Lake Oconee Dentistry Blog

PEOPLE JOKE ABOUT A SO-CALLED MIDLIFE “CRISIS”. But instead, let’s consider it a “midlife wake-up”! Changes during midlife are very real. They can stress our bodies and our lives…

• hormonal shifts happen to both men and women during midlife
• lifestyles change as children move out, or as needs increase for aging parents
• people experience anxiety, fear, regrets or frustration about life’s accomplishments
• there can be an awakening to signs of aging, wondering “when did this happen?”

For Many, A Beautiful Smile Provides A Powerful Boost

Signs of aging can be especially noticeable in our smiles. One day you may suddenly notice that your teeth aren’t as bright, or that they’re chipped and worn looking. Sometimes, as our faces change, our teeth can even take on a “sunken” appearance.

The good news is that many of these issues can be improved through awesome dental care, whether there’s reconstructive work that needs to be done (such as a missing tooth), or you just want to make your smile more beautiful through cosmetic treatment.

• A brilliant smile defies time. Check out a recent studyfrom the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
• An Oral B Britain study concluded that simply whitening your smile can make you look—on average—five years younger.
• Smiles are essential to great first impressions. Often during midlife wake-ups, new opportunities present themselves.

This is a cool blog post showing how new smiles can dramatically change the way people look:

An Amazing Smile Can Make All The Difference

When life knocks us around a bit—whether that be in the workplace, in relationships, or wherever… Smiling can boost our moods, increase the positive energy we exude, and even help with our overall health. Smiling can also affect our job opportunities, romantic opportunities, and interactions with friends and acquaintances.

Be sure you’re confident in your smile.

Interested In More Information About Midlife Wake-ups?

Thanks For Your Trust In Our Practice!

Talk with us anytime about refreshing your smile. Whether you want to look at very conservative options, or you would like to consider more dramatic cosmetic options, we have the resources and expertise to help you make a plan. We appreciate having you as our valued patient!

IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST OF US… Our good intention to go through our nightly oral hygiene ritual before bedtime is there, but once in a while it just doesn’t happen! Not to worry. A rare, occasional slip-up isn’t a problem—but skipping your nighttime brushing and flossing routine as a habit can have negative effects.

Why Brushing And Flossing At Night Is So Important

When we sleep our metabolism slows. Our body reduces the amount of saliva we produce so we’re not always having to swallow all night or gag on our spit! Pretty cool, yes.

But without that moisture our mouths dry out, the tissues start becoming inflamed, and bacteria can proliferate (especially when they have something to feed on, like the cookies the lady in the photo above just ate) causing gingivitis and eventual periodontal disease.

Now, all that is worst-case scenario. However, it doesn’t minimize the importance of developing great habits.

5 Ways To Make Your Nightime Routine Most Effective

1. Brush & Floss Right Before Bed – Use a gentle, soft toothbrush. Spend two full minutes to treat every cranny, nook and surface.

2. Brush You Tongue And Roof – Teeth aren’t the only important things inside our mouths. Your tongue and the roof of your mouth can harbor bacteria. Gently brush them too.

3. Floss, Floss, Floss – Of all the great habits you could develop, making it routine to floss each time you brush is one of the best things you’ll ever do for your smile. Don’t neglect those very, very back teeth either.

4. Don’t Cheat – If your routine happens too early in the evening, you’ll be tempted to cheat… That is, you’ll eat another cookie before retiring to bed! If that happens, better go through your routine once more.

5. Brush The “Right” Way

Great Habits Reap Great Rewards

One of the most important ingredients for great oral health is a great routine. This week, take a moment to re-examine your nightly habits and see if there’s something you can improve! If you have questions, let us know!

Thank you for being our valued patient. We appreciate you.

A STRAW? HOW ON EARTH can a straw help protect my smile?! Well, it’s pretty simple, actually. Read on…

Straws Can Help Minimize Exposure

Beverages like iced coffee, sports drinks, fruit juices, energy drinks, and colas contribute to tooth staining, decay and erosion. Sipping them through a straw can help protect your teeth.

Staining

Strongly pigmented beverages—such as berry smoothies and red wine—can stain teeth. A straw can help.

Decay

Your soft drink consumption habits may be apparent by simply looking in your mouth. For some, it’s the back molars that see a lot of decay due to swishing and letting soda pool in their mouths before swallowing. For those who sip on soda throughout the day, decay may be more evident in their front teeth. Straws can help, especially when positioned correctly in your mouth.

Sensitivity

Reducing opportunities for sugar and acid to attack your enamel helps protect it against sensitivity caused by erosion and decay. Straws can also help reduce those jabs of sensitivity caused by cold or hot drinks.

Is Your Straw Positioned Correctly?

Get into the habit of positioning straws at the back of your mouth so that drinks have minimal exposure to teeth. You can further reduce harmful effects by:

• NOT swishing beverages around in your mouth.
• NOT continuously sipping on harmful drinks throughout the day.
• Following your drinks up with water, sugarless gum, or celery.

Don’t Rely On Straws To Do All The Work

Even fun straws can’t do all the heavy lifting for you…

Practice good eating habits and brush your teeth morning and night, and don’t forget to floss! Keep your regularly scheduled appointments, and if you have questions about staining, decay, or sensitivity give us a call! You can message us on our Facebook page too!

Thanks for being our valued patient!

OUR TEETH DEAL with a lot when we’re out and about. Basketball games, pie-eating contests, rogue popcorn kernels… it’s a rough life. Usually our teeth are strong enough (or we’re lucky enough) to not suffer any major problems.

However, accidents happen. And fortune favors the prepared, so here are some tips for guarding yourself against dental emergencies.

You’re Less Likely To Suffer A Dental Emergency If You…

• Wear a mouth guard during sports
• Keep good, regular care of your teeth and gums
• Keep your regularly scheduled appointments to check on teeth and dental work

Just In Case, Here Are Five Items To Have On Hand

Keep these items in a little dental emergency kit that you can keep on hand—at home, in you car, and while you travel.

Painkiller: An all-natural topical painkiller that many people find useful is clove oil. Remember, NEVER put aspirin right ON the tooth.
Orthodontic wax: It’s handy even if you don’t have braces. In case of a popped-off filling, you can use wax to cover the gap until you get it repaired.
Floss: This is handy if something uncomfortable gets wedged between teeth.
Gauze: In case of a knocked-out or loose tooth, you can put the tooth back in place, and bite on some gauze to keep it there until you get professional care.
Our contact info: Be ready to contact us. If you’re on vacation, we can give you professional advice and maybe refer you to someone nearby.

Are You Going On A Vacation This Summer?

Remember the tips above. If it’s time for your check-up, visit us before your trip. Nothing ruins a vacation day faster than dental trauma. Pack an emergency dental kit, and then keep it around when you get back from vacation. You never know when it will be handy!

Here Is One Other Person’s Ideas Too

We don’t endorse the content below, but there’s some good info here…

Let us know where you’re going on vacation below! We’d also LOVE to see your photos. You can share them on our Facebook page.

Thanks for being a valued part of our practice. Stay safe, and have fun!

THE TOOTHBRUSH: One of the most basic, efficient tools of modern society! But as technology continues to progress, patients ask which is best—a manual toothbrush or an electric one?

First of all, it’s important to note that most people can get an effective cleaning using either option. Nevertheless, the Cochrane study evaluating hundreds of electric toothbrushes (ETB) revealed that the ETB’s are more efficient at cleaning teeth, and thus, more effective for the vast majority of people who brush. However, we’ve listed a few features of each below:

Some Perks From The Classic:

A manual toothbrush has been doing a great job for years and will continue to do so.

• It’s simple, accessible, and cheap (not to mention travel-ready).
• Changing your brush now and then can be good.
• In some cases, it may be softer on enamel and gums (depending on the brush and your technique).

Advantages Of An Electric Toothbrush:

• For those with limited dexterity, (due to arthritis, stroke, limited shoulder and elbow movement) they better ensure great cleaning.
• Some have unique and interesting features that encourage effective brushing (such as gauging pressure, a timer showing time spent, etc.).

How Electric Toothbrushes Are Made And How They Work

Take a break from whatever you’re stressing about today and learn something fun. Use the info next time you’re at a party to impress your friends:

5 Things MORE Important Than The Type Of Brush:

More important than what kind of toothbrush you have is how you use it! Make sure you’re covering these five factors:

1. Use soft bristles.
2. Get a new brush (or brush head) every 4 months or so.
3. Brush for two minutes a day.
4. Don’t brush TOO hard; it can hurt your gums.
5. Be thorough, and get all the corners.

If you have any questions, or you’re wondering what kind of toothbrush is best for you, please contact us. We consider ourselves pretty dialed-in on your dental hygiene, and we’d love to discuss how you can get the very best cleaning at home each day.

Thanks for reading, and for being a valued part of our practice family!

WHEN IT’S WARM OUTSIDE we all enjoy our favorite warm weather foods and beverages! Have you ever considered how some of these affect your smile? You may be surprised. Here’s a short list of foods that can do some damage to your teeth if you’re not thoughtful about it.

Warm Weather Foods To Be Aware Of:

Iced Coffee

Many people not only start the day drinking iced coffee, but continue to sip on it throughout the day. Because your teeth are very porous, coffee can leave significant stains on your teeth. Lightening up your coffee with cream or milk helps a little.

Pickles & Pickled Vegetables

Pickles are typically made with lots of vinegar and sugar—two things that can be harmful to your teeth. The vegetables are healthy but the brine is what can do some real damage.

Sports Drinks

People are a lot more active during warm weather months. Do you turn to sports drinks to stay hydrated? Just be careful. Many are full of sugars and acids.

Diet Soda

These drinks may seem harmless because they don’t have sugar, but they still have a lot of acidity and other harmful substances that can affect your tooth enamel.

Barbecue Sauce

Most barbecue sauces contain lots of sugar, vinegar, tomato paste, and (in some cases) dye which can contribute to damage or stains.

Helpful Tips:

• Don’t swish around sport or fruit drinks, or hold them in your mouth.
• After drinking sports drinks, wait an hour before brushing your teeth so you don’t harm the softened enamel.
• Eat more fresh vegetables such as cucumbers and celery.
• After eating barbecued foods or foods that stick between teeth, chew sugar free gum and/or rinse your mouth with water.

And Just For Fun…

Check out these summer hacks (especially the ones that encourage all of us to drink more water and eat more fruit)!

Enjoy the warm weather! And, if you have questions about this information, please let us know and let’s visit!

WHAT IS AS BRITTLE AS GLASS and at the same time, the hardest substance in your body? Your tooth enamel! Each time you bite down it handles the equivalent of 160 pounds of pressure, time after time after time. Think about how often you bite down during your lifetime. It’s crazy!

Enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth, built to protect the softer dentine layer, and your super-sensitive pulp.

It’s Amazing How Such A Brittle Substance Handles The Pressure

It’s an engineering marvel. Enamel is actually made up of a dense forest of long rods. These rods start crisscrossing each other as they go deeper into the tooth, diffusing the pressure. It’s like sprawling your body out flat to crawl over an ice-covered pond, spreading the pressure over a wider area.

Mother Nature’s Pattern For Strength

This same concept actually inspired a group of scientists to create glass that is 200 times stronger than normal! Read about it in the article, How to Toughen Glass by Cracking It: A Lesson From Teeth and Shells.

Enamel Is Built To Deal With Pressure… But Not Erosion

As strong as your enamel is, it doesn’t deal as well with acid and bacteria. It needs our help for that.

4 ways your enamel CAN get worn down:

1. Acidic breakdown (usually from acidic drinks like soda, fruit juices, and sports drinks).
2. Abrasion from rough brushing and tooth-whitening toothpastes.
3. Bad habits like tooth-grinding.
4. High sugar-and-starch diets, which create acid byproducts.

Your Enamel Is Finite So Treat It Well

As amazing as your enamel is, it’s one of the only parts of your body unable to regenerate itself because it’s one of the only parts of your body not comprised of living cells. So protect your enamel by brushing regularly, flossing, and keeping your regularly scheduled checkups.

Thanks for the trust you place in our practice. We appreciate having you as our valued patient!

YES, REAL RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOP over time. We all know that. But there are certain situations where an incredible first impression goes a long, long way. One of those times is when you’re advancing your career and interviewing for jobs.

50% Of Interviewers Will Remember Your Smile… 9% Will Remember What You Wore

A recent study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry suggests that half of adults absolutely remember other people’s smiles after having been introduced to them. That’s far more than the 9% who will remember a new acquaintance’s clothing. Cool, lime green shirt (above)… But your smile will impress even more!

Brighter Smile = Higher Starting Salary?

Your smile can have a direct impact on your career opportunities. A 2007 study simulating job interviews showed that people were more likely to be offered jobs—and offered higher starting salaries—after they had whitened their teeth. Subjects were also perceived to be more professional and more confident after teeth whitening.

What Will People Remember About YOUR Smile?

It may not always seem fair, but people make assumptions based on one’s smile. The beauty is that, armed with knowledge (and an awesome dentist), YOU can take charge of the way people perceive you in professional situations such as interviews.

Make A Good Impression So They’ll Get To Know You On The Inside

Sometimes getting past first impressions with flying colors gives you the chance to let the “real” you come through. After all, that’s the most important part. Here’s some additional job hunting advice:

It’s Not About Perfection. It’s About Confidence.

The most important aspect of a great smile isn’t whether or not you have perfectly straight teeth or a perfect smile. It’s all about the confidence your smile brings. If there’s anything causing you to be self-conscious about your smile, talk with us. We can walk you through some ideas, and create a plan to fix the situation if you’d like.

Thank you so much for trusting us with your dental health. Good luck in your pursuit of that new job opportunity!

LOOKING INSIDE SOMEONE’S MOUTH, members of a dental team can learn a lot! We can get clues about your diet, how sound you sleep, and perhaps whether or not you struggle with acid reflux.

Acid Reflux Disease Is Very Common Today

Acid reflux disease is quite common in adults over the age of 20. This is a condition where stomach acid leaks up into the esophagus creating heartburn or regurgitation. Often, the symptoms are not severe so it can go unnoticed or ignored.

Most People Don’t Realize The Potential Effects On Teeth

If you suffer from acid reflux it’s possible that there’s more damage going on than you realize. Frequent and/or severe reflux can cause those powerful acids to reach your mouth—and your teeth, which can lead to enamel erosion. Although the following symptoms can be caused by a number of conditions, acid reflux is certainly one of them. Are you experiencing…

• sensitivity to certain foods?
• unexplained pain or irritation in your mouth?
• noticeable thinning or shortening of teeth?
• darkening of your teeth?

5 Things You Can Do To Help Protect Your Smile

If you struggle with acid reflux, here are five things you can do to protect your smile:

1. Treat your acid reflux disease!

Take this condition seriously. If you’re not yet being treated, see your doctor for recommendations and/or medications that help keep your acid reflux under control.

2. Make simple dietary changes.

Limit acidic foods and drinks like sodas, citrus fruits and juices, tomato products, milk, caffeine, chocolate, spicy & fried foods, fatty meats or anything acidic in nature.

3. Rinse your mouth with water after reflux episodes.

Don’t let the acids sit on your teeth. Rinsing will wash away acids and help prevent further damage.

4. Wait an hour after reflux episodes to brush your teeth.

Exposure to acid can temporarily weaken enamel. Brushing immediately after reflux episodes can be harsh on your teeth and may hurt your enamel more.

5. Keep your mouth moist and fresh.

Chew sugarless gums, lozenges, or candies. If you use antacids, look for sugar-free ones and rinse after consuming.

On The Lighter Side…

Life’s too short, right? Sometimes we have to lighten things up—even when talking about serious subjects!

Talk With Us About Your Acid Reflux

We understand how frustrating it can be to live with chronic acid reflux disease. Give us a call if you have concerns. We always enjoy and appreciate visiting with you about your oral health and whole-body health.

As always… Thanks for being our valued patient and friend.

WE’RE BOMBARDED today by food choices and differing opinions about those choices. Trans-fats? Gluten? Vegan? What can we learn from our ancestors?

7,500 Years Ago People May Have Had Healthier Teeth

Does that seem odd? Ancient people didn’t have modern dental care or fluoride toothpastes, but they did have a different diet.Researchers studied DNA from preserved tartar of ancient humans and concluded that these ancient mouths may have been healthier than ours today. The “basic” foods people ate allowed for more diverse bacteria to develop with none monopolizing the others.

The Industrial Revolution Introduced Processed Sugar And Many Flour-Based Foods

Our ancestors’ lifestyles eventually changed from nomadic to agricultural. Farming drastically changed their diets and may have started the decline in oral health. But big changes came about during the Industrial Revolution when processed sugar and flour became commonly consumed. This change allowed for new cavity-causing bacteria to begin dominating modern mouths.

Be Smart, Eat Healthy, & Understand These Relationships

Eating is such a big part of life—physically, emotionally, and socially. In the end, of course, how we eat is an individual choice. We just want you to be healthy, and your oral health is a huge component of your overall health. So remember that consistently eating foods made from processed flour and lots of sugar can absolutely lead to a less healthy and more disease-prone mouth.

No need adopt all of our ancestor’s habits–like eating tons of meat, or drawing on cave walls. But consider the things they were doing RIGHT, like eating more natural foods.

Thanks for reading, and for your wonderful support for our practice. We value you as our patient!