Friday by appointment only

Mon. -Thurs. 8-1 and 2-5

420 Fifth Avenue West, Suite 200

Hendersonville, NC 28739

HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR NIGHT GUARD LATELY?

Well, that may be an exaggeration, but if you clench or grind your teeth, you may find that a night guard could be your new best friend. Some people dont even realize they grind or clench until their dentist starts asking some questions. If we see patients with excessive wear on their teeth or notches, called abfraction, on their teeth at their gumline, its likely that the patient is grinding or clenching their teeth. Most often, this takes place while the patient is sleeping and they are totally unaware of this nighttime activity. Upon questioning, they may say that they notice tiredness in their jaws in the morning. Its important to intervene in this type of grinding because eventually teeth can begin to fracture. If left untreated, the teeth can break or the nerves can be affected because of constant flexing of the tooth during chewing. If you have extensive crown and bridgework, its also reasonable to consider protecting your investment with a night guard to prevent fracturing of your beautiful porcelain. Its much healthier and less expensive to address the issue of clenching and grinding, rather than waiting for more serious problems to develop. Dr. Morgan, Julie, or Annette will talk to you about this if they notice issues during your exam. If youve noticed any of the symptoms of clenching and grinding, feel free to bring it up to us. A night guard is an effective answer to a common problem.

OH, NO! NOT DECAY!

Were you surprised and disappointed at your last exam to find out that you have decay in your teeth? After all, kids are not the only ones who need to worry about that, right? Well, if you have teeth, you can get decay, too. Most people know that sugary, sticky foods cause decay, but you might be surprised to find out that carbohydrates like crackers and pretzels can cause decay, too. You may have thought you were safe because you drink diet soft drinks, but the acidic carbonation in diet drinks can cause problems, as well. Speaking of acid, sports drinks and fruit drinks should be consumed in moderation, too. After drinking, be sure to rinse with water before brushing because the acid in these drinks can damage your teeth. Next, think about your home care habits. Are you flossing daily and brushing after eating? The faster you remove debris from your teeth, the more likely you are to keep decay at bay. Think of it this way, brushing your teeth without flossing, is like washing your hands without spreading your fingers and cleaning them. You wouldnt dream of it, would you? Flossing helps dislodge food particles that can become wedged between your teeth and will eventually rot and breed bacteria if left alone. A few minutes a day can keep your teeth healthy and your breath fresh. If you have trouble handling floss, talk to your hygienist about other devices you can use.

WELCOME CAMERON!

We are pleased to welcome Cameron to our team. Cameron joined us in February when she moved here from California. She is our new roving assistant and can be found working in all areas of the office. She is a lovely person with a warm, caring personality. Just the kind of person we want here with us to take care of our patients with the special touch youve come to expect from us. We think youll agree that Cameron fits right in.

PSST! DONT FORGET TO SCRAPE YOUR TONGUE

No, we dont lay awake at night thinking of new things to ask you to do. Your tongue is a big part of your mouth and deserves some attention, too. Heres why. Your tongue is covered in papilla, those tiny extensions that you can see in the mirror and that sometimes become elongated if you injure or irritate your tongue. Bacteria love your papilla and would like to become permanent residents and raise a family on your tongue. Unfortunately, bacteria do not make good tenants. To put it bluntly, they stink and theyll make your breath smell bad if you let them get too cozy in there. If youre not currently brushing your tongue, do this. Go to a mirror and stick your tongue out (make sure your spouse isnt standing in front of the mirror when you do this). Does your tongue look pretty in pink? Or, does your tongue have a white, gray, yellow or even brown coating on it? Who knew? Now that you see it, I know you want to make it go away. Brushing your tongue with your toothbrush, or using an inexpensive tongue scraper will have your tongue in the pink in no time.

NUTRITION NEWS FROM ANNETTE

Look for this to become a regular part of our newsletter. Nutrition is an important element of a healthy lifestyle and your oral health depends on it. Annette takes special interest in nutrition and will be giving us hints and tips to make it easier to eat the right foods to keep our gums and teeth in great shape. Her first tip is to be sure to eat a variety of healthy foods. Think about the rainbow when you are making choices. All those great fruits and veggies all get their beautiful colors from the vitamins and minerals they contain. Try to get a full complement of color in your food, and before long youll find yourself getting complements from your hygienist and dentist on the health of your gums and teeth. Next time, Annette is going to give us info on vitamins and supplements so dont miss it.

BREAKING NEWS

Love is in the air! Julie surprised us all and came back from our spring vacation, a married woman! We all wish her and her new husband years of health and happiness.