IT'S EASY BEING GREEN

Cloverleafs, Pots of Gold, Leprechauns…pretty soon everyone will be wearing something green for fear of the pinch.  Yes, I’m talking about St. Patrick’s Day…the day when everything turns green – rivers, beer, icing, etc.  So much green is packed into one of the biggest party days of the year that it made me think…what if that same thrill & excitement about being green could last all year?

OK, most of you are thinking how quickly you would tire of the color green & how the actual thrill & excitement doesn’t come from wearing the color green, but from the actual fun you have when participating in an environment that brings us all together for a common cause.  So I looked deep inside & found a way to be green all year…Environmentally Green! 

There are many ways a person can be Environmentally Green, but as a leader in my profession, I wanted to go a bit further & ensure my dental practice was also Environmentally Green – that was the tough part.  Below are just some of the ways we can help to put your mind at ease when considering how our dental office effects your environment.

1)      Digital radiography – 90% less radiation for patients & decreases harmful chemical waste

2)      CAD/CAM Cerec technology – reduces transportation emissions from laboratory transportation

3)      Steam autoclave – to reduce chemical aerosols during sterilization

4)      Cassettes for instrument processing – reduces use of many sterilization bags

5)      Garments are laundered on site – to reduce fuel consumption

6)      Appointment reminders are sent through email & text – to reduce excess paper

7)      Unused bulk elemental mercury is recycled

8)      We use only latex-free materials – to reduce patient sensitivities

9)      Appliances are Energy Star rated

10)  We reuse our dishes

11)  We carpool

12)  Oil-free compressor – to improve air quality for our patients

13)  High-efficiency HVAC System – to produce less pollution

14)  Programmable thermostats

15)  Energy efficient water heater that is insulated – to save energy

16)  Exit signs use LED lighting

17)  Computers standby or hibernate after inactivity &monitors enter sleep mode after inactivity

18)  Toner cartridges are recycled

19)  We purchase recycled ink-jet cartridges

20)  Electronic communication – to reduce paper consumption

Are there more things that we do that are not listed?  Yes. 

Are there additional things that we could be doing to be more Environmentally Green?  Yes. 

Being environmentally conscious in a healthcare environment can sometimes make you feel like Kermit, but for the most part, it is pretty easy – especially when you choose to commit to your patients, your community and your future, as we at DeLand Smiles have done.

Not bad for a St. Paddy’s Day inspiration!

NEED FOR SPEED

There are many cars on the road today—many popular makes & models that top out at speeds of 150mph or so…and then there is a class of cars that is so unique and rare that they set themselves apart  from any other cars in the industry.  This elite set of cars has over 600 horsepower & can go zero to sixty in almost 3sec or less.  This elite set includes cars such as the Aston Martin One-77 with its 7 liter – V12 engine and 750hp (only 77 made & are already sold) and the Bugatti Veyron Supersport housing a quad turbo W16 engine and 1183hp!  And yes, that number is correct!

Most people lead busy lives, have jam-packed schedules and would love to purchase a car from the elite group-- if only to speed throughout life & accomplish more in a day.  For most, the purchase is unattainable, but the experience is not…let me explain.

I recently scheduled my annual eye check-up.  Nothing too involved, just a regular check-up.  I promptly arrived 5 minutes before my scheduled appointment and saw one name ahead of me, but a room full of people.  “This can’t be good,” I thought to myself.  I had rushed from work to make the appointment in the first place, and now I was waiting...and waiting…and waiting.  They continued to call names from others in the waiting room, & I continued to wait…50 minutes!  I had another appointment, so could not continue to wait & rescheduled my appointment.  (This was the first time I had to wait so long for my eye doctor, so I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt & rescheduled.)  “This can’t be happening again”, I thought to myself-- The situation reminded me of my previous medical provider who consistently kept me waiting 45mins to 1.5hrs—for routine check-ups as well!  (Needless to say, I have since changed my medical provider to one who does not keep me waiting.)

As a dental provider, we have patients and we have a reception area.  We also know the level of commitment it takes to keep our patients in a ‘reception area’ vs a ‘waiting room’.  As a dental provider, we must live by a schedule daily and because of our negative experiences with other offices, we committed 2 years ago to never keep our patients waiting.  We know & understand how valuable our patients’ time is and respect their time so much that we committed to paying our patients if they have to wait.  Yes, you read correctly…we pay our patients if they wait. 

So do we have 1183 horsepower like the Bugatti Veyron Supersport?  No.  Do we have the speed of an Aston Martin One-77?  No.  But we DO have an entire team that has committed to doing everything in our power to stay on time & respect yours.  You won’t be able to purchase a Bugatti at our office, but we will certainly provide you with a Bugatti experience…just schedule an appointment and take us for a test drive:)

A Heart to Heart

 

This time of year, many people are giving their hearts to someone else—no, there’s not an organ donor convention in town, but the symbolism of unconditional love is in the air.  Emotions are heightened with each chocolate savored, each flower received & each jewelry box opened.  We prepare our hearts for one day out of the year, but is our heart ready for the other 364 days?

Relationships aside, the heart is a pretty amazing organ.  It sustains our life, all while keeping constant rhythm.  To many, this is taken for granted and goes unnoticed, but to those with heart disease or a heart defect, they are fully aware of its lifeline of importance.

This week honors many holidays that revolve around the heart… Valentine’s Day, Women’s Heart Day, World Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day & Have a Heart Day—this one is of particular importance because it focuses on being more aware of your food choices. 

We know that heart disease claims more lives than most--On average, one American dies of heart disease every 35 seconds!  So, let’s consider 5 heart-healthy tips you can implement immediately to decrease your risk of heart disease & ensure your heart is ready for another year.

Tip #1:  Floss Daily – The bacterial that causes plaque in your heart arteries is the same bacteria that causes plaque around your teeth.  Flossing breaks up the bacterial colonies so they don’t multiply as fast & helps to decrease the inflammation in both your gums & your heart. 

Tip #2:  See Your Dentist – Regular dental visits (at least twice a year) provide you with an ability to catch things early.  The visits not only include cleanings that use special instruments to decrease bacteria, but exams for oral cancer, and screenings for both tooth & gum health-- to help prevent tooth loss.  (Studies have shown that people who keep their teeth live an average of 7-10yrs longer).

Tip #3:  Create Good Eating Habits – “You are what you eat” truly applies.  If you eat foods that are mostly healthy, then you will be mostly healthy…and this rule applies to anything you consume.  (And No, if you eat a lot of sugar, it doesn’t make you sweeter!)  Talk to your doctor about revising your eating habits and create a plan that best suites you.

Tip #4:  Exercise – Organs are muscles, and the heart is no exception.  Like muscles, the only way it becomes stronger is via exercise.  Remember - everything in moderation and nothing without consulting your doctor first.  If a sports activity is of interest, consult your dental provider to see what type of mouthguard would be best.  Mouthguards not only protect teeth from injury, but can now be made to improve your strength & performance as well.

Tip #5:  Rest – For our organs to grow & function properly, we must obtain an adequate amount of rest.  For most, this amount is quantified as ~8hrs each day (ideally at night).  Rest should not only come in a physical form, but emotional & spiritual as well.  To renew ourselves as a whole, it is recommended we sleep for our physical well-being, relax for our emotional well-being & renew our spirit with a meditational, motivational, or devotional activity. 

So don’t wait …implement the 5 heart-healthy tips above and let the next 364 days be a journey of love…for yourself.. 

Not a Tool of the Trade

This week provides us with a couple of interesting days…Beer Can Appreciation Day & Peanut Brittle Day.  Over the years, we have dealt with many teeth issues involving both beer cans & peanut brittle—both of which cause similar teeth problems, but since today is actually Beer Can Appreciation Day, we thought we would take the opportunity to discuss some of these teeth issues.

Beer Can Appreciation day began in 1935 to celebrate the day the 1^st beer was sold in a can.  Beer can collectors from all over the world use this day to show off their assortment of beer cans.  Beer can collectors must also be beer enthusiasts because these cans are not unopened.  In order to preserve the integrity of the can, the beer collector carefully opens the can from the bottom, empties the contents (…into his/her mouth presumably), then keeps the can.  For those of you that are not beer can collectors, and are a little less cautious when opening your beer, we offer a bit of caution …don’t use your teeth!

For some reason, people think of their teeth as tools!  Some of our patients have used their teeth as bottle openers, scissors, flashlight holders, ice picks…and the list goes on.  All it takes is one faulty move to break or damage a tooth, both of which bring about a great deal of pain and expense.  A good rule of thumb is this—if it’s not food or drink, it doesn’t belong in your mouth (with the exception of floss & a toothbrush, of course).

So if you are a beer enthusiast, go find a great can of beer.  If you are a beer can collector, show off your collection.  Just remember, your teeth are only tools when chewing—food that is.

EAT THIS WITH CAUTION

We’re a little over half way through the first month of the year, meaning most people are well into their new years resolution(s). Many have resolved to make lifestyle changes, most of which include diet. 

I recently ran across a few articles about ways to “snack” healthier in the New Year.  Items such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc, but there was one snack listed that appeared on all of the “healthy snack” lists…popcorn.

Now, don’t get me wrong…popcorn is a great snack food.  It possesses many good qualities such as dense calories, protein, vitamins & minerals.  These nutrients help to build bone, muscle, tissue & and, of course, teeth. 

Teeth are composed chiefly of calcium and phosphorous.  Popcorn supplies as much calcium as beef, potatoes & tomatoes and even more calcium than fresh liver!  It is also ahead of eggs, beef & codfish when it comes to the amount of phosphorous.  So as you can see, popcorn is very nutrient-rich & beneficial, but it also poses a serious health risk to your teeth.

There are three main issues that popcorn presents to dental professionals (& your teeth):  1)  Lactic acid, 2) Old Maids, & 3)  Husks.

Popcorn consists of carbohydrates and sugars, which combine w/ oral bacteria to result in lactic acid.  When any acid is present on the teeth for any amount of time, it begins to erode the enamel, creating a pathway for cavities.  It is important to brush your teeth within 10 minutes of eating any carb to lessen the damages of acid.  If you can’t brush, swish with water to help dilute the acid.

We are all familiar with “old maids”—the unpopped kernels that fall to the bottom of the popcorn bowl.  It only takes one bite to know you’ve hit one!  Not only can these unpopped kernels cause a crack to form in a tooth, but they are great aids at worsening cracks that have already formed.  These cracks can lead to much pain, extensive dental work & sometimes nerve damage.  So make sure to pay attention to what you are eating…especially toward the bottom of the bowl!

The last issue involves popcorn husks.  The husk is made of a hard cellulose fiber that doesn’t break down by itself over time & tends to get caught between the gum & back teeth.  If left alone, the area becomes irritated and an infection is likely to form, known as a “popcorn abscess”.  Flossing can usually dislodge the husk, but it is recommended you see a dental professional if irritation continues.

Popcorn is a healthy snack that can be thoroughly enjoyed & incorporated into a healthier lifestyle, as long as you resolve to eat it with great caution and practice good dental hygiene.

It's "Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day!"

Chemicals in Cigarettes: What They Are and How They Harm Us 

By Terry Martin, About.com Guide

[It's Cigarettes are Hazardous to your Health Day!  Believe it or not, there is actually a day to remind us how harmful cigarettes are to our health as a smoker or a non-smoker.  Terry Martin, from About.com Guide, wrote a great article about this very topic that we would like to share:]

Most smokers don't think about the chemicals in cigarettes. They think about how cigarettes help them cope with the stress of daily life, calm them down when angry, or help them to relax at the end of a long day.

The truth of the matter is that smoking does the opposite of just about everything we give it credit for. When the chemicals in cigarettes are inhaled, they put the body into a state of physical stress by sending literally thousands of poisons, toxic metals and carcinogens coursing through the bloodstream with every puff taken. And those chemicals affect everything from blood pressure and pulse rate to the health of our organs and immune system.

While researchers are still working to uncover all of the hazards cigarettes present to human life, we do know that air tainted with cigarette smoke is dangerous for anyone who breathes it -- smoker or not.

Let's take a closer look at some of the harmful chemicals in cigarettes and how they affect our health.

Chemicals in Cigarettes: Carcinogens

A carcinogen is defined as any substance that can cause or aggravate cancer. Approximately 60 of the chemicals in cigarettes are known to cause cancer.

TSNAs

Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNAs) are known to be some of the most potent carcinogens present in smokeless tobacco, snuff and tobacco smoke.

Benzene
Benzene can be found in pesticides and gasoline. It is present in high levels in cigarette smoke and accounts for half of all human exposure to this hazardous chemical.

Pesticides
Pesticides are used on our lawns and gardens, and inhaled into our lungs via cigarette smoke.

Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a chemical used to preserve dead bodies, and is responsible for some of the nose, throat and eye irritation smokers experience when breathing in cigarette smoke.

Chemicals in Cigarettes: Toxic Metals

Toxic / heavy metals are metals and metal compounds that have the potential to harm our health when absorbed or inhaled. In very small amounts, some of these metals support life, but when taken in large amounts, can become toxic.

Arsenic
Commonly used in rat poison, arsenic finds its way into cigarette smoke through some of the pesticides that are used in tobacco farming.

Cadmium
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that is used in batteries. Smokers typically have twice as much cadmium in their bodies as nonsmokers.

Chemicals in Cigarettes: Radioactive Toxic Metals

There are a couple of toxic metals in cigarette smoke that carry an extra punch of danger for anyone breathing it in: they are radioactive.

Radioactive Cigarette Smoke
Lead-210 (Pb-210) and polonium-210 (Po-210) are poisonous, radioactive heavy metals that research has shown to be present in cigarette smoke.

Chemicals in Cigarettes: Poisons

Poison is defined as any substance that, when introduced to a living organism, causes severe physical distress or death. Science has discovered approximately 200 poisonous gases in cigarette smoke.

Ammonia
Ammonia compounds are commonly used in cleaning products and fertilizers. Ammonia is also used to boost the impact of nicotine in manufactured cigarettes.

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is present in car exhaust and is lethal in very large amounts. Cigarette smoke can contain high levels of carbon monoxide.

Hydrogen Cyanide
Hydrogen cyanide was used to kill people in the gas chambers in Nazi Germany during World War II. It can be found in cigarette smoke.

Nicotine
Nicotine is a poison used in pesticides and is the addictive element in cigarettes.

A Word About Secondhand Smoke 

Also known as environmental tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke is a term used to describe cigarette smoke that comes from two sources: Smoke that is exhaled by the smoker (mainstream smoke) and smoke produced by a smouldering cigarette (sidestream smoke). Secondhand smoke is known to contain at least 250 toxic chemicals, including 50 cancer-causing chemicals. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. That means if you can smell cigarette smoke in the air, it could be harming your health.

If you smoke...

There is no time like the present to stop the madness that cigarette smoking is. You'll be rewarded with benefits beyond what you can probably imagine and they'll start to occur faster than you think. Within 20 minutes of your last cigarette, your body will begin to heal and improvements to your mental and physical health will continue to grow with time invested in smoking cessation.

It is never too late to quit smoking!

Why The Heck Do You Need To Know That?

When you come in for your dental visit, you may notice that we do a lot more than examine your teeth & gums.  One of the most important parts of your visit is when we ask you questions about your general health.  But many people have said to us:

"What does that have to do with my dental check up?"
The answer -- a lot!

More and more research is being published linking dental health to overall health, and at DeLand Smiles, we are concerned about both!

A recent study by Columbia University concluded that "Gum disease is an early complication of diabetes."  It continued to say, "70% of adults see a dentist at least once per year"-- this is a perfect opportunity to screen for diabetes and other diseases.  According to a recent article in The British Dental Journal, it works the other way around too, as gum disease can be a contributing factor in heart disease, oral cancer, and other illnesses.

Are you taking any medications, either prescription or over-the-counter?  Many of these can lead to dry mouth, gum inflammation, and other dental problems.  And it's even more complicated for women, as hormonal changes, pregnancy, and oral contraceptives can cause many changes in dental health. (Isn't everything more complicated for women?)

So the good news is, unlike a visit to your physician - you get to keep your clothes on and won't be poked and prodded anywhere other than your mouth!  But as you can see, it is extremely important that we know about your total physical health and any medications you are taking.  Not only can we save your teeth -- we may actually save your life!