Thanksgiving Day Poem

       Thanksgiving Observance

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

                                -Author Unknown


Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday Everyone!

Keep Smiling!

Braces

Do you need braces? Have you ever took a look at the different types of braces are? Well if you haven't here are some different types to check out!

• Ceramic braces (tooth colored)- Very Strong and usually do not stain! The brackets "blend in" with the teeth, making it less noticeable to people! These are most likely to stain if you smoke, drink coffee... Here are some pros and cons: Pros- You may feel more comfortable, blend in with the tooth so it does not show up in pictures! Cons- More expensive than traditional braces, Treatment may take longer.
• Invisalign Braces- This is great for people with minor problems (slightly crooked teeth) This is made with very strong plastic and made just for you. Pros- No one can tell you are wearing braces, easier to clean. Cons- Cost a little more than traditional braces, treatment can take longer.
• Metal Braces(traditional)- Very strong and can withstand most treatment. At first maybe very sensitive but that will subside after a few days. Pros- The least expensive, tend to take the least amount of time for treatment. Cons- More noticeable than the others, not comfortable.

Dirty Mouth? Clean it up with... Raisins??

Sounds strange but apparently raisins can offer many benefits to your over-all oral health.

It turns out that a study has shown that certain compounds found particularly in raisins inhibit the growth of bad bacteria that lead to cavities, gingivitis and periodontal disease. Of course your daily brushing regimen is still necessary in order to maintain good oral hygiene, a hand full of raisins are great when your toothbrush or trident aren't handy.

Some more reasons to chew on some raisins....??

-they are natural antioxidants which aid in reducing the risk of colon cancer as well as some forms of dementia

-they help relieve symptoms of constipation

-they help with the treatment of anemia being high in iron, b-vitamin complex and copper all of which are essential for the formation of blood and red blood cells.

-they help a weakened libido

-they are good for your bones being high in calcium, and boron which is necessary for proper bone formation and calcium absorption. Boron also very helpful in preventing menopause induced osteoporosis in women

-they are good for your eyes as they contain certain antioxidants and nutrients that promote good ocular health

The jury is still out on whether ordinary raisins or the golden variety are best, but there are health benefits from both.

So if you are a raisin lover like I am, then start adding them to your diet and keep smiling!

Original post by MoobieDoo - January 2011

When to file a complaint with the Dental Board

Too often when a patient encounters a problem with a dentist, he/she will go directly to the Dental Board of Examiners before exploring other options for resolution. This is a very time consuming and tedious process, for both the patient and the doctor. There is almost always another way! Here are some tips to resolving issues with your dentist:

• Make sure the problem is the kind of issue that warrants a complaint with the board. Issues such as billing, overbooking appointments and rudeness by office staff are not reasons for a Dental Board complaint. These types of complaints can usually be resolved with a verbal or written complaint to the office manager. If this is not effective, then a written complaint to the owner/corporate entity will usually do the trick.
• If the issue is a quality of care issue, and you feel that you are due a refund or wish for the doctor to re-do the procedure or replace an inferior product, the first option to try is to discuss the problem with the doctor directly, bypassing the office staff. Be clear and concise. State what you believe is the problem and let the doctor know what you expect him to do.
• If the above option fails, try putting your complaint in a formal written letter, addressed directly to the doctor (never the center or practice) and send it certified mail, registered (so only he can sign) and request a return receipt. Again, state very clearly what the issue is and what you would like the doctor to do. Let him/her know that you are aware of all of your options and that you are attempting a resolution before you take the problem to a higher level. You will most definitely get his attention. In my years of working in this field, I have found that this option is almost always the most effective.

Remember, don't make a hasty decision. Go to the Board of Dental Examiners only after you have exhausted all avenues for resolving the problem.

Genius Uses For Toothpaste

What is one cheap thing everyone owns (or should own)?  That's RIGHT toothpaste!! Toothpaste contains mild abrasives and detergents mixed with creamy thickening agents which keep your teeth cleans, this can also take place of expensive cleaners.

Here are some things you can clean with toothpaste!

• Polish Jewelry - Apply a thin film of toothpaste with a soft cloth or toothbrush on the piece of jewelry you wish to polish. Polish, rinse with water and dry.
• Remove carpet stains - Scrub stain with toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Clean scratched Cd's - Dab a small amount of toothpaste on the scratch and buff with a cloth, rinse and dry.
• Spiff up sneakers - Apply a small amount of toothpaste on the sneaker and scrub with a toothbrush.
• Banish water rings on furniture - Dab a small amount if toothpaste and use a damp cloth to gently buff away the water ring. You may have to repeat this a few times.
• Clean the inside of water bottles or baby bottles - Scrub the inside using a toothbrush and toothpaste, rinse with hot water.
• Defog - Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the inside of your mask or goggles and rinse.

*Don't use colored toothpaste or gels, these can leave unwanted stains. All you need is a plain tube of white toothpaste!

Having trouble understanding dental language??

Check out Savon's Tooth-o-Pedia! This convenient dental dictionary helps if you are trying to understand your bill, your treatment plan, or even understand the dentist as he speaks to you!

This is a GREAT tool that I have found very useful at home and at work!!! I've even surprised my friends with how much I know about dental! I recommend bookmarking this page to anyone!

Here is Savon's Tooth-o-Pedia

 

 

Original post by MoobieDoo on 12/23/2008

Dentists Are People Too!

As promised, this is my follow-up post about why the dentist dreads the patient. I feel it's the right thing to do, after all, out of fairness to the dentist. The following is a serious but humorous accounting of information I have gathered over the years...believe me, the dentists have horror stories too, they just don't complain as much...to us, that is! Here we go:

1. The number one complaint is: "No Shows". That's right, this is the flip side of us having to wait for an hour past our appointment time. When we don't show for an appointment, it costs them money in the form of what we call "chair time". Not that they don't welcome the break....I once witnessed a dentist who had some free time on his hands dancing up and down the hallway wearing reindeer antlers (made out of plastic gloves) and singing Christmas Carols. And he was very out of tune!

2. They hate it when they've done a treatment plan, recommended a root canal or filling and then the patient doesn't follow the professional advice and a year down the road, oh oh...it's abscessed, and the patient declares an emergency! Know what the dentist is thinking? Something like this: "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....." But of course he/she would never tell you that so the office receptionist graciously sets you an appointment and he/she quietly fixes your tooth because that is what he/she was trained for... (and yet we still dread the dentist!)

3. They dread being bitten, kicked and spit at...and I'm not talking about children! There are adults out there who literally cannot control themselves. I swear, someone should publish a book with some of the stories I've been told. It would be a #1 Bestseller.

4. Frivolous complaints to the dental board. My goodness...you would not believe some of the things that are brought up in front of the Board. Some years ago I was given a copy of a complaint filed by an elderly woman against her dentist because during her treatment she was cold and he didn't have a warm blanket in his office to offer her. True story!

5. The proverbial "dental jokester". Seriously, do you know how many times in his/her career a dentist hears the words "I hate the dentist", or, "that was expensive, am I helping to pay for your Mercedes?". Now, there are a few dentists out there with a sense of humor but....really?

Well there it is...the other side of the coin. I n retrospect, the dentist really does get a bad rap. Trained to heal, just like a doctor, and dedicated to the patient, most of them anyway. I guess it's important to consider that Dentists are people too!

Keep Smiling!

The Top 5 Reasons People Dread The Dentist

We all dread a visit to the dentist for varying reasons. Many of us have our own horror stories, we've all heard horror stories, and we all know someone who has had a bad experience at one point or another. For some of us it is a minor inconvenience; just another reason to take an hour off of work or an hour out of your day for routine personal care. For others, however, it is an event that must be carefully planned well in advance so as to mentally and emotionally prepare for what is sure to be the worst experience of their life...and I genuinely feel for those people...well, after all we all have phobias, don't we? Now, I really have to say this in defense of the dentist...it isn't all bad, right?
Anyway, I searched the web and came up with five of the most common things that people dread about the dentist's office. Now, there are likely 500 more reasons floating around out there and for everyone the experience is different, so I hope that you'll contribute to this blog by commenting or telling me your own personal story.

1. The top A #1 reason is: Needles. It's one thing to go to a doctor and get a tetanus shot, but when a dentist is aiming at the roof of your mouth with a needle, well, that's a game changer.

2. Anxiety. Just the anticipation of having to endure a dental procedure is enough to keep people out of the chair.

3. Sounds and smells. The medicinal smell and the sound of the drill cause anxiety for many. In my personal opinion, if they would just create more of a spa atmosphere....nah, that's just too much to ask for!

4. Waiting in an office that is running behind. Having to wait increases anxiety, causes agitation....and frankly, our time is as important as yours, doctor!! Yes, we've all wanted to say it to the poor receptionist. "I was here on time, why is the doctor running late?"

5. Cost. Flatly, dentistry is among the most expensive personal expenditures in the health industry. I believe it falls just under neuro-surgery.. (just kidding). I found no actual data to support that theory but there are people out there who take out loans to pay for dentistry...we're talking substantial loans. With interest. It's mind blowing.

Again, please give me some feedback on this blog! I welcome your comments and stories. My next blog will be in direct contrast to this one...I'm going to list the top 5 reasons why the dentist dreads the patient!!!

Keep Smiling!

Preventing Flu Starting With Your Toothbrush

Flu season is upon us again, we are constantly washing our hands to prevent the spread of germs. But it is JUST as important to pay attention to your toothbrush.

Here are some helpful tips that could help prevent you from catching that nasty flu.

• Replace your toothbrush about very 2-3 months. If you all ready have a cold replace the brush once you feel better.  
• Sterilize the toothbrush, this should be done about once a week. If someone in the household is sick you may want to do this twice a week. The best way to sterilize the toothbrush is running it through the dishwasher when you do a load of dishes. If you don't have a dishwasher, place your toothbrush in a microwave safe dish and fill it up with about 2-3 inches of water and bring to a boil for 3-4 minutes.
• Store your toothbrush away from others, use a toothbrush cover if possible and always store it upright. Also try to use your own toothpaste, because if the bristles touch the toothbrush of others you are spreading germs from one person to another.

Good dental habits are very important to a healthy body. Take care during this flu season!

How often do you think about your taste buds?

When your taking a bite of a big, juicy burger or sipping on a milkshake, you know one thing... It tastes good, right? Ever think about why that is? 

Your tongue and the roof of your mouth are covered in thousands of these tiny little buds. When you eat, your saliva helps break down food. Your taste buds send little messages to your brain which tell you all kinds of information like wheather or not the food tastes good, if it's hot, cold, sweet, sour, etc. 

Taste buds are most important because they are play the biggest part in enjoying different foods and flavors. As a child, you would have been more sensitive to different foods because your taste buds were not only on your tongue, but on the roof and the sides of your mouth. As an adult, you may notice certain foods you were unable to eat as a child, taste better. This is because your taste buds are more centered to your tongue area and are now less sensitive.

Here are some facts about your taste buds:

-Buds that taste bitterness are located at the back of the tongue. Sour taste buds are located on either side of the tongue, with salty/sweet buds on the tip. The center of the tongue does not have many taste buds.

-Taste is the weakest of the 5 senses

- Girls have more tastebuds than boys

-We have nearly 10,000 taste buds inside our mouths



original post by Moobiedoo 9-29-2008

Dental Plan 101

Keep Smiling!