The Dentist's Guide to Halloween

Halloween is around the corner, which for most children means bags of free candy and a chance to build up a stockpile of sweets for the winter. One of the most fun times of the year for families, Halloween can also present parents with a variety of health and safety challenges.

The American Dental Association, America's premier source of oral health information, has prepared a list of 10 suggestions to help parents maintain good oral health for their children around the Halloween holiday and throughout the year.

1. Consume Halloween candy and other sugary foods with meals.  Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.
2. Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. Besides how often you snack, the length of time food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it is a sugar-free product, candies that stay in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to prolonged acid attack, increasing the risk for tooth decay.
3. Avoid sticky candies that cling to your teeth. The stickier candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay. 
4. Drink more water. Consuming optimally fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, check the label for the fluoride content.
5. Maintain a healthy diet and make sure the meals you eat are nutritious.Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you "fill up" affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums.
6. Avoid beverages with added sugar such as soda, sports drinks or flavored waters. When teeth come in frequent contact with beverages that contain sugar, the risk of tooth decay is increased.
7. Chew gum that has the ADA Seal. Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals has been shown to reduce tooth decay, because increased saliva flow helps wash out food and neutralize the acid produced by dental plaque bacteria
8. Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.  Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth. 
9. Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay-causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can't reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
10. Visit an ADA-member dentist for more information on maintaining your oral health.

Celebrating 35 Years- Thoughts from Dr. O. Wayne Mortenson, CEO

I had the privilege of visiting a meeting of the Middletown practices yesterday. It brought a flood of memories to my mind. It reminded me of how precious each day is and how fast time passes. The past thirty-five years have been amazingly rewarding and fulfilling. It is hard to believe that in June of 1979 we began with two dental operatories and no paid employees. Sue worked the front desk and I did the dentistry (4 to 6 patients/day) for the first few months. Phyllis Hundley was our first employee.

The growth of our company is truly amazing. I believe the foundation of our success is based on two very fundamental principles: first, we love and respect each other as team members and second, we listen to our patients and give them our personal attention and care. I appreciate your willingness to embrace and live this culture.

Steve James and I were invited to speak to the senior dental school students at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Wes Coffman, the professor, told the students before we spoke that he wanted them to see that success comes from planning your life and future. He said, "If you don't visualize and plan your life, other people and circumstances will design a life for you." I know that planning and goal setting are vitally important to attaining what we want in life. I am so grateful to our leaders and every team member for embracing the goal setting process and then exhibiting the discipline of executing our vision.

I want every one of you to enjoy great success in your personal lives. Write down some of your long-term goals, re-visit them often. Where do you want to be in five years? What will your homes look like? Build a plan for each decade. What are your expectations for your forties and fifties? What about sixty and seventy? Trust me, fulfillment requires a plan. Achieving our personal, family, and professional goals is the reward of purposeful, planned life.

Thank you for your positive influence on the success of our company. Thank you for being an example to me... you are all very kind, considerate, charitable, and committed to our combined success. I know the next thirty-five years hold great promise and opportunity for each of you. Enjoy each day, plan for tomorrow and find joy and fulfillment in a life well lived. I love you all!!