We all want our children to have fun and get involved in activities that will help them, grow as person. It has been said that playing a musical instrument can help nourish, cultivate, and increase intelligence in children.  Unfortunately some of these musical instruments can be making them sick. A study done by the Academy of General Dentistry found used woodwind and brass instruments to be highly contaminated with a variety of bacteria and fungi. These bacteria and fungi have been linked to infectious and allergic diseases both minor and serious.  School instruments are used by many children participating in the school band so without the proper sanitizing these bacteria and fungi can live for weeks, even months. Testing was done on both instruments played regularly and those that had not been used for a month. The results were frightening 442 different bacteria were found, many of which were associated with staphylococcus, the cause of staff infections, as well as 58 molds and 19 yeasts. This mold in your child’s instrument can contribute to your child developing asthma, and the yeasts can cause skin infections around the mouth and lips. Being in contact with the mouth causes them to be a breeding ground for bacteria,   similar to what dentist see in dentures, mouthguards, and toothbrushes.  Research has shown that these bacteria can cause illness not treatable by normally prescribed antibiotics. So let’s keep our children healthy, by making sure there instrument are thoroughly and frequently sanitized.

It’s that time of year again school has begun. The shopping is done for new clothes, shoes and the backpack. A trip to the physician’s already on the calendar for your child’s routine physical check-up. Have you scheduled your child’s routine dental check-up? Along with your child’s physical appointment there should be a visit scheduled to see the dentist. In fact in many states including New York and Pennsylvania it is a requirement for your child to see the dentist before entering school. The reason for this is because studies have shown an increase in pediatric dental disease linking your child’s dental health to their overall medical health. Keeping your child’s mouth healthy will help keep their body healthy. Tooth decay can be very painful and when a child has a toothache it can interfere with their concentration and learning capabilities. The center for disease control reported tooth decay in baby teeth has increased among children between the ages of two to five years old. So keep your child healthy from head to toe, call your dentist today and get them ready for a great school year!

According to surveys and studies men are less likely than women to take care of their physical health, including their oral health. Rather than visiting the dentist for routine check-ups men are waiting till they have a problem. Statistics show that when it comes to their oral health, the average man brushes 1.9 times a day and will lose 5.4 teeth by the age of 72. For men who smoke the number of teeth lost can increase to 12 by age 72. Men are at greater risk of developing  periodontal disease which has been linked to cardiovascular disease, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Since men are often on more medications than women, certain side affects from those medications such as dry mouth increase the risk for tooth decay. Men do you smoke or chew tobacco? If so it is especially important for you to see your dentist for routine checkups and oral cancer screenings since 95% of oral cancers occur in men over 40 years old. If you participate in any sports you should be fitted for a mouthguard  because you are at greater risk for trauma to your mouth and teeth. So men stay healthy, do not delay schedule your dental check-up today!

The Velscope is an instrument being used by dentists to help identify oral disease, which when found in the early stages is easier to treat. Using the Velscope during dental exams helps us locate areas in your mouth that might, if not treated, progress to oral cancer. The statistics show that there is an approximate 83% survival rate when oral cancer is detected early, versus 32% when detected in its later stages. The Velscope exam is a two minute exam. No rinses, stains or discomfort just a natural fluorescent light is used allowing the doctor to see disease that would not be visible to the naked eye. So let us help you protect yourself from oral disease and cancer, take the Velscope exam!

Have you ever dreamed of having a HOLLYWOOD SMILE? Well now you can stop dreaming and make it a reality. Snap on Smile is a comfortable, removable dental appliance that will change the way your teeth look instantly. If you have gaps, crooked, stained or missing teeth this can be an affordable way to get you the perfect smile. Snap on Smile is made out of an incredibly strong resin material that you can eat, drink, talk and sleep with. Snap on smile snaps over your existing teeth so you can remove it whenever you feel like it. To get you on your way to that perfect smile we would need to schedule an appointment to take upper and lower impressions of your teeth and choose the color that best suits you, no drilling required! If this is something you are interested call us for a consultation. Your new smile is just a phone call away!