I have heard a lot of dentist-Halloween jokes, but one of the funniest I saw was a bumper sticker that read “EAT CANDY. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL DENTIST.” All joking aside, tootsie rolls, suckers, and hard candy can be very damaging to the teeth because of the length of time they are in the mouth and the amount of stickiness or retentiveness they have within the tooth. An entire bowl of vanilla ice cream, for instance, is not nearly as damaging as a tootsie blow pop. The blow pop stays in the mouth longer and is better retained by the tooth. Sort these items out of your child’s candy bucket!

My family has maintained the tradition of the Halloween Witch for years now. Our kids look forward to this more than they do the actual trick or treating. The Halloween Witch comes a few days after Halloween and takes all of the candy and leaves a toy for the child. My kids have already started asking about this in anticipation.

David Leras is the winner of our summer I-POD NANO competition! Mr. Leras referred in the most family members and friends to our office to receive their dental care in our summer referral competition. We get many calls from patients asking us if are accepting new patients and we certainly ARE! If anyone you know needs a dentist or a second opinion on treatment, please let them know we would love to help them!

On a different note, do you have gum disease? A study published in the July 2008 Diabetes Care journal showed that people with higher degrees of gum disease were nearly twice as likely to develop diabetes. If you do have gum disease, get it treated! Don’t underestimate the disease or thesignificance of proper oral care, a proper diet, regular exercise, and regular trips to see your physician.

Lastly, you may have received a letter from Tammy reminding you that if you do have a dental benefit plan and unscheduled treatment needs, to please contact our office so that we may assist you in utilizing you benefits this calendar year. Don’t wait until January and those benefits have expired!

I hope everyone will enjoy the cooler weather and your family time this fall. Please enjoy the tips below from the Academy of General Dentistry.

Low-carb diets work by limiting the amount of carbohydrates ingested, which allows the body to burn stored fat instead of carbohydrates. When the body burns fat as fuel, chemicals (ketones) are produced and released in the breath and urine and may result in halitosis. Ketones aren't the only bad breath culprit for this diet. The types of foods ingested also play a role. Click here to learn more.

There are a number of effective brushing techniques. Patients are advised to check with their dentist or hygienist to determine which technique is best for them, since tooth position and gum condition vary. One effective, easy-to-remember technique involves using a circular or elliptical motion to brush a couple of teeth at a time, gradually covering the entire mouth. Click here to learn other ways to take care of your oral health.

In addition to racking up frequent flyer miles, some travelers may also experience bad breath, and possibly a condition known as ”tooth squeeze,” while flying the friendly skies. ”Tooth squeeze,” or barodontalgia, describes a toothache or dental pain resulting from any change in barometric pressure during flight. The pain may, or may not, become more severe as altitude is increased, but descent almost invariably brings relief. Want to make sure your breath stays fresh during travel? Click here to read more

Bacteria can live in your mouth in the form of plaque, a sticky layer of material that accumulates on teeth. Plaque causes cavities and gingivitis, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease. In order to keep your mouth clean, you must practice good oral hygiene every day. A good oral hygiene regimen includes brushing twice a day with an antimicrobial toothpaste, flossing and using an oral rinse. Questions on how you can improve your oral hygiene routine? Read more!