Doug Tolle DDS
| Subscribe | Unsubscribe | September 2010 |
Office News
Our goal is to develop a strong partnership with every patient. When you understand the importance of your dental health, we can help you maintain a healthy mouth, as well as treat the causes and symptoms of any dental condition.
We invite you to read our latest SmileLink newsletter and to check out our website often for new information, or contact our office with any questions or concerns. Working together, we can help you achieve a lifetime of healthy and attractive teeth and gums.
Featured Article |
SmileLink Articles |
Orange - the Color of My World
Do you regularly brush and floss but your gums still bleed? Don't blame your toothbrush; your diet may be the culprit.
A study reported in the Journal of Periodontology showed that people who ingested less then 60 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C each day have a higher rate of periodontal disease than people who get more than that amount.
You are likely familiar with the story about the British sailors who, in the 1700s, developed scurvy because no one knew vitamin C was important to maintain good health. Now we know that vitamin C helps to heal wounds and maintain healthy cartilage, blood vessels, bones and teeth.
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King Me
Checkers has been a mainstay of many families’ game time for literally centuries. The object was to move your game pieces to the opponent’s side of the game board and get “crowned.” That crown gave some special protection to your game piece.
Life isn’t quite the same as a game of checkers, but many people are also “crowned”—or at least their teeth are. A crown on a tooth offers much more protection to a tooth than a crowned game piece.
A crown is one of the most popular dental restorations. It covers the entire tooth and protects it from damage that can be caused by bacteria and acids. You are likely familiar with the story of how decay forms: Eating food leaves behind food particles in the mouth.
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Stop Thief!
Stefania stood in disbelief as she tried to comprehend what she was reading. “Your bill is past due, please remit $23,400 by the end of May; otherwise we will place your account with our collection agency.” Stefania was holding a statement from a local hospital. Thinking that there had obviously been a mistake, she called the accounting office to alert them. “No,” she was told by the firm voice, “your bill is 120 days past due and we must receive payment immediately.” Stefania explained that she had never been hospitalized. The firm voice verified information in Stefania’s medical file: her birthdate, address, Social Security Number. That was Stefania’s information, but it wasn’t Stefania.
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Spoonful of Sugar
“Why is it I get gloomy when I have my teeth cleaned?” you might wonder. Then you realize it is because you always had to take medicine before a cleaning or before any dental work could be done. The medicine seemed like a nuisance, but your dentist assured you it was necessary.
As a young child you had been diagnosed with a heart murmur, which you hadn’t given any thought to except when you went to your new dentist for the initial visit. On the medical history form, you checked off illnesses and conditions you had over the years. One of the selections was “heart murmur.” Vaguely remembering the incident that prompted your diagnosis, you placed a check mark in the box.
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Life is a Crackup
Funny how life deals us all kinds of challenges. Sometimes, we learn to go with the flow and adapt where necessary. Sometimes, we find a way to detour around a challenge. But in the long run, that persistent challenge finds us again and makes us deal with it.
Your teeth can be one of those challenges. Wouldn't it be nice if you were born with perfect teeth? You wouldn't have to brush or floss. You wouldn't need fillings or dentures. But when you get a toothache, reality sets in and you have to make a decision. Do you wait, hoping that the toothache to go away on its own, or do you immediately call the dentist? Hopefully, you chose the latter.
The dentist your friend and ally
Today, we know so much more about your teeth and the importance of good oral health care. For instance, we know that periodontal disease has been connected to heart problems, pancreatic cancer and diabetes. We know that the health of your mouth is directly related to your overall health.
The dental care professional is on the front line of the battlefield whenever you experience any "abnormal" event relating to your mouth, its tissues and the teeth. The dentist has big ammunition to save you and protect you from your many dental enemies. One of those enemies is a cracked tooth.
Teeth take a beating
Your teeth are nothing short of miraculous. They chew ice and popcorn kernels. They open soda pop cans, pull staples...