Many of us use January 1st as a starting date for a resolution that results in a better “you”. We eat better, we exercise, swear less or read more. Why limit yourself? Consider adding “floss more” or “bush at night” to your resolutions! It’s important to make every goal a realistic one so that it lasts ALL year. Here are some tips to help you with those goals:
Be honest with yourself. You are the only one who knows what you can be successful at. If this means you will increase your flossing frequency to 1x weekly and succeed at that, then this should be your starting goal! Focus a short period of time on a small, attainable goal.
Don’t stop moving forward with your goal. If at the end of a 2 month time you have succeeded at flossing 1x weekly, increase that goal to 2 or 3 times weekly. Focus on that goal for another 2-3 months. Once you have created a routine of that, then increase it again while keeping in mind that your ultimate goal is to floss daily.
Set reminders and notes of encouragement. Sometimes we don’t follow through with our goals simply because we just forget! Set a reminder on your smart phone, in your e-mail or even leave notes on your bathroom mirror. It is helpful to have a schedule for this to keep you on track. Remind yourself every Wednesday and Friday (or any other days you choose).
The key to starting small and increasing slowly is to stay honest and stay positive. You don’t start sprinting when you’re going to run a marathon, right? So don’t start too fast with an un-realistic goal that you need to last your lifetime! Your teeth and your dental hygienist will thank you!
We always like to share some of our favorite recipes during the holiday season. Check these out if you’re still looking for ideas. Enjoy!
As many of you may know, our beloved hygienist of 10 years, Joanne passed away in October from AML Leukemia, a form of blood cancer. Her battle with this cancer has touched us and we miss her deeply. Through all of her journey, she maintained a positive and uplifting attitude, reassuring the people around her that things would be fine because she would be “going to a better place.” During a time that it is so easy to mourn the loss of someone we love, we are choosing to come together and celebrate the blessings of her life instead. Through this celebration, we have decided to host a fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) in her honor.
As many of you have known, our hygienist Joanne had been battling AML Leukemia. Today we are sad to announce that she has lost her battle. On the morning of October 14th, Joanne passed away at AngelsGrace Hospice in the presence of her family. Her battle with Leukemia began just over a year and a half ago and included many treatments, one of which was a bone marrow transplant from her son Patrick. Sadly the transplant was not a success and it became clear that her battle would be lost. She was then moved to hospice care. She was sure to keep a positive attitude and enjoy every moment she had with her family.
Walking in to the oral hygiene isle at your favorite store can be overwhelming, even for us as professionals. There are so many things to choose from. Today we will focus on the mouthwash aspect of this isle and help you make a decision! So, here is an overview of the main things you will see while shopping.
At at average age of 5, children start to lose their baby teeth in order to make room for their new, larger adult teeth. Many families choose to have the Tooth Fairy come and swap those adorable baby teeth out for a special monetary gift. We have heard many different ways to make the tooth fairy a little more fun and exciting. Here are some things we would like to pass along!
Who should go to the dentist? People with a toothache? People who have broken teeth? People who have dirty teeth and need a cleaning? Well, the answer is everyone should go to the dentist! If you have teeth, come to the dentist. If you don’t have teeth, you should still come to the dentist. That’s right. Your Grandpa Ned and Great Aunt Mildred should still see us even if they have full dentures. This is so we can clean the dentures professionally and be sure they’re fitting correctly or make needed adjustments. But most importantly, it is so we can do a detailed exam of their gums, roof of their mouth, tongue and cheeks to be sure there are no signs of abnormal lesions or cancer. For someone with full dentures, once a year check ups are generally sufficient unless otherwise advised. If you have a full set of healthy pearly white teeth, twice a year visits are recommended. There are some patients who have more detailed needs who we may ask to spend a little more time with us. Always remember that routine dental work is the cheapest and easiest dental work you can get. Plus, if it’s been too long, we just start to miss you!