October & Dental Hygiene: The Dental Connection!

Did you know that October is National Dental Hygiene Month?  For our staff at Thomas Family Dentistry, that means one thing:  Reminding you that your teeth are an important part of your body, and that keeping them clean helps to keep your mouth and your body healthy.  By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting our convenient Broken Arrow office on a regular basis, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile throughout your entire life.

We encourage you to check out the American Dental Association website as well, which provides pointers on keeping your mouth clean and healthy.  Lastly, has it been six months since your last visit to Thomas Family Dentistry?  If the answer is yes, we encourage you to give our dental office a call at 918-455-0123 you set up an appointment.

God Bless,
DRT

October & Orthodontics: The Dental Connection!

Happy October!  For those who don't know, it's National Orthodontic Health Month.  This month-long event is organized by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Dr. Thomas and our team realize that this is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene.  National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists and other dental professionals in Oklahoma!

The AAO recommends that patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly Beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Ice

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 918-455-0123, ask us on Facebook, or during your next visit!

God Bless,

DRT

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,

DRT

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

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

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

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,

DRT