It's March 20th, which means it's World Health Day!  "Healthy Teeth for Healthy Life" is the theme for 2013.  This day is not just a celebration of healthy teeth and good oral hygiene, but it is also a day very much dedicated to awareness.

WOHD reminds us that healthy teeth, gums and mouth are essential to our ability to live a normal daily life.  Good oral hygiene allows us to work or study without constant pain or sensitivity, which not only affects our self-confidence but the health of our whole body.  We are also reminded that oral diseases are among the most common chronic diseases, as 90% of the worldwide population is at risk of disorders from tooth decay and periodontal diseases to oral cancer.

Remember that the first step in your oral health care is through prevention, particularly good brushing, flossing, and regular check-ups.  Beyond this, dental professionals their teams are able to offer state-of-the-art services to an increasingly large proportion of the population.  Finally, orthodontics, dental implants and aesthetic dentistry play an important role in improving quality of life and the health of the general population.

Happy World Oral Health Day!

Video: WOHD 2013

Did you know we're currently in the midst of National Children's Dental Health Month?  February has been the host of this event for over 60 years, though it originally began as a single day observance.

NCDHM is celebrated to raise awareness on the importance of oral health, and developing good habits at an early age is very helpful in maintaining healthy teeth and gums for life.  These habits do not just include proper brushing and flossing techniques, but also the promotion of healthy eating and regular dental visits.

Now is as good a time as any for parents to educate their children and get them comfortable with taking care of their teeth, and perhaps it can teach parents better oral health habits as well.

"Brush your teeth the way they grow,
Take your time and do it so,
The uppers down, the lowers up
When sweets you eat and when you sup.”

From your very first visit to our office, we strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We are always updating our office with the most advanced and up-to-date dental technologies and methods and are here to get to know you personally and find out how we might make your dental visit a wonderful one!

We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by our work? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a one appointment or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback below. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page!

With winter sports underway, we wanted to remind our patients about the importance of wearing a mouthguard while you’re on the court or the field. Here are some frequent questions we hear from our patients about mouthguards.

Q: What are mouthguards?

A: Mouthguards are a flexible, removable device made of soft plastic, and they are adapted to fit comfortably with the shape of the upper teeth.

Q: Why are mouthguards so important?

A: Mouthguards protect not just the teeth, but the lips, cheeks, and tongue, and they also help protect athletes from head and neck injuries, as well as concussions and jaw fractures. Increasingly, organized sports are requiring mouthguards to prevent injury to their athletes, and research shows us that most oral injuries occur when athletes are not wearing mouth protection.

Q: When should I wear my mouthguard?

A: Whenever you are in an activity with a risk of falls or head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, wrestling, hockey, and even gymnastics.

Q: How do I choose a mouthguard that is right for me?

A: We encourage you to choose a mouth guard that you can wear comfortably. You can select from several options in mouthguards. First, preformed or “boil-to-fit” mouthguards are found in sports stores. Otherwise, we can talk about your options for a custom mouthguard, which will be more comfortable to wear and more effective in preventing injuries this winter. Please give us a call if you have any other questions, or ask us on Facebook!