Dr Jodie

Maximize Dental Benefits

Believe it or not but the end of year is soon approaching.

This is a good time to get your dental needs done before the end of year.

I suggest to get on your dental office's schedule because this time of year space books up fast.

Also, many of you participate with Dental Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts . Most of these accounts are "use it or lose it" and do not have a rollover of benefits feature. With dental insurance let's say you have an annual maximum of $1,500.00. Lets say you used $500 with cleanings, exams and x-rays so far this year. This leaves you with $1000.00 to get things done that maybe you have been putting off such as cavities, crowns or gum disease treatment. With this example and with most insurance(check your coverage) this annual maximum resets on January 1st to $1,500.00. So in essence you have left $1000.00 of benefit unused. Hope this was helpful and keep smiling!

What is the most common chronic childhood disease?

Interesting article I came across in the Sunday Denver Post magazine section.

From Kid's Health Quiz by Joe Kita.

#10 What is the most common chronic childhood disease? 

(a) Tooth decay, (b) Diabetes, (c) Obesity or (d) Asthma

Yes the answer is (a) Tooth decay! Surprising isn't it? 

According to the article more than a quarter of U.S. kids ages 2 to 5 and half of those ages 12 to 15 have cavities.

One thought is that kids are drinking more bottled water, energy drinks and sports drinks.

This again shows the importance of scheduling the family for a cleaning and checkup at least twice a year.

 Keep smiling!

Teeth Whitening Tips: How it works and to make it last.

Hi everyone!

 I was sitting here this morning with my custom made teeth whitening trays in and was thinking of what Dr. Jodie was telling patients interested in teeth whitening this week. Of course I put the trays in with the whitening gel after I finished my morning coffee and not before I brushed my teeth(with water).    The reason to only brush with water first is becasue the way whitening works is that it opens the tubules"pores" in your teeth to allow the whitening gel to be effective.  Toothpaste with fluoride closes these tubules (becasue fluoride closes the tubules). Therefore you should brush with a fluoride toothpaste AFTER you are finished whitening for the day.

 

This Week's Tip:  First always brush your teeth with water before applying the whitening system . This will allow the whitening system to open up the teeth tubules. Next always brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste after you are finished with the whitening system for the day to close these tubules.  Now to keep the whitening results lasting as long as possible after your whitening session is done for the day, stay away from staining foods and drinks as long as you can. Personally, the best I can do is a few hours. 

These tips apply no matter if your using the store teeth whitening strips or the custom made trays with gel.

So long for now......and keep smiling!!!!

Dental cavities is arguable the most prevalent disease in humans

Interesting article from Dental Products Magizine ABSTRACT:

Dental cavities is arguable the most prevalent disease in humans, affecting most of the population at some time in their lives.In the United States, dental cavities is the most common chronic disease in childhood, with 41% of children between the ages of 2 and 11 having cavities in primary teeth. Among adults aged 20 - 64, 91% have cavities and 14% have root cavities.

 

So long for now......and keep those cavities as bay!!!!

Want to keep your teeth? Wet Your Whistle.

Hello everyone...The following is another tidbit from an article in the AARP Magazine March/April edition. Page 23, Cherish Your Chompers. "Want to keep your teeth?

Follow these surprising tips: Wet Your Whistle

Teeth depend on saliva to remove microbes. Very important to keep your mouth wet with water if your are suffering from dry mouth which can be caused by many things such as medications.

Rinses such as Biotene can help as well.

So long for now......and keep smiling!!!!

 

Want to keep your teeth? Watch Your Gums.

Hello everyone...The following is another tidbit from an article in the AARP Magazine March/April edition. Page 23, Cherish Your Chompers. "Want to keep your teeth? Follow these surprising tips: Watch Your Gums-Insist that your dentist examine your gums with a probe. If the gum pocket surronding a tooth is deeper than 3 mm, you might have gum disease.

Those of you who are patients of Dr. Jodie are familar with this process. Dr. Moreland's hygienests do this type of probing once a year at your dental cleaning visit. They also look for infection (bleeding) in the gums which is also an indicator of gum diesease. Bleeding is never a good thing.....

Curious, those of you who are not patients of Dr. Moreland. Do you get this type of evaluation of the gums at your dental visits?

So long for now......and keep smiling!!!!

 

Want to keep your teeth? Wait To Brush.

Hello everyone...The following is another tidbit from an article in the AARP Magazine March/April edition.

Page 23, Cherish Your Chompers. "Want to keep your teeth? Follow these surprising tips:

Wait To Brush-It takes 30 minutes to an hour for saliva to neutralize the acids in food. New York City periodontist Greg Diamond, D.D.S says "Brushing right after eating can brush the enamel away".

If you can't wait 30 minutes to brush then rinse well with plain water. Rinsing with water is good to do after your mornng OJ or other acidic foods and beverages.

(Rinsing with water instead of brushing is also a good idea after vomiting)

So long for now......and keep smiling!!!!

Want to keep your teeth? Go Beyond Floss.

Good morning everyone...The following is another tidbit from an article in the AARP Magazine March/April edition.

Page 23, Cherish Your Chompers. "Want to keep your teeth? Follow these surprising tips:

Go Beyond Floss-If your gums recede(as even healthy gums can) interproximal brushes, which look like tiny pipe cleaners, may work better than floss, which can miss plaque on the root.

There are many types of tools to help you floss, which is very important for healthy gums. Plastic toothpicks, toothpick type interproximal brushes, floss holders just to name a few. Curious, does anyone have some favorites that help you keep up with flossing?

So long for now......and keep smiling!!!!

Want to keep your teeth? Use a high quality electric toothbrush.

Good morning everyone...The following is another tidbit from an article in the AARP Magazine March/April edition.

Page 23, Cherish Your Chompers. "Want to keep your teeth? Follow these suprising tips: Power Up-Use a high quality electric toothbrush with a small head, says New York City periodontist Greg Diamond, D.D.S.: "They're optimized to remove plaque."

At Dr. Jodie Moreland's general dentistry office we sell two levels of Oral-B electric toothbrushes. The base model (Vitality,$24.00) has no bells and whistles and has a less powerful motor but still very effective. Also, we carry the Oral-B top of the line model(Truimph,$109) with a wireless monitoring system that alerts you when you are brushing too hard, amoung other things. Other models and brands are very effective as well. Studies have shown over and over that an electric toothbrush is much more effective than a regular manual one. However, brushing your teeth with a manual toothbrush is much more effective than not brushing at all :-)

So long for now......and keep smiling!!!!

 

Want to keep your teeth? Break a sweat.

Good morning everyone...The following is a tidbit from an article in the AARP Magazine March/April edition.

Page 23, Cherish Your Chompers. "Want to keep your teeth? Follow these suprising tip: Break a sweat. Excerise may lower the risk of gum disease, says Samuel Low, D.D.S., former president of the American Academy of Periodontology."

Take it from someone who at best, tolerates exercise because of my love of pasta (ok-- because of my love of food). There are may benifits to exercise including as Dr. Low states helping with gum disease. This disease is all about inflamation which exercise helps keep at bay.

So long for now......and keep smiling!!!!