Swimming Pools: The Dental Connection!

Summertime is all about smiling and having fun!.  It's a time for family vacations, late night ice cream trips with friends, and backyard BBQ's. Summertime also includes lots of swimming for the entire family.  Swimming is a great way to spend time together along with wonderful exercise for the whole family as well.   But there are hidden dangers lurking in your pool for your teeth and health!

Did you know that poor maintenance of pool chemicals can cause damage to your tooth enamel? A poorly controlled pool can cause permanent damage to your family's teeth.  Swimming pool water that is over chlorinated (commonly see in community pools) can cause tooth enamel erosion and permanently stain your teeth!  Tooth erosion is the wearing and loss of enamel by the effects of acid.  Excessive amount of chlorine in the swimming pool will lower the pool's pH level.  This makes the pool water acidic.  That acid, with continued exposure over time, can cause hard, brown tartar deposits and begin to cause tooth enamel erosion.  If you have ever been to a pool where your eyes begin to water or your nose burns from sniffing the pool water, the pH was very low in that pool.

If you have any questions or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Summer Break & Wisdom Teeth: The Dental Connection!

After your son or daughter departs for college, the last thing you want to get is a call or text to learn that your kid is in pain.  Although there are not many emergency situations that can be avoided when it comes to dental health, one crisis that can easily be prevented before your teen heads away to school is wisdom tooth pain.

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that erupt in the late teen to early 20s.  Wisdom teeth can go from barely noticeable to extremely painful in a very short period of time. Because most people do not have enough space for wisdom teeth to erupt fully and remain perfectly aligned, pain, swelling, infection, damage to adjacent teeth, and decay commonly develop.  These problems can brew beneath the surface for weeks or months, offering no warning before painful symptoms occur! To prevent these inconvenient episodes, most oral surgeons currently recommend to electively remove the wisdom teeth before they become symptomatic.

Summer break is the perfect time to remove wisdom teeth so that your child can avoid the stressful scenario of experiencing this emergency while they are away from home.  If you have any questions about wisdom teeth or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Happy 4th Of July!

Every year, Americans all over the world celebrate the birth of our country and its independence on the Fourth of July.  There are countless ways that people celebrate and they range from community parades and large scale gatherings, to concerts, fireworks displays, and smaller scale celebrations among family and friends.   For some people, July 4th is synonymous with baseball, while for others, it is all about the beach and barbecues.  However you celebrate, you can be sure that red, white, and blue is visible everywhere throughout the area.  Check out these fun facts about the "Fourth" that you may not have known:

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE FOURTH OF JULY

• The reason the stars on the original flag were arranged in a circle is because it was believed that it would indicate that all of the colonies were equal.
• Americans eat over 150 million hot dogs on July 4th.
• Imports of fireworks each year totals over $211 million.
• The first "official" Fourth of July party took place at the White House in 1801.
• Benjamin Franklin didn't want the national bird to be the bald eagle.  He believed that the turkey was better suited for the coveted distinction.  John Adams and Thomas Jefferson disagreed with him, and he was outvoted, so the bald eagle became the official bird of the United States.

No matter how or where you celebrate, one thing is certain, All Americans celebrate July 4th as the birth and independence of our great country. Have a great day and may God Bless America!

God Bless,

DRT

Healthy Summer Foods: The Dental Connection!

Summer--that wonderful time of year when fresh and delicious produce abound! Good oral health requires an appropriate mix of vitamins and minerals from nature's bounty no matter what time of year.  In previous studies, nutrients from fruits and vegetables such as dietary fiber, potassium, and antioxidants have all been associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and cancers, including oral cancer.

Here are four summertime foods that can improve your dental health:

• Watermelons 
• Watermelons have a high water content, which dilutes the affects of the sugars they contain and stimulates the flow of saliva.  In addition to containing skin-protecting lycopene, eating watermelon can help you stay hydrated during the summer months, which not only keeps your memory sharp and your mood stable, but also helps to keep your body cool.
• Strawberries
• Strawberries are juicy and delicious, and they are considered a superfood. Nutrient-rich and packed with antioxidants (such as vitamin C, which can help with cancer prevention), strawberries also promote eye health, help fight bad cholesterol, and regulate blood pressure.
• Apples
• Biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, which lowers the levels of bacteria and other harmful acids, leading to a lower likelihood of tooth decay and helps you attain a whiter, healthier smile!  Apples can also boost your immune system, reducing cholesterol and helping you avoid Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as well as lowering your risk of heart disease.
• Tomatoes
• Tomatoes are a delicious and healthy snack that can help you ward off cancer. The yummy red fruit contains lycopene, which helps protect your skin from sunburn.  Tomatoes can also help you fight heart disease due to niacin, folate, and vitamin B6 nutrients that they contain.   They are also high in crucial antioxidants, such as vitamin A and vitamin C, which work to prevent DNA damage.

Have a great summer and enjoy these healthy foods.  If you have any questions or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

DRT

Summer Enjoyment: The Dental Connection!

During the summer months, many people take road trips to visit family members. Some head off to the airport to enjoy a long-awaited vacation far away, while others look forward to spending time with friends and family at home.  However you spend the few short months of summer, here are a few tips to make your summertime more enjoyable.

• Have the AC Checked.  During the hottest days of summer, many families find themselves sweating it out due to a broken air conditioning system.  Be proactive so you can avoid waiting for hours or days because the HVAC repair person is booked solid.
• Ensure Security If You Are Away.  If you leave for vacation, the last thing you should have to worry about is the security of your home.  If possible, install a home security system, or, put a timer on your lights so they go on and off at normal times.  You can also alert the local police department that you will be away or ask a friend or family member to drive by your home once in a while to make sure everything is okay.
• Get Your Dental Check-Up Before Your Vacation.  Many people put off their exams until after summer vacation.  Avoid the crowds and make sure your dental health is in top shape prior to vacation time to avoid any inconveniences. 

However you spend the days of summer, stay safe and comfortable.  As you plan ahead, take care of your health and secure your home first, then you can truly focus on creating memories with family members and friends while enjoying your favorite summertime traditions!

If you are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

DRT

SUMMER: The Dental Connection!

Summer is quickly nearing, which means a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories is just around the corner for all of our great patients!

Since everyone wants a glowing and radiant white smile when the sun comes around, we have a few reminders to keep your pearly whites healthy and beautiful over the summer!  Try to stay away from drinks that will stain your teeth like coffee, soft drinks, or dark colored juices.  Not only can drinks like these weaken your enamel, but they can also darken that fabulous smile!  Another tip is to focus on brushing your teeth; everyone knows that the summer can be packed full of fun activities that lend to a very busy schedule, and with that, good brushing sessions tend to take the backseat!  A good tip for keeping your mouth safe from staining and other possible pitfalls is to rinse your mouth with water after any meal that you don't have time to brush after.  Your teeth, inside and out, will benefit!

And finally, whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, or just to have fun in the backyard this summer, we want to hear all about it!  Make sure to let us know what you've been up to on our Facebook page!  We also encourage you to post any photos from your summertime adventures!

If you have any questions about keeping your teeth white and bright this summer or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

BIG CEDAR: The Dental Connection!

Big Cedar, the Bass Pro Outdoor Adventure Destination south of Branson, Missouri, was the location for the annual oral health update!  I recently attended this conference as part of my continuing dental education program to stay current on the latest challenges that may encounter our patient's dental health.  This intense four day conference provided the latest information on today's most current oral health challenges from oral cancer early detection, the rapidly increasing use of e-cigarettes, the increased prevalence of the causes and treatments of dry mouths, to the latest information related to women's dental health issues pertaining to osteoporosis prevention and treatment options!  Although it was jam packed with very beneficial dental health topics, it was well worth it because I am always striving to obtain the latest dental information that may impact your overall dental health in the ever changing world of dentistry. In my spare time, Big Cedar provided a wonderful venue to enjoy the great outdoors!

If you have any questions related to this oral health update or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT