Elmbrook Family Dental

Many of you may know our assistant Katie, but let us introduce you to to the newest member of her family! Audrey Paige was born on August 23rd to Katie and her husband Brian. She weighed 6lbs and measured 19 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great and enjoying this beautiful fall weather. Katie plans on returning to work on November 4th.

Fall is such a great time for beautiful colors and yummy flavors. Here are some fun fall activities that you and the family may enjoy.

A pumpkin with braces? Why not! Use pop tops from a soda can, or visit your local hardware store for some cheap metal pieces. Get creative with your carving and have some fun!!

After carving up your pumpkin, Don’t forget to bake up those pumpkin seeds too. Check out this recipe: http://homecooking.about.com/od/vegetablerecipes/r/blv310.htm

It happens all the time: we see a child between the ages of 9 and 18 years old that still really need help with their brushing and flossing routine. They open their mouth and we find moderate to heavy plaque and puffy, tender gums. This puffiness and build up can cause gingivitis, decay and bad breath. You might be thinking: “So, you want me to brush my 11 year olds teeth?!” No, you don’t have to brush their teeth, but we do suggest that you supervise and be involved in a more passive way. Here are some tips:

-Be aware of how often they are brushing. Remember, twice daily brushing is recommended with the night time routine being most important. Not sure if they really brushed? Feel those brush bristles to see if they are wet or dry. If they are dry, chances are they may not have brushed as recently as they told you.

-Be aware of how long their brushing routine lasts. Keep a subtle eye on the clock. If they are brushing for less than 1.5-2 minutes, they may be leaving harmful plaque and build up behind.

-Provide easy tools for flossing like the Reach flosser or floss picks. Keep track of how quickly you replenish the supply.

-Positive reinforcement goes a long way. Remind them of the benefits of brushing and flossing and let them know when they are doing a great job!

Hopefully these tips can make the next check up a happy and healthy one.

According to the Wisconsin Dental Association, an estimated 51 million school hours are missed every year in the US due to dental related illness and disease. These reasons include cavities, toothaches and dental infections. Don’t let your child be a part of this statistic and miss out on important learning time. Take a few simple steps to avoid dental disease by following these simple guidelines.

Always remember that preventative care and early detection is key! Stay on a strict 6 month recall which includes cleaning, exams, fluoride treatment and necessary x-rays. By doing this, we can detect cavities while they are small and repair them before they become painful.

Be aware of the liquid your child consumes. Sipping juice, milk, sport drinks and soda for periods of time between meals increases their chance of getting cavities. Limit these beverages to meal times only or as a special treat. If your toddler is carrying a “sippy cup” with them over an expanded period of time, and taking sips while they play, their mouth is in a state of acidity and high risk that entire time.

Fluoride is your friend! Including fluoridated toothpaste and mouth wash into the oral hygiene routine can be an easy way to keep decay away topically. Enjoying fluoride in a glass or two of water each day can help systemically and help teeth forming under the gum-line grow with strong, healthy enamel. Most local communities have a fluoridated water supply which is monitored and regulated. Not so sure about fluoride? Talk with our dental staff at your next visit for alternative options like xylitol.

It can set your child behind the others when they miss school and it is even more difficult to see them in pain. Keep them healthy and in school and keep their dental visits fun and easy by following these easy guidelines.

You may have received a letter in the mail recently informing you that Dr. Emily Jahimiak has been forced to take a permanent medical leave from dentistry. A recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis has made dentistry too physically difficult. Here is her message to all of her loyal patients:

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the trust and confidence you have shown in permitting me to take care of your dental needs for the past few years. I will miss all the great patients that I had the privilege of knowing through Elmbrook Family Dental and wish you all the best in the future.” -Emily Jahimiak, DDS

As sad as our team is to be saying goodbye to Dr Emily, we are also thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Suzanne Tack to our practice. Be on the look out for her smiling face in our office coming in mid-September, 2013. Follow the link below to read a little more about Dr. Tack.

https://www.elmbrookfamilydental.com/meet-us.html#tack

Do you wake up with head and neck aches often? Have you tried different sleeping positions or even a new pillow? Before you rush out and get another new pillow, consider that you may be clenching or grinding in your sleep. Here are some key clues to determine if night time bruxism may be to blame:

Do you have headaches frequently, but more often in the mornings?

Do you have tension in your neck, cheeks and jaw muscles?

Are your teeth starting to get a more flattened look or do they have cracks and chips?

Does your significant other complain that your teeth sound like they are squeaking while you sleep?

Do you have receding gums or generalized cold sensitivity?

If your answer to any of the above questions was yes, there is a good chance your head and neck aches may be due to TMJ problems, not a flat pillow. Talk with us at your next dental visit. We would be happy to create a treatment plan just for you to help alleviate your discomfort.

Here are some fun dental facts we thought you might find interesting. Did you know:

*The bacteria found in periodontal (gum) disease is related to premature births? Be sure not to neglect your oral care during pregnancy.

*Xylitol is a great natural alternative to fluoride and can be found in mints, gums and some toothpastes as well. It reduces bacteria and helps strengthen teeth.

*Some bottled water is acidic! That’s right, Aquafina and Dasani both have a pH of 4.0 making it acidic. A safer choice is your own tap water filtered.

*Cheese is considered one of the few anti-cariogenic foods (anti cavity). This should mean we are at a lower risk for decay here in Wisconsin, right?

*Night time brushing is much more important than your morning brushing. The food we eat throughout the day breaks down into sugars and harmful plaque and attaches to the tooth. Leaving it on over night while we sleep puts us at a much higher risk for decay and gum disease.

Dr Brunner recently attended continuing education seminars in the northwest territories of Canada. After attending daily lectures by Dr Terry Donovan, they headed out to the lakes for a bit of fishing. On one of their trips, Dr Brunner caught this amazing Lake Trout. It weighed 36lbs and was estimated to be about 50 years old! What an awesome catch! Don’t worry, he released it back into the water to live many more years as a happy Trout.

We are here to bust 2 common oral hygiene myths for all of you. These are things we think you should know!

1. Myth: The harder you brush, the better it is.

Truth: Brushing with medium or hard bristles, or brushing with heavy pressure can actually wear your gums away exposing your softer, not as strong root surfaces. Exposed root surfaces can cause sensitivity and are even more susceptible to decay. So, we recommend using a soft bristled brush and gentle pressure while brushing. Remember, it’s not about brushing harder, it’s about brushing longer. Two full minutes, twice daily will give you the best possible results.

2. Myth: When using toothpaste, apply a long strip of paste to cover the length of your brush. That’s what they do on the commercials, isn’t it?

Truth: If you read the directions on your tube of toothpaste, it instructs you to apply only a pea size amount of paste. This small amount is all it takes to effectively aid in cleaning your teeth. Using more than this can cause build up in your bristles. This build up hibernates dirty mouth bacteria and compromise the integrity of your bristles. So, stick to the directions and use only a pea size. You will even save money in the long run!

Everyone knows that our ultimate goal for oral hygiene is to brush twice daily, (2 min each time) and floss once daily. But, the most  frequent conversation with our patients is that they need to increase flossing! Flossing helps to control bacteria that can cause gum disease and also cavities in between the teeth. Skipping your daily flossing routine increases the bacteria build up, thus increasing your chances to have gum disease or decay. Think of what you’re risking before you skip flossing! As we always say:  Preventative care is the cheapest and easiest care you can receive.

Technique can be important to ensure you’re getting the best results possible. So, take a minute to watch this video. It has great instructions and great visuals. Happy flossing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcNf2bZFrRU

Watched the video and still hate flossing? Talk with your Dental Hygienist about alternative options like floss picks, Soft Piks or even a Waterpik.