Friday, September 30, 2011

Fun Facts: The Dental Connection!

Everyone loves FUN FACTS and dental tips.  Dr. Thomas and our team at Thomas Family Dentistry came across these dental fun facts and thought that you might enjoy!

  • The second most common U.S. disease is cavities.  The first, the common cold.
  • X-rays may be an effective tool in preventing strokes.
  • There are almost 9,000 accidental poking and piercings with toothpicks per year.
  • Approximately $2 Billion a year is spent on all dental products.
  • North American kids spend half a billion dollars per year on chewing gum.
  • The average American spends 38 days brushing teeth over his or her lifetime.

Lastly, instead of the American Dental Association's recommendation to see your dentist twice a year, many busy Americans only have their teeth cleaned every 3 years!  Has it been at least six months since your last check-up?  If the answer is yes, we encourage you to call our dental office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

Friday, September 23, 2011

Fall Season: The Dental Connection!

Fall is here!  The time of year when the leaves are falling and the temperature is getting cooler.  It's also the time to think about your oral hygiene routine!  Do you know all of the steps to keep your teeth in healthy and beautiful condition?  It all starts with brushing and flossing.  Research shows that most people are not brushing long enough to remove the sticky bacterial film called plaque.  We here at Thomas Family Dentistry recommend an electric toothbrush with a built in two minute timer.  It's proven to help you brush for the correct amount of time, with the proper speed and pressure, and can get those harder to reach spots that may be more difficult to reach with a manual toothbrush.  Brushing twice daily and flossing before bedtime greatly reduces the amount of bacteria that will contact your teeth overnight and the associated acid that can contribute to cavities and gum disease. Other important tidbits to remember are to only chew gum that is sugarless and contains xylitol, to never chew on ice, and to keep your cleaning and check-up appointments!!

We are here to help you maintain and achieve your best oral health!  Please call us with any questions that you may have at 918-455-0123.

God Bless,
DRT

Monday, September 19, 2011

What was your favorite part of Summer?

The end of Summer and then subsequently the beginning of Fall are just around the corner. Soon the temperatures will cool down, the leaves will start to change, and we're sure that you'll be thinking about Thanksgiving plans.

BUT WAIT!  First, we want to know: What were your favorite parts of Summer?  Did you go on a wonderful family trip?  Did you pick up a new hobby?  Although it was extremely hot this past Summer, did you try to spend as much time outside and in the sun as possible?

Share your favorite memories, stories, or photos with us by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook page!

God Bless,
DRT

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Bottled Water: The Dental Connection!

Our team at Thomas Family Dentistry knows that as more families turn to bottled water and away from the traditional tap, they may be missing out on one important ingredient that most brands of bottled water fail to include: fluoride!

For more than 60 years, water fluoridation has proven to be a safe and cost-effective way to reduce dental caries.  Today, water fluoridation is estimated to reduce tooth decay by 20 - 40 percent in children who have access to fluoridated toothpaste.

Bottled water, however, which remains one of the more popular drinks in the world, may not contain any fluoride, which is known to help prevent and even reverse the early stages of tooth decay.  The majority of bottled waters on the market do not contain optimal levels (0.7-1.2 ppm) of fluoride, according to our friends at the American Dental Association, or ADA.  Many dental health specialists suspect bottled water's increased popularity as the culprit behind the recent rise in the cavity rate.

Because fluoride helps strengthen teeth, it is an important component of maintaining good oral health.  So if bottled water is your water of choice, be sure to check the label to make sure that your brand contains fluoride.  As of a 2006 decision, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, allows bottled water containing 0.6 to 1.0 milligrams per liter (parts per million) of fluoride to carry a label stating the fluoridated water may reduce the risk of dental cavities or tooth decay.  The ADA has backed this decision.

Of course, simply drinking fluoridated water is not a magic ticket to perfect teeth.  To keep your pearly whites in tip-top shape, it's important to brush and floss daily and avoid sugary sweets, in addition to maintaining your fluoride intake and visiting our team at Thomas Family Dentistry regularly.

God Bless,
DRT

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Coffee, Tea & Your Teeth: The Dental Connection!

At Thomas Family Dentistry, we know that most folks enjoy a hot-brewed coffee or tea in the morning, followed by a cola (or an iced coffee or tea) in the afternoon. But what many people don't know is that both coffee and tea are especially tough on your teeth. Tannic acid, the substance that make the dark color, etches into the pits and grooves of tooth enamel. This is how coffee and tea can stain your "pearly whites" brown.

So, if you can't give up that morning cup o'joe, what can you do?  Here are some tips for minimizing the effects on your teeth:

  • Rinse with a glass of water after every cup
  • Drink iced coffee or tea through a straw so that the tannins don't contact your front teeth

Even if you are not a big coffee drinker, we encourage you to swish and swallow some water at the end of every meal.  Water, after all, helps to neutralize acids left in your mouth after eating and also reduces cavity-causing bacteria.

To schedule your next dental visit, give our office a call at 918-455-0123.

God Bless,

Saturday, September 3, 2011

2011 Labor Day: The Dental Connection!

With the "official" end of the summer season, our team at Thomas Family Dentistry wanted to remind our patients that our office will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2011 for the Labor Day Holiday!  We will reopen on Tuesday at 7:00 AM.  Whether you're headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, the lake, or just hanging out with family or friends, we hope that you will have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Have a fun and safe Holiday!
God Bless,
DRT

Friday, September 2, 2011

Hitting The Gridiron: The Dental Connection!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!  With the start of football season, this great seasonal sport often brings a rise in athletic activities, and with them, a rise in tooth and mouth related injuries.  We at Thomas Family Dentistry have a few tips for you this season to keep your smile bright.

How can I protect against chipped and broken teeth?

  • All activities come with some risk of tooth damage.  The easiest way to protect your teeth is to get a simple mouth guard from the sport's store.  The much more comfortable way is to ask us to make a custom guard for you.  We can make the guard in your team's colors and it will be a custom fit.  Contact our office to discover how affordable a custom guard can be.
  • Broken teeth can be mended almost "good as new" these days, sometimes with simple fillings, sometimes with beautiful porcelain created to match your smile by our lab artists.  Lost teeth can be replaced almost invisibly.
What if a tooth is knocked out?
  • If you have a tooth knocked out, carefully place it in liquid--milk is the very best--or, if it's clean, back in your mouth by your cheek and contact an oral surgeon right away.  If the tooth is positioned back into place within about 30 minutes or so, it may survive re-implantion.
Are Sports Drinks bad for teeth?  What can I drink to stay hydrated?
  • Sports drinks are highly acidic and filled with sugar; that makes them very bad for teeth.  Most of us don't need the extra replacement minerals like professional athletes--plain water is what our bodies require for hydration.  If you must have a sports drink, gulp it down and rinse your mouth with fresh, cool water afterwards.  The worst possible thing you can do is to sip on the sports drink little by little.  Acid coasts your teeth every sip.
Do Invisalign aligners protect my teeth as well as a mouth guard?
  • Aligners will protect your teeth from minor traumas, but High Impact Sports, like football, require a custom guard to provide the most safety from possible traumatic dental injuries.

Hope these tips helped and if you have any other dental questions, call us at 918-455-0123. Have a great season cheering on your favorite team!

God Bless,