PINK IN THE SINK? - Market Connections Inc.

Compliments of Dr. Sam Sample
News from the office of:
PINK IN THE SINK?
You floss, you brush, you spit… you panic! Is that blood in
the bathroom sink? If so, don’t be frightened – but also don’t
ignore it as it’s probably the first indication of gum disease,
something we can help you halt and perhaps even reverse.
Dr. Sam Sample
Summer is finally here! Before you
jump into full vacation mode, make sure
your dental care is up to date. And if
you have kids, take advantage of their
summer break by having them catch up
on their dental checkups too. After all,
the last thing you should have to worry
about while on summer vacation is fixing
overdue tooth problems!
Remember that we have the facilities
to take care of all your dental needs,
from regular checkups to complete smile
makeovers. Also remember that we work
with all kinds of insurance plans so if you
have a dental plan that provides annual
benefits, please note that we’re already
halfway through 2015 – make the most
of your benefits before the rest of the
year slips away!
Gum disease (more formally
referred to as periodontitis
or periodontal disease) is a
common bacterial infection
of the tissues surrounding
the teeth. Periodontitis
is usually painless, and
therefore a “silent” disease
in its early stages. Once it
starts progressing however,
you may notice some
of these indicators:
•G
ums that bleed when
you brush your teeth
or eat hard foods.
• Red, swollen or tender gums.
•G
ums that have pulled
away from the teeth,
or teeth that look
longer than before.
•P
us between your
teeth and gums.
•N
ew spaces between
your teeth.
•P
ersistent bad breath or a
bad taste in your mouth.
• A change in the way your
teeth or partial dentures fit
together when you bite.
Without continuous, thorough
removal, plaque can accumulate
on your teeth, inflame
your gums and progress to
periodontal disease that can
then result in a gap between
the teeth and the gums. Once
this pocket opens up, the
inflammation can continue and
potentially lead to bone loss,
then loose or missing teeth.
Avoid the risk of gum disease:
Call today to schedule your
next dental cleaning and
continuing care appointment!
Whether it’s time for a checkup or you’re
looking for a boost to your summer look by
whitening your teeth, please call us today
to set up a convenient appointment time.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
All the best,
Sam Sample
Dr. Sam Sample and Team
GEN
VOLUME 13, ISSUE 2
DAIRY FREE
DOESN’T MEAN
CALCIUM FREE!
The importance of calcium in the development and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones is well
documented, but if you’re lactose intolerant or simply not a fan of milk, cheese and yogurt, where else can
you receive the necessary calcium input?
You could take a calcium supplement, but getting enough
calcium in your diet (approximately 1,000 mg of calcium
per day for most adults) can also be achieved enjoyably
and without much effort simply by choosing the right
foods and beverages.
Here are just a few examples of non-dairy foods with a
high calcium content to get you started!
Soybeans, white beans or navy beans: These beans
are loaded with protein, in addition to calcium, and are
versatile to cook.
Canned salmon: Drain, then mash up all the contents
of the can of salmon – bones included – for a delicious
cold sandwich, or make salmon patties as a hamburger
alternative.
Canned sardines: Like salmon, the bones in sardines
contain the calcium punch, so don’t remove and discard
them! You won’t notice the small, soft bones once the
sardines are mashed.
Dry roasted almonds: A handful of these makes for a
great snack, and provides a delicious calcium boost.
Spinach, collards, kale, and turnip leaves: These are
just some of the leafy greens that include calcium as
one of their healthy features.
Oranges, orange juice and calcium-fortified orange
juice: While regular oranges and orange juice contain
both vitamin C and some calcium, a glass of calciumfortified orange juice can provide the same amount of
calcium as a glass of milk!
Calcium consumption is important at all stages of life,
from babies and toddlers to adolescents to older adults.
In fact, when adults don’t get enough calcium in their
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diet, their body is forced to borrow what it needs from
their bones. Continued withdrawals of calcium from the
“bone bank” can lead to osteoporosis, or brittle bones.
Dentists are sometimes the first ones to notice the onset
of osteoporosis, because as the jawbone is surrendering
calcium for needs elsewhere in your body, your jaw will
weaken and your teeth will loosen, creating gaps where
bacteria can invade. This in turn can trigger oral infection,
inflammation and bleeding. The condition of your teeth
and gums can therefore be a window to the overall
health of your bones.
It’s not hard to include enough calcium in your diet.
A quick online search will unveil dozens of calciumrich foods and the recipes to make the most of them,
while a walk through the grocery store will present
calcium-fortified cereals, beverages and a wide array of
convenient ways to ensure you’re receiving the right
amount of calcium each day.
SNACK ATTACK!
Why do we snack? In many cases it’s linked to
emotions or current situations, as opposed to
something we do to appease a physical hunger.
Stress, depression and boredom are all moods
that may trigger the urge to reach for a sweet or
salty treat, while social and celebratory situations
also create opportunities for off-schedule nibbling.
Having a snack attack? Read this first!
How snacking can harm your teeth:
Plaque, a sticky form of bacteria that live on your teeth,
feeds off the starches and sugar that snacking delivers
and produces acids that attack tooth enamel. Snacking
on the wrong foods throughout the day encourages
cavities as it provides a constant supply of food for
bacteria to feed on.
Teeth-friendly snack suggestions:
•C
runchy fruits and vegetables like apples, celery,
carrots and radishes. Fibrous foods like these
stimulate the salivary glands to release saliva, which
continuously rinses the mouth and therefore protects
the teeth.
•C
heese. Cheese is a great snack option not only
because it provides calcium and phosphates, but also
because it helps neutralize harmful acids created by
the plaque in your mouth.
•S
ugar-free gum. It’s just as easy to unwrap a piece of
sugar-free gum as it is to unwrap a sugary candy, and
it is infinitely better for your teeth. In fact, in addition
to promoting salivary flow in the mouth to help wash
away food and neutralize acid in the mouth, some
sugar-free gums contain xylitol, which can kill the
bacteria that damages teeth.
We’d be happy to share many other healthy snack
suggestions and other ways to help fight acid erosion
on your teeth – please ask!
GOOD AS NEW!
With summer finally here, many of us jump
headfirst into outdoor activities – biking, roller
blading, soccer and so many other great outdoor
sporting activities. While what you’ll no doubt hear
from us is, “don’t forget your mouth guard!” we
do know that accidents happen, so here are some
suggestions to keep in mind should you experience
a dental emergency.
If your tooth is knocked right out, find it, gently rinse
it and phone for an immediate, emergency dental
apointment. If possible, carefully place the tooth back
in its socket, and hold it in place with your fingers or
by gently biting down on it. Alternatively, immerse the
tooth in milk and transport it with you to the dentist.
If a tooth is knocked loose, the immediate procedure
is very similar – guide the tooth back into its proper
place with your finger, and have the tooth looked at by
a dentist within 30 minutes.
If you chip a tooth and have the broken piece, keep it
moist until you get to the dentist as there may be a
possibility the chip can be re-attached to your tooth.
Alternatively, your best bet for an easy, economical and
effective cosmetic restoration is with dental bonding.
In fact, even if you don’t have an accident, bonding can
be used to even out the shape of your teeth, change
the color of severely stained teeth or fill in those gaps
between your teeth that have been bothering you!
Of course, please don’t wait until you’re
forced to see us because of a dental
emergency; if you haven’t yet
made your regular continuing care
appointment, pick up the phone
and reserve your time today!
VOLUME 13, ISSUE 2
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SMOKE SIGNALS
Are you a smoker? If so, you need to be extra diligent with your
oral health.
The mouth of a healthy nonsmoker contains a stable
ecosystem of healthy bacteria,
while the mouth of a smoker
is much more susceptible to
invasion by harmful bacteria.
In addition to the risk of losing
teeth, smoking is linked to cancers
and other serious medical issues
as well as social stigmas including
bad breath and stained teeth,
mouth sores and facial wrinkling.
There is evidence that smoking
leads to periodontal disease and
in fact, causes the body to turn
against its own helpful oral bacteria.
As a result, smokers experience
an increased risk of the formation
of calculus – the hard plaque that
forms and hardens on teeth, which
can lead to deep pockets between
teeth and gums. These pockets
let in bacteria that can destroy
tissue and bone, making teeth look
longer, become loose and painful
and maybe even fall out. This is
why smokers tend to be about
twice as likely to lose their teeth
than non-smokers. And to make
things worse, replacing the teeth
with dental implants or even a
bridge has a lower rate of success
for smokers over non-smokers!
Please ask us for suggestions to
help you kick the tobacco habit.
And in the meantime, please
be sure to schedule regular
appointments to have your
oral health checked and your
teeth professionally cleaned.
THE LOWDOWN
ON HIGH BLOOD
PRESSURE
Apprehensive about your dental
appointment? Please mention
your anxiety to us, so we can go
over options to help you relax. In
addition to normal nervousness,
however, many people also suffer
from high blood pressure, or
hypertension.
Since blood pressure increases with
anxiety, and dental appointments trigger
anxiety in many people, we recommend
the following to patients with high
blood pressure:
1. Book an afternoon dental appointment.
Blood pressure usually peaks by midday, then drops into the afternoon.
2. Consider using a sedative before a
dental procedure to help counter any
rise in blood pressure (just make sure
you arrange for a ride to and from
your appointment).
3. Avoid caffeine before you come in.
4. Break a multiple-procedure
appointment into several, shorter
appointments if possible.
Please let us know if you suffer
from hypertension, and keep
us aware of your overall
health issues so that
we can do our
best to safely
accommodate
all your health
and dental needs.
Main Street Dental
Dr. Sam Sample
25 Main Street West
Suite 202
City, State, ZIP
Phone: (000) 555-1234
Fax: (000) 555-5678
Christine Dental Hygienist
Dr. Sam Sample
Caitlin Dental Assistant
Gwen Treatment Coordinator
Office Hours:
Mon. – Thurs.: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Fri.: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sat.: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Our Services Include:
• General Dentistry
• Emergency Dental Care
• Bad Breath Advice & Treatment
• Tooth Whitening
• Cosmetic Dentistry
• Denture Fittings
• Dental Implants
• Bonding & Veneers
• Crowns & Bridges
The information contained in this newsletter is not designed as dental advice, but rather as a means to encourage interest in your dental health and communication with your dentist. Whole or partial reproduction of this newsletter is
forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. © Market Connections Inc. 2015, Phone: (800) 795-8021, Website: www.dentalhealthnews.org
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