Your *HALLOWEEN* FUN From Mortenson!

TRUCKtoberfest

Taste the most unique street food festival in Louisville!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28TH 5pm -9pm 

Start the Halloween weekend off right with some live music and Louisville's best street food vendors all in one spot. * San Diego Sandwich Works * Lil Cheesers * Red's Comfort Foods * Holy Smokes Barbeque * The Dessert Truck * El Rumbon (cuban) * Holy Mole Tacos. These seven street food vendors will be serving up whatever you are craving.

Location: The Patio at Clay Commons Garage (Directly behind Henry Clay building) 

324 W. Chestnut St 

FREE!

Saturday - Sunday, October 29-30, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FREE for members; FREE with paid exhibit admission for non-members

Fill your day with science tricks and treats when you venture into a world of  slimy, gooey, creepy and gross. See what happens when we electrify a pickle, face the not-so-terrifying Wheel of Dares, and discover explosive new ways to smash a pumpkin.

Activities include making wearable scabs and blisters, slime making, mummifying apples, giant spider webs, touchable organs and more!

All details here.

Join Northeast Christian Church on Saturday for KidabaLOU!

Live music, trunk-or-treating inside and out, FREE FOOD, Lots and lots of candy for the kids, inflatable 

jumps, contests, giveaways and much more! ALL FREE!

Saturday October 29th 7-10 PM

9900 Brownsboro Rd. 40241 

Flame Run: Blow your own GLASS PUMPKIN!

Flame Run Gallery

828 E. Market St. 40206

10:30 AM - 3:30 PM

To blow your own glass pumpkin, it takes about 15-20 minutes and costs $50! 

Flame RUn artist Jake Pfeifer is taking appointments from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays until November 11th. Participants can choose up to 3 colors from eight color selections. 

Trick-Or-Treat with Churchill Charlie on Opening Day this Sunday!

Live racing returns to the twin spires on Sunday, October 30, as Churchill Downs opens its fall meet. A lot will be going on at the Downs on Sunday to keep adult and child alike entertained.

For the kids, Churchill Downs’ mascot, Churchill Charlie, will be on hand to lead them on a trick-or-treat parade throughout the Downs. "Boo Stations" will be set up throughout the route with tricks and treats for all the kids. Costumes are strongly suggested, but not required to participate. Just register your child in the Churchill Downs gift shop located near Gate 17 between 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and pick up your trick-or-treat bag. Meet back at Gate 17 at 3:00 p.m. to line up and start the trick-or-treat parade. Pay attention after the trick-or-treating in case the kids are invited into the winner’s circle for a group photo as they were last year.

All details here!

Have a great weekend!

A Dentist's Guide to Halloween

We want to share the *Dentist's Guide to Halloween* from Coast Dental with you!
October 18, 2011 by Beth Gaddis

It's almost Halloween! Costume stores are springing up, yards are decorated with ghoulish décor, and our day of sweet indulgence without guilt is almost here. Everywhere you look, there's your favorite candy or chocolate wrapped in scary yet appealing packaging. What! It’s Halloween.

Well, to all the sweet tooth Halloween lovers -both adults and kids- here are some practical tips from a Dentist who shares your love for all things sweet.

1. Sort the candy. When you are raiding your five-year-old's candy bag at 2 in the morning, separate the stack into two piles. 
• First Pile: The taffy, the caramels, the gummy bears, anything that is sticky, chewy or sour
• Second Pile: All of the other candy.
2. Avoid the first pile. Dental cavities have a proven cause-and-effect relationship with extended exposure to sugary or sour substances. Oral bacteria thrives in this environment and converts these substances to acid that can, in turn, lead to cavities.
3. Watch your family’s consumption of these sweet treats during this season. A great tip is to leave the candy wrappers in a visible area so that you remember how many of these ghoulish confections you’ve eaten.
4. Chew sugar-free gum to help you ration your sweet intake. Ingredients like Xylitol and Sorbitol, low calorie sweeteners found in some gum, can actually be beneficial to your oral health. Research has shown that these sweeteners starve destructive bacteria, allowing your mouth to replenish minerals to your teeth. Get advice from your Dentist on the frequency and amount recommended.
5. Talk to your kids about oral health. This is a great time to reinforce the twice-a-day brushing routine and the daily 'oh-so-dreaded flossing' regime. Always remember, children will mostly do as they see. The most ideal scenario would be to brush after the consumption of candy. If that’s not possible, then encourage your child to eat the candy within a few minutes instead of snacking throughout the day, and then wash away some of the sugar by drinking a glass of water. And remember, Halloween is a great time to call your dentist and get the family scheduled for a check-up!

In the words of Robert Louis Stevenson, "There is only one difference between a long life and a good dinner; that in the dinner, the sweets come last."

Enjoy the sweets in moderation and have fun this Halloween!

 Post Credits:Coast Dental

Missing Regular Dental Visits Is Very Expensive For Patients

Many people think that skipping their regular dental check-ups will save them money in the long-run. In reality, it is costing patients even more money to fix the deeper problems that develop as a result of missed dental check-ups. Read this article from Dental Health Magazine and learn more about why it saves you to take yourself and your family to the dentist regularly.

August 3rd, 2011
By Dental Health Magazine staff 

You would think that if you don’t go for those regular checkups at your dentist, you save money. Actually, you are wrong because not going to the dentist’s regularly results in extremely expensive side effects. 

Currently, there are millions of Americans who do not respect the appointments with their dentist, either because the lack of proper dental insurance or because they simply cannot afford to pay for the routine dental services. 

According to statistics from the Institute of Medicine some 33 million citizens live in areas where they do not have access to sufficient dental services, and there are approximately 5 million children who are not taken to the regular twice per year visits, because the parents cannot afford to pay. 

Although many people live with the conception that missing on dental visits will actually help them cut the costs for health related issues, if you don’t see regularly your dentist you will have to take out of your pocket more money in the future. 

Several articles written by experts in the field point out that the best way to save money on the dental bills is to actually respect the routine dental care practices. These include regular brushing and flossing, and not missing the checkups with your dentist. 

If you are skipping regular dental checkups, all you will manage to do is to turn a minor dental issue such as a cavity into a serious medical problem, such as an advanced infection of the tooth. Prevention is important, and it will cost you way less than having to go through a complicated treatment that might require surgery for example. 

By trying to save some money on their dental bills, many people don’t go for the regular checkups, and they end up losing their teeth. Replacing those teeth with dental implants is extremely expensive, so where you went to save $10, you might have to pay even $1,000+ a few years later in order to fix those damages. 

The Institute of Medicine also tries to raise the awareness that people who miss their routine dental visits might actually expose themselves to other health complications as well, such as respiratory diseases, diabetes or cardiovascular problems.

Post Credits: http://worldental.org/dental-news/missing-regular-dental-visits-expensive-patients/5007/ 

HPV Linked Oropharyngeal Cancer Rates Rise Dramatically

Check out this article below from MedicalNewsToday.com 

HPV Linked Oropharyngeal Cancer Rates Rise Dramatically

In the 1980s just over 16% of patients with oropharyngeal cancers tested positive to HPV, compared to over 70% during the last decade, researchers reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The authors add that if the rise in incidence continues at its present pace, the incidence of oropharyngeal cancers will overtake that of cervical cancer.

What is HPV?

HPV stands for human papillomavirus 

Oropharyngeal cancer is cancer which develops in the tissue of the oropharynx, the middle part of the throat, including the base of the tongue, tonsils, the soft palate, and the walls of the pharynx.

According to prior studies, oropharyngeal cancers can be divided into:

• HPV-negative cancers - which are usually linked to alcohol and tobacco use
• HPV-positive cancers - which are associated with some types of HPV, a sexually transmitted virus. Those with this type of oropharyngeal cancer are usually younger than HPV-negative cancer patients.

"Patients generally have better survival rates with this type of cancer."

Said senior author Maura Gillison, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and Jeg Coughlin Chair of Cancer Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus, wrote:

"We used to think of oropharyngeal cancer as one cancer, and now we know the disease is comprised of two biologically and epidemiologically distinct cancers. This new understanding will increasingly enable us to improve and better personalize care for patients with each form of the disease."

The team had previously demonstrated that survival rates and incidence for oropharyngeal cancers rose considerably in America between 1973 and 2004, while incidence rates for other cancers of the head and neck, such as oral cavity, dropped during the same period.

They tested 271 archived oropharynx cancer tissue samples from 5,755 patients for HPV infections. The samples came from three registries in Los Angeles, Iowa and Hawaii that had been collected between 1984 and 2004.

Using several molecular assays they demonstrated that the percentage of oropharyngeal cancers that were HPV-positive rose considerably during that period, from 16.3% between 1984 and 1989 to 72.7% between 200 and 2004.

In 1988, there were 0.8 cases of HPV-positive cancers per 100,000 people, compared to 2.6 in 2004 - a 225% increase. As smoking rates during the same period had dropped, HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer rates dropped by 50%.

By 2020, HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers will be the major form of cancer for the head and neck, and the leading HPV-linked cancer, overtaking cervical cancer if current trends continue, the authors added.

Post credits: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/235446.php

Your Weekend Fun From Mortenson!

FRIDAY

Walking Tour of Whiskey Row & Historic East Main

Join us on a leisurely walking tour of Louisville’s famous Whiskey Row and Historic East Main Street. Beginning at the Cressman Gallery in the Traughber Public Parking Garage at First and Main, Tom Owen will zig-zag us along Main and Washington Streets through the old Belknap Hardware Company complex, show us the world both above and below the Clark Memorial Bridge, and circle the old Big-4 Railroad Freighthouse (now Slugger Field). This rapidly developing area just above the YUM! Center has experienced abandonment and demolition but stories abound and an emerging future awaits. We will conclude the afternoon with a wine reception at an undisclosed and mysterious venue. The walking tour will begin at 3:00 p.m. at the Cressman Garage. There is a charge of $25 for members ($30 for non-members). You may reserve your place by visiting www.filsonhistorical.org or by calling The Filson at (502) 635-5083. Reservations are required.

Oct. 14, 2011, 3–5 p.m.
Cressman Gallery
First and Main, Traughber Parking Garage
filsonhistorical.org/programs-and-publications/lectures-and-events.aspx
502-635-5083
$25 for Filson members, $30 for non-members

 

 

Check's Cafe Live Music Fridays

This Friday, October 14th from 8:00 PM until Midnight we will be featuring Moondance for your listening pleasure and, as always, this is a free show. Come make yourself at home and enjoy some live music on this Fall evening.

Oct. 14, 8 p.m.
Check's Cafe
1101 East Burnett Ave
facebook.com/pages/Checks-Cafe/141078215919011
502-637-9515
Free
 

SATURDAY

“Civil War: My Brother, My Enemy” Exhibit

The War Between the States pitted brother against brother. Nowhere was this division more apparent than in the border state of Kentucky— where family lines were often the battle lines. The Frazier History Museum is hosting an original exhibition, “Civil War: My Brother, My Enemy,” in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War.

Oct. 15–April 8
Frazier History Museum
829 W. Main St.
fraziermuseum.org
502-753-5663
General museum admission

ColorFest Fall Festival at Bernheim Arboretum

Bernheim’s annual ColorFest has affordable family fun surrounded by fall’s spectacular beauty with great food, Kentucky crafts, the Scarecrow Jubilee and more. Enjoy the crisp fall beauty and great nature-related activities for kids, refreshments, music and fun for all. You will find enlightening and entertaining hands-on nature activities, distinctive crafts by Kentucky artists, pumpkin painting, a hay maze and much more. Learn about bees, purple martins and other wildlife; relax and enjoy the striking colors of fall on a hayride – bring family and friends and create your own perfect day at ColorFest.

Oct. 15–16
Bernheim
2499 Clermont Road
Clermont, KY 40110
bernheim.org
502-955-8512
Free event with regular admission to Bernheim

SUNDAY

Asiatique Fall Bubbles Brunch

Executive Chef P S Looi and Pabs Sembillo, co-owners of Asiatique restaurant announce plans for the Fall Bubbles Brunch, Sunday, October 16, 2011, with seating times of 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. “The Bubbles Brunch has become a favorite with our customers,” announced Pabs Sembillo, co-owner. “We have expanded to three separate seating times to accommodate its popularity.”

This four-course tribute to champagne and sparkling wines begins with a squash soup - roasted butternut squash + yellow curry soup with roasted duck breast paired with Lamarca Prosecco. A second course of citrus and crawfish salad - citrus and pepper marinated crawfish tail with bean medley and coconut vinaigrette paired with Jean-Louis Blanc de Blancs. The third course will be roasted quail - roasted chorizo stuffed quail with yellow corn risotto, apple cider + caraway reduction paired with Veuve Du Vernay Brut Rose. The fourth course of pumpkin panna cotta - Chinese 5 spice pumpkin panocotta with  ginger bread and Mandarin orange reduction paired with Beni Di Batasiolo Bosc DLa Rei Moscato. The cost is $35 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations may be made by calling (502) 451-2749.

Oct. 16, 1–5 p.m.
Asiatique
Highlands - Between Maryland & Speed
1767 Bardstown Road
asiatiquerestaurant.com
502-451-2749
$35 per person, plus tax and gratuity

 

Post Credits: The Louisville.com Weekender

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!

October - National Dental Hygiene Month!

It's National Dental Hygiene Month!

National Dental Hygiene Month is sponsored by Wrigley's

 

That seems funny, doesn't it? But, in actuality, chewing sugar-free gum after eating is clinically proven to be an important part of good oral health!

Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates the most important natural defense against tooth decay - saliva - which, in turn helps fight cavities, neutralize plaque acids, remineralize enamel to strengthen teeth and wash away food particles. 

Research from around the world has now shown conclusively that chewing sugar-free gum has many oral health benefits. When chewing is incorporated into the daily oral health care routine, especially after eating and drinking, it positively affects oral health.

Many people don't know about the scientific evidence supporting the use of sugar-free gum. Here are the hard facts:

1. Chewing ORBIT sugar-free gum stimulates the production of saliva to help wash away food debris and neutralize plaque acid from the mouth
2. Chewing ORBIT sugar-free gum can help prevent tooth decay by up to 40%
3. Chewing sugar-free gum increases the production of saliva by up to 10 times the resting rate
4. Chewing ORBIT sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating or drinking can help to neutralize plaque acid
5. Chewing ORBIT sugar-free gum stimulates saliva to help replace lost minerals after an acid attack
6. The use of sugar-free chewing gum has been associated using a reduction from the quantity and development of plaque.

Post Credits: 
http://betteroralhealth.info/orbit_us/professional-area/research/sugarfee-gum/facts/index.htm
http://www.adha.org/ndhm/index.html

Halloween Candy *Sweet Swap!*

We are teaming up with our friends at BracesBracesBraces and Kid's Dentistree for our first *Sweet Swap!* 

Weekend of October 7-9

Free Friday Night at the Speed Museum 

Be our guest for the evening! Enjoy FREE admission to the Museum's permanent collection and the award winning Art Sparks Interactive Family gallery on the First Friday of the month from 5-9 PM.

Discover Kentucky Antiques from the Noe Collection: A Gift to the Commonwealth, an exhibition of Kentucky art recently given to the Speed! 

October 7th, 5-9PM

The Speed Art Museum

2035 S. Third Street

502-634-2700

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Step back in time to relive all that is grand and glorious about childhood in a magical new adaptation of of Mark Twain's classic adventure. 

Actor's Theatre of Louisville

October 7th, 8-10PM (Show runs through October 29th)

316 W. Main Street 

502-584-1205

Susan G. Komen 16th Annual Race For the Cure! 

5k, 10k & 1 Mile Family Fun Walk

Saturday October 8th, Waterfront Park

komenlouisville.org for online registration

Prices range from $15 for youth (8th grade and below) to $35 for Adult 10k free. Sleep In registration is $35 and includes the cost to mail the t-shirts directly to participants. 

Florence Location: Patient Appreciation Day!

Mortenson Family Dental's Florence Patients are cordially invited to...

PATIENT APPRECIATION DAY!

This Saturday

OCTOBER 8th

11 AM - 3 PM 

7033 Burlington Pike, Suite 1

WE WILL BE GIVING AWAY:

Bengals vs. Colts Tickets

Family Four Pack to Kings Island

Sonicare Toothbrush Basket

Free Whitening

There will be entertainment from a live band, the Tooth Fairy will be making a visit, and there will be food and games for everyone!

Myths about Diabetes and Dental Care

This info will help you understand the myths and the facts 

of diabetes and dental care!

Are people with diabetes at greater risk for dental cavities?
There are two schools of thought on this topic. One school believes that high levels of sugar in the saliva of people with uncontrolled diabetes helps bacteria thrive, which leads to the development of cavities as well as sets the stage for gum disease. Also, the fact that diabetic patients tend to eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day may mean there is a greater chance for bacteria to grow and lead to the development of cavities. The other school of thought is that because people with diabetes are more knowledgeable about what they eat and the need to closely monitor their sugar intake, they don't eat many foods that contain cavity-causing sugar.

The fact is that people whose diabetes is well controlled have no more tooth decay or periodontal disease than persons without diabetes. Good oral hygiene and maintenance of blood sugar within the accepted range are the best protections against cavity formation and periodontal disease.

I've heard that people with diabetes can expect to loose their teeth more often and sooner than people without diabetes. Is this true?
 
Many factors play a role in the loss of teeth in people with diabetes. First, people with uncontrolled diabetes are more prone to the development of gingivitis and periodontal disease. If the infection persists, it can spread to the underlying bone that anchors the teeth. Complicating this situation is the fact that infections don't resolve as quickly in people with diabetes.

The good news for people with diabetes is that by practicing good dental care and oral hygiene habits -- brushing at least twice daily (or preferably after every meal) with a fluoride-containing toothpaste and flossing daily -- and by keeping blood sugar levels under control, the potential for infection from periodontal disease will be greatly reduced or eliminated as will the risk of tooth loss.

If I need oral surgery, am I more at risk for problems?
With close medical care and self care that keeps blood sugar as close to normal as possible and good personal and professional dental care, problems after surgery are no more likely in people with diabetes than in those without the disease.

Post credit:  WebMD.com

Dental Care Tips for People With Diabetes

Since people with diabetes are more prone to conditions that may harm their oral health, it's essential to follow good dental care practices and to pay special attention to any changes in your oral health and to seek a prompt dental consultation if such changes occur. 

Tips to consider:

• Keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible.
• At each dental care visit, tell your dentist about the status of your diabetes. For instance, he or she may want to know your HgA1C level to determine how well controlled your diabetes is (good control is indicated by a level under 7%). If you've had a hypoglycemic episode in the past (low blood sugar, also called an insulin reaction), you are at increased risk to have another one. Tell your dentist when your last episode was, how frequently such episodes occur, and when you took your last dose of insulin, if you take it.
• See your diabetes doctor before scheduling treatment for periodontal disease. Ask your doctor to talk to your dentist or periodontist about your overall medical condition before any dental treatment is performed. If oral surgery is planned, your doctor or dentist will tell you if you need to take any presurgical antibiotics or need to change your meal schedule or the timing and dosage of your insulin, if you take it.
• Make sure to give your dentist your diabetes doctor's name and phone number to include on your personal file. This information will then be readily accessible by your dentist should any questions or concerns arise.
• Bring your dentist a list of all the names and dosages of all medications you are taking. Your dentist will need to know this information to prescribe medications least likely to interfere with the medications you are already taking if medications are needed. If a major infection is being treated, your insulin dose -- for those taking insulin -- may need to be adjusted. Check with your doctor.
• Postpone nonemergency dental care procedures if your blood sugar is not in good control. However, acute infections, such as abscesses, should be treated right away.
• Keep in mind that healing may take longer in people with diabetes. Follow your dentist's post-treatment instructions closely.
• People with diabetes with orthodontic appliances (such as braces) should contact their orthodontist immediately if a wire or bracket results in a cut to their tongue or mouth.

Post credits: WebMD.com

Dental Care & Diabetes

Do you have a friend or relative that has diabetes? It's a good idea to talk to them about their dental care as those with diabetes should take extra steps in caring for their teeth and mouth to stay healthy!

Diabetes is a disease that can affect the whole body, including your mouth. Dental care is particularly important for people with diabetes because they face a higher than normal risk of oral health problems due to poorly controlled blood sugars. The less well controlled the blood sugar, the more likely oral health problems will arise. This is because uncontrolled diabetes impairs white blood cells, which are the body's main defense against bacterial infections that can occur in the mouth.

What Dental Problems Are People With Diabetes at Higher Risk For?

• Dry mouth.  Dry mouth can further lead to soreness, ulcers, infections, and tooth decay.
• Gum inflammation (gingivitis and periodontitis). Besides impairing white blood cells, another complication of diabetes is that it causes blood vessels to thicken, which slows the flow of nutrients to and waste products from body tissues, including the mouth. When this combination of events happens, the body's ability to fight infections is reduced. Since periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, diabetics with uncontrolled disease may experience more frequent and more severe gum disease.
• Poor healing of oral tissues.
• Thrush. People with diabetes who frequently take antibiotics to fight various infections are especially prone to developing a fungal infection of the mouth and tongue. The fungus thrives on the high levels of sugar in the saliva of people with uncontrolled diabetes.
• Burning mouth and/or tongue. This condition is caused by the presence of thrush.

People with diabetes who smoke are at even a higher risk -- up to 20 times more likely than nonsmokers -- for the development of thrush and periodontal disease. Smoking also seems to impair blood flow to the gums -- which may affect wound healing in this tissue area.

Tomorrow we will discuss Dental Care Tips For People With Diabetes and Wednesday we'll discuss Myths about Diabetes and Dental Care.

Post credits: www.webmd.com