World Oral Health Day

Happy World Oral Health Day!

Celebrate.

Look after your teeth so they last you a lifetime.

Healthy teeth for a healthy life.

World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year on March 20th. It reminds us that healthy teeth, gums and mouth play a crucial role in our ability to work or study without constant, nagging and painful toothaches, in our self confidence and in the health of our entire body. 

World Oral Health Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage individuals, families, communities and governments to take measures to lower the incidence of oral disease. 

Remember these three steps to maintaining great oral health:

healthy eating

effective home oral care and 

regular dental visits

original source

Smiles For Life!

 It is that time of year again, Smiles for Life is back!

Every March - June, all Mortenson Family Dental practices are professionally whitening teeth at substantially reduced prices to raise money for seriously ill, disabled, and underprivileged children in their local communities and around the world. This means BIG SAVINGS for our patients!

Smiles For Life 2013

How It Works

At your appointment at any Mortenson Family Dental office, you will make your payment for your teeth bleaching procedure to the Smiles For Life Foundation. 50% of that payment will be earmarked for the following local charities: Kosair Children's Hospital, WaterStep and School Choice Scholarships. The remainder is given to a children's charity approved by the Smiles For Life Foundation. It's as simple as that. Whiten your teeth, save money and help a child! 

Candy-Free Valentines!

Valentines Day doesn't have to be a tooth-wrecker! 

You can still spread the love with these great candy-free Valentines ideas! 

You're Out of Sight, Valentine! | I've Had My Eye on You | You're Just Write For Me | You Blow Me Away! 

 You Make My Heart Glow | You Make the World Sparkle | Dropping Down to Say Happy Vday | I Was "Soapin" You'd Be My Valentine

Will you o'fish'ally be my Valentine? | Have a Ball! | You're The Apple of My Eye! | You Are A-MAZE-ING!

How great are these ideas? Click on any of the links above to see how to make them. And, for more awesome candy-free Valentines, head to our Pinterest page here!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

YOU MAKE US SMILE! 

7 Secrets to a Healthy Smile

By Elizabeth B. Krieger
WebMD the Magazine - Feature

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

When it comes to lighting up some of Hollywood's brightest smiles as well as tending to the pearly whites of the average Joe, New York City dentist Steven Roth, DMD, does it all. With more than 25 years of cosmetic and restorative dentistry experience, he created a technique that allows patients to "test drive" cosmetic dental procedures (such as temporary veneers) before taking the plunge. We chatted with Roth from his Manhattan office, SmilesNY, and asked him to share the seven things he always tells every patient.

1. You probably aren't seeing the dentist enough.

The standard twice-a-year visit (covered by most dental plans) is only half enough. Adults should see the dentist every 90 days. I know it sounds like a lot (and believe me, I get some resistance from reluctant patients), but, after just three months, the bacteria we clean out of your mouth during a check-up -- it's all recolonized! I know it can seem expensive, especially if you have to pay for the additional visits out of pocket, but it's well worth it from a health perspective. If you think about what you might spend on regularly cutting or coloring your hair, it's really not far off from that.

2. If you're scared of the dentist because you think it's going to hurt, you're not seeing the right dentist.

Today we can manage every single aspect of discomfort with the right medications to handle the annoyance of keeping your mouth open for a long period of time, or anesthesia for more extensive, invasive procedures like root canals. You name the issue, we can address it.

3. If you wait until you feel pain, it's way too late.

Know this: Most dental issues don't cause pain at first. Cavities, before they become deep, are painless. Gum disease -- also silent. But once you're wincing in pain, that means there's probably already an infection or the pockets of your gums have become riddled with bacteria. Bottom line: Make frequent check-up appointments to nip invisible-to-you problems in the bud, and put your dentist on speed-dial should you notice any problems.

4. Nothing can replace good, old-fashioned dental floss.

Sure, you can buy sharp little instruments at the drugstore for picking at your teethor follow every meal with a toothpick, but until you get in between the teeth, where the surfaces abut one another, you're not attacking the location where some of the worst bacteria hide. The truth is, brushing only gets about 50% of the nasty stuff off of your teeth. Floss is the only thing that can attack the other half. No matter how fantastically high-tech your brush is or how thoroughly you go over each tooth, you still need to floss.

5. Seeing the dentist may save your life.

People are slowly realizing that gum disease might be a sign of heart disease. Some studies indicate a connection but more research needs to be done. It's all about inflammation -- be it of the gums or of the arteries of the heart. Some studies show that bacteria in gum disease is also in plaques in heart arteries. Seeing the dentist can benefit not only your smile and the whiteness of your teeth, but also your overall health.

6. The mouth tells no lies.

I can tell so much about a person just peering into their mouth. I can see if they have certain habits or issues -- whether they drink a lot of soda or coffee and if they have had a drug problem in the past or present. If they are experiencing a lot of stress, they may grind or clench their teeth, leading to gum recession or telltale wear patterns. Acid erosion patterns can betray a bulimic. Bad breath can even say a lot -- be it acid reflux, a poor diet, or even diabetes. You just can't hide these things once you open your mouth.

7. Not all whites are right.

There's no one-size-fits-all shade of white. If you bring in a picture of someone whose bright smile you admire, it's entirely possible it won't suit you. It depends on your coloring and your teeth. It's a bit like hair color in that respect. Everyone has a different potential for whiteness.