonstrate this delicate balance for yourself, try this… Pop a peanut M&M in your mouth and eat the chocolate around the nut, leaving the nut intact. Then, chew the nut. There’s a big difference in the pressure exerted when biting through the chocolate, versus biting through the nut. Also think about the coordination happening between your jaw muscles, brain, tongue, teeth and mouth to make this happen! Amazing.

Or, try this one… Bite into a fresh carrot. The force needed to do so is enough to crack your tooth enamel—yet, your jaw slows down in time to spare damage to your teeth. Our jaw control is sophisticated enough to “brake” and adjust pressure mid-bite!

The Human Bite Is Extremely Efficient

Humans have less jaw muscle mass than gorillas and chimpanzees. However, this reduced mass doesn’t mean reduced strength. It indicates increased efficiency. In fact, the design of the human jaw makes it 40-50% more efficient than a primate’s. Pound for pound, humans exert more biting force than big apes.

Caring For Your Teeth And Jaw

Our jaws may be able to withstand lots of pressure, but our teeth are more fragile. Remember to be careful when chewing hard things like nuts and hard candies.

Here’s A Creature With A Crazy Strong Bite

If You’re Having Problems With Your Jaw, Let Us Know

Like any complex system, our jaws can develop problems. If your jaw seems unusually sore too much of the time, if it locks up, seems to be contributing to headaches, or if you’re having any other concerns, let’s visit about potential causes and remedies.

We’re not only concerned with your teeth—we’re interested in your complete oral health.

Thanks for being our valued patients and friends.

Top image by Flickr user David Bleasdale used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, dental care can be challenging. In some cases, limited coordination can make brushing and flossing tricky. In other cases there may be less access to professional care. Some patients may experience high anxiety levels too.

Medications that lead to dry mouth can also contribute to dental care challenges.

But despite these challenges, everyone deserves a healthy smile. Here are three tips for helping patients and caregivers:

1. Let Us Help

A dental office can feel overwhelming to those with special needs. But you know that regular preventative care training is essential—especially for patients and caregivers who may need instructions about specialized home care. Let us know what we can do to help.

2. Utilize Special Tools If Needed

The average toothbrush may not be ideal. Look into alternative options that can help.

• Electric toothbrushes can sometimes do more with less effort.
• Modifying a toothbrush with a gripping tool is often very helpful.
• A water pik can be more comfortable and a fun alternative to flossing.
• If you’re cleaning someone else’s mouth, a floss pik can make it much easier.

3. Simple Preventative Habits

Certain simple habits can curtail dental risks, especially when thorough, daily dental care is difficult.

• Minimize snacks, especially starchy, sugary ones. Opt for crisp fruits and veggies.
• Reduce soft drinks, energy drinks, and sports drinks. These have lots of acid and sugar that can harm teeth.
• Drink water regularly, and rinse after each meal or snack.

We Know That Each Patient Is Unique

When we talk about special needs, we recognize we’re addressing a very diverse group from elderly men and women with Alzheimer’s disease, to children with developmental disabilities. We know each patient who comes through our door has different challenges.

Please consider us your go-to resource. If we can’t accommodate your exact needs, we will do everything we can to advise you and point you in the right direction. Please call to visit with us about your specific needs. Or, if you know someone who could benefit from this post, please pass this information along.

Thanks for the trust you place in us. We appreciate you.

Top image by Flickr user Honza Soukup used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

THE LEGEND OF THE TOOTH FAIRY has been around for ages. But you may not recognize the winged pixie you know and love from these old traditions…

Originally, Parents Hid Children’s Teeth

Centuries ago in Europe, parents buried their child’s lost tooth in a “tooth garden”. This was believed to prevent an evil witch from stealing the tooth and casting a spell on the child! The same superstition spread around the world. Early American settlers placed children’s teeth in flowerpots. Some people even believed that swallowing the tooth was the best way to protect children from evil.

The Tooth Mouse Helped Children’s Teeth Grow Strong

Another interesting idea was that if an animal swallowed the child’s tooth, that child’s new adult tooth would resemble the teeth of the animal that swallowed it! This superstition evolved into the story of the “tooth mouse”—a French story in which a fairy turns into a mouse and hides under an evil king’s pillow. To save the queen, the mouse proceeds to knock out all of the king’s teeth while he sleeps!

Eventually, Teeth Were Exchanged For Coins

As the tooth mouse tradition grew, children began putting their teeth into their shoes. While they slept, the mouse exchanged the tooth for a coin or two. Many cultures still hold to the tooth mouse tradition, but in others, the tradition morphed from a mouse to the magical tooth fairy!

The “Making” Of A Tooth Fairy?

Do You Have A Favorite Tooth Fairy Memory?

What was YOUR experience with the tooth fairy when YOU were young? What traditions have you held on to with your own family? We’d love to hear them. Please comment below, or on our Facebook page!

Top image by Flickr user IndyDina With Mr. Wonder used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

TONGUES ARE REMARKABLE ENGINEERING WONDERS. They help us nourish ourselves and clean our teeth. They’re a vital part of our oral and whole body health. How do we keep them clean and healthy?

Brush Your Tongue Daily

Your tongue hosts up to 10,000 taste buds. It also harbors billions of bacterium. That oral bacteria can contribute to tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Brushing our teeth isn’t enough. We should be gently brushing our tongues every day while we’re in there!

Tongue Scrapers Can Be Helpful Too

Many patients find that tongue scrapers are more effective for them than simply brushing their tongues with their toothbrush. This can be really helpful in fighting bad breath too. More details in this short video…

Tongue scrapers can reduce the presence of volatile sulfur compounds significantly (caused when amino acids and bacteria interact). Tongue scrapers can also help reduce build-up in the back of your throat caused by a sinus infections or allergies. Just be gentle when you scrape.

The Benefits Of Keeping Your Tongue Clean

• Some people believe that by reducing the amount of bacteria we swallow in our saliva all the time, we can stay healthier.
• A cleaner tongue can actually make food taste better!
• When your tongue is cleaner, your entire mouth—including teeth and gums—stays cleaner.
• It’s a great line of defense against bacteria-caused halitosis!

Give Your Tongue The Respect It Deserves!

We love being your complete oral health partner. Dental health not only requires caring for your teeth, but caring for your gums and tongue as well. If you have questions, please let us know.

Thanks for your trust in our practice.

Top image by Flickr user Benny Mazur used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME PART OF the fabric of our lives. But, we’re not using social media because it’s a trend… We use it to help us best serve you!

Social Media Helps Our Practice:

1. Be Accessible

Our in-office hours may be limited, but we’re always available via social media.

2. Listen To Your Feedback

We appreciate it so much when you help us better serve you by providing us with insights and feedback on how we’re addressing your needs, cares, and concerns.

3. Strengthen Relationships

You’re so much more to us than a name with teeth. Thank you for being our valued patient and friend. We also deeply appreciate when you share our practice with others.

4. Protect Your Health

We carefully select and share information that helps empower all of us to make smart choices about our oral health, diet, hygiene habits, and lifestyle.

5. Share An Occasional Light Moment

Life’s too short to not take a moment to show off your healthy, beautiful teeth through a giggle or smile…

Thanks For Helping Us Best Serve You

When you participate with us via social media—through your comments, Likes, re-tweets, shares, and feedback it helps us be the best we can be. We’re a “social practice” with purpose. Thank you for being part of it.

We love having you as part of our practice family!

Top image by Flickr user Nicolas Vigier used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

MILLIONS OF CHILDREN TODAY aren’t receiving basic, recommended dental care designed to detect and prevent disease. In fact, various surveys conclude that over half of children and adolescents did not visit a dentist in the past year.

Preventative Care For Children Is Essential For Lifelong Health

Childhood caries are the #1 chronic infection in children—AND they’re preventable! Through regular cleanings, topical fluoride treatments to strengthen teeth and dental sealants to shield tooth surfaces, tooth decay can be dramatically reduced.

If children don’t visit the dental office until decay is advanced—causing pain and damage—they’re much more likely to associate the dental office with fear and pain. Children build lifelong patterns based on these experiences. They may grow up to avoid the dentist, despite pain and damage that occurs as a result of neglect.

Think About The Kids You Love…

Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, uncle, neighbor, coworker or friend… We all have children we care about in our lives. Do those children visit the dentist every six months? Are they educated on the best ways to care for their oral health? Are they protecting their teeth from tooth decay with fluoride and sealants?

Help Protect Those You Love Through Education

Protect children’s smiles and oral health! If there’s anything that we can do to help, give us a call.

Thank you for allowing us to be your trusted partners in health. We appreciate you!

Top image by Flickr user Philippe Put used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Image cropped from original.

ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH CALCIUM? Think about your nutrition habits, and the habits of those you love and care for. Daily calcium intake is critical to great oral and whole body health.

Adults Require 1,000 mg Per Day

The most well-known calcium source is milk. About three cups provides 1,000 mg. But if milk’s not your favorite, don’t sweat it! Calcium is also found in leafy greens, seeds, nuts, and other great foods. Here are some high-calcium foods, and how much of each you’d need to eat to get 1,000 mg.

• 1-1/4 cups of sesame seeds
• 5 cups of white beans
• 2 cups fortified orange juice
• 2 cans of salmon
• 1 cup of tofu
• 2-1/2 cups of almonds
• 5 cups of spinach

Obviously, you’ll want to mix and match each day. Very few people eat a whole cup of sesame seeds!

Here are the daily calcium amounts recommended by the National Institutes of Health:

Know What Nutrition Labels Mean!

We see these labels all the time! But do you know how to benefit from that information? Most people don’t. Take a minute to watch this video:

Calcium Deficiency Affects Your Whole Body

Calcium fortifies our teeth against decay. It also helps our nerves, blood vessels, and bones work properly. Improper calcium intake can lead to muscle cramps, abnormal heart rhythms, and lethargy. However, the most common and severe side effect is osteoporosis.

Many people know that osteoporosis increases the risk of broken bones. It can also greatly increase our risk of tooth loss! Our jawbone anchors our teeth, and if the jawbone isn’t strong, teeth can become unstable. In fact, people with osteoporosis are three times more likely to lose teeth than those with healthy bones.

Take a few minutes to learn how calcium affects your bones:

Do You Have Any Tips For Getting Sufficient Calcium?

Let us know! Leave a comment below, or on our Facebook page. We love hearing from you!

Thanks for the trust you place in our practice.

We appreciate having you as our valued patient and friend. Please share this information with others!

Top images by Flickr users bluewaikiki and cookbookman17 used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Images cropped and modified from originals.

THERE ARE MORE BACTERIA IN YOUR MOUTH RIGHT THIS MINUTE than there are people on this planet. Thoughtful dental health is about SO much more than avoiding cavities. Preventative dental care is essential to an overall healthy lifestyle.

Mouth Bacteria Can Spread To Other Parts Of Our Bodies

Neglecting one’s oral health can have very serious consequences. Something as seemingly harmless as bleeding gums—a sign of gum disease—is equivalent to an open wound that allows bacteria to enter the bloodstream and affect the rest of the body.

Many Studies Link Dental Health To Whole Body Health

A growing body of research suggests that gum disease can increase your risk of dangerous health problems, including…

• Diabetes
• Endocarditis & Cardiovascular Disease
• Osteoporosis
• Strokes
• Alzheimer’s Disease

A First Line Of Detection For Serious Diseases

It surprises people to learn that dentists are often first to discover health conditions like HIV, diabetes, and some forms of cancer. In part, that’s because we typically see you more often than your physician does. Another reason is that certain health problems affect conditions inside your mouth and we’re trained to see that. So it goes both ways… Our oral health provides clues to our whole body health, AND our whole body health can affect our oral health.

What Can You Do?

It’s as simple as it is important. Consistently and thoroughly brush and floss to keep bacteria under control. Never skip regular cleanings and checkups. Let us help you monitor the critical relationship between your oral and overall health.

Thank you so much for the trust you place in us. We appreciate you.

Top image by Flikr user Nan Palmero used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Image cropped from original.

LET’S TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS. First, the importance of wearing a mouthguard if you (or someone you care for) is involved in just about any type of sport. And second, the importance of maintaining that mouthguard.

Mouthguards provide far more value than simply protecting teeth. They also help prevent head injuries. How? Mouthguards act as a “shock absorber” to help cushion the head against sports-related concussions. Young or old athlete, and regardless of the sport, they just make sense.

Whether You’re An NFL Linebacker, Middle-Aged Weekend Warrior, Or Little League Short Stop

Take a couple of minutes to learn about mouthguards from this short video:

3 Ways To Keep Your Mouthguard In Great Condition

Clean It Frequently

• Rinse it with cool water after every use.
• Gently brush it occasionally with toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Avoid hot water as it may change the fit.
• For a deep cleaning, try denture cleaner.

Be Responsible

• Don’t chew on your mouthguard.
• Keep it in a hard, protective container that allows for air flow.
• Don’t leave it in direct sunlight or in a hot car. This can distort the guard.

Get It Checked Regularly

• Bring your mouthguard with you when you visit us. We’ll make sure it fits correctly and protects your smile.
• If you wear braces or have a protruding jaw, talk to us about the best options.

Take Good Care Of Your Mouthguard, And It Will Take Care Of Your Smile

Mouthguards are the best defense for your smile on the field and on the court. Don’t have a mouthguard? Talk to us. And if you have any questions about mouthguards, please let us know.

Thanks for trusting us with your dental health!

SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST LUCKY! They seem to look fantastic in every photograph! Naturally photogenic. For the rest of us… Well, sometimes we just don’t know what to do (or what to think about) when the camera comes out. Here are some great tips:

1. Try Smiling With Your Eyes Too

This can be the difference between a genuine smile and a fake-looking smile. Practice thinking of something that makes you laugh right before the camera clicks.

2. Work With The Angles

Straight-on photos are rarely the best angle. Turn your body slightly away from the camera, and/or tilt your head a little to catch the light. Not sure which angles look best on you? Start paying attention, then practice!

3. Wear Lipstick That Makes Your Smile Pop

The right shade(s) can make your teeth look whiter and your smile brighter!

4. Be Confident In Your Smile

Sometimes it’s less about how you look, and more about how you feel! The best photographs happen when we’re feeling confident, attractive, and healthy. If you’re not satisfied with your smile, we can help.

Ready For Some Close-Ups?

Are there holidays or special events coming up in your life? If so, chances are there are going to be lots of photos taken. Everyone has a camera now, right? Let’s visit about ways to help you prepare your smile. Sometimes, something as simple as a cleaning and polish can give your smile that extra shine.

Thanks for being a valued part of our practice!

We appreciate having you as our patient.