Elmbrook Family Dental

Pale is the new Tan

July 6, 2012

I want to talk about a very serious issue today. I’m writing this post before I leave for my vacation and scheduling it to be posted while I’m gone. It’s likely at the moment this blog post is published, I’ll be sitting on the beach in Ocean City, MD. When I was a teenager, I loved the sun. I have always thought that being tan equates with being beautiful and so my sunscreen application has always been minimal so that my tanning was maximal. Unfortunately being a very fair skinned blonde girl, this meant I suffered a lot of sunburns. This is not good. Did you know that one bad sunburn before the age of 18 doubles the chance of developing melanoma?

Warning: this video may make you cry.

Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the United States and worldwide. According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, “Melanoma primarily affects individuals in the prime years of life, is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old.” In fact, I recently lost a friend to melanoma. He was only 33. If you read the link, you’ll see that he took all of the normal steps and precautions anyone would after having an abnormal mole removed. Except some people don’t even get them checked out. Here is some info from the Melanoma Research Foundation about melanoma detection and screening:

Carefully examine your skin once a month. If you notice any changes, consult a dermatologist right away. If melanoma runs in your family, make sure all of your family members are checked regularly by a dermatologist once or twice a year. Protect yourself from UV radiation by practicing safe sun habits:

Avoid the sun during the peak hours (generally 10AM – 4PM)
Use sunscreen daily. Sunscreen should contain elements which block both UVA and UVB rays and should have an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours and after sweating or swimming. Do not use a sunscreen to spend more time in the sun.
Wear protective clothing if you are going to be exposed to a lot of sun (or you are particularly sun sensitive). Wear a wide brimmed hat, long sleeved shirts/pants, and sunglasses.
Avoid tanning salons. Exposure to tanning salons increases your risk of melanoma.

If the risk of cancer isn’t enough to keep you out of the damaging effects of the sun, how about beauty?

The New England Journal of Medicine recently posted about a man who developed unilateral dermatoheliosis, or thickening and wrinkling of the skin on one side of his face. This man was a truck driver who spent many years of his life with one side facing the sun. See the damage for yourself:

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I don’t know about you – but that’s enough for me to put a hat on the next time I sit in the sun!

So, while you’re out enjoying the beautiful summer weather, I encourage you to wear sunscreen, hats, sit in the shade, and do whatever else you can to avoid sun exposure.

Pale IS the new tan. Pale is beautiful. This is my new mantra. While I’m sitting at the beach next week under the umbrella slathered with sunscreen, I’ll be daydreaming about how my youthful looks will last well into my older years because of the extra steps I am taking to protect my skin.

Red, White Teeth, and Blue

June 29, 2012

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Want a smile that shines brighter than the fireworks on the 4th of July? Then you need Britesmile In-Office Teeth Whitening! We offer Britesmile here at our Brookfield office and the results are nothing short of amazing. Have you ever wondered just how a teeth whitening procedure goes? Allow me to tell you!

If this will be your first visit at our office, we will have you fill out a couple of forms including a short health history. Once they are completed and entered into the computer, a dental assistant will come up and bring you back to the room in which you will be having the procedure done.

If you have not recently had a dental exam done at our office, the dentist will come in and make sure there is nothing that will interfere with the whitening procedure. Once the assistant is given the go-ahead, the procedure will start.

She will begin by placing a protective barrier that covers your lips and a rubbery, light cured material that protects your gums. Once everything is properly covered, the whitening gel will be brushed onto the teeth. The gel is stronger than any gel that you can buy in the store, and is only to be used under the supervision of a dental professional. The gel is boosted by a bright blue light that will be placed directly over your mouth in 20 minute increments. There will be 3 sessions like this, and between each the gel will be removed and new gel will be placed. At the end of the 3rd session there is an option for a bonus session.

Once the whitening procedure has been completed, the final round of gel will be removed and a fluoride relief gel is placed on the teeth. After that, all of the protective material is removed and you are good to go!

We also offer a special discount on home whitening trays at this time and will be glad to take the impressions for them at the end of your in office whitening appointment.

A big question everyone wants to know is – does teeth whitening hurt? The answer is that the results are individualized. Some patients have the procedure done and experience very little to no post-op sensitivity while some report high levels of post whitening sensitivity. The good news is that if you are one of the latter that experiences pain, it will be gone by the next day and your teeth will still be very white. We suggest taking ibuprofen before the procedure begins and after as needed for sensitivity.

We recently filmed a video of our very own Dr. Emily having Britesmile done, so look for that in the near future!

How To Brush Your Teeth: A Refresher Course

June 15, 2012

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How To Brush Your Teeth: A Refresher Course. No pun intended. (Get it? Refresher? Fresh breath? Ok, some of my jokes are pretty lame, I know)

Let’s go back to basics here. I’m sure you’ve been brushing your teeth for a long time, and you know what you’re doing. Or maybe you just think you know. But I’m willing to bet that a majority of people don’t brush their teeth in the most effective way. Why? Because if we all brushed properly, we’d probably see far fewer cavities in our office. Just imagine: You’d be able to walk the streets and not smell someone else’s halitosis. Food stuck in teeth would be a very rare sight. Everyone would have all of their teeth. Or at least, most of them.

So, let’s discuss the Do’s and Don’t’s of tooth brushing, shall we?

1. Do use a clean toothbrush. Toothbrushes are filled with germs and the bristles wear out. You’ll leave our office every 6 months with a brand new brush, but try to replace that one in between your visits as well. The ADA recommends that you replace your toothbrush every 3 months. If you get sick, that’s another great time to replace it.

2. Don’t skimp on brushing time. Dentists recommend that you brush for 2 minutes. Set a timer, play a short song, or if you have a fancy electronic toothbrush, they usually have a built-in timer. We sell a great one, Sonicare, here in the office that times your brushing. Personally, I spend 30 seconds in each “quadrant” of my mouth and then move on. Then I do a little dance when I’m done. Hey, it’s the little things, right?

3. Don’t brush too hard. Our office dispenses soft bristled toothbrushes. That’s what you should be using, always. We aren’t even sure why the drugstore sells “hard” bristled toothbrushes. Maybe to clean toilets? In fact, one of our employee’s former dentist used to say “the only thing hard bristled toothbrushes are good for is cleaning your kitchen floor.” Hard brushing isn’t good for teeth or gums, period. It can cause recession and it can wear down the enamel on your teeth. For some reason I am remembering a commercial from the 90s where someone brushes a tomato with a toothbrush. You should be brushing gently enough so that you don’t break the skin on the tomato. Give it a try. If you’re brushing for 2 minutes like recommended, you shouldn’t need to brush “hard” anyway.

4. Do brush in a circular motion. Teeth have a lot of different crevices, and brushing strictly back and forth doesn’t do them justice. Hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle and brush in small circles. This helps the bristles get slightly below the gum line and removes bacteria and food particles.

5. Don’t skip the insides. The inside of your teeth need a lot of attention too, so make sure you give it to them. If you spend 30 seconds per quadrant like I do, then you should spend 15 on the outside and 15 on the inside. It might start to feel redundant but I promise, as soon as you rinse your mouth out your teeth will feel cleaner than they have in months.

6. Do brush your tongue. Tongues usually have a lot of plaque on them, and plaque causes bad breath. Brushing or scraping your tongue with a tongue scraper does a world of wonders for your overall oral health – and smell.

7. Don’t brush too often, but Do brush at least twice a day! Most people brush too infrequently – one time a day or less (can you believe that? Gross!) but some people go overboard and brush after every time they eat. There is a balance here. Dentists recommend brushing at least twice a day, no more than three times. Too little brushing doesn’t adequately clean teeth while too much brushing can wear down enamel and cause gum recession.

8. DO FLOSS! Dentists aren’t trying to nag you or drive you crazy when they tell you to floss. It’s true! Flossing is essential for overall oral health. In fact, if everyone did this one little thing every day, I venture to guess that dentists would be out of a job. If you haven’t flossed in a while or don’t floss often and see red when you do, don’t panic. Bleeding gums are a sign of inflammation and they will get better over time – as long as you continue to floss. The inflammation is NOT from flossing, the inflammation is from bacteria left behind from NOT flossing. So just do it, ok?

If you follow these recommendations, your teeth will be sparkling in no time. Your breath will be fresh and your friends will thank you.

If you need any more tooth brushing advice or want an in-person refresher course, call our Brookfield Wisconsin office today at 262-784-7201 to set up an appointment.

After Hours Dental Emergency?

June 6, 2012

Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Picture this: It’s Friday night, you’re getting ready for a night on the town. You’re hungry so you decide to have a little snack…and all the sudden CRUNCH! That didn’t feel like a peanut! Your tongue starts to explore… there it is! Your molar broke. Maybe you’re in pain, maybe you aren’t…but one thing is for sure, you want this taken care of soon, BEFORE it starts hurting!

Or maybe this: It’s almost Christmas. You’ve still got a lot of shopping to do! You have a tooth that has been giving you grief on and off but nothing that makes you feel like an urgent care to your dentist is in order. So you ignore it, and figure you’ll call when the holiday is over. Christmas day: you wake up and your mouth is throbbing. Lightning bolts are shooting through your jaw and you don’t even want to open your presents! Is it too late?

How about this one: It’s three days before your wedding and you’re in a hurry to get the last minute details together. Your mind is elsewhere and your feet have a mind of their own. You fall and your worst nightmare comes true: you just broke your front tooth. What are you going to do with only 3 days until the wedding!?

Believe it or not, these are all real, true dental emergencies that we have treated at our Brookfield dental office. Our patients know and trust that they can call upon us at any hour of the day or night and we will deliver. New patients have commended us on our quick response and attention to detail when it comes to treating their emergencies. The bottom line is: we are here to help you.

If you find yourself in a dental disaster situation, please do not hesitate to call our office no matter what time of the day or week it is. If we are not in the office, you will find the number of our on-call dentist on our answering machine.

From Milwaukee to Waukesha and everything in between: we are here to help you! Call us today at 262-784-7201.

To Pierce or Not to Pierce?

May 23, 2012

Tongue. Labret. Monroe. Marilyn. Lip. Cheek. No matter where you stick it, facial piercings that involve the inside of the mouth are not good for teeth or overall oral health. It’s not just something that your dentist says because they don’t approve of your “looks”. That’s not it at all. The fact is that dentists treat problems associated from facial piercings every day…problems that could be avoided. Teeth are lost that are otherwise healthy, simply because of the impact of the piercing itself.

Tongue piercings are known to chip and break teeth. During normal talking the barbell can hit your teeth and over time weaken the enamel to the point of the tooth breaking. When eating, sometimes tongue rings get bit, which can cause molars to break. Tongue piercings can get infected, cause nerve damage, loss of taste, permanent numbness…the list goes on. Is it worth it?

Labret piercings, which is a piercing below your lower lip, are known to cause gum recession. Gum recession leads to loose teeth. Loose teeth lead to lost teeth. Permanent teeth. Is it worth it?

Monroe and Marilyn style piercings, which are through the upper area of the mouth (where a beauty mark would be) do the same. Gum recession-> loose teeth-> lost teeth. Your pretty piercing becomes your gap toothed smile. Is it worth it?

Lip rings are no different. Chipped teeth, gum recession. It’s all the same.

Tooth extractions are not always simple procedures, and the subsequent work needed to replace missing teeth can become quite costly. Eventually, your $50 oral piercing (which is the average cost) will become your $3000 problem. Is it really worth it?

Talk to us before you decide to have an oral piercing done. Call our Brookfield office today at 262-784-7201.

Bulimia and Teeth: How Much Damage Does it Cause?

May 4, 2012

While the detrimental effects of eating disorders on the human body are very well documented, it is often overlooked that bulimia can also have a serious effect on dental health, and it can happen quickly, within a matter of months. Bulimia nervosa is a physical and psychological disease which involves discrete periods of overeating (binge eating) which may occur several times a week or at its most severe, several times a day. During the binge, sufferers may feel completely out of control. They may gulp down thousands of calories often high in carbohydrates and fat. The amount of food consumed would be considered excessive in normal circumstances. After the binge comes purging designed to compensate for overeating and to avoid weight gain. Those behaviors may include self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics. Studies have found that up to 89% of bulimic patients show signs of tooth erosion. (ADA.org) The information contained within this blog post is intended to not only help suffers from this disease, but also anyone with a history of recurrent vomiting whether it be from pregnancy, acid erosion from GERD, or cyclic vomiting syndrome. If you suffer from any of these, please do not be afraid to speak with your dentist about it. Your health history will remain confidential and we will help devise a plan to save your teeth.

Stomach acid is highly corrosive on teeth and prolonged exposure can cause enamel breakdown and will eventually lead to tooth loss.

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An example of lingual erosion of tooth enamel due to excessive vomiting
Image from ADA.org

You may be tempted to brush your teeth immediately after a vomiting episode but please wait; the abrasiveness of toothpaste can only assist in the weakening of tooth structure. Instead, rinse with plenty of water. Baking soda can also be added to water for rinsing to help neutralize the effects of stomach acid.

Other things that may help:

Chew sugar free gum. Sugar free gum helps stimulate saliva production, which helps protect the teeth.

Brush with a high fluoride toothpaste. Your dentist can prescribe a highly concentrated fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride will help decrease sensitivity, strengthens teeth, and helps reduce enamel erosion.

See your dentist regularly. Please do not feel too ashamed to call. We will work with you to find a plan to save your teeth, repair any that are damaged, and prevent further damage. Call our Brookfield, Wisconsin office at 262-784-7201 today.

Can You Heal Cavities?

April 20, 2012

By now we have all heard about “superfoods” that are great for our bodies and overall health, but what about foods that are good for teeth? The American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry recently released a pamphlet about eating for dental health. This pamphlet includes a list of teeth-related superfoods and recipes using them. For instance, did you know that cheese is anticariogenic? Cheese contains lactic acid which helps prevent tooth decay. Here are some other tooth-power edibles:

Broccoli: forms an acid-resistant film on teeth that can help prevent enamel erosion.

Celery: activates saliva production which assists in cleansing food particles from the teeth and dilutes sugars or acids in the mouth. Chewing celery also massages the gums.

Kiwi: pack more Vitamin C than any other fruit. A lack of Vitamin C can break down the collagen network in your gums, making them tender and more susceptible to bacteria and gum disease.

Lemon: a natural “whitener” and assists with pH balance in the body.

Stevia: a natural sweetener that does not have an “acid effect” on your teeth like sugar.

Wasabi: a Japanese version of horseradish, which contains compounds called isothiocyanates to arrest bacteria growth.

Here’s a recipe using some of the ingredients from above!

Broccoli with Wasabi Sour Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
1 bunch broccoli, about 3 stalks,
organic preferred

Directions:
Wash and trim broccoli, peeling the fibrous
material from stems
Slice the stems diagonally into bite-size pieces,
and the flowerets into medium size bites.
Bring several inches of water to boil in a
vegetable steamer, and steam broccoli until
tender crisp, approximately 8 minutes.
Place steamed broccoli into a serving bowl,
serve with Wasabi Sour Cream sauce.

Serving Size:
Makes approximately 6, ½ cup servings

Wasabi Sour Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
¼ cup sour cream
1 – 2 teaspoons wasabi powder
¼ teaspoon sea salt
6 drops stevia
2 Tablespoons water

Directions:
In a small bowl, blend the wasabi powder with
water. Add salt, stevia and sour cream, mixing
well to blend flavors. If desired, add more
wasabi for extra heat.

Serve immediately, refrigerate for several days.

Serving Size:
6 servings, approximately 1 Tablespoon each

NCAA Tourney Winners

April 9, 2012

March Madness is over! A big thanks to everyone who participated. We are happy to announce the following patients as our winners:

1st place: Sonicare Toothbrush and custom whitening goes to Rebecca S.

2nd place: 4 Brewers tickets go to Kristina A.

3rd place: Bartolotta gift card goes to Gretchen S.

4th place: Jose’s Blue Sombrero gift cards go to Robert K.

Paint a Cake?

April 6, 2012

cakedecorating101-01sm Do you like to make your own cakes, or do you go the store and buy them premade? Well, if you’re a cake buying connoisseur and haven’t given making and decorating your own a shot, try this next time you need a cake!

First, bake your favorite cake recipe (a boxed mix will do just fine). Divide a batch of frosting in two, and spread half of the frosting on the baked cake. Divide the other half of frosting into 3 separate bowls and tint different colors using food coloring.

Grab 3 new or very clean paintbrushes, a willing child participant, and your tinted frosting and start painting the cake!

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Let your imagination do the work!

What a beautiful, fun, and creative way to personalize a cake for that special person. Be sure to take lots of pictures, because your artwork will get eaten!

Keeping your age a secret? We can help!

March 26, 2012

Think twice before fibbing about your age. Your smile might give away the truth! When you look in the mirror, do you see a youthful smile full of white, shiny teeth? Or, do you see broken down fillings and coffee stains? In general, the younger you are, the brighter your smile is. So, next time you visit our office, ask your Hygienist or Dentist how you can have a more youthful smile. We offer invisalign, various whitening options, and even cosmetic restorations. Take a look at one of our very own “Before and After” smile makeovers!

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