Dominion Dental Care mentioned in First for Women Magazine!

Want to know how regular visits to the dentist can help you get more energy and decrease your achy joints? Check out what Dr. Sheikh has to say about it in this week's issue of First For Women page 39!

 

Back-to-School Dental Health Tips

The kids are on their way back to school, so this is a great time to update your back-to-school routine. Dominion Dental Care has found some tips...

• As part of the ritual of going back to school, parents will no doubt buy their children new clothes and supplies, and take them to the pediatrician for their annual check up. But this is also the perfect time to schedule a dental check-up!

• Getting an exam taken care of at the beginning of the school year will save you the hassle of scheduling a visit to the dentist around school hours or after-school activities. Add a dental exam to your back-to-school preparation list: new clothes, new supplies, new dental exam! And buy a new toothbrush while you're at it, as many people do no change their toothbrushes as often as they should!

• Many parents only bring in their children if there is a problem - so much dental care is reactionary. Try and be proactive!

• Create a dental care kit for school, with a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss. Remind your children to brush after lunch!

• Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases in children and can interfere with learning and lead to more serious complications. A child who is in pain from tooth decay will have trouble focusing in school.

By including dental check-ups in the back-to-school health screening process, parents will be able to establish a routine where dental care and education are provided, to ensure good oral and overall health for life.

Oral Healthcare Can't Wait!

Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait^™

Patient Newsletter Article

Do You Know Why Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait^™?

It seems that everyone you talk to these days has been affected by tough economic conditions. 

Do you know anyone who isn’t trying to save money by cutting back on discretionary purchases that they may have taken for granted just a few months ago?

A new car? It can wait. New kitchen cabinets? They can wait. Caribbean vacation? Make that a “staycation.” Gourmet coffee? Home-brewed tastes pretty good these days. Designer clothes? Can you say “Tarzhay”?

Being frugal in an uncertain economy is not a bad thing – we’re all doing it to some extent. However, there are some things that should always remain on the “must have” list unless your financial situation is critical.

One such example is oral healthcare for you and your family. For many Americans, maintaining proper oral health via regular dental visits and compliance with a dentist-recommended treatment plan are being given a very low priority that can only be described as neglect.

Truth be told, Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait^™, and that’s the name of the national consumer awareness campaign that is proud to be a part of.

Unfortunately, many people still believe that the only time they really need to see a dentist is when they feel pain. Ouch! That hurts us at because, as caring dental professionals, we’re primarily focused on disease and pain prevention when our patients allow us to do so.

However, we see it time and time again – many wait until emergency conditions prevail. By this time, the necessary and immediate course of treatment is much more invasive and costly. Perhaps you yourself have “been there, done that.” If so, you should agree that oral healthcare is a perfect example of an “ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.”

Did you know that what you can’t see or feel happening in your mouth can still hurt you?

That’s right. Recent studies have linked undiagnosed and untreated periodontal disease with increased complications for patients with heart disease, diabetes, and other systemic health conditions. The latest medical research also indicates that maintaining optimum oral health is vital for one’s overall health and well-being. 

Although many are postponing dental treatment due to economic factors, the fact is that many Americans actually have adequate dental benefits that they are not taking full advantage of – even when they pay for a portion of the coverage!

Our office staff can help ensure that you are taking full advantage of your allotted and deserved coverage – especially those routine hygiene visits that can go a long way in preventing cavities and periodontal disease. 

Even if you don’t have insurance, you can probably maintain the oral health of you and your family by discussing flexible payment plans with our office staff or using a major credit card, which we accept as well.

The ultimate goal of the Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait campaign is to sustain and improve oral health in America. We invite you to stop by the office and pick up a free copy of the informative brochure that the Dental Trade Alliance has developed for the Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait campaign.

Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait is a trademark of the Dental Trade Alliance.

President Bill Clintons Remind Me to Draw Your Attention to How Your Oral Hygiene May Affect your Heart

Recently in the news I was reading about former President Bill Clinton and his heart issues. He has had them for a very long time. I remember when I was courting my wife, her sister was a Cardio resident at Columbia University when Bill Clinton was there the first time for heart issues.....anyway, that was a little off topic but I like remembering those days with the wife!!

President Clinton's heart health is a reminder to all of us how eating well and exercising are great ways to avoid heart problems. But so is your dental hygiene.

A few years ago, a link was detected between periodontal (gum) disease and cardiovascular disease. Bacteria from the mouth, or products released by bacteria, can travel through the bloodstream and damage the linings of blood vessels. These same bacteria can be found clumped together in artery plaques, causing a stroke or a heart attach.

So what is a cheap and powerful weapon against heart disease, that costs less than $3 and is in your bathroom cabinet? It is none other than your toothbrush (and a little floss).

Dental Tips to keep your Valentine's Day Minty Fresh!

Pucker up

       Smiles and kisses are two important parts of many Valentine’s Day celebrations. So  I decided to offer these tips to keep your teeth sparkling and your breath fresh.

Ask for a date. Dominion Dental Care’s Hygienists’ are experts at detecting and treating gum diseases. Schedule an appointment now for a dental examination and periodontal evaluation.

End that bad relationship. Set a date to quit tobacco use to eliminate bad breath and yellow teeth.

Get fresh. Brushing and flossing are important for dental health. Remember to brush for at least 2 minutes and slant your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle for more effective plaque removal. Also, don’t forget to brush your tongue to help keep your breath fresh.         

Don’t sugar coat it. Limit your intake of sugary snacks and drinks. Frequent snacking and sipping on soda, sports drinks and energy drinks can greatly increase your risk for cavities. 

Watch your mouth. Dry mouth  increases plaque buildup. Chewing sugar-free gum and rinsing with an alcohol-free mouth wash helps reduce the accumulation of plaque.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

*tips revised from upmc.com for health sciences

Superbowl dental trauma!

So after surviving our fourth snowstorm this year, I headed to the office the day after the Superbowl and received this question from a patient:

I have a questions about a cut I noticed this morning while brushing as it felt raw. Yesterday during the superbowl I was eating chips and wonder if this could possibly be from a cut or if this is the beginning of something worse. I brush my teeth at least two times a day. I really hope this isn't anything serious! I rinsed my mouth with Listerine this morning after brushing.


This was my answer to him: Think of your gums as having a soft marshmallow-like consistency, and chips like a knife . . . the chips cut the gum and the gum area will initially have a cut but will then start to heal on their own and 'blob together'.  Don't use listerine b/c listerine has alcohol on it and drys out the gums . . . rinse with some warm salt water which soothes the gums and give it a couple of days.  Don't eat really hot or spicy food during this time b/c this tends to irritate the gum tissue.  In 3-5 days everything should have healed on its own.  And heretofore watch those sharp chips to avoid any Superbowl injuries next year!

Great tips on Parenting.com's site

Here are some great tips for parents on keeping your child's teeth healthy.

http://www.parenting.com/article/Child/Health/Teething-FAQ

Our newest program in the Loudoun Times online paper!

Read about about our newest program (Wednesday's for Mom) in the Loudoun Times Online Community News.

http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2010/jan/26/ashburn-bloom-shutters-and-more-business-news/

Keep scrolling........we are near the bottom of the page :-)

The Ultimate Valentine's Day Gift.....

.....from Dominion Dental Care.

2 for 1 Valentine’s Day

Teeth Whitening Special!

Package includes:

Two sets of bleaching kits

Two custom upper & lower bleaching trays

For a limited time only.

Please inquire for more details.

Expires 2/26/10

Welcome to Dominion Dental Care's Blog!

Happy (belated) New Year!! As part of our New Year's resolution, we wanted to make sure we kept in constant contact with our patients, and to keep you up-to-date on tips, promotions and what's making the news.

We hope you enjoy our blog!! And feel free to comment back with ideas, questions or just to say hi :-)

From all of us at Dominion Dental Care