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Can Cosmetic Dentistry Make You Healthier — Find Out!
Having your teeth straightened is about much more than simply wanting to look good. Fixing a crooked smile offers plenty of health benefits, too, some of which may surprise you. Here are six ways cosmetic dentistry can help your overall well-being.
2021 Trick-Or-Treat Tips: Fewer Cavities Means More Fun!
Parents often fret that the one night of trick-or-treating produces more health-destroying, teeth-ruining junk than you’d ever want your child to eat in a year. Start a trend by giving out healthier fare when kids knock on your door.
Can Cosmetic Dentistry Make You Healthier — Find Out!
Having your teeth straightened is about much more than simply wanting to look good. Fixing a crooked smile offers plenty of health benefits, too, some of which may surprise you. Here are six ways cosmetic dentistry can help your overall well-being.
2021 Trick-Or-Treat Tips: Fewer Cavities Means More Fun!
Parents often fret that the one night of trick-or-treating produces more health-destroying, teeth-ruining junk than you’d ever want your child to eat in a year. Start a trend by giving out healthier fare when kids knock on your door.
Crown Lengthening For A Better, Healthier Smile?
What dental procedure can save the day in so many situations? Find out more about crown-lengthening and how it just might do some great things for your smile…
Extra! Dental News from Around The Web!
In this month’s roundup, the best teeth whitening methods for you — plus, top celebs who added veneers to their glamour arsenal — and more!
Crown Lengthening For A Better, Healthier Smile?
What dental procedure can save the day in so many situations? Find out more about crown-lengthening and how it just might do some great things for your smile…
Extra! Dental News from Around The Web!
In this month’s roundup, the best teeth whitening methods for you — plus, top celebs who added veneers to their glamour arsenal — and more!
8 Things To Actually Know Before Selecting Clear Aligners
Both clear aligners and traditional braces can straighten your teeth, but which one is right for you? Here’s a helpful review of what clear aligners do, plus eight things to consider before making your decision.
Why Tongue-Cleaning Is No Gag!
If you care about the health of your mouth, there’s one more thing you probably could be doing that you don’t – cleaning your tongue. Check out this important step for better breath, healthier teeth and gums and more!
8 Things To Actually Know Before Selecting Clear Aligners
Both clear aligners and traditional braces can straighten your teeth, but which one is right for you? Here’s a helpful review of what clear aligners do, plus eight things to consider before making your decision.
Why Tongue-Cleaning Is No Gag!
If you care about the health of your mouth, there’s one more thing you probably could be doing that you don’t – cleaning your tongue. Check out this important step for better breath, healthier teeth and gums and more!
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Back-To-School Means Back To The Dentist! 7 Crucial Pointers
Dental checkups should be on every kid’s back-to-school checklist.
What with the potential for pain, eating and speech difficulties, it’s no wonder that children miss an estimated 51 million school hours a year because of dental issues. That’s why it’s so important that a dentist appointment for your child be part of your back-to-school regimen. Here are some strategies (and extra videos) to ensure both you and your kids are on track.
Plan Ahead – Way Ahead
How many people have you heard say, “the summer is just flying by”. Before you know it, the first day of school looms large. If in mid-August, the thought suddenly occurs to you to dial your dentist, the answer on the other end may be, “sorry, we are so-o-o booked.”
Our advice is to make the appointment early, say, right after the end of school in June. That way, there’ll be no rush, plenty of time for preparing your child for the visit, and less fighting the crowd to make an appointment at a convenient time.
Back To School Dental Exam Checklist | Anastasia Turchetta
Health empowerment conversationalist a.k.a. public speaker, Anastasia Turchetta, gives you her take on the best way to get your kid to the dentist without a major breakdown.
Doing The Right Thing
Brushing twice a day — regular flossing — tongue cleaning — establishing proper dental habits — they all help avoid cruel surprises, like cavities and gum disease, at that back-to-school appointment.
As a parent, your approach to encouraging good hygiene habits is so important. For young children, try to participate at the sink, and make it a fun experience. The more enjoyable it is for the child, the better good habits are engrained. As kids grow older and assume more responsibility for themselves, it will become easier on you. Teens, though, can be more difficult — so, yes, it’s important to encourage good habits, but not to “nag” — try to take a more subtle approach.
Ask The Expert: Back To School Dentist Visit | WTMJ-TV Milwaukee
A local Milwaukee dentist gives his take on setting up the proper back-to-school dental experience for kids.
7 Back-To-School Dental Visit Pointers
- Make sure your child gets a great night’s sleep before the appointment. This will avoid grumpiness and negative feelings the morning of.
- Try to make sure your kid is not hungry before your appointment. However, feeding a child a snack in the dental office is not a good idea — food particles make it much harder for the dentist and hygienist to do a good job, even with gargling and such. Note: If your child has a strong gagging reflex, it’s probably better to make the meal prior to the appointment a light one and stretch the time before the appointment.
- Sitting in the dental chair often takes some concentration and an ability to relax. So, if possible, avoid scheduling an appointment right after activities you know will require energy, i.e., make your child tired. This is not always possible, but do your best to think ahead.
- Plan to be on time for your child’s dental appointment. It demonstrates good manners, avoids conflict and is considerate of other patients. Also, your dentist will most likely require protective masks for your visit. Make sure you take one along for yourself and each visitor you bring, and then some extras.
- As the parent of a young child, it is understandable to be nervous, yourself, as you walk into the dental office. Best to contain those feelings since they are contagious, and put on your best, most loving face. Trust in your your dentist and hygienist to instill confidence and comfort in your child — after all, they do this all day long!
- If you are bringing more than one child to the dentist on the same day, let the more “amenable” one get into the chair first. This will offer a good example to the more “anxious” one. Note: This is assuming there is a more anxious one — most children don’t mind the experience!
- If your child acts up, try to remain calm and get through the moment. Enough said.
A Dentist Visits My School | NYUDental
A typical school kid describes his experience when a dentist visits his class to provide free checkups.
The Bottom Line On Back-To-School Dental Visits
Proper dental care is so critical to child growth and development, and to ensure minor problems don’t turn into major ones. Do what you can to make your child’s dental visit a smooth ride, and contact us with any questions you may have. We are there for you!
Extra! Dental News from Around The Web!
In this month’s roundup, gums that could cause heart disease — cautions to expectant moms — TMJ pain — and dental insurance pointers…
Secrets To Longer-Lived Smiles
Healthy teeth are important for a healthy life, so it’s essential to have a good oral health routine. Here are a few items you can include on your checklist, and discuss with your dentist!
The Hidden Dangers of Gum Disease
If you’ve been to the dentist recently or even browsed the oral hygiene aisle at the supermarket, chances are you’ve heard of gum disease – and you know it’s something you don’t want in your mouth.
What you may not know is just how much gum disease can put your general health at considerable risk. There are some pretty shocking links between poor oral health and the health of the rest of your body.
The Tie Between Gum Disease and Chronic Diseases
At its core, gum disease is an inflammatory condition caused by bacterial infection. Mild inflammation is called gingivitis and is usually relatively easy to reverse. Unaddressed, gingivitis can progress into full-blown advanced periodontal disease that can result in severe consequences for your teeth, gums, and overall health.
There is strong evidence to suggest that chronic gum disease can worsen other types of inflammatory diseases, including heart and lung diseases, as well as diabetes.
Because there is such an overload of bacteria present in the mouth with gum disease, it is inevitable that some of these bacteria will make its way to other parts of the body. They may settle in, on, or around organs that are already compromised due to inflammation, causing yet– more inflammation.
In conditions where inflammation already compromises the immune system and makes infection difficult to fight, such as with diabetes, the added stress of gum disease can wreak a special kind of havoc. One disease complicates the other and vice versa, making all symptoms much worse, much faster.
A Real Threat of Disability or Death
While it is unlikely that gum disease itself will kill you unless it leads to a severe abscess that goes untreated, it can contribute to life-threatening medical emergencies.
The same inflammatory response to toxins and bacteria that can exacerbate existing conditions can also create a perfect storm for a major cardiac event or stroke.
Inflammation causes arteries to narrow, which increases blood pressure, along with the risk of blood clots. It’s really only a matter of time before something goes terribly wrong.
Gum Disease and Pregnancy
Pregnant mothers who have gum disease face a substantial risk for preterm labor, which can create serious concerns for both mother and child.
Low birth weight and underdeveloped lungs are just a couple of the potential complications for the child. Inflammation in the body can also make recovery for the mother slower and more difficult.
Since pregnancy itself can often put a woman at an increased risk for developing gum disease, this is a particularly important time to keep up with regular hygiene appointments.
A Quick Fix
Perhaps the greatest tragedy in all of this is how easy it is to prevent gum disease altogether. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups can stop gum disease in its tracks and avoid all of the unnecessary complications that come with it.
If you are not sure of the best way to prevent gum disease, ask your dentist or dental hygienist to show you proper oral care techniques. It only takes a few minutes per day and can prevent a lifetime of oral and general health issues.
Why Tongue-Cleaning Is No Gag!
So you brush, you floss and you see your dentist every six months – you think you’re on your best behavior for protecting your teeth but …
Consider the other part of your mouth that could cause trouble if you don’t also keep it clean. We’re speaking of the part known as your tongue. Keeping this kindly beast clean can actually help you stay healthier and fresher smelling (in your mouth, that is) over the long haul.
Why it’s good to clean your tongue
2. Bad bacteria afoot — The tongue can foster a goodly number of bacteria. Granted, not all bacteria in the body is bad for you (in fact, most are good) but certain bacteria species can lead to tooth decay, gum infections and bad breath (halitosis). Plaque is a form of this, as you probably know, which creates a biofilm that coats your teeth, leading to cavities.
3. Flotsam — On top of this, the tongue often carries food residue and dead cells that can wreak havoc in your mouth, if not removed. Properly cleaning your tongue will prevent much of this trouble and keep your mouth healthy (and healthy-smelling!). Indeed, research shows that cleaning the tongue can clear bacteria and improve bad breath more than brushing alone.
4. Good taste — Research indicates that cleaning your tongue can actually improve your sense of taste. When you scrape or clean the surface of the tongue, it’s almost the same as starting with a whole new palette! After properly cleaning your tongue for a couple of weeks, see if you’ll notice stronger flavors the next time you eat!
5. Bigger problems — Cleaning your tongue gives you an opportunity to examine it for signs of something wrong – if you see a white, black or red discoloration – or ongoing sores, wounds or pain, make an appointment and consult your dentist (us) for further investigation – don’t let it go for too long!
Cleaning your tongue the right way
Now if the idea of reaching in there and cleaning/scraping your tongue makes you want to gag, don’t worry – it’s not as uncomfortable as you might think, especially as you get used to it — trust us, the benefits outweigh the time and effort.
Method 1 – Brushing – So you brush your teeth twice a day, do you? While you’re at it, use your trusty toothbrush to gently clean your tongue with a small dab of toothpaste. It’s like you’re cleaning your carpet – only a lot more often (and a lot smaller area than a carpet).
Brush your teeth, floss and rinse as usual. Then, stick out your tongue and gently press and hold the scraper once or twice along the entire surface, starting at the back of the tongue and scraping forward. Apply enough pressure as you see fit to get it to work. After each pass, rinse the scraper with warm water and then rinse your mouth with water. Ahhh…
A Clean Scrape
Tongue scraping or tongue brushing just might be the answer to problems like bad breath, cavity prevention, gum disease prevention — plus, it will make you more aware of what’s going on inside your mouth.
If you want further advice on cleaning your tongue, ask us!
Back-To-School Means Back To The Dentist! 7 Crucial Pointers
Dental checkups should be on every kid’s back-to-school checklist.
What with the potential for pain, eating and speech difficulties, it’s no wonder that children miss an estimated 51 million school hours a year because of dental issues. That’s why it’s so important that a dentist appointment for your child be part of your back-to-school regimen. Here are some strategies (and extra videos) to ensure both you and your kids are on track.
Plan Ahead – Way Ahead
How many people have you heard say, “the summer is just flying by”. Before you know it, the first day of school looms large. If in mid-August, the thought suddenly occurs to you to dial your dentist, the answer on the other end may be, “sorry, we are so-o-o booked.”
Our advice is to make the appointment early, say, right after the end of school in June. That way, there’ll be no rush, plenty of time for preparing your child for the visit, and less fighting the crowd to make an appointment at a convenient time.
Back To School Dental Exam Checklist | Anastasia Turchetta
Health empowerment conversationalist a.k.a. public speaker, Anastasia Turchetta, gives you her take on the best way to get your kid to the dentist without a major breakdown.
Doing The Right Thing
Brushing twice a day — regular flossing — tongue cleaning — establishing proper dental habits — they all help avoid cruel surprises, like cavities and gum disease, at that back-to-school appointment.
As a parent, your approach to encouraging good hygiene habits is so important. For young children, try to participate at the sink, and make it a fun experience. The more enjoyable it is for the child, the better good habits are engrained. As kids grow older and assume more responsibility for themselves, it will become easier on you. Teens, though, can be more difficult — so, yes, it’s important to encourage good habits, but not to “nag” — try to take a more subtle approach.
Ask The Expert: Back To School Dentist Visit | WTMJ-TV Milwaukee
A local Milwaukee dentist gives his take on setting up the proper back-to-school dental experience for kids.
7 Back-To-School Dental Visit Pointers
- Make sure your child gets a great night’s sleep before the appointment. This will avoid grumpiness and negative feelings the morning of.
- Try to make sure your kid is not hungry before your appointment. However, feeding a child a snack in the dental office is not a good idea — food particles make it much harder for the dentist and hygienist to do a good job, even with gargling and such. Note: If your child has a strong gagging reflex, it’s probably better to make the meal prior to the appointment a light one and stretch the time before the appointment.
- Sitting in the dental chair often takes some concentration and an ability to relax. So, if possible, avoid scheduling an appointment right after activities you know will require energy, i.e., make your child tired. This is not always possible, but do your best to think ahead.
- Plan to be on time for your child’s dental appointment. It demonstrates good manners, avoids conflict and is considerate of other patients. Also, your dentist will most likely require protective masks for your visit. Make sure you take one along for yourself and each visitor you bring, and then some extras.
- As the parent of a young child, it is understandable to be nervous, yourself, as you walk into the dental office. Best to contain those feelings since they are contagious, and put on your best, most loving face. Trust in your your dentist and hygienist to instill confidence and comfort in your child — after all, they do this all day long!
- If you are bringing more than one child to the dentist on the same day, let the more “amenable” one get into the chair first. This will offer a good example to the more “anxious” one. Note: This is assuming there is a more anxious one — most children don’t mind the experience!
- If your child acts up, try to remain calm and get through the moment. Enough said.
A Dentist Visits My School | NYUDental
A typical school kid describes his experience when a dentist visits his class to provide free checkups.
The Bottom Line On Back-To-School Dental Visits
Proper dental care is so critical to child growth and development, and to ensure minor problems don’t turn into major ones. Do what you can to make your child’s dental visit a smooth ride, and contact us with any questions you may have. We are there for you!
Extra! Dental News from Around The Web!
In this month’s roundup, gums that could cause heart disease — cautions to expectant moms — TMJ pain — and dental insurance pointers…
Secrets To Longer-Lived Smiles
Healthy teeth are important for a healthy life, so it’s essential to have a good oral health routine. Here are a few items you can include on your checklist, and discuss with your dentist!
TIMES TO SMILE
It's Friday 3:01 PM — We’re currently closed, but please do contact us online, or leave a message. Thank you!
| Monday | 8:00 AM — 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM — 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 7:00 AM — 4:00 PM |
| Thursday | 7:00 AM — 4:00 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
WE’RE HERE FOR YOU
MEET DR. JOHN J. KELLY
Chicago dentist, John J. Kelly, DDS, practices Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry at his Chicago dental office in Edgebrook.
He delivers a wide range of dental therapeutics, in addition to treatment of Sleep Disordered Breathing, including Sleep Apnea, Child Facial Development issues and TMJ/Jaw Pain. MORE ON DR. KELLY
TIMES TO SMILE
It's Friday 3:01 PM — We’re currently closed, but please do contact us online, or leave a message. Thank you!
| Monday | 8:00 AM — 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM — 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 7:00 AM — 4:00 PM |
| Thursday | 7:00 AM — 4:00 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
MEET DR. JOHN J. KELLY
Chicago dentist, John J. Kelly, DDS, practices Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry at his Chicago dental office in Edgebrook.
He delivers a wide range of dental therapeutics, in addition to treatment of Sleep Disordered Breathing, including Sleep Apnea, Child Facial Development issues and TMJ/Jaw Pain. MORE ON DR. KELLY
WE’RE HERE FOR YOU
