Friday, August 28, 2015
The Importance of Dental Hygiene and Back to School
Ah, the hustle and bustle of going back to school!
As we head back into school mode, there are lots of things on the “to do” list to get done before the first day rolls around. Every student should be equipped with these essentials:
-Backpack-Notebooks
Dental cleaning?!? Yes! Healthy teeth, gums and proper dental hygiene are as crucial as everything else on the list in preparation for the coming school year.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
7 Serious Health Concerns That Also Affect Your Teeth
Mouth and Body Go Hand-in-Hand
Did you know that poor oral health care can be the cause of many different health issues within your body itself? There are many connections between taking care of your mouth, teeth and gums and the rest of your body.
People with gumdisease have a 40% increased risk of developing a chronic health condition.
Bacterial build up on your teeth and gums give you a greater probability of infection
which may then spread throughout other areas of your body.
Common Health Issues That Affect Oral Health
- · Diabetes: causes oral inflammation and affects the body’s ability to process sugar.
- · Heart Disease: about 91% of those with heart disease are also found to have periodontitis. Inflammation in the mouth corresponds with the inflammation of blood vessels which then leads to less blood flow causing an increase in blood pressure. There is also a chance of plaque that is attached to the blood vessel itself, breaking off and traveling to the heart and/or brain resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
- · Issues during Pregnancy: pregnant women with gum disease run the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and susceptible to developmental issues such as learning disorders, lung and heart conditions.
- · Osteoporosis: osteoporosis, like periodontitis, causes bone loss. It’s common for those with osteoporosis to also have some degree of gum disease.
- · Rheumatoid Arthritis: those with rheumatoid arthritis battling gum disease have found gum disease treatment may also reduce overall body pain in regards to their arthritic symptoms.
- · Smoking: bad for your health, both overall and oral. Nicotine interferes with your gums’ ability to fight infection. This also extends the recovery period for those gum infection treatments.
- · Obesity: those with 20% or higher body fat percentage have been linked to rapid progression of gum disease.
Taking excellent care of your oral health has a positive
domino effect for the rest of your body.
Same can be said with your body – taking care of your health and body
can positively affect your mouth, teeth and gums.
If you care about your health and yourself, you in-turn need to care about your mouth. Be true to your teeth, or they will be false to you!
Dr. Mark Davies
Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green
Crofton, MD 21114 (map)
Phone: (301) 261-3800
Monday, April 20, 2015
Early Detection Saves Lives
Oral cancer is nothing to take lightly. Causing one death every hour, there will be
approximately 45,750 new cases diagnosed this year alone. It also tends to strike men twice as likely
as women.
Contributing factors of oral cancer include:
·
Smoking
·
Tobacco use
·
Excessive alcohol consumption (3+ drinks per
day)
·
Over exposure to UV light
·
HPV Virus (sexually transmitted)
7% of diagnosed oral cancer cases that have no identified cause
Smokers are 3 times more likely to develop oral cancer. Cigars and pipes pose a higher risk than standard
cigarettes.
This is how to reduce your risk of oral cancer:
·
Do not use tobacco products
·
Drink alcohol only in moderation
·
Limit sun exposure and always use SPF sunscreen
·
Regular exercise
·
Nutritional supplements ( Vitamin D, Vitamin B,
Zinc, Fish oil)
·
Oral cancer screening at your bi-annual dentist
exam and cleaning
The way you prepare your meals can play a role as well. Rather than frying food, give steaming or
baking a try! Bonus: these techniques
are also more figure friendly
Cancer fighting foods:
·
Beans
·
Berries
·
Vegetables
·
Flaxseed
·
Garlic
·
Grapes
·
Green Teas
·
Tomatoes
84% of oral cancer cases can be detected early by your dentist
Dental check-ups are vital to oral cancer detection. Yes, you should be going in for dental
check-ups
twice a year anyways; however, request you get regularly scheduled oral cancer screenings as well!
twice a year anyways; however, request you get regularly scheduled oral cancer screenings as well!
Oral Cancer Signs to Check at Home
·
Check the entirety of your mouth:
·
All the
way inside of your cheeks
·
Underside
and top of your tongue
·
Roof of your mouth
·
Lymph nodes
You’re looking for discoloration, lumps, asymmetrical
swelling or any other abnormalities that you happen to see. Even if you aren’t too sure about it, it
never hurts to give us a call, ask questions and come in to have it checked
out.
Get involved. Help
raise awareness. Spread the word. Get tested!
Dr. Mark Davies
Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green
Crofton, MD 21114 (map)
Phone: (301) 261-3800
Dr. Mark Davies
Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green
Crofton, MD 21114 (map)
Phone: (301) 261-3800
Monday, March 23, 2015
How Focusing on These 3 Points Will Help You Spring Out of the Winter Blues!
Happy Spring 2015
As we move out of winter,
you may be changing your frame of mind from “Snuggly winter days…” to “Time
for spring cleaning!” Have you ever considered a dental spring cleaning? If you can spring clean your home, why not
your teeth?! Here are three easy points
to focus on:
1.
Healthy eating
2.
Tooth care
3.
Dental check-up
Healthy Eating
When your tummy rumbles, instead of reaching for a bag of
chips, grab some veggie sticks or slice up an apple! We understand the convenience of snack foods
as well as the deal you get when purchasing a bulk pack. But most of these things lack nutritional
value and do not fare well on your body, health or mouth. Create a goal to reach for a healthy snack to
fill the nutritional craving your body is after. Your waistline and teeth will thank you!
Foods that are high in sugar wreak havoc on your teeth
contribute to the start of cavities.
Food consistency also plays a role in oral health. Very hard foods can
harm the surfaces of your teeth, and there’s also the potential to cause
significant damage by cracking or chipping a tooth!
Reach For Pass On
Fruits
|
Sodas
|
Veggies
|
Candy
|
Whole Grains
|
Chips
|
Nuts
|
Ice Cream
|
Skinless Chicken
|
Sugary Cereals
|
Non-Breaded Fish
|
Hard and Sticky Foods
|
Low Fat/ Fat Free Yogurt
|
Cookies
|
Low Fat/ Fat Free Cheese
|
Cakes/ Pies
|
Tooth Care
·
Are you attentively brushing your teeth twice a
day for 2-minutes?
·
Are you flossing daily (or at all)?
·
Have you changed your toothbrush in the last 3
months?
When brushing your teeth spend the full 2 minutes taking
care to cover the front and back of each individual tooth. Before finishing up
– give your tongue a once over as well! Many toothbrushes have a built in
tongue brusher on the back of the toothbrush head. Toothbrushes do wear out. They can fray and lose the sturdiness to properly
clean your teeth. Toothbrushes should be
replaced about every three months.
Flossing
Flossing cleans about 40% of your teeth surfaces. Remember to reach your very back teeth. Flossing helps to lessen plaque build-up and
helps prevent gum disease.
Dental Check-up
Remember how great your mouth feels after a dental cleaning
in our office? Now that the holidays
have come to a close, your teeth may be in need of a professional cleaning. Call us for a dental check-up and
cleaning. Check-ups are recommended
every 6 months unless you are experiencing a problem area in your mouth. And, if that is the case, call us as soon as
possible. Whenever you are in pain or have
a question, call us.
Now that you have these things fresh on your mind, you are
ready to take charge of spring! And you
can do so with a bright shining and CLEAN smile!
Friday, February 13, 2015
How to Help Your Kids Create Good Oral Hygiene Habits Now
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and we’re dedicated to raising awareness!
In America, 51 million hours of school is missed every year due to oral health issues. Although every month should be important when it comes to a child’s dental health, February is the one dedicated to it. Here are things to keep in mind when helping children become conscious of just how important dental hygiene is and exactly how to start creating good habits right away:
1. Keep the sugar intake to a minimum
2. Floss, floss, floss
3. Brush twice a day
4. When you brush, make sure you hit the 2 minute mark
5. Visit your dentist regularly
Have you ever seen that amazing “magic trick” when you ask your child “Did you brush your teeth?” And they respond with a “yes” only because their toothbrush is wet? Then come to find out, there was no brushing going on, they merely stuck their toothbrush under the faucet and wiped their front teeth once, maybe twice. Now is the perfect time to kick this bad habit! Dental health can be fun for kids (and adults)!
Here are 4 ways to incorporate some fun and giggles into children’s daily oral care:
Toothpaste – a plethora of choices
Let’s start off with toothpaste. There are gels, pastes, and so many different flavors; such as cinnamon, vanilla, bubble gum, and variety of different mint flavors. Let your child choose which one they would prefer.
Flossing – 40% of cleaning your teeth comes from flossing
Floss comes in different flavors as well and also had a variety of textures. There are waxed, woven, and even the hand held pick form to name a few.
Toothbrush – the master tool
Choosing a toothbrush will probably be your child’s favorite thing to do. Not only are there options as far as handheld or battery operated, there are TONS of different designs now! Your child can pick their favorite cartoon character or stick to the basics-like their favorite color.
While the tiny sand timers you flip upside down are always fun for kids to watch, there are now toothbrushes with built in timers. The brush will alert timer markers with a beep or a vibration for 2 minute duration, some even play a popular song.
Giving Kids Something to Look Forward To
This is the
perfect way to create a morning and nighttime routine to get your child excited
about developing healthy habits. Getting
your child involved in the decision making of choosing some cool and fun dental
products makes them more apt to look forward to brushing and flossing daily.
Starting off
good oral hygiene practice at a young age will propel your kids into the future
for a lifetime of healthy pink gums and bright shining smiles! A healthy smile is a smile you can be proud
of!
References
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/still-not-flossing-more-reasons-why-you-shouldDr. Mark Davies
Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green
Crofton, MD 21114
Phone: (301) 261-3800
Monday, January 19, 2015
Resolve to Improve Your Dental Health
Now that we are trying to adapt to writing “2015”, have you
given any thought to a New Year’s Resolution?
If you haven’t, it isn’t too late.
And even if you have, you can never have too many! Typically, dental hygiene and dental aesthetics
aren’t usually considered when it comes to reflecting on self improvement. More than daily flossing, consider your over
all oral health.
Brightening up those pearly whites
Do you avoid smiling or find yourself talking while covering your mouth due to a missing tooth, an unsightly chip, large gap, or another imperfection affecting your teeth? Everyone is aware of teeth whitening; here are more options on how easy it is to improve your smile!
We see many patients with those old silver and gold fillings.
Those unsightly things are no longer the standard of care. Tooth colored
composite fillings ones are crafted to match your natural color and are near
invisible to the naked eye.
Chipped teeth are often healthy, and like gaps, they too
cause uneasiness in social situations. Often making you feel like the center of
unwanted attention. Dental bonding is one of the least expensive cosmetic
procedures, and the color is matched to restore your natural looking smile.
Pain
There are a few different types of tooth pain, all of which
should be reported during your dental visit: brief sensitivity to hot and cold
foods, sharp pain when biting, dull aches, constant pressure, lingering pain.
There is no reason to endure the pain, call so we can help!
Benefits of a Healthy Smile
Enhancing your smile offers huge gains. Not only does it
boost a person’s confidence, it can improve a person’s overall health and well
being. It’s like getting a spectacularly
wonderful haircut. You feel better about
yourself and notice a new glow surrounding you.
When you have a smile that you are proud of, you naturally show it off
to the world! Smiling is known to lower heart rate and reduce stress. Who would
say no to that?
This is your year to shine with a healthy smile
Start the year off with your best foot forward and set your
mind toward some dental goals. No matter
how big or how small they may be, you will be happy with the results as well as
yourself for making it happen!
Prioritize your health and take the first step by calling to
schedule an appointment: (301) 261-3800
Works Cited:
http://www.aae.org/patients/symptoms/tooth-pain.aspx
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/23/11/1372.short
Dr. Mark Davies
Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green
Crofton, MD 21114
Phone: (301) 261-3800
Friday, December 12, 2014
Your Holiday Guide to Santa's Elves!
Dental Do-Gooder to Alabaster Snowball
After decades of dreaming about becoming a dentist, Hermey the Elf was named DDG (Dental Do-Gooder) in November by the president of the American Dental Association ADA)!
“Hermey’s passion for dentistry coupled with his devotion to helping others feel good about themselves inside and out, deserves recognition,”said ADA President Maxine Feinberg, DDS. ”I know Hermey the Elf, DDG, will continue to inspire young people and those who are young at heart to follow their dreams.”
Hermey, Rudolph and some of their friends have also been honored on a postage stamp. These stamps celebrate the 50th anniversary of the much-loved holiday classic. Here are Five Fun Facts:
- According to Ken Muller, brother of ‘Rudolph’ screenwriter Romeo Muller, the original name for Hermey the Elf was supposed to be “Herbie” in honor of a childhood friend. Clarice (Rudolph’s girlfriend) was named after the future bride of another friend.
- Yukon Cornelius has a diverse dog sled team. Instead of Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes, his mixed team of pooches includes a Poodle, a Cocker Spaniel, a Saint Bernard, a Dachshund and a Collie.
- The animators also created the character –narrator of Sam the Snowman to look like Burl Ives, who was the voice for that part.
- In the original script, while Rudolph, Hermey and Yukon Cornelius promise to visit the Island of Misfit Toys and bring them back, they never do so. After the show first aired, Rankin-Bass, the production company, were inundated with letters from concerned kids demanding that the Misfit Toys be rescued. To console the children, they produced a short scene where Rudolph, Santa, and the rest of the reindeer arrive on the Island and deliver the Misfits to new homes. This scene has shown on TV since 1965. Kids rule!!
- The original puppets of Santa Claus and the younger Rudolph were eventually purchased by a new owner after going on tour in 2007. Since they were in absolutely horrible condition– Santa had half of his mustache missing while Rudolph was missing his famous nose — the new owner spent $4,000 for them to be restored to mint condition by stop-motion animation studio Screen Novelties International.
Even though we are celebrating Hermey, DDG’s achievements there are other notable elves that we should visit. Who remembers the Elf on the Shelf?
Elf on a shelf is a special “spy” elf. This elf was sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists. After the elf arrives and is named, the scout elf receives its Christmas magic and can fly to the North Pole each night to tell Santa Claus about all of the day’s adventures. You definitely want to stay on this elf’s good side! The next day the scout elf returns to its family and sits in a different place to watch the fun. Children love to wake up and race around the house looking for their scout elf each morning. Some came offering candy, like a chocolate sampler box.
Finally, the serious elves. Some believe that Santa employs six elves. Some think that there are as many as 13 elves living with Santa to help him. Elves are the children of Gryla and Leppaludi and are very clever. They help Santa to design toys and process requests of children that are sent to them through snail mail or emails. The popular Western names of the Christmas elves helping Santa Claus are:
- Alabaster Snowball (Administrator of the Naughty & Nice list)
- Bushy Evergreen (Inventor of the magic toy-making machine).
- Pepper Minstix (Guardian of the secret of where Father Christmas’ village is located).
- Shinny Upatree (The oldest friend of Santa and the cofounder of the secret village in Lapland).
- Sugarplum Mary (Head of the Sweat Treats, she is also known as Mary Christmas. She is an assistant to Mrs. Claus and helps her in the kitchen).
- Wunorse Openslae (Designer of Father Christmas’s sleigh and responsible for its maintenance. He also looks after the reindeers and it is believed that his reindeers reach speeds faster than Christmas tree lights.).
Now, you know more than any of your family members about those mysterious elves! The ambitious Hermey. The “Traditional”, like Elf on the Shelf and the “Real” (?), like Santa’s Helpers. Add them to your celebrations and may you remain forever young this holiday season.
Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green
Crofton, MD 21114
Phone: (301) 261-3800
Monday, November 17, 2014
Common Dental Myths Debunked
Facts About Dental Myths
With the magnitude of information available to us these
days, it’s harder than ever to separate facts from myths; especially when it
comes to your health. There are a million dental related myths that might steer
you in the wrong direction when it comes to a healthy smile. It’s important to
be informed and know the facts. Here are a few common dental myths, followed by
the facts.
Oral Hygiene Only Affects Your Teeth
Many people hear the phrase “oral hygiene” and they think of
the simple act of brushing or flossing. While oral hygiene is important for
keeping your teeth healthy, poor oral hygiene can be linked to several other
health problems- including heart disease. Taking care of your mouth actually
means taking care of a lot of things within your body. Untreated periodontaldisease contributes to more low birth weight babies than both drinking and
smoking combined. Having poor oral
hygiene can cause a multitude of problems- not all of them related to your
teeth.
You Shouldn’t Get Your Wisdom Teeth Out Until They Start to Hurt
Typically, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and
your dentist will generally advise you of the same. If you wait for your wisdom
teeth to become painful, they might have already done other damage to your gums
or teeth. Many people believe that as long as they have no pain, there’s no
reason to have an unnecessary surgery. In rare cases, wisdom teeth can stay
intact as long as they are not interfering or causing damage. One of the most
common reasons to remove wisdom teeth is because they are so difficult to keep
clean and rather than incurring costly repairs to those teeth many dentists
will suggest having them removed. Frequent
exams are necessary in this case to monitor and maintain your health. It’s
generally better to have your wisdom teeth removed before any pain, rather than
take the gamble.
White Teeth Are Healthier Teeth
Teeth are actually not meant to be pure white. Tooth color
can vary widely, for example, depending on your race, pigmentation varies
greatly. Also, as you get older, your
teeth will naturally take on a more faded color as things do with time, however
they can still be perfectly healthy. A color
beyond a light yellow could be cause for concern, but generally the pinkness of
your gums is a better indication of oral health as opposed to how white your
teeth are.
If Teeth Look Healthy, and Are Not Hurting, There is No Reason to Visit a Dentist
The most common mistake people make regarding their dental
health is skipping regular preventive visits because they do not see or feel
any problems. Even in the absence of a visible problem or discomfort, regular
visits for x-ray exams, cleaning and necessary restorative care are necessary
to maintain your teeth and gums for life. Discovering diseases in the mouth
earlier rather than later will typically reduce cost,
recovery time and severity of dental treatment that may need to be performed.
It’s important to educate yourself on the facts surrounding whole
body health and well-being. Muddled information and common misperceptions can
leave people confused. The best way to combat myths and augment dental health
is to see and speak with your dentist regularly. Have open dialogue and
productive conversations about what is and is not true. Being informed, savvy
and educated will keep you and your
dentist smiling.
Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green
Crofton, MD 21114
Phone: (301) 261-3800
Friday, October 10, 2014
5 Candy Alternatives That Will Keep Trick-or-Treaters Smiling
Treat Trick-or-Treaters to a Healthy Treat This Season
The fall season brings an amazing amount of fun activities
for you and your family. From the excitement of Halloween, to school fall
festivals, kids and parents alike look forward to the cool weather and family
memories. Unfortunately, Halloween and fall festivals can also do a number on
your child’s teeth. Hard candies, sweet treats and sugary snacks can be
cavities waiting to happen. Handing out Halloween candy doesn’t mean you have
to hand out oral health disasters. There are a number of healthy alternatives
to the candy bars and licorice- some that trick-or-treaters might even enjoy
more than the sugar rush. The days of handing out apple slices and pennies to
avoid contributing to tooth destruction are gone! Take a look at some of these
creative trick-or-treat alternatives that will leave all the little ghosts and
ghouls smiling throughout the year.
Applesauce Pouches
Applesauce is still a sweet treat, and not nearly as hard on
the teeth. Not only that, they’re portable, affordable and a great way to avoid
the mess of some other treats. You can get a pack of 48 pouches for about 35
dollars on Amazon,
which is enough to give all the trick-or-treaters something healthy to smile
about.
Mini LaraBars
Larabars
are gluten free, vegan, kosher and only have about 8-11 grams of sugar per bar.
They also come in mini form, making them perfect to hand out on Halloween. The
great thing about these treats is that the kids won’t even know they’re
healthy! LaraBars have flavors such as cherry pie, apple pie and cashew cookie
and are just as delicious as the other mini candy bars that will be weighing
down their bag. If you can’t find LaraBars, or they’re a little too pricey for
you, granola bars of any kind will be a better choice than chocolate.
Vegan Rice Crispy
Treats
Rice crispy treats are a delicious sweet treat for trick-or-treaters,
but you don’t have to use all the sugary marshmallow to make them amazing.
There are a number of recipes you can follow which swap out a few classic
ingredients for something a little healthier in order to create the perfect
Halloween snack. By using brown rice syrup instead of marshmallow, brown rice
crisps instead of white rice and coconut oil instead of butter- you can make
delicious, healthy treats that many claim are better than the original. Check
out one the recipes here.
Sugar Free Gum
While sugar free gum may not be the most exciting item in
your child’s bag, it’s still a quality alternative to all the junk they’ll be
getting. You can get tasty sugar free gum such as Dubble
Bubble and throw a few pieces in along with other healthy treats. Parents
will appreciate the lack of sugar, and the kids (especially those kids who love their chewing gum) will be happy
with a full bag of “candy.”
Toys
If you want to skip the food items altogether, many parents
have opted to hand out toys instead. There are a number of items you can get in
bulk for cheap such as pencils, erasers, stickers, mini water guns, temporary
tattoos, mini play dough, sidewalk chalk, bouncing balls, bubbles and more. The
possibilities are endless and none of these things will land your child in the
dentist’s chair. If you’re thinking of skipping the candy and handing out toys,
head to your local dollar store to find amazing deals on bulk items.
There’s also the option of handing out pre-made veggie and
fruit snacks, however this may only be a good idea if you’re close with the
surrounding neighbors. Parents are often a little leery of pre-prepared snacks
and the time and money you spent might simply end up in the trash. These days
there really are dozens of candy alternatives that don’t skimp on the flavor.
Do your own research to find what works best for you and your family, have fun
with it, and get everyone involved. Keep in mind that most trick-or-treaters
will be over-flowing with the sugary stuff- so its good practice as a parent
and oral health advocate to provide something that will keep their smiles
healthy throughout the year.
Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green
Crofton, MD 21114
Phone: (301) 261-3800
Monday, July 14, 2014
The Dentist with the Coolest Patients!
Meet one of our most amazing patients, Pastor Russell Fink, who competes nationally in tennis. This year, Pastor Fink was ranked NUMBER 2 in the National Men's Individuals for those 85 and over! He's ranked at number ONE for the National Men's 85 and Over Individual Doubles. He travels to tournaments all over the world and recently took home the bronze medal at the Nationals in California. He also earned a championship this year in West Virginia.
Pastor Fink is a multifaceted tennis player, competing on hard courts, clay and grass. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife Barbara, leading his weekly men's Bible study, and even filling in for other Pastors on Sundays. Root for him this August and September when he competes in the Nationals on Grass and Nationals on clay. Russel Fink is an amazing inspiration for us all!
You can read more about his accomplishments in the Capital Gazette: http://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/other_sports/tennis-annapolis-fink-draws-top-usta-national-ranking/article_f19cfb40-0d9a-5bf4-bd8b-8a31f6f69b72.html
Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green, Crofton, MD 21114
www.drmarkdavies.com
(301) 261-3800
(410) 721-8688
Pastor Fink is a multifaceted tennis player, competing on hard courts, clay and grass. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife Barbara, leading his weekly men's Bible study, and even filling in for other Pastors on Sundays. Root for him this August and September when he competes in the Nationals on Grass and Nationals on clay. Russel Fink is an amazing inspiration for us all!
You can read more about his accomplishments in the Capital Gazette: http://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/other_sports/tennis-annapolis-fink-draws-top-usta-national-ranking/article_f19cfb40-0d9a-5bf4-bd8b-8a31f6f69b72.html
Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green, Crofton, MD 21114
www.drmarkdavies.com
(301) 261-3800
(410) 721-8688
Labels:
community,
Crofton,
Dental Assistant,
dentist,
Dentistry,
Dr. Mark Davies,
patients,
Teamwork
Location:
Crofton, MD, USA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)