Happy St. Patrick's Day! Don't rely on luck for a great dental checkup:
* Brush your teeth for two minutes twice per day.
* Floss every day.
* Drink lots of water, especially after meals.
* Visit the dentist regularly.
 

Spring forward!  It is time for blooming flowers and long lazy afternoons.  Don't forget to change your clocks tomorrow.  Sleep in, get a great breakfast, and enjoy having more sunshine!  

Young children often suck on pacifiers or their thumbs to soothe themselves. However, pacifier use and thumbsucking can cause problems with the growth and development of the mouth, including the alignment of teeth. Thumbsucking can be a difficult habit to break. Here are some tips:
* Provide alternative comfort to your child if he or she is thumbsucking for comfort.
* Praise your child for not thumbsucking.
* Involve older children in developing a plan to stop.
* Ask us for help explaining how thumbsucking affects teeth at your child's next visit.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/Lsaju8

Happy National Nutrition Month! You may be wondering why our dental team emphasizes nutrition so much. The truth is that your diet affects far more than your weight! Your food choices— from what you eat to when you eat— play a role in tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Learn more from http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/nutrition.

Ideally, none of us would ever have to use a dental first aid kit, but accidents do happen. A dental first aid kit can help you take control of an emergency situation until you're able to get to the dentist. Some items you may want to consider including in your kit are:
* Medical exam gloves
* Dental mirror
* Flashlight
* Dental wax
* Tweezers
* Sterile gauze

For more information on making your own dental first aid kit, click here: http://bit.ly/2esALmI

Happy Share a Smile Day!

Have you ever wondered if our human ancestors had the same dental health issues we have today? Anthropology professor Debbie Guatelli-Steinberg studies how changes in human diets have affected our teeth and jaws over time. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2j5yuzq

How do zookeepers train gorillas to let them brush their teeth? One Zoo Atlanta keeper says she used some of the same techniques for her own children! http://nyti.ms/1DUPz8a

Cold and flu season is here, and you may find yourself suffering from a painful sore throat. Sore throats can have a variety of causes, including colds, streptococcus bacteria and inflammation of the tonsils. Get help identifying the cause of your sore throat from WebMD: http://wb.md/2iwKlcC

Don't get caught with something stuck in your braces! There are lots of tools that you can use to clean your braces quickly and easily on the go. Learn more here:http://wb.md/1AfrosV

Would a tax on soda and other sugary drinks deter you from buying and drinking them? Mexico implemented a 10% nationwide tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in 2014 to combat high rates of diabetes, heart disease and obesity, and several United States cities and counties have followed suit. Share your thoughts with us in the comments!http://cnn.it/2hTWbtW

Do you need a little extra help remembering to floss daily? Text2Floss is a free program that will send you oral hygiene tips and daily reminders to floss for 7 days to help you establish healthy habits. Visit www.text2floss.com for more information and to get started!

Happy National Children's Dental Health Month! We want to help you help the children in your life establish good oral hygiene habits. Early education helps set children up for good oral and overall health for life! Check out http://www.mouthhealthykids.org/ for great teaching resources.

February 9th is National Toothache Day. Here are some tips that may offer temporary relief or dull a toothache.

Have you ever had an unusual symptom in your mouth, head or neck but been unsure of whether it warranted a trip to the dentist? The American Dental Association's Mouth Healthy website offers a free, easy to use Dental Symptom Checker that can help you identify possible conditions and treatment options. You can also download a mobile version for both Android and Apple devices. Remember: when in doubt, call us to schedule an appointment! http://bit.ly/1co85Fd

February isn't just about Valentine's— it's also American Heart Month! You may be wondering how heart health is related to your oral health. The same bacteria that can cause periodontal (gum) disease can also contribute to heart disease and stroke. We look for signs of heart disease and other conditions at each of your dental examinations in order to help you prevent and treat them as early as possible.

1. Reduce or eliminate caffeinated foods and drinks.
2. Avoid consuming alcohol.
3. Don't chew on pens, pencils or other objects, including gum.
4. Take steps to reduce stress and anxiety in your life.
5. When you notice clenching or grinding, place your tongue between your teeth to help relax your jaw.
6. Place a warm washcloth on your jaw.
7. Ask us about using a night guard to protect your teeth.

Are your lips feeling dry, sore and scaly as a result of cold winter weather? Check out these tips to prevent and heal chapped lips from WebMD: http://wb.md/2g7VwV4