Notes to Teens about Oral Health

The ADA publishes pamphlets just for teens and two of the items caught my eye recently – oral piercings among teens and mouth guards for athletes.

I don’t see many piercings but remember oral piercings can become infected easily. Mainly, I have seen chipped teeth and gum tissue receded and bone lost from tongue studs hitting the back of the lower front teeth.

Perhaps more important to me  is the use of mouth guards for anyone in a contact sport.  Front teeth should be for smiling and whistling, not for stopping balls, bats, elbows, or sidewalks.  Breaking front teeth is preventable so consider a mouth guard for yourself or your teen.

Remember, Candy Buyback, my office, Thursday Nov. 1 from 3-5PM!

Halloween Candy Buyback: November 1

Turn Halloween candy into dollars!  Our office will be buying back candy the day after Halloween for a good cause – Healdsburg SOS (Support Our Soldiers). Mary St Clair who heads up the local SOS will be re-packaging the candy for Christmas packages being sent to soldiers in Afghanistan. Of course, tooth brushes and toothpaste will be in the packages too.

Dr. Pam checks a Zombie’s mouth for cavities!

 We invite your kids to pop over to our office at 1526 Healdsburg Avenue between 3 and 5 PM and we will buy back their candy.  Each child will get $1 for each pound of candy and a small gift.   The buyback will be for the first 100 pounds of candy only so arrive early!!

CareCredit: A Health Care Credit Card

You know that you have dental problems, or your child is identified at a school screening as having decay. Unfortunately, dental decay is a progressive disease caused by bacteria that can spread from tooth to tooth. You know the decay isn’t getting better but times are tough, what do you do?

Consider asking your dentist if they are involved with CareCredit, a CDA endorsed plan that offers patients a dental credit card.  Some of the payment plans even offer 0% interest.

The advantage for you is that this allows you to get the disease in your mouth treated.  Your goal is to have a healthy, comfortable and attractive smile.  CareCredit may help you to get there sooner rather than later when more damage will have occurred.

Call our office at  433-0210 for more information.

Myths surrounding Antibiotic Use In Dentistry

The Winter 2012 Newsletter from the American Association of Endodontists is packed with the newest information on myths surrounding antibiotic use in dentistry. Let’s look at three myths.

Myth #1: Antibiotics cure patients. According to research, antibiotics do not cure. They only help to restore the balance between the patient’s defense and the invading bug.

Myth #2: Antibiotics are a substitute for other dental treatment . It is rare that antibiotics are a good substitute for the removal of the cause of the infection – root canal therapy, extraction, drainage, etc.

Myth # 3: The important decision is which antibiotic to use. Instead, the most important decision is whether to use an antibiotic at all. Again, many mouth infections can be solved by dental treatment and not antibiotics.